Might as well start a general Footy/Soccer thread

[From_the_NEK]

US dominated but really lacked on someone that could put it in the net. Lots of weak/miss-hit shots that were easy for the Canadian goalie to save.

[SumJongGuy]

US dominated but really lacked on someone that could put it in the net. Lots of weak/miss-hit shots that were easy for the Canadian goalie to save.

Did you even watch the game?

Ref dismissed a blatant USA handball in the box which blocked a shot.. Should have been a red card and PK 1st half. Too many other calls by the ref to count during regulation ignored US fouls while calling the same shit on Canada.

This was an officiating nightmare for Canada. Game stolen and given to USA. And I'm as big of a USA fan as anyone. That shit was not right..

[From_the_NEK]

I missed the first half. The commentators briefly mentioned something about a possible hand ball earlier in the game.

[JimmyCarter]

Did you even watch the game?

Ref dismissed a blatant USA handball in the box which blocked a shot.. Should have been a red card and PK 1st half. Too many other calls by the ref to count during regulation ignored US fouls while calling the same shit on Canada.

This was an officiating nightmare for Canada. Game stolen and given to USA. And I'm as big of a USA fan as anyone. That shit was not right..

Ref watched the play on VAR for like 5 minutes. He actually said the hand ball happened but there was a foul by Canada before it happened so it negated the hand ball.
Lots of soft calls and non calls against the US too.

[plugboots]

Ref watched the play on VAR for like 5 minutes. He actually said the hand ball happened but there was a foul by Canada before it happened so it negated the hand ball.
Lots of soft calls and non calls against the US too.

This.
For that five minutes Mrs. Plug and I were like: damn that’s definitely a handball, but when they showed the angle of him getting pulled or yanked or whatever, that was the foul…and so no PK.
Both teams were without a lot of good players because their teams wouldn’t release them for this tournament. This will help both teams, going forward, obviously. Anyway a wins a win.

[SumJongGuy]

I saw the pitty pat pushing and tugging., and yes it was for sure happening in the box then. . It happened all game.. They only time the ref paid any attention to that was when provided a loophole to screw Canada out of that PK and probably red card against the US.

[JimmyCarter]

I saw the pitty pat pushing and tugging., and yes it was for sure happening in the box then. . It happened all game.. They only time the ref paid any attention to that was when provided a loophole to screw Canada out of that PK and probably red card against the US.

Does it get called in real time? Probably not. When you see a two handed shove on VAR it’s tough to not call it.

And Canada could easily have been playing short handed the whole second half after the Cavallini tackle.

[Alpinord]

Hand ball calls (and floppy for PKs) are a pet peeve and a lot like some BS rules in golf where a touched ball, mis-marked ball on a green or grounded club, etc where there is truly no advantage by the player can get called and change the results of the contest.

If a player gets pushed and his arm goes in the air to an 'un-natural position' while regaining balance and a ball strikes it, how can it be right to penalize that player or team? Same for jumping in the air for a header. I'd also argue the PK Canada was awarded was simply a result of a natural movement of a player bracing against body contact with another player and the ball went up from a mis-touch by the Canadian player. That is a lot different than when a player blatantly sticks out a hand or arm to block or direct the ball.

That said, there were tons of questionable calls and poor ball control by the US. The sweet go-ahead Canadian goal was a result of poor control. It felt a bit like a stolen win at the expense of the Canadians. The US needs to up their game against Panama. The Trinidad-Tobago game was fun to watch because the US seemed to be gelling with excellent control, ball movement and having a good time as a team.

[EWG]

I went back and watched replays today.

I don't think the studs up tackle was red. Yellow for sure. No ref gives that a straight red without more happening previously in the game.

No way that handball in the box was a red. Did not deny a clear goalscoring opportunity like a breakaway or an empty net. It wasn't a yellow either by definition - was not handled deliberately to prevent the opposing team from gaining possession (or taking a shot).

