Don't quit watching the world cup now.
- Thread starter Shamoan
- Start date
17 that. Watching the World Cup now is equivalent to stalking your ex girlfriend and watching her wedding footage.
Not going to pull for another country, period. In anything. I'm not one of these people who can tie my ancestry to a certain country, so now that USA is not in it I don't have a dog in the race. MLS would serve the same purposes as you claim.
Not going to pull for another country, period. In anything. I'm not one of these people who can tie my ancestry to a certain country, so now that USA is not in it I don't have a dog in the race. MLS would serve the same purposes as you claim.
I still watched March Madness even though the Ray Dawgs weren't close to getting there. Enjoyed the hell out of it too.
how can you claim that the us is elite when you refuse to watch the truly elite teams? thats like watching AA ball and saying "F the mlb, my team is good enough to start for any team, but i wouldnt know because i have never watched a mlb game." you dont have to cheer for a team...at least watch so that you know what you are talking about when comparing talent. we couldnt even beat a country with a population of 11.5 million....how the 17 are we supposed to "believe" our players are as good as you say? keep in mind, we are 27 X the population base that belgium is.
Last edited:
Who's saying
you HAVE to pull for someone? Just watch it. You'll miss some good football, otherwise.
you HAVE to pull for someone? Just watch it. You'll miss some good football, otherwise.
It was fun watching, but I probably won't watch any more games now that the US is out. I'll learn something in 4 years if they make it back. I enjoyed rooting for the US team, but the last few weeks didn't make me a die hard soccer fan. The flopping (at a minimum) needs to be addressed to make it more appealing to me. Also the fact that there are no breaks for commercials (i.e. $) will hamper it's appeal to US TV markets.
Last edited:
We are elite. No way I'm going to back off that comment. We're one of the best 10 teams in the world. Undisputed top 15. How many FIFA teams are there? Top 40 would be considered elite, or at least good.
I do watch elite soccer, but I'm not going to tune into see Belgium play the team we were suppose to play. I'll watch EPL... Sure... But I've lost interest in the World Cup. If the narrative wasn't that Americans wouldn't care about soccer all together, I'm sure it would be that countries like England would be made examples of as people who quit watching when their team wasn't in the race.
We are elite. Everyone needs to quit pouting around about this.
And you're 17ing with me if you claim to not just casually watch the NBA or NCAA playoffs if your team isn't in it. The Super Bowl isn't the ultimate goal to reach here people. The World Cup doesn't have to he a massive social event where we get together and pretend to like people. At least AT LEAST 50% of people at Super Bowl parties admit to not liking football.
ETA: It's the dead period. It'll obviously be on during the 4th. But I'm not going to actively watch the World Cup. Just like I didn't actively watch the finals. It was boring as 17. And this is ultimately my point... World Cup isn't the only opportunity to play high level soccer. Americans need to learn this. There was even a thread on this website that the #1 club team would murder the #1 FIFA team, even assuming the two could play the same player.
Last edited:
we are NOT elite. in my opinion, only a few teams are elite. if many (say, more than 8 team) are considered elite, that devalues the term elite. we are not one of the best 10 teams in the world. sorry, but you couldnt be more wrong. we just went 1-2-2 in the world cup guy. ONE WIN....ONE....
you are insane if you think we are top 10. we have a grand total of 7 FIFA wins ALL TIME....SEVEN.........elite teams have north of 50 wins.....****.......i have a hard time even processing that statement due to its absurdity. moreover, you say that you wont even watch the teams still playing...how the 17 would you even know what elite teams are if you refuse to watch them?
its by far the most absurd thing i have ever heard on this board and that is saying something......its insanity actually.
i am truly at a loss. we might have a handfull players that could make the the top 10 teams...and most of them are german or have the last name howard or dempsey and only one of them has a chance to start on said top 10 teams. lol.....holy ****....i have truly seen it all...
you are insane if you think we are top 10. we have a grand total of 7 FIFA wins ALL TIME....SEVEN.........elite teams have north of 50 wins.....****.......i have a hard time even processing that statement due to its absurdity. moreover, you say that you wont even watch the teams still playing...how the 17 would you even know what elite teams are if you refuse to watch them?
its by far the most absurd thing i have ever heard on this board and that is saying something......its insanity actually.
i am truly at a loss. we might have a handfull players that could make the the top 10 teams...and most of them are german or have the last name howard or dempsey and only one of them has a chance to start on said top 10 teams. lol.....holy ****....i have truly seen it all...
