Football (Soccer) Thread

[Grey Fox]

Well, yeah. Most soccer teams in North America have stupid names. How hard is it to have a plural thing has your name?

[HVC]

Are they at least sponsored by Toyota?

[Norgy]

Well, Forest are clearly headed for relegation.

Fun fact: The first Norwegian-born player to play in a World Cup was Werner Nilsen. For the United States. He emigrated, and did apparently really well for himself by breaking goal-scoring records. I think he earned the nickname "Scotty" because Americans don't know where Norway is.

When he was picked for the World Cup squad, he was probably past his prime at 32-33, but he got a match in the 1934 World Cup when Italy beat the US 7-1 in the opening round.

Among the clubs he played for was Fall River Timbermen or something.

He is inducted in the American soccer hall of fame, but largely unknown in Norway.

[Josquius]

Forest were quite terrible first half.
Second half Sunderland played poor and were really determined to let Forest score but luck was on our side.

I'm not sure I'd be so pessimistic about Forest based off the second half.
Based off the first.... Well. Poor. But as poor as some others?

The PL in general this year seems quite a microsm of the country with quite a few usually decent teams just being awful.

[Norgy]

Another narrow 5-0 win for Norway in the qualifiers. Israel may have the IDF, but defending in football, that is different. Two own goals, three by the force of nature that is Erling Haaland.

[Duque de Bragança]

Clever. Israel not in a position to qualify means less political trouble. 

As long as Italy wins vs Estonia. They just missed a penalty but are still leading 1-0.

Well, 2-0 now.

[Josquius]

Interesting point there... I expect some countries looking to qualify might well be political trouble.
Iran are usually good and are  topping their table....

[Duque de Bragança]

Ireland put up quite a good fight in Lisbon. Selecção reverting to its bad ways, I guess.
Portugal 1 Ireland 0
Goal scored by Rúben Neves in stoppage time. Ronaldo missed a penalty or rather a great save by the Irish goalkeeper, Kelleher.

Lots of penalties missed, even Haaland missed one, earlier in the day.

Italy 3 Estonia 1

Nice fluke by the Italian goalkeeper, without consequences.

[Norgy]

Norway had a problem with Estonia away, but snatched a win. They're not a bad team.

Albania beating Serbia must've been a grudge match.

My main concern with Norway's national team is that we sort of just have two-three capable defenders. Our goalkeeper is benched most of the time, and there aren't that many coming up. Everyone wants to play in midfield.

Norway over-ran Italy utterly and completely in the opener of the campaign. So I am not sure of the strength of the national team. But they have gotten former hard-man Gattuso in managing them.

I see some mentioning Norway as a dark horse for the World Cup. I would not. In 1998 we were ranked 2nd in the FIFA ranking, yet still failed to beat Scotland and Morocco. A very, very lucky penalty against Brazil got us through. Then came Italy, and we got nerves and were beaten quite easily.

What has change with Norwegian football, is that the players are much more technical and less dependent on long balls and headers than before. This is due to coaching methods changing, the Couerver method is introduced at an early method, so that almost all players who reach a certain level are comfortable with the ball at their feet.

I would still say we are pretty much a middling nation in football. Better at skiing.

[Josquius]

Faroe Islands beat Czechia. They just need to beat Croatia and hope the Czechs don't win their next game and then they qualify.

....yeah. Probably not happening. But I guess the Czechs are freaking out anyway.

[Duque de Bragança]

Well, a boycott won't be needed since Italy beat Israel 3-0. First half was very tied until a penalty for Italy at the very last minute.
Then Italy improved gradually, even if Israel put up a fight or Italy was still under pressure, and then collapsed with a third goal in the extra time.

Hungary more than put up a fight with bad Portuguese defending and not inspired goalkeeper with a late equaliser in stoppage time. Ronaldo beat a record and scored two goals but qualification to the World Cup is postponed.

Other favourites such as Spain vs Bulgaria or England in Latvia won convincingly.

Serbia won against Andorra but Andorra actually scored first and then tied with a own goal.