I agree the called foul during VAR review was soft, and I think the ref could have gone either way on it. The push did not impact play on the ball so could have been left unpunished in real time. However, I believe the VAR rules state that if a foul occurs in buildup prior to the play being reviewed on VAR then that build up foul must be called. So if ref saw a foul there he's required to call it. Having now watched it many times, I'm not convinced there's a clear foul to see there, but I can see why he called it.

So by my read, Canada had a 50/50 chance at a PK there and didn't get it. Relatively fair call either way. But no chance at any card.

USA was better all game and deserved the win, but not overwhelmingly so. Fun, sloppy game if you ask me. Matt Turner, however, is becoming quite good.

[SumJongGuy]

It sure looked like that ball was going to ball was going in the goal with zero chance of a save sans handball. It impacted the outcome of the game.

But, Canada had it in the bag and blew it, ironically in fact..

PK win earned by USA, even with that wild miss.. But it should have never gotten that far, This game was Canada's at the end of regulation.. sans that call..

I'd rather lose to Panama than Mexico but will happily fly the flag out front if we face Mexico again and brag to the neighbors if we beat them AGAIN otro vez hahahahaha..

[Woodsy]

Can someone explain why?
Nice to give the fringe players minutes, but why all at once in THIS tourney?

Can some one explain why we sent pure B/C team to Gold Cup?

[SumJongGuy]

Can some one explain why we sent pure B/C team to Gold Cup?

MSL teams weren't letting the best players go. Not sure why Pulisic's not there tough. He's jet setting around Milan checking out his new digs..

[JimmyCarter]

This team is just painfully unfun to watch.

[Sluff]

1-1!!!

[JimmyCarter]

Great touch on the shot

[SumJongGuy]

Tic Tac Toe finish! One ray of light!

[JimmyCarter]

I’d say they got about what they deserved.

[SumJongGuy]

I’d say they got about what they deserved.

Ya the punk assed passive aggro blocking the opponent's path to the PK spot was embarrassing to Americans. If someone on my rec league U17 team did that they'd be sitting out the next game..

[Alpinord]

Panama looked like a seasoned, cohesive team with pinpoint passes, control, positioning, speed and good anticipation. The US, though with many positive moments and plays, still seem more often than not, like a bunch of guys still trying to figure out how to play together. Still lots of turnovers from 'just off' passes, positioning, decision making, control and shots, slow to react, but generally do seem to improving as an overall team compared to the past. Vazquez was off but the team did fight to the end.

[SumJongGuy]

What an officiating shitshow! Right results but geez, call it right the first time.

[BmillsSkier]

So Arsenal took the MLS All-Stars behind the shed last night to the tune of 5-0.

I didn't watch more than the highlights but I have to wonder how hard anyone really played given it was an All-Star exhibition.

So, is this something that is simply the result of a bunch of guys only together for an All-Star celebration who never play together facing off against a Premier League side that does and getting their ass handed to them, or is this an example of the talent gulf between the leagues?

[JimmyCarter]

So Arsenal took the MLS All-Stars behind the shed last night to the tune of 5-0.

I didn't watch more than the highlights but I have to wonder how hard anyone really played given it was an All-Star exhibition.

So, is this something that is simply the result of a bunch of guys only together for an All-Star celebration who never play together facing off against a Premier League side that does and getting their ass handed to them, or is this an example of the talent gulf between the leagues?

Yes

[BmillsSkier]

Yes

I see. (and agree)

I can see those who like to shit on the MLS using this as uncertain evidence of the inferiority of the league's product (and therefore further assert their preferred league's superiority).

I can see those who like the MLS brushing it off as a bunch of players who have never played together getting together for an exhibition game against a well-established side from a superior league.

[fatnslow]

So Arsenal took the MLS All-Stars behind the shed last night to the tune of 5-0.

I didn't watch more than the highlights but I have to wonder how hard anyone really played given it was an All-Star exhibition.

So, is this something that is simply the result of a bunch of guys only together for an All-Star celebration who never play together facing off against a Premier League side that does and getting their ass handed to them, or is this an example of the talent gulf between the leagues?

MLS=Chinese pro hoops

[plugboots]

I agree, a bunch of guys thrown together, are just not going to beat one of the best teams in the world acting as a cohesive unit.