General Soccer Thread

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I never knew that you were allowed to stop your motion during a penalty kick.

It's like a pitching motion. You can be as herky jerky as you want as long as something is moving even a little bit.

[robbotis]

Why are Ecuador, Costa Rica and Mexico in the tournament but not the U.S.? Is it geography or qualifying?

Mexico sent their B squad, but they were all suspended, so now it's their C squad.
They'll be lucky to advance out of the group.

[G. Keenan]

Geen! What's the buzz on the ground like for Copa America?

Peeps are buzzin, fo sho. Unfortunately for me only one of the games is being played in Buenos Aires, the final, and at the moment there is scuttlebutt about whether it will be allowed to go ahead as scheduled at La Monumental. It's been closed since the River debacle on Sunday and there is talk that it won't be reopened in time. The owners are under investigation for possibly selling too many tickets last Sunday and of course the whole stadium and the surrounding area is sort of a crime scene after the riots. That said, somebody will pay somebody a Diego* and the final will be at Monumental, no doubt. Everyone expects it to be Argentina vs. Brazil.

Argentinians are eager for Messi to break out and play for the national team like he plays for Barcelona. They love the guy of course, but that's the knock against him.

*A 10 Peso note is called a Diego because Maradona wore number 10. So is a 10% kickback, or bribe. Like, if a friend helps you sell your car you might give him a Diego as thanks. Brilliant.

[MrSaigon]

We lost again, but:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068FEa5V ... r_embedded][/youtube]

[thrill]

Yeah that was [expletive]. The Najar goal v Philly was one of the goals of the year but it won't even win goal of the week.

[stlouie_lipp]

We lost again, but:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068FEa5V ... r_embedded][/youtube]

that is pretty impressive.

[thrill]

Vote for that goal to be the best of the best on that unbearably awful Colin Cowherd vehicle, SPORTS NATION: http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/polls

[thrill]

Global reaction to the Nagbe goal: http://www.mls-rumors.net/17659/2011/07 ... oes-global

[MrSaigon]

I had my 12 year-old nephew at the game and had to apologize and ask him kindly not to tell his mother about the language I used after that goal.

Seattle this weekend. You all should watch at least the opening (ESPN 2) to see what the Timbers Army does for this occasion. I was only able to get a single ticket, so I'll be going to a sporting event alone for the first time ever.

Here's what Seattle did when we played up there in May:

[SHOW]

[thrill]

The fact that Roger Levesque looks exactly like my brother in law brings me all kinds of joy.