World Cup 2026

[JWags85]

France is a wagon, but dareisay that otherwise European football is looking overrated.

I'm not sure I agree. 7 of 12 groups were won by a European squad.  13 out of 16 made it to the knockouts (and 11 of those were by virtue of the top 2 finish).

Germany was a huge upset, but fell right into the trap of the excellent defending CONMEBOL teams playing for chaos (and even still they got screwed by VAR and probably should have advanced).  Netherlands was tremendously disappointing, but Morocco is a top 10 squad and it was really a coin flip.

Spain looked pathetic against Cape Verde, but they still won their group and have yet to concede.  Norway has looked very dangerous and incredibly cohesive and you can't take anything from the France match.  Portugal and England both had bad draws to inferior squads, but I don't think have looked all that terrible (Colombia isn't a pushover by any means so that's not all that much of a black eye for Portugal).

I think there is FAR more parity in world soccer these days.  I think the historic European giants aren't heads and tails above everyone anymore, but I don't know if I would consider it overrated.  If we see 2 or more of Norway, France, Belgium or England sent home in the next 48 hours, then I would be willing to revise my statement.

[pbiflyer]

Dutch deserved to lose that one

Video of their PKs.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IVP9WUGdgPg&pp=ygUSanVzdCBhIGJpdCBvdXRzaWRl&ra=m

[jesmu84]

Dutch v Morocco:

https://x.com/i/status/2071778913160704394

https://x.com/i/status/2071801927013114298

https://x.com/i/status/2071787769295184196

https://x.com/i/status/2071805168379715601

Let's just get on with giving GKs a halo on corners and free kicks like a punt returners. Would eliminate a ton of BS

[panda]

Koeman is a joke. Tactics, formation, everything was pathetic. I saw a tweet that said the Dutch have had 0 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses against top 25 sides with him in charge.

Zlatan savaged him in the break before PKs and for good reason. Basically said, paraphrasing, all he's ever known from Dutch soccer, both playing at Ajax and internationally against them, is that they have an attacking mentality. Fearless, throwing men forward, it's their identity, and Koeman abandoned it. Even if they advance, they are hopeless unless they remember their identity.

Henry then accurately called out the 5-4-1 formation they came out in was very defensive and fearful. Just absurd. Especially since they were gelling so well on offense in the group stage and Morocco struggled getting going offensively.

Also, not for nothing, Koeman subbed off Gakpo and De Jong in the final 10 min, after subbing off Brobbey in the 72nd and Graverberch in the 87th, so that's why the PK lineup featured a bunch of inexperienced head scratching choices, multiple guys taking their first penalties in a Dutch kit.  So with an extremely defensive and shell mindset, presumably looking towards penalties, you take off 3 of your best and most experienced players plus Brobbey, who had been in exceptional form.  Just baffling man management after a blinder of a tactical failing.

Also, while not directly an error in the game management, what a mismatch in keepers.  Bono was unreal, incredibly experienced, and in exceptional form.  Meanwhile, Verbruggen is...fine but seemed to be completely mentally toast after he fumbled the second PK into the net.  But a huge downgrade when for decades the Dutch had Van der Sar, Stecklenburg, Krul, and Cillisen, keepers who were elite and desired by the top clubs in the world (maybe not Krul, but he was an everyday PL keeper for a decade and considered one of the best penalty savers in the world)...to a guy who just became first choice keeper for Brighton last year (after being a backup in the Belgian league and splitting time with a journeyman early on), Flekken, who was a journeymany before getting some legs at Frieburg and Brentford, but certainly not an elite keeper, and Roefs from Sunderland who may turn out good but has just one cap and was only along for experience gaining.

Still don't know why van dijk didn't take a penalty.

[Pakuni]

I'm not sure I agree. 7 of 12 groups were won by a European squad.  13 out of 16 made it to the knockouts (and 11 of those were by virtue of the top 2 finish).

Germany was a huge upset, but fell right into the trap of the excellent defending CONMEBOL teams playing for chaos (and even still they got screwed by VAR and probably should have advanced).  Netherlands was tremendously disappointing, but Morocco is a top 10 squad and it was really a coin flip.

Spain looked pathetic against Cape Verde, but they still won their group and have yet to concede.  Norway has looked very dangerous and incredibly cohesive and you can't take anything from the France match.  Portugal and England both had bad draws to inferior squads, but I don't think have looked all that terrible (Colombia isn't a pushover by any means so that's not all that much of a black eye for Portugal).

I think there is FAR more parity in world soccer these days.  I think the historic European giants aren't heads and tails above everyone anymore, but I don't know if I would consider it overrated.  If we see 2 or more of Norway, France, Belgium or England sent home in the next 48 hours, then I would be willing to revise my statement.

