Support NeoGAF

[Acorn]

Thank god I don't have to see dempsey's miserable face again. He really is a sour faced cunt isn't he?

I'd be pissed if my nose was broken every year too to be fair.

 

[Tabasco]

I looked at this prediction bracket online and it showed that Brazil will win the tournament.

It seems like it hasn't been wrong about a match so far.

 

[silver.tongue]

What's everyone's favorite matches so far?

Mine are, in no particular order:

1. Netherlands vs Spain
2. Mexico vs Brazil
3. Germany vs Ghana
4. USA vs Belgium
5. Germany vs Algeria

Dude, Brazil x Chile?

That shit is forever.

 

[Fox318]

I'm depressed

 

[chicko1983]

This is a good post, and it's something the English have been really slow to catch on to too.

Yeah, you hear most of the Aussie coaches now telling their players to only go overseas if it's to get match time and if it's in a good development league like Belgium, holland, Germany or Spain. The Aussie coaches have realised that development is stunted somewhat at English academies as they are not as focused on the technique and tactical improvement but more on results.

Also, the amount of FIFA qualified coaches is another aspect. England has relatively few compared to France, Spain, and Germany. This is another reason the football federation of Australia has made it mandatory for Aussie coaches (even junior club coaches) to get FIFA qualified (obviously not to the same level as top flight managers).

Australia has learnt a lot from the Dutch, the technical director has been Dutch since the league restarted eight years ago. Their philosophy is small sided games, focus on performance not result for any level below senior level, have as many qualified coaches as possible.

From all reports of our youngsters overseas and at home, the 2018 socceroos team should be very entertaining to watch, similar to Belgium now I hope. That is the aim anyway.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

Yeah, you hear most of the Aussie coaches now telling their players to only go overseas if it's to get match time and if it's in a good development league like Belgium, holland, Germany or Spain. The Aussie coaches have realised that development is stunted somewhat at English academies as they are not as focused on the technique and tactical improvement but more on results.

Also, the amount of FIFA qualified coaches is another aspect. England has relatively few compared to France, Spain, and Germany. This is another reason the football federation of Australia has made it mandatory for Aussie coaches (even junior club coaches) to get FIFA qualified (obviously not to the same level as top flight managers).

Australia has learnt a lot from the Dutch, the technical director has been Dutch since the league restarted eight years ago. Their philosophy is small sided games, focus on performance not result for any level below senior level, have as many qualified coaches as possible.

From all reports of our youngsters overseas and at home, the 2018 socceroos team should be very entertaining to watch, similar to Belgium now I hope. That is the aim anyway.

It also helps that you never have to worry about qualification.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

List those sports and their origins...and the world teams that play them?

This is an interesting counter-argument, but I'll play along.

(1) American Football - Country of origin: England (derived from the same sport that branched into Rugby)

(2) Basketball - Country of origin: United States (I'll give you this one)

(3) Baseball - Country of origin: England (derived from the same sport which branched into Cricket)

(4) Ice Hockey - Country of origin: England

I shouldn't fail to mention that

(5) Association Football - Country of origin: England and I'm not seeing the England national football team dominating the world.

So country of origin is a bad place to start an argument.

Insofar as the top teams in the world that play these sports, you already know the answer. England sure did invent a lot of sports but they aren't very good at any of them apparently. They did a good job of exporting these sports worldwide throughout former colonies of the British Empire, including the original 13 colonies on the eastern coast of North America.

 

[Godslay]

Explain baseball then. Apparently that's a sport too.

Baseball is largely a game of skill. Yet, it requires athleticism as well. Just depends on the position really.

What is fuelling this recent renaissance of Belgium football?

It's the focus on technical development and tactics in the formative years (8-18 yrs old) ahead of physical traits like strength, speed and endurance.

The theory is that you can develop strength and endurance when you are older and have the skills and nous. It's much, much harder to make it to being a top player when you don't have the technical ability with the ball. In Belgium, small sided games and games without results are done at underage level. In the USA, junior development starts much later and is results driven.

For that reason, USA will continue to produce good players but not a steady stream of great players who are getting game time at the biggest clubs in Europe.

Australia has also implemented a similar system to Belgium, based primarily on the Dutch system. We are only starting to see the fruits of the sacrifice of some years in transition. We are coming from a place well behind where Belgium is but by all accounts we will start to see some of the benefits leading up to the next World Cup. We have a record number of 16-20yr olds on the books of first division teams in England, Germany, Italy and Spain. Leckie, who was one of our best at this World Cup and is only 22, was at the very start of the implementation of the new system to give you an indication as to if the reforms are working.

