Official General FIFA Thread

[DontBeMessin]

Former Liverpool player Fernando Torres with the Golden Boot!!!!

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by DontBeMessin

Former Liverpool player Fernando Torres with the Golden Boot!!!!

I heard we landed on the moon too.

[Swedish Extrovert]

Originally Posted by DontBeMessin

OOPS... Made a mistake... The Thread is called the FIFA when it's UEFA... And thus should have been named as such...

WTF is the FIFA? You mean the FIFA World Cup?

You do realize that UEFA is a confederate division of FIFA, right?

What you're saying makes absolutely no sense. Is like saying "This is a General NFL thread, so we can't talk about the AFC West."

The original thread title was for the UEFA tourney, but other FIFA discussion got into the mix on about page 3.

[Swedish Extrovert]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

I heard we landed on the moon too.

I'm not too familiar with DontBeMessins posts, as I never click on any of his threads, but when he leaches into another thread and I have to read him... I swear, I know people with down syndrome that have more common sense than he does.

The sad thing is that I'm not joking. My cousin Kimmy recently won a gold medal in gymnastics at the Colorado Special Olympics, and could probably outwit DontMeMessin on an IQ test.

[canadianbroncosfan]

Originally Posted by DontBeMessin

Former Liverpool player Fernando Torres with the Golden Boot!!!!

You mean Chelsea striker Fernando Torres

Go BLUES!!!!

[Swedish Extrovert]

Originally Posted by JJG

If he continues at this pace he will be GOAT

OBTW... the reason the US sucks at Association Football itsn't because of lack of interest. Soccer is the most popular youth sport in the country... it's that the US doesn't develop the soccer talent that it has. If we put the time and resources into developing talent that early, we'd be on par with some of the world powerhouses.

Look at Messi and how he developed and also that 9-year old Argentinean kid that Real Madrid just signed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS6OKvVa94c

[JJG]

Originally Posted by Mightysmurf

OBTW... the reason the US sucks at Association Football itsn't because of lack of interest. Soccer is the most popular youth sport in the country... it's that the US doesn't develop the soccer talent that it has. If we put the time and resources into developing talent that early, we'd be on par with some of the world powerhouses.

Look at Messi and how he developed and also that 9-year old Argentinean kid that Real Madrid just signed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS6OKvVa94c

First touch and ball control are what really separate most players at the higher levels and critical to the game of soccer. It seems these skills are not pushed early. The "good" players are usually good early on because they are more athletically gifted. When they no longer have such a large physical advantage, they have nothing to fall back on and get frustrated. They end up leaving for sports that better show their athletic abilities.

The second part is we just don't have the culture for it just yet. Yea, a lot of youth play, but there is not much national exposure to the higher levels of the game and it has very little exposure in most inner-cities. It's very hard to compete with other countries who have soccer academies scooping up and cultivating really young players. They have much better player development and coaching their entire lives.

Having said that, it is amazing how far we've come in the last 20 years.

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by JJG

First touch and ball control are what really separate most players at the higher levels and critical to the game of soccer. It seems these skills are not pushed early. The "good" players are usually good early on because they are more athletically gifted. When they no longer have such a large physical advantage, they have nothing to fall back on and get frustrated. They end up leaving for sports that better show their athletic abilities.

The second part is we just don't have the culture for it just yet. Yea, a lot of youth play, but there is not much national exposure to the higher levels of the game and it has very little exposure in most inner-cities. It's very hard to compete with other countries who have soccer academies scooping up and cultivating really young players. They have much better player development and coaching their entire lives.

Having said that, it is amazing how far we've come in the last 20 years.

Player development is about funneling talented young athletes into situations where they recieve the best possible coaching as well as competition on their level.

In the States most good athletes at a young age end up in some form of high school sports program, basketball, baseball, football or track and field mostly with a few spilling into swimming.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by JJG

First touch and ball control are what really separate most players at the higher levels and critical to the game of soccer. It seems these skills are not pushed early. The "good" players are usually good early on because they are more athletically gifted. When they no longer have such a large physical advantage, they have nothing to fall back on and get frustrated. They end up leaving for sports that better show their athletic abilities.

The second part is we just don't have the culture for it just yet. Yea, a lot of youth play, but there is not much national exposure to the higher levels of the game and it has very little exposure in most inner-cities. It's very hard to compete with other countries who have soccer academies scooping up and cultivating really young players. They have much better player development and coaching their entire lives.

Having said that, it is amazing how far we've come in the last 20 years.

Try last 40. We are light years ahead of where we were even 15 years ago. It will come. Might be another 20 before it happens, but it will happen. For now, Europe and South America better enjoy it while it lasts. Once we reach that point, it will be all over but the crying from them. We have a pool of 300 million+ to draw from. It is inevitable. Better coaching. More people from soccer mad countries immigrating here all the time. More exposure than ever to the world game. It will happen in my lifetime.

[Swedish Extrovert]

Originally Posted by JJG

First touch and ball control are what really separate most players at the higher levels and critical to the game of soccer. It seems these skills are not pushed early. The "good" players are usually good early on because they are more athletically gifted. When they no longer have such a large physical advantage, they have nothing to fall back on and get frustrated. They end up leaving for sports that better show their athletic abilities.