Dude commercial free is awesome
ESPN isn't moving away from the World Cup because it is commercial free. Go look at what these half time commercials cost.
and while I admit I am not a soccer fan I have loved this World Cup and will continue to watch. This **** is awesome
ESPN isn't moving away from the World Cup because it is commercial free. Go look at what these half time commercials cost.
and while I admit I am not a soccer fan I have loved this World Cup and will continue to watch. This **** is awesome
You're right. There's only one commercial break. There is however 90+ minutes of commercials running along the field. If you don't think those are expensive enough to draw television networks, you're wrong
Do you actually know anything about FIFA or are you basing your argument that I'm stupid on a Wikipedia search of how any World Cup wins we have as a team and then basing that on what you know about elite college football programs?
Do you actually know many FIFA teams there are? 209 (I can google too). Do you know how hard it is to qualify for the World Cup? Some of the best teams in the world don't qualify.
209 to 32 to 16... That's elite. In the grand spectrum of the history of FIFA? No. We're not elite. But the lowest FIFA ranking we've ever had in the history of FIFA rankings is in the 30's. We qualified for the World Cup for the first time in half a century in 1990 with 100% college players and then moved into the top 5 right before 2 World Cups ago. We've qualified for every World Cup since we agreed with FIFA to create a domestic league. That's 21 straight years of being in the World Cup as a country where soccer is easily the 6th favorite sport behind football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, and golf and splits athletes between those.
We're 13 of 209 now. Without a doubt we'll be in the top 10 when the new rankings come out. I don't give a **** if our players could play for Germany. 99% of FIFA players could play for Germany. We're also talking about the most corrupt league in the world... And individual talent is weighted more than any other sport ever. The #1 player wins their league how often? That's VERY important in soccer.
Top 10 in the world = elite. The fact that you [incorrecrly] give me this year's World Cup record as the reason were not elite gives me all the reason to discountinue this conversation.
Italy and England, bro. Italy and England. That's not even mentioning our SOS vs everyone else's.
I didn't just start watching soccer today. But forgive me if I'm through with international soccer until the cup later this year.
This is like most of the crap he writes on this board - especially about college football. We're not a Top 10 team although we were ranked 13th, survived the group of death (Teams 2nd, 4th, and 37th), and did it without one of our most important players as well as an all-world fail from "our best player".
ETA: if we're using the eye test, how many "elite" teams are out there? I haven't seen anybody that the USMNT couldn't play with.
Last edited:
that the equivalent of saying that everyone making the top 25 in football is elite. sounds stupid doesnt it?
again, i have no idea where you got this idea that we are top 10 in the world. its total fantasy. being better than moldova, botswana, or the british virgin islands doesnt make you elite. so, we beat ghana...FINALLY....it only took 3 tries. italy and endland would thrash us thoroughly and you would know that if you were willing to watch these teams.
if you are such an international soccer fan, how in the hell could you proclaim that you have lost interest? that makes zero sense and what is more insane is that you seemingly believed that america stood a chance in this. its laughable honestly. again, the united states is not a top 10 team.
spain, england, belgium, the netherlands, brazil, argentina, uruguay, france, italy, germany, portugal, and a few others are elite.
we belong with greece, chile, colombia, costa rica, and ghana's of the world (which is not as negative as it may sound...those are some solid teams, but they are not elite), not the above and even some of those might have a valid argument above us.
its the freaking world cup bro. you should watch it if you are half the fan you claim to be. its the world series of soccer.
again, i have no idea where you got this idea that we are top 10 in the world. its total fantasy. being better than moldova, botswana, or the british virgin islands doesnt make you elite. so, we beat ghana...FINALLY....it only took 3 tries. italy and endland would thrash us thoroughly and you would know that if you were willing to watch these teams.
if you are such an international soccer fan, how in the hell could you proclaim that you have lost interest? that makes zero sense and what is more insane is that you seemingly believed that america stood a chance in this. its laughable honestly. again, the united states is not a top 10 team.
spain, england, belgium, the netherlands, brazil, argentina, uruguay, france, italy, germany, portugal, and a few others are elite.
we belong with greece, chile, colombia, costa rica, and ghana's of the world (which is not as negative as it may sound...those are some solid teams, but they are not elite), not the above and even some of those might have a valid argument above us.
its the freaking world cup bro. you should watch it if you are half the fan you claim to be. its the world series of soccer.
Another example of you living in your own little world
Top 25? Nobody would agree that Top 25 is elite. (But if Top 25 is so easy, why can't State or TSUN ever stay in it?) Maybe Top 10 is elite. There are double the soccer nations unless you want to include the other college football teams - FCS, D-2, etc.
