World Cup Soccer Thread

[man77777]

What do you mean by financial reasons ?

Once again, Ozil and Boatang are born in Germany and formed in Germany. It would have been stupid for them to play for another country. There are million of people like me with a double nationality. When you become a great player, the reason of heart is to chose the country where you spent most of life. The reason of honnor is to bring back to the country that formed you. So these 3 players made an honorable choice. Not like Diego Costa.

 

[EagerBeaver]

What do you mean by financial reasons ?

Exactly what I said- they make more money choosing one team over the other - more exposure, endorsements, professional club opportunites etc. due to being seen in the World Cup. Same reason why Dawson wanted to go into HOF as a Chicago Cub and the HOF said no. FIFA does not stop these guys from being mercenaries.

I happen to be part Polish and one of my older generation relatives is irate that Podolski is playing for Germany. He feels it is a national betrayal and if you knew much about Poland's history you would know why.

 

[man77777]

For Ozil and BOatang, as I told you, they had more personnal reasons to chose Germany, so I don't see the point to say it was for financial reasons.

EB, for some reason I really, really, really perfectly know Polish history. And I heard the same things by polish about Podolski (and Klose). Some polish feel betrayed but most of them are proud to see a polish born player going so far in WC. But this guy arrived in Germany at 2 (if you know polish history, you know why), it's German soccer federation that made him the soccer player he is. He spent all of his life in Germany. So he had more reasons to play for Germany than for Poland. When you have 2nationalities, you necessarily have to betray one of them when you have to chose.

Moreover great soccer players make their money in club, not in national team.

 

[man77777]

During World War II Hitler spouted off that Germany is a "white Aryan nation" and now they recruit black players from Africa to play on their national team?

And what did you mean by this ?

 

[EagerBeaver]

man7777,

Let's be honest, these guys all play for German professional teams and they do not want to alienate their fans or cost themselves money.

Regarding Boateng, his brother Kevin Prince plays for Ghana!!!!! No questions about that. Kevin Prince Boateng was also on the German national team, having been recruited, and his ass was kicked off the team for off field incidents having nothing to do with his nationality. That is why he is now playing for Ghana but the fact is he is Ghanian and so is his brother. And the Ghanians welcomed Kevin back with open arms. The brother who plays for Germany is no less Ghanian than Kevin, but he behaved himself and acted like a good German which is why the Germans kept him and got rid of Kevin. You can't tell me that two brothers should be playing on different national teams......sorry, no.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

Go Germany.... 4-0................. :thumb:

 

[man77777]

but the fact is he is Ghanian and so is his brother.

No ! They have the double nationality. They are german AND ghanian. But as they are born in Germany, formed in Germany and always lived in Germany, they have 10times more reasons to play for Germany... So why guessing they did it for finaicial reasons ? Moreover they don't need to play for Germany to make money, the make their money in club, and they don't need to be german to play in german clubs... I think that you don't really understand the way double nationality is seen out of US. Nor the way it works in soccer.

 

[EagerBeaver]

. I think that you don't really understand the way double nationality is seen out of US. Nor the way it works in soccer.

Maybe not, but I go by the old saying that if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a duck.

 

[man77777]

Most of the great US champions don't look like US ""ducks""... But they are and I'm sure you're proud of them.

Nationality is not a question of what you look like, but a question of passport.

 

[Merlot]

Gents,

During World War II Hitler spouted off that Germany is a "white Aryan nation" and now they recruit black players from Africa to play on their national team?

I guess there won't be any explanation why anyone would make this comment, but why would you think the standards of one of the sickest raving murderous lunatics in history have any relevance to the world or to Podolski ?

He feels it is a national betrayal and if you knew much about Poland's history you would know why.

Polish history has been one of the roughest. Partition, invasion after invasion, mass slaughter in the death camps. Okay, it's extremely bloody. But historically Poles were not just innocents. They had their own empire over other peoples too.

http://www.davidduke.com/images/Polish_Lithuanian-Empire.jpg

I have no idea what any of this has to do with Podolski. He went to Germany at age 2 where he made his identity. If some older people harbor some bitter resentments based on historical tragedies it's their issue, not that of a 2-year-old boy who grew up being German. Any allusion that anyone can't legitimately be a certain nationality after growing up almost completely in a nation he or she simply wasn't born in is very strange coming from an American in a nation born from of mixed nationalities.

For Ozil and BOatang, as I told you, they had more personnal reasons to chose Germany, so I don't see the point to say it was for financial reasons.

...it's German soccer federation that made him the soccer player he is. He spent all of his life in Germany.

He's German by right, German by citizenship, German by self-identity. What team you've been playing for is not the real criteria. In my view it would be a greater betrayal to be part of a people and culture all your life then go elsewhere because of where you were born and lived for just 2 years.

I could see making an issue of guys who played for a country because of contracts to professional teams, but it looks like everyone of the guys mentioned have dual citizenship. They have a rightful choice so why go on about this? This idea that people have to play purely because of where they were born or that skin color has any relevance sounds a lot like those poisonous race and nationality theories that were common long ago everywhere, not just in 1930s Germany.

Nationality is not a question of what you look like, but a question of passport.

People fail to realize that what makes up a Pole, German, Ghanian, American, etc, today has always been a mix of peoples. Speaking of "ducks" how much Iroquois, Cherokee, Lakota, Apache, Shoshone, Cree, Wampanoag does Beav have when he calls himself an American. Today citizenship and national self-identity is what matters. If a person is a legal citizen the issue should be over.



