Neat training field element to the US goal. You can see one of the US players make a curving run before the corner is played, that goes in, then across the near corner of the six yard box and then back out again.
Not shown on the US highlights because they start with the corner kick, but in this video you can see Sullivan tell Dunn "hey, make that run."
F*ck yeah Nigeria.
For f*ck's sake just sell him. I swear to God, this is like the soccer version of Damian Lillard. A star who beloved at this club and doesn't appear to want to make the mess he needs to make to force his way out, but nevertheless wants out.
For f*ck's sake just sell him. I swear to God, this is like the soccer version of Damian Lillard. A star who beloved at this club and doesn't appear to want to make the mess he needs to make to force his way out, but nevertheless wants out.
To be fair to Harry Kane, I think he did try to make that mess last season before he realised that Daniel Levy does not blink first. In a game of chicken, Levy would outlast someone in a Juggernaut that doesn't have any brakes travelling at over 200mph if he were in a Pedalo.
Someone either needs to bid about £150million+, or he'll just leave on a free next season.
Sigh.
England win, but Keira Walsh sustains a serious-looking knee injury.
ManU reject a £20m offer for Maguire, which seems... dumb.
And Juve got themselves punted out of the Conference League due to financial nonsense.
Mahrez to Al-Ahli, seems about right.
And lastly....
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham has said he is aiming for the club's brand to become a world leader and named the New York Yankees as his inspiration.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic, Beckham outlined his initial hopes for Miami, who recently completed one of the first major goals: Signing one of the best players of all time, Lionel Messi following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
"I said, 'What I want is the New York Yankees,'" Beckham said. "Whether you're a baseball fan, whether you're a fan of the Yankees, whether you love New York, I want to create a brand like they have.
"You see the Yankees hat and straight away you know what it is. I want people walking around in our baseball caps knowing that's a Miami cap, that's a Miami brand. Even if you're not a soccer fan, you want to wear the jersey and the cap."
Ah-hah. Well, aim high, David.
Happy about Fulham's new signing, but seeing him say:
"I know how big of a club Fulham is, I didn't have to think much about it," said Bassey.
He's coming from Ajax. Y'know, four-time European Cup/Champions League winners, will play Europa League football next year Ajax.
And yet, in terms of money and competition notoriety, I'm sure he's right.
On NYY and Becks.
One of the things he's not recognizing about that Yankees brand is how/why it became what it is. It wasn't just the winning (much of that done in spurts when legendary narratives were being crafted - the 20's and the 50's). It wasn't just the players (epic names, many of which were compiled when there was less competition for talent).
It was also the fact that it was doing the winning at key times in the world's most dominant cultural hegemon, in it's most important cultural metropolis, in a sport that was utterly dominant as a team sport for the majority of the century. Neither of those things hold true for Miami.
Miami is not 20th-century NYC.
MLS is not MLB 1910-1994.
US Soccer isn't attracting Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Reggie Jackson as athletes.
I do think he can make it bigger than it is today since soccer has a wider reach. But he's doing this at a time that MLS is 10th in terms of global sports league revenue (and 6th in soccer)*, behind Ligue 1 and just ahead of Nippon Baseball. The Saudis are going to money drown him for talent. MLS still won't get on the right international soccer schedule.
*It's worse than that if you add in other sports like F1 and NCAA football and NASCAR. MLS drops to 13th, although it is bigger than NCAA men's basketball now (!).
Oh my God, they might finally set Harry free.
Also, Liverpool are apparently trying to get Mbappe on loan, which....
...if they pull this off, I will post glowingly about QPR all season long.
Also, I had no idea things with Fulham and Mitro were this bad. Which, I get both sides. Fulham should try and get every penny they can from the Saudis for him, but also Mitro has every right to want to octuple his salary rather than play for a team who, let's be frank, would consider finishing 8th next year a colossal success.
Slow start, but this WC is getting pretty spicy.
Canada losing 3-0 
First time I've had a chance to tune into a game with the time differences. Booo.
Whoa Canada not advancing is a surprise
Statistics for Japan x Spain are a bit weird.
Japan won (4 - 0). Extreme efficiency.
It's been amazing here stateside watching the tournament. Beyond the utter lack of coverage for anyone not the USWNT, while it is absolutely true that the team's attack has been blunt and unimaginative, if you listen tot he fans you'd think we're supposed to win every game 8-0.
People genuinely do not understand how far the rest of the world is coming along. Like, don't get me wrong, the USWNT are still favorites, but there are at least 4 teams that can knock them out.
I never like to state teams fans are arrogant but it does happen on occasion. Brazil men’s team have fallen far due to hubris in the past and I think the us women’s team are heading in the same direction. One day soon they might meet their Germany in a semi final. Looking forward to supporting the Haiti women to get a point tomorrow,if ever a team deserved something it’s them.
