2026 World Cup thread

[Chet Lemon]

I’m sure Spain’s defense is very good, but zero shots on goal in a championship game is why non-soccer people get frustrated watching soccer.

 

[dixiehack]

I mean, not everybody watches basketball either. Soccer has deep enough roots now to assure it makes it in America. Fans here stopped trying to make converts a while ago and now just enjoy it.

It’s OK if it doesn’t match the NFL. Things can exist in their own lane.

 

[Spartan Squad]

One of the two teams played 120 minutes and couldn't make a shot on goal. If you think that's exciting I've got nothing for you.

Honestly it was a slow burn that got more and more compelling the more and more chances Spain had and the more saves Martinez made. It started to get chippy, there was a red and Spain pressed harder. Then the goal and there was a belief Messi and Argentina might pull something out of their asses again. They had quality chances, but that was a generational defense that held them out.

I get it wasn’t 3-2 England vs Mexico when Mexico threw everything they had. And I also get settling into a narrative early and needing to stick with it. Was it an all-timer? No. Was it entertaining? Yeah, yeah it was. But, like I said, narratives.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

It’s OK if it doesn’t match the NFL. Things can exist in their own lane.

To your point the teams who enjoy the enthusiasm MLS might lack are in the USL. The ones I’m familiar with, Detroit City FC and the new version of the Tampa Bay Rowdies have grown their fan base organically in 7-8,000 seat facilities, which is just fine

 

[MileHigh]

John Strong needed a Jim Nantz like sentence after the final whistle.

John Strong is boring and only yells. He was probably the fourth-best PxP announcer for the World Cup.

Said it a few days ago: Well done, USA, Canada and Mexico. This thing went off without a hitch. Stadiums filled. Great stories. FIFIA coffers filled. A worthy, if boring, champion. Come back in 2038.

 

[Batman]

Martinez made 1 decent save. Argentina didn’t belong on the same field and brought nothing to the game other than petty dark arts

To each their own, I guess. Some people like skinny redheads, some like fat blondes. It wasn't the most thrilling game I've watched the past few weeks, but I was engaged by it. Obviously your opinion varied.

 

[Chet Lemon]

I mean, not everybody watches basketball either. Soccer has deep enough roots now to assure it makes it in America. Fans here stopped trying to make converts a while ago and now just enjoy it.

It’s OK if it doesn’t match the NFL. Things can exist in their own lane.

Well, I have come to think the best games in most sports happen in the semi- and quarter-finals. I suppose in that way, this tournament was not so different.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Trump: "Gianni, this isn't anything like a real golden shower."

 

[Neutral Corner]

"Where the Russian hookers at?"

 

[poindexter]

Argentina ramped up their attack to go from 0.00 Expected Goals at minute 114 to 0.17 expected goals at game end, all while playing the 120 minutes without putting a single shot on target. That's awesome.

 

[Spartan Squad]

Expected goals are trash. It’s analytics trying to force themselves onto a sport that has three stats that actually mean anything: goals, assists, saves. Anything else is nonsense. Match momentum? Ask how much that means to a counter attack team. Expected goals? Did you score? No? That and $3.50 will get you a cup of coffee. Spain had 11 shots on goal and a greater than 1 expected goals. They had 0 goals in regulation.

Why does American analytics have to get involved here? Remember when American stat takers tried to make headers a thing?

 

[micropolitan guy]

Expected goals are trash. It’s analytics trying to force themselves onto a sport that has three stats that actually mean anything: goals, assists, saves. Anything else is nonsense. Match momentum? Ask how much that means to a counter attack team. Expected goals? Did you score? No? That and $3.50 will get you a cup of coffee. Spain had 11 shots on goal and a greater than 1 expected goals. They had 0 goals in regulation.

Why does American analytics have to get involved here? Remember when American stat takers tried to make headers a thing?

All those Ivy League economics grads have to do something. They all can't work for daddy's hedge fund.

 

[Spartan Squad]

Ok, that made me LOL

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Expected goals are trash. It’s analytics trying to force themselves onto a sport that has three stats that actually mean anything: goals, assists, saves. Anything else is nonsense. Match momentum? Ask how much that means to a counter attack team. Expected goals? Did you score? No? That and $3.50 will get you a cup of coffee. Spain had 11 shots on goal and a greater than 1 expected goals. They had 0 goals in regulation.

Why does American analytics have to get involved here? Remember when American stat takers tried to make headers a thing?

xG was first developed by an Englishman and popularized by Opta - which is based in the UK.

 

[Spartan Squad]

xG was first developed by an Englishman and popularized by Opta - which is based in the UK.

You’re not helping my point here …

I still think it’s trash and I still think Americans meddle too much. Now get off my lawn

 

[Bubbler]

You’re not helping my point here …

I still think it’s trash and I still think Americans meddle too much. Now get off my lawn

It's bad enough when I counter Brits who parrot this nonsense, but here?

What does xG have to do with Americans? It's a statistic. Not invented by Americans, nor primarily promoted by them. If anything, I've seen xG front and center on European coverage, especially with the Bundesliga where it's literally listed with the final score in their score bugs.

I don't have a lot of time for xG either, but it's just a stat. Embrace it or ignore it, one's enjoyment of the game shouldn't be affected by it. And blaming Americans for it is just an easy cheap shot that has no basis in reality.

 

[Spartan Squad]

It's bad enough when I counter Brits who parrot this nonsense, but here?

What does xG have to do with Americans? It's a statistic. Not invented by Americans, nor primarily promoted by them. If anything, I've seen xG front and center on European coverage, especially with the Bundesliga where it's literally listed with the final score in their score bugs.

I don't have a lot of time for xG either, but it's just a stat. Embrace it or ignore it, one's enjoyment of the game shouldn't be affected by it. And blaming Americans for it is just an easy cheap shot that has no basis in reality.

Um … I was responding sarcastically to someone pointing out I was wrong. I don’t think kicking me in the nuts after was really needed.

I’ll rephrase my response:
First point: stat is trash.
Second and separate point: Americans meddle too much.
Third and still separate point: get off my lawn.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Argentina's post-game conduct sounds pretty reprehensible. From what I am reading about their program, not at all out of character either.

Apparently, Fatso picked them to win. The kiss of death.

And why was the Star-Spangled Banner performed? Was it before other games at other sites before Sunday? I guess I should not have been surprised, because it was FOX, but ... and I heard it was mangled.

Great tournament, our true 250th birthday celebration, welcoming those from all over the world to our country.

And kudos to Spain for photoshopping the tub of lard out of the celebration photo. He was as welcome as a huge undergrounder popping up on your nose on prom night.

 

[Slacker]

Hope this is for real ...

 

[Gym Beam]

The only football stat I care about is the final score. Anything else is just noise from meddlesome people who need something better to work on. :D