World Cup

[Halldan]

Folarin Balogun cleared to play for USMNT as desperate Belgium appeal fails​

Folarin Balogun cleared to play for USMNT as desperate Belgium appeal fails

Belgium’s appealed FIFA’s decision on Folarin Balogun’s red card.

nypost.com

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

It's really unfortunate because now if the US advances any further there will be many calls for it being tainted or cheating. What's sadder is the US Men's team didn't ask for any of the controversy that's erupted in the last 24 hours or so. It's not their fault.

This won't be the popular opinion, but maybe it's best to sit him - or at least not start him. They would be underdogs against Belgium with or without Balogun.

If they sit Balogun and win then that ends the controversy. I guess that's what it comes down to: playing with a disadvantage and lose, or playing with a disadvantage and winning without any further controversy. If he plays and the US wins, we'll never hear the end of it - trust me, I'm a Patriots fan and even I can't believe idiots still bring up "deflategate": the most overblown sports story of the 21st century.

 

[Seton75]

FIFA is corrupt. I think we bribed the right guy in this case. Would not be the first or last time that will happen.

There is no truth to the rumor that trump took 100k off of the 5 mill trump gold card...

 

[HALL85]

I hope they win the appeal, and he is ruled out for the game.

I want the USA to win as much as anyone...but if he plays, if we win, the win is tainted; if we lose, the world will simply say that we got what we deserved.

Either way, this mess has taken the focus off of what has been a terrific World Cup for USA thus far, and I would rather we win tonight, without Balogun, and then move on to the next match. No questions asked.

Just seeing that FIFA rejected the appeal. Balogun plays.

By the way, is there a more corrupt organization than FIFA?

NCAA is pretty darn close, but they also have FIFA beat by a mile when it comes to incompetence.

 

[HallB]

Everyone was up in arms over the red card to Balogun and now his red is removed (rightfully so) and everyone is up in arms over it. It was a bad call then, and it was the right thing to do now so the best goal scorer on USA was not suspended for a knockout round game. My take is that if Belgium won vs. USA without Balogun then that would be an asterisk victory.

 

[Halldan]

Belgium sends warning to US after Folarin Balogun cleared to play at World Cup​

Belgium sends warning to US after Folarin Balogun cleared to play at World Cup

Questions have been raised about the integrity of FIFA’s decision.

nypost.com

 

[hallsoccer03]

It's really unfortunate because now if the US advances any further there will be many calls for it being tainted or cheating. What's sadder is the US Men's team didn't ask for any of the controversy that's erupted in the last 24 hours or so. It's not their fault.

This won't be the popular opinion, but maybe it's best to sit him - or at least not start him. They would be underdogs against Belgium with or without Balogun.

If they sit Balogun and win then that ends the controversy. I guess that's what it comes down to: playing with a disadvantage and lose, or playing with a disadvantage and winning without any further controversy. If he plays and the US wins, we'll never hear the end of it - trust me, I'm a Patriots fan and even I can't believe idiots still bring up "deflategate": the most overblown sports story of the 21st century.

This is the worst take and I’ve seen it more than a few times now… the red card should have never happened… the VAR process was not followed correctly in giving the red card. Should there not be a process to correct things that the procedure laws were not followed?

Also Belgium are not the favorites… USA is… they are at home and probably at the stadium where they would have the best home field advantage…

3 things can be true… the red card was not justified…. The suspension should be suspended…and the way this all came about happening is incredibly shady by FIFA

 

[hallsoccer03]

Everyone was up in arms over the red card to Balogun and now his red is removed (rightfully so) and everyone is up in arms over it. It was a bad call then, and it was the right thing to do now so the best goal scorer on USA was not suspended for a knockout round game. My take is that if Belgium won vs. USA without Balogun then that would be an asterisk victory.

I think the biggest issue is the way that FIFA did this and the lack of transparency which I get

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

This is the worst take and I’ve seen it more than a few times now… the red card should have never happened… the VAR process was not followed correctly in giving the red card. Should there not be a process to correct things that the procedure laws were not followed?

Also Belgium are not the favorites… USA is… they are at home and probably at the stadium where they would have the best home field advantage…

3 things can be true… the red card was not justified…. The suspension should be suspended…and the way this all came about happening is incredibly shady by FIFA

Straw Man. They didn't teach you about fallacies at The Hall?

I never once said the red card was legit, so don't put words into my mouth, got it?

I was merely commenting upon how the situation looks. And it doesn't look good. It doesn't look good when a president - no matter what side of the political aisle one is on - calls upon the corrupt president of fifa and gets it all cleared. He has already gone on record for taking credit for the reversal, so what else are we left to believe?

The "worst take" is the one not willing to admit how bad those optics are. It effectively changes the narrative of this team for a great number of people. Our team was one of the feel good stories of this World Cup. Now that's all pretty much done. That's not a worst take, that's reality.

 

[HALL85]

Straw Man. They didn't teach you about fallacies at The Hall?

I never once said the red card was legit, so don't put words into my mouth, got it?

