World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

[Jimjamesak]

USWNT scores six in the first 45 minutes against New Zealand, but four are called back due to offsides. 2-0 at half.

Two were obvious. One was close, but still an easy call. One I thought might've actually been on, but a quick VAR check said it was still off.

With China and Zambia tying the USWNT are pretty much guaranteed of advancing barring some serious upsets.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

With China and Zambia tying the USWNT are pretty much guaranteed of advancing barring some serious upsets.

US finished it off 6-1 with the help of two own goals. They're at +2 goal differential now, while Australia fell to -1 after a 4-2 loss to Sweden. So the US can finish second with a draw in the next match.

Group F is full of craziness. 5-0 and 10-3 on the first match day, and today 4-4 between China and Zambia and 3-3 between Netherlands and China.

It looks like China went up 3-1, then Banda from Zambia got her second hat trick in two games to make it 4-3, then China got a penalty in the 84th to tie it.

 

[Jimjamesak]

US finished it off 6-1 with the help of two own goals. They're at +2 goal differential now, while Australia fell to -1 after a 4-2 loss to Sweden. So the US can finish second with a draw in the next match.

Group F is full of craziness. 5-0 and 10-3 on the first match day, and today 4-4 between China and Zambia and 3-3 between Netherlands and China.

It looks like China went up 3-1, then Banda from Zambia got her second hat trick in two games to make it 4-3, then China got a penalty in the 84th to tie it.

Oh how the mighty have fallen for China. 22 years ago they went 0-0 into kicks against the US in a final they probably should’ve won, now they can’t even beat Zambia.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Oh how the mighty have fallen for China. 22 years ago they went 0-0 into kicks against the US in a final they probably should’ve won, now they can’t even beat Zambia.

Just the other day, I said to someone, "Whatever happened to China? They were once the only team that could beat USA. They have completely fallen off the world stage."

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Oh how the mighty have fallen for China. 22 years ago they went 0-0 into kicks against the US in a final they probably should’ve won, now they can’t even beat Zambia.

Same with hockey. It’s always been USA or Canada, but up until the 2010s they hovered around 4th-7th. Now they’re down to 20th fighting to stay out of division II.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Gold Cup scheduling doesn't make sense. Opposite sides of the bracket play doubleheaders, meaning in the semis one team will have an extra day of rest. It's not like that was done because of how the quarterfinal match-ups were made either, because the Group A and B teams already came into the quarters with two more days rest than their Group C and D counterparts.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Just the other day, I said to someone, "Whatever happened to China? They were once the only team that could beat USA. They have completely fallen off the world stage."

USA, Norway, and China seemed like an unbreakable triumvirate circa 2000, then Germany won the World Cup in 2003 and Norway and China haven’t been close since.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Gold Cup scheduling doesn't make sense. Opposite sides of the bracket play doubleheaders, meaning in the semis one team will have an extra day of rest. It's not like that was done because of how the quarterfinal match-ups were made either, because the Group A and B teams already came into the quarters with two more days rest than their Group C and D counterparts.

*shrug* CONCACAF.

US beats Jamaica 1-0 and will play Qatar in the semifinals.

Canada beat Costa Rica and will play Mexico.

This has gotta be the first Gold Cup semifinals without a Central American or Caribbean team since probably 2000.

Edit: Nope, it’s the first time. 2000 had T&T in the semis along with Canada, Colombia, and Peru.

 

[Kepler]

*shrug* CONCACAF.

US beats Jamaica 1-0 and will play Qatar in the semifinals.

Canada beat Costa Rica and will play Mexico.

This has gotta be the first Gold Cup semifinals without a Central American or Caribbean team since probably 2000.

Edit: Nope, it’s the first time. 2000 had T&T in the semis along with Canada, Colombia, and Peru.

Qatar?

I'm not the best with geography, but....

 

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Qatar?

I'm not the best with geography, but....

This new sec alignment is really out of control

 

[Jimjamesak]

Qatar?

I'm not the best with geography, but....