Sure, if you start the skills early the physical talent will bubble up out of a generation. It's hardly unique to an region really. It happens in the US with Football and Basketball largely. Little guys are being taught American Football technique early like 5 and up. Even earlier than that in some cases. As a football player progresses through the various levels, the skills and athleticism required increases. Greatly skilled players, never make it in the NFL because they don't have the physical abilities. Physical specimens never make it in the NFL because they don't have the technique. There are also random bits of tangibles and intangibles that either help or hinder whether or not they make it to the top levels. Soccer is no different from what I have experienced.

 

[cafemomo]

hey brits.

can you pls tell your govt to deny newcastle fans passports (pretty sure it was newcastle since it has the black and white stripes on the kit) so they can't visit chicago

their loudness, i mean real fucking loudness was wrecking up the atmosphere of my local favorite sushi joint yo

 

[Hawkie]

Yeah, you hear most of the Aussie coaches now telling their players to only go overseas if it's to get match time and if it's in a good development league like Belgium, holland, Germany or Spain. The Aussie coaches have realised that development is stunted somewhat at English academies as they are not as focused on the technique and tactical improvement but more on results.

Also, the amount of FIFA qualified coaches is another aspect. England has relatively few compared to France, Spain, and Germany. This is another reason the football federation of Australia has made it mandatory for Aussie coaches (even junior club coaches) to get FIFA qualified (obviously not to the same level as top flight managers).

Australia has learnt a lot from the Dutch, the technical director has been Dutch since the league restarted eight years ago. Their philosophy is small sided games, focus on performance not result for any level below senior level, have as many qualified coaches as possible.

From all reports of our youngsters overseas and at home, the 2018 socceroos team should be very entertaining to watch, similar to Belgium now I hope. That is the aim anyway.

Sounds like you guys know what's what and the future looks bright.

 

[lastflowers]

Soccer is already the second most popular sport for Americans 25 and under I believe. And with the whole NFL concussion thing, it'll be interesting to see where the sport goes from here.

We've already seen a tremendous growth in the last 10 years. Because of the Internet it's been tremendously easy to follow European football, and that was always the problem with the viewers: what they were watching was not the best the sport had to offer.

This is very true. As a young'n, I basically had 0 ability to watch any European leagues (AFAIK). Growing up in Houston, I could get Mexican leagues though. The proliferation of the internet and Satallite TV has helped the sport tremendously.

 

[Tristam]

And Bradley kept on being fielded by whom? Klinsmann is a super swell guy, and has probably been good for the youth teams of USA, but

Jurgen doesn't know, Jurgen doesn't know.

He didn't have the balls to bench Bradley, but Klinsmann understands the game better than any coach we've had thus far. I thought he had really turned Germany around when he took over, but the Germans credited Loew as the true genius behind it all. But then you look at Loew at this WC and he looks like a dunce with many of the decisions he has made. I don't see anyone calling him a tactical genius now.

I think Germans dislike Klinsmann because he's some New Age-y America-stan, but he knows football. One of the best true strikers Germany ever produced.

 

[krYlon]

Yeah, you hear most of the Aussie coaches now telling their players to only go overseas if it's to get match time and if it's in a good development league like Belgium, holland, Germany or Spain. The Aussie coaches have realised that development is stunted somewhat at English academies as they are not as focused on the technique and tactical improvement but more on results.

Also, the amount of FIFA qualified coaches is another aspect. England has relatively few compared to France, Spain, and Germany. This is another reason the football federation of Australia has made it mandatory for Aussie coaches (even junior club coaches) to get FIFA qualified (obviously not to the same level as top flight managers).

Australia has learnt a lot from the Dutch, the technical director has been Dutch since the league restarted eight years ago. Their philosophy is small sided games, focus on performance not result for any level below senior level, have as many qualified coaches as possible.

From all reports of our youngsters overseas and at home, the 2018 socceroos team should be very entertaining to watch, similar to Belgium now I hope. That is the aim anyway.

Man, the future looks good for you guys then. It won't be long before you're kicking our arses in football as well as everything else lol

 

[lastflowers]

Guys,

Let's all go outside, invite some friends and play some soccer. I did yesterday. It was great!

Spoiler

My thighs are killing me.

my company (Microsoft) has three tiers of soccer leagues. Something like 25 or so teams playing 10v10, with two seasons each year. It's awesome coming out on a random night and there being two pickup games going on. Too bad this only happens during the summer because every other season is rain-central.

 

[silver.tongue]

Mine:

1. BRAZIL X CHILE - Nerve wrecking to both sides. Last minute ball on crossbar that will forever echo in the stadium.
2. SPAIN X NETHERLANDS - Most amazing comeback blowout in recent history.
3. GERMANY X ALGERIA - Germany fail to capitalize and got really close to elimination. Plus, Sweeper Keeper Neuer.
4. NETHERLANDS X AUSTRALIA - 2 amazing comebacks! Australia missed a huge chance and got scored right after.
5. BELGIUM X USA - Howard god. So many chances from both sides. USA almost pulling the upset.
6. BRAZIL X MEXICO - Jesus Ochoa. Fucking tense game.
7. GERMANY X GHANA - Germany gets ambushed and Klose subs in for the tie and the record.
8. URUGUAY X ENGLAND - The return of Suarez!

