I had wanted the US to do well in the tournament, to boost "soccer" in the US. But thanks to Trump, I'm now delighted to see them humiliated. At least we're spared the moronic "USA...USA...USA" chants from now on.

20 minutes ago, bannork said:

Could get booed by fans of both teams in the final, along with Infantino.

That would be wonderful. I'm sure he won't show up.

Belgium win 4-1 ! USA slaughtered.

Edited July 7Jul 7 by Purdey

4-1 is a proper drubbing and goes to show just how far US mens football is behind the rest of the world. Belgium are a quality team mind (ranked 9th in the world) and I for one am super pleased they hammered the USA as there's no other word for allowing Balogun to play other than cheating.

Trump has higlighted just how corrupt FIFA is and the sycophant Infantino should do the honourable thing and resign. He won't of course, dragging FIFA into yet more controversy and bad publicity.

Top Trumps

USA drubbed don’t you just love a dose of karma?

Edited July 7Jul 7 by Utalk2mutt

Best outcome ever. What goes around comes around. USA played timidly and made many mistakes. Infantino needs to be immediately fired at the end of this World Cup (or before). There should also be a 3rd party investigation into the reversal of the red card.

1 hour ago, Wingate said:

To paraphrase Bill Clinton, It depends on what the meaning of 'action' is.

I know comments like mine are taken less easily than a member of a certain faith takes the work of a Danish cartoonist, but this guy kicking over there, then that guy kicking back here, then the other team intercepting a kick, then it goes out of bounds, then some guy throws it back in, then somebody heads it sideways, then a guy kicks it way down there, then the goalie picks it up and kicks it way back the other way, does not seem particularly exciting to me. I know others swear by that futility.

As Bill Maher recently said, there's more scoring at Bible Camp.

At this WC, in order for companies to pay for broadcast rights, they've introduced the "hydration break". Frankly, I actually think they break because they have to send mowers out to cut the grass, as it's grown too tall since the last time something of value actually happened.

I know soccer is the most popular sport in the world by far. I just never understood why. As a youth and through university, I was playing US Football in autumn (aka football), basketball in winter, and both baseball and track in spring. I guess I just never found time to appreciate the Beautiful Bore.

To each his own.

Anyway, Trump has made even that a fraud. Rick Wilson had it right.

I usually like your posts Wingate but not this time.

First of all it's called football and has been for hundreds of years. The fact you lot call it soccer is typical American arrogance. We could after all call baseball 'American cricket' but we respect the country of origin and wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. More importantly though your analysis of 'this guy kicking over there, then that guy kicking back here, then the other team intercepting a kick, then it goes out of bounds, then some guy throws it back in, then somebody heads it............................' really shows your ignorance of the game.

The US plays sports that very few other countries do (baseball, basketball, ice hockey, American football) and often has the audacity to call it things like The World Series, NBA World Champions, NFL World Champions and NHL World Champions, but derides a truly worldwide game with a lack of understanding that just smacks of ignorance. The World Cup is genuinely one of the very few sporting events (alongside the Olympics) that includes the whole world and you Americans who don't understand it shoud really not be commenting with such a lack of knowledge. And as a quid pro quo we in turn promise to refrain from commenting on your stupid sports.

Agreed?

Edited July 7Jul 7 by johnnybangkok

1 hour ago, Schoggibueb said:

1:4 for Belgium... Good job boys!

6 minutes ago, Utalk2mutt said:

USA drubbed don’t you just love a dose of karma?

I was hoping it was going to be an even greater drubbing. Something like 8:1. Just to try and embarrass Trump. Not that he gives a f*** about football, or anyone else.

Let's hope this World Cup is the end of Infantino.

39 minutes ago, Schoggibueb said:

That would be wonderful. I'm sure he won't show up.

Infantino needs to be fired now. A deputy head of FIFA can hand out the trophy. Yes, I bet Trump doesn't raise his ugly head at the final. If so, the whole stadium will boo him - for ten minutes.

7 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Let's hope this World Cup is the end of Infantino.

Infantino will say "I have nothing to do with this."...

The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has defended the decision to suspend the penalty imposed on US forward Folarin Balogun following a red card. A statement noted that the relevant body had made the decision "independently."

I had to search who the chairman is...

The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee is Mohammad Al Kamali from the United Arab Emirates.

13 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

It's an utter disgrace and is growing legs. Infantino will have to go. FIFA is corrupt to the core.

