(Thread title is named after the fact that European leagues are going to abruptly stop in November for the World Cup, which I will politely describe as "mildly problematic." Will be updated throughout the season.)
Right, so, 23 days until the new season, less than three weeks until the Charity Shield. Time for a new thread.
But more importantly....
I mean, one of the teams HAS to do it, don't they?
Oooh, what a tasty one between the Netherlands and Portugal. Been a decent tournament, this.
France genuinely look kinda unstoppable.
When the French look like this at the start of a tournament you have to turn your hopes to the one country most capable of stopping France: France.
Ronaldo apparently turning down 275m euros to head to Saudi Arabia. Who knows how accurate that actually is and he's already obscenely rich so it's not like he needs the money. But still good for him. He could easily just take the money.
Kinda makes me question if he would actually ever make it to the MLS. Then again he might go Tom Brady freak mode and try to play until he's 45 so MLS is probably still on the cards but maybe not until he's 42 or something.
I'm not surprised he did. I don't think it's about "enough money" for him, it's why he allegedly is trying to leave United.
He wants to compete with the very best and win at the very highest levels. Saudi Arabia literally doesn't have enough money to make its 3rd-tier league palatable to a player like him.
I mean, when you're forever in Messi's shadow, you gotta do what you can to buff your resumé.
Great choice of banner! I thought we were going to wait until after the Euro's had finished but fair enough
I was tempted to make the banner this:
Not to troll Liverpool, but because 1.) That trophy is insane and 2.) the expressions here are hilarious.
But seriously, the trophy has fans on it. It's a gaming PC for streamers, not a trophy.
The trophy has RGB fans?!
I think everyone was upset Bruno was going to take the gamming PC...
Missed this, but this is A+ shithousery:
So Belgium and Iceland played their game a few days ago at Manchester City's youth stadium, which is one of several venues that have been criticized as choices for showing a lack of respect.
So PaddyPower, in their trollery, flew a balloon outside the stadium that... well, see for yourself:
On the one hand, I think it's fair to question how genuine PP is in their gesture here.
On the other...
Also, I assume everyone has seen the most jaw-dropping miss in football history, over in Canada:
There's missing, and then there's missing so badly everyone assumes you were match-fixing.
Also, I assume everyone has seen the most jaw-dropping miss in football history, over in Canada:
There's missing, and then there's missing so badly everyone assumes you were match-fixing.
My first thought was also spot/match-fixing since the players get paid peanuts and Canadian soccer has history there.
Ahhhhhhhhhh, Kalidou Koulibaly is 31, not 27, as I thought.
Still a very smart deal for Chelsea, a CB is plenty good at 31.
Debt-zombie Barcelona can only be saved by the European Super League
A new Super League will not generate fresh broadcast rights revenue around the world, it will simply cannibalise the rest. But for Barcelona, and Real Madrid, that has always been the plan. They have exhausted the revenue of their own leagues, and even the Uefa distribution model that rewards big clubs and historic performance is not enough for them.
So that's the bet Barca are making? Seems pretty risky.
There's missing, and then there's missing so badly everyone assumes you were match-fixing.
I just assumed the race for golden boot was extra fierce this year.
I think tonight if Iceland lose 2-1 to France and Belgium vs Italy ends up at 1-1 then second place in the group will be decided between Iceland and Belgium by disciplinary record or, if that's tied, the always exciting UEFA coefficient numbers.
Belgium ahead 0-1 right now, looking good!
(I might regret this post within 25 minutes)
Edit: or not, woooooo!
The US Women won the CONCACAF Championship last night, and with it, punched their ticket to the Olympics! If you can name the last time the US Men and Women both made it to the Olympics you've got a better memory than I.
The win against Canada wasn't entirely convincing, although I think we clearly had the better game. The lone goal came from a (very clear) penalty won by Rose Lavelle and taken by Alex Morgan (who happen to be 2/3rds of my US jerseys with names on them, fun). We're gonna need to be sharper next year in the World Cup; hopefully the new generation is firing on all cylinders by then.
I mean....
There are few better places to watch football than Fulham. A tight ground with seats close to the pitch, the Thames behind it, and a fine collection of surrounding hostelries able to redeem the poverty of on-pitch offerings by reducing them to a rumour. What more could any supporter want?
Well, to be allowed to go the game for less than the cost of a tank of petrol, a blast of central heating, or 10 minutes of electricity. But the club’s owner, Shahid Khan – in situ for the entirety of nine years – has, in a policy more craven than the cottage itself, decided that his need for an ego-boosting ATM trumps that of fans for whom following Fulham is an identity and a way of life. As such, though the new Riverside Stand has increased capacity by 3,900, the cheapest non-family-enclosure adult ticket for next season’s opening-day game against Liverpool is £65; there are other adult tickets on sale for £100; over-65s are given just £5 off; and in three of four stands, kids must pay between £50 and £70. Or, as Khan himself put it, the development is “a real game-changer”.
Blech. Embarassing.
Meanwhile...
Oh come on England, you can't blow it THIS early.
EDIT: The ol' trademark Prederick motivation works again.
Do seek out Georgia Stanway's winner.
What a hit. What. A. Hit.
Also, in other trailer news!
10 in a row for the Lionesses and unbeaten in 18?
Amazing what can happen when talented players aren't being held back by a Neville
Amazing what can happen when talented players aren't being held back by a Neville
Still hope for Inter Miami!
Do seek out Georgia Stanway's winner.
What a hit. What. A. Hit.
That was as clean a hit as I think I’ve seen in football. All football.
She faked three players into believing that outside pass was coming, including the Keeper.
I'll be interested to see if the Greenwood-for-Daly swap happens from the beginning of the semi-final. Daly is one of my favourite players and she played well in the group stage, but this wasn't a good night for her. Maybe Greenwood is a better choice when the opposition have more going forward.
Excited to see Wiegman just make a raft of changes when it was clear things weren't working too. Takes some courage to remove all the goals of White and Mead, but both were pretty anonymous.
Many points for the scorer of the final penalty here, who clearly didn't realize she'd won the shootout.
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