Futbol Talk

[The Sultan]

As far as qualification, the good news is as long as USA beats Panama, they qualify automatically.

Costa Rica can sweep their three opponents (Canada and US at home, El Salvador on the road) and bypass the US if we only get the Panama win.

[drewm88]

Beat Panama, and you're guaranteed no worse than the 4th place playoff against Oceania.

Draw Mexico and beat Panama, and worst-case scenario becomes tying Costa Rica for 3rd if CR wins all 3. We currently have a goal differential of +9 to their +1, so there would need to be some major blowouts to lose that tiebreaker.

Beat Panama and draw CR and you're in, but hate the idea of heading to CR needing a point on the last day.

Bottom line, 4 points gets it done if 3 are against Panama.

[Billy Hoyle]

Yep, it was effen stoopid, and I haven't heard an argument yet that logically suggests otherwise.

Frostbite is real, and that and other conditions that can happen due to exposure to extreme cold can be very serious. Here's hoping that none of the athletes suffered anything lasting and that all of the fans came through it OK.

It's an accepted "risk" in football, and I wish it weren't, but this was just so stoopid because it was 100% avoidable.

Portland was considered but vetoed due to having turf.  However, San Jose was available and they have grass.  Seattle was also available and they've had grass brought into Lumen for national team games in the past.

Two Honduran players were treated for hypothermia after the game. The starting keeper for Honduras had to come out of the game at the half because of it. I haven't read a single soccer reporter who has not roasted the choice of St. Paul. Berhalter is trying to defend it saying it made sense to the travel (Columbus, Hamilton, St. Paul). Pretty weak. They could have done Nashville or Cincy.

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/sports/2-honduran-soccer-players-treated-for-hypothermia-after-us-hosts-key-game-in-frigid-minnesota

[Its DJOver]

You guys know that the World Cup is in the middle of the freaking desert right? It's pretty clear that no governing body has the well-being of the players in mind as long as they can cash a check. Why people continue to be surprised by this amazes me.

[The Sultan]

You guys know that the World Cup is in the middle of the freaking desert right? It's pretty clear that no governing body has the well-being of the players in mind as long as they can cash a check. Why people continue to be surprised by this amazes me.

They are playing in November and December which is actually just fine weather wise.

[Its DJOver]

They are playing in November and December which is actually just fine weather wise.

The dates were moved prior to Covid. The only reason the dates were switched was because the players contested the location . The fact that Qatar was even considered for a WC should tell you all you need to know about the governing bodies and their incentive$$$.

Edit: also go ahead and look at who's pushing the biannual WC and who's pushing back.

[The Sultan]

Yes I know when the dates were moved - in 2015.  There are many reasons why Qatar is a problem.  "Playing in a desert" isn't one of them.

[Its DJOver]

Desert technically means "dry" not "hot", so, fair it was a poor choice of word.

[MU82]

Portland was considered but vetoed due to having turf.  However, San Jose was available and they have grass.  Seattle was also available and they've had grass brought into Lumen for national team games in the past.

Two Honduran players were treated for hypothermia after the game. The starting keeper for Honduras had to come out of the game at the half because of it. I haven't read a single soccer reporter who has not roasted the choice of St. Paul. Berhalter is trying to defend it saying it made sense to the travel (Columbus, Hamilton, St. Paul). Pretty weak. They could have done Nashville or Cincy.

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/sports/2-honduran-soccer-players-treated-for-hypothermia-after-us-hosts-key-game-in-frigid-minnesota

This idiotic decision and callous disregard for their opponents' well-being makes me want to root against the USMNT.

[BM1090]

This idiotic decision and callous disregard for their opponents' well-being makes me want to root against the USMNT.

It was a stupid decision.

Canada played Mexico in Edmonton and hosted the US in Hamilton with domed stadiums available.

Teams seek similar advantages all the time during qualifying. It's dumb, but the US is hardly alone.

[MU82]

It was a stupid decision.

Canada played Mexico in Edmonton and hosted the US in Hamilton with domed stadiums available.

Teams seem similar advantages all the time during qualifying. It's dumb, but the US is hardly alone.

Mexico

"The other ones did it too" doesn't make me like it any more.

