The Official Football (Soccer) Thread (v. It's starting again!)

[senecadawg2]

The US is simply not ready for that level of competition. Need more work on the fundamentals.

[The Trooper]

need a better support system from youth on up.  it is not the team. they will be a 10-20 ranked team until we build a program. been 20+ years in this current system and we will not be elite until we establish what other countries do.

[Kwyjibo]

Germany got their well deserved win and could/should have made more than one goal. Müller alone had chances for three or four goals.

Congrats to Croatia for beating Spain, didn't see that one coming. Now Spain vs. Italy in the next round sounds more like semi-final or final. Could be a classic.

[Nekov]

Aaaaand Argentina makes it to the final of the Copa América 

Great game indeed


Murica's face when Messi scores an impossible goal

need a better support system from youth on up.  it is not the team. they will be a 10-20 ranked team until we build a program. been 20+ years in this current system and we will not be elite until we establish what other countries do.

Agreed. I believe Kilnsman has addresed this but it's complicated. They way all American sports are set is you base your youth on high school and college and that's not how it works in the rest of the world. I'm not sure how that can be changed.

[The Trooper]

Aaaaand Argentina makes it to the final of the Copa América 

Great game indeed


Murica's face when Messi scores an impossible goal

need a better support system from youth on up.  it is not the team. they will be a 10-20 ranked team until we build a program. been 20+ years in this current system and we will not be elite until we establish what other countries do.

Agreed. I believe Kilnsman has addresed this but it's complicated. They way all American sports are set is you base your youth on high school and college and that's not how it works in the rest of the world. I'm not sure how that can be changed.

agree 100%. we in the united states do not build youth programs as Europe, S. America etc. trust me there is talent. it is just not used properly. I come from a town and played soccer with 3 guys that were mainstays of the national team in the 90's. again talent is there..........it is just not used properly

[Scorpion]

Hungary - Portugal is insane.

[Evermind]

Yeah, pretty awesome and intense so far.

[Tomislav95]

Hungary - Portugal is insane.

15 minutes until the end of match and everyone in group F still can advance to the next stage

[Evermind]

Hahahaha and Iceland scored a last minute goal. Portugal is third in their group.

[Scorpion]

Awesome.

[Train of Naught]

That last minute goal was awesome

My prediction for this group is COMPLETELY upside down with the actual standings Austria, Portugal, Iceland, Hungary, wtf man!

Jist saw Ronaldos first goal tho, that was simply legendary.

[Scorpion]

Yeah, for all the criticism he gets, he's still a world-class player. That goal... 

[Tomislav95]

Croatia vs Portugal in 1/8 finals

[chknptpie]

Iceland is one of my new favorite teams.
https://twitter.com/rvkgrapevine
"You gotta smite for your right to play in the next round"
"THE TIME OF SMITING AUSTRIA INTO THE JAWS OF OBLIVION ON OUR MARCH TO CERTAIN VICTORY IS NIGH"

[senecadawg2]

Too bad for me that England and Iceland have to play one another, I was hoping for both of them to advance as far as possible.

[MirrorMask]

I root in order for:
Italy (I'm italian)
Germany (Love Germany as a country, been there several times)
Iceland (I always pick an underdog in these tournaments).

So far, so good.

[Train of Naught]

For me it went

Spain
Croatia
Austria (that dream is dead now)
Italy
Iceland

And now after seeing the group matches pan out and how every team performed:

Spain (gotta go with the home country, and I still adore their playing style)
Croatia (honestly a great team, getting #1 secured them the on paper easier route towards the finals so if theres a year for this country to make finals, its right now)
Italy (despite playing against Spain, I will root for them in case they beat Spain because Ive always loved Italian football, and Imglad theres no Balotelli this time around to destroy my love for their team.)

[Kwyjibo]

I'm still rooting for Germany but if they don't make it, Iceland should win the cup (but not when they have to face Germany in the semi-final  ).

Spain vs. Italy: anything can happen but I think Spain will get through and then it's tough for anyone to beat them. France maybe, but their performance so far didn't really convince me. England will have a hard time beating Iceland and I don't think they can go much further.

