The football (soccer) thread

[Madiel]

It's interesting (to me) how this World Cup story has been told, and how totally different the story is from what it used to be in the past.
It was all about Messi.
The WC trophy was on Messi's bucket list (a concept that didn't really exist, say, twenty years ago), he had a right to the trophy.
If by some stroke of bad luck he had not won, I don't know what would have happened.
There has been some pretty bad losership and even bad winnership at these games (the stuff at the end of Argentine - Netherlands).
The whole concept of humility in winning is a thing of the past, or so it seems.

This is so far from a description of Messi's actual personality that I can only assume you don't actually watch football and are putting your 2 cents in as a casual observer.

There was undoubtedly hype around the man. But you seem to assume that the hype was his own idea.

[Jo498]

I doubt anyone (at least not outside Argentina) thought Messi had a "right" to the cup. They weren't even betting favorites, even before the final, France had a (slight, I think) advantage.
As for the penalties within the match, I don't think any of them was clearly wrong but I doubt that any would have been given 20 years ago, almost certainly not all three of them (and I used to find accidental handball penalties rather unfair even then when they were given).
It's very hard to solve; if fewer penalties are given, it could be become more unfair, but half of the goals from penalties should remain a rare ocassion, and I fear that penalties might become far more frequent with the video assistant, and this would change the game clearly for the worse, IMO.

[Madiel]

That was not an accidental handball. That was "I am throwing my body in the way quite deliberately and there's a decent chance that my arm is what will be hit".

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Well, the only World Cup match I ever watched was the (meaningless) third place match in 1994 between Sweden and Bulgaria in the Rose Bowl. The tickets were only $10 and I bought 12 tickets to treat many friends.
We were in the front row, between the corner flag and the goal. We'd have the perfect view for attacking plays and goals at this end.

 In the first half, Sweden scored 4 goals, at THE OTHER END. Bulgaria hardly ventured into our end. The Swedish keeper was so bored, he talked to us and even did handstands to amuse the audience and himself. In short, WE SAW NO FOOTBALL.

We hoped that we'd see more action in the second half after the two teams switched ends. However, since Sweden was already 4 goals up, THEY STOPPED ATTACKING! Again, WE SAW NO FOOTBALL!

Anyway, to summarize my World Cup experience: I saw NOTHING.
Well, nothing except the handstands by the Swedish Keeper.

Hope that the handstands were exceptional then! 

Did you watch this year's WC...at least the final?

Really enjoyed the final.  It was so good that it managed to convince a friend of mine to watch the second half with me; we were going to do some errands and he's extremely time conscience (so to speak). 

PD

[Florestan]

R.I.P. Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) 1940 - 2022



The greatest footballer of all times. May God rest him in peace.

[Irons]

"He was the most complete player: two good feet. Magic in the air. Quick. Powerful. Could beat people with skill, could outrun people. Only 5ft 8in, yet he seemed a giant. Perfect balance and impossible vision".
Bobby Moore, England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain.

[Florestan]

"He was the most complete player: two good feet. Magic in the air. Quick. Powerful. Could beat people with skill, could outrun people. Only 5ft 8in, yet he seemed a giant. Perfect balance and impossible vision".
Bobby Moore, England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain.

Superb post and picture, Irons, thanks a lot!

Courtesy of our dear Karl Henning, take a a look at this:

I say, claim and maintain that imnsho the inventivity, playfulness and sheer joy Pelé displayed in all that he did are on a par with Haydn's*. They were both geniuses born of humble stock who raised to well-deserved worldwide fame due to their talent, hard work and cheerful, optimistic, childlike nature and faith. I'm sure that right now, up there in Heaven, they are having a good time.

* John Keats' dictum that "Haydn is like a child: you never know what he'll do next" applies to Pelé as well.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I ran across this story (and short video) and thought that you die-hard footie fans might appreciate it. 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/15/football/santiago-ramirez-goal-morelia-celaya-spt-intl/index.html

PD

[Lisztianwagner]

Semi-final of Champions League, Inter vs Milan.....I'm strung tight as a violin! 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Semi-final of Champions League, Inter vs Milan.....I'm strung tight as a violin! 

Who are (or were) you rooting for?

PD

[Lisztianwagner]

Who are (or were) you rooting for?

PD

Inter!

[Florestan]

Inter!

Looks like we'll have an Inter - Manchester final.

[Lisztianwagner]

Looks like we'll have an Inter - Manchester final.

Are Real Madrid and Man City playing too?

[Florestan]

Are Real Madrid and Man City playing too?

Tomorrow în Manchester. First match în Madrid resulted in 1-1. Man has the better chance.

[Lisztianwagner]

Tomorrow în Manchester. First match în Madrid resulted in 1-1. Man has the better chance.

Yes, that's true, but Real Madrid is used to this kind of crucial matches; it's going to be a thrilling final anyway.

[Florestan]

Yes, that's true, but Real Madrid is used to this kind of crucial matches; it's going to be a thrilling final anyway.

Agreed. I'm rooting for Man City, though.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Inter!

I'll look to see if I can find the final on t.v.  Do you happen to know when it is schedule for?

PD

[Florestan]

I'll look to see if I can find the final on t.v.  Do you happen to know when it is schedule for?

PD

June 10, în Istanbul.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

June 10, în Istanbul.

Oh, it's quite a ways away then!  In any event, thanks!

PD

[Irons]

Don't bother with all that Champions League stuff! A much more important game this week. My club West Ham, who have not won a trophy since 1980, take a slender one goal advantage to the Netherlands on Thursday for the semi-final Europa Conference second leg against AZ Alkmaar.

COYI