The Soccer Thread (Version 13) — Winter World Cup Edition

This feels like it's at least as much froth as drink. The linked article says these apps "could be considered spyware", and the Norwegian article on which it's based includes the following: "However, his technical analysis found no signs that they can actually change things that are stored locally on the mobile device, but nevertheless warns that the reason may be that it has not yet been implemented." I had to download Ehteraz when I went to Qatar in June for the intercontinental playoffs, and other than it being a constant drain on my phone's battery I didn't experience any issues.

 

Tons of goals in the UCL today and this brutal miss in what ended up being a tie.

 

Leeds owns Anfield. That is all.

 

I'm glad the NWSL final is on big CBS tonight. But dang the Thorns are romping, wish it was a closer match.

 

It just means more in the SEC. I love that even after the players threw haymakers at each other, the teams lobbied the refs about the red card. And of course the tears after the ejection.

WATCH: Massive Brawl Breaks Out at Women’s Soccer Match Between LSU and Ole Miss

 

Somebody should be in deep shit over this.

 

Seems to be a lot of people choosing their words very carefully in response to this. I can certainly believe the Qatar organizers would ask for fawning coverage in exchange for freebies, but also requiring people to snitch on their compatriots is a new wrinkle. Not entirely out of character if some reports are to be believed, though.

 

I don't know where the rest of this room is on this tournament, but as much as the awarding and organization of this is a criminal farce, it still counts, and I'm still interested in the outcome.

One thing I have struggled with in particular is separating some of the cultural "problems" discussed here from the tournament itself. For example, it seems very hard to divorce the no-alcohol stuff or the LGBTQ stuff from turning into bashing Muslim culture at large. There are many different interpretations of the Bible, but the Quran is presented as the dictated words of God, in which alcohol and homosexuality are expressly forbidden. Do we have to include the exclusive to be inclusive? I guess I'm struggling with the fact that I as much as want to say "F this tournament" and "F Qatar" I don't know how that doesn't come off as saying "F soccer in the Middle East" and "F Islam."

I am disgusted (though not at all surprised) to hear that Fox appears to have no interest in talking about anything off the field. Could be just as much pressure from within as without. Then again, I don't think Fox or anyone else is going to shame FIFA, these organizers or this government into changing its behavior.

 

The WC being awarded to Russia and Qatar was a complete joke and really laid bare the inherent corruption in the process. Adding the fact that the US didn’t qualify last time, my interest in 2018 was was less than at anytime since I really started watching around 2000.

For me, this one is far worse. It is going to a country with zero soccer culture or history nearly because they bribed the right people. It is a truly horrendous country, but they are cash rich so what’s a few thousand migrant workers, right?

The fan experience will be minimal, the stadiums will probably never be used again after December and there has been no buildup in enthusiasm.

The fact that they are playing in the winter is awful as well. I’ll watch because that’s what I do, but my enthusiasm is extremely low.

 

There’s an excellent chance I will miss USA-England since we are having Thanksgiving dinner on Black Friday. But I imagine there are a lot of inter-generational get togethers where you’d have better luck arguing for polyamory than convincing the baby boomers to schedule around a soccer tournament.

 

Yeah, I’ll be at the in-laws. I can’t imagine they’ll turn off football for futbol.