Football (Soccer) Thread

[Valmy]

Ok Holland, if you win you get New Amsterdam back.

You can have Belgium if you win.

I do like waffles 

[FunkMonk]

USA played quite well and should have scored more. Like Gups said, the main thing holding this team back is lacking that edge to put the ball in the net. Squad is crying out for a true goal scorer.

This squad also has some very poor players. Moore and Wright were absolutely terrible when they came on and probably did more to help the Iranians in the final minutes 

I haven't watched the Netherlands so I can't speak to the next round. I've heard that they are frauds so I guess we'll see on Saturday how fraudulent the Dutch are.

[Admiral Yi]

Getting out of group has already exceeded my expectations.

It was a pretty weak group, yeah?

US looks undersized.

[FunkMonk]

I'll add that Matt Turner is Arsenal's backup keeper and he's been almost flawless in the World Cup so far. Man didn't start playing football until 14 and just moved from MLS to Europe this season. Very happy for him. 

[HVC]

Goalie seems like the only position you can start playing late.

[Sophie Scholl]

I'm happy my randomly adopted team of Senegal is moving onto the Round of 16. I would absolutely *love* to see them knock out England. 

[Admiral Yi]

I'm seeing that Pulisic is out for the tourney.

[Sophie Scholl]

Is he? I can't seem to find a definitive answer. 3 hours a ago it was him declaring he would play, 2 hours ago was he was cleared to play, and 1 hour ago it was a day to day decision. It's like a Bill Belichik injury report. 

[Valmy]

Goalie seems like the only position you can start playing late.

Holy shit. Is 14 late? Did I doom my son by not starting him playing Soccer until 10?

[HVC]

Goalie seems like the only position you can start playing late.

Holy shit. Is 14 late? Did I doom my son by not starting him playing Soccer until 10?

Doom!!!!



Professional soccer players all seem to start really young, like 7-8. At 14 is when they join academies

[celedhring]

Barça's academy has a team for 6 year olds 

[The Larch]

Barça's academy has a team for 6 year olds 

Which I'd say is a bit overkill. 

[celedhring]

I remember talk during the Guardiola years of setting up a team for 5-year-olds, even 

It's a bit nonsense. I think 90% of the prospects that make it to our senior team were recruited after their 10th birthday.

[FunkMonk]

Goalie seems like the only position you can start playing late.

Holy shit. Is 14 late? Did I doom my son by not starting him playing Soccer until 10?

At least you didn't have to pay the outrageous fees for youth soccer until much later than those that started playing their kids at age 5 or 6.

[Duque de Bragança]

FYI, France B vs Tunisia in 20 minutes.