Well, shoot - I obviously made an assumption not based on all the available information! I read a bit more about it here: https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/201...-cup-auto-bid-qualification-usa-canada-mexico
I'm not worried at all about qualifying for 2026, we just went through a talent development hole but sure looks like we have fixed that now with all the kids in Europe. Sadly MLS still has done nothing to help "push" talent. Mexico years ago set playing time minimums for U23 players in their league (No longer in effect now) and I really think MLS should do this too.
Well, I have to admit that in 2014 I wasn't worried about qualifying for 2018. But maybe I should have been.
Well Spain just made things interesting, firing their coach who announced he would take over Real Madrid after WC. http://www.espn.com/soccer/spain/st...before-world-cup-after-taking-real-madrid-job
Kickoff tomorrow, Russia v Saudi Arabia, 9am MDT. I'll be reffing in a different tournament, the Premier SuperCopa, here in Denver for the morning then working in the afternoon. First match I really want to see is Portugal v Spain, Friday at noon.
Whoa. Gee Spain, couldn't you have worked that out, they play in a few days! Not looking forward to 48 teams in the World Cup. But...FIFA.
So, my day-in and day-out club, Everton, aren't particularly well-represented this year - our best current players on squads are Gylfi Sigurdsson (Thunderclap!), Jordan Pickford, England's #1 keeper, and Idrissa Gana Gueye with Senegal. Come to think of it, not only are those our best current players that made squads this year, they are our only current players that made squads. We've a few talented former players looking to make a splash: - Tim Cahill, now 38 years old, for Australia - Romelu Lukaku, ManU's acquisition from Everton last year, for Belgium and of course, another one of our previous managers - Roberto Martinez overseeing Belgium's efforts.... https://www.grandoldteam.com/2018/06/12/the-evertonians-guide-to-world-cup-2018/?wp-nocache=true
No Rapids but 19 MLS players to root for or against. Costa Rica - 6 Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United) David Guzman (Portland Timbers) Ronald Matarrita (NYCFC) Marcos Urena (LAFC) Rodney Wallace (NYCFC) Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps) Egypt (1): Omar Gaber (LAFC) Mexico (3): Giovanni Dos Santos (LA Galaxy) Jonathan Dos Santos (LA Galaxy) Carlos Vela (LAFC) Panama (6): Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes) Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls) Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earhquakes) Adolfo Machado (Houston Dynamo) Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls) Roman Torres (Seattle Sounders) Peru (2): Andy Polo (Portland Timbers) Yoshimar Yotun (Orlando City) Sweden (1): Gustav Svensson (Seattle Sounders)
Sadly it appears the only option is on Sirius, and even then its just a simulcast of the FOX TV audio.
If you are looking for an underdog team to support, here is a great reason to choose Peru (...and I am not from Peru and have no connection) Peru's soccer federation sent a video to each federation in their World Cup Group (France, Australia, Denmark), introducing themselves. All three responded with videos. They are calling themselves the Group of Friendship. (Sorry if you saw this already, but it is a great video) Here is video Peru sent to Australia: Dear @Socceroos, It will be an honor to compete against you in the @FIFAWorldCup. As you know, we have been away from the FWC for a long time, that is why we have prepared this video to remind you of who we are. See you soon.#ArribaPeru pic.twitter.com/6xJiNojd40— La Bicolor (@SeleccionPeru) May 22, 2018 Here is Denmark's video response: Hi @equipedefrance & @Socceroos.Now we and @SeleccionPeru have shared a lot of love and our passion for football, but we really like you guys too! Are you with us in making our World Cup Group the #TheFriendlyGroup?#ForDanmark #ArribaPeru #FiersdetreBleus #GoSocceroos pic.twitter.com/8VGVcGULEi— DBU - En Del Af Noget Større (@DBUfodbold) May 31, 2018
I just put together that Iceland and Croatia are in the same group and were in the same qualification group. In qualification, Croatia won at home 2-0, Icleand won at home 1-0, and the rubber match is each team's 3rd group stage game.
Not sure how I feel about VAR's role in all these penalties. Some were pretty blatant (what the hell, Umtiti). There was contact on all the foul calls I think...technically fouls in the box. But I don't like penalties for fouls on the wide edges of the box, or in the case of Griezmann, where a hard touch before the foul has likely knocked the ball way so there would be no shot. You know, the cases where the team gets the PK for a play that normally would be something like a .02 goal expectancy. People will say a foul should be a foul no matter where it occurs on the field, but it seems good refs show some judgment to get around the problem of awarding PK's for fouls in non scoring areas of the box. Unless the foul is so blatant there's no choice. I suppose that's not the best approach to fix the "problem" I like it better if the area going to stay the size it is. Now the goal recognition system, I love that. Isco and Pogba have already had close calls where in past years the wrong call could have been made.
Disappointed in the Mex v Ger match today. Was hoping for 0-0, 8 red cards (4 to each team) and a few broken legs distributed enely to each team.
For my Father's Day my kids gave me this...even better, than called today and said, "Why Iceland" as they thought about a few other classic WC Winning sides...they LOVED the story about having to choose another team to root for when your squad stinks.
Speaking of Iceland, the story behind the “thunderclap.” It originated in . . . The story of the Iceland fans’ famous thunderclap ❄️ pic.twitter.com/9XEC51cFjj— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 16, 2018
Sweden comes through, 1-0, over South Korea. I think it averaged a foul every 1.5 minutes, or something like that. Painfull, and frankly, I thought a poor performance from the referee. Heja Sverige!
Missing the PK right before have was pretty bad. Luckily it didn't change the result. Wearing my Sweden jersey at work today!
I have two Colombian (now American) partners here and they are quite bummed with the 2-1 loss, and perhaps with the way that they lost, too. Red card at minute 3. Geez even Pablo never did that.... Go Iceland. R
Picture for prior post, me on Gothenborg Sweden in May eating at the best Mexican Food place...note the colorful name....
The first round of games is officially finished. Lots of upsets and disappointing starts for the "bigger" teams. France and Belgium were the only top rated teams that didn't shit the bed in their first game (though France was less than convincing in their win).
To be fair, Spain tied Portugal, but both those teams look really good. England were not seeded, but they won too.