OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

[Guts]

We on to Belgium

 

[bormio]

Pepe with fresh legs did not impress. That’s your striker Monday.

 

[bormio]

Man that free kick was sweet

 

[jimnance]

I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

 

[lancerman]

I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

Yeah there's a chance.

 

[TommyD4207]

US needs the 2nd goal - do not trust them to keep a clean sheet

You're having a captain stone kinda day.

 

[bormio]

Bosnia tried to dirty the game up and got rewarded with a red card on Balogan. Intent does not always matter in soccer, and you have to be very body aware. You clatter into the back of someone’s leg, you are giving the ref carte blanche to red card you. Doesn’t always seem fair, but neither do a lot of handballs in the box called for arm in an ‘unnatural’ position.

 

[TommyD4207]

I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

Considering the US 1s have given up one goal in 3 games, and Belgium only beat Senegal due to Refball, I'm feeling pretty good about it.

 

[TommyD4207]

Bosnia tried to dirty the game up and got rewarded with a red card on Balogan. Intent does not always matter in soccer, and you have to be very body aware. You clatter into the back of someone’s leg, you are giving the ref carte blanche to red card you. Doesn’t always seem fair, but neither do a lot of handballs in the box called for arm in an ‘unnatural’ position.

Holy ********, batman. "Intent" is literally why Red Cards exist.

 

[lancerman]

Holy ********, batman. "Intent" is literally why Red Cards exist.

Intent doesn't matter here. Here is the official rule in the 2025-2026 laws of the game manual by the International Football Association Board, which FIFA falls under.

A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play

Serious Foul Play is a red card offense. Has nothing to do with intent. It's to prevent recklessness that can injure someone, which is effectively what happened.

And before someone asks, yes Messi should have had a red card.

 

[bormio]

Holy ********, batman. "Intent" is literally why Red Cards exist.

You try to hurt someone, you’re gonna get red-carded. But some dangerous fouls do not require intent. Back of the leg is considered dangerous play. Even the color guy on the broadcast was worried when he saw it replayed. It is like the penalty that decided the Belgium game. Everyone yelling it wasn’t intentional. But as Klinsmann said - but he took him down. It’s a penalty. ( Then he said “I’m a striker”).

 

[Guts]

I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

Very good chance tbh
Belgium have been underwhelming and it's not their golden generation anymore that it was in "18 WC
they have Doku an aging De Bruyne and their best player is the goalkeeper

 

[XLIX]

That wasnt a red
Messi did the same ****

Yeah I saw that Messi play on X where people complained about his special treatment. It was the same thing; an inadvertent stepping on the ankle.

I guess Messi is the Patrick Mahomes of soccer….

 

[OldEngland]

I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

Yes, they have a good chance. Belgium are a dangerous team though, still fifa ranked 9th in the world. The bookies have it pretty much as a coin flip.

Belgium had a really bad nations league in 2024 and lost 5 out of 6, but are unbeaten in 14 games since. None of those 14 games included a top 10 team, except for a draw against mexico in a friendly, but they did beat the US 5-2 in March this year in a friendly.

A few years ago they had an incredible team and were actually fifa ranked no.1 in the world for 4 years 2018-22. They came 3rd in 2018, but that golden age never came close to its potential in terms of tournament success (which shows the rankings don't always reflect the best team). Lots of that team has retired or are pretty old now. They also haven't really turned it on at WC26, but they still have some real quality.

To me the US should win against Belgium given the home advantage. Spain and France would be a different matter though.

 

[TommyD4207]

Yeah I saw that Messi play on X where people complained about his special treatment. It was the same thing; an inadvertent stepping on the ankle.

I guess Messi is the Patrick Mahomes of soccer….

Well Messi didn't fall off a cliff when he hit 29...

 

[Mike the Brit]

That wasnt a red
Messi did the same ****

Disagree -- a stone cold red. The U.S. guy jumped and launched himself with his studs (cleats) raised. Reckless and dangerous. Either would be enough to get him sent off.

 

[Triumph]

A pregame commentor (I believe former player) noticed that the US team has a tougher time vs European teams.

Bosnia gave them a game, so its likely end of the line for USA. Belgium had 5 shots on goal and 629 passes vs Senegal.

 

[Guts]

Disagree -- a stone cold red. The U.S. guy jumped and launched himself with his studs (cleats) raised. Reckless and dangerous. Either would be enough to get him sent off.

im being a messi hater let me be lol

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

A pregame commentor (I believe former player) noticed that the US team has a tougher time vs European teams.

Bosnia gave them a game, so its likely end of the line for USA. Belgium had 5 shots on goal and 629 passes vs Senegal.

Bosnia did not give them a game. That was lopsided. The USA was playing 1 man down. LOL

 

[Mike the Brit]

im being a messi hater let me be lol

Fair enough -- you do you.

Mind you, I don't accept "being an incorrigible, loudmouthed ignoramus" as an excuse: