U.S. & International Soccer

That was amazing. As I’ve said, I’m not the biggest soccer fan, but I could watch highlights of soccer goals all day long. :dup:

Russia did the one thing you absolutely can't do against Spain, give up an early goal.

Pique with a big error. Russia back in it!

I would rather watch cement cure on a day like this past Friday and without my iPhone to keep me somewhat occupied before I would watch NASCAR.

If you have 0 subs left and a player has an injury and cannot continue can you sub a player in or are you down a man.

Down a man.

However, I think if the game goes to extra time, in the World Cup, you're allowed a 4th sub at that point.

Spain are so talented, but they are far from the most entertaining team in the world...

[media] https://twitter.com/rogbennett/status/1013447510713683968 [/media]

I will be about 0.4% surprised if it comes out after this World Cup that Russian players were doping.

If every player on Russia was doping and they win the World Cup, there’s a 0.0% chance they care.

Wowwww!

What a fucking crazy tournament

They just said: 3rd biggest World Cup upset by FIFA Rankings, biggest ever in the knockouts.

Surely one of the biggest victories in Russian sporting history, right?

A knock out stage game should not be decided on PK's. It's like the Stanley Cup Playoffs or Finals having a SO after the 1st OT.

In soccer you just have to. It sucks, but you have to. Once the players are so exhausted, some games could go on for hours.

Spain losing really opens the door for Croatia.

The amount of indignation and whining to the refs from these players is off the charts. It's like every one is Draymond Green...

I'm guessing the winner on the England/Columbia game will lose the final.

Holy shit!

That guy who was supposed to be given the red will now score the game winner in penalties. That’s just the way it goes.

Croatia: “Ball don’t lie”

Rules were changed recently. It's up to interpretation whether he had an opportunity to play the ball or not I guess. It wasn't a cynical foul though IMO.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10242286/ifab-anounces-law-changes-softening-rules-on-fouls-in-the-penalty-area

I’m at a taproom so the volume was down. Did they explain why a red card wasn’t issued there? It seemed to me it should have been one

Yeah that seemed like a definite red to me.

http://theifab.com/laws/fouls-and-misconduct-2018/chapters/disciplinary-action-2018: Where a player commits an offense against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offense was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off.

With the rule change, a straight red to me would be a push or a handball or clip of the back heel type of offense. I thought he slid between his legs trying to play the ball. Like Border Gopher said, I didn't think it was cynical.

http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/8a37a30508588bfee933d505ed7d135 5"><img class="go2wpf-bbcode" src=" https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/t_NhXEDYl5T2yE8B4cO._g--~A/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9ODAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/8a37a30508588bfee933d505ed7d135 5" alt="">

based on that explanation i can agree with it. He actually did make a good attempt at it

Woo!

That's embarrassing from guess who

Gaaaaame

Lol. Death, taxes, and Mexico losing their first knockout match.

Landon Donovan must be so devastated right now.

¡Landon, que bien!

Omg

Wtf is happening in this tournament, Good Lord

Hardest lead to hold in soccer...all tied up!

That was bat $hit crazy. What a match.

I keep saying it, but what an unreal tournament! Crazy!

Four of the top five teams in the world make up one half of the bracket.

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/8vjhtz/neymar_rolling_around_in_pain_after_getting/

I just can't root for Brazil because of this guy. My god...

5 of the top 7

2. Brazil

3. Belgium

4. Portugal

5. Argentina

7. France

14. Uruguay

15. Mexico

61. Japan

Other side:

6. Switzerland

10. Spain

12. Denmark

12. England

16. Colombia

20. Croatia

24. Sweden

70. Russia

Elo ratings, which are better

Average rank of 14 vs. 20.

Another thing to consider is their form corning into the tournament. Spain, and Denmark were playing quite well and does anyone want to play Switzerland, Sweden or Croatia?

Yes everyone wants to play them instead of Brazil France Uruguay or Belgium

Nice job Sweden as a neutral between those two you're waaaaay less douchey than Switzerland

The passing by the Swiss was just off all night. Sweden I think has the better form right now but the Swiss sure didn't help themselves.

What's a good site for ELO. I briefly tried to find them on fivethirteight, but couldn't.

<a href=" https://www.eloratings.net /" class="bbcode_url"> https://www.eloratings.net/

So, this probably should go in the "Stupid Questions" thread, but I took a quick look through the list and didn't see China. I knew soccer was probably a very low priority for them, but I thought pretty much everyone had a national team.

Number 72