Guest teams in tournaments is common thing in both CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. Qatar was actually supposed to play in the Copa America this year.

Granted, Qatar is in the Gold Cup for a reason…

 

[The Sicatoka]

This new sec alignment is really out of control

Ladies and Gentlemen, today's internet winner.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

USWNT and the Aussies play to a 0-0 draw. Outside of a disallowed Alex Morgan goal, where it appears she was offsides by a couple inches of her shoulder, there wasn’t much action.

Very much a Simpsons “holds it. Holds it! HOLDS IT!!!” match.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Not sure if Brazil was purposely trying to avoid the US or what… but coming into the match they were only behind the Netherlands by two in goal differential to win the group. Playing Zambia, who gave up 14 goals in the first two games, and they only managed a 1-0 win despite Zambia playing with ten and a backup goalie for almost 80 minutes.

 

[Jimjamesak]

USWNT and the Aussies play to a 0-0 draw. Outside of a disallowed Alex Morgan goal, where it appears she was offsides by a couple inches of her shoulder, there wasn’t much action.

Very much a Simpsons “holds it. Holds it! HOLDS IT!!!” match.

And, of course, everyone is blaming the coach (because our *sniff* brave gals could never be wrong) for “picking the wrong team”. Which is ridiculous because a) it’s the same team that just won the World Cup and b) like he had any choice on what players to take anyway (read up on the Women’s CBA and the contract system people).

 

[Jimjamesak]

Not sure if Brazil was purposely trying to avoid the US or what… but coming into the match they were only behind the Netherlands by two in goal differential to win the group. Playing Zambia, who gave up 14 goals in the first two games, and they only managed a 1-0 win despite Zambia playing with ten and a backup goalie for almost 80 minutes.

They were already behind on goal difference to the high powered Dutch, who were playing a desperate Chinese team. Given that the chances of passing the Dutch were slim, the chance to avoid the US, and conserve energy given the schedule, it’s not a surprise they backed off.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

And, of course, everyone is blaming the coach (because our *sniff* brave gals could never be wrong) for “picking the wrong team”. Which is ridiculous because a) it’s the same team that just won the World Cup and b) like he had any choice on what players to take anyway (read up on the Women’s CBA and the contract system people).

I don’t know why anyone would’ve expected anything different out of this match. The Aussies could’ve played for second place, but losing would’ve opened up the slight chance that Zambia or China pull an upset and knock them out. It was beneficial for both teams to kick it around for 90 minutes.

 

[Jimjamesak]

I don’t know why anyone would’ve expected anything different out of this match. The Aussies could’ve played for second place, but losing would’ve opened up the slight chance that Zambia or China pull an upset and knock them out. It was beneficial for both teams to kick it around for 90 minutes.

Because when you beat a team 13-0 and celebrate it, some people tend to expect that to happen every time thereafter. Their audience has come to expect dominance and bust out the pitchforks when it doesn’t happen.

(And, when it doesn’t happen, it’s never the players’ fault)

 

[Kepler]

And, of course, everyone is blaming the coach (because our *sniff* brave gals could never be wrong) for “picking the wrong team”. Which is ridiculous because a) it’s the same team that just won the World Cup and b) like he had any choice on what players to take anyway (read up on the Women’s CBA and the contract system people).

Jesus fuck, your hatred of our women's soccer team rivals my hatred of our men's basketball team. I didn't think that was possible.

Whichever player shot you down, stop carrying that -- I'm sure she's a lesbian.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Jesus fuck, your hatred of our women's soccer team rivals my hatred of our men's basketball team. I didn't think that was possible.

Whichever player shot you down, stop carrying that -- I'm sure she's a lesbian.

But Jim is right. The coach's ability to pick a team is severely hampered by the CBA and the budget, because many players get paid their salary whether they make the team or not. Which is why the USWNT "ages" out every so many years and doesn't perform as well. Look at Abby Wambach's final year. She never should have been on that team. Another reason why this whole equal pay thing with soccer is complete BS filled with numerous lies from the players.