Messi wins Golden Ball Award:
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup...a-forward-lionel-messi-wins-golden-ball-award
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup...a-forward-lionel-messi-wins-golden-ball-award
World Cup Soccer Thread
- Thread starter EagerBeaver
- Start date
Well fought Argentina. But happy to see Germany's consistency and depth of talent finally being rewarded. Gotze is a 22 year old player - he wasn't even born when Germany last won their world cup. As for Messi, we might still see him next world cup. He is only 26 I think.
Many people are unhappy that Messi won the Golden Ball. I think he won it because there weren't many other serious options.
Muller was the only other serious contender in my opinion. Arjen Diving Robben actually played really welll - but because of his self-admitted diving, it's hard to give him an award. I think it was between Muller and Messi. Messi won in the end because in every game defenders were cllearly all over him. He was clearly the most important man in every match he played. He may not have had a final impact on those games - but he was important. I don't think it's a bad choice.
Muller was the only other serious contender in my opinion. Arjen Diving Robben actually played really welll - but because of his self-admitted diving, it's hard to give him an award. I think it was between Muller and Messi. Messi won in the end because in every game defenders were cllearly all over him. He was clearly the most important man in every match he played. He may not have had a final impact on those games - but he was important. I don't think it's a bad choice.
True, but as soon as Italy was out I made my second prediction and I nailed it which is pretty good, not too many can brag about that(calling it spot on, on my second try), my bookie also hates me.:nod:
Thank God it's over!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally!!!!!!!! The longest three weeks in recent years!!!! I've never seen so much faking in my entire life!!!! Enfin c'est fini!!!! 
I have to agree with the too much faking, even once is too much but the faking is bred into them from the beginning, my daughter is in a soccer league and the coaches tell her if she gets tripped or pushed fall down and do not get up. I guess a person can develop it into a fine art after years of practice. I would like to see a contact soccer league.
I would like to get my hands on that magic spray they have that cures a near death injury in a matter of minutes.
I would like to get my hands on that magic spray they have that cures a near death injury in a matter of minutes.
Shots on goal: Germany 7, Argentina 2
Possession: Germany 60%, Argentina 40%
Score: Germany 1, Argentina 0
After Argentina's brilliant performance in the shootout against Holland, it is clear that they were playing for a tie.
Messi, was almost certainly told to hold back and not give up scoring chances. He did what he was told and played a team game.... very impressive.... and still managed to be a threat on several occasions despite being double teamed throughout.
If they had held out a couple of more minutes, they would have gone to shootouts...and Argentina would have won.
It was a great game.
Hey check out Mario Gotze's hot girlfriend:
https://twitter.com/davegreenway/status/488440815300411392/photo/1
All the guys on Germany have hot, hot girlfriends.
https://twitter.com/davegreenway/status/488440815300411392/photo/1
All the guys on Germany have hot, hot girlfriends.
ha ha ha. It took less than a day for a conspiracy theory to surface.
Penalty shootouts can go either way. The person who told Messi to hold back for 120 min didn't know anything about competitive sports. Argentinians should punish him.
Hey guys,
That's MY BOY Joe.t, fence-rider.
Only because you're a dry well from endless losses.
Gotze's girlfriend Ann-Kathrin Brommel
It's a damn shame his girlfriend is so totally hot. With the standing of World Cup Futbol in Germany, and having scored the winning goal for a championship for the first time in 24 years, Mario could be scoring every hot beauty between the Rhine and the Oder Rivers in a land known for stunning blonde beauties. I wonder if he'll risk losing what he has? At his age he probably will go for the gusto lining up for him, a steaming opportunity he'll never see the likes of again.
Go Mario,
Merlot
That's MY BOY Joe.t, fence-rider.
Only because you're a dry well from endless losses.
Gotze's girlfriend Ann-Kathrin Brommel
It's a damn shame his girlfriend is so totally hot. With the standing of World Cup Futbol in Germany, and having scored the winning goal for a championship for the first time in 24 years, Mario could be scoring every hot beauty between the Rhine and the Oder Rivers in a land known for stunning blonde beauties. I wonder if he'll risk losing what he has? At his age he probably will go for the gusto lining up for him, a steaming opportunity he'll never see the likes of again.
Go Mario,
Merlot
"Me thinks" you are trying to get a response from a long lost buddy of yours haha...... "Me also thinks" he is in Germany at this moment. (no not celebrating the Victory but I am sure some amazing parties are going on right now over there)
Congrats to Germany! Why does Canada NOT have a team???? Sorry guys if the answer is obvious, not a huge soccer fan but it was interesting to watch a lot of the World Cup. Indeed :thumb:
Congrats to Germany! Why does Canada NOT have a team???? Sorry guys if the answer is obvious, not a huge soccer fan but it was interesting to watch a lot of the World Cup. Indeed :thumb:
Brazil Coach Scolari Resigns in Disgrace
Outscored 10-1 in its final 2 games, this was not exactly a surprise:
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup...world-cup-manager-luiz-felipe-scolari-resigns
The ignominy of defeat!
