2021/22 Soccer Thread: It's Euro 2020 until it becomes 2021

Did anyone notice who was the best scorer?
Here's a tip. He knows how to score penalties.

Like, a chunk of me dislikes him, but I don't think there's another player on the planet where, if you send him to the penalty spot in a clutch situation (really, any situation), I feel completely confident that he'll score.

Prederick wrote:

Like, a chunk of me dislikes him, but I don't think there's another player on the planet where, if you send him to the penalty spot in a clutch situation (really, any situation), I feel completely confident that he'll score.

Just don't have him take direct free kicks.

Well that matters. You trying to score or give the kids in Row Z a cool memento to take home?

Are we talking about Sir Harold of Kane? I'm not sure I've ever seen him miss a penalty, except against Denmark, when he immediately scored on the rebound.

Roke wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Like, a chunk of me dislikes him, but I don't think there's another player on the planet where, if you send him to the penalty spot in a clutch situation (really, any situation), I feel completely confident that he'll score.

Just don't have him take direct free kicks.

Don't I know it... He still has tremendous faith on himself. I guess that's a plus... For him.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Are we talking about Sir Harold of Kane? I'm not sure I've ever seen him miss a penalty, except against Denmark, when he immediately scored on the rebound.

It's Ronaldo.

onewild wrote:

This England team man, they represent everything our government does not.

Great video, followed by a comment section completely missing the point.

Messi resigns with Barcelona. Way to take all the fun out of it guys.

Apparently agreeing to halve his £123M a year...

Messi has agreed a five-year deal on reduced wages rather than a two-year extension initially discussed. His partnership with Griezmann in attack will end if Barcelona and Atlético finalise the proposed exchange involving the midfielder Saúl.

Both players are happy with the arrangement but negotiations over their respective price tags must be concluded, with Barcelona saying Griezmann’s value is greater than Saúl’s and wanting money as part of a deal. Liverpool and Chelsea are keen on the 26-year-old Saúl if he does not end up at the Camp Nou. Griezmann left Atlético for Barcelona for €120m in 2019.

Based on recent events, are they sure it is?

Uh, Slazev, how did you not tell us about this immediately?

Benfica ‘boss’ Luís Filipe Vieira arrested in massive swoop on homes, businesses, banking and law offices

Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira was arrested today as part of an investigation into suspicions of fraud, abuse of trust and money laundering.

He is being held overnight at the PSP police station in Moscavide (Lisbon), to be presented before judge Carlos Alexandre tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

Also arrested with him were Tiago Vieira (his son), sports promoter Bruno Macedo and multimillionaire Benfica shareholder José dos Santos – popularly known as “Rei dos Frangos” (The Chicken King).

Say reports, the arrests came as Public Ministry investigators and tax inspectors led multiple searches related to the purchase of shares in Benfica “and other financial operations”.

EDIT: Via his wiki -

Vieira started his professional career in the tire industry, where he got the nickname "Kadhafi dos pneus" (Kadhafi of tires).

I may never forgive you for not telling me about this King Among Men.

"Kadhafi dos pneus" is a very amusing phrase to my eyes. :lol

He was one of the responsible for bankrupting the company where my father worked, so I never liked the man, even though he's the president of the club I follow.

I never mentioned this because looking into past occurrences with other important figures (the former prime minister Sócrates), I have serious doubts he will get what he deserves.

Btw, Rui Costa, the famous player, is the VP and assumed the presidency until the end of the year (at least), but he's been in the board with Vieira for more than a decade. He and many others must be damn filthy.

I saw on Twitter that it's rumored he made a bunch of his early money moving cocaine as well?!?!?

Also, meanwhile, in North America:

Yes, that is Qatar in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, because why not, I guess.

Prederick wrote:

I saw on Twitter that it's rumored he made a bunch of his early money moving cocaine as well?!?!?

Not that I know of. One of the arrested businessmen was linked to a plane that had 500 kg of coke some months ago.

