2014 World Cup

But do those count toward Mexico or toward USA?

 

Pretty sure they count by the passports used by the visitors, not the color of the pom poms they're shaking, so I'm thinking the USA.

 

The only things worth following over there

http://thechive.com/2014/06/18/the-hottest-girls-of-the-world-cup-thus-far-35-photos/

 

It is actually a pretty good point, and the problem is self perpetuating. As someone pointed out, at this point, any team that tries to field a bunch of English players will be relegated in short order.

It began when Wenger started having success at Arsenal. Foreign managers bring in foreign players to the detriment of developing national talent. Arsenal and Chelsea have been the leaders in it. Most of the top goal scorers in the league this year were South American or African.

Someone mentioned England playing "English" soccer, but that's what I liked about the international game. England, the US, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Dutch, etc all have a style that is their own.

Giggs isn't English.

 

The three highest-paid and best players in La Liga in Spain are Portuguese, Argentinian. Welsh and Brazilian respectively. The use of foreign stars is a universal European practice.

 

Unless you define top as top three, then not so much.

Of the top 10, three were English, two were African, one was Uruguayan (guess who) and four were from Europe. The next five were three more Europeans and two Englishmen. 10 of the top 24 were English.

 

Damn furriners ruin everything.

 

Exactly.

Even so, those numbers should bolster the case for the US hosting another World Cup ASAP (Hi Qatar).

 

so hustle, hard work and a high futball IQ are better than athleticism? Or is that only in 'Murcia

 

Back in my Football Manager days (well, the ones where I spent much more time on it than I do now), that was one of the restrictions I would place on myself - pick a team in a country and win with a roster that was only players from that country. My biggest success with it was with Atletico Madrid back when they had Fernando Torres, Pablo, Antonio Lopez and Mista.

I tried it once with Arsenal, but abandoned it when I realized how much work it would be just to get the English guys in and the foreigners out. Probably should have gone full immersion and tried it with Bilbao.

 

You leave Los Pimentoneros out of this!

 

Does Costa Rica have a decent shot to win today? Or at least draw? Or at worst not lose by 2 goals? Asking for a friend.