World Cup 2026 Thread

[Sir Sanders Zingmore]

That's just too much sh*t to carry for a kid. Everything happened way over his head. That would have fueled the controversy x10 and his name would have been associated with it forever, impacting his international carreer and mental strenght. Unthinkable.

I suspect he'd never have played in the USA again but would've been snapped up by any number of European clubs.
Anyway, just hypotheticals of course.
I hope I'm wrong but sadly I think he's probably already going to carry this with him for the rest of his career

 

[Soundproof]

I suspect he'd never have played in the USA again but would've been snapped up by any number of European clubs.
Anyway, just hypotheticals of course.
I hope I'm wrong but sadly I think he's probably already going to carry this with him for the rest of his career

Kind of looks like a matter where his name sticks to the scandal, whereas the scandal won't stick to the kid. Haven't come across any tough critisism of him, the flak aims at FIFA.

 

[Mort]

Not worked up at all, and the analogy is quite to the point, admittedly nasty as it is and as pointed out.

And you get ignored

 

[Chr1]

... It'd be a wonder if there are any threads still comprehensible to Mort these days...Must be half the members here are now ignored by him.
Myself included. Lol.

Back on topic. I reckon Trump has stupidly tarnished US Soccer and world sport in general. Dude definitely has a knack for such. Most unfortunate.
As to FIFA. WTF. Hopefully it will eventually lead to some kind of clean up. I won't be holding my breath though.

 

[Soundproof]

And you get ignored

Much obliged, I'll return the favour immediately. I am comfortable with my ethical and moral compass, and I will not allow it being tamperede with.

Here's a tip for you: Start focusing at the arguments presented in the discussion and provide counterarguments rather than - in this case - me, who present them.
Or perhaps just fight corruption.... You are not bestowed with any moral or ethical superiority or authority over me or anyone else.

No point answering this. Obviously. All the best to you.

 

[Soundproof]

... It'd be a wonder if there are any threads still comprehensible to Mort these days...Must be half the members here now ignored by him.
Myself included. Lol.

Back on topic. I reckon Trump has stupidly tarnished US Soccer and world sport in general. Dude definitely has a knack for such. Most unfortunate.
As to FIFA. WTF. Hopefully it will lead to some kind of clean up. I won't be holding my breath though.

In my opinion corruption and other wrongdoings can only take place if tolerated by society. Someone will always try. In this case it's the job of the board/convention of FIFA to remove those corrupted. Trump is a matter for american voters. Others just have to deal with it best they can.

 

[Soundproof]

Anyway, I've said my piece about Fifia and will not be following the rest of the championship, thus I excuse my self from this discussion.

All the best to the surviving teams, their fans and lovers of football

 

[Karmacoma]

Anyway, I've said my piece about Fifia and will not be following the rest of the championship,

Can i ask why? Just when things become spicy

 

[Keith_W]

I said in another thread that Haaland is going viral in China. He leaned into his popularity in China and recorded a few videos thanking Chinese fans and speaking Norwegian accented Mandarin. His popularity has exploded. Here are a few screen caps from my Wechat feed. All these popped up within a space of a few minutes.

They call him 哈宝 (Ha Bao) which translates to "Ha Baby". The chinese character 哈 is the same character as "laughter". So we might go "hahaha", the Chinese would write it as "哈哈哈".

Anyway can we please leave all the politics aside? Let's just enjoy the WC.

 

[Karmacoma]

I said in another thread that Haaland is going viral in China. He leaned into his popularity in China and recorded a few videos thanking Chinese fans and speaking Norwegian accented Mandarin. His popularity has exploded. Here are a few screen caps from my Wechat feed. All these popped up within a space of a few minutes.

They call him 哈宝 (Ha Bao) which translates to "Ha Baby". The chinese character 哈 is the same character as "laughter". So we might go "hahaha", the Chinese would write it as "哈哈哈".

Anyway can we please leave all the politics aside? Let's just enjoy the WC.

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Reminded me he's one of the best real-life "boo" lookalike

 

[Timcognito]

Hey, wait nobody said, "who wants to play Belgium, Now?" After that much hype and that strong a victory, they got their mojo working, as we used to say back in the day.

 

[Chr1]

Haaland is definitely a rather awesome goal machine.

I'm in Scotland. Reckon if all the Vikings were built thus back in the day, the Picts would've just dropped all weapons and run for the hills!

(Jeez if I was a defender, I would. Dudes a beast.)

 

[Soundproof]

Can i ask why? Just when things become spicy

Because the discussion has taken this as far as this kind of discussion can go in this kind of forum and it is well into repeat. The positions are known, the truths seem pretty close to fact, thus are unlikely to evolve any further. Would argue everyone have enough info to make up their mind.

As for leaving, I kind of knew I would loose interest the minute the player entered the pitch against Belgium, have stopped following the games and the news, there is no point commenting something I'm not interested in.

I'm with Keith on this one, have fun with football instead.

 

[Chr1]

Surely we can have fun... Plus bitch and moan at the same time tho?

All good. No harm, no foul.
Lord knows it would be a tad more problematic if America had won.

No need to leave I would suggest.

 

[Karmacoma]

Hey, wait nobody said, "who wants to play Belgium, Now?" After that much hype and that strong a victory, they got their mojo working, as we used to say back in the day.

Well team USA were only the shadow of themselves, and of the 4 goals of Belgium, 2 were silly mistakes. Belgium is a good team, but they're at the end of a cycle and I think Spain will beat them.

 

[Timcognito]

Well team USA were only the shadow of themselves, and of the 4 goals of Belgium, 2 were silly mistakes. Belgium is a good team, but they're at the end of a cycle and I think Spain will beat them.

I wouldn't bet on it. Momentum is not just powerful thing in physics.

 

[Karmacoma]

I wouldn't bet on it. Momentum is not just powerful thing in physics.

Spain has its own momentum, Portugal is on another level than USA

 

[Keith_W]

Reminded me he's one of the best real-life "boo" lookalike

Haha, yes That reminds me of the 2002 World Cup. I watched it with my boss, who was a mad football fan. He was normally so stern, I have never seen him jump and scream like that. Then Ronaldinho came on wearing his trademark silly grin ...

He said "look at this guy, he looks so harmless doesn't he".

 

[Timcognito]

Spain has its own momentum, Portugal is on another level than USA

Take it to the casino. "One test is worth a thousand expert opinions."

 

[Chr1]

Got my picture taken with him when visiting the Camp Nou back in the day...

Actually, the museum giftshop had a lifesize cutout and charged five euro for a printed photo.
(WTF. Pre Photoshop days...Old, moi? Ahem.)