All threads are temporary. This one's about soccer.

[wlu_lax6]

Apple TV may be getting the Club World Cup TV Rights.

[P.D.X.]

fuck

[degenerasian]

Soccer is just becoming inaccessible. Eventually the World Cup will be on Amazon or something.

Now I watch curling, it's free.

[Brontoburglar]

uh, soccer is the most accessible it's ever been in the united states

[degenerasian]

uh, soccer is the most accessible it's ever been in the united states

It's the reverse here in Canada

Champions League and EPL were on network tv between 1990s and 2015. Now it's all on Fubo and DAZN.

TSN still holds the rights for international soccer but don't know for how long.

[P.D.X.]

Isn't it the same as any other sport? There are a few 'free' (OTA) matches every week but then paid options for superfans beyond that?

Yes, you can watch niche sports for free because market size differences.

[degenerasian]

Isn't it the same as any other sport? There are a few 'free' (OTA) matches every week but then paid options for superfans beyond that?

Yes, you can watch niche sports for free because market size differences.

In Canada anyways, soccer is the one that's gone the most to paid options. Even the Canadian national team and CSL is on Onesoccer paid subscription. Tennis, Golf, Rugby and F1 for example are still free.

[Nonlinear FC]

While it's inarguable that in the States we've never had more access to soccer on all fronts... It's getting pretty spread out on all these platforms.

Apple, Peacock, Paramount+, ESPN+ and Max (for national team games.) CBS Sports covers some of the turf that Paramount+ covers for obvious reasons, but only a few select games.

[degenerasian]

I've been watching the Asian U23s (Olympic qualifiers) and there have been a ton of red cards. I believe 10 in the group stage and now one in the first quarterfinal. FIFA's VAR system really judges things right to the letter of the law.

Today



What says you? Is the keeper kicking the player or is the player in the keeper's normal landing path?

[Nonlinear FC]

That's a red.

ETA - That's not what you're taught to do. You're taught to bring that knee up to protect you from being run into. You're not taught to kick out like that... For this very reason. When you bring you knee up, you can "legally" deck someone that is running into you. But that guy wasn't threatening the keeper and he kicked him anyways.

[degenerasian]

That's a red.

ETA - That's not what you're taught to do. You're taught to bring that knee up to protect you from being run into. You're not taught to kick out like that... For this very reason. When you bring you knee up, you can "legally" deck someone that is running into you. But that guy wasn't threatening the keeper and he kicked him anyways.

I agree. However, this would never been called without VAR. The ref (and I think all refs would) originally give this a yellow card. So kind of foreshadowing for future tournaments, Euros, Copa, World Cup, this is how it's being called.

[The Sybian]

That's a red.

ETA - That's not what you're taught to do. You're taught to bring that knee up to protect you from being run into. You're not taught to kick out like that... For this very reason. When you bring you knee up, you can "legally" deck someone that is running into you. But that guy wasn't threatening the keeper and he kicked him anyways.

I agree, really looked like he was kicking out to hit the player. It's possible he was trying to generate power on the header, but he still went outside the normal range to kick an opponent. If it's not intentional, it's still a yellow.

[Nonlinear FC]

I would've been fine with a yellow, btw. I think the Japanese player made a bit of a meal out of that, tbh.

[degenerasian]

I would've been fine with a yellow, btw. I think the Japanese player made a bit of a meal out of that, tbh.

This is what I mean. It was originally a yellow and most people would have been fine with that. The Japanese weren't complaining, they were setting up their free kick and then suddenly the ref gets called over.

VAR is supposed to correct obvious 100% mistakes but now it's turned an interpretation tool.

[Nonlinear FC]

Yeah, agreed.

What bugs me the most about VAR is that when you slow down footage to a frame by frame viewing, EVERYTHING* looks like a serious foul/infraction. I don't mind freeze framing offsides and handballs, but fouls should mostly be viewed in real time mode.

[The Sybian]

Yeah, agreed.