Merlot

 

[EagerBeaver]

Merlot,

You don't understand the concept of irony? Look at the German team!!!!!

man 77777,

The USA is and was always built upon being a melting pot of immigrants, not an "Aryan nation" as Germany called itself - that is the difference. If you do not see the irony in that I can't help you. Guys like Brooks and Johnson are the sons of US servicemen.....can't get any more American than that.

 

[man77777]

The USA is and was always built upon being a melting pot of immigrants, not an "Aryan nation" as Germany called itself - that is the difference.

You mix up actual Germany and nazi's era, which is quite scary...

As for the USA, a big part of your champions are not the result of the incredible openminded US melting pot, but the descendant of your slavery's era...

 

[Merlot]

Merlot,

You don't understand the concept of irony? Look at the German team!!!!!

Beav,

If I apply old outdated concepts of nationality together with outrageous phoney archaic racial theories I'd say you're right. It's Ironic. But if you do that you are giving relevance to archaic notions of what a nationality should be.

Speaking of irony, the U.S. had a stunning World Cup victory against Ghana yesterday that greatly affects our chances. Yet today a soccer/football fan from the most racially mixed country in the world is making post after post worried about what the German team looks like.

The USA is and was always built upon being a melting pot of immigrants, not an "Aryan nation" as Germany called itself - that is the difference.

I have to agree completely with 77777. The idea that anyone is still applying notions of a very sick theory by one of the most evil men in history is scary. Being a nationality is about culture, socialization, language, self-indentity...NOT looks or race. That's not to mention that the Nazi's adoption of an Aryan identity was a false theory they couldn't really prove.

C'mon,

Merlot

 

[EagerBeaver]

Merlot you are talking about "phony theories" but I am talking about historical facts. It is a fact that Germany banned Jews and blacks from its national teams at the 1936 Olympics!!!!!! Now the team openly recruits blacks with dual nationalities. These are the facts and the irony is based on the historical facts, not theories. On the other hand Jesse Owens was a member of the 1936 US Olympic team, an Olympic icon who shattered the myth of Aryan supremacy. It was an American athlete who did that.

 

[man77777]

Jesse Owens was the grandson of a US slave, EB...

There is no Nation that can give lesson to the other ones. They all have their dark eras.

 

[Merlot]

It is a fact that Germany banned Jews and blacks from its national teams at the 1936 Olympics!!!!!! Now the team openly recruits blacks with dual nationalities.

:noidea:

Proving that Germans are not and 99% never were Nazis. I know at least as much about German history and most world history as anyone on this board. I'm 1/8 German myself. I also have half Polish Nieces. Is that ironic?

Honestly, you need to step back and look at what you have been posting. You seem to be imposing some very ugly history on a soccer tournament. What I'm seeing is you've been imprinted by a great tragedy and you are having issues over outdated events and ideas that have nothing to do with the Germany of today. It's like outsiders looking at the U.S. team and saying OMG they had African slavery for 250 years (or so) and made a genocide of Native Americans, but they now have them on their soccer team. The people who look at it that way should confront their own angst and realize the world and individual nations have changed since 1936 or the Antebellum U.S..

Regarding which team to play for, for those with dual citizenship there's a choice. I believe it's the same rule internationally. If part of their choice is about greater financial opportunity...why shouldn't it be. As Americans I don't see a problem. The ancestors of Americans came to the country for "freedom"? Yes, but mainly because of greater financial opportunity to gain a higher living standard. Americans should not be questioning other nationalities if he/she chooses to go somewhere else than where they were born. As long as someone has legal citizen status with a country I don't see an issue.

http://q.usatoday.com/2014/06/16/fi...-clint-dempsey-bradley-beasley-besler-howard/

FINAL — USA 2, GHANA 1

It was an incredible finish, and the U.S. scraped together three vital points in Group G.

Following the opening-minute goal from Clint Dempsey, the Americans were on the ropes for — seemingly — the rest of the match. It was inevitable, and it happened; Ghana scored the equalizer via Andre Ayew’s 81st-minute blast.

In the end, it was the halftime substitution of John Brooks, who came on in place of Matt Besler and netted the game-winning goal in the 86th minute off of a corner kick.

For the Americans, the victory is enormous in what is largely considered the “Group of Death.” Three points give the Americans a huge step toward leaving the group. Ghana, meanwhile, will have to play flawlessly to emerge into the next round.

With matches against Germany and Portugal remaining, the U.S. still needs to secure points, but this victory puts it in prime position to control its fate.

really,

Merlot

 

[EagerBeaver]

Things have changed in Germany and the USA but that does not mean we cannot look at this and not see some irony, especially since Germany seems far more aggressive than any other team in exploiting dual nationality players for its own benefit.

The USA team is coached by a German. I love Jurgen Klinsmann!!!!!!! To me he is a soccer version of Joe Girardi. A student of the game, and he has his players playing with pride and guts. Klinsmann is also a little bit outspoken and not afraid to speak his mind, which I respect. But what I respect the most is his correct tactical decisions like insertion of Brooks who then scores the winning goal on a set piece........

 

[EagerBeaver]

Dempsey's Nose Confirmed Broken

It was broken on this vicious kick:

http://www.espnfc.us/united-states/...whether-to-wear-a-mask-to-protect-broken-nose

 

[EagerBeaver]

Viva Mexico!

Congratulations to Mexico and their goalie Ochoa on holding Brazil scoreless in a 0-0 Tie!

 

[EagerBeaver]

Klinsmann "Full Of Hope" on Altidore Return

http://www.espnfc.us/united-states/...f-hope-jozy-altidore-can-returnmatt-besler-ok