Other Sports Official 2018 FIFA World Cup Thread. - Page 51

TripleThreat · 10:47 AM

The most popular tournament in the world has finally come to a reality after 4 long years. 32 teams battle it out for the once every four year tournament known as the FIFA World Cup.

USA Eliminated from the World Cup, and did not qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1986. USA plans and vows to be back as a power house for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

USA, Mexico, and Canada will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with USA hosting 60 of the 80 matches. Below is a link for the 2026 possible venues for play, Arrowhead being one of the possibility's as a venue for the cup.

https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/wor...da-going-to-be

Below are the 32 teams that qualified this year for the 2018 World Cup, and will fight for a chance at the title.

Eliminated:

Group A: Saudia Arabia, Egypt

Group B: Iran, Morocco

Group C: Peru, Australia

Group D: Iceland, Nigeria

Group E: Costa Rica, serbia

Group F: Germany, Korea Republic

Group G: Panama Tunisia

Group H: Poland, Senegal

Great Expectations · 07-10-2018, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

Ugh, the "athletes" argument again.

There's very little organic pickup type ball being played, which is where the insane individual ball skills get developed.

Our best athletes are playing baseball, basketball, and football. Those athletes are also organically playing a lot of pickup ball. How many pickup games of soccer did you play growing up? How many wiffle ball games, basketball, football (two hand touch or tackle?) games did you play as a youth.

Bewbies · 07-10-2018, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why Not?

I'll take the Under on that at whatever price, and I like soccer.

Bookmark this post. You can have all my casino cash at that point.

Also, in our lifetime, should the NFL continue on it's current course and not have some new technology that fixes head injuries, soccer will be bigger than the NFL. I'm 38, so let's say lifetime being 40 years.

GloryDayz · 07-10-2018, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bewbies

By the time the World Cup arrives in the USA the MLS will be bigger than one of the other sports leagues here. Just watch.

Pasta Little Brioni · 07-10-2018, 09:45 AM

We have much better sports available than soccer and that will not change. The US will never be a world powerhouse because of that. It's like a fifth option at best and gets the lesser athletes because of it.

NJChiefsFan · 07-10-2018, 11:47 AM

I agree with Glory Dayz that the youth program is not the major problem right now. We even have some decent talents. The biggest issue, as mentioned by others, is that we just simply don't have our best athletes going into soccer.

Imagine if guys like Reggie Bush or any elite athlete grew up playing nothing but soccer. As a teacher I look at the my school and see a lot of kids into soccer, both watching and playing. That being said, most of the kids playing are not the best athletes in the town. Not even close.

I don't mean those kids any disrespect because a number of them are good players. We have a handful of fantastic athletes that are in football, baseball, or lacrosse. If those kids grew up playing soccer I have no doubt they would be the pillars of that sport for our town.

**loochy** · 07-10-2018, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I agree with Glory Dayz that the youth program is not the major problem right now. We even have some decent talents. The biggest issue, as mentioned by others, is that we just simply don't have our best athletes going into soccer.

Imagine if guys like Reggie Bush or any elite athlete grew up playing nothing but soccer. As a teacher I look at the my school and see a lot of kids into soccer, both watching and playing. That being said, most of the kids playing are not the best athletes in the town. Not even close.

I don't mean those kids any disrespect because a number of them are good players. We have a handful of fantastic athletes that are in football, baseball, or lacrosse. If those kids grew up playing soccer I have no doubt they would be the pillars of that sport for our town.

Posted via Mobile Device

**loochy** · 07-10-2018, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I agree with Glory Dayz that the youth program is not the major problem right now.

That is THE major problem.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/10/usmnt-coaches-club-soccer-ceo-world-cup-podcast

http://theconversation.com/until-youth-soccer-is-fixed-us-mens-national-team-is-destined-to-fail-85585

http://www.thesetonian.com/2017/10/25/u-s-soccers-problem-is-focused-at-the-youth-level/

NJChiefsFan · 07-10-2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

Posted via Mobile Device

You don't think the types of athletes is a factor or just not the major factor?

