Soccer thread (2014/15)

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I'm sure ESPN is pulling all kinds of microphone shenanigans, but it sounds louder than hell. 

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Yanqui futbol!  Ole!!

[Natsinpwc]

Nice to see the USA get this win. 

[1995hoo]

Dos a cero! Clap clap clap-clap-clap!

[Natsinpwc]

Rooting for argentina now since I have been there 3 times and have a jersey.  Messi has a goal and hey are winning. I have also been to asuncion.  The land that time forgot.  Tough to be a landlocked country.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Remember Chilavert?  One of the best goaltenders ever.  Paraguay and Uruguay are my two favourite S. American teams. 

Rooting for argentina now since I have been there 3 times and have a jersey.  Messi has a goal and hey are winning. I have also been to asuncion.  The land that time forgot.  Tough to be a landlocked country.

[Natsinpwc]

I'm not much of a soccer fan so only know the really big names.  Trying to get more into it.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

A few of the big names are Yanks these days.  Next summer's WC will be epic...almost the same time zone too!

I'm not much of a soccer fan so only know the really big names.  Trying to get more into it.

[1995hoo]

USA clinches after Honduras and Panama tie.

When I say dos, y'all say cero! Dos–cero! Dos–cero!

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Can't believe Mexico tanked like that.  Hopefully the All Whites will take the sword to them.  Big teams that sneak in the back door (like France in 2010) just aren't worth the drama.

[brec7]

Upon looking it up, it appears the last time Mexico straight up didn't qualify for the World Cup was 1982.   Missing the tournament would be a massive shock/failure.

And I agree with the above poster, if they're going to be a farce like France was in 2010, they're better off not qualifying!

[1995hoo]

Upon looking it up, it appears the last time Mexico straight up didn't qualify for the World Cup was 1982.   Missing the tournament would be a massive shock/failure.

....

It also bears noting that in 1986 they qualified automatically as the host nation after Colombia had to give up hosting, so they didn't really "qualify" in 1986. They surely would have, though, even though CONCACAF only got two spots in the World Cup back then. That time period was the era when the USSF entered the national team as a franchise in the North American Soccer League based at RFK Stadium. The original idea was that the national team would become more competitive and cohesive if the players all played together on a regular basis in NASL competition. "Team America" was a failure for several reasons, including refusal of several players to leave their clubs to sign with Team America; it led to bad blood between players who did sign with Team America and other national team players who preferred to stay with better teams like the Cosmos.

[brec7]

Interesting stuff!  I didn't know that about the national team.  The NASL was on its last legs at that time.

The US program has really grown and Columbus has become a fortress to play in.  I can only dream Canada will gain qualify for the WC in my lifetime.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

DeRosario deserved to play in the WC.  Oh well, probably not going to happen. 

I can only dream Canada will gain qualify for the WC in my lifetime.

[brec7]

DeRosario deserved to play in the WC.  Oh well, probably not going to happen.

I would agree with that.  That's the crazy thing about soccer, with nearly every country in the world having a semblance of competition there are always going to be great players not playing in the World Cup (which is why some argue the Champions League is better football although you still see great players on the outside looking in there as well.)

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

But every year one or more "little" country gets in (Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Honduras, Togo, Slovenia, NZ, etc).  Sometimes they even do pretty well (NZ pretty much put the sword to Italy in 2010).  Canada is long overdue. 

I would agree with that.  That's the crazy thing about soccer, with nearly every country in the world having a semblance of competition there are always going to be great players not playing in the World Cup (which is why some argue the Champions League is better football although you still see great players on the outside looking in there as well.)

[1995hoo]

I think Canada's lone appearance was in 1986. No doubt not having to compete with Mexico to qualify didn't hurt!

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

My mom had a painting crew doing her whole house during the '86 WC.  All of the painters were Argentine.  Worst paint job ever, but man was it fun being around the house that month.

I think Canada's lone appearance was in 1986. No doubt not having to compete with Mexico to qualify didn't hurt!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ryan Giggs.

[Dave B]

 Gareth  bale

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Dennis Bergkamp

[OldChelsea]

It also bears noting that in 1986 they qualified automatically as the host nation after Colombia had to give up hosting, so they didn't really "qualify" in 1986. They surely would have, though, even though CONCACAF only got two spots in the World Cup back then. That time period was the era when the USSF entered the national team as a franchise in the North American Soccer League based at RFK Stadium. The original idea was that the national team would become more competitive and cohesive if the players all played together on a regular basis in NASL competition. "Team America" was a failure for several reasons, including refusal of several players to leave their clubs to sign with Team America; it led to bad blood between players who did sign with Team America and other national team players who preferred to stay with better teams like the Cosmos.

Team America played a single season (1983, two years after Diplomats v2.0 folded) and I do not recall hearing much about them in the local media at the time; they finished in last place (10-20); their coach was Alketas Panagoulias, former coach of the Greek national team (which didn't even make its first appearance in the World Cup's group of 32 till 1994); and their attendance was 12k/fixture, about what DC United's current train-wreck is averaging. The NASL itself folded after the 1984 season, although a few of its franchises continued in the Major Indoor Soccer League for a time afterward.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I guess Landon Donovan will be at RFK this weekend. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Dennis Bergkamp

I thought Bergkamp played in the WC. Giggs I don't ever because he was from Wales, right?

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Oh I thought we were just throwing names around...ha.  But yes, you are correct, and Bergkamp singlehandedly stuck it to Argentina in the WC as well. 

As for star players never playing in the WC, I can't think of anyone bigger than George Best (Northern Ireland).

I thought Bergkamp played in the WC. Giggs I don't ever because he was from Wales, right?