GDT: 2026 World Cup (of not-hockey)

[harpoon]

The Dutch just pound Sweden. Scoring almost at will. How embarrassing for the Swedes.

 

[Oilhawks]

Very sleepy from Germany so far

 

[Mr Kot]

These games are getting really lopsided lately. Looking forward to more competitive games in the knockout stages

too many shit teams this time around. Either the top players just dont give a shit enough to play well, or the bad teams are just not good enough to make it entertaining.

 

[Oilhawks]

Germany playing Pejorative Slur ball against an underdog. Kind of predictable after they pounded Curacao in their sleep

 

[brentashton]

Germany playing Pejorative Slur ball against an underdog. Kind of predictable after they pounded Curacao in their sleep

Cote d’Ivoire appears to be “coasting” to a win?

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Tournament game I circled as much watch tv. Thoroughly enjoyed the Germany Ivory Coast game. Germany exploits a late game extra time gap to pull this out.

 

[Oilhawks]

Cote d’Ivoire appears to be “coasting” to a win?

That’s why you never “coast”

Tougher match than expected, yes they’re reasonably high ranked but this Germany squad is perhaps somewhat underrated in their rankings now

 

[brentashton]

That’s why you never “coast”

Tougher match than expected, yes they’re reasonably high ranked but this Germany squad is perhaps somewhat underrated in their rankings now

Germany looks strong. But they usually are, correct ?

 

[Cloned]

That’s why you never “coast”

Tougher match than expected, yes they’re reasonably high ranked but this Germany squad is perhaps somewhat underrated in their rankings now

I don’t think Germany does well enough with keeping possession to really challenge for the final four but stranger things have happened.

 

[Oilhawks]

Germany looks strong. But they usually are, correct ?

They severely underachieved in 2018 while defending their 2014 title and have been in a bit of a retool with that golden group aging out. I think they're 'back' so to speak. Definitely not favourites, but should be turning things around

 

[Oilhawks]

I don’t think Germany does well enough with keeping possession to really challenge for the final four but stranger things have happened.

Yeah, this group still isn't as strong as the 2014 core (one of the GOATs in the modern game), but relying on guys like Undav instead of Fullkrug (all do respect, he fill his role) for last minute heroics in tight games is probably a benefit.

 

[brentashton]

They severely underachieved in 2018 while defending their 2014 title and have been in a bit of a retool with that golden group aging out. I think they're 'back' so to speak. Definitely not favourites, but should be turning things around

I’ve never been a watcher. But this year is the first time I’ve spent time watching the WC, sometime 3 of the 4 televised matches in a day.

Man, I am amazed at the athleticism and fast footwork that some of these athletes are capable of. I can’t beleive I never thought this was a sport worth watching.

It sure is.

I just need someone to help me understand the rules, strategy and actions in the field. I watched a game yesterday where guys were “hugging” each other while they were waiting for a corner kick and the ref was unhappy with the activity but I didn’t understand how they could do that without getting a penalty/yellow.

I need to find a YouTube that is Soccer for Dummies and watch it. Appreciate any recommendations to edumacate me…

 

[brentashton]

Leon gave the Germany player (sorry don’t know his name) the POG award. Nice!

 

[brentashton]

Leon gave the Germany player (sorry don’t know his name) the POG award. Nice!

Sorry, Superior player of the match. God they make things difficult with their naming conventions. Soccer?, no it’s football. POG?no it’s Superior player.

At least the FIFA Peace Prize is the same as a Nobel Peace Prize, right?

 

[Drivesaitl]

Very sleepy from Germany so far

Sane shouldn't ever see the pitch again for Germany. Still, Germany punched in 4 goals and FIFA only gives them two. Typical. These were all good goals and the two goals called back changed the match and kind of pissed off the Germans on the field and on the bench. Took awhile to get past that and they did.

Not sure Undav can play 90mins but what finish. The Winning goal so brilliant. Not just finish but how he automatically took that ball down PERFECT, and then slotted home. He does that while a man on him. Doesn't get better than what he did on that play. The telecast never even mentioned how brilliant his first touch on ball was. Absolutely clinical.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Yeah, this group still isn't as strong as the 2014 core (one of the GOATs in the modern game), but relying on guys like Undav instead of Fullkrug (all do respect, he fill his role) for last minute heroics in tight games is probably a benefit.

Its something that in possibly the worst spell of German football I've ever seen in my life they are still topten world ranked. Most Nations in their ebb years don't even contend. Germany the Football superpower are always something to watch.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I feel like going on the mains to see the Germany fear hate and loathing. Nah, the mains Soccer threads are a shitshow just as much as anything there.

