Futebol

This truly is the WC of shit European nations. Decent showings also from Switzerland and Denmark. Even Serbia weren't woeful. Poland is the European side who underperformed the most.

Vive la France!

Sverige!!! Although I also enjoy the English side and would be happy for them if they made it.

Belgium hopefully over Brazil...

Croatia over Russia, please.

chrondog wrote:Other than England who I have a soft spot for

genuinely banging this hard on Spotify (including the strangely titled "Sake Bar Mix"):



let's go lads

I thought Brazil looked the more dominant side for stretches of the match & they had plenty of chances but my god Belgium were great on the counterattack. Really glad they are advancing.

Neymar is insufferable. He’s a terrific player but I wouldn’t rate him a top 5 player in the world at this point. He’s maybe not even the best player in the French league.

#NeverNeymar

Is Russia the greatest team in the history of soccer or the greatest team in the history of sports?

I’m fine with the host nation that has a history of state sponsored doping making their exit now.

It was a fine story. The next 2 hosts will probably fail to get out of the group stages anyway.

It is kind of hard for me to root for England when I know how players like Raheem Sterling are treated by a certain contingent of their fanbase and media. Of course, I could say the same thing about how the French fans jeer at Pogba, or how even the rumor of Balotelli as the next captain of the NT led to banners being raised saying, "my captain has Italian blood."

WP64 wrote:It is kind of hard for me to root for England when I know how players like Raheem Sterling are treated by a certain contingent of their fanbase and media. Of course, I could say the same thing about how the French fans jeer at Pogba, or how even the rumor of Balotelli as the next captain of the NT led to banners being raised saying, "my captain has Italian blood."

Yeah, if you're concerned about vitriolic ultra culture, than England is a country that is the least of your worries. For Western countries with lots of money, that negativity is mostly keyboard warriors. It's not a Sporting in Portugal situation.

The big problem with England's tabloid culture is it's so visible/profitable. Those papers exploit Sterling purely because it's decent business for them. Controversy sells as we all know. And then these controversies are flung far across the net in the English speaking world. Makes it seem like a bigger deal than it actually is.

For what it's worth, I think Sterling was England's most dangerous player yesterday by a mile. He had a very Cavani-esque performance from 2-3 years ago; his movement, pace, and touch created great changes that no other forward in the team would've created, but he fluffed them all pretty badly. He get criticized by unsophisticated who crow about "end prawduct". At least Southgate seems to realize that he is England's most creative player and should keep playing him in the hopes that he comes good.

The changes that Man City create for Sterling that allowed him to score so many goals this season are 100x better than anything being created at international level.

chrondog wrote:For what it's worth, I think Sterling was England's most dangerous player yesterday by a mile. He had a very Cavani-esque performance from 2-3 years ago; his movement, pace, and touch created great changes that no other forward in the team would've created, but he fluffed them all pretty badly. He get criticized by unsophisticated who crow about "end prawduct". At least Southgate seems to realize that he is England's most creative player and should keep playing him in the hopes that he comes good.

The changes that Man City create for Sterling that allowed him to score so many goals this season are 100x better than anything being created at international level.

Doesn't he play out wide for Man City? He is so much fun to watch. I don't want to reduce him, or minimize his talents, by saying that he is just a "pacey winger," but that is his strength. Watching him bombing forward with the ball at his feet is a joy. I would have been pretty happy if Sanchez ended up going to City and Sterling came to Arsenal as part of the deal.

I also just love his running form. He makes his arms into these little T-Rex arms and he allows his wrists to just flail around. It's adorable/hilarious. Sometimes when I am outside running, I try to mimic his form and stride.

I agree that Sterling is England’s most exciting & dangerous player that gives the side an edge no other player Southgate has available can.

But his finishing is an issue. I can think of a few chances he’s had that players like Mbappe, Lukaku & Hazard would put away.

Nick wrote:But his finishing is an issue. I can think of a few chances he’s had that players like Mbappe, Lukaku & Hazard would put away.

England is far less talented than France or Belgium, I think we can all agree. Those three player are world beaters.

Sterling is the only England player (other than Vardy, who looks off the pace for England too often) with the speed and ability to closely control the ball with both feet and create chances from balls over the top. He absolutely would be a lot better if he improved on finishing, but some players never become elite finishers. It's not a skill you can simply master over time.

One thing the World Cup highlights is how incredibly critical we are of footballers when everything they are doing is absolutely amazing.

If you think that the Guardian/Totally/Ramble podcasts are good, the libellous live shows are a riot.

Since you're such good friends with all of them on Twitter, convince them to do a US tour. UK-only live dates can get fucked.

That's a fair point but the logistics and cost of doing something like is probably quite off putting.

Crazy to think had France won the last Euros they’d be heading into 2020 on a run to rival what Spain did.

And I think given their depth and youth they will be favorites for 2020 and you’d imagine in Qatar.

It was a really weird tournament. Other than the game against Argentina, which was also the only game in the tournament where they ever trailed, they were pretty average throughout. They were really outplayed today for most of the final and their goals almost all came through either a bit of fortune or entirely against the run of play.

They were really solid defensively throughout and I think both Deschamps and Pogba should get a lot of credit for how they shaped and executed their game plan. I'm happy for the French and they were the team I chose at the beginning of this tournament, but in the end it was kind of a bummer to watch them get the underserved better of Perisic, Brozovic, and the Croats.

For anyone who has not already, you should really watch Les Bleus, une autre histoire de France on Netflix. It's fantastic.

Did this happen in the middle of the game match? Did they show it on TV?

I only saw the last 30 minutes.

They showed it briefly then cut away to match highlights until Pussy Riot were escorted off.

Are they in jail again

I'm really starting to like the things I see from Emery and there's a decent chance we could come in fourth this season.

I hate this optimism.

I'm so happy to have this back in my life and I can't wait for Sunday.

First game of the season for me was Everton vs Wolves. Interesting game! This was peak Richarlison: a supremely talented and smooth player who seems to lack staying power. Two goals, but was collapsing on the pitch after 80'.

Jagielka dutifully stepped into the Ashley Williams role from last season and got sent off for a bad challenge over the top of the ball. Everton have huge problems at CB. Lots of new faces and a combination of players who are too old and too young, none just right.

Rueben Neves bagged a goal and an assist with a wonderful close-range free kick then a saucy cross from the left wing. I've seen the hype around him but haven't watched consistently. Excited to do so!

I didn't think Wolves looked that fluid and I'm not sure why pundits constantly hype up Championship teams that pass the ball around, a style that's difficult to replicate when you take a step up. I think Wolves will have a difficult first 10 games.

However, Everton are a bit of a dumpster fire for me and I don't expect much quality again from them this season. They have the individual quality to finish in the top half and they should achieve that this year in a wholly uninspiring way. The squad is unbalanced and there's been a lot of turnover again. New manager. If you're not an Everton fan at least they're occasionally a fun mess.

Extremely excited to get up for Arsenal v City tomorrow and Unai's first run out at The Emirates!!

Really enjoying this new era of Leeds where we completely smash everyone in our path to definite promotion

Soma, are you from Leeds and the moved to Brighton?

I am eternally damned because when I tracked my family lineage back from Liverpool to Ellis Island in 1920, I found that my great grandparents were indentured servants from Netherfield near Nottingham and I decided I was a Forest fan *FACEPALM*