What with this and the visa issues the USA must never ever be given such a tournament again. And let's hope they get absolutely battered by Belgium tonight.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5yzzd73871o

They were. I feel for the US team. They are suffering the ignominy caused by their country's President

4 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

They were. I feel for the US team. They are suffering the ignominy caused by their country's President

As do I, but I could also see a defeat coming just based on Karma. There are football gods in a situation like this. Corruption cant win. Both Trump and FIFA. The right result occured. Now I can support Norway, and the machine Haaland, what a footballer.

2 hours ago, Wingate said:

know comments like mine are taken less easily than a member of a certain faith takes the work of a Danish cartoonist, but this guy kicking over there, then that guy kicking back here, then the other team intercepting a kick, then it goes out of bounds, then some guy throws it back in, then somebody heads it sideways, then a guy kicks it way down there, then the goalie picks it up and kicks it way back the other way, does not seem particularly exciting to me. I know others swear by that futility.

Please explain American Football in similar terms, as I personally do not understand the game.

There is a great meme floating around. Maybe from a belgian newspaper. Anyway - for those that know what the Manequin Pis is, they'll get it.

It shows a little boy in a Belgian team kit, peeing into the reflecting pond in Washington DC. Brilliant.

38 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

They were. I feel for the US team. They are suffering the ignominy caused by their country's President

There’s a simple moral to the story, keep politics out of sport. Trump needs to learn when to shut up.

7 minutes ago, Utalk2mutt said:

There’s a simple moral to the story, keep politics out of sport. Trump needs to learn when to shut up.

Trump needs to learn to keep politics out of all non-political walks of life. Including, but not restricted to, medicine, law, and independence day celebrations.

3 hours ago, Wingate said:

I have always found soccer to be the absolute most boring sport, sort of a joke the rest of the world is playing on the US. I never thought I could dislike the tedious sport more.

Along comes Trump saying, "Hold my cheeseburger".

This is why the USA should not be allowed to host the world cup for "the beautiful game" for another 100 years at least. I know FIFA are desperate for the USA to adopt proper football rather than the game they play with their hands but it really is a lost cause, at least for this generation. Twice now the USA have been given the privilege of this tournament in the last 32 years, and their capacity to understand and play this game is no further forward today than it was back in 1994. It might have even gone backwards. FIFA should give hosting opportunities back to actual footballing nations for the next 100 years as you cannot force a round ball into an egg shaped hole.

32 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

There is a great meme floating around. Maybe from a belgian newspaper. Anyway - for those that know what the Manequin Pis is, they'll get it.

It shows a little boy in a Belgian team kit, peeing into the reflecting pond in Washington DC. Brilliant.

Or this one:

Donald has asked FIFA to review all goals scored by Belgium as they appear to have been scored by foreigners who have obviously overstayed their welcome and visas that Donald cancelled just before the game started.

As such scores they achieved will be deemed illegal and all players will now all be held by ICE pending a review. America will now move on to the next round.

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

Please explain American Football in similar terms, as I personally do not understand the game.

Allow me.

Each team takes turns trying to push its way through an opposing line of players to try to move the ball ten 'yards' (while held in their hands). They each get 4 opportunities. Occassionally they throw the ball down the field while one of their team mates runs and tries to catch it but usually doesn't. Then it's the other team's turn to do the same in the opposite direction. This goes on for a couple of hours and whichever team gets across the goal line enough times is the winner. I nearly fell asleep writing this. Oh, and unlike rugby, they wear huge amounts of padding, helmets, etc.

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

Please explain American Football in similar terms, as I personally do not understand the game.

Does anyone outside of the USA? Football, where they hardly kick the ball.

1 hour ago, Utalk2mutt said:

There’s a simple moral to the story, keep politics out of sport. Trump needs to learn when to shut up.

To shut up, period. He is an embarrassment. Not just to the USA.

14 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Does anyone outside of the USA? Football, where they hardly kick the ball.

In Canada they do. They adjusted their version slightly away from the US version - they get only 3 opportunities to get ten yards. The idea was it would make the quarterback inclined to throw the ball more often rather than chance not making ten yards in just three attempts. The thinking was also that might keep the fans awake longer..

Edited July 7Jul 7 by ronnie50

2 hours ago, johnnybangkok said:

I usually like your posts Wingate but not this time.

