Author Topic: World Cup '26 - in game discussion. (Read 5427 times)

welch · « **Reply #400 on:** July 06, 2026, 05:01:29 pm »

I turned to grab my beer, and suddenly "Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooal". Had to turn back to 86th minute to figure it out. Portugal pushing, Spain working downfield, and looks like a defensive breakdown. Should not have bee so open.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #401 on:** July 06, 2026, 05:12:44 pm »

Quote from: Ali the Baseball Cat on July 06, 2026, 05:00:07 pm

I can't see Macron and Infantino having the same, uh, understanding

Trump already denied entry to a ref. He has the ability to make FIFA miserable either by screwing with the World Cup or just launching corruption investigations. I can’t think of a similar leader with both the power and ability to threaten and follow through

welch · « **Reply #402 on:** July 06, 2026, 05:46:55 pm »

I can't remember a President ever leaning on MLB to overturn an umpire's call in the World Series. Ugly stuff. Undermines what was my increasing affection for the US team. Balogun took his red card honorably, admirably, and now, as the Norway coach says, there is this thing hanging over the team. Win, and it is because the President pressured Infantino. Lose and "you deserved it" for trying to twist the rules.

Reminds me that we, the kids on our block, managed to play baseball according to rules we watched the Nats play to, as explained by the great Bob Wolff. We argued about calls but once we agreed, we got on with the games.

English Natsie · « **Reply #403 on:** July 06, 2026, 06:20:09 pm »

47 problems, for FIFA...

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #404 on:** July 06, 2026, 06:49:39 pm »

Quote from: Natsinpwc on July 05, 2026, 01:02:05 pm

No one took a bite of anyone but they did even try to mess with the turf before the PK. Ref lost control.

Balogun back in for the USA. Thanks Trump.

I guess you guys thought I was joking yesterday when I posted this. They also agreed to give him a bigger peace trophy.

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #405 on:** July 06, 2026, 06:57:54 pm »

I wish we could have done something like this for the 68 Olympic men’s basketball.

Doesn’t diminish my support for the USMNT. If the rest of the world is upset with FIFA let them fix it. Welcome to our world. And anyway didn’t they do this already for Cristian Ronaldo?

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cristiano-ronaldo-precedent-fifa-changing-165937388.html

The bigger question to me is why would FIFA allow them to use still shots in a case where they were not supposed to. And will the var crew and referee be punished for doing that? The red card was just given wrongly and they should have just said that. But they tried to thread the needle by not saying they were wrong and reducing the suspension. And hoped the Trump call would not leak.

English Natsie · « **Reply #406 on:** July 06, 2026, 07:37:18 pm »

Rooting for Team USA - but I can't do two nights in-a-row...

(getting old...).

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #407 on:** July 06, 2026, 07:42:49 pm »

Quote from: Natsinpwc on July 06, 2026, 06:57:54 pm

I wish we could have done something like this for the 68 Olympic men’s basketball.

Doesn’t diminish my support for the USMNT. If the rest of the world is upset with FIFA let them fix it. Welcome to our world. And anyway didn’t they do this already for Cristian Ronaldo?

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cristiano-ronaldo-precedent-fifa-changing-165937388.html

The bigger question to me is why would FIFA allow them to use still shots in a case where they were not supposed to. And will the var crew and referee be punished for doing that? The red card was just given wrongly and they should have just said that. But they tried to thread the needle by not saying they were wrong and reducing the suspension. And hoped the Trump call would not leak.

There was zero chance Trump wasn’t taking credit for this and he probably deserves it. What other president would be willing to threaten FIFA?

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #408 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:04:30 pm »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on July 06, 2026, 07:42:49 pm

There was zero chance Trump wasn’t taking credit for this and he probably deserves it. What other president would be willing to threaten FIFA?

game knows game

welch · « **Reply #409 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:17:20 pm »

Ugh. Belgium scores...slopy defending, I think.

Slateman · « **Reply #410 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:20:17 pm »

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #411 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:28:57 pm »

Being outclassed. Not clear what Dest was doing before that first goal. Just watched the ball.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #412 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:32:07 pm »

tillman!

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #413 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:32:12 pm »

Tillman is pretty good with those free kicks huh

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #414 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:32:47 pm »

Thanks Belgian player and your head.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #415 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:33:09 pm »

against the run of play. Nice combo between Pulisic and Balogun to set it up

Slateman · « **Reply #416 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:33:43 pm »

Defense is about as good as the Nats bullpen

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #417 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:35:19 pm »

Well the tie was fun while it lasted.

Two guys on the passer and then two guys in front against one.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #418 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:35:30 pm »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on July 06, 2026, 08:33:09 pm

against the run of play. Nice combo between Pulisic and Balogun to set it up

ordr restored

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #419 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:35:40 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on July 06, 2026, 08:33:43 pm

Defense is about as good as the Nats bullpen

welch · « **Reply #420 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:41:29 pm »

Bizarre. Tillman goal, and almost immediately the US gives up a goal to Belgium. 2-1 Belgium.

And James Wood's grand slam, the Nats score six in the bottom of the 5th, and it is 12-6, Washington.

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #421 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:44:39 pm »

Our defense is not even good enough to be called a sieve

varoadking · « **Reply #422 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:50:45 pm »

Quote from: Natsinpwc on July 06, 2026, 08:44:39 pm

Our defense is not even good enough to be called a sieve

A colander?

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #423 on:** July 06, 2026, 08:53:51 pm »

Quote from: Natsinpwc on July 06, 2026, 08:44:39 pm

Our defense is not even good enough to be called a sieve

black hole. just pulls the balls into the net.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #424 on:** July 06, 2026, 09:03:23 pm »

Famous college hockey cheer, invented by Harvard fans and the Harvard Band over a period of a few minutes.

Princeton put in Wally McDonough, their backup goalie, after their starter was shelled. Defense screened the first shot to get by Wally, and the Band shout, "hey "mcDonough, you're a sieve." Next shot, also a screen, by McDonough, so the student section yells, "Hey McDonough, you're not a sieve, you're a funnel." Lot's of laughs. Probably the next shot, another screen, gets by McDonough. The band shouts, "Hey McDonough, you're not a funnel, you're a black hole." Lots more laughs. 4th goal a little later. the students shout, "hey McDonough, you're not a black hole, you just $uck." I was there, must have been 1983. Chant becomes a staple picked up by other schools. Wally turns out to be a great goalie next year, his senior year. IDK if he was all ECAC, but I remember a 50+ save game he had against Yale. Next fall, Wally is a classmate of mine in law school. Great guy. Losing his hair at 22. Became a construction lawyer in Boston.