World Cup Thread

Dead Cat Bounce

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Jan 8, 2003
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Rough start for the Qatar keeper. The bounce left him little choice but to charge, but for his good effort, he suffered a heavy blow to the head and neck, took a yellow card, and gave up a penalty kick.
 

vhcat1970

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
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As much as I post here, I would be remiss if I didn't comment in a soccer related thread.

Since the nineties I've been a bonfide United Manchester fan ( ManU ), confirmed, card carrying, every bit as much as any BBN member. The only difference is that I was born into Kentucky basketball (circa 1969, and following with my own eyes since I was 4... ) and I only became a ManU fan ( and EPL devotee ) during Sir Alex Ferguson's incredible years ( I trace it back to 96' specifically )....

I think this year's team is the most talented team we could have for this world cup, it may prove to be one of the best USMNT ever. I'm glad to see America embrace soccer and would love to see an even better following. America has come a LONG way in paying attention to soccer. Especially the EPL. Having Pochettino coach is a god send for us. We're in very good hands.

I wakeup during the EPL season and have gameday Saturdays to wake up to ( 6am, just like I used to wakeup early to watch Star Blazers and then Looney Tunes ) so it feels like I was a kid again on saturday mornings ! haha !

USA network and NBC does a good job on coverage and I enjoy the commentary, which stands in stark contrast to so many NFL, NBA, and College basketball - football gmaes where I DON'T like the talking heads .... it's so bad I (long ago) synced up Goose and Tom during any televised broadcast so I WON'T have to listen to Bilas and Vitale or Fran ... or ....

well, you get it. But I digress....

I guess you can say I'm pro English Premiere League like I am pro SEC. I like to see the EPL teams do well on the biggest stage. There's always a lot to follow in the world of soccer, no matter what league or team or players strike your fancy. In most regards, I try to stay as much of a neutral, but in my heart, I have always loved ManU. ( I think Carrick is on the verge of coming in next season and crushing it, we shall see.... )

The world cup, to me, is the biggest sporting event and the most prestigious to win of any sport on planet Earth. It would be a dream come true to see our USMNT win the title game. It's a true worldwide event.

Peace & Harmony !
I follow EPL closely too. After CFB, it's the sport/league I watch the most of. NBA is unwatchable. If I die never seeing another 3 point shot I'll die happy. Ruined the game imo. No one tries to work the ball inside because the reward isn't there.

I've been a Newcastle U fan since the days of Alan Scherer - EPL all-time leading goal scorer. I'm not a frontrunner. It's why I've stayed true to UK football.
 
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entropy13

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Apr 27, 2010
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Here's what they could do to make soccer watchable to me (understanding the Jim Cornette quote "you know what they are going to do to get me like golf, mess up golf for the people that like golf") but take at 3 least 3, maybe 4 players off the field and give them some room to move.
Delusional take, Gle{n}/n*n. Soccer field is usually about 110 x 75 yards. Players would be run ragged.
 

Runt#1969

All-American
Dec 13, 2010
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Come on without,
come on within,
you've not seen nothin' like the mighty McGuinn !

1-0 Scotland @ half !

My Jacobs' family roots are callin' ! I hear the pipes ! ;)
 

Catman100

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
7,045
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I agree with J-Nunn, I’ve always thought offsides should be done away with. It’s like prohibiting fast breaks in basketball. Feel the same way about hockey. Let the players go wherever they want…then you‘d see a lot more scoring
If they not gonna do away with it, then stop the offsides by the hair on your chinny chin chin. Make it so if any part of the offensive player, any part, is even with the defender, then he is onsides. Would open up the game so much.
 

26MichaelUK

All-American
Feb 14, 2013
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Soccer was the first organized sport I played and it's fun as hell to play. But they always played me at fullback (last line of defense before the goalie). My last year they moved me to forward and I led the league in goals. I hat tricked in the championship game in the first half so my coach moved me to goalie and I told him that wasn't my thing. Long story short even with a tie we'd of won the championship. There was no overtime. Well they scored 3 goals on me. With 4 minutes remaining the dude playing fullback stopped the ball and was gonna boot it down field. The dude turns around and kicks it towards me and I was screaming at Coach to put me back at forward. Well that kid scored the game winning goal and we lost the championship to a team we'd beaten 6-0 and 5-1 in the regular season. No team had stayed within 3 goals on us the WHOLE season in the final scores. I was so pissed I quit soccer that day and went to football. Never even went to the banquet. Sadly coach and his wife who was an assistant and pregnant were killed in a car wreck literally a month later. Their son, a teammate and later a classmate, is now coaching it and killing it. I loved soccer with all my heart but that championship loss crushed my love for it and then coaches deaths really drove me to football. Plus my brother always called me a sissy for not playing real football.