I was merely commenting upon how the situation looks. And it doesn't look good. It doesn't look good when a president - no matter what side of the political aisle one is on - calls upon the corrupt president of fifa and gets it all cleared. He has already gone on record for taking credit for the reversal, so what else are we left to believe?

The "worst take" is the one not willing to admit how bad those optics are. It effectively changes the narrative of this team for a great number of people. Our team was one of the feel good stories of this World Cup. Now that's all pretty much done. That's not a worst take, that's reality.

If they beat Belgium tonight with Balogun, this story will be in the rear view mirror, the second the game against Spain begins.

 

[hallsoccer03]

Straw Man. They didn't teach you about fallacies at The Hall?

I never once said the red card was legit, so don't put words into my mouth, got it?

I was merely commenting upon how the situation looks. And it doesn't look good. It doesn't look good when a president - no matter what side of the political aisle one is on - calls upon the corrupt president of fifa and gets it all cleared. He has already gone on record for taking credit for the reversal, so what else are we left to believe?

The "worst take" is the one not willing to admit how bad those optics are. It effectively changes the narrative of this team for a great number of people. Our team was one of the feel good stories of this World Cup. Now that's all pretty much done. That's not a worst take, that's reality.

Listen big guy, did I say that you thought it was legit.. the issue is you care so much about people calling it cheating. It’s not cheating. Card shouldn’t have been given, suspension was taken away which should have never happened. So don’t go putting words in my mouth, got it?



How damn soft are you that you say “maybe it’s best they sit him, or at least don’t start him”.. why do that, because some other fans and countries don’t like it? That’s so damn soft. And it’s even softer to worry about how USA was a feel good story and now they aren’t. Who frigging cares.. I don t care what other countries and fans think.

and the worse take is not admitting how bad the optics are… keep reading down buddy because I literally say that the card shouldn’t have happened, the suspension should have been lifted and the way it went about was shady as hell from FIFA. You are worried about some stupid *** narrative on the team which is a joke

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

If they beat Belgium tonight with Balogun, this story will be in the rear view mirror, the second the game against Spain begins.

I guess we'll see. Not saying you're wrong, but i could just as easily see a victory be like pouring gasoline on an already combustible situation. Again, as a Patriots fan, sometimes these stories never really go away no matter how ridiculous they are or even if you win the Super Bowl. We'll find out soon enough.

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

Listen big guy, did I say that you thought it was legit.. the issue is you care so much about people calling it cheating. It’s not cheating. Card shouldn’t have been given, suspension was taken away which should have never happened. So don’t go putting words in my mouth, got it?



How damn soft are you that you say “maybe it’s best they sit him, or at least don’t start him”.. why do that, because some other fans and countries don’t like it? That’s so damn soft. And it’s even softer to worry about how USA was a feel good story and now they aren’t. Who frigging cares.. I don t care what other countries and fans think.

and the worse take is not admitting how bad the optics are… keep reading down buddy because I literally say that the card shouldn’t have happened, the suspension should have been lifted and the way it went about was shady as hell from FIFA. You are worried about some stupid *** narrative on the team which is a joke

LOL someone's triggered!

 

[hallsoccer03]

LOL someone's triggered!

LOL someone's triggered!

When someone accuses me of something and they have zero clue what they are talking about, it annoys me.. and I’d expect you’d have nothing of substance to answer me with after attacking me.

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

Oh, so sorry to have annoyed you. Beg pardon!



What exactly type of substance were you looking for? You're already roid raging with what I've said so far. Besides, I already said my piece. Do you want me to invent more so we can drag it out?? I stated my opinion clean and clear. Quite obviously I'm not alone in how I feel. So sorry that my opinion, which you admit you've seen other places, offended your fragile ego so much.

 

[hallsoccer03]

Oh, so sorry to have annoyed you. Beg pardon!



What exactly type of substance were you looking for? You're already roid raging with what I've said so far. Besides, I already said my piece. Do you want me to invent more so we can drag it out?? I stated my opinion clean and clear. Quite obviously I'm not alone in how I feel. So sorry that my opinion, which you admit you've seen other places, offended your fragile ego so much.

I’m gonna go watch the game now, have fun continuing to troll on a message board

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

I’m gonna go watch the game now, have fun continuing to troll on a message board

Now who has no substance?

 

[cernjSHU]

Looks like this whole discussion was for nothing. US pretty much outclassed from the get go. 3-1 with 20 minutes left to go. This game demonstrates the large gulf between the US and the top 10 teams.

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

Looks like this whole discussion was for nothing. US pretty much outclassed from the get go. 3-1 with 20 minutes left to go. This game demonstrates the large gulf between the US and the top 10 teams.

Hey, I was the one who said we would be at a disadvantage with or without Balogun. Some of us know soccer.

 

[HALL85]

Credit Belgium. They played a great defensive game and totally disrupted the U.S. passing and attack. I didn’t like the spacing for most of the game.

 

[STLPirate12]

Really just a comedy of individual errors that cost the US this one. It's a difficult game to come from behind in, so gifting an opponent multiple goals is usually a death sentence.

