World Soccer XXXI: Golden Generation?

[ticapnews]

FRA 2 - 0 MAR
Dembele 66'

 

[ticapnews]

YouGov live poll of Americans

If you were a goalkeeper in a FIFA World Cup match, how likely do you think it is that a player taking a penalty kick against you would score?
Definitely score: 33%
Probably: 26%
Probably not: 9%
Definitely not: 7%

If you took a penalty kick in a FIFA World Cup match, how likely do you think it is that you would score?
Definitely score: 7%
Probably: 13%
Probably not: 22%
Definitely not: 34%

 

[Jimjamesak]

YouGov live poll of Americans

If you were a goalkeeper in a FIFA World Cup match, how likely do you think it is that a player taking a penalty kick against you would score?
Definitely score: 33%
Probably: 26%
Probably not: 9%
Definitely not: 7%

If you took a penalty kick in a FIFA World Cup match, how likely do you think it is that you would score?
Definitely score: 7%
Probably: 13%
Probably not: 22%
Definitely not: 34%

That’s a surprising amount of people with realistic expectations of themselves.

 

[Jimjamesak]

I did see that the media and online rabble went through the “we need to get rid of pay to play!” phase yet again. And yet again no one has offered a realistic solution to the problem.

 

[MichVandal]

I did see that the media and online rabble went through the “we need to get rid of pay to play!” phase yet again. And yet again no one has offered a realistic solution to the problem.

There is no way to stop that now. But the is does need a different path to some degree of a future. And it’s not as if it’s impossible, since both FB and basketball had paths to the pros where a trip through the various programs are not needed.

It covers a ton of sports, hockey, soccer, tennis, volleyball, even baseball. It sucks that our system misses so much potential talent.

 

[Jimjamesak]

There is no way to stop that now. But the is does need a different path to some degree of a future. And it’s not as if it’s impossible, since both FB and basketball had paths to the pros where a trip through the various programs are not needed.

It covers a ton of sports, hockey, soccer, tennis, volleyball, even baseball. It sucks that our system misses so much potential talent.

I think most people agree:

1. It’s a bad system.
2. Nobody wants to be the one paying for it.

That’s the crux of the problem that no one has figured out, who’s going to pay for it.

 

[Jimjamesak]

This is what I mean when I say no one offers a realistic solution.

Lalas likes to shift the goalposts and hit the same talking points, but the fact of the matter is there are countries who manage to provide top-tier youth coaching for free -- and their staff get paid just fine.

Longtime Dan Patrick Show producer Seton O’Connor put forward the example of CF Damm in Barcelona, which is run by the Damm brewing company and has produced dozens of top-flight players.

“The answer is right in front of Alexi Lalas’ face and he somehow never sees it,” O’Connor said. “With the USMNT crashing out of the World Cup, people are talking again about fixing youth soccer in the United States, so the conversation has turned to free academies.

"Alexi Lalas usually replies with, ‘Who’s going to pay for all this free soccer?' “

Now let’s think about American companies. Apple, Google, Amazon, Nike, Tesla, SpaceX, their resources dwarf Damm’s. And several of them have also benefitted from stuff like government contracts and tax incentives and other forms of public support over the years.

“So if public policy can be used to support already-successful companies keep growing, why couldn’t some of that success be reinvested into developing the next generation of American soccer players? Just a portion, just a small piece of it.

"Damm already proves that the model works. Why are we asking who’s going to pay for all this free soccer rather than asking, ‘Why hasn’t a single American company stepped up that youth soccer is a cause worth backing?'”

O’Connor pointed out that there are benefits to the businesses as well.

“Why do companies think that buying 30 seconds of advertising creates more value than building the next generation of players? I feel like that’s something that a proud American and a proud capitalist who also loves soccer, like Alexi Lalas, could speak to," he added.

This is the kind of discussion that always happens in this discourse and we wonder why nothing actually changes?

 

[Spartanforlife4]

There is no way to stop that now. But the is does need a different path to some degree of a future. And it’s not as if it’s impossible, since both FB and basketball had paths to the pros where a trip through the various programs are not needed.

It covers a ton of sports, hockey, soccer, tennis, volleyball, even baseball. It sucks that our system misses so much potential talent.

Basketball is on the way, or already there, for pay to play. The elite guys are playing AAU going around the country. Now, a lot of the very top teams are subsidized by shoe companies, but there’s plenty of money even in a sport as cheap as basketball.

Football is the only one that truly seems to have a pathway without shelling out thousands of dollars, but that’s because it’s run through community leagues or middle schools and high schools where equipment is already provided. But even that is changing. Flag is gaining popularity and for nearly a decade now 7 on 7 has been increasing to the point there are leagues with teams traveling nationally to tournaments. So I won’t be surprised to see skill guys in football start to break away and only become elite through pay to play. Somehow they found a way to strip the expensive parts of football (equipment) and turn it into something even more expensive.

 

[ticapnews]

FIFA announce that it has overturned the four goals Belgium scored on Monday against the USMNT and Team USA will play Spain today. Also, FIFA have announced the suspension of Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Danny Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal ahead of the match. When reached for comment, Gianni Infantino said the decision had nothing to do with the phone call he received from his friend Donald or the suitcase of money found in his hotel room.

 

[ticapnews]

ESP 1 - 0 BEL
Fabian Ruiz 30"

 

[ticapnews]

ESP 1 - 1 BEL
De Ketelaere 41'

 

[MichVandal]

I think most people agree:

1. It’s a bad system.
2. Nobody wants to be the one paying for it.

That’s the crux of the problem that no one has figured out, who’s going to pay for it.

Maybe if we didn’t cut education money so much that decent athletics and art funding stayed as part of public education. Like it used to be. Make education great again.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Maybe if we didn’t cut education money so much that decent athletics and art funding stayed as part of public education. Like it used to be. Make education great again.

That would be very helpful to society and I agree with it, but it also wouldn’t help with soccer. Unless we’re opening sports specific schools ala the East Bloc with that money.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Spain is dominating everything but the scoreboard.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Spain is dominating everything but the scoreboard.

Incoming Belgium advance in penalties.

 

[ticapnews]

ESP 2 - 1 BEL
Merino 88'

 

[ticapnews]

Haaland hat trick would be nice...

 

[SonofSouthie]

South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams has died aged 25 after featuring in Bafana Bafana's run to the World Cup round of 32, the South African Football Players Union confirmed on Saturday.

Adams started two of South Africa's three group games and came off the bench in a 1-0 win over South Korea that sealed their place in the knockout rounds for the first time in their history on the evening of June 24.

He was an unused substitute when South Africa were knocked out of the tournament by Canada on June 28.

The South African Football Players Union and the Ministry of Sport, Arts & Culture confirmed his death on Saturday. The cause of death has not been confirmed.

 

[Jimjamesak]

South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams has died aged 25 after featuring in Bafana Bafana's run to the World Cup round of 32, the South African Football Players Union confirmed on Saturday.

Adams started two of South Africa's three group games and came off the bench in a 1-0 win over South Korea that sealed their place in the knockout rounds for the first time in their history on the evening of June 24.

He was an unused substitute when South Africa were knocked out of the tournament by Canada on June 28.

The South African Football Players Union and the Ministry of Sport, Arts & Culture confirmed his death on Saturday. The cause of death has not been confirmed.

He was also the player whose grandmother had died before the South Korea (I think) game.

Just horribly sad.

 

[ticapnews]

Anyone interested in joining me for the final? Seats in the Trophy Lounge are only $30,000. But I can only order six.

Or you can sit in the Champions Club with the peasants for only $22,500.