OT: soccer thread

[Flip Murray]

Cool win by my Squadra Azzurra against Belgium last night. there can't be high expectations with the roster they have but it would be very Italy-like to strive in such conditions.

My fear for them is racking up the yellows. Chiellini and Bonucci got them both for professional fouls if I remember correctly. They're still one of the favorites for me, just because the Italians know how to win. I know its not the best Italian side but I think they're still up there.

good point. their roster is probably a lot more shallow than usual.

Well this first half of the Sweden game has been brutal

[Flip Murray]

Cool win by my Squadra Azzurra against Belgium last night. there can't be high expectations with the roster they have but it would be very Italy-like to strive in such conditions.

My fear for them is racking up the yellows. Chiellini and Bonucci got them both for professional fouls if I remember correctly. They're still one of the favorites for me, just because the Italians know how to win. I know its not the best Italian side but I think they're still up there.

good point. their roster is probably a lot more shallow than usual.

lol that was such an Italy performance.

[fatlever]

Got to see the last 5 mins of USA last night when I got back to my hotel. Great win. Only saw 4th quarter of finals, whatever.

[LamarMatic7]

My fear for them is racking up the yellows. Chiellini and Bonucci got them both for professional fouls if I remember correctly. They're still one of the favorites for me, just because the Italians know how to win. I know its not the best Italian side but I think they're still up there.

good point. their roster is probably a lot more shallow than usual.

lol that was such an Italy performance.

haha, exactly. if their somewhat unproven forwards continue to squeeze out a goal or two every game, they have a shot at going far.

god knows that they can keep defending as a team like that. their Juventus defensive line + dedicated pressure from everyone else can hold up against basically anyone.

[fatlever]

I am super excited to see what conte does with chelsea.

[JDR720]

usa is probably going to play argentina.

well this tournament was fun while it lasted.

and does anyone have any thoughts on a CONCACAF and CONMEBOL merger? i think it would be fun, saw a player from argentina and jurgen like the idea. also there is planning to have an Americas Champions League (like Champions League in Europe), that would be great.

[Elden Payton]

I am super excited to see what conte does with chelsea.

I was surprised they hired him since he is crazier than Mourinho (who is a choir boy in comparison)

[fatlever]

^What's up with the name change?

[driveandkick]

Let's shock the world with this **** ass lineup

[JDR720]

well that didn't take long.

[Liver_Pooty]

USA soccer drinking game: Take a shot everytime Bradley passes the ball to the other team. Try not to die.

[driveandkick]

Klinsmann has to be fired. Can't be surprised with the result when he rolled out a cowardly lineup.

[JDR720]

Klinsmann has to be fired. Can't be surprised with the result when he rolled out a cowardly lineup.

to be fair argentinas bench would probably beat a healthy team usa.

its not a stretch to say they have 12/15 of the best players between the two teams

[fatlever]

would have taken an epic miracle to win tonight, but JK still made some god awful lineup decisions as he is prone to do too often. Beckerman of course is way too old and slow to play in a game this fast and Wondo, might be fine vs MLS talent, but he's proven too many times that he just isn't good enough at the national level.

Also of concern is the fact that Bradley has been terrible in two of the biggest games in Copa - Colombia and Argentina.

[driveandkick]

Klinsmann has to be fired. Can't be surprised with the result when he rolled out a cowardly lineup.

to be fair argentinas bench would probably beat a healthy team usa.

its not a stretch to say they have 12/15 of the best players between the two teams

Oh I expected a loss tonight. I've wanted Klinsmann gone for a solid year now, the lineup he picked tonight was just so cowardly though.

[JDR720]

would have taken an epic miracle to win tonight, but JK still made some god awful lineup decisions as he is prone to do too often. Beckerman of course is way too old and slow to play in a game this fast and Wondo, might be fine vs MLS talent, but he's proven too many times that he just isn't good enough at the national level.

Also of concern is the fact that Bradley has been terrible in two of the biggest games in Copa - Colombia and Argentina.

a different lineup wouldn't have made a difference in this game IMO.

going off something you posted above, one of the problems with the team is that a lot of the players play in MLS so they dont get to play elite players often. they are used to playing vs 2/3rdnd division quality teams/players for the most part. this is fixable though if the MLS does something with the salary cap and other roster limitations, obviously elite players still wont come over but they should at least be able to get Giovinco/Dos Santos caliber players

[Flip Murray]

brutal loss. I was mad at lineups yesterday but today I resign myself to the fact that it didn't matter. Am I missing something with Bradley. Why does this guy float above criticism like some sort of deity? Why is his spot not in question? Dude had a good world cup in 2010 but what has he done recently? Looked like a scrub to me. I'd iike to attempt someone else in there but then again we bring in Birnbaum and he loses his mind instantly

[fatlever]

brutal loss. I was mad at lineups yesterday but today I resign myself to the fact that it didn't matter. Am I missing something with Bradley. Why does this guy float above criticism like some sort of deity? Why is his spot not in question? Dude had a good world cup in 2010 but what has he done recently? Looked like a scrub to me. I'd iike to attempt someone else in there but then again we bring in Birnbaum and he loses his mind instantly

Yeah, I am starting to believe that Bradley is not deserving of being an automatic starter + 90 min player in every game we play. There have been far too many times in the past 2 years where he has simply not had "it" and still remained on the pitch for the entire game. It would be great if a couple of younger midfielders can start to make it tougher for the coach to automatically put Bradley in the lineup for every game. I'm not trying to replace him as the captain or anything because more often than not, he's one of the better players on the team, but he shouldn't be invincible and immune to getting benched or rested.

[JDR720]

http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/story/2900990/premier-league-refuses-to-speculate-on-effects-of-uks-brexit-from-eu

brexit and the EPL

[fatlever]

http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/story/2900990/premier-league-refuses-to-speculate-on-effects-of-uks-brexit-from-eu

brexit and the EPL

pure craziness