**Baby Lee** · 07-10-2018, 12:02 PM

I don't get the 'best athletes' thing.

Soccer requires a level of fitness, and there are certain situations where some athletic edge is helpful [fast breaks, set-piece headers, goalkeeping reflexes].

But soccer is so much more about talent, skill and teamwork than any other sport. Competent opposition can neutralize just about any athletic advantage, particularly with the offsides rule.

Skill, gameplan and cohesion are much more important.

**loochy** · 07-10-2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

You don't think the types of athletes is a factor or just not the major factor?

Not much of a factor at all. Our problem has NEVER been related to speed, strength, or stamina.
Posted via Mobile Device

**Baby Lee** · 07-10-2018, 12:08 PM

If Belgium had someone with a little more offensive skill in Chadli's position, they'd be looking formidable. He's in the right place, but everything that funnels through him dies.

The rest of the forward attack is spot on.

NJChiefsFan · 07-10-2018, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I don't get the 'best athletes' thing.

Soccer requires a level of fitness, and there are certain situations where some athletic edge is helpful [fast breaks, set-piece headers, goalkeeping reflexes].

But soccer is so much more about talent, skill and teamwork than any other sport. Competent opposition can neutralize just about any athletic advantage, particularly with the offsides rule.

Skill, gameplan and cohesion are much more important.

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

Not much of a factor at all. Our problem has NEVER been related to speed, strength, or stamina.
Posted via Mobile Device

So you guys think if all of our athletes were funneled into soccer at a young age we would be standing in the same spot we are right now?

I'm not involved in youth soccer so I'm willing to admit making that comment without a full view of the situation. While I understand being a great basketball player does not mean you will be a great soccer player, I would think in general having all the best athletes playing soccer instead of 5 different sports would have produced us better players or atleast more options.

I say this more out of assumption and curiosity than knowledge of the situation other than being a big fan of USA soccer. I coach h.s. baseball and I know how much a poor youth program can hurt local baseball talent. I also know however that part of my issue with baseball talent is coming from losing guys to other sports. A problem baseball didn't used to have. Maybe it's an easier transition from baseball to those other sports but I watch some of these kids play and feel decently comfortable in thinking that at least a few of them would have made our soccer program deeper and stronger had they chosen that sport to play their entire lives.

I'm willing to pass the issue on to those in know more than I but it seems just based on pure numbers that a least a number of athletes that went into other sports would have been able to develop into soccer players had that been their life goal.

**loochy** · 07-10-2018, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

So you guys think if all of our athletes were funneled into soccer at a young age we would be standing in the same spot we are right now?

Yes, I think that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I'm not involved in youth soccer so I'm willing to admit making that comment without a full view of the situation. While I understand being a great basketball player does not mean you will be a great soccer player, I would think in general having all the best athletes playing soccer instead of 5 different sports would have produced us better players or atleast more options.

I say this more out of assumption and curiosity than knowledge of the situation other than being a big fan of USA soccer. I coach h.s. baseball and I know how much a poor youth program can hurt local baseball talent. I also know however that part of my issue with baseball talent is coming from losing guys to other sports. A problem baseball didn't used to have. Maybe it's an easier transition from baseball to those other sports but I watch some of these kids play and feel decently comfortable in thinking that at least a few of them would have made our soccer program deeper and stronger had they chosen that sport to play their entire lives.

Your youth baseball system knows how to teach and produce professional talent.

The youth soccer system does not.

As baby lee said, it's not about athleticism. Look at the stars at the world cup...how many of those guys would meet typical American athletic standards? Maybe Lukaku and Ronaldo? What about Messi or Modric or Hazard or Neymar?

Their games are built on vision, control, and an innate feel of where to be. That is developed through years of playing and development.