I'm not terribly impressed by teams winning groups that they were set up to win handily, especially when they don't look impressive doing it.
Switzerland won a group by tying the 59th ranked team in the world, and beating the 30th and 61st.
Germany beat the 31st and 82nd ranked teams, and tied the 24th.
Belgium beat the 57th ranked team - which was somehow playing worse than that - and looked meh drawing 21st and 26th.
England, Portugal and Spain had poor showings in draws against weak opponents.

Overrated doesn't mean they're bad or won't beat lesser teams. It just means they aren't meeting expectations. I don't think it's controversial to say most European teams have failed to meet expectations.

[BM1090]

Ivory Coast has really dominated this match but I'm not sure they can find a goal. The last pass and idea have been lacking.

Honestly the US have looked better than most of these teams. Shame that France isn't on the other side.

Edit: hell yeah.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Haaland!

[JWags85]

I'm not terribly impressed by teams winning groups that they were set up to win handily, especially when they don't look impressive doing it.
Switzerland won a group by tying the 59th ranked team in the world, and beating the 30th and 61st.
Germany beat the 31st and 82nd ranked teams, and tied the 24th.
Belgium beat the 57th ranked team - which was somehow playing worse than that - and looked meh drawing 21st and 26th.
England, Portugal and Spain had poor showings in draws against weak opponents.

Overrated doesn't mean they're bad or won't beat lesser teams. It just means they aren't meeting expectations. I don't think it's controversial to say most European teams have failed to meet expectations.

Fair, I guess I'm not as critical of how teams won their groups, at this stage, when they still won the group...especially looking at the performances of teams already going home like Uruguay (should have coasted to second and given Spain a game), Turkey (who many assumed would win the group), and South Korea (who should have pushed Mexico for the group).  I would say they've been underwhelming or inconsistent, but I guess in my mind "overrated" would be saved for assessment after the tournament is over.  Like I said, there is still plenty of time for that to be true, by both our definitions.

Haaland!

Of course it was Haaland, it had to be.  That being said, hilariously awkward and nearly biffed finish, especially by his standards.  But MY WORD what a pass for Bobb to free Berg for the cross/assist.  Off balance but still inch perfect.

[The Sultan]

A Sunday double-header with Brazil v. Norway and then a possible match-up of England and Mexico at the Azteca would be amazing.

[JWags85]

Dutch v Morocco:

https://x.com/i/status/2071778913160704394

https://x.com/i/status/2071801927013114298

https://x.com/i/status/2071787769295184196

https://x.com/i/status/2071805168379715601

Let's just get on with giving GKs a halo on corners and free kicks like a punt returners. Would eliminate a ton of BS

Haramball at its finest.  Just so unpleasant to watch.  Just wait, assuming France beats Sweden, Paraguay might not put a man across midfield for 90% of the match.

I saw an amusing/interesting set of tweets about Paraguay and their tactics and it touched on the fact that so much of it is ingrained in the continental tournaments in South America that most of their players cut their teeth in.  They are 90 min and straight to penalties, no extra time.  So bunkering and hoping for chaos in a penalty shootout is even more desirable cause there is 35ish less minutes to hold on for.  Especially since the gulf between top Brazilian/Argentine teams and other domestic champions is even greater than the group stages of the Champions League

A Sunday double-header with Brazil v. Norway and then a possible match-up of England and Mexico at the Azteca would be amazing.

For all the crap that Eurosnob English football fans talk about the US soccer and the USMNT, I would LOVE to see their reactions to the Three Lions getting pelted with bags of piss raining down from Azteca.

[wadesworld]

As someone who isn't a soccer fan, France is by far the most entertaining team I've watched play a soccer game.  They actually, well, shoot the ball and try to create scoring opportunities. So, so many situations with so many other teams where they are in the attacking 3rd and end up passing the ball all the way back to the keeper, who just kicks it to their attacking side with a 50/50 ball.  Might as well just throw in a 50/50 cross rather than pass it all the way back there.

[tower912]

The flow of play made that seem inevitable.

[panda]

As someone who isn't a soccer fan, France is by far the most entertaining team I've watched play a soccer game.  They actually, well, shoot the ball and try to create scoring opportunities. So, so many situations with so many other teams where they are in the attacking 3rd and end up passing the ball all the way back to the keeper, who just kicks it to their attacking side with a 50/50 ball.  Might as well just throw in a 50/50 cross rather than pass it all the way back there.

I do think this is a bit of a simplistic look at strategy. The reason France can go forward like they do is because they have such strong midfield and defensive coverage. It also helps that Sweden stinks.

This would be like asking a basketball team why don't you get out and run 100% of the time or why don't you just throw it to the big guy and let him score because he's so close to the hoop.

It is also difficult for the majority of international teams to play "attractive" soccer simply because they're glorified all star teams without reps together. It also hurts that some managers are terrified of failure which leads to game plans like Netherlands went out with last night.

