Football (also sometimes referred to as "Soccer")

East Bay Grease

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And by football, I mean, you know, the game you actually play by kicking a ball with your foot. (As opposed to the sport where it's illegal to kick the ball with your foot, unless you're one of 2 players in 3 extremely narrowly-defined instances.)

Anyway, this is only the second World Cup I've paid attention to from the start, so I'm no expert...but it's been really entertaining. The US v. Portugal match didn't result in the most satisfying outcome, but it was a great game.

Wondering if there are any other observations from more seasoned observers. Limey? Welsh? London? Abelardo? Anyone else?
 
And by football, I mean, you know, the game you actually play by kicking a ball with your foot. As opposed to the sport where it's illegal to kick the ball with your foot, unless you're one of 2 players in 3 extremely narrowly-defined instances.

(I tried posting this in "Other Major Sports," along side such less-popular endeavors as Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Boxing, even Golf rates a slot, for fuck's sake. But the thread ended up being relegated to some sub-major status alongside lingerie football. Really? The world's most popular game is less major than the perennial excuse to dress badly known as golf—a game that's desperately, openly, fending off its own extinction? Never mind, I'm going rogue.)

So anyway, this is only the second World Cup I've paid attention to from the start, so I bring no knowledge to the subject...but I figure I can't be the only BlackReigner who's watching. Wondering if there are any other observations from more seasoned observers. Limey? Welsh? London? Abelardo?

Or anyone else, seasoned or unseasoned?
 
Lot of people watching but as soon as 1) the US is out or 2) the World Cup is over soccer will fad back into nothing in the US.

The one thing good about soccer is the games last about 2 hours with almost no interruptions or commercials. Compared to American football with all the stoppages for every know reason that is a dream.
 
If Ghana knocks USA out of the World Cup tomorrow for the 3rd time, with Germany besting its former HC, it will suck. But, yes, only for a moment.
 
US blew a golden opportunity to automatically advance by letting in the tying goal with like 20 seconds left. Very Raideresque
 
Go whoever murica is playing!
 
I didn't like soccer until I started helping coach my daughter's team. The head coach knew the game backwards and forwards and I learned so much listening to him that I love the game now. It doesn't have the visceral impact of football, but (like Bones said) the lack of commercial interruptions allows you to get into the flow of the game.

The only thing I'd change is to find a way to eliminate the flopping. Don't lay there screaming like you had your leg amputated and then jump up like nothing's wrong, ferchrissakes...
 
With all the foot ball comments I've heard (read this time), I'd like these intelligent, observant folks to propose a simple replacement for America's football name, and don't use soccer: 1) it's too easy and 2) the transition would cause confusion.

Have at it!
 
I didn't like soccer until I started helping coach my daughter's team. The head coach knew the game backwards and forwards and I learned so much listening to him that I love the game now. It doesn't have the visceral impact of football, but (like Bones said) the lack of commercial interruptions allows you to get into the flow of the game.

The only thing I'd change is to find a way to eliminate the flopping. Don't lay there screaming like you had your leg amputated and then jump up like nothing's wrong, ferchrissakes...
I enjoy the Italians and Spaniards. They can make it look like they were hit by a sniper, Hollywood-style, mid-stride.

My second favorite move is the hands to the face move when the guy was tapped on the ankle. What? Is he crying from the pain or did he catch an elbow? Watch the replay. Nope, nothing near the face. Check the contact. Meaningless tap on the shinguard. Bring out the stretcher boys, this one could be serious. He's pounding the ground and covering his ear to ear smile with his free hand. Wait, they're pulling away his hand. That grimace of pain! It must have been brutal, not. After the theatrics, and a miracle cure of a sports drink on the sidelines he's back in the game at full speed, not the slightest hint of a limp. Good thing they didn't have to amputate, but then again the man didn't have any pride to begin with.
 
I enjoy the Italians and Spaniards. They can make it look like they were hit by a sniper, Hollywood-style, mid-stride.

