🇺🇸 USA vs Belgium 🇧🇪

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,609
16,478
113
I was going to be very satisfied if we win just one more game.

I could have tolerated this loss had we just played well.

As it is, this tournament leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I obviously am not as invested as others here, but I also would have felt satisfied if we advanced one more round.

It feels very American that we didn't just lose to end the excitement, we went out with a total thud.
 
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JohnnySolo

Junior
May 6, 2011
462
360
63
I'm still watching the WC to the end. I've enjoyed it a lot but I am so tired of all the flopping and whining. You'd think everyone had a broken leg. Do they do that to get the attention of the referee or are they just a bunch of babies. How can you go from what looks like agonizing pain to playing full speed? And yes I did play soccer, but never acted like that. The game was tough, but so were we. There is no honor in this style of play.
 

1vagamecock

All-Conference
Jan 19, 2022
1,770
1,303
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I'm still watching the WC to the end. I've enjoyed it a lot but I am so tired of all the flopping and whining. You'd think everyone had a broken leg. Do they do that to get the attention of the referee or are they just a bunch of babies. How can you go from what looks like agonizing pain to playing full speed? And yes I did play soccer, but never acted like that. The game was tough, but so were we. There is no honor in this style of play.
Agree totally. As I've said a few times now, I was all state and conference in SC during H.S. in the early to mid 80's. I have shins that look and feel like washboards not to mention the ball was much heavier back then. Not 1 time did I or anyone on my team flop!
It is a sign of our times. Instead of adult baseball or soccer leagues now we have adult kickball and pickleball leagues.
 

bayrooster

All-American
Aug 21, 2003
15,346
7,810
113
I'm still watching the WC to the end. I've enjoyed it a lot but I am so tired of all the flopping and whining. You'd think everyone had a broken leg. Do they do that to get the attention of the referee or are they just a bunch of babies. How can you go from what looks like agonizing pain to playing full speed? And yes I did play soccer, but never acted like that. The game was tough, but so were we. There is no honor in this style of play.
Klingons would never play soccer for that reason.
 
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RUMMENIGGE

Senior
Dec 14, 2016
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Lurker123

All-American
May 4, 2020
6,175
5,133
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Agree totally. As I've said a few times now, I was all state and conference in SC during H.S. in the early to mid 80's. I have shins that look and feel like washboards not to mention the ball was much heavier back then. Not 1 time did I or anyone on my team flop!
It is a sign of our times. Instead of adult baseball or soccer leagues now we have adult kickball and pickleball leagues.

Some coaches i know are adamantly against the practice, others see it as a tool.

We scored are lone goal on a penalty just outside the box. If we flop 4 times and get 2 fouls and score even once off it, its worth it to some. Use every single advantage, etc.

I do get very annoyed at it though.
 

RUMMENIGGE

Senior
Dec 14, 2016
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Only two continents have won the World Cup and that is Europe and South America. I believe for the United States to move forward they need to compete consistently with the strong teams. I really believe that somehow the United States needs join UEFA. Joining the UEFA the United States will be frequently competing against strong teams every summer or fall. Not only that, but it would also be a chance for United States to host the Euro Cup.
 
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Skuddy

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2022
1,848
3,900
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Only two continents have won the world cup and that is Europe and South America. I believe for the United States to move forward they need to compete consistently with the strong teams. I really believe that somehow the United States needs join UEFA. Joining the UEFA the United States will be frequently competing against strong teams ever summer or fall. Not only that, but it would also be a chance for United States to host the Euro Cup.
Can't we just buy some players? We do it in all the other sports.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,609
16,478
113
Only two continents have won the world cup and that is Europe and South America. I believe for the United States to move forward they need to compete consistently with the strong teams. I really believe that somehow the United States needs join UEFA. Joining the UEFA the United States will be frequently competing against strong teams ever summer or fall. Not only that, but it would also be a chance for United States to host the Euro Cup.
It starts in youth soccer.

Folk are all over on X talking about how much it costs a family each year for a kid to play soccer. In Europe, it's basically free since pro clubs heavily fund youth soccer.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,609
16,478
113
The United States made Belgium look good last night. Last night the United States looked like Luxembourg or Estonia or San Marino
I don't know. I don't follow soccer nearly close enough to have an opinion.

But it seems coincidental that we played our worst game against the best team we faced.
 