What bugs me the most about VAR is that when you slow down footage to a frame by frame viewing, EVERYTHING* looks like a serious foul/infraction. I don't mind freeze framing offsides and handballs, but fouls should mostly be viewed in real time mode.

Agree with all of this. I was thinking there was no call prior to VAR. If they call a yellow, let it stand. Like I said, it looks bad in slow motion, but I don't think you can say there was clear intent.

[degenerasian]

Qatar got it to extra time but the 10 men ran out of gas, Japan wins 4-2.

Crucial set of quarterfinals as there are 3.5 Olympic spots up for grabs. 4th place in this tournament has a playoff against Guinea on May 9 and the winner of that goes into USA's group.

Qatar vs Japan
Indonesia vs South Korea
Uzbekistan vs Saudi Arabia
Iraq vs Vietnam

Indonesia just took the lead! Game is on the AFC youtube channel

[degenerasian]

now THAT is a red card, also had to be given by VAR.



10 men Korea equalized though, it's 2-2 going to extra time.

[degenerasian]

match is insane..

penalty shootout, first 9 shots made. Indonesia misses 10th shot, re-taken due to keeper's toe off the line. Retaken shot is made

11th shot missed
12th shot missed
13th shot made
14th shot made

....

Edit:

15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th shots made. Including the keepers.

Now back the top...

.....

Indonesia wins on the 24th shot! Upset is complete!

There will be no South Korea in the Olympics for the first time since 1984.

[Nonlinear FC]

Indonesia??

*checks FIFA rankings*

134

Wowsers.

[degenerasian]

Indonesia have 1 Olympic soccer appearance in their history, 1956 in Melbourne.

Now they have 3 shots at it, a semifinal win, 3rd place win, or a playoff win.
This is what made the quarterfinals today and tomorrow huge.

[wlu_lax6]

Two massive retirements from football.
Marta retiring from Brazil.
and
Davo finally admitting he does not have time for MiB. Stepping back from the enterprise.

[DaveInSeattle]

Davo finally admitting he does not have time for MiB. Stepping back from the enterprise.

Just posted about that in the Podcasts thread.

Its been pretty clear that he has too much on his plate. He hasn't been on the main podcast in a while...Rory Smith (from the NY Times) has been filling in.

[degenerasian]

more VAR, is this foot offside? Goal was called back.

[Shirley]

Yes, that foot is offside. I don't like that rule though.

[Nonlinear FC]

As I've rambled many times, the rule is going to change, hopefully prior to the 2026 WC. They were piloting the switch in some leagues, but I don't know where things have gone from the pilot stage.

[wlu_lax6]

From the conversation that only nonlinear cares about
W&L over Colorado College in PKs to go to the final four. 2nd trip in 3.years. Also keeper broke the career shutout record set by a kid a year behind me.

Others going to Salem
St Olaf
Washington College
Amherst

St. Olaf over WAC

W&L down 2-1 with 14 to play.

It is a shame they are playing on turf (F' Roanoke). Bouncy ball and slick field is making this less skillful than these teams are.

Yeah, this year's tourney was WILD. Hopkins had a truly crazy game in the first round, scoring 2 goals in the final 6 minutes to tie Babson, then Babson goes up a goal in OT only for Hopkins to score 2 to advance.

But, yeah, other than Amherst, those are 3 pretty random teams to make the F4. W&L the least random, as they've been bouncing around the Top 20 all year. Pretty sure that is the first natty in any sport for St. Olaf and that's definitely the farthest WC has gone in soccer.

(Hopkins beat the Shorepeople twice this year, so it's also weird from that highly parochial vantage.)

Generals head coach stepped down after 10 great years ....to take the women's job at Goucher.

[Nonlinear FC]

His wife got a new job in Baltimore and he said "it was my turn to take one for the team career-wise."

But, yes, it's wild that a guy that built a national contender had to step away from the program. Goes to show how little (relatively speaking) those folks get paid.