NJChiefsFan · 07-10-2018, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

Yes, I think that.

Your youth baseball system knows how to teach and produce professional talent.

The youth soccer system does not.
Posted via Mobile Device

On the national level yes. At my local level no. I'm not saying this situation proves anything about soccer, but specifically with the baseball issue in my town it is as much losing guys to football(choosing to workout in the spring) and especially lacrosse. Our town would have a pretty strong baseball team had we not lost the kids at age 12 that made a decision between lacrosse and baseball.

Again, maybe the two aren't comparable but that's part of the experience I am drawing from.

**loochy** · 07-10-2018, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

On the national level yes. At my local level no. I'm not saying this situation proves anything about soccer, but specifically with the baseball issue in my town it is as much losing guys to football(choosing to workout in the spring) and especially lacrosse. Our town would have a pretty strong baseball team had we not lost the kids at age 12 that made a decision between lacrosse and baseball.

Again, maybe the two aren't comparable but that's part of the experience I am drawing from.

It's not the same skillset.
Posted via Mobile Device

06-15-2018, 02:47 PM
TripleThreat Veteran Join Date: Oct 2013 Casino cash: $3568253	Official 2018 FIFA World Cup Thread. The most popular tournament in the world has finally come to a reality after 4 long years. 32 teams battle it out for the once every four year tournament known as the FIFA World Cup. USA Eliminated from the World Cup, and did not qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1986. USA plans and vows to be back as a power house for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. USA, Mexico, and Canada will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with USA hosting 60 of the 80 matches. Below is a link for the 2026 possible venues for play, Arrowhead being one of the possibility's as a venue for the cup. https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/wor...da-going-to-be Below are the 32 teams that qualified this year for the 2018 World Cup, and will fight for a chance at the title. Eliminated: Group A: Saudia Arabia, Egypt Group B: Iran, Morocco Group C: Peru, Australia Group D: Iceland, Nigeria Group E: Costa Rica, serbia Group F: Germany, Korea Republic Group G: Panama Tunisia Group H: Poland, Senegal Last edited by TripleThreat; 06-29-2018 at 10:47 AM..
Posts: 3,135

07-10-2018, 09:45 AM	#754
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $258880	We have much better sports available than soccer and that will not change. The US will never be a world powerhouse because of that. It's like a fifth option at best and gets the lesser athletes because of it. __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 72,968	1 0

07-10-2018, 11:47 AM	#755
NJChiefsFan I've Made a Huge Mistake Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: NJ Casino cash: $4500423	I agree with Glory Dayz that the youth program is not the major problem right now. We even have some decent talents. The biggest issue, as mentioned by others, is that we just simply don't have our best athletes going into soccer. Imagine if guys like Reggie Bush or any elite athlete grew up playing nothing but soccer. As a teacher I look at the my school and see a lot of kids into soccer, both watching and playing. That being said, most of the kids playing are not the best athletes in the town. Not even close. I don't mean those kids any disrespect because a number of them are good players. We have a handful of fantastic athletes that are in football, baseball, or lacrosse. If those kids grew up playing soccer I have no doubt they would be the pillars of that sport for our town.
Posts: 12,495

07-10-2018, 12:02 PM	#759
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $8028275	I don't get the 'best athletes' thing. Soccer requires a level of fitness, and there are certain situations where some athletic edge is helpful [fast breaks, set-piece headers, goalkeeping reflexes]. But soccer is so much more about talent, skill and teamwork than any other sport. Competent opposition can neutralize just about any athletic advantage, particularly with the offsides rule. Skill, gameplan and cohesion are much more important. __________________ We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W.
Posts: 95,642

07-10-2018, 12:08 PM	#761
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $8028275	If Belgium had someone with a little more offensive skill in Chadli's position, they'd be looking formidable. He's in the right place, but everything that funnels through him dies. The rest of the forward attack is spot on. __________________ We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W.
Posts: 95,642