RUMMENIGGE

Senior
Dec 14, 2016
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I don't know. I don't follow soccer nearly close enough to have an opinion.

But it seems coincidental that we played our worst game against the best team we faced.
I think maybe the reason New Zealand made the World Cup is because the expanding to 32 to 48 teams. Belgium only win in group stage was against New Zealand the other three games Belgium struggled.
 

Viennacock

All-Conference
Jan 21, 2022
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It starts in youth soccer.

Folk are all over on X talking about how much it costs a family each year for a kid to play soccer. In Europe, it's basically free since pro clubs heavily fund youth soccer.
Cost a ton for baseball, volleyball and just about every other sport. We don't struggle in those sports. Excuses are for losers.
 

Viennacock

All-Conference
Jan 21, 2022
3,015
2,795
113
It starts in youth soccer.

Folk are all over on X talking about how much it costs a family each year for a kid to play soccer. In Europe, it's basically free since pro clubs heavily fund youth soccer.
Cost a ton for baseball, volleyball and just about every other sport. We don't struggle in those sports. Excuses are for losers.

The reason we struggle is that our top athletes choose basketball,
I don't know. I don't follow soccer nearly close enough to have an opinion.

But it seems coincidental that we played our worst game against the best team we faced.
I'm telling you, we pissed off Belgium. They were the better team regardless, but our great leader gave them extra, unwanted motivation.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,609
16,478
113
Cost a ton for baseball, volleyball and just about every other sport. We don't struggle in those sports. Excuses are for losers.
So you don’t accept that we lag behind in soccer because of overall lower interest in American vs European countries. You don’t accept that we llag behind in soccer because of our youth sports structure.

What’s the reason then? We are the largest country of all the countries that were in the tournament. We should be able to put together a family competitive team based on population alone.

You took it so personally as though you invented the game
 
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RUMMENIGGE

Senior
Dec 14, 2016
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So you don’t accept that we lag behind in soccer because of overall lower interest in American vs European countries. You don’t accept that we llag behind in soccer because of our youth sports structure.

What’s the reason then? We are the largest country of all the countries that were in the tournament. We should be able to put together a family competitive team based on population alone.

You took it so personally as though you invented the game
I believe that European kids really do not have a lot to choose from when picking a sport to participate in. You may have a few that want to be play hockey and a few that want to play tennis, but majority play soccer. That gives the Europeans a lot of potential talent. Furthermore those professional soccer leagues in Europe means everything to them. It is a kids dream to play for country and professional ball.

The United States has many sports to choose from which reduces the chance of getting the best athletes to play soccer. Most kids dream would be playing in NFL, NBA, MLB rather than professional soccer. It is the American culture.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,609
16,478
113
I believe that European kids really do not have a lot to choose from when picking a sport to participate in. You may have a few that want to be play hockey and a few that want to play tennis, but majority play soccer. That gives the Europeans a lot of potential talent. Furthermore those professional soccer leagues in Europe means everything to them. It is a kids dream to play for country and professional ball.

The United States has many sports to choose from which reduces the chance of getting the best athletes to play soccer. Most kids dream would be playing in NFL, NBA, MLB rather than professional soccer. It is the American culture.
Yes
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
19,609
16,478
113
I'm telling you, we pissed off Belgium. They were the better team regardless, but our great leader gave them extra, unwanted motivation.

I don't know that Trump calling had much, if anything to do with FIFA's decision. I would be more inclined to think that if they hadn't recently overturned other suspensions. But I do think having the suspension overturned motivated Belgium to beat us badly. It worked in their favor that we apparently played quite poorly.
 
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ThirdTTrio

Redshirt
Oct 16, 2019
1
0
1
I don't care about (coulda, woulda, shoulda).... The problem is we give these kids participation trophies as encouragement vs dealing with life like reality. When we can't field a "respectable" team from 350 million people (of which, 75 million are hispanic - which love the sport even more than most).....vs 11 million from Belgium.... We need to quit wasting our time on this joke of a sport. GOD gave me two hands, and I plan to use them. What a waste of time. Clearly we are chumps in this sport.
 

Forkcock

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2006
1,640
1,739
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Cost a ton for baseball, volleyball and just about every other sport. We don't struggle in those sports. Excuses are for losers.

The reason we struggle is that our top athletes choose basketball,

I'm telling you, we pissed off Belgium. They were the better team regardless, but our great leader gave them extra, unwanted motivation.

You should quit watching The View.