Football (Soccer) Thread

[FunkMonk]

I'm imagining Mormon fans of Real Salt Lake on an away trip to Chivas   

[Syt]

Are Mexican fans still nasty? It has been a while since I've heard about battery throwing.

Latin American fans are intense

No kiddding. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War

[Duque de Bragança]

I'm imagining Mormon fans of Real Salt Lake on an away trip to Chivas   

The opposite would be fun as well, with hinterlandish places discovering what is football fervour. 

[Valmy]

NFL doesn't have a long run though - there's only 16 games.

The long run I was talking about was 1920 until 1933 the team with the best record was the NFL champion. There was no playoff or proto-Super Bowl at all. I don't know if the tie breakers back then factored in points scored.

[celedhring]

The Spanish FA is always finding new ways of ruining Spanish Football.

[Maladict]

Lots of discussion about whether the Dutch FA or the players should boycott the Qatar WC.
Looks like they decided to take the diplomatic way out by getting clobbered by Turkey.

[Admiral Yi]

Lots of discussion about whether the Dutch FA or the players should boycott the Qatar WC.
Looks like they decided to take the diplomatic way out by getting clobbered by Turkey.

[Liep]

Lots of discussion about whether the Dutch FA or the players should boycott the Qatar WC.
Looks like they decided to take the diplomatic way out by getting clobbered by Turkey.

Hadn't realized the started qualifications already.

[Duque de Bragança]

Sorry for you, Liep, but some upsets already:

Turkey 4 Netherlands 2

De Boer as a coach may prevent the Netherlands form qualifying it seems. However, Turkey has a history of failing against smaller teams after beating the strong one.

France 1 Ukraine 1

This was no C(ovid)-team Ukraine so it was more difficult. Add in a relative lack of efficiency, some good defending by the Ukrainian side, an own goal, et voilà !

Slovenia 1 Croatia 0

Ex-yugo derby.  Croatia is in transition from the aged 2018 team and Slovenia can be pesky. Early goal, but no effective reaction by Croatia in the next 75 minutes.

Portugal 1 Azerbaijan 0

Home game of Portugal in Turin, Juventus stadium, due to Covid restrictions.

Lots of new or unusual players (5-6) but the coach still does not what to do with so many top mid-fielders. Azeris were really dominated in the first half but a Selecção had to get an goal from them to score (own goal). André Silva, for his return to the squad, is a far cry from his scoring stats in Buli. Ronaldo is no longer a winger, so a whole flank was left underused.
Languish fans of Pepe will be sad to know he was injured so he could not play. Same goes for the usual goalkeeper, Rui Patrício.
Azerbaijan woke up in the second half, not just the goalkeeper (very good then) and could have even scored. Good entry by João Félix though. Fernandes cannot say the same unfortunately. Bernardo was ok but not great. Wolverhampton midfield line has not impressed.

In the Norway game, Dolph Lungren did not manage to score against the Rock.
Still 3-0, however.

[Liep]

Braithwaite wins it!

[Sheilbh]

Hungary v Poland - the Tamas derby

[The Larch]

There are as many players currently playing for Man City in the Spain starting XI as there are R. Madrid + Barcelona + Atlético. All hail our Premier League overlords.

[Admiral Yi]

Are there many/any Brits playing on the Continent?

[Liep]

Are there many/any Brits playing on the Continent?

McManaman was decent in Real iirc. And Ashley Young is doing pretty good in Inter right now.

But it's not really something they do I think.

[Sheilbh]

Are there many/any Brits playing on the Continent?

The Bundesliga's got very good value from some young English players in recent years - but mainly on loan (Ademola Lookman and Jonjoe Kenny spring to mind). The two big exceptions are Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham who both play for Dortmund. But for young players the Bundesliga is a top destination for a loan or if they're not getting played because the impression here is that Germany probably has best coaches in Europe right now, especially for young players.

Also Kieran Tripper at Atletico Madrid. Also Aaron Ramsey (Welsh) at Juve. Off the top of my head anyway.