Soccer 2019

Shadowlight

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We used to have a slew of articulate well versed soccer commentators here at CF but for reasons I am not privy to most everyone of them have flown the coop. Or at least taking a long vacation away from this site. A shame either way.

We have an exciting women's World Cup going on and nothing but crickets here? I have tried to watch the matches when I get a chance. Seen the semifinals and a few earlier matches. The final is Sunday as the USA plays Netherlands. TV ratings are up and in general expect soccer to continue to make inroads into the American psyche.

To take advantage of the momentum ESPN has announced that they will televise 14 NSWL games this season culminating in the final October 27. The Lifetime network ditched this women's pro soccer league (NSWL) after two seasons, one year prior to their three year deal. Women's soccer are hoping to capitalize while the iron is hot so to speak.

Megan (gee is she a dyke) Rapinoe has grabbed the headlines but the two USA players with the movie star looks have gotten my attention. Scoring machine speedster Alex Morgan headed in the winning goal in a tight semi final against England. And Rose Lavelle, who I believe has Irish blood, is the most entertaining player I have seen here. She is mesmerizing when she dips and swerves away from defenders. Her fake out of an English player was the move of the tournament. Whiter than chalk, she came up limp in the semifinals but the latest word is she will be ready for the final. Same with Rapinoe who didn't play in the semis.

In general the tournament has been dominated by white players. A few are drop dead gorgeous. Kosovare Asllani the brilliant and creative MF for Sweden leads the pack. She was injured in the semis so not sure she will play against England Saturday in the third place game.

While the women's pro league has had issues drawing viewers the MLS churns along without much juice. But interest in international soccer here in the state continues to grow. Go to bars on the east coast when international soccer is on and you will see packed bars. The Premier League and other European soccer leagues can be found on multiple stations during their seasons. Soccer is steadily becoming a major sport in this country. Not there yet but the build up suggests a much bigger audience as time passes. At least that is my prediction.

The men's team is playing Mexico in the Gold Cup final. 20 year old MF Christian Pusilic is the rising star on the squad. I first brought him up here at CF a few years back.

In other soccer news in the white men can't run category speedster supreme Dutch winger Arjen Robben has announced his retirement.

I first recall watching him in the 2006 World Cup and thrilling to his blistering long runs on the wing. His Dutch team made the finals in 2010 and they placed third in the 2014 World Cup.

One of my favorites. His breathtaking speed was something to behold.

See below a tribute to Robben.

 
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Sean89

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Yes, I noticed the champions league thread didn't draw people in. I know America isn't big into football (soccer) so I wasn't surprised.

When the leagues kick off I will regularly update this thread on action from national games and across the major leagues in domestic European leagues.With focus on the paler top teams and individual star players. Luckily in the most global of sports there are an abundance.

I will also create a thread in September and build up to the Rugby World cup which kicks off around the 20th of september. The majority of players (star and otherwise) will be white, so again, not a sport that America hypes for its citizens.
 
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Shadowlight

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Yes, I noticed the champions league thread didn't draw people in. I know America isn't big into football (soccer) so I wasn't surprised.

When the leagues kick I will regularly update this thread on action from national games and across the major leagues in domestic European leagues.With focus on the paler top teams and individual star players. Luckily in the most global of sports there are an abundance.

I will also create a thread in September and build up to the Rugby World cup which kicks off around the 20th of september. The majority of players (star and otherwise) will be white, so again, not a sport that America hypes for its citizens.

Looking forward to it Sean89. One small caveat. I have zero interest in rugby. Don't let that stop you though. Ha. My interest in soccer took a huge leap forward when Italy made the 1994 World Cup finals. Before that I paid little attention to the sport like most Americans. Roberto Baggio won me over big time and remains my all time favorite soccer player despite only watching him play for such a brief period. Michael Owen is second.
 
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Shadowlight

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USA women pull through with a 2-0 win against the Netherlands to win their fourth World Cup. It was a tight game in the first half with no goals. The USA had several chances but they were blocked or nabbed by the Dutch goalie. The tension was mounting. It was pretty exciting.

I didn't think the USA deserved a penalty kick in the second half and I don't care for tight games to be decided by them. Be that as it may Megan Rapinoe calmly knocked in the kick. Rapinoe has been a polarizing figure during the World Cup but as a soccer player she is a heady opportunistic player. She is too old to play in the next World Cup.

But for me I was delighted my favorite USA player the very cute 24 year old Rose Lavelle scored the insurance goal off what was a marvelous downhill attacking run against multi defenders in the middle part of the field. Her kick was beautifully executed. Lavelle was a revelation here. Her swerving maneuvers were something to behold.