Here's the Final AP Poll
<tbody>
</tbody>
Yep, there you go: Stanford not elite, neither is Ohio State, LSU, etc. No elite programs there.**
<thead>
</thead><tbody>
</tbody>
And we belong with them why? Because Columbia will be ranked 6th or 7th after the world cup? Because all these teams will be ranked in the Top 20? Because Ghana tied Germany and would have tied or beaten Portugal if not for an own goal and the team threatening to boycott the game and 2 players not attending the game?
Maybe you should watch more soccer. You might learn something.
Top 25? Nobody would agree that Top 25 is elite. (But if Top 25 is so easy, why can't State or TSUN ever stay in it?) Maybe Top 10 is elite. There are double the soccer nations unless you want to include the other college football teams - FCS, D-2, etc.
Here's the Final AP Poll
| 1 | Florida State (60) | 14-0 | 1500 |
| 2 | Auburn | 12-2 | 1428 |
| 3 | Michigan State | 13-1 | 1385 |
| 4 | South Carolina | 11-2 | 1247 |
| 5 | Missouri | 12-2 | 1236 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 11-2 | 1205 |
| 7 | Alabama | 11-2 | 1114 |
| 8 | Clemson | 11-2 | 1078 |
| 9 | Oregon | 11-2 | 974 |
| 10 | UCF | 12-1 | 959 |
| 11 | Stanford | 11-3 | 936 |
| 12 | Ohio State | 12-2 | 816 |
| 13 | Baylor | 11-2 | 778 |
| 14 | LSU | 10-3 | 717 |
| 15 | Louisville | 12-1 | 693 |
| 16 | UCLA | 10-3 | 632 |
| 17 | Oklahoma State | 10-3 | 598 |
| 18 | Texas A&M | 9-4 | 459 |
| 19 | USC | 10-4 | 299 |
| 20 | Notre Dame | 9-4 | 256 |
| 21 | Arizona State | 10-4 | 255 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 9-4 | 245 |
| 23 | Duke | 10-4 | 190 |
| 24 | Vanderbilt | 9-4 | 117 |
| 25 | Washington | 9-4 | 109 |
<tbody>
</tbody>
Yep, there you go: Stanford not elite, neither is Ohio State, LSU, etc. No elite programs there.**
Again... idiot. Teams in bold advanced to the Round of 16.
| | Rnk | Team | Pts | +/- Pos | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 1 | Spain | 1485 | 0 |
| |
| | 2 | Germany | 1300 | 0 |
| |
| 3 | Brazil | 1242 | 1 |
| | |
| | 4 | Portugal | 1189 | -1 |
| |
| 5 | Argentina | 1175 | 2 |
| | |
| 6 | Switzerland | 1149 | 2 |
| | |
| 7 | Uruguay | 1147 | -1 |
| | |
| 8 | Colombia | 1137 | -3 |
| | |
| | 9 | Italy | 1104 | 0 |
| |
| | 10 | England | 1090 | 1 |
| |
| 11 | Belgium | 1074 | 1 |
| | |
| 12 | Greece | 1064 | -2 |
| | |
| | 13 | USA | 1035 | 1 |
| |
| 14 | Chile | 1026 | -1 |
| | |
| 15 | Netherlands | 981 | 0 |
| | |
| | 16 | Ukraine | 915 | 1 |
| |
| | 17 | France | 913 | -1 |
| |
| | 18 | Croatia | 903 | 2 |
| |
| | 19 | Russia | 893 | -1 |
| |
| 20 | Mexico | 882 | -1 |
| | |
| | 21 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 873 | 4 |
| |
| 22 | Algeria | 858 | 3 |
| | |
| | 23 | Denmark | 809 | 0 |
| |
| | 23 | Côte d'Ivoire | 809 | -2 |
| |
| | 25 | Slovenia | 800 | 4 |
| |
| | 26 | Ecuador | 791 | 2 |
| |
| | 27 | Scotland | 786 | -5 |
| |
| | 28 | Costa Rica | 762 | 6 |
| |
| | 29 | Romania | 761 | 3 |
| |
| | 30 | Serbia | 745 | 0 |
|
<thead>
</thead><tbody>
</tbody>
Endland thrashed us in the last world cup.** Now they are at home eating their pork pies.
Again, idiot.
Please tell me those FEW OTHERS who are elite.
And we belong with them why? Because Columbia will be ranked 6th or 7th after the world cup? Because all these teams will be ranked in the Top 20? Because Ghana tied Germany and would have tied or beaten Portugal if not for an own goal and the team threatening to boycott the game and 2 players not attending the game?
Maybe you should watch more soccer. You might learn something.
Pretty sure we wouldn't even be having a discussion about soccer if COLLEGE FOOTBALL was on another channel.