The German haters again probably celebrating that Germany conceded a goal. Thats enough for them to dunk.

 

[Drivesaitl]

The Dutch just pound Sweden. Scoring almost at will. How embarrassing for the Swedes.

Buncha Sedins out there. Every Swedish stereotype fits again today.

 

[Cloned]

It isn't just game plan. Finishing and clinical delivery is a skill. Any club good at possession can pass it around the perimeter. Only the better teams can clinically penetrate box and finish well. If finishing was easy everybody would be Germany.

They basically didn’t even attempt a ground pass into the box. For two whole games.

That’s a game plan issue because there’s no way professional soccer players would play 180 minutes and not even try to attack the box on the ground.

 

[Drivesaitl]

They basically didn’t even attempt a ground pass into the box. For two whole games.

That’s a game plan issue because there’s no way professional soccer players would play 180 minutes and not even try to attack the box on the ground.

Oh they tried. They were inept at it. I watched the games. Coaches don't score the goals and they never do.

Except if they sub in Undav. That gets some credit.

 

[EchoesoftheEighties]

Its something that in possibly the worst spell of German football I've ever seen in my life they are still topten world ranked. Most Nations in their ebb years don't even contend. Germany the Football superpower are always something to watch.

I was going to say, this team is a far cry from the Klose, Ozil, Schweinsteiger, Ballack etc days but it's still Germany.

 

[Cloned]

Oh they tried. They were inept at it. I watched the games. Coaches don't score the goals and they never do.

Except if they sub in Undav. That gets some credit.

They attempted a billion crosses. That was their gameplan.

The only ground passes they made were to the wings so they could get another cross in.

It was the most bizarre strategy. Like you are a decent Euro footballing nation, trust your players to make plays on the ground in the box.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I’ve never been a watcher. But this year is the first time I’ve spent time watching the WC, sometime 3 of the 4 televised matches in a day.

Man, I am amazed at the athleticism and fast footwork that some of these athletes are capable of. I can’t beleive I never thought this was a sport worth watching.

It sure is.

I just need someone to help me understand the rules, strategy and actions in the field. I watched a game yesterday where guys were “hugging” each other while they were waiting for a corner kick and the ref was unhappy with the activity but I didn’t understand how they could do that without getting a penalty/yellow.

I need to find a YouTube that is Soccer for Dummies and watch it. Appreciate any recommendations to edumacate me…

Welcome to the converted. My Dad Converted me around 1974. On time for a German WC win. Seen 3 so far in a lifetime which is seldom seen by fans of any nation in their entire lifespan. Thats another thing that is so legend about WC drama, only every 4yrs.

Did you play Brent? I played football so have an appreciation that way as well. I was a somewhat defender, truth be told. I'd bring some hockey to Soccer when I played. haha

Like I said Earlier Football is one game where the game gets so much more entertaining to see when the highest talent and skill is on the pitch. Just to see their plays on the ball, moves, first touch, athleticism on the ground and in the air. Going up to head a ball is one of the hardest things in sports. Can dangerously knock heads, fall hard to pitch, and no time to hang around you gotta get up. Its a much more physical sport than detractors like to say. Hard on the lungs and legs too.

 

[Drivesaitl]

They attempted a billion crosses. That was their gameplan.

The only ground passes they made were to the wings so they could get another cross in.

It was the most bizarre strategy. Like you are a decent Euro footballing nation, trust your players to make plays on the ground in the box.

I dunno Cloned. They had the ball around the box a lot dribbling all over passing it around. All their passes work until they try to service box, which they're hopeless at.

 

[Kyle McMahon]

Its plausible that as many as 6 teams, maybe more, finish with zero pts. As stated others will finish with 1 or 2 pts, its a given. What this will mean is several slots will be teams with 3pts and with as I stated Goal differential is important. Scotland keep a tidy close match against Brazil and they still advance and on merit of how they've played maybe deserve to. Scotland were all over Morocco in 2nd half.

In this WC few teams have been pumping goals. Ecuador may not either. Theres been a lot of supposed blowouts that have been 1-1 games in this WC.

The 0 point teams will finish 4th in their groups mate, not 3rd, they don't matter. Most groups still have a pretty reasonable path to producing a 1-1-1 3rd place team...not all of them will, but if 6/12 groups do, that only leaves room for two 3-point qualifiers. Scotland isn't out with a tight loss, but they'd need a favourable out of town scoreboard.