2022 FIFA World Cup Predictions and Thread
Comments
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Argentina
That they're close, but golf exists.BleachedAnusDawg said:What do you say about someone who says baseball is the worst, most boring sport ever invented? Soccer people are the most sensitive sports fans on the planet.
The US' glaring problem is that they don't have a pure goal scorer on the roster. I'm starting to wonder if I'm the curse, as every team I follow in every sport plays a brand of that sport that makes you hate watching even when they win. This is the international soccer version of watching the 2019 Huskies. They're trying to set the record for how far a team can go in the tournament on the fewest number of goals scored. The chances have been there, they're just not being putting them in.coronabruin said:Two major issues with the US.
1. Inability to control tempo in midfield when holding a lead.
2. Poor decision-making on counter attacks, which left goals on the table. Need to recognize runs and play the pass early before defenders can react.
The first half was probably the best I’ve ever seen them play at a WC. Should have been up 2-3 at halftime.
Also, Ronaldo is a diving cunt snd Gareth Southgate is driving his Ferrari like a Ford.
I hate to give the talking heads credit, but they're right about the midfield. I wasn't sold on it at all during the buildup, but it's elite. The problem is that you can't just put 11 elite midfielders on the field at the same time.
The Iran game was a frustrating win both strategically and in terms of the play from some of the stars. Sure, Pulisic got the goal, but that was the easiest part of a play that included a beautiful pass to Dest, who made an amazing run and even better inch-perfect cross off his head. Otherwise, Pulisic drew defenders but not much else. He suffered from the same heavy touch that Weah and Robinson suddenly developed out of nowhere. He also keeps putting his corner kicks right to the first defender. McKinney, Dest, Ream, Turner, and Adams had great games; I have very low expectations for Sargent, so I was pleasantly surprised with his holdup play, although he's the last person I expect to put the ball in the net; Musah, Carter Vickers were hit and miss; everyone else played poorly by their standards.
And then there's Berhalter's Pete-Carroll-prevent-defense-FS strategy of subbing literally all of your offense off the field with over 20 minutes left to play and up by only one. I was 100% sure that Iran would equalize--one of their flops in the box was eventually going to convince the wef--and there would be nobody left on the field capable of scoring and no subs left to make. I absolutely hate packing it in to protect a single goal lead, as I've seen it blow up in a team's face a million times. With nearly every threatening player on the bench, the US suddenly couldn't maintain possession at all and were left absorbing wave after wave of attacks. Berhalter got away with playing with fire there, and I was yelling at a screen.
I found myself googling "what's the fewest number of goals scored by a team that advanced past the group stage" after the game. Mathematically, that number could be zero, but so far I haven't read of a team that's pulled that off. TrumpSad.gif. -
Other non-Euro teamDeutschland Aus!
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FranceSpain happy to force Germany out while not being drawn into the quarterfinals against Brazil
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ArgentinaThere was a hot minute there where both Spain and Germany were going to be eliminated, then Germany took the lead again. That would have been awesome.
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France
Japan beat both of them.1to392831weretaken said:There was a hot minute there where both Spain and Germany were going to be eliminated, then Germany took the lead again. That would have been awesome.
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BrazilI hope all the American fans who thought we could compete are enjoying watching a REAL football team kick our ass with superior finishing ability.
Next time will be different LOL -
France
Need a new corchcoronabruin said:I hope all the American fans who thought we could compete are enjoying watching a REAL football team kick our ass with superior finishing ability.
Next time will be different LOL -
France
Need bigger and stronger forwards, too. But a new coach is #1 on the list of things that need to changehardhat said:
Need a new corchcoronabruin said:I hope all the American fans who thought we could compete are enjoying watching a REAL football team kick our ass with superior finishing ability.
Next time will be different LOL -
Other non-Euro team2026 will be different!!!!!1!!!!1!!!!
As host we don’t even have to qualify. -
France
World Cup Championship Coach Dan Lanninghardhat said:
Need a new corchcoronabruin said:I hope all the American fans who thought we could compete are enjoying watching a REAL football team kick our ass with superior finishing ability.
