concordtom said:

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Rebecca Lowe on rules changes.

She has been great managing the desk this World Cup!

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Big C said:

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sluggo said:

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Big C said:

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I don't trust my observations to be accurate, but what I saw from Spain today was great team defense with no brainfarts or lapses (like France had when they gave up that second goal). No flashy Haalands or Mbappes but they just play winning soccer the entire game with no let up

How am I coming along?

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I think Lamine Yamal is a top 2 player in the world. They play a disciplined system with him staying on the wing. It is hard to score from there with two out of bounds lines and two defenders. I think later in his career he will move to attacking center mid and have even more impact. I also think the key to the game was the Spanish midfield dominating the French midfield. Ruiz, Olmo, Rodri all breathtakingly good. But focusing on the defense is a perfectly fine way to look at the game.

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My situation right now is, goals and assists are obvious, but it's harder for me to notice when other players are good, short of going by the overall results. An exception would be a player obviously winning a 1 v 1.

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Big C said:

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sluggo said:

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Big C said:

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sluggo said:

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Big C said:

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I don't trust my observations to be accurate, but what I saw from Spain today was great team defense with no brainfarts or lapses (like France had when they gave up that second goal). No flashy Haalands or Mbappes but they just play winning soccer the entire game with no let up

How am I coming along?

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I think Lamine Yamal is a top 2 player in the world. They play a disciplined system with him staying on the wing. It is hard to score from there with two out of bounds lines and two defenders. I think later in his career he will move to attacking center mid and have even more impact. I also think the key to the game was the Spanish midfield dominating the French midfield. Ruiz, Olmo, Rodri all breathtakingly good. But focusing on the defense is a perfectly fine way to look at the game.

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My situation right now is, goals and assists are obvious, but it's harder for me to notice when other players are good, short of going by the overall results. An exception would be a player obviously winning a 1 v 1.

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Don't try to reduce it to individual stats. First, it is a team game. Second, it sucks out the joy. I say this as a professional data scientist.

Try to find little nuggets. Here is one I will give you. It is called the "half turn." Generally, to receive a pass that goes forward you need to face the player who sends it, which puts your back towards your own goal. However, you want to push the ball towards the opposite goal. So the question is how do you (almost) simultaneously receive the ball and starting pushing towards the intended goal? The answer is the half turn. You receive it sort of sideways and turn upfield by straightening out. And there are variations. That may sound easy but there is only one person in the whole 340 million population of the USA who does it properly, Gio Reyna. (McKennie is not bad, but not like a Spaniard.) So it must not be.

My daughter reached a fairly high level in soccer, by my standards, in middle school. She got her first real coach and he spent the whole first week on turning. I was taught by dads, and while I can see a lot, I cannot do much on the field. Maybe in retirement I will learn how to play properly. (I played my first game 50 years ago, so probably not.)

In the first half of the finals watch Rodri turn every time he receives the ball. No one will touch the ball, ever, and he will be in position to lay off the ball easily. Then in the second half watch Pedri, who is even better at the skill, and is actually the best I have ever seen. Messi is and Maradona was spectacular at this skill as well.

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Thanks, your practical tips really help. As a gauge of my interest, the past few weeks I have come to this thread before I have checked the football and basketball boards.

Last night, I "wasted" much of my evening watching video-casts about the state of soccer / youth soccer in the US and one on tryouts (which I wish I had watched before my daughter's first tryout three years ago).

I'm basically too old to play the sport now, so I will never really have that kinesthetic understanding of the game that I have for the "American sports". Still, I am making progress!

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🇦🇷 Wow. That's an Argentine takeover in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/xRxZ9wZKBv

— Ultras Clips (@ultras_clips) July 15, 2026

sluggo said:

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If I played for Argentina I would watch this video before every game. Maradona was a genius. I was in Naples this summer and there he is almost a deity with posters, murals and statues.

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Anarchistbear said:

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sluggo said:

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If I played for Argentina I would watch this video before every game. Maradona was a genius. I was in Naples this summer and there he is almost a deity with posters, murals and statues.

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Naples is a fantastic city not the least because Maradona has replaced Jesus as an icon

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sluggo said:

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At halftime:
1. Zzzz. The game is not bad, but after yesterday, you realize there are levels. Spain will not lose on Sunday.
2. I don't like South American soccer. Too rough. The ref is not helping.
3. I like starting Simeone, who I know from Atletico Madrid where he plays for his father. But he is being swallowed up by England's bigger defenders. That is what happens sometimes to Balogun.
4. The modern game consists of fast, athletic wingers. Gordon is neither, though he would be a good midfielder. England has better players on the bench, I hope they use them.
5. I think England should start sending in high balls. And bring 6'7'' Dan Burn into the game. Breaking down Argentina does not look like it is in the cards.
6. I know Messi has to play in bursts at 39, but his footwork is still so good, and his speed is not even bad. Could he play in 2030? Why not?

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Cal88 said:

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Argentina was specifically seeded by FIFA to avoid Spain.

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Cal88 said:

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Tuchel should use his subs here, 4 left.

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sluggo said:

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At halftime:
1. Zzzz. The game is not bad, but after yesterday, you realize there are levels. Spain will not lose on Sunday.
2. I don't like South American soccer. Too rough. The ref is not helping.
3. I like starting Simeone, who I know from Atletico Madrid where he plays for his father. But he is being swallowed up by England's bigger defenders. That is what happens sometimes to Balogun.
4. The modern game consists of fast, athletic wingers. Gordon is neither, though he would be a good midfielder. England has better players on the bench, I hope they use them.
5. I think England should start sending in high balls. And bring 6'7'' Dan Burn into the game. Breaking down Argentina does not look like it is in the cards.
6. I know Messi has to play in bursts at 39, but his footwork is still so good, and his speed is not even bad. Could he play in 2030? Why not?

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sluggo said:

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Cal88 said:

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Tuchel should use his subs here, 4 left.

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You can bunker Mexico but bunkering Argentina is foolish.

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Cal88 said:

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sluggo said:

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Cal88 said:

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Tuchel should use his subs here, 4 left.

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You can bunker Mexico but bunkering Argentina is foolish.

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Agreed.

Spain-Arg a better bill and game in any case.

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Cal88 said:

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They're not going to be able to press Spain high up and set up as many chances, as well Spain has not tired that much in their semi and has an extra day rest.

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Anarchistbear said:

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To my untrained eye England turtled in the box in their prevent defense but Argentina really has way more skilled players than Mexico did. Coaching error

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sluggo said:

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Cal88 said:

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They're not going to be able to press Spain high up and set up as many chances, as well Spain has not tired that much in their semi and has an extra day rest.

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Argentina had few chances until England bunkered, which Spain never does. Argentinian players do not tire. More leading up to the game.

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Can someone tell me WHY this isn’t a foul ???
SPENCE got the ball
MESSI got Spence foot

That 2nd #Argentina goal should have been called back for a foul to #England

They never even told the Ref to raid a look
No close up was shown at all pic.twitter.com/zkCD4fRclW

— Junior Rodigan (@JuniorRodigan) July 15, 2026