World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

[Bob Gray]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

for you experts...

even with the world cup here it seems like there is constant transfer talk. so while the world cup is hyped beyond belief, is it fair to say when push comes to shove that these players care more about their club careers? i mean that's where they make their money. as an example, would someone like gerrard rather win an EPL/Champions league with liverpool or a world cup with england? i've always been fascinated by that.

I'd say they'd tend to rather win with their national team. But if it was the choice of one or the other, club would win out, as that's where the money is.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Nate Silver's 538 blog World Cup group stage predictions here.

You can click on any team and see the probabilities they calculated for each game outcome against the other three teams in the group.

[Looks at Mexico's odds of advancing]

[Looks at our odds of advancing]

Mother****er

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

[Looks at Mexico's odds of advancing]

[Looks at our odds of advancing]

Mother****er

Should've let Panama win.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

I'd say they'd tend to rather win with their national team. But if it was the choice of one or the other, club would win out, as that's where the money is.

I still disagree because I think you'll make bank with success at either. If you have an amazing world cup, you're getting a raise with your club.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Should've let Panama win.

on Men in Blazers, there was a great quote from Kyle Beckerman about this. Some of the panama players were bugging him, taking jabs asking why he was trying so hard when he had already qualified for the world cup. Beckerman's response: "Yes, we have qualified for brazil but theres no guarantee that I'm going to Brazil."

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

on Men in Blazers, there was a great quote from Kyle Beckerman about this. Some of the panama players were bugging him, taking jabs asking why he was trying so hard when he had already qualified for the world cup. Beckerman's response: "Yes, we have qualified for brazil but theres no guarantee that I'm going to Brazil."

There's that.

[Bob Gray]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

I still disagree because I think you'll make bank with success at either. If you have an amazing world cup, you're getting a raise with your club.

That's why I said if it either/or. If one had to be sacrificed, it'd be the national team at least in most cases. National pride is big, but a lot of these folks have made a ton of money from their club over the years.

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

for you experts...

even with the world cup here it seems like there is constant transfer talk. so while the world cup is hyped beyond belief, is it fair to say when push comes to shove that these players care more about their club careers? i mean that's where they make their money. as an example, would someone like gerrard rather win an EPL/Champions league with liverpool or a world cup with england? i've always been fascinated by that.

Well, I'm certainly no "expert".....

My guess is that, as a player, you would far rather win the World Cup for your country than to win a club championship. After all, you are a professional soccer player, it's your job to play soccer for your club. Lots of players play for clubs in countries where they have no emotional ties at all.

Playing for your country is a whole different matter. How many countries can't even make it through qualifying? and of those who qualify, how many can make it consistently out of the group stage?

While it might feel good for Didier Drogba to win a Champions League title with Chelsea, and he certainly was paid well enough for it, my suspicion is that if you offered him a chance to trade that title for a World Cup championship for Ivory Coast, he'd enthusiastically choose the latter. He very well might through some of his own money into the deal, it would mean that much to him.

Club titles come and go every year; a World Cup championship is a lifetime achievement.

[Patman]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Yeah, world cups have the potential to make you a legend. Otherwise, you're just another very good player.

Also, there's probably a huge lump of endorsement money if you do happen to win the world cup. Just sayin'.

[Bob Gray]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Yup. If you happen to be that player or two that score the winning goal or make the key save, you can cash in big. But most World Cup players don't achieve that level of fame.

[JF_Gophers]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Would winning the 2010 WC got Donovan on this year's team?

[Slap Shot]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Most would pick a WC title and I doubt it would be even close.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Would winning the 2010 WC got Donovan on this year's team?

Well, maybe if he did it singlehanded. Otherwise I'm still convinced that his sabbatical, attitude and whatever else was missing for him in San Francisco would have still done him in.

A more curious what-if is to think of what the team would look like if Davies was never in that car crash or if Stuart Holden could stay uninjured for a change.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Well, maybe if he did it singlehanded. Otherwise I'm still convinced that his sabbatical, attitude and whatever else was missing for him in San Francisco would have still done him in.

A more curious what-if is to think of what the team would look like if Davies was never in that car crash or if Stuart Holden could stay uninjured for a change.

Sigh, I remember when that story broke and my heart sank. The 2010 World Cup could have been an even bigger moment for American soccer if Davies had made better decisions.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Sigh, I remember when that story broke and my heart sank. The 2010 World Cup could have been an even bigger moment for American soccer if Davies had made better decisions.

He wouldn't have solved the back line that did us in against Ghana, but we might have been able to score another goal in regulation with him around.