Soccer Topics: No goalies in the USA

27,104 Views | 464 Replies | Last: 17 hrs ago by Cal88
Cal88
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In reply to sluggo • 5:47p, 6/3/26
sluggo said:
Cal88 said:

This behavior on both sides is totally standard by every team now. An offensive player grabs the ball during the chaos period when the defensive team is giving the offensive team the business. When the ref clears out the defensive team the ball holder gives the ball to someone else who takes the penalty. You can hate Arsenal for other reasons, but not for this.


FYI I don't dislike Arsenal, and actually used to root for them during the Wenger era when they had several French players. I do also understand that other teams engage in "gamesmanship", but it seems that Arsenal has been pushing the envelop a bit further, and getting a lot of grief for that from neutrals :







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sluggo
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In reply to Cal88 • 9:16a, 6/4/26
I hate all the gamesmanship, too. I particularly hate the flopping and staying on the ground. But the narrative that Arsenal is somehow different than any other team does not hold water, IMO.
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Cal88
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2:28p, 6/4/26
Fair enough Sluggo .

A couple of shoc kers today in Europe, France lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast, Spain tied Iraq 1-1...
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concordtom
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In reply to Cal88 • 10:06p, 6/4/26
Wasn't someone smart saying that anything can happen in a low scoring game such as soccer?
I hope Big C was reading.
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concordtom
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In reply to Cal88 • 10:09p, 6/4/26
Your complaints about time wasting is valid but wrongfully directed.
Don't blame arsenal.
Go after the rule makers
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concordtom
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In reply to Cal88 • 10:14p, 6/4/26
Cal88 said:


It's official.
I'm old.

…I remember that.
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Big C
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In reply to concordtom • 10:18p, 6/4/26
concordtom said:
Wasn't someone smart saying that anything can happen in a low scoring game such as soccer?
I hope Big C was reading.

This was a factor that blocked the advancement of my soccer fandom way back around the turn of the century: the game is tied or only one goal separates the two teams. Then, it's decided by a penalty kick on a some call that might well be bogus.

A few really good matches this time might bring me around (with you guys' help, of course).
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concordtom
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In reply to Cal88 • 10:22p, 6/4/26
Cal88 said:


Cape Verde Island was a stopping point for mariners of yesteryear. They stocked up supplies before crossing the Atlantic for South America.

My ggggg great grandfather captained a ship from Nantucket in the 1790's. Elephant seal hunters.
They stopped at CVI.


EDIT
WAIT A MINUTE ! CVI is in the World Cup?????
What is their population????
Eswa-who????



The Cape Verde Islands (Cabo Verde) secured their historic first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup by winning Group D of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifiers. They locked up their spot by defeating Eswatini 3-0 at the National Stadium in Praia, finishing four points clear of continental heavyweights Cameroon.

The Qualification Campaign
Cape Verde's path to the global stage was a masterclass in resilience and defensive discipline. The Blue Sharks completed their home fixtures with a 100% record and did not concede a single goal on their home soil.

The Clincher: On October 13, 2025, a resounding 3-0 victory over Eswatini officially punched their ticket to the finals. Goals from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo, and Stopira sealed the historic win.

The Final Standings: Cape Verde finished Group D at the top with 23 points, comfortably ahead of runners-up Cameroon and Angola.

Historical Significance: With a population of just over 500,000, they became the third-smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup.

The World Cup Finals - The Blue Sharks' Cinderella run earned them a spot in the group stage of the tournament, where they were drawn into a challenging group.

Opponents: Cape Verde was placed in a group alongside European powerhouse Spain, South American giants Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.

Key Matchup: Their highly anticipated opening match of the tournament is set against Spain.





I didn't get the memo

Swaziland officially changed its name to the Kingdom of Eswatini in April 2018. King Mswati III announced the change during a celebration for the country's 50th anniversary of independence.
Why the name change occurred:Shedding Colonial Ties: "Eswatini" translates to "land of the Swazis" in the native Swati language. The former name, "Swaziland," was an anglicized name imposed by the British Empire, serving as a mix of Swazi and English.
Preventing Confusion: The King noted that foreigners frequently confused Swaziland with Switzerland.
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sluggo
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12:03p, 6/5/26
Sendoff match is this Saturday at 11:30AM on TBS against Germany. Chris Richards is still nursing his ankle so he will not play, but he is in training. His replacement is between Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty. Neither is ideal. Because Ream is left footed McKenzie is right footed and Trusty is left footed, McKenzie will probably get the job. I like Trust better as he is 6'4'' and more physical.

Another thing to look at is who will play in the center midfield next to Tyler Adams. Candidates are Tillman, Reyna, Berhalter, and Roldan. (Or Weston McKennie could move back.) I like Tillman and Reyna, but I think Poch likes Berhalter and Roldan, two MLS players who I think are not up to the job. Obed Vargas, who is pefect for the job and played at the U20 WC for the US and now plays for Atletico Madrid, is on Mexico's squad. Damn. We are losing as many players to other countries as we get from them.

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Cal88
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12:03p, 6/5/26

"Norway fans cheer depicting Vikings rowing a ship. The Norway national team, appearing in Viking attire, is generating buzz for being cool"
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