My second favorite move is the hands to the face move when the guy was tapped on the ankle. What? Is he crying from the pain or did he catch an elbow? Watch the replay. Nope, nothing near the face. Check the contact. Meaningless tap on the shinguard. Bring out the stretcher boys, this one could be serious. He's pounding the ground and covering his ear to ear smile with his free hand. Wait, they're pulling away his hand. That grimace of pain! It must have been brutal, not. After the theatrics, and a miracle cure of a sports drink on the sidelines he's back in the game at full speed, not the slightest hint of a limp. Good thing they didn't have to amputate, but then again the man didn't have any pride to begin with.

LeBron James is bad about this, too. He weighs about 260, but a guy about 80 lbs. lighter brushes against him and he flies backwards like he's been tasered. Annoying as hell.
 
I've seen a meme where our game was called hand-egg. Kicking used to be important, the only way to score at one point. Today the NFL is trying to remove it completely. Not sure what you'd change the name to, gridiron ball maybe.

Best comment I've heard on soccer: if I wanted to watch someone try try to score for 2 hours, I'd take my buddy to the bar
 
(I tried posting this in "Other Major Sports," along side such less-popular endeavors as Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Boxing, even Golf rates a slot, for fuck's sake. But the thread ended up being relegated to some sub-major status alongside lingerie football. Really? The world's most popular game is less major than the perennial excuse to dress badly known as golf—a game that's desperately, openly, fending off its own extinction? Never mind, I'm going rogue.)
hey, we don't live in "the world"... we live in 'Merica.
 
I enjoy the Italians and Spaniards. They can make it look like they were hit by a sniper, Hollywood-style, mid-stride.

My second favorite move is the hands to the face move when the guy was tapped on the ankle. What? Is he crying from the pain or did he catch an elbow? Watch the replay. Nope, nothing near the face. Check the contact. Meaningless tap on the shinguard. Bring out the stretcher boys, this one could be serious. He's pounding the ground and covering his ear to ear smile with his free hand. Wait, they're pulling away his hand. That grimace of pain! It must have been brutal, not. After the theatrics, and a miracle cure of a sports drink on the sidelines he's back in the game at full speed, not the slightest hint of a limp. Good thing they didn't have to amputate, but then again the man didn't have any pride to begin with.

Yah no shit. The stretcher thing cracks me up. Its similar to when they take the guy out of the ring on a stretcher in a pro wrestling match. They just flop him on there and carry him out.
 
I enjoy the Italians and Spaniards. They can make it look like they were hit by a sniper, Hollywood-style, mid-stride.

My second favorite move is the hands to the face move when the guy was tapped on the ankle. What? Is he crying from the pain or did he catch an elbow? Watch the replay. Nope, nothing near the face. Check the contact. Meaningless tap on the shinguard. Bring out the stretcher boys, this one could be serious. He's pounding the ground and covering his ear to ear smile with his free hand. Wait, they're pulling away his hand. That grimace of pain! It must have been brutal, not. After the theatrics, and a miracle cure of a sports drink on the sidelines he's back in the game at full speed, not the slightest hint of a limp. Good thing they didn't have to amputate, but then again the man didn't have any pride to begin with.
My favorite is the guy with hair thingy, you know the one where it looks like the hair piece a woman uses while putting on make up,
( think Mark Sanchez) jumps in his buddies lap and they scissor! That's awesome. Flopping's just cute... That move is downright gay.
 
USA Portugal was a great match with team USA major choking-- no just allowing the goal in last 30 seconds, the first goal we gave up was a total blunder and we missed an easy goal when our guy (can't remember which) had an open shot and kicked it right to the goalie. That said, that kick/pass by Ronaldo for the score was fucking dirty. Man what a kick from way out right on spot for the header. He bent it too to get it there. I'm not a big soccer guy but I can appreciate it-- I got into it when I was in Amsterdam during the Euro 2000. That shit was off the hook, orange people everywhere, orange fucking teletubbies even.. great party. I'll root for the USA as long as they are in it (probably not much longer) but will switch to the Netherlands after that. I do love me some Amsterdam!
 
Well our lot have already landed at home !

Apart from that its been pretty good so far - although id love to hear your reactions to Suarez the scumbag biting
an Italian last night

As for DonkeyKilla there wernt any orange people in Amsterdam - you had just been to the local coffee shop ;)
 
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