Absolutely no shade whatsoever here and appreciate you/anyone else watching the beautiful game.

[Hards Alumni]

As someone who isn't a soccer fan, France is by far the most entertaining team I've watched play a soccer game.  They actually, well, shoot the ball and try to create scoring opportunities. So, so many situations with so many other teams where they are in the attacking 3rd and end up passing the ball all the way back to the keeper, who just kicks it to their attacking side with a 50/50 ball.  Might as well just throw in a 50/50 cross rather than pass it all the way back there.

They have 3 of the best front liners in the world.  Mbappe, Barcola, and Dembele.  All 3 of which used to play for PSG... sure it was only for a year, but still.

Being very aggressive is favorable to them. 

[pbiflyer]

Why doesn't renaldo ever have to clean his room?
He's not Messi.

[JWags85]

I do think this is a bit of a simplistic look at strategy. The reason France can go forward like they do is because they have such strong midfield and defensive coverage. It also helps that Sweden stinks.

This would be like asking a basketball team why don't you get out and run 100% of the time or why don't you just throw it to the big guy and let him score because he's so close to the hoop.

It is also difficult for the majority of international teams to play "attractive" soccer simply because they're glorified all star teams without reps together. It also hurts that some managers are terrified of failure which leads to game plans like Netherlands went out with last night.

Absolutely no shade whatsoever here and appreciate you/anyone else watching the beautiful game.

Yea, I had a response typed up that got deleted but you nailed a lot of it.  I absolutely hate defensive, risk averse soccer.  I wrote a few hundred words bashing the Dutch for it earlier today.  But the not so simple answer is that its often not the attacking/more aggressive team's fault sometimes.

When teams bunker down, its not like hockey where "pucks on net" is a very viable strategy cause just getting shots on goal creates ricochets, rebounds, movement, etc...  If you're firing shots or "attacking" just to attack at a compact parking the bus style defense, those shots aren't reaching the keeper, much less the net.  So while its not aesthetically pleasing or enjoyable, getting it to the final third and then passing it back, whether to the center backs or the keeper, is the way to reset and try to get that defense to move a bit and make a mistake.  And while it can suck to watch the keeper launch 50/50 balls into the box, its not always just lazy play (though it can be for a frustrated or out of ideas team), its a great way to scramble a tightly packed defense to force them out of position with a clearance or moving to get a head on the ball.  The 50/50 ball is usually inconsequential, but the following minute can present real opportunity.  Also, similar to the point I made earlier about throwing shots that will never reach the keeper, same with "50/50 crosses".  If you have a tightly packed and organized defense in bunker mode, those crosses are more like 10/90...to even reach a teammate, much less be dangerous.

You see it more in international soccer for a variety of reasons, but it certainly sucks.  The irony of the World Cup is that while it has incredible passion, pageantry, emotion, and history...its nowhere near the level of the best soccer in the Champions League or the like.

And yes, France is unique because not only do they have an amazing cohesive attack, they also have a bunch of dangerous players who can take you 1v1, which makes them even more dangerous, regardless of what you're trying to do.  And Sweden wasn't trying to park the bus, for better or for worse, which let the game stay far more open.  If France played Paraguay or Morocco, you'd see the same stuff you complained about non-French teams doing.  They'd be more successful cause they are unreal, but it would still be lots of prodding, back passes, and lofted balls into the box.

[MuggsyB]

This crowd is rather electric in Mexico City.

[panda]

This crowd is rather electric in Mexico City.

Welcome to the Azteca muggs. One of the best home field advantages in the world

[MuggsyB]

GOAL!!!!  That was beautiful. 

[Hards Alumni]

This crowd is rather electric in Mexico City.

Yeah they do that, just try to avoid the piss bombs.

[Its DJOver]

TT, German spy?

[JWags85]

Mpasi gonna have 50 min to go down in World Cup lore. 

[JWags85]

Holy mother of god Harry Kane. What an absolute laser

[jesmu84]

Holy mother of god Harry Kane. What an absolute laser

I miss him.

Love, tottenham fans

[JWags85]

I miss him.

Love, tottenham fans

Kane is so great cause of him comparitively to other great modern strikers/prolific goal scorers.  He's got good size, but he's not a physical freak like Haaland or Zlatan.  He's good in the air, but he's not got a crazy vertical like prime Ronaldo.  Good in tight spaces, but isn't gonna go on slaloming dribbling runs or take down guys 1v1 off the dribble.

But he's one of the most technically proficient finishers the game has ever seen, a consummate all methods scorer, rarely wastes a chance, and has just a supernatural ability to be in the right spot with his body correctly positioned to convert.  Its a similar ability/skillset that Lewandowski has, but Kane dictates play more especially when dropping back and Lewandowski is a bit better athlete which is why he always pressed more and stayed higher up and utilized his absurd poaching ability.