OT-2026 World Cup soccer/football/futbol-OT (Go USA!⚽️)

lousubcap · June 12

Just concluded opening day matches-
The level of intensity is impressive on the pitch. Stadium attendance appears well above the naysayers predictions (both played in Mexico).
USA opens tonight at 9 PM (EDT).
Fox broadcast ( all matches) so sit back, relax and enjoy the tournament.
Go USA!

CPFC1905 · June 12

We're under way then. Minus one referee and some supporters.

Early observations, with so many games and disparity in team quality it would pay to be judicious about which games to invest your time and mid-strength beers.

Huge mismatches can be better value as they tend to generate goals, but can also flatten out when the better team are two goals to the good.

Final matches in the group have more jeopardy, and what we all want is a big team losing early. But
unfortunately such a large knock out tournament means that we need 32 to the next round to make the numbers work, and so this makes draws a good / safe result. There have been gerrymandered results in the past, just saying.

The weather is a major factor, hydration breaks are not usual and the increased use of video assistance will stretch the games out to 100 minutes of game time. The play will be more fractured than usual and players irritable.

And for stats fans, we're two games in and 5 goals scored, which is bang on the average for the last four world cups, at 2.5 goals per game. Group stage matches are usually just above that and knockout rounds just under.

Foghorn · June 12

Another observation: It should surprise nobody that the US is the first country that has figured out how to add commercials to a soccer match - during the water breaks. Fortunately they seem to be much briefer than the commercial breaks that are built into US football and basketball...

The incessant commercials is the reason I've gravitated away from basketball and toward soccer over the years.

@CPFC1905, who is your pick for a big team that will lose early? I'm going to go with The Netherlands, although I'm tempted to pick your Three Lions. I'm just not sure that losing to a team that has made the final match more recently than you have qualifies as an upset.

MaskedMarvel · June 12

Greensboro (my town) is the host city for Norway. Locals are sort of getting into it.

CPFC1905 · June 12

Foghorn said:

Another observation: It should surprise nobody that the US is the first country that has figured out how to add commercials to a soccer match - during the water breaks. Fortunately they seem to be much briefer than the commercial breaks that are built into US football and basketball...

The incessant commercials is the reason I've gravitated away from basketball and toward soccer over the years.

@CPFC1905, who is your pick for a big team that will lose early? I'm going to go with The Netherlands, although I'm tempted to pick your Three Lions. I'm just not sure that losing to a team that has made the final match more recently than you have qualifies as an upset.

Portugal are ranked 5th favourite - this is an outrage. So them. Ideally Ronaldo combusts in spectacular fashion and we get a display usually the preserve of the French.

Norway and/or Senegal could go deep.

xfire_ATX · June 12

I was super impressed by South Korea last night, they play a very technical attacking game that just cut right through Czechia. Mexico was impressive in their win- shame only the announcers would call the stadium by its proper name. USA would be better playing in the Midwest or NW for the fan support tonight, its going to be a tough game.

lousubcap · June 12

The commercials are the reason I DVR any TV program I intend to watch. The time devoted to adds is ever increasing.

lousubcap · June 12

The Canada Bosnia match was entertaining. Canada really pushed forward the second half. Bosnia defenders had more saves than their keeper.

CTMike · June 13

Nice start for the US v. Paraguay.

CTMike · June 13

Awesome start for the US. They need to run up the score as much as possible in case goal differential comes in to play.

CTMike · June 13

I am loving this video review giving a yellow card to the Paraguay player for a dive. I hate that part of the game.

CTMike · June 13

Great start for the US.

lousubcap · June 13

That first half for USA was about the best I have seen them play in any World Cup or International match. Woulda preferred a clean sheet vs the 4th goal but a sweet win. ⚽️

ColbyLang · June 13

Great game!

ColbyLang · June 14

Germany was impressive with their 7-1 win today. Wish the games didn’t have weeks in between them

Ike · June 15

No team can play a second game until every team has their first game.

ColbyLang · June 15

Ike said:

No team can play a second game until every team has their first game.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it! Also seems silly since it’s pool play/round robin at this point. Gotta love the folks that spent thousands of dollars to go watch Spain play today only to find out last night that their superstar, Yamine Lamal, ain’t playing. I know he isn’t needed in today’s match……but still.

Foghorn · June 15

Given that the over/under on the Spain vs Cape Verde game is 3.5, I'm thinking a bet on the over is the way to go.

(Note: I don't actually bet as I think the advice of "never bet on anything that eats" is sound.)

ColbyLang · June 15

Foghorn said:

Given that the over/under on the Spain vs Cape Verde game is 3.5, I'm thinking a bet on the over is the way to go.

(Note: I don't actually bet as I think the advice of "never bet on anything that eats" is sound.)

Lamal in the game with 20 minutes to go 0-0. Bet the under!!!

lousubcap · June 15

What an upset draw. 0-0. Cape Verde keeper was impressive.

Foghorn · June 15

Wow. That reinforces my decision not to bet on sports...

