***OFFICIAL USMNT SOCCER THREAD***

[Dante84]

These dudes have just been smashing countries lately, and they are really, really fun to watch. Even for soccer.

Follow the games in this thread, post goals, etc...

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

The part of this that cracks me up is that people have touted a growing wave of soccer for decades, but it still remains a 9th tier sport in this country.

You mean a "viewer" sport, right? As a hockey coach I'm pretty frustrated that my little city is partnering with some group and putting in an entire soccer COMPLEX instead of a hockey complex. I guess I should say "another soccer complex"! But hey, they're putting in an outdoor rink so people can skate part of the year. At least give the kids of this fine city a couple of sheets of ice to skate on! Yes, build it and they will come.

I'm not hear to argue against football, hell I was one of the original board members of our little city's football league and coached for years, so it's pretty clear that I love football too, but to say football isn't growing is wrong. Will it overtake football? Not any time soon, but it's growing at a health clip too.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I have no clue about soccer. Go to a couple of games a year. Baseball players have to be able to make a throw to a base or they don't play professionally. A college QB has to be able to make a throw to a spot before he can even play professionally. A basketball player must be able to pass they ball to a player on the run etc.

I just don't understand why a soccer player is open running down the field can't consistently kick a pass to his teammates without it going long or short half the time. I see it at the World Cup. Why is that a skill only the elite can do in the game?

Originally Posted by TambaBerry

Anyone who claims soccer players aren't great athletes don't understand the sport, you try controlling a ball without using your hands, while at the same time running for miles over 90 minutes with solid full on sprints thrown around in there.

Can you answer my question then?

Not trying to be a dick or anything. Admittedly not a big fan and lack the understanding of the angles or strategy. I do go to a couple of games a year of our local minor league soccer team. Dont really go for the game but the atmosphere and the pregame pub crawls. We are trying to get a MLS team. So ya never know....

[sedated]

Should the MLS be blamed in part? Specifically that America's best players came back to a "retirement" league?

While Klinsmann was ranting about needing experience against the best in the world, there seemed to be a mass influx back to MLS.

[Great Expectations]

Concussions are scaring parents of young children away from Football and somewhat into soccer. I have 2 young boys and I haven’t made the final decision about letting them play football yet. I probably will, but a couple of concussions when they are older and we will be finished.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Can you answer my question then?

Not trying to be a dick or anything. Admittedly not a big fan and lack the understanding of the angles or strategy. I do go to a couple of games a year of our local minor league soccer team. Dont really go for the game but the atmosphere and the pregame pub crawls. We are trying to get a MLS team. So ya never know....

I would compare the difference to golf at some level. It's not that we can't hit a golf ball, we just can turn it the way the Pros do. Add the need to run in soccer, and it's a lot more difficult. Perhaps hockey is another great example, while I can do some of the things the Pros can do, I sure as hell can't do it at the speeds they do it at (which I could never get up to their speeds!!), the hit a pipe with a puck 50 feet away.

Did I mention the running they do? While there are periods of standing, I'd say they are in some awesome shape..

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-styl...icle-1.1307763

[aturnis]

Anyone watching USA v Portugal? Playing youth and building for 2022 is exciting.

In at work on my phone and all having trouble finding an audio only stream. Hope I can get it figured out.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[loochy]

By the way, we shouldn't feel so bad that we missed the World Cup.

Perennial powerhouses Netherlands and Italy didn't make the cut either.
Posted via Mobile Device

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by loochy

By the way, we shouldn't feel so bad that we missed the World Cup.

Perennial powerhouses Netherlands and Italy didn't make the cut either.
Posted via Mobile Device

Ouch!

[Cornstock]

Originally Posted by loochy

By the way, we shouldn't feel so bad that we missed the World Cup.

Perennial powerhouses Netherlands and Italy didn't make the cut either.
Posted via Mobile Device

It's a bad thing from the perspective of trying to grow the sport in the US. The young kids don't get to see their American idols out there to inspire them to take up the sport. Soccer in Italy and the Netherlands is already firmly established, so I don't think it will effect them as much.

But Italy and the Netherlands missing out actually hurts American viewership. There are a bunch of Italy fans in the US who tune in to watch them. It's kind of like having a Superbowl between the Browns and the Panthers. It would be a ratings disaster.

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

The part of this that cracks me up is that people have touted a growing wave of soccer for decades, but it still remains a 9th tier sport in this country.

Here in Atlanta our soccer team had the best franchise launch in the history of sport.

And United games are easily the best live sporting event you can attend here. So much fun! Especially with 65,000 - 70,000 of your closest friends.

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by Cornstock

It's a bad thing from the perspective of trying to grow the sport in the US. The young kids don't get to see their American idols out there to inspire them to take up the sport. Soccer in Italy and the Netherlands is already firmly established, so I don't think it will effect them as much.

But Italy and the Netherlands missing out actually hurts American viewership. There are a bunch of Italy fans in the US who tune in to watch them. It's kind of like having a Superbowl between the Browns and the Panthers. It would be a ratings disaster.

The Browns have the biggest fan base in the NFL. And the interest in watching them would be almost as big as last year’s World Series with the Cubbies.

[Cornstock]

Originally Posted by Bewbies

The Browns have the biggest fan base in the NFL. And the interest in watching them would be almost as big as last year’s World Series with the Cubbies.

I've literally never met a Browns fan outside of Cleveland. Anecdotal, yes, but I've never seen a Browns watch party at a bar either...

[RobBlake]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Concussions are scaring parents of young children away from Football and somewhat into soccer. I have 2 young boys and I haven’t made the final decision about letting them play football yet. I probably will, but a couple of concussions when they are older and we will be finished.

Sorry to tell you that your kid will suffer injuries in any sport his plays. Torn acl happens in any sport