[wlu_lax6]

His wife got a new job in Baltimore and he said "it was my turn to take one for the team career-wise."

But, yes, it's wild that a guy that built a national contender had to step away from the program. Goes to show how little (relatively speaking) those folks get paid.

Think there is a little bit more about the story (probably no different than others). One of the volunteer assistants is a classmate/friend. My buddy says the applicant pool has been pretty strong for the gig.

And yes Lexington may not be the best place to raise kids (public school system forces lots of faculty to send kids to boarding options), but you are not getting run out for wins and losses. You get good budget and facilities for a d3 school. The best thing is the faculty benefit of tuition coverage for your kids at W&L and other places.

[A_B]

His wife got a new job in Baltimore and he said "it was my turn to take one for the team career-wise."

But, yes, it's wild that a guy that built a national contender had to step away from the program. Goes to show how little (relatively speaking) those folks get paid.

Think there is a little bit more about the story (probably no different than others). One of the volunteer assistants is a classmate/friend. My buddy says the applicant pool has been pretty strong for the gig.

And yes Lexington may not be the best place to raise kids (public school system forces lots of faculty to send kids to boarding options), but you are not getting run out for wins and losses. You get good budget and facilities for a d3 school. The best thing is the faculty benefit of tuition coverage for your kids at W&L and other places.

Not the word I'd use.

[wlu_lax6]

His wife got a new job in Baltimore and he said "it was my turn to take one for the team career-wise."

But, yes, it's wild that a guy that built a national contender had to step away from the program. Goes to show how little (relatively speaking) those folks get paid.

Think there is a little bit more about the story (probably no different than others). One of the volunteer assistants is a classmate/friend. My buddy says the applicant pool has been pretty strong for the gig.

And yes Lexington may not be the best place to raise kids (public school system forces lots of faculty to send kids to boarding options), but you are not getting run out for wins and losses. You get good budget and facilities for a d3 school. The best thing is the faculty benefit of tuition coverage for your kids at W&L and other places.

Not the word I'd use.

Fair point...

[Nonlinear FC]

I mean, I'm sure there's a ton more to the story, I'm just getting that from his interview with the D3 soccer guy called Simple Coach.

[wlu_lax6]

Welcome to Aguascalientes
or
Bienvenido a aguascalientes
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/ ... axa-source

[P.D.X.]

Jeez, Wilfred Nancy knows how to win in Mexico. 3-1 over Monterrey puts the Crew in the Concacaf final vs Pachuca.

[degenerasian]

Asian U23. Japan, Uzbekistan and Iraq qualify for the Olympics.

It'll be Indonesia vs Guinea in a playoff next Thursday in Paris for the final spot and will go into Group A with France, USA and New Zealand.

[wlu_lax6]

I mean, I'm sure there's a ton more to the story, I'm just getting that from his interview with the D3 soccer guy called Simple Coach.

Our Women's basketball coach just resigned too. 12 years as the head coach taking a team that was WAY below 500 to NCAA quarterfinalist this year (after reaching the tourney last year).

[Nonlinear FC]

Asian U23. Japan, Uzbekistan and Iraq qualify for the Olympics.

It'll be Indonesia vs Guinea in a playoff next Thursday in Paris for the final spot and will go into Group A with France, USA and New Zealand.

Unless New Zealand is sneaky good, US really should come out of that group without too much hassle.

[degenerasian]

Asian U23. Japan, Uzbekistan and Iraq qualify for the Olympics.

It'll be Indonesia vs Guinea in a playoff next Thursday in Paris for the final spot and will go into Group A with France, USA and New Zealand.

Unless New Zealand is sneaky good, US really should come out of that group without too much hassle.

Yeah, i don't know how they do rankings or seed the teams but New Zealand is the Pot 2 team, USA Pot 3. But that's only because New Zealand practically get automatic qualification to everything.

France, Spain and Argentina are probably the favorites. Brazil and Germany did not qualify. Lots of new teams as well, such as Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Israel and Indonesia/Guinea.