(No asterisk)
(No asterisk)
So you wouldn't watch the NCAA tournament if we were put out early?
You must not plan to watch the college football playoff.
You must not plan to watch the college football playoff.
I love the US soccer team, but we are not elite.
Elite teams don't sit back and defend for the entire game, barely create any offensive chances and pray for some sort of shocking goal totally against the run of play (which we did almost have yesterday). Elite teams actually keep possession and take the game to their opponents. Against Portugal we did look very good at keeping possession and taking the game to them. The other three games, we didn't. Tim Howard had 16 saves against Belgium. 16! Most times the goalkeeper makes around five saves a game. Some hockey goalies don't make 16 saves in a game. If Tim wasn't playing out of his mind, we could have easily lost 3-0 or 4-0 yesterday. We are improving and are a pretty solid team, but we are not elite by any stretch. You don't have to be elite to qualify for the World Cup out of the CONCACAF region. Just good enough to beat the little Central American countries and Caribbean islands. It's not like we've qualified for seven straight World Cups out of UEFA or South America.
Elite teams don't sit back and defend for the entire game, barely create any offensive chances and pray for some sort of shocking goal totally against the run of play (which we did almost have yesterday). Elite teams actually keep possession and take the game to their opponents. Against Portugal we did look very good at keeping possession and taking the game to them. The other three games, we didn't. Tim Howard had 16 saves against Belgium. 16! Most times the goalkeeper makes around five saves a game. Some hockey goalies don't make 16 saves in a game. If Tim wasn't playing out of his mind, we could have easily lost 3-0 or 4-0 yesterday. We are improving and are a pretty solid team, but we are not elite by any stretch. You don't have to be elite to qualify for the World Cup out of the CONCACAF region. Just good enough to beat the little Central American countries and Caribbean islands. It's not like we've qualified for seven straight World Cups out of UEFA or South America.
Honestly - I don't watch much of the NCAA tournament - if we ever get back there again - once State would get eliminated.
I watch some but not as intently.
I watch some but not as intently.
The same can be said for Wimbledon Doubles as well. I'll take the hot female tennis players over the floppers
The 2001 Baltimore Ravens Approve This Post
You clearly didn't watch the final 15 mins. of any of the USMNT games. They can turn it on if they want.
Strategy plays a big part. Give Belgium credit for the changes they made 20 mins. into the game. Losing Fabian Johnson early really hurt. I don't know what Beckerman did to get benched.
You don't have to be elite to advance out of the Group of Death, not to mention beating the team that put the USMNT out of the past two tournaments, when people said you wouldn't win a game. Just lucky I guess. But plenty of "elite" teams couldn't put it together for three matches. I mean, this was a step down since they won their group in 2010.**
You clearly didn't watch the final 15 mins. of any of the USMNT games. They can turn it on if they want.
Strategy plays a big part. Give Belgium credit for the changes they made 20 mins. into the game. Losing Fabian Johnson early really hurt. I don't know what Beckerman did to get benched.
You don't have to be elite to advance out of the Group of Death, not to mention beating the team that put the USMNT out of the past two tournaments, when people said you wouldn't win a game. Just lucky I guess. But plenty of "elite" teams couldn't put it together for three matches. I mean, this was a step down since they won their group in 2010.**
You're making it sound like I said we are garbage. I didn't say that. We are a good, solid, hard working team. We are not elite. Elite teams have at least a few world class players and have a good chance to win the World Cup. We play well against equal or lesser teams (which is good because it's something we've not always been able to do) but when matched up against a truly elite team like Germany or Belgium, we struggle. (Very Dan Mullenish) We were pretty much dominated by both Germany and Belgium, and created hardly any scoring chances. If not for Tim Howard, yesterday would've been a blowout loss. I think we are moving closer to elite status, and I'm excited about the 2018 World Cup because we have a young, talented core group of players like Yedlin and Green, both who have a chance to be world class players as they get older. But as of right now, we're not elite.
The Super Bowl, and previously the BCS MNC game are the only games I watch if my teams not in it. Really don't care to watch games just to watch them any longer. If I'm in a bar or a social situation that has a game on I'll watch it. If I have no interest in the teams playing I won't go out of my way.
I see
what your saying about lack of commercial breaks, but from a fans perspective this is awesome.
what your saying about lack of commercial breaks, but from a fans perspective this is awesome.
Top 25? Nobody would agree that Top 25 is elite. (But if Top 25 is so easy, why can't State or TSUN ever stay in it?) Maybe Top 10 is elite. There are double the soccer nations unless you want to include the other college football teams - FCS, D-2, etc.