[JWags85]

"The other ones did it too" doesn't make me like it any more.

You don't have to like it, but it's stupid gamesmanship that federations all over the world do regularly. Big and small. The same national teams cultivating pity for being forced to play in the frigid cold (which is stupid, nobody is arguing that) are also the ones that let their fans pelt the USMNT with bottles and garbage when they play there and keep their pitches in horrible shape cause it disadvantages teams that aren't used to playing on it.

Phrasing it like you did made it seem like the US was some exceptionally bad actor in this space worthy of rooting against as a result.  If this made you feel like rooting against the USMNT, I'd wager you weren't much a fan of them or international soccer to begin with.

[The Sultan]

This idiotic decision and callous disregard for their opponents' well-being makes me want to root against the USMNT.

It was a dumb decision. But your statement is ridiculous.

[JWags85]

Not to further detract from some cold weather debates, but this Mason Greenwood story is awful.  Not exactly a banner year for Manchester footballers staying on the right side of the law.  Between Mendy and Greenwood, Mancunians wishing for the days that the worst news just being some good old fashioned drink driving charges or a bar scuffle

[MU82]

it's stupid

Agreed.

I'd wager you weren't much a fan of them or international soccer to begin with.

You'd win that bet.

[Its DJOver]

I'm no Muggsy when it comes to this stuff, but Kurt Zouma should not have played yesterday. West Ham are now losing sponsorships over this. Really poor management of the situation.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I'm no Muggsy when it comes to this stuff, but Kurt Zouma should not have played yesterday. West Ham are now losing sponsorships over this. Really poor management of the situation.

Met police aren't charging him, but he faces charges in France?

[The Sultan]

Met police aren't charging him, but he faces charges in France?

Yeah French laws allow for citizens to be charged for offenses they commit abroad.  He could get up to four years in prison?  For kicking a cat?

[brewcity77]

It was a stupid decision.

Canada played Mexico in Edmonton and hosted the US in Hamilton with domed stadiums available.

Teams seek similar advantages all the time during qualifying. It's dumb, but the US is hardly alone.

But that makes sense for Canada. They are a less skilled team than Mexico or the US, so the cold gives them the advantage. For the US, they are more skilled than Honduras, so that level of cold is more likely to hinder than help you. They could've just as easily played in Portland or Columbus that would be significantly colder than Honduran players were prepared for while not being the bitter cold prevalent to Minneapolis that time of year that works against skilled teams.

Ultimately, they got the results, but it was a poor choice not just from a safety perspective but from a strategic one as well.

[MU82]

American women players settle suit vs US Soccer for $24M

https://apnews.com/article/us-women-soccer-settlement-ba2c4217bf58c917ebb6fd8ca9a5bcd4

U.S. women soccer players reached a landmark agreement with the sport's American governing body to end a six-year legal battle over equal pay, a deal in which they are promised $24 million plus bonuses that match those of the men.

The U.S. Soccer Federation and the women announced a deal Tuesday that will have players split $22 million, about one-third of what they had sought in damages. The USSF also agreed to establish a fund with $2 million to benefit the players in their post-soccer careers and charitable efforts aimed at growing the sport for women.

The USSF committed to providing an equal rate of pay for the women's and men's national teams — including World Cup bonuses — subject to collective bargaining agreements with the unions that separately represent the women and men.

[Billy Hoyle]

I've been seeing some calls for FIFA and the EPL to strip Russian oligarchs of their ownership of teams. How the hell would that happen?

[Pakuni]

Roman Abramovjch giving up control of Chelsea (temporarily, I would guess).

[Pakuni]

 Simon Evans @sgevans

Breaking - FIFA set to suspend Russian teams from international football until further notice. Confirmation of decision expected later today.

[jesmu84]

Simon Evans @sgevans

Breaking - FIFA set to suspend Russian teams from international football until further notice. Confirmation of decision expected later today.

Should have done that the first time. Cowards

[MU82]

Tragic ...

Stanford women's soccer player Katie Meyer dies at 22; cause of death not provided

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/33406850/stanford-women-soccer-player-katie-meyer-dies-22-cause-death-unknown