OT: We may win the World Cup in 2026

MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
38,656
19,675
98
Given Spain has dominated and Argentina is down a guy id like to see Messi more involved defensively.

Him roaming around while the 9 other guys have to play D doesn’t seem right.
Messi never plays defense. Seen Barcelona matches where he didn’t cross the half field line an entire half except on a set piece.
 

Doctor Worm

Heisman
Feb 7, 2002
30,820
22,646
113
They did, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t rooting for that last shot to go in after Messi’s corner. Wanted to see more drama and Martinez have a chance to win it during penalties.
My view is the exact opposite. Anything but penalties. Would even prefer to go to the scorecards and have Spain win by unanimous decision.
 

RUPete90

Senior
Jul 3, 2025
717
949
93
My view is the exact opposite. Anything but penalties. Would even prefer to go to the scorecards and have Spain win by unanimous decision.
Since that’s how it’s done and has been done for many years, both teams are aware and adjust strategies accordingly. I am fine with it. Martinez having a chance to almost single-handedly win a cup for Argentina would’ve been really cool and I don’t like either of these teams.

Same dynamic plays out in baseball when a team outhits another, doesn’t cash in with RISP and then a reliever follows up a dominant SP performance by giving up a 2-run homer in the 9th. It’s sports. Sh$t happens and like life, it isn’t always fair.
 
  • Like
Reactions: newell138

RUPete90

Senior
Jul 3, 2025
717
949
93
It’s hard for me to get into it if the USA ain’t in it. From what I read it was a very exciting tournament for the purists. That being said the game needs some serious changes for me to ever really be a fan.

But that’s the thing. The sport is already successful and continues to gain popularity. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. It doesn’t need to make wholesale changes to accommodate the ever-elusive casual fan who probably will never follow it closely anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RUDiddy777

Postman_1

Heisman
Mar 12, 2017
8,332
13,329
113
But that’s the thing. The sport is already successful and continues to gain popularity. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. It doesn’t need to make wholesale changes to accommodate the ever-elusive casual fan who probably will never follow it closely anyway.
Agreed it doesn't but for it to ever be a major US sport it does IMO. Otherwise it will be the same every 4 years.
 

-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
33,577
52,132
113
These guys insisting the game needs to change to suit their needs just show their lack of depth about the sport. The grassroots level has never been bigger and all these kids are growing up understanding & appreciating the sport unlike the couple of boomers whining here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fg7321

ClassOf02v.2

Heisman
Sep 30, 2010
13,862
15,345
103
That's still playing it out. PKs in soccer would be like tennis going to a serving contest for the win.
”Playing it out” in tennis would be the old way of each set only ends when someone wins by 2 full service games. Until Isner & Mahut played a 70-68 set at Wimbledon. A tiebreak was specifically designed so sets don’t go on forever. Can’t really compare to soccer, but the final set tiebreak is absolutely a way to definitively know when a match will end.
 

Postman_1

Heisman
Mar 12, 2017
8,332
13,329
113
These guys insisting the game needs to change to suit their needs just show their lack of depth about the sport. The grassroots level has never been bigger and all these kids are growing up understanding & appreciating the sport unlike the couple of boomers whining here.
So you think deciding a championship game on PK’s is good? You like all the stupid offsides? How bout all the dives? I’m not a fan of any of them
 
  • Like
Reactions: T2Kplus20

T2Kplus20

Heisman
May 1, 2007
32,210
20,126
113
”Playing it out” in tennis would be the old way of each set only ends when someone wins by 2 full service games. Until Isner & Mahut played a 70-68 set at Wimbledon. A tiebreak was specifically designed so sets don’t go on forever. Can’t really compare to soccer, but the final set tiebreak is absolutely a way to definitively know when a match will end.
I'm fine with setting a limit to a game, but I don't support changing the game to do so (like penatly shots, hockey shootouts, college football OT rules, etc). For soccer, hockey, basketball, etc, keep playing until someone scores or the time runs out and someone is in the lead. Pretty simple.
 

RUPete90

Senior
Jul 3, 2025
717
949
93
Agreed it doesn't but for it to ever be a major US sport it does IMO. Otherwise it will be the same every 4 years.
Again, it doesn’t need to be a “major US sport.” Sports marketing is a niche business. Each sport can do very well marketing to its target audience. Football is total king in the US, but that doesn’t mean baseball, basketball and hockey should pack up their bags and get lost.
 
  • Like
Reactions: -RUFAN4LIFE-

-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
33,577
52,132
113
So you think deciding a championship game on PK’s is good? You like all the stupid offsides? How bout all the dives? I’m not a fan of any of them
PKs have only decided the world cup several times in its history...swing and a miss.

Stupid offsides :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: this is the typical lazy American response the rest of the world laughs at us over. You do away with offsides and then you're going to watch teams defend with 8-10 guys surrounding the goalie. Maybe do a lot search on its history first. Another swing and miss.

Dives are being addressed in certain situations, this was the first World Cup where you could receive a yellow card for simulation and it will carry over into league play. The mighty Casey struck out.

Watch more of the game and increase your knowledge before talking out of turn.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ClassOf02v.2

Bueller

Junior
Nov 28, 2025
430
356
63
It’s hard for me to get into it if the USA ain’t in it. From what I read it was a very exciting tournament for the purists. That being said the game needs some serious changes for me to ever really be a fan.


