OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

[OldEngland]

Maybe so, I didnt know that rule einher; … but the offsides BS is out there too.

Maybe just on free Kicks & Not on corners, but it seems like D Manipulation and not „fair Play“ to me (the non-Fan Soccer Fan).

….All the defenders run away from own goal at last minute to leave any possible scorers in offsides.

Sorta like NED did to SWE (or SWE did to themselves ) yesterday.

Cant find a real good video view, but as I recall live it was like 5 NED guys were all within 50 cm of the SWE line but just kind of stayed or moved a little bit faster than the swedes away from goal. Just enough to make them ALL offsides.

Neth was clearly 1-2 skill Levels above sweden ( looked Like Pros playing div II College to my-unknowledgeable-self.

But I think other than a 2-3 m region from the goal line and the area outside the Penalty Box, it should be on the D to match up with the O and not the O to stay behind the D.

The offside rule is always fun and is a skill for both attack and defence.
As an attacker you know a defence may try this, and you have to time your run accordingly, either at a free kick or in open play. A well organised defence with excellent communication can step up together and pull it off very effectively. However a crafty attacker can time a run to beat the offside trap, and travel through the line just after the ball is passed and be clean through on goal with just the keeper to beat. It helps to have a really intelligent passer in the midfield as well.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

The thing that makes baseball more exciting is the anticipation on every single pitch, which could be nothing or a big hit or play.

I would say that’s the same for soccer.
Every breakout could be thwarted, or end in a spectacular strike. The problem is 95% of the time it ends in nothing, but the anticipation is still there.

 

[OldEngland]

Nobody in their right mind thinks the Americans can win this. But Poch is doing what Herb Brooks did. We are not playing to make the quarters, we are not playing to make the semis. We are playing to win the whole damn thing. Poch keeps telling them they can. They might just start to believe it.

Poch is an excellent coach and manager. The main criticism has always been that he has never really won anything,

A host nation has only won the world cup once in the last 40 years, but reaching the semis is relatively common in the laat 20 years.

Looking at the draw (which isn't finalised) the US might get Norway or Belgium in the last 16, Spain in the quarters, and one of France, Germany or Netherlands in the semis. It's a gauntlet of high quality european sides. Brazil, Argentina, England and Portugal all sit on the other side of the draw if matches go with the favourites.

 

[1960Pats]

I would say that’s the same for soccer.
Every breakout could be thwarted, or end in a spectacular strike. The problem is 95% of the time it ends in nothing, but the anticipation is still there.

Very similar for sure and is why baseball and soccer are behind football and bball here.

 

[lancerman]

I would say that’s the same for soccer.
Every breakout could be thwarted, or end in a spectacular strike. The problem is 95% of the time it ends in nothing, but the anticipation is still there.

While this is true, you are still seeing effort and the whole team making plays, trying to steal the ball, getting in position for passes etc.

Also Soccer goes by so fast. A game never lasts more than 2 hours including halftime and penalty time

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

While this is true, you are still seeing effort and the whole team making plays, trying to steal the ball, getting in position for passes etc.

Also Soccer goes by so fast. A game never lasts more than 2 hours including halftime and penalty time

The length of baseball makes it boring. I agree. The shorter game is better.

 

[Guts]

Messi all time goal scorer in WC now
Starting to get some brady movement in the GOAT case

 

[TommyD4207]

Messi all time goal scorer in WC now
Starting to get some brady movement in the GOAT case

I legit told a couple people he passed Pele with his hat trick the other night.

Hard to argue otherwise - Pele was a no-show at a couple of WCs after all. I guess you can still argue Maradonna for his WC performances, but, like you said, it's really starting to get that insurmountable Brady evidence.

 

[Le Numéro Douze]

Messi all time goal scorer in WC now
Starting to get some brady movement in the GOAT case

Record might not even last the day though.

Mbappé is playing Irak at 5PM and is 3 behind. He could realistically catch up today.

 

[Guts]

Record might not even last the day though.

Mbappé is playing Irak at 5PM and is 3 behind. He could realistically catch up today.

He can but in resume level he's ways away
Needs a few champions league under his belt although if France wins the WC again with him as the key then one champions league would be enough

 

[Le Numéro Douze]

He can but in resume level he's ways away
Needs a few champions league under his belt although if France wins the WC again with him as the key then one champions league would be enough

Oh Mbappé is not close to Messi. I was just talking about the record. Messi breaking it changes nothing IMO, he was already the greatest by a good margin. It is just a nice feather in his cap... but it might not last long.

He did put some space between him and Mbappé at the 95th though

 

[Guts]

Oh Mbappé is not close to Messi. I was just talking about the record. Messi breaking it changes nothing IMO, he was already the greatest by a good margin. It is just a nice feather in his cap... but it might not last long.

He did put some space between him and Mbappé at the 95th though

I dont see any current player surpassing Messi for a while unless Yamal does something special

Mbappe needs Ballon D'Ors and Champions league and approaching 30

 

[Le Numéro Douze]

I dont see any current player surpassing Messi for a while unless Yamal does something special

Mbappe needs Ballon D'Ors and Champions league and approaching 30

Yamal is incredibly overrated, IMO.

 

[Guts]

Yamal is incredibly overrated, IMO.

I agree but im a hater as a Madrid fan so I cant be objective

 

[Triumph]

I would say that’s the same for soccer.
Every breakout could be thwarted, or end in a spectacular strike. The problem is 95% of the time it ends in nothing, but the anticipation is still there.

A 0 to 0 score in a baseball game is rare, but not in soccer.

Only 66 games have ended 0 - 0 in the history of baseball.

 

[raduray]

That second Messi goal, Wow! The setup, the relentless finish, greatness on display.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Yes, we set the standard in this but winning while looking completely ugly and stupid is becoming the norm.

I'm very grateful that all of the Celtics' titles had them at least mostly looking like champions. Bruins had '70 & '72. Pats almost made it in '76, Sox likewise ten years later.

 

[mosi's man]

I legit told a couple people he passed Pele with his hat trick the other night.

Hard to argue otherwise - Pele was a no-show at a couple of WCs after all. I guess you can still argue Maradonna for his WC performances, but, like you said, it's really starting to get that insurmountable Brady evidence.

Pele (and Brazil) won three World Cups during his tenure, the only player to ever do so. Hard to call him a no-show.... He had 6 goals in four games as a seventeen year old in his first Cup win in Sweden.

 

[Le Numéro Douze]

Mbappé needs two more to tie Messi. Scored 2 already.

 

[XLIX]

We should do that in the NFL. After both the offense and defense are lined up, the guy with the stick marking the line of scrimmage can suddenly bolt 2 yards in either direction. Everyone has 2 seconds to adjust.