On the other half of the tourney I think Belgium and Croatia are the two most likely candidates for a semi-final. Sure anything can happen, but I don't see any of the other teams as strong as these two.

[Xanthul]

Spain (gotta go with the home country, and I still adore their playing style)

France is the home country

I don't trust our team (Spain) at all, our manager is too soft and doesn't react in time during matches. The performance vs Croacia was pathetic, the players seemed not to care at all and Vicente del Bosque did nothing about it. Hopefully I'm wrong and the players wake up now that the tough matches are coming.

[Train of Naught]

Yeah I guess we'll see. I agree that the second half was terrible, and in the game against Czech Republic they simply couldn't finish any chances, but their ball control and passing skills are still top notch so I think there's only some small issues to be fixed. I'm no expert though.

And what's up with leaving Koke on the bench all the time?

[Tomislav95]

Iniesta is the key player. If Italians don't close him down you'll have enough chances.

[RoeDent]

As the last 16 draw turns out, we're probably going to have a surprise finalist that very few would have predicted to get there. All the traditional heavyweights (Germany, Italy, Spain, France etc.) are in the bottom half of the draw. It's really fascinating.

[Tomislav95]

I'm rooting for Croatia, of course but it seems Belgium plays better and better, it wouldn't surprise me if they went to the final. I think top semi-final will be Belgium vs Croatia/Portugal.

[MirrorMask]

As the last 16 draw turns out, we're probably going to have a surprise finalist that very few would have predicted to get there. All the traditional heavyweights (Germany, Italy, Spain, France etc.) are in the bottom half of the draw. It's really fascinating.

Well, it's only their fault if Spain and England kinda sucked but it's weird to have the top half of the round of 16 made up of 8 nations that together didn't win I believe a single thing at all. While all the world and european champions, including the current ones, are in the other half.

Fascinating on one hand, anticlimatic on the other, all the excellent matches will happen before the final and then you'll have a David vs. Goliath kind of final, I predict it will be Croatia, Belgium or even Wales on the other side.

[Evermind]

Just saying it would be really cool to see Wales in the final.

[Kwyjibo]

European Championship Final 2016: WALES vs. ICELAND 

I'm calling it first.

[Evermind]

European Championship Final 2016: WALES vs. ICELAND 

I'm calling it first.

That would've been super awesome. My dream final or something like that.

[MirrorMask]

I would sign up for Italy's defeat if that actually happens.

[senecadawg2]

Anyone who missed Shaqiri's goal against Poland must check it out 

https://screengrabber.deadspin.com/shaqiri-golazo-draws-switzerland-level-1782604845?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

[RoeDent]

Shaqiri's goal was spectacular; easily the best in the tournament so far (and there have been a few nominees for that).

Also, unfortunate way for Northern Ireland to be eliminated, but I'm so happy that Wales progress.

[Train of Naught]

My favorite is definitely Ronaldo's backheel but Shaqiri's goal is up there with the best of the tournament definitely. Too bad the Swiss got eliminated, like their team way more than Poland. I missed the game though, so I don't know who played better.

Felt really bad for that McCauley dude, Bale put him in a spot where he didn't really have any option so he had to try and block the ball because there was a plyer right behind him to chip the ball in if he wouldn't be in the way. No shame in his OG. I know I "should" be supporting Aaron Ramsey because he's in Arsenal but I don't like Wales that much actually. This game was no exception.

[Tomislav95]

Croatia vs Portugal is very closed game so far, probably very boring for neutrals Portugal really did great with those few changes, especially with William.

[Scorpion]

Holy shit, all those games today have been pretty tedious to watch, the second half of Poland - Switzerland being an exception maybe. And yes, Shaqiri's goal was spectacular.

[Elite]

Croatia - Portugal goes into history as the most abonimable game of football ever to be played at a major tournament. Jesus Christ, what a fucking drag that was.

And I have this complete detest for the Portuguese football team as well, which makes it even worse.

[Tomislav95]

It really sucks Croatia is out this early. It's also sad they conceded a goal in a way they avoided in whole match by retaining possession. They should've play more attacking football today, this was simply not good enoug.
I hope Portugal won't become Greece 2004.