Outscored 10-1 in its final 2 games, this was not exactly a surprise:
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup...world-cup-manager-luiz-felipe-scolari-resigns
The ignominy of defeat!
Is there anyone who thinks Canada will qualify for Russia 2018...?
If no what would we need to do...?
Let's not forget we got destroyed 8-1 by Honduras during the Concacaf qualifiers..
and all of you saw how Costa Rica performed..
Maybe we should aim for Qatar 2022 Lol
If no what would we need to do...?
Let's not forget we got destroyed 8-1 by Honduras during the Concacaf qualifiers..
and all of you saw how Costa Rica performed..
Maybe we should aim for Qatar 2022 Lol
The soccer problem in Canada can be seen by looking at a map. It is the northernmost country in the Americas and the weather sucks for playing soccer except for maybe 2 months of the year. In Honduras and Costa Rica they play the sport year round. Even in the USA, high school soccer is played into November. In Canada it is TFC (too fucking cold) and it will always be TFC. Canada has world supremacy in hockey for this very reason. The real athletes throw the soccer ball in the dumpster, grab a hockey stick and lace up the skates. Even the immigrants who come from soccer playing countries end up being forced to play hockey. Look at Subban and his brothers. The family comes from Jamaica but Subban's father threw the soccer ball away and gave his sons sticks, pucks and skates for their birthdays.
Figure out a way to change the weather and you will figure out Canada's soccer dilemma. Good luck with that.
Figure out a way to change the weather and you will figure out Canada's soccer dilemma. Good luck with that.
Can't be worse than Russia or Belgium.
You can play soccer outdoors in Canada from May until September. It's still pretty warm during that period.
The problem with men's soccer in Canada is that there simply isn't enough development there as compared to the top countries. There also aren't many top-notch soccer fields in Canada, which is why FIFA would never agree to hold the World Cup in Canada.
Soccer also isn't a sport that attracts most Canadian male athletes, who prefer playing hockey, basketball & baseball. The majority of NHL players are Canadians. Canada has recently been sending a good number of Canadians to the NBA. For example, the last two top overall picks all came from the Toronto area. And Canada has sent some decent talent to MLB over the past few decades, such as the likes of Larry Walker, Justin Morneau, Joey Votto, Ryan Dempster, Jeff Francis & Brett Lawrie.
The NFL is starting to see an influx of players born & raised in Canada.
Soccer is much more advanced in Canada when it comes to women's soccer.
The Women's World Cup is being held in Canada next summer, so there must be some soccer fields worthy of such an event. I believe semis are in Edmonton and Montreal and finals are in Vancouver. Not sure why Toronto got shut out of the Final 4.
Not enough major soccer venues in Canada that are made of grass. There are a few, including BMO Field & Saputo Stadium. And it's a stretch to describe those venues as being 'major'. For example, BMO Field only seats 21 000 people. Saputo Stadium seats 20 000 people. That's the reason i read & heard on why Canada will never get awarded a men's World Cup by FIFA: not enough grass soccer venues in Canada. Actually, to hold such a huge event, you need more soccer venues, period. They also have to somewhat be within close proximity of one another, considered the vast amount of territory that covers Canada from coast to coast. You couldn't expect fans of a certain country flying all over the country (e.g. from Montreal to Vancouver, etc) in order to follow their respective teams. They simply wouldn't be able to afford it.
But the real reason in my opinion?? Money! It's all about bribes and money when you're dealing with FIFA. Canada simply doesn't have the type of revenue to match up with other countries (e.g Qatar, etc) when it comes to bribing FIFA officials. And FIFA won't award the men's World Cup to a country who's biggest soccer venue is under 30 000 people. They'd rather give it to a country that has between 50 000 to 100 000 capacity in order to maximize the massive revenues that a men's World Cup event brings.
People wonder why the junior hockey world championships are often held in Canada. Why? Because they fill up the arenas in Canada for such events. When that championship is held in Europe, the arenas are barely half full.
As for why FIFA agreed to give Canada the rights to host the women's World Cup next year, there wasn't as much competition to host it (as compared to the men's). Women's soccer isn't very popular either (as compared to the men's). Plus the fact there are a lot less countries which will be respresented as compared to men's soccer. So not as many venues are required.
I have no idea why Toronto isn't part of the final 4 matches. Toronto is the #1 soccer market in Canada, so my guess is that they might have wanted to expand interest in the game by having the final 4 matches outside of Toronto. That's the only arguement i can come up with, unless BMO Field wasn't available at the time, which i doubt.
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