I can only watch highlights. Imagine starting a sport where you can only use half your body? That's a hard hill to get over but curiously that is what makes soccer a good US women's game. US women have won World Cup titles and US women have 9 of the top 100 international players (men have 1). Nobody has an issue with women just using legs to dance around a ball. Men's soccer looks a little quiffy to Americans with all the delicate fake injuries. I think that's a reason US fans liked Erling Haaland a lot. He's not quiffy tbh

South American soccer fans posting on Reddit and Quora say young boys are steered into soccer early while girls go into volleyball. There are also more developed pro leagues in US. So US women have an edge there. US women have more recognition and higher TV ratings than men in international competitions. Its like US figure skating which gets much higher TV ratings than men .

So I think US women are and will continue to be the top shelf in US soccer as long as most high schools keep football


 
Last edited:

RUChet

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2023
2,320
2,808
113
You clearly don’t understand lacrosse. There is lots of crossover in D and O in the game. A lot more than soccer.

Footbsll analogy is silly. They specialize because they choose to. Just like in other sports.
I wasn’t the one that said lacrosse players can’t play D like a TE isn’t a RB. I am saying they play O and D in all sports except football
 

RUChet

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2023
2,320
2,808
113
Just watched the game and Argentina should be embarrassed with that effort pre red card. Not one shot !!!! One!! Not even one shot on goal , no shot period. Pathetic and 1000% outclassed.

Spain and France were the 2 best teams as you can’t judge the consolation game.
 

Zak57

Heisman
Jul 5, 2011
11,239
11,352
113
An amazing World Cup but glad it's over. The stupid fans in this thread repeating themselves yuck. Domestics beginning in about three weeks and can't wait.
 
  • Like
Reactions: -RUFAN4LIFE-

Bueller

Junior
Nov 28, 2025
430
356
63
Just watched the game and Argentina should be embarrassed with that effort pre red card. Not one shot !!!! One!! Not even one shot on goal , no shot period. Pathetic and 1000% outclassed.

Spain and France were the 2 best teams as you can’t judge the consolation game.

Argentina goalie set a World Cup record for saves (11 last count I heard). Lot of complaints about relying too much on Messi (who didn't play much defense). Most commentators agreed best team won.

26:30 Messi tears as crowd chants



Makes Knicks celebrations look tame

 
Last edited:

Caliknight

Hall of Famer
Sep 21, 2001
197,074
149,123
113
These discussions about soccer have been going on for 50 years, and they will go on another 50 in America unless the game changes. This current iteration will excite Americans when the WC is here and the fever felt, but that team will be playing in half filled stadiums their next game. Just like always.

America is the most lucrative market, and Americans have never bought soccer as is and never will. And the soccer powers want more than to crack the code.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: -RUFAN4LIFE-

Postman_1

Heisman
Mar 12, 2017
8,332
13,329
113
PKs have only decided the world cup several times in its history...swing and a miss.

Stupid offsides :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: this is the typical lazy American response the rest of the world laughs at us over. You do away with offsides and then you're going to watch teams defend with 8-10 guys surrounding the goalie. Maybe do a lot search on its history first. Another swing and miss.

Dives are being addressed in certain situations, this was the first World Cup where you could receive a yellow card for simulation and it will carry over into league play. The mighty Casey struck out.

Watch more of the game and increase your knowledge before talking out of turn.
PKs deciding a championship game once is too many. Another swing and a miss by u.
I did not say the offsides should be done away with but it needs to be amende. A lazy response by you again.
Seems like your the one who needs to learn the game more.
 

-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
33,577
52,132
113
PKs deciding a championship game once is too many. Another swing and a miss by u.
I did not say the offsides should be done away with but it needs to be amende. A lazy response by you again.
Seems like your the one who needs to learn the game more.
If you had a clue you'd know that they are adjusting the offsides rule, clearly you're a casual fan that doesn't follow much. But carry on like you're an expert on the sport.
 

Bueller

Junior
Nov 28, 2025
430
356
63
UK Media

Argentina’s World Cup final performance was a disgrace to Lionel Messi’s legacy​


"Don’t cry for them, Argentina. Some tears were shed by Lionel Messi, after an unsatisfactory end to one of the great World Cup careers. But his team-mates merit rather less sympathy. What had been a valiant, dramatic and compelling attempt to retain the World Cup ended with a lack of discipline, creativity and, above all, shots.

The historic feat, it transpired, was not becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive World Cups, but in being officially the least attacking team ever in a final. Argentina had no shot of any kind in 90 minutes, an xG of 0.00 when it went to extra time. Spain had 20 shots before Argentina’s first, in the 121st minute."


 
Last edited:

seansherm

Heisman
Feb 20, 2009
15,157
15,885
113
A really great tournament, congrats to Spain. They were, by far, the best team. What a defense, glad to see my boy Porro get some flowers and begrudgingly have to say Cuccarella was excellent all tournament too.

As a coach, had to be hard leaving Messi out there for the last 50 minutes, essentially playing 10-8 in the defensive third. Alvarez ran his *** off, but Argentina was just awful yesterday.
 
Last edited:

Caliknight

Hall of Famer
Sep 21, 2001
197,074
149,123
113
All I hear is people complaining about the three point line and the over reliance on it. Has it made the game better, or just different?
Yes. Its intended goal was met. Basketball has much bigger issues than the 3 point line. Like faking fouls and “load management”.