I watched some of the "fouls" in slo mo and half of them there wasn't even any contact ....on one the guy overacted so much that he hurt himself when he landed. Nothing to do with the other player. Once a year is enough for me to watch......
You gotta admit that the fans are really into it and go crazy for 90 minutes - and thats with no beer!
Congrats to the Croatian team for their win over Morocco. 2-1, taking 3rd place. On a side note, our watch party(at least 500 of us) for the Croatia-Argentina game had our local news covering us and the Croatian national news showed our watch party on their broadcast in Croatia that evening. That makes twice this year that I was seen in Croatia on their news...once this past summer when a group I'm in performed at the biggest traditional Croatian music festival in Croatia, and now from the US for a World Cup watch party. The last World Cup in 2018 when Croatia made it to the Finals, we had over 1000 people at our watch party! In the 6 World Cups that Croatia has qualified for since 1998, they've came in 3rd twice, and 2nd once, losing to France in the Finals in 2018. We soooooo wanted a rematch this time. Hopefully, I will get to see them live in person locally(KC) when the World Cup is played here in North America(US, Canada, and Mexico) in 2026. KC is one of the cities chosen for games to be played.
If the tactics of "the world's game as are far more boring then Golf (as a viewer), I'll confess to being "small minded." In fact, I'm proud of it.
I thought the PK finish was pretty cool! At least I understood it, and it saved all the dribbling around between shots. Patrick
Glad there are sports people on this forum.. I love but lately I just more or less like my sports. I'm on a few other forums and 2 particular laser forums i'm on I cannot find anyone into sports. Some have mentioned that they are self proclaimed electronic nerds and it's their only lives work. I don't get the connection why?? oh well. One member's user name is Bowtie and has the Chevy bowtie pic. He has a 67 Nova SS. I loved my Patriots but can understand why others hated them.. Have to remember I suffered for years when they were the laughing stock of the NFL... It's like the Patriots were a farm team for the "49 ers" back in the day. Belichick doesn't allow those disgusting crotch thrusting end zone dances that we see, a little but very toned down. The NBA and NFL has become a bunch of diva's. All they want is to pad their stats and I don't know how many times a NBA team has won a championship with a player on the team averaging a triple double. I do know it's low. Being paid millions and millions of dollars because you could throw a ball in a ring hole and having children begging and saving money to buy $500 sneakers the player wears, Unbelieveable The NBA has just as many Floppers as the soccer I would think.. My little stupid 2 cents as I know this about the World cup. I was routing for Argentina even though I didn't watch a minute of the game except on the Sports Channel this morning. I hate the NHL shootouts just like soccer does.. The better team can lose when decided this way. There has to be a way to make soccer more exciting which translates into more goals scored I think. Shorten the playing field??
My son plays indoor soccer in the winter; it’s a lot more exciting than outdoor. Having walls really changes the game-more like hockey. Patrick
1) Yeah, there are floppers in the NBA, but at least they get fined occasionally. Not always, not common, but it happens. 2) Yes, but the NHL uses shootouts only in the regular season, when it does not matter as much. No shootouts in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Cup will never be awarded on a penalty shot contest. 3) Smaller goal box -- restrict the goalie's movement. Worked in the NHL with the goalie trapezoid. Subbing on-the-fly like in the NHL. The limited subs make everyone pace themselves constantly. Heck, Messi himself evidently lead the World Cup in distance WALKED (my daughters saw it on some tracking app). Not RUN, WALKED. How sad is that?
Oh ok, never crossed my mind about the NHL playoffs. Yes that would be bad to win or lose a game on shootouts! Keeping the goalie more contained could lead to higher scores. I don't know my soccer and rules of the game but is it possible to shorten the field of play without major drawbacks? Soccer has off side rules also if i'm correct? Slower play to keep yourself fresher isn't good for any sport except boxing which is a apples to oranges type of comparison. Hockey subs in players or lines after what 5 minutes from all out play? Wonder how many miles a player averages in a World cup league soccer match. I think in a NBA game the starters run about 5 miles a game.. Gotta google it now Edit: well on soccer they can run from 5 to 7 miles a game, and basketball from 2 to 5 miles.. depending if a team plays more of a half court game or running game.
Hockey players sub constantly -- I think the average shifts are somewhere around 45 seconds. Altering field size or goal size is impractical -- can't change very field in the entire world. "An analysis by the Athletic determined that Messi has walked more than any player at this year's World Cup, an average of more than three miles per game."
45 seconds shifts, I was way off.. Believe it or not the old Boston Garden's Bruins rink was a bit smaller than the others. It came to favor the team a little at home games.. 3 miles of walking in a game
Messi is a walking legend. Whole analyses are out there of who runs the most, who walks, efficiency, etc. Offshoot is he isn't simply lazy, he is also sneaky and lulls opponents into complacency before he actually runs. Still, there is no stat out there about NHL players who spend the most time leaning against the boards and relaxing. Because they don't.
Soccer players make a LOT of money, and top soccer franchises are worth a mint, but for everybody who complains about "overpaid athletes" here in the US of A, here's a good reference point: The Phoenix Suns of the NBA just sold for $4 billion. $4,000,000,000 for a franchise that has never won an NBA championship. $4 billion for a team the dude bought in 2004 for $400 million THAT is why these guys get paid so much -- because despite the owner's pleading poverty all the time, they are making serious coin, and payroll doesn't make them blink.
I was shocked when I saw that and the $4 billion for a team that its managment is in turmoil. $4 B can get you maby 2 NFL teams? or use to. That with the NFL having 55 man player roster and add the practice squad and all the coaches and and position coaches and don't forget the trainers and trainer facilitys and the Cheer Leaders. Then the probably 100's office people and PR. NBA dresses 12 players and maby has 3 more if someone goes on IR. I'm guessing 3 coaches and probably 5% of people behind the scenes if even that compared to the NFL. Uniforms and a ball but lets not forget the $500 sneakers As long as people will worship athletes and spend a $1,000 plus to bring a date or their kids to a NBA game these diva's will be played. Watching the Celtics in 80's winning some championships, there were no cheer leaders. Red Auerbach wanted no part of them, he wanted to win. There are 2 teams in some city's in the US in all sports. I would think? that there is maby 5 top soccer franchises and maby 2 elite out of them in other Country's out of the US?
There are 643 international club teams, of those 60 are considered "top". Wow! One considered #1: In 2022, Manchester City has a net value of $4.25 billion and annual revenue of $766 million.
