English! What if US wins June 12?

[Bella Fortuna]

Aren't there any car bumpers to observe rust-progression on instead?

Mine, for one. It's got a nice spot on the front that I haven't gotten around to sanding and spraypainting.

Scoot over, then. I'm here for the long haul.

[RuleBritannia]

So how do you win at this game? Does the ball go into a little hole in the ground? A net? Is the net on the ground, or is it a little one, high up in the air? Are there horses?

Well, from the English Premier League games I've watched, two teams slog onto a wet field and play soccer for a period of time, on average about 40 minutes, until one of them scores a goal by kicking the ball into the net of the opposing team. The team that scores the goal, then puts all 11 of its players into defensive roles and the ball is traded back and forth among players for the remaining 50 minutes or so. The game ends 1-0, absent extraordinary circumstances.

Yup. You've just confirmed to me that I still have absolutely zero interest in sports.

So, how many people watch this thing going on?

Several billion.

[Wumbologist]

Several billion.

And here people talk about nuclear annihilation being a bad thing.

[Coito ergo sum]

We're at least good enough to make it into the 32 team World Cup competition regularly...

Because you get to play the likes of Aruba, Guatemala and Haiti during qualifying. Meanwhile European teams have to pretty much play all the best teams in the world just to get to the World Cup.

I was wondering how the teams the US plays in qualifying compare to other divisions. I have to say, though, that I wold expect the central american and Mexican teams to be much better than the US. Soccer is an afterthought in the US - it's their biggest sport south of the Rio Grande.

[Coito ergo sum]

Aren't there any car bumpers to observe rust-progression on instead?

Mine, for one. It's got a nice spot on the front that I haven't gotten around to sanding and spraypainting.

Scoot over, then. I'm here for the long haul.

There are other things you can do for someone watching the game, even if you didn't want to watch it: snacks, beer, the occasional....

[maiforpeace]

I don't see you on the list Coito.

http://rationalia.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... up#p480768

[RuleBritannia]

We're at least good enough to make it into the 32 team World Cup competition regularly...

Because you get to play the likes of Aruba, Guatemala and Haiti during qualifying. Meanwhile European teams have to pretty much play all the best teams in the world just to get to the World Cup.

I was wondering how the teams the US plays in qualifying compare to other divisions. I have to say, though, that I wold expect the central american and Mexican teams to be much better than the US. Soccer is an afterthought in the US - it's their biggest sport south of the Rio Grande.

Mexico have been historically better than the US, they've had a dip in recent years. As for the other Central American and Caribbean teams, football maybe popular (although cricket is #1 in most English speaking Caribbean), they do lack two things the US has; a large population, and money.

[Feck]

If England lose to the Merkins then the Scottish will be unbearable for months ......still if England win the Cup the English will be unbearable for the next 40 years.

[Coito ergo sum]

We're at least good enough to make it into the 32 team World Cup competition regularly...

Because you get to play the likes of Aruba, Guatemala and Haiti during qualifying. Meanwhile European teams have to pretty much play all the best teams in the world just to get to the World Cup.

I was wondering how the teams the US plays in qualifying compare to other divisions. I have to say, though, that I wold expect the central american and Mexican teams to be much better than the US. Soccer is an afterthought in the US - it's their biggest sport south of the Rio Grande.

Mexico have been historically better than the US, they've had a dip in recent years. As for the other Central American and Caribbean teams, football maybe popular (although cricket is #1 in most English speaking Caribbean), they do lack two things the US has; a large population, and money.

Well, there's one thing soccer never needed much of was money (e.g. Brazil and Argentina). Nevertheless, those are advantages the US can use, for sure. It's easier for the few players we do have that are good, want to play, and don't want to go to a different sport, to get discovered.

Nevertheless, when I heard about that Colombian dude getting murdered for an own goal, I realized just how seriously non-Americans are liable to take this sport. I can imagine it being Russian Roulette with all the big names -- Brazil, France, Germany, England, Italy, Spain, Czech Rep., Netherlands, Argentina, and a few others - who of the world leaders will be the first to drop a World Cup game to the US? It is a distinct possibility to happen eventually as the US continues to improve. I couldn't imagine being a player on one of those powerhouse teams and having to fly home after that.....

[Rum]

Odd English phenomenon going on at the moment. The English are almost embarrassed normally to fly the English flag (which looks like this - its the George Cross and is the central bit of the Union Flag).



The symbol has been somewhat hijacked - or maybe people believe it has - by the far right here.

All of a sudden however it has been 'claimed back' by ordinary people. Now I am no patriot at all really, but I think this is a good thing at this point. The are flying everywhere at the moment.

Of course if Merica wins, they will all be down in a minute flat.

[Coito ergo sum]

Odd English phenomenon going on at the moment. The English are almost embarrassed normally to fly the English flag (which looks like this - its the George Cross and is the central bit of the Union Flag).



The symbol has been somewhat hijacked - or maybe people believe it has - by the far right here.

All of a sudden however it has been 'claimed back' by ordinary people. Now I am no patriot at all really, but I think this is a good thing at this point. The are flying everywhere at the moment.

Of course if Merica wins, they will all be down in a minute flat.

Does anyone express any doubts or nervousness about the game? Is there anyone over there in Angle-Land sneezing at the US?

[Rum]

Odd English phenomenon going on at the moment. The English are almost embarrassed normally to fly the English flag (which looks like this - its the George Cross and is the central bit of the Union Flag).



The symbol has been somewhat hijacked - or maybe people believe it has - by the far right here.

All of a sudden however it has been 'claimed back' by ordinary people. Now I am no patriot at all really, but I think this is a good thing at this point. The are flying everywhere at the moment.

Of course if Merica wins, they will all be down in a minute flat.

Does anyone express any doubts or nervousness about the game? Is there anyone over there in Angle-Land sneezing at the US?

The English lack confidence in most things so yes - nervousness. Losing an empire does that to you. However it will be a miracle if the USA wins. They are, having said that, a better team than they have ever been.

[Clinton Huxley]

I'm anticipating the usual formula - all the pre tournament hype will evaporate as England limp through the group stage like a 3-legged arthritic donkey and then get knocked out in the first round of the knockout stage. Stupid footballers, or "borderline rapists" as Bill Bailey calls 'em.

[Coito ergo sum]

Odd English phenomenon going on at the moment. The English are almost embarrassed normally to fly the English flag (which looks like this - its the George Cross and is the central bit of the Union Flag).



The symbol has been somewhat hijacked - or maybe people believe it has - by the far right here.

All of a sudden however it has been 'claimed back' by ordinary people. Now I am no patriot at all really, but I think this is a good thing at this point. The are flying everywhere at the moment.

Of course if Merica wins, they will all be down in a minute flat.

Does anyone express any doubts or nervousness about the game? Is there anyone over there in Angle-Land sneezing at the US?

The English lack confidence in most things so yes - nervousness. Losing an empire does that to you. However it will be a miracle if the USA wins. They are, having said that, a better team than they have ever been.

Whatever happened to that pugnacious English attitude? And, all that: "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more, or close the wall up with our English dead!" What happened to that swagger?

You English are starting to sound suspiciously like Canadians....

[Wumbologist]

Whatever happened to that pugnacious English attitude? And, all that: "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more, or close the wall up with our English dead!" What happened to that swagger?

You English are starting to sound suspiciously like Canadians....

Or *gasp* Frenchmen.