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World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

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Aussies advance against France after yet another 0-0 game goes to penalties. Australia took this one 7-6 in 10 rounds. Once again my new favorite loses.

Colombia had about five minutes of euphoria against England after a floater from outside the box was able to beat out the height of Earps in goal. I'm always surprised that shot isn't attempted more since many goalies can't reach the cross bar, which means there's almost always a literal unstoppable shot. But England got one just before half and then another midway thru the second half. I was impressed with Colombia this tournament. They're ranked third in CONMEBOL, but they certainly looked closer to Brazil than Argentina these past couple weeks.

Spain vs Sweden
Australia vs England

I'd like to see Spain vs Australia because I like Spain's pace and it would be cool to see the hosts make it to the final. But that means it'll be Sweden-England.
 
Chelsea and Brighton have agreed a British transfer record fee of ?115 million ($146m) for midfielder Moises Caicedo, sources told ESPN.
He didn't want to play for Brighton so they got a nice piece of change for him.
 
US Referee Tori Penso will be the Referee for Australia v England. It’s the first time an American referee will be on a semifinal at the Women’s World Cup (mostly because this is the first time the USWNT is not playing in the semifinals).

The other American referee Katja Koroleva probably still has an outside chance at the final.
 
Jimjamesak said:
US Referee Tori Penso will be the Referee for Australia v England. It’s the first time an American referee will be on a semifinal at the Women’s World Cup (mostly because this is the first time the USWNT is not playing in the semifinals).

The other American referee Katja Koroleva probably still has an outside chance at the final.
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Wouldn’t they have always had a chance for the other semi? Or does FIFA not want it to look like a ref is trying to set up a preferred opponent for the final?

Meanwhile the IIHF’s policy seems to be “how can we have as many Americans officiate Canada and vice versa” and on the women's side they just decide to make the crew two and two instead of a purely neutral four.
 
Spartanforlife4 said:
Wouldn’t they have always had a chance for the other semi? Or does FIFA not want it to look like a ref is trying to set up a preferred opponent for the final?

Meanwhile the IIHF’s policy seems to be “how can we have as many Americans officiate Canada and vice versa” and on the women's side they just decide to make the crew two and two instead of a purely neutral four.
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For pretty much any tournament if your country makes the semifinals, you’re going home.

International soccer referee assigning is a weird mix of ability, optics, and politics. Ability in the sense that the referee obviously has to be able to referee the game. Optics and Politics are kind of an indistinguishable mix though. So yeah, an American referee could’ve absolutely been on the other semifinal (and mind you, there have been many times where an American referee was arguably the best in the world at that time). But it would’ve been really bad optics and likely would’ve ruffled some political feathers.

There’s a whole list of weird protocols and traditions and “rules”. Some are historical, like an English referee will almost never work an Argentina match (the bad feelings of the Falklands still run deep). Some aren’t really followed anymore, like where the referee should be from a completely different Confederation from the two teams. Some are just bizarre, like is a referee who’s native language is the same as one of teams an advantage?
 
A little surprised when I read this, The leading scorer among those still alive in the World Cup is a defender — Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt (four goals).
 
SonofSouthie said:
A little surprised when I read this, The leading scorer among those still alive in the World Cup is a defender — Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt (four goals).
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I think at least two of those are off corners from their game against Italy where it was an auto goal whenever it crossed the end line.
 
The Messi Show travels to Philadelphia tomorrow as Inter Miami plays the Union in the Leagues Cup Semifinals. Nashville and Monterrey in the other one.

Kind of important as the top three teams (yes there’s a third place match) gain entry to the CONCACAF Champions Cup (though Monterrey is already qualified) so the semifinal winners will qualify.
 
SonofSouthie said:
It was crazy. Whooping it up when Spain scored; went to get a bowl of cereal, came back and Sweden was celebrating, and then back to woo-hoo.
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Didn’t have too much of a rooting interest, though I like watching Spain’s style of play far more so that’s nice for Sunday’s game. I’m just glad it got out of the scoreless draw doldrums that was starting to become too frequent in the knockout stage. I don’t mind going to penalties but let’s at least get the ball in the net.
 
Spartanforlife4 said:
Didn’t have too much of a rooting interest, though I like watching Spain’s style of play far more so that’s nice for Sunday’s game. I’m just glad it got out of the scoreless draw doldrums that was starting to become too frequent in the knockout stage. I don’t mind going to penalties but let’s at least get the ball in the net.
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Sweden does love its low scoring games. Thankfully we’re nowhere near 1990 World Cup levels.
 
Spain is definitely speedrunning women’s soccer right now. Went from never qualifying before to Group Stage in 2015, Round of 16 in 2019 (though TBF they probably advance if they don’t play the USWNT), and the Final in 2023. The scary part is that you can argue that they really haven’t fully committed to the women’s game either.
 
Miami leading Philly 4-1. That sound you hear is CONCACAF executives furiously playing with themselves while they plan what to do with the incoming Messi money.

(Miami qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions Cup next year with it's Leagues Cup finish)
 
The Messi Show goes to Nashville as Nashville beats Monterrey 2-0.

Nashville v Miami in the Leagues Cup Final.
 
Why did today's match start at 6(eastern)and yesterdays at 4. I'm getting out of my jammies at 6 to get ready for and go to work and have to watch score updates on the 'puter.
 
Fun referee stat: Seven games by American referees in the tournament, not one had a review sent down by VAR.
 
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