I never like to state teams fans are arrogant
How you, as a Scotland fan, can say that given who your southern neighbors are is a saintly level of restraint and kindness. 
bbk1980 wrote:I never like to state teams fans are arrogant
How you, as a Scotland fan, can say that given who your southern neighbors are is a saintly level of restraint and kindness. :lol:
Having lived in the darkest south for about 13 years I learned that most English fans are quite honest about their national teams prospects. The English media is another matter but that’s not the fans fault, it is what I believe drives the hope that the England team go out early. amongst a large section of our support. so you don’t need to put up with Ian wright bang on about how an average team are world beaters.
Having lived in the darkest south for about 13 years I learned that most English fans are quite honest about their national teams prospects. The English media is another matter but that’s not the fans fault, it is what I believe drives the hope that the England team go out early. amongst a large section of our support. so you don’t need to put up with Ian wright bang on about how an average team are world beaters.
Thanks for this - it’s a very honest appraisal of the average England fan. All fan bases have their fanatics and England is certainly no exception there, but it is a minority and the press are the main antagonists there. The majority of England have no illusions about how good the England team is and wouldn’t say otherwise. While Southgate can be a little conservative with his tactics at times, he’s been out most successful coach since Sir Alf Ramsey. That should tell you all you need to know.
Sporting rivalry is always very partisan, and the unique nature of the UK National Teams tends to exacerbate this.
USA go through, thanks to the keeper's best friend.
Sweden likely next and they have to be happy at the prospect given our form.
People genuinely do not understand how far the rest of the world is coming along. Like, don't get me wrong, the USWNT are still favorites, but there are at least 4 teams that can knock them out.
I bet you didn't think that Portugal could be one of those four teams! 
Not even the Portuguese thought that.
England swatted aside China this afternoon without really breaking a sweat. It was much better from the Lionesses who’ve flattered to deceive a little so far. Nigeria (I think) in the next round are likely to provide a much sterner test though.
Glad I didn't wake up at 3am to watch a 0-0 draw. Oof
The USWNT better find some fire as they have looked very uninspired in the 3 games. That post saved the day for sure and hopefully will wake up the locker room. They just look like they don't really care enough to put in the extra effort.
Glad I didn't wake up at 3am to watch a 0-0 draw. Oof
I stayed up until 4 am to watch it (to be fair, I usually don't get to sleep until 3).
Really don't know why I didn't give up at halftime. The US team sure did.
Re: USWNT. Is it effort or lack of skill moving the ball and their athleticism no longer being so much better they can just race by/push around teams? How are their tactics?
USA go through, thanks to the keeper's best friend.
Sweden likely next and they have to be happy at the prospect given our form.
If I'm Sweden right now, I'm damn near looking at who our draw might be in the following round.
I am not a reflexive "sack the manager" guy (and it's not like we can mid-tournament), but from what I've seen, Vlatko Andonovski should be getting a pink slip when this tournament's over unless he wins the damn thing. I genuinely cannot remember the USWNT being this blunt before.
Re: USWNT. Is it effort or lack of skill moving the ball and their athleticism no longer being so much better they can just race by/push around teams? How are their tactics?
I'd tell you my full opinion, but the game was on at 3 a.m. EST.
All I know is that I really wish we were managed by Sarina Wiegman.
EDIT: Oh, here's a good comment describing what I think is happening:
I'm not really surprised that the US is underwhelming in this World Cup. They are between generations right now, where the old guard are a shadow of their former selves and the youngsters just don't have the experience yet to take the team to greater heights. It happens to even the best of countries in soccer.
This version of the USWNT is like an England mens side from the 80s or 90s: physical players, an insular footballing culture, a lack of technically- and tactically-elite players, deferential to “stars” past their prime, and (now) Mike Bassett as manager.
In Lavelle, they’ve even got their own Gascoigne / Scholes — the one genuinely creative player who’s either hurt or overlooked (or in her case, both.)
I am not a reflexive "sack the manager" guy (and it's not like we can mid-tournament), but from what I've seen, Vlatko Andonovski should be getting a pink slip when this tournament's over unless he wins the damn thing. I genuinely cannot remember the USWNT being this blunt before.
Definitely.
England swatted aside China this afternoon without really breaking a sweat. It was much better from the Lionesses who’ve flattered to deceive a little so far. Nigeria (I think) in the next round are likely to provide a much sterner test though.
Don't sleep on this. Lauren James did a madness.
Amazing how China's been completely overtaken by Japan in the women's game.
Well done Jamaica and South Africa. Commiserations to Italy and especially Brazil and Marta. Would love to see a true legend of the game get a better farewell, but, unfortunately, that's life.
But hail to the victors. Last time South Africa was here, they managed one goal in three defeats. Now, they're on to the last 16. And Jamaica needed a crowdfunding campaign to even get to the tournament, thanks to the feckless corruption and misogyny of the Jamaican FA.
Also, Panama lost to France in a wild one, but do seek out Marta Cox's goal. Banger.
The USWNT will face Sweden on August 6, after Sweden beat Argentina 2-0, and hoo-boy am I ever not feeling confident about THAT game.
Huh!
Pages