World Soccer XXXI: Golden Generation?

[Jimjamesak]

Seattle GK Stefan Frei was taken off in an ambulance after a collision on a free kick. Knocked out cold and in a fencing position, just ugly.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Unsurprisingly, the USMNT looking awful against Mexico in the Gold Cup Final.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Somehow Mexico still needed two very good goals to win. Neither of those were wide open gimmes.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Somehow Mexico still needed two very good goals to win. Neither of those were wide open gimmes.

It was one way traffic after the first five minutes. The US was not winning that game no matter what happened. The fact that the players and Poch spent time complaining about the referee in the press instead of contemplating why they couldn’t get a shot off says everything.

 

[SonofSouthie]

This morning I was reading about the US coach complaining about a handball that wasn't called. I missed the play during the game, but saw the reply on PTI this afternoon and thought it was a good no call, and I wouldn't have it called it either.
Thoughts? I'm looking at you JJAK.

 

[Jimjamesak]

This morning I was reading about the US coach complaining about a handball that wasn't called. I missed the play during the game, but saw the reply on PTI this afternoon and thought it was a good no call, and I wouldn't have it called it either.
Thoughts? I'm looking at you JJAK.

Yeah it was a good no call per the Laws as they’re written, he was falling and using a supporting hand.

Now, is that part of the Laws kinda stupid, that’s a different discussion.

 

[Slap Shot]

Why MLS Can’t Keep Its Best American Talent And What Needs to Change | Deadspin.com

The FIFA Club World Cup proved MLS can compete... but only to a point. With outdated salary rules and limited free agency, American stars like Patrick Agyemang are being driven abroad for basic financial security.

deadspin.com

 

[Jimjamesak]

Why MLS Can’t Keep Its Best American Talent And What Needs to Change | Deadspin.com

The FIFA Club World Cup proved MLS can compete... but only to a point. With outdated salary rules and limited free agency, American stars like Patrick Agyemang are being driven abroad for basic financial security.

deadspin.com

This has come up in so many discussions in the last few weeks and I have the same thoughts every time:

If you jack up the salary cap by $10-20 million per team that’s an additional $300-600 million in spending. Where is that money coming from? Because the owners aren’t going to just pay for it themselves, there needs to be revenue coming in, like say ticket prices (you ever wonder why NHL ticket prices are so high?).

Also, young American players aren’t leaving for European strictly for more money, there are teams willing to pay them. They’re leaving because there’s a pressure of “if you want to make the national team for the World Cup you have to play in Europe.” They’re being told, and have been told for a decade plus, that they have to go to Europe to further their career and plenty players have leapt at the first offer and ruined their careers (looking at you Matt Turner and Matt Miazga). Money isn’t everything.

 

[MichVandal]

This has come up in so many discussions in the last few weeks and I have the same thoughts every time:

If you jack up the salary cap by $10-20 million per team that’s an additional $300-600 million in spending. Where is that money coming from? Because the owners aren’t going to just pay for it themselves, there needs to be revenue coming in, like say ticket prices (you ever wonder why NHL ticket prices are so high?).

Also, young American players aren’t leaving for European strictly for more money, there are teams willing to pay them. They’re leaving because there’s a pressure of “if you want to make the national team for the World Cup you have to play in Europe.” They’re being told, and have been told for a decade plus, that they have to go to Europe to further their career and plenty players have leapt at the first offer and ruined their careers (looking at you Matt Turner and Matt Miazga). Money isn’t everything.

Sounds a lot like open wheel racing in the US.

The strongest desire is F1 and all of the feeder series. So Indycar gets the retirees or the ones who don't get past F1 (or some former F1 drivers who just never performed). Sometimes, drivers come with clear intent, and then have an amazing career (Scott Dixon). But mostly it's second to not just F1 but F2 as well.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Watching the Women’s Euros it’s fascinating seeing the gap between the top 4-6 teams and the rest in the group stage. Not really great for a 16 team tournament. Though, to be fair, the groups were pretty unbalanced.

 

[SonofSouthie]

Been watching the Women's Euro's too. Really looking forward to match 2 & 4.
Wednesday, July 16
QF match 1: Norway vs Italy — 3pm ET

Thursday, July 17
QF match 2: Sweden vs England— 3pm ET

Friday, July 18
QF match 3: Spain vs Switzerland — 3pm ET

Saturday, July 19
QF match 4: France vs Germany — 3pm ET

 

[Spartanforlife4]

There's been an article floating around the last five days that keeps popping up saying FIFA is contemplating moving the WC because of visa issues for visiting fans. Doesn't seem to be legit because none of the major sites are picking it up, but a couple of the sites I checked did appear to be legitimate news sites so I'm not sure what the original source is or why legitimate papers seem to be publishing it.

Pretty sure it's fake because there's 0% chance that would happen due to $$$. And I think the only banned country that qualified is Iran so it's definitely not a chunk of teams being affected.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Last week, at the All-Star game, Don Garber didn’t fully announce but pretty much confirmed that the MLS schedule will be moving to a fall-spring schedule at some point in the near future.

 

[Slap Shot]

Last week, at the All-Star game, Don Garber didn’t fully announce but pretty much confirmed that the MLS schedule will be moving to a fall-spring schedule at some point in the near future.

Is there a scenario in this in which the Loons (for instance) would have a lot fewer home games Dec - Feb and/or might host some matches at US Bank?

 

[Jimjamesak]

Is there a scenario in this in which the Loons (for instance) would have a lot fewer home games Dec - Feb and/or might host some matches at US Bank?

AFAIK nothing about the logistics has been mentioned so we really don’t know. But I don’t see any scenario where there wouldn’t be some kind of winter break like Germany does or even a split season like Mexico.

I got the impression that the owners want to make the move for whatever reason (the transfer window excuse that has been mentioned, pressure from Apple, pressure from sponsors) but they don’t know how to exactly do it.

 

[SonofSouthie]

Las Vegas will host the 2026 World Cup draw on Dec. 5, multiple sources have told ESPN.

Sources told ESPN that Vegas is the chosen city after venues in Canada and Mexico were ruled out for the newly expanded tournament, which will be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico with 48 teams instead of 32.

Sources have told ESPN that the front-running venue is the Sphere, which opened two years ago, features a 54,000-square-meter screen and has capacity for 17,500 people.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

AFAIK nothing about the logistics has been mentioned so we really don’t know. But I don’t see any scenario where there wouldn’t be some kind of winter break like Germany does or even a split season like Mexico.

I got the impression that the owners want to make the move for whatever reason (the transfer window excuse that has been mentioned, pressure from Apple, pressure from sponsors) but they don’t know how to exactly do it.

How does Apple, or anyone, gain from it? Fall-spring season runs into NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and NHL.

Premier League and the other Euro leagues work well in the US because they have their own timeslot, whether its morning on weekends or afternoon on weekdays. I don't think anyone likes where college football is going but that's going to continue to dominate Saturdays over anything else.

 

[Jimjamesak]

How does Apple, or anyone, gain from it? Fall-spring season runs into NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and NHL.

Premier League and the other Euro leagues work well in the US because they have their own timeslot, whether its morning on weekends or afternoon on weekdays. I don't think anyone likes where college football is going but that's going to continue to dominate Saturdays over anything else.

Playoffs and its timing. Already a chunk of the season is going up against football. The thinking is it would be better for the playoffs to take place in May rather than November/December.