Next time will be different LOL -
FranceThe Dutch are GOOD at kickball
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Brazil
soccer is still the fourth sport here, maybe fifth behind hockey in places like MinnesotaBob_C said:
If the US actually cared we would dominate. Imagine the roster just taking backup WR’a and CB’s from NFL teams. Thus I don’t care.chuck said:
There's a lot of insufferable shit in soccer and that's one of the things. I've seen two teams basically playing with 10 defenders and no real interest in trying to score. Top that with an uptick in faking injuries and some of the most faggy refereeing (quick yellow cards) and I now think it's unwatchable.RaceBannon said:As I recall the world cup is marred by cautious play and ties in group play
Still bitter about My Mexicans getting robbed in 14 as well
I'm a casual fan and I'll watch some Euro leagues, but it's not displacing football, basketball, and beisbol any time soon. To be elite, you have to develop kids in academies and select teams at a young age. While there's a little of that, there's far more in beisbol and AAU basketball for, let's be honest, mostly black kids. I got really mad in 2014 when we lost to the Belgians, but I'm more at peace knowing the US is not a top ten team. I just enjoy the gaymes and hope for the best, but "we" aren't going to challenge Brazil, Argentina, Germany (I know they're out, but they'll be back), France etc. any time soon. -
France
International clubs are starting to invest in US academies, so maybe we'll have some actual professionals identify and recruit talent here.Fire_Marshall_Bill said:
soccer is still the fourth sport here, maybe fifth behind hockey in places like MinnesotaBob_C said:
If the US actually cared we would dominate. Imagine the roster just taking backup WR’a and CB’s from NFL teams. Thus I don’t care.chuck said:
There's a lot of insufferable shit in soccer and that's one of the things. I've seen two teams basically playing with 10 defenders and no real interest in trying to score. Top that with an uptick in faking injuries and some of the most faggy refereeing (quick yellow cards) and I now think it's unwatchable.RaceBannon said:As I recall the world cup is marred by cautious play and ties in group play
Still bitter about My Mexicans getting robbed in 14 as well
I'm a casual fan and I'll watch some Euro leagues, but it's not displacing football, basketball, and beisbol any time soon. To be elite, you have to develop kids in academies and select teams at a young age. While there's a little of that, there's far more in beisbol and AAU basketball for, let's be honest, mostly black kids. I got really mad in 2014 when we lost to the Belgians, but I'm more at peace knowing the US is not a top ten team. I just enjoy the gaymes and hope for the best, but "we" aren't going to challenge Brazil, Argentina, Germany (I know they're out, but they'll be back), France etc. any time soon.
That said, I don't think US will ever be able to do enough to be like Euro or S American teams where soccer is #1 and on the minds of everyone all the time. -
I'm basically down to football and women's golf for the eye candy.Fire_Marshall_Bill said:
soccer is still the fourth sport here, maybe fifth behind hockey in places like MinnesotaBob_C said:
If the US actually cared we would dominate. Imagine the roster just taking backup WR’a and CB’s from NFL teams. Thus I don’t care.chuck said:
There's a lot of insufferable shit in soccer and that's one of the things. I've seen two teams basically playing with 10 defenders and no real interest in trying to score. Top that with an uptick in faking injuries and some of the most faggy refereeing (quick yellow cards) and I now think it's unwatchable.RaceBannon said:As I recall the world cup is marred by cautious play and ties in group play
Still bitter about My Mexicans getting robbed in 14 as well
I'm a casual fan and I'll watch some Euro leagues, but it's not displacing football, basketball, and beisbol any time soon. To be elite, you have to develop kids in academies and select teams at a young age. While there's a little of that, there's far more in beisbol and AAU basketball for, let's be honest, mostly black kids. I got really mad in 2014 when we lost to the Belgians, but I'm more at peace knowing the US is not a top ten team. I just enjoy the gaymes and hope for the best, but "we" aren't going to challenge Brazil, Argentina, Germany (I know they're out, but they'll be back), France etc. any time soon. -
Other Euro teamOdd no soccer dorks posted yesterday. That was a good game. It even had the soccer version of a (almost) bench clearing brawl. I thought the Dutch were going to muscle their way through. They definitely would've cleaned house in a brawl as long as the 80k Argentina fans didn't stampede.
Shootouts are tense when happening but ultimately not a very satisfying end imo.
I'll take this over basketball. Or going outside in a foot of slush. -
Argentina
Bump. Looks like Qatar 1, Wahl nilwhatshouldicareabout said: -
FranceFrance v Argentina should be a good match
Can't wait -
FranceColonialists over the Colony
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Other Euro teamFrance is going to win this.
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Argentina
First and right.1to392831weretaken said:I think it goes back to South America this year. Brazil and Argentina are so loaded, edge to Argentina. France is loaded, too, but don't play as well as a team (Mbappe is amazing but a team cancer). Germany is as good as always, but edge to the SA teams.
One thing I fully expect: USA will drop at least one game they shouldn't, struggle to score (who's the goal scorer on that roster?), struggle to get out of the group, and get absolutely ass-blasted if they do. It doesn't help that England went from underwhelming to peaking at just the right (for them) time. It's sad, as on the surface it looks like USA is loaded with young, talented internationals. Look deeper, though, and none of them are doing shit. Pulisic is being overshadowed at Chelsea and not even starting half their matches. Dest got dropped from Barcelona. Adams and Aaronson both start for a shitty Leeds team but haven't done anything lately. McKennie struggles to see the field at Juventus. Weah is battling injuries and working from the bench at Lille. Musah has 0 goals and 2 assists for Valencia in 11 games. Ream is doing surprisingly well at Fulham, but next to him you see Robinson getting abused in every game highlight. -
ArgentinaShit throat right again
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FranceI can't be mad, that was one hell of a match
Best soccer game and one of the best games of any sport that I've ever seen -
Other Euro teamWell fuck. I just got spoiled right as the first 98 minutes ended lol. What a dumbass for coming here. Oh well. I'll still watch it.
I just came to complain about the 30+ minute lapses of retardation Argentina has every game. -
NetherlandsArgentina blew a 2-0 lead to Holland and 2-0/3-2 leads to France but held tough in PKs.
Impressive.
Mbappe in the process of snatching Goat from Messi. -