DoubleEgger · June 15

ColbyLang said:

Ike said:

No team can play a second game until every team has their first game.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it! Also seems silly since it’s pool play/round robin at this point. Gotta love the folks that spent thousands of dollars to go watch Spain play today only to find out last night that their superstar, Yamine Lamal, ain’t playing. I know he isn’t needed in today’s match……but still.

How about paying thousands to see a scoreless game? That’s gotta sting.

ColbyLang · June 16

DoubleEgger said:

ColbyLang said:

Ike said:

No team can play a second game until every team has their first game.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it! Also seems silly since it’s pool play/round robin at this point. Gotta love the folks that spent thousands of dollars to go watch Spain play today only to find out last night that their superstar, Yamine Lamal, ain’t playing. I know he isn’t needed in today’s match……but still.

How about paying thousands to see a scoreless game? That’s gotta sting.

Yeah, but that’s soccer. Polar opposite to the NBA in regards to scoring

Foghorn · June 16

DoubleEgger said:

ColbyLang said:

Ike said:

No team can play a second game until every team has their first game.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it! Also seems silly since it’s pool play/round robin at this point. Gotta love the folks that spent thousands of dollars to go watch Spain play today only to find out last night that their superstar, Yamine Lamal, ain’t playing. I know he isn’t needed in today’s match……but still.

How about paying thousands to see a scoreless game? That’s gotta sting.

I did that once. France vs Uruguay, 2nd match of the 2010 World Cup. We were OK with it. We got to see a bunch of players that we had only previously seen on TV from 9th row seats. The speed and ball skills were amazing. Yes, we wish there had been some goals but the lack of goals didn't really diminish our appreciation of the experience. I do understand that 1) these were exceptional circumstances and 2) we are probably in the minority.

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Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/em/r1jqgtqvfduk.jpg

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Mark_B_Good · June 16

ColbyLang said:

Foghorn said:

Given that the over/under on the Spain vs Cape Verde game is 3.5, I'm thinking a bet on the over is the way to go.

(Note: I don't actually bet as I think the advice of "never bet on anything that eats" is sound.)

Lamal in the game with 20 minutes to go 0-0. Bet the under!!!

Apparently some guy bet $1 million on Spain to win, and the odds were so poor, he would have won only $87,000 if they actually did win. A cool mill gone.

ColbyLang · June 16

Mark_B_Good said:

ColbyLang said:

Foghorn said:

Given that the over/under on the Spain vs Cape Verde game is 3.5, I'm thinking a bet on the over is the way to go.

(Note: I don't actually bet as I think the advice of "never bet on anything that eats" is sound.)

Lamal in the game with 20 minutes to go 0-0. Bet the under!!!

Apparently some guy bet $1 million on Spain to win, and the odds were so poor, he would have won only $87,000 if they actually did win. A cool mill gone.

I wonder if the fix was in on it. Spain really put themselves behind the 8 ball by not winning. US’ mathematical advantage just got a lot better to make the semis

Foghorn · June 16

ColbyLang said:

Mark_B_Good said:

ColbyLang said:

Foghorn said:

Given that the over/under on the Spain vs Cape Verde game is 3.5, I'm thinking a bet on the over is the way to go.

(Note: I don't actually bet as I think the advice of "never bet on anything that eats" is sound.)

Lamal in the game with 20 minutes to go 0-0. Bet the under!!!

Apparently some guy bet $1 million on Spain to win, and the odds were so poor, he would have won only $87,000 if they actually did win. A cool mill gone.

I wonder if the fix was in on it. Spain really put themselves behind the 8 ball by not winning. US’ mathematical advantage just got a lot better to make the semis

I'm going to need you to explain that to me. I think Spain is still the favorite to win their group.

In general, these teams haven't played together much so the first game is often a struggle. That doesn't mean they won't go deep into the tournament. Spain lost their opening match in 2010 and Argentina lost their opening match in 2022 and both went on to be champions.

For the US team, I think it is reasonable to expect them to get out of the group stage and win one game to advance to the final 16. If they win another game and make it to the final 8 (or further), in my mind that will be great, but I'll think of it as "exceeding expectations".

Maybe that's just me.

ColbyLang · June 16

The lack of 3 points hurts Spain’s chances moving forward (regardless of how easy their group is) It also opens the door to the US to not have to face them earlier on (possibly round of 32)

CTMike · June 16

The Cape Verde - Spain game was fantastic to watch. I can't imagine anyone picked the defending European champion to go scoreless in that game.

Haaland has two goals so far against Iraq, dude seems like a beast.

ColbyLang · June 17

Haaland is a machine. How about the old
man Messi posting up a hat trick of his own….GOAT

CTMike · June 17

ColbyLang said:

Haaland is a machine. How about the old
man Messi posting up a hat trick of his own….GOAT

Yup, saw that. There's no doubt that Messi is fantastic, especially at his advanced age, but personally I feel Ronaldo is the GOAT.

OT-2026 World Cup soccer/football/futbol-OT (Go USA!⚽️)

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