Here's the Final AP Poll
1 Florida State (60) 14-0 1500 2 Auburn 12-2 1428 3 Michigan State 13-1 1385 4 South Carolina 11-2 1247 5 Missouri 12-2 1236 6 Oklahoma 11-2 1205 7 Alabama 11-2 1114 8 Clemson 11-2 1078 9 Oregon 11-2 974 10 UCF 12-1 959 11 Stanford 11-3 936 12 Ohio State 12-2 816 13 Baylor 11-2 778 14 LSU 10-3 717 15 Louisville 12-1 693 16 UCLA 10-3 632 17 Oklahoma State 10-3 598 18 Texas A&M 9-4 459 19 USC 10-4 299 20 Notre Dame 9-4 256 21 Arizona State 10-4 255 22 Wisconsin 9-4 245 23 Duke 10-4 190 24 Vanderbilt 9-4 117 25 Washington 9-4 109
<tbody>
</tbody>
Yep, there you go: Stanford not elite, neither is Ohio State, LSU, etc. No elite programs there.**
Again... idiot. Teams in bold advanced to the Round of 16.
Rnk Team Pts +/- Pos
1 Spain 1485 0
2
Germany 1300 0
3 Brazil 1242 1
4 Portugal 1189 -1
5 Argentina 1175 2
6 Switzerland 1149 2
7 Uruguay 1147 -1
8 Colombia 1137 -3
9 Italy 1104 0
10 England 1090 1
11 Belgium 1074 1
12 Greece 1064 -2
13
USA 1035 1
14 Chile 1026 -1
15 Netherlands 981 0
16 Ukraine 915 1
17
France 913 -1
18 Croatia 903 2
19 Russia 893 -1
20
Mexico 882 -1
21 Bosnia and Herzegovina 873 4
22 Algeria 858 3
23 Denmark 809 0
23 Côte d'Ivoire 809 -2
25 Slovenia 800 4
26 Ecuador 791 2
27 Scotland 786 -5
28
Costa Rica 762 6
29 Romania 761 3
30 Serbia 745 0
<thead>
</thead><tbody>
</tbody>
Endland thrashed us in the last world cup.** Now they are at home eating their pork pies.
Again, idiot.
Please tell me those FEW OTHERS who are elite.
And we belong with them why? Because Columbia will be ranked 6th or 7th after the world cup? Because all these teams will be ranked in the Top 20? Because Ghana tied Germany and would have tied or beaten Portugal if not for an own goal and the team threatening to boycott the game and 2 players not attending the game?
Maybe you should watch more soccer. You might learn something.
Look, contrary to what you may believe, it is possible to have a rational discussion without behaving like a child and calling people names to make them feel bad or attempt to denigrate them...you should try it some time.
We had one win vs two losses. Elite teams beat us, and we are not elite. Sorry, but we aren't. If you want a rational discussion on this, I'm game, but let's try to drag this out of the gutter. I disagree with your opinion, but I can maintain some level of respect for the other viewpoint and the person behind it.
Oh, don't get me wrong - I watched every game the US played and I also loved no commercials. My comment was geared more towards the success of soccer in the US when the World Cup is over. The ads during the half of a MLS game aren't getting anywhere close to the revenue of the WC games and a league needs money to have success (look at the SEC). There was a lot of hype four years ago during the WC too, but the water cooler talk in the office died down within a week and didn't start again until this WC. I watched yesterday in a packed bar on the Coast. Most weren't soccer fans, but were watching to pull for the US. Based on my inter-bar conversations, I'd be shocked if more than 10% of them watch another soccer game before the next WC.
College Football is fun to watch. Soccer is not. Kick a ball around for 90 minutes and hope for 3 seconds of action. I like watching athletes, if I cared about guys with exceptional conditioning with good foot eye coordination, I would watch the hackey sack Boston marathon on the ocho.
We weren't in it to start with. If we were in and lost, it would be less enjoyable IMO
I like several other of the non traditional powers in basketball and have followed additional teams over the years because of the tournament. I watch as many of the games as I can. Once it gets to the Sweet 16 and games are more often played one at a time on TV, I rarely miss a game.
These tournaments are the best sports has to offer in my opinion.
Really? Rational conversation? Do you remember this...
Besides, your argument is that we got beat. Elite teams can't lose. Wow. You forgot to mention that we tied with the 4th ranked team in Portugal, not to mention giving up an own goal in the 5' minute and the tying goal in the last minute. But those are just details, right? We went 80 mins. tied with Belgium without two starters, but that's just details. We lost 1-0 to the only truly elite team in the tournament. But again, that's just details.
I have rational discussions on here all the time. Just not many with you.