So this channel has been doing some good stuff.

Like, I know it's part of the churn of content, but my god, why would anyone write up Player Ratings for a pre-season friendly between Premiership team X and League Two team Y?

Although, to be fair, Arsenal's preseason so far has been... well... Arsenal.

Prederick wrote:

Like, I know it's part of the churn of content, but my god, why would anyone write up Player Ratings for a pre-season friendly between Premiership team X and League Two team Y?

Although, to be fair, Arsenal's preseason so far has been... well... Arsenal.

I think it's typically because new transfers + youth players are in the mix that die hards want to know how they are doing.

Hell I use to watch friendly tune ups to even see how new transfers played. For example that Tavares singing who Slazev said was a bust already scored. Was a pretty good individual effort also. So pretty much downhill from there I guess.

Meanwhile, it's USA v. Canada today in a... well... what's not just a match, but isn't a grudge match?

jowner wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Like, I know it's part of the churn of content, but my god, why would anyone write up Player Ratings for a pre-season friendly between Premiership team X and League Two team Y?

Although, to be fair, Arsenal's preseason so far has been... well... Arsenal.

I think it's typically because new transfers + youth players are in the mix that die hards want to know how they are doing.

Hell I use to watch friendly tune ups to even see how new transfers played. For example that Tavares singing who Slazev said was a bust already scored. Was a pretty good individual effort also. So pretty much downhill from there I guess.

He started great last year too. First Benfica goal in the previous season.

Prederick wrote:

Meanwhile, it's USA v. Canada today in a... well... what's not just a match, but isn't a grudge match?

USA scored 20 seconds into the match and that was good enough.

See England! That's how you do it. You play Canada and score 20 seconds into a match.

Stele wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Meanwhile, it's USA v. Canada today in a... well... what's not just a match, but isn't a grudge match?

USA scored 20 seconds into the match and that was good enough.

I have to say, given Canada's dismal men's team history (have they made the Hex in living memory?), I'm disappointed we only scored one. We lit Martinique up. Now, FWIW, I missed almost all of the match since I was at a Magic pre-release.

How deep are these Gold Cup squads?

Isn't the MLS in full swing? Euro League pre-seasons started. Olympics?

Canada isn't exactly a soccer powerhouse but ya can't even imagine the US is fielding their best players.

jowner wrote:

How deep are these Gold Cup squads?

Isn't the MLS in full swing? Euro League pre-seasons started. Olympics?

Canada isn't exactly a soccer powerhouse but ya can't even imagine the US is fielding their best players.

Canada's basically sent a B-squad and I've seen the US squad described as "a B- squad". Don't know how accurate it is. Score effects were obviously a factor, but not getting played off the park was encouraging to me.

With the condensed club schedule and the next round of World Cup Qualifiers kicking off in September it doesn't make any sense to have your best players at this Gold Cup. Best let them get a little rest, build up their fitness in pre-season with their club sides, and hope they're ready to go in September.

jowner wrote:

How deep are these Gold Cup squads?

Isn't the MLS in full swing? Euro League pre-seasons started. Olympics?

Canada isn't exactly a soccer powerhouse but ya can't even imagine the US is fielding their best players.

The US sent the C-team with a few Bs, but like I said, that's the same team that scored a ton on Martinique. But hey, it's tournament soccer; maybe I should just be happy to be sitting at 6 points from two games.

If it turns out Gylfi is guilty of the crimes he's being investigated for, I hope his victims get support, that he gets convicted, and that he never kicks a ball for us again.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

If it turns out Gylfi is guilty of the crimes he's being investigated for, I hope his victims get support, that he gets convicted, and that he never kicks a ball for us again.

I do love how all the major news outlets in the UK are reporting it as "Premier League Footballer arrested on Child Abuse charges" - without naming anyone, but spending about ten nanoseconds on the internet will tell you exactly who it is.

Wait, what?!?!?