First of all it's called football and has been for hundreds of years. The fact you lot call it soccer is typical American arrogance. We could after all call baseball 'American cricket' but we respect the country of origin and wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. More importantly though your analysis of 'this guy kicking over there, then that guy kicking back here, then the other team intercepting a kick, then it goes out of bounds, then some guy throws it back in, then somebody heads it............................' really shows your ignorance of the game.

The US plays sports that very few other countries do (baseball, basketball, ice hockey, American football) and often has the audacity to call it things like The World Series, NBA World Champions, NFL World Champions and NHL World Champions, but derides a truly worldwide game with a lack of understanding that just smacks of ignorance. The World Cup is genuinely one of the very few sporting events (alongside the Olympics) that includes the whole world and you Americans who don't understand it shoud really not be commenting with such a lack of knowledge. And as a quid pro quo we in turn promise to refrain from commenting on your stupid sports.

Agreed?

No problem. To each his own.

I just never found soccer/football/futball the least bit interesting. It's one second of action hidden within 90 minutes of back and forth kicks and headers. I appreciate that about 98% of the world considers it the greatest of sports, and good for them. I don't feel compelled to like it, just because it's popular. I guess I like UFC fighting even less, though I know lots of people enjoy competitors purposely causing brain damage in their opponent.

As noted, I played the typical American sports through university, knowing full well the rest of the world didn't care, save for track and field and a growing interest in basketball. I was recruited by universities to play some of those games, so long had a fondness for them. Looking at old films of the late great Gale Sayers, I've never seen such fluidity and grace, even in a ballerina. Watching Micheal Jordan sky or a 40' Stephen Curry lightning bolt is glorious. From Carl Lewis to Usain Bolt to Noah Lyles to Allyson Felix, I was in awe of their athleticism and beautiful movement. As for baseball, well, it's fun to play, though admittedly not so riveting to watch.

Oh, and the baseball "World Series" was started by a newspaper called the NY World, so they just named it after themselves.

Anyway, no offense intended. Your game will get along just fine without me.

I would bet Trump called Infantino and said, "I just need you to find me 4 goals. I'm sending Kash Patel and Bill Pulte out to Seattle to help you look. I've also told Todd Blanche to start an investigation into the official scorer. He's probably a deranged Dumocrat commie."

2 hours ago, wil iam not said:

Please explain American Football in similar terms, as I personally do not understand the game.

There's something for everyone. I can accept not everyone---in fact very few outside of the US---like or understand American football. That does not in any way hurt my enjoyment of the sport. If I was the only one on planet Earth who enjoyed it, I'd still watch it.

It seems as if people take it as a personal attack if a person is not enamored of soccer. The fact I find it unbelievably boring should not take away at all from the world's enjoyment of it.

I guess it is true it is less dangerous to draw cartoons of the prophet, 'peace be upon him' (insurance, just in case).

6 minutes ago, Wingate said:

There's something for everyone. I can accept not everyone---in fact very few outside of the US---like or understand American football. That does not in any way hurt my enjoyment of the sport. If I was the only one on planet Earth who enjoyed it, I'd still watch it.

It seems as if people take it as a personal attack if a person is not enamored of soccer. The fact I find it unbelievably boring should not take away at all from the world's enjoyment of it.

I guess it is true it is less dangerous to draw cartoons of the prophet, 'peace be upon him' (insurance, just in case).

Now, shall we go onto the Rules of Cricket? 5-5-5. There are some very funny explanations on You Tube.

As a Brit, I enjoyed watching the Harlem Globetrotters when they visited the UK way back. Basketball, we called Netball. Girls played it. We also played Rounders. An early form of baseball, I suppose. Amazing the way things develop.

3 hours ago, James105 said:

I know FIFA are desperate for the USA to adopt proper football rather than the game they play with their hands

Would it be proper if they were to headbutt the ball to score a goal?

I can only think of one football code where the only way to goal is by kicking the ball directly through the goal posts.

Well done Belgium!

2 hours ago, Wingate said:

It seems as if people take it as a personal attack if a person is not enamored of soccer. The fact I find it unbelievably boring should not take away at all from the world's enjoyment of it.

I think people just find it weird that people who do not like football seem to think it is their duty to reveal this rather uninteresting fact about themselves during times such as the world cup. Do you find other outlets where people discuss other sports/hobbies you do not like and inform them of the fact you do not like their sport/hobby as well, or do you just reserve this odd behavior for football?

Reminds me of this Ricky Gervais observation, albeit about guitar lessons rather than football.