NFR World Cup
- Thread starter DoesItFloat
- Start date
Non-fishing related
A great game and even better tournament!
I thought that French team made a tactical mistake in the overtime. For much of the regular time they could not penetrate the Argentina defense. It was only when they committed more resources to attacking were they more successful. Further many folks felt that the Argentine keeper would be better in the shootout. Felt at the time and still do at the start of the overtime they would have been better served by committing to that attacking style. Their ability to score after the Messi goal only affirms that thinking.
In the end the best team in the tournament won.
I thought that French team made a tactical mistake in the overtime. For much of the regular time they could not penetrate the Argentina defense. It was only when they committed more resources to attacking were they more successful. Further many folks felt that the Argentine keeper would be better in the shootout. Felt at the time and still do at the start of the overtime they would have been better served by committing to that attacking style. Their ability to score after the Messi goal only affirms that thinking.
In the end the best team in the tournament won.
DoesItFloat
Life of the Party
I bet we'll never see a losing player score a hat trick in the final ever again.
WelI, it's June already, which means that in a bit more than a week (from June 11 until July 19) the biggest sporting event in the world takes place: it's time for another FIFA World Cup!
Yes, there are many controversies around it, including the current status of world affairs and many unusuals in more than a century of the tournament:
* 1st time one of the host nations is at war with a qualified country it is hosting (sample of the crazy state of affairs in the world)
* 1st time it is hosted by 3 countries
* Largest number of teams (48 instead of the usual 32, going from 64 to 104 games total!)
* 6 of the 48 teams (including the US) are coached by Argentinean manager, all time record for a single nation in a World Cup
* 1st time with 3 separate opening ceremonies and a final half time show (I hate this idea, it was a disaster during the last Copa America, going way over time in an already late starting game, this is not the Superbowl!)
* Some of the world greatest players in history are having their last dance, including not only Messi and Ronaldo, but also the likes of Neymar, Modric, De Bruyne, Salah, etc
In usual fashion, FIFA has managed to piss off the fanbase of the sport, including obscure ticket allocation, impossible expensive prices, price gouging, dreaded half-time show, protests by Egypt and Iran whose game is happening on "pride day match" while both countries punish by law "non-traditional relationships" (sometimes karma is a bit...), inaugural FIFA Peace price awarded to... (OK, will stay apolitical...) just to name a few!
In spite of all that, this is the largest sporting event in the world, by far (around 5 billion world audience, compare to SuperBowl's around 200 million audience). I don't plan on watching games in person but I will watch as much as I can on TV.
Some questions for us futbol/calcio/futebol/football/(ok, soccer) lovers:
* Will Argentina repeat as champions? Sure hope so, too many things have to go just right, some younger players in but is one of the oldest teams in the world cup, anything after this image last time it's just a cherry on top anyways!.
* Will a new nation win it this time? (only 8 countries have managed to win it all, out of about 80 to have played it)
* Will favorites and in form France or Spain win it?
* Will England break an almost 60 year old dry spell ?("It's coming home" Finally?)
* Will the nation (Brasil) that has won it the most times (five!) will win it again after a dry spell of 24 years?
* How on Earth Italy (following with Germany with 4 World Cup titles) managed to not qualify for a 3rd consecutive time when tiny nations like Curacao or Cabo Verde did qualify?
* Any candidates for dark horse/cinderella surprises?
As the great Dani Rojas said it in Ted Lasso: Football is life! It will be fun!
Vamos Argentina!
en.wikipedia.org
Yes, there are many controversies around it, including the current status of world affairs and many unusuals in more than a century of the tournament:
* 1st time one of the host nations is at war with a qualified country it is hosting (sample of the crazy state of affairs in the world)
* 1st time it is hosted by 3 countries
* Largest number of teams (48 instead of the usual 32, going from 64 to 104 games total!)
* 6 of the 48 teams (including the US) are coached by Argentinean manager, all time record for a single nation in a World Cup
* 1st time with 3 separate opening ceremonies and a final half time show (I hate this idea, it was a disaster during the last Copa America, going way over time in an already late starting game, this is not the Superbowl!)
* Some of the world greatest players in history are having their last dance, including not only Messi and Ronaldo, but also the likes of Neymar, Modric, De Bruyne, Salah, etc
In usual fashion, FIFA has managed to piss off the fanbase of the sport, including obscure ticket allocation, impossible expensive prices, price gouging, dreaded half-time show, protests by Egypt and Iran whose game is happening on "pride day match" while both countries punish by law "non-traditional relationships" (sometimes karma is a bit...), inaugural FIFA Peace price awarded to... (OK, will stay apolitical...) just to name a few!
In spite of all that, this is the largest sporting event in the world, by far (around 5 billion world audience, compare to SuperBowl's around 200 million audience). I don't plan on watching games in person but I will watch as much as I can on TV.
Some questions for us futbol/calcio/futebol/football/(ok, soccer) lovers:
* Will Argentina repeat as champions? Sure hope so, too many things have to go just right, some younger players in but is one of the oldest teams in the world cup, anything after this image last time it's just a cherry on top anyways!.
* Will a new nation win it this time? (only 8 countries have managed to win it all, out of about 80 to have played it)
* Will favorites and in form France or Spain win it?
