All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

You've got to be kidding me, right?

You think that Italy, the ame nation that just had it's footballing shut down for a week and still doesn't have stands in a majority of it's stadiums could hold a world cup...at the drop of a hat? That's just lunacy. There is no way. Not only are the stadia unsafe, but they are also too small for the large part.

 

Also, according to our Project 2010 (or whatever it's called), we're supposed to win the World Cup by 2010, so it would be nice to do it on home soil.

;D ;D ;D

 

Massive leagues like theirs don't thrive without having adequate facilities.

All they need is 8-10 stadiums. They would have little trouble.

 

I'd say University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale is a dead-certain lock: it was designed with soccer at least partially in mind. I'd be pretty surprised if Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ballpark) hosted any games -- the layout is just vastly inferior.

I wouldn't bet against the final going to the new Cowboys stadium.

 

Well, I hope they have the roof closed and the AC cranked up.

The WC matches in the Cotton Bowl were brutal. I'll never forget the poor Swedish fans I saw during the first knockout round at the Cotton Bowl. Some of them had never heard of sunscreen and with gametime heat index at 120, they were soon suffering. I imagine some of them are still carrying scars from the sunburns they got that day.

 

Hell of a match between West Ham and Spurs today. West Ham goes up 2-0, only to have Spurs tie it midway in the second half. West Ham score a goal off a set piece in the 85th or so, only to have Spurs tie it on a great free kick at the end of regular time. Late. late in stoppage time, West Ham brings 8 players in the box for a free kick and subsequent corner. The corner comes to nothing, Spurs break and score on a rebound. As usual, the announcing was spectacular, with the commentator just letting out a loud "No!" when Spurs scored to win the game.

Looks like there will be no relegation drama this year in the EPL -- Watford, Charlton and the Hammers look doomed.

 

That sound you heard was the Galaxy inhaling to hold their breath:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=412479&cc=5901
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6418099.stm

 

If all of this talk about Becks playing for England were to come true -- and it was a huge maybe, even before his injury -- wouldn't that mean that he'd be gone a lot next year for Euro 2008? I'd be really surprised if his agreeing to sit that tourney out wasn't a part of his MLS deal.

 

Webster, this was a spectacular match with an unforgettable final five minutes. I've had a long-standing theory about European goalies and how poor they are with their hands. The final Tottenham goal, while a hard shot, should have been held on to. These guys can't catch, they parry too much and give up unforgivable rebounds just like this guy did yesterday. That's why, IMHO, Keller, Friedel, Tim Howard and any other American who spent his formative years playing catch, will thrive abroad for many years to come.

 

One of the reasons I enjoy watching European football is I have no emotional attachment to any team, which is a good thing. If I was a West Ham fan I would be feeling like absolute crap today. But since I'm not, Hey! Great game!

Nice to see Tevez get involved. He'll make some Spanish or Italian team very happy next year.

Looking forward to the Champions Leage games this week. The schedule is on www.soccertv.com.

 

Oh and they say Beckham will be out for 2 months, which might actually be good news for MLS. I don't think he gets a chance at the English national team now, which means he won't be missing games for Euro qualifying. Bad for him. Good for MLS.

 

I think that there are some people at Old Trafford who might disagree and who still haven't forgiven Timmy for spilling the free kick against Porto in the CL against Benni McCarthy a few years back. But you are right, there never should have been a rebound on that final goal yesterday.