 

[cernjSHU]

Meanwhile the Spain and Portugal game was an interesting matchup. To me Spain controlled the game and the Portuguese goaltender came up with some great saves. In this type of game, just a little magic will win the game. In this game, Ferran Torres, who has had a rough World Cup, threads a beautiful pass through the legs of a defender and Merino scores the goal. Spain looks like it is slowly coming together.

 

[PirateBlue08]

Stupida facking game

 

[HallLine69]

NCAA is pretty darn close, but they also have FIFA beat by a mile when it comes to incompetence.

In terms of corruption. IOC is as bad as FIFA, if not worse. Then comes NCAA. As for incompetence, NCAA is winner hands down.

 

[Fishjam]

Poor overall performance by USA. They didn't play with the same aggression or confidence and they made several terrible defensive miscues.

Two of their biggest weaknesses were exposed by Belgium - poor Goaltender play by Freese and 38-year old defender Tim Ream didn't look like he belonged on the field.

Freese's bonehead play in the 2nd half effectively ended the game making it 3-1 when US was putting pressure on Belgium. That play took the air out of the team. He came way out of the box in a dangerous situation and instead of clearing the ball he inexplicably stopped his leg and allowed the ball to roll off his chest straight into Belgian's possession.

Ream looked like an old man, getting abused the whole match. 2 minutes after we tied it at 1 with the crowd still in a frenzy, he was in position to defend a cross into the box but got absolutely destroyed with the Belgian player jumping over him and heading in the 2nd goal.

In the 2nd half, he was in position to save the 3rd goal after Freese's gaffe but he tied himself up with his own feet and failed to stop the shot just inches away from his left foot.

 

[lokiSHU]

Belgium came out really aggressive and with purpose. The Balogun thing had them fired up.

 

[Section112]

The US went as far as it could again. Outclassed by Belgium but incredibly disappoining in how they played. If they lost a hard fought game I would have been happier about it.

Ream and the other US defenders were awful. Pulisic turned the ball over constantly and wilted easily with Belgiums physical play - he stunk the whole tournament frankly -way overhyped or injured. Tillman was our consistent star and Balogen needed to take more shots and stop deferring to his teammates last night. And forget Freese - started well but you can't hesitate if you are that far out of goal. Ended any chance the US had.

I am not surprised at all about the outcome. I am disappointed in how terribly the US played. They looked unprepared, lacked energy and Belgium did not do anything different or that anyone was surprised about. US crapped the bed in their final game and it was team wide. Gotta hope some of our young up and comers develop in the next four years and can help us take the next step.

 

[STLPirate12]

It's obviously disappointing to go out in the round of 16 but the reality is this is the point where even some of the best start to get bounced. Germany and the Netherlands went out a round earlier. Portugal and Brazil also went out in this round. I'm not saying we're on the same level as those teams, but that we're at the point in the tournament where matchups and a little luck are just as important as being good. We were an epic collapse away from playing a Senegal team we've recently beaten instead of Belgium last night. That's not to dismiss how poor the team was last night, the players simply couldn't meet the moment. It's more to say that going out in the round of 16 necessarily make the tournament a failure, as much as the game itself was clearly a failure.

 

[Fishjam]

It's obviously disappointing to go out in the round of 16 but the reality is this is the point where even some of the best start to get bounced. Germany and the Netherlands went out a round earlier. Portugal and Brazil also went out in this round. I'm not saying we're on the same level as those teams, but that we're at the point in the tournament where matchups and a little luck are just as important as being good. We were an epic collapse away from playing a Senegal team we've recently beaten instead of Belgium last night. That's not to dismiss how poor the team was last night, the players simply couldn't meet the moment. It's more to say that going out in the round of 16 necessarily make the tournament a failure, as much as the game itself was clearly a failure.

Overall it was a solid World Cup for the US team. Won their Group, won their first KO game and lost to a Top 10 team in Belgium. They generated a ton of excitement and support from Americans that will only help Soccer grow in this Country.

But they just absolutely did not show up last night. With a massive home crowd behind them and a nation ready to erupt, they just looked shell-shocked from the opening kickoff. They wilted in the moment with the chance to do something special and were beaten physically and mentally. Hard to reconcile the no-show performance with the overall positives of the earlier performances.

 

[STLPirate12]

Overall it was a solid World Cup for the US team. Won their Group, won their first KO game and lost to a Top 10 team in Belgium. They generated a ton of excitement and support from Americans that will only help Soccer grow in this Country.

But they just absolutely did not show up last night. With a massive home crowd behind them and a nation ready to erupt, they just looked shell-shocked from the opening kickoff. They wilted in the moment with the chance to do something special and were beaten physically and mentally. Hard to reconcile the no-show performance with the overall positives of the earlier performances.

I have a hard time thinking the weren't impacted by the nonsense around Balogun's suspension being lifted. Belgium was out for blood and the way the US started felt like they were almost apologizing for being there. They didn't have the confidence they had all tournament prior.