* Will England break an almost 60 year old dry spell ?("It's coming home" Finally?)
* Will the nation (Brasil) that has won it the most times (five!) will win it again after a dry spell of 24 years?
* How on Earth Italy (following with Germany with 4 World Cup titles) managed to not qualify for a 3rd consecutive time when tiny nations like Curacao or Cabo Verde did qualify?
* Any candidates for dark horse/cinderella surprises?
As the great Dani Rojas said it in Ted Lasso: Football is life! It will be fun!
Vamos Argentina!
2026 FIFA World Cup - Wikipedia
Last edited:
ifsteve
Steelhead
My thoughts on your questions.
No a new country will not win it. The big 5 or 6 are just too good. Yes some "lesser" teams can go on a run and beat the big boys. But they aren't likely to beat 3 or 4 big boys.
No Brazil isn't winning this one.
Yeah watch out for the Three Lions.
Yeah I have France winning it all.
Now my outside "expert opinion" on our side. The USMNT has the horses to go farther than a lot of pundits think. If you are interested in my thoughts on our guys you can read it here.
baltimoresportsandlife.com
No a new country will not win it. The big 5 or 6 are just too good. Yes some "lesser" teams can go on a run and beat the big boys. But they aren't likely to beat 3 or 4 big boys.
No Brazil isn't winning this one.
Yeah watch out for the Three Lions.
Yeah I have France winning it all.
Now my outside "expert opinion" on our side. The USMNT has the horses to go farther than a lot of pundits think. If you are interested in my thoughts on our guys you can read it here.
World Cup 2026 - USMNT and Group D - Baltimore Sports and Life
World Cup 2026: Previewing the USMNT and Group D.
baltimoresportsandlife.com
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
My short answers to @VMP's questions:
- No
- No
- That's what I think will happen
- No, too many champions league or other European comp minutes for too many key three lions pieces IMO. Plus the EPL is so demanding week in and week out.
- No, but arranged to see them play. My Dad took me to Brazil/Russia at Stanford in 94 and I had to make it happen for my kid who plays, thank goodness for hotel and air miles. Look for the rest of my belongings in the classifieds.
- A rhetorical question, but yeah, not the same without the Azzuri
- Agree with USA given how the groups/round of 32 is stacked in their favor - really hope they make they most of it and they sometimes do a nice job of rising to the occasion. Maybe Croatia.
- No
- No
- That's what I think will happen
- No, too many champions league or other European comp minutes for too many key three lions pieces IMO. Plus the EPL is so demanding week in and week out.
- No, but arranged to see them play. My Dad took me to Brazil/Russia at Stanford in 94 and I had to make it happen for my kid who plays, thank goodness for hotel and air miles. Look for the rest of my belongings in the classifieds.
- A rhetorical question, but yeah, not the same without the Azzuri
- Agree with USA given how the groups/round of 32 is stacked in their favor - really hope they make they most of it and they sometimes do a nice job of rising to the occasion. Maybe Croatia.
springburn
Just Hatched
You forget to mention the size of the audience for that other World Series sporting event—Major League Baseball... emmm...how many countries in it again?
The US & the Dominican Republic…
Actually no countries at all in it! Professional team clubs only instead of national teams! Was not trying to be adversarial, to each its own but yeah, naming is confusing for international audiences.You forget to mention the size of the audience for that other World Series sporting event—Major League Baseball... emmm...how many countries in it again?
Porter2
Legend
Maybe I mentioned this before but to those who like spending holidays in the emerald city. June 19th will be a day of traffic horror. First it’s a holiday. USA vs Australia soccer at noon, Mariners hosting Red Sox’s at 7pm. Not to mention the numerous concerts, block parties, Tiesto concert, Seattle center market/fair and three large cruise ships with a big one at pier 66. And probably many other events. Many streets will be shut down to cars and I believe a couple on/off ramps to I5 will be closed for the soccer game. Believe a map is available via Seattle times with closure times. Fun day to listen to 1000 am traffic reports 
I’ll take Togo and the points. Just kidding.
I’m fond of Argentina due to people food wine & TROUT. Chile also for the same reasons. Now that I think of it I have to include Norway for the Atlantic Salmon and definitely New Zealand for Trout and their cool accent.
I do enjoy watching the matches as they tend to have long periods of play with no asinine commercials that end with:
“Ask your doctor….”
I’m fond of Argentina due to people food wine & TROUT. Chile also for the same reasons. Now that I think of it I have to include Norway for the Atlantic Salmon and definitely New Zealand for Trout and their cool accent.
I do enjoy watching the matches as they tend to have long periods of play with no asinine commercials that end with:
“Ask your doctor….”
They're doing mandatory hydration breaks each half I believe. I'm sure they'll find a way to slap some commercials for boner pills in there!
(BigDave)
Smolt
WOW, First astronomical ticket prices and now no personnel water bottles. I am feeling for the cities that reached out to welcome the tournament but might have little return on their investments. And don't get me started on the welcoming that is being given by the feds... When you invite the world, you should welcome your visitors!
ifsteve
Steelhead
Tell me you know nothing about economics without telling me you know nothing about economics. "Litte return on their investments." Have you looked at the hotel prices they are getting in Seattle?