THe ball control thing is absolutely true. The US is fit and a very physically strong team, and would absolutely keep pace with the likes of Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands if they had any semblance of ball control. (We don't and probably never will.)

Originally Posted by JJG

The second part is we just don't have the culture for it just yet. Yea, a lot of youth play, but there is not much national exposure to the higher levels of the game and it has very little exposure in most inner-cities.

This will snowball, but I doubt the US will ever have a major Association Football presence. That said, I think it can continue to develop and get up there almost to the level the NHL is at right now.

Originally Posted by JJG

It's very hard to compete with other countries who have soccer academies scooping up and cultivating really young players. They have much better player development and coaching their entire lives.

That's my point

[Swedish Extrovert]

Anyone watch the MLS All-Stars beat Chelsea tonight? Or the Rapids beat Swansea City last night?

[WinningMatters]

I thought the MLS all star game was awesome. Pontius is going to be a stud for the USMNT in the upcoming years.

[Smiling Assassin27]

Japan beats Spain pretty badly in Olympic soccer. Really should've been worse than 1-0.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Originally Posted by Smiling Assassin27

Japan beats Spain pretty badly in Olympic soccer. Really should've been worse than 1-0.

Not exactly spain's A team out there...or F team

[Smiling Assassin27]

Originally Posted by SonOfLe-loLang

Not exactly spain's A team out there...or F team

True that.

[Dutch]

I know, I know. We are back in On Season Mode, so move if need be.
Fantastic effort from our national team. I know it was only a friendly, but we've only manage one tie....one, in 75 years of playing in Mexico. Many rate the Azteca Stadium there as the toughest home pitch advantage in all of soccer. 7K+ ft above sea level, 100K+ a-hole fans (Tim Howard was getting hit in the eyes with green and red lazer pointers the whole game), and the halftime celebration of their Olympic Gold medal. Great defense, quality goal to win it, and Tim Howard stood on his head to protect the lead. Huge, huge win. Congrats to Klinsman and the team. I think he may be the guy to finally get our National Team to the next level. (God I hate the Mexican National team....like Raider hate the Mexican National team, this is sweeeeet!)

[Doggcow]

Suck it Mexico

[Kid A]

****ing awesome. Howard playing out of his mind, a late goal stunning the Azteca crowd, 75 year curse against the arch-rival snapped...good stuff.

Friendlies or not, winning in Italy and now Mexico for the 1st times ever ain't a bad start for Klinsman.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Dutch

I know, I know. We are back in On Season Mode, so move if need be.
Fantastic effort from our national team. I know it was only a friendly, but we've only manage one tie....one, in 75 years of playing in Mexico. Many rate the Azteca Stadium there as the toughest home pitch advantage in all of soccer. 7K+ ft above sea level, 100K+ a-hole fans (Tim Howard was getting hit in the eyes with green and red lazer pointers the whole game), and the halftime celebration of their Olympic Gold medal. Great defense, quality goal to win it, and Tim Howard stood on his head to protect the lead. Huge, huge win. Congrats to Klinsman and the team. I think he may be the guy to finally get our National Team to the next level. (God I hate the Mexican National team....like Raider hate the Mexican National team, this is sweeeeet!)

You puss. There's no need to move the thread.

Good write though. Mexico City elevation is tough along with the smog. Wonder how long the national team was there before the game. Anyway, good for the Americans. It's a big win. There should be absolutely no reason to not qualify for World Cup 2014.

[Swedish Extrovert]

DONT move this thread... the general NHL and NBA threads are on the main forum, so why not FIFA? If it's moved, it will die.

On that note, great game today against our neighbors to the south.

Also, I know Germany lost, but did anyone see the save by ter Stegen on the penalty on Messi? After I saw that, I thought Germany had a chance... but, I mean it was a lot of Germany's reserves vs. Argentina's A squad, soo...

Also, anyone following the premier league? What's the deal with van Persie right now?

[Dutch]

[QUOTE=Mightysmurf;3640777]DONT move this thread... the general NHL and NBA threads are on the main forum, so why not FIFA? If it's moved, it will die.

On that note, great game today against our neighbors to the south.

Also, I know Germany lost, but did anyone see the save by ter Stegen on the penalty on Messi? After I saw that, I thought Germany had a chance... but, I mean it was a lot of Germany's reserves vs. Argentina's A squad, soo...

Also, anyone following the premier league? What's the deal with van Persie right now?[/QUOTE]

Man U. Just announced this evening.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Mightysmurf

Also, anyone following the premier league? What's the deal with van Persie right now?

He's going to ManU

[Swedish Extrovert]

Originally Posted by maven

He's going to ManU

Yeah I know...

Why?

Is this a Kroenke being cheap sort of thing?

Unfortunately I have a feeling Christian Eriksen is going to end up at ManU, too.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Mightysmurf

Yeah I know...

Why?

Is this a Kroenke being cheap sort of thing?

Unfortunately I have a feeling Christian Eriksen is going to end up at ManU, too.

He doesn't want to play for Arsenal. Personally, I think it's a good move for Arsenal to see him go.

I'm personally not a huge premiership fan, but I follow along.

[ludo21]

I like that a Mexican - American made the goal