In the end the USA beat a tough and game Dutch squad and I think the best team won here. Also this USA team will go down in history as one of the best all time. And deservedly so.

And one last thing. While he didn't announce the final (he announced the Sweden-England third place game) Scotsman Derek Rae is a fantastic announcer. I love the way he speaks and sets up the excitement. Just superb.
 
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Shadowlight

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MF Rose Lavelle has lit up social media. Her dazzling moves have set the soccer world on fire. At 24 she is the next big thing for the USA squad and will be seen as one of the pivotal players going into the Olympics next summer and the World Cup four years from now.

She won the Bronze boot as the third best player at this WC. England's Lucy Bronze won the Silver and Megan Rapinoe won the Golden boot. If they had an award for skin color she would win the whitest award. I think she is all Irish.

Below is Lavelle's sensational goal that put the USA up 2-0 and ultimately put the game away.

https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/video/1563791939863
 

Westside

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Congrats to the majority of overwhelming White women on this team. But it looks like a large portion of the team and its supporters have been brainwashed by the ((media)). Oh well, a great representation of White athletic excellence. I was thinking the other day when the blonde haired lesbian went on her anti-Trump screed, how I wanted to punch her face! What a F'n total dipsh*t.
 

Old Scratch

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Was rooting against USGay, didn't watch any of it though. The bulldyke on team USA complaining that the women don't have an equal prize pool with the best team in the world (male team) when they can't even beat a good HS boys team.
 
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I almost decided to root against the USA team, but once the match started I decided to pull for them. I'm sure some of the quieter team members are fine people.

It wasn't even the equal pay thing that bothered me. I can't fault an employee trying to get a bit more money. What really started to bother me was the team acting like their celebrations would not have been controversial in the men's game. Yes, choreographed celebrations when winning by 10 goals and celebrations designed to mock the stereotypical habits of an opponent country would have been hugely controversial in the men's game. I honestly wonder why you'd think the opposite. It makes me wonder what's going on inside their heads.
 

Shadowlight

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For me the most important thing was that, with a few minor exceptions, this World Cup was dominated by the brilliance of white athletes. The USA team was diverse but in a way that mirrors greater America with the majority of players being white. This wasn't one of those deals that passes for diversity these days like a basketball team with 10 blacks and one token white.

Also essential that young white girls see white players succeeding on the biggest of stages which should prompt some of them to pursue their athletic dreams rather than alienating them.

That said it is quite ironic that the far less successful men's national team is more "conventionally" diverse meaning more black and or non white players on the pitch especially in the more offensive glory positions. The women on the other hand have tapped into the great wealth of white talent from the suburbs. Why aren't the men mining the same territory?

As mentioned above I was totally smitten with dazzling MF Rose Lavelle. If I had to pick the top player in the tournament though it would be MF Julie Ertz, the wife of Eagles TE Zach Ertz. She was a rock the entire tournament.

Most of the team is straight by the way with three ( and one obvious showboating one) or four exceptions. Which probably follows closely to historical averages over the years. And most of the European teams rosters fell along those straight/lesbian lines averages too although I think Sweden had the most lesbians? It just seems like there were more lesbians than ever because they were louder and more visible than ever before.
 

Sean89

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English Premier League will kick off tomorrow, majority of games will be sat/sun.

Harry Maguire became the most expensive defender in history at 80 million English Pound. He will make his debut for Man Utd against Chelsea on Sunday. Big game for the first weekend, both sides looking for a top four finish or a surprise title challenge.

Man City and Liverpool look likely to be the main contenders. Man City are defending champions, they boast a number of white stars, Liverpool in comparison like there players a bit more on the"athletic" side.
 

Sean89

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For anyone following along with the Premier League.
See below a break down of the Top 6 English Premier League sides.
38 games so starting line ups will change week to week in some cases.

Below is a list of our lads that should feature regularly in the starting line ups during the season.
Each team registers 25 players.


