Futbol 2018-2019

[walto]

Here too, I'm just about ready to let the robots take over.

One programming hint. If somebody rolls over more than three times, they're faking.

[DarkAttraktor]

does anyone watch the African Cup of Nations ? yesterday's highliht was this savage assist by Ola Aina

[Antoine]

does anyone watch the African Cup of Nations ?

I'm going to try to catch some games of Algeria (they're starting tonight... there's a France/Brazil WC game more or less at the same time though).

[walto]

U.S. women beat Spain 2-1, with both U.S. goals resulting from penalties in the box--one of them an utter fantasy.

[Harold Baines]

Morgan was getting mugged all day with no yellows issued. They've got nothing to apologize for.

[walto]

Meh. Spain scored an actual goal. Admittedly morgan whined non-stop throughout the match. I'm not sure she actually did anything else.

[walto]

Meanwhile, Spain's attacking ability was pretty limited. A lot of pointless crosses to nobody. I think the U.S. team just had an off-day.

Watching China-Italy now. China is a hair too deliberate in their shot-taking. Don't seem to be able to strike before the defense gets set.

[jon abbey]

Meanwhile, Spain's attacking ability was pretty limited. A lot of pointless crosses to nobody. I think the U.S. team just had an off-day.

the schedule is ridiculous, Spain had six days off before that game and the US only three, plus the US sat out Lindsay Horan, who some think is their best player, to try to protect her from getting a second yellow and having to miss the France quarterfinal game.

that deciding goal was why I always end up being disappointed in soccer/futbol though, there are obviously dubious calls in every sport, but it would be really nice if there was somehow a penalty possibility in between nothing and a penalty kick for borderline calls like that. maybe if it is not egregious, the team should just get a free kick from ten feet outside the box or something? dunno.

[walto]

[double post]

[walto]

Meanwhile, Spain's attacking ability was pretty limited. A lot of pointless crosses to nobody. I think the U.S. team just had an off-day.

the schedule is ridiculous, Spain had six days off before that game and the US only three, plus the US sat out Lindsay Horan, who some think is their best player, to try to protect her from getting a second yellow and having to miss the France quarterfinal game.

that deciding goal was why I always end up being disappointed in soccer/futbol though, there are obviously dubious calls in every sport, but it would be really nice if there was somehow a penalty possibility in between nothing and a penalty kick for borderline calls like that. maybe if it is not egregious, the team should just get a free kick from ten feet outside the box or something? dunno.

Good points, all.

Italy finished off China 2-0, but they lost about 90% of their midfield battles. Looking forward to Japan/Netherlands.

ETA: I meant Japan rather than England. And it's kind of an interesting match: Holland so much bigger and stronger, but not able to impose their will. Reminds me of the match a few years back when Japan beat the U.S. for the championship.

[walto]

Wow--same thing happens to Japan that happened to Spain. Another questionable call in the box determines the outcome. One difference here is that Japan totally dominated play in the second half.

The sport really would be better if this were changed.

[walto]

Dunno if any of you soccer buffs know the Peru goalkeeper. Gallese, i think his name is. Just put on one of the most amazing displays I've ever seen in his team's 3-0 shut-out of Chile. So many amazing saves.

If he's not on your favorite club team, get him.

[walto]

Here's a compilation, although I don't think it does him justice. Chile was rocketing shots at him from everywhere. When in the 5 minutes of extra time added at the end, there was a penalty in the box, I was afraid he'd lose his shut out. But, BAM, saved that too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6JML5bbG5A

Here's the penalty save (with commentary in Russian?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vuKXThlMsw

[Antoine]

He was elected man of of the match by whoscored algo... which must be quite rare when a team wins 3-0
https://fr.whoscored.com/Matches/138978 ... Chile-Peru

[surfer]

I watched that whole match live. Vargas' panenka at the end was the perfect way to cap this humiliation for Chile. Why would you even try that in that situation? Yes the Peruvian keeper was quite good.

[walto]

I've heard the U.S. women complaining that FIFA would never schedule any other big matches on the same day of the mens' WC championship, but both the Copa America and the Concacaf Gold Cup championships are set for the same day as their match with Holland.

They're not at the same time, but....do they have a point?

[walto]

I watched that whole match live. Vargas' panenka at the end was the perfect way to cap this humiliation for Chile. Why would you even try that in that situation? Yes the Peruvian keeper was quite good.

Chile did dominate possession and took some excellent shots, but their back line was terrible. Seemed like almost every time Peru managed to get the ball forward, they scored.

I was sorry Jamaica couldn't break through against the U.S.: they'd had an incredible tournament up until then. I could only watch that match until the rain delay and the U.S. might have been up 3-0 by the 12th minute. It was total domination to that point, and I thought it might be a rout.

[Wombatz]

urgh, var deciding the game again. clearly the outcome was 'deserved,' but it would have been nice to see the u.s. players having to come up with a solution themselves ...

[jon abbey]

urgh, var deciding the game again. clearly the outcome was 'deserved,' but it would have been nice to see the u.s. players having to come up with a solution themselves ...

yeah, I don't mind VAR but there really needs to be an intermediate punishment for non-flagrant fouls in the box, entire games get decided on these calls all the time and IMO it kind of kills the sport. maybe a free kick just outside the box in borderline cases?

[walto]

Yes yes yes.

Make it so!