Manchester City (Last Year - Champions)

GK -Ederson (South American)

RB - Cancelo (Battling to start with an "Athlete" - Walker)
CB - Stones
CB - Laporte
LB - Zinchenko

CM - Rodri
CM - Silva
CM - De Bruyne

RW- B. Silva
LW-

ST- Aguero (South American)

Backups - Otamendi(CB) Foden (CM) Angelino (LB) Grimshaw (GK) Bravo (GK)


Liverpool
(2nd Place)

GK - Allison

RB -
CB -
CB -
LB - Roberts

CM - Henderson
CM -
CM -

RW -
LW -

ST -

Backups - Adrian (GK) Lovern (CB) Milner (CM) Lallana (CM) Shaqiri (RW)


Chelsea (3rd Place)

GK - Kepa

RB - Azpilicueta
CB - Christensen
CB -
LB - Alonso

CM - Jorginho
CM - Barkley
CM -

RW - Pedro
LW - Pulisic

ST - Giroud

Backups - Caballero (GK) Zappacosta (LB) Kovacic (CM) Van Ginkel (CM) Mount (CM)


Tottenham
(4th place)

GK - Lloris

RB -
CB - Vertonghen
CB - Alderweireld
LB - Davies

CM - Winks
CM -
CM -

RW- Son (Korean)
LW- Eriksen

ST- Kane

Backups - Gazzaninga (GK) Foyth (RB) Dier (CM) Lo Celso (CM)


Arsenal
(5th Place)

GK - Leno

RB - Bellerin
CB - Mustafi
CB - Sokratiz
LB - Tierney

CM - Xhaka
CM - Torreira (South American)
CM - Ceballos

RW -
LW -

ST -

Backups - Martinez (GK) Holding (CB) Luiz (CB) Monreal (LB) Kolasinac (LB) Mkhitaryan (CM) Guendouzi (CM)


Manchester Utd
(6th Place)

GK - De Gea

RB -
CB - Maguire
CB - Lindelof
LB - Shaw

CM - Matic
CM - Mata
CM -

RW -
LW - James

ST -

Backups - Romero (GK) Jones (CB) Darmian (RB) Dalot (RB) McTominay (CM)
 
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Hello everyone,I still login to check on things.

Its sad that the glory days of the soccer section are long gone,but its always great to see a new poster.

Hello Sean89,glad to see you contributing!
 
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This seems to be all EPL related posts, but Roma to my knowledge is almost completely white and are always a legitimate champions league contender!
 

Sean89

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This seems to be all EPL related posts, but Roma to my knowledge is almost completely white and are always a legitimate champions league contender!

I'll update the other big two leagues when they kick off( Italian, Spanish)

Hello everyone,I still login to check on things.

Its sad that the glory days of the soccer section are long gone,but its always great to see a new poster.

Hello Sean89,glad to see you contributing!

Thanks Philosopher.

Hopefully if we keep it ticking over here, people will gravitate towards .
 

Sean89

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Daniel James is a young player to follow for Man Utd. Speedster with a lot of potential. Scored on his debut, coming off the bench.
 

Sean89

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Norwich striker Pukki enjoying the step up to the big league. Scored in first game and a hat-trick in his second. Speedster Bernard scored the winner for Everton. Kevin de Bruyne picking up where he left off, arguably best player in premier league.

Chelsea play today, hopefully Giroud starts up front.
 
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Great to see a young white speedster.Anyone remember Callum McManaman,man-of-the-match in the FA Cup Final own by Wigan?

And I'm pretty sure Pukki is finnish,I remember seeing him play for Schalke.
 

Sean89

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Yeah, big shock over City that one. He's playing in the championship this year with luton.


Full list of fixtures today in England. Barcelona also playing, while Napoli go to Juventus. Bad news for Juve, Chiellini tore his acl.
 

Shadowlight

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Daniel James is a young player to follow for Man Utd. Speedster with a lot of potential. Scored on his debut, coming off the bench.

Thanks for pointing him out. I made it a point to watch the first half this morning and James, who is only 21, is already my favorite Premier League player. He scored a scorching beauty in the first half, his third in three games. MU ended up in a 1-1 tie though.

But James has wonderful burst and is just brimming with talent. Nice to see a young white star emerge.
 

Sean89

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Ronaldo and Higuain on target for Juventus. Bayern had a big win, Perisic and Pavard scored on debut season for them.

Arsenal play Tottenham today in England, Lazio/Roma in Italy and Villarreal vs Real in Spain.
 

Sean89

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Man City beaten by Norwich yesterday, which wasn't good with Liverpool winning. Pukki was again on the scoresheet though, Aguero and Rodri scored the city Goals. Mason Mount was on the scoresheet for Chelsea, looks like a talent.

Looking around mainland Europe -

Merten with two goals as Napoli won 2-0
Reus with two also in a 4-0 Dortmund win, hopefully he can have an injury free season, oh what could have been!
Lewandowski scored as Bayern were held away to Leipzig
 
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