 

[chicko1983]

There is an answer, what the dutch and spanish have been doing for decades. Focus on skill and technique at a young age for years and THEN worry about athletics around 15/16.

Yep, this is the key. The Dutch have a population of 17mil, Belgium 12mil, Switzerland 8mil. These countries probably have similar number of participants in soccer as the USA has (I know Australia matches or exceeds Belgium and Switzerland for registered players), if not USA probably has more.

Yet the Dutch have realised that focusing on the technical skills at a young age and then the athletic ability at a later age is the best way to produce great footballers. Belgium and Switzerland are now following suit, and so is Australia but we are bit behind now.

 

[Brazil]

I was unable to watch Netherlands x Spain due to work at E3. Hopefully SporTV will start airing old matches again soon.

 

[CrunchyB]

i think there is no answer to the question about how to raise a super star or a competent team. here in chile football is the number one sport by far and our national team has not won a single cup and until recent times we struggled to even qualify.

Chile is about the same size as the Netherlands and we haven't won a WC either. We did win 1 EC, but so did Greece and Denmark.

Your team is awesome, great technical skills and a rock solid mindset, but I think you are held back by your size. Your dudes average about 1.70m and that's a problem with corners and free kicks especially. Brazil used their physicality during the game, and that's the main reason why they held on and ultimately eliminated you.

Also, I'm a huge fan of Felipe Gutiérrez. Such a great player, I'm praying he stays at Twente for another year.

 

[kingslunk]

I want to see the game progress to an even higher level of skill. I think the US has to get interest built up here and start producing quality soccer players to begin that next trend of events. (This is just my opinion)

 

[JJDinomite]

It was a good run for the US. Certainly went farther than I thought we would

 

[Dion Blaster]

I was unable to watch Netherlands x Spain due to work at E3. Hopefully SporTV will start airing old matches again soon.

It was the ultimate catharsis for those who hate tiki-taka.

 

[silver.tongue]

Chile is about the same size as the Netherlands and we haven't won a WC either. We did win 1 EC, but so did Greece and Denmark.

Your team is awesome, great technical skills and a rock solid mindset, but I think you are held back by your size. Your dudes average about 1.70m and that's a problem with corners and free kicks especially. Brazil used their physicality during the game, and that's the main reason why they held on and ultimately eliminated you.

Also, I'm a huge fan of Felipe Gutiérrez. Such a great player, I'm praying he stays at Twente for another year.

What? Chile dominated us in the second half and the game was decided in penalty kicks. How the hell did Brazil "phisicality" helped?

Also, you're talking about Neymar, Dani Alves, Oscar, William, Marcelo... Brazil is actually very small. Even our keeper is 1.79! Exception to the rule would be Hulk, Luis Gustavo and maybe David Luiz.

 

[Brazil]

It was the ultimate catharsis for those who hate tiki-taka.

I did like it once, but it eventually wears you out.

 

[Dr.Acula]

Baseball is largely a game of skill. Yet, it requires athleticism as well. Just depends on the position really.

They play 162 games in 180 days. It's fucking brutal.

 

[elrechazado]

US will win next year's World Cup because Freddy adu will be going pro.

 

[chicko1983]

Sounds like you guys know what's what and the future looks bright.

Man, the future looks good for you guys then. It won't be long before you're kicking our arses in football as well as everything else lol

It's taken a lot of blood and tears in Australia to get us to this point with the closure of the old league and a brand new league and federation started.

There was a similar backlash against the Belgium FA when they made their reforms 5 or so years ago. However, I doubt there are any detractors of the new system.

Im not saying that we now have a perfect development system in Australia, however, in the long term Australia will improve from where we currently are.

I hope USA wakes up and realises the same. For them to be strong at football is great for world football.

 

[Godslay]

They play 162 games in 180 days. It's fucking brutal.

Travel is rough no doubt, it's a grind. It's okay though as the majority of the game is spent waiting to react. I think all the seasons are about the right length give the physicality of the sport. Baseball might be a bit long, NBA as well, NFL is just right.

 

[Acorn]

Yep, this is the key. The Dutch have a population of 17mil, Belgium 12mil, Switzerland 8mil. These countries probably have similar number of participants in soccer as the USA has (I know Australia matches or exceeds Belgium and Switzerland for registered players), if not USA probably has more.

Yet the Dutch have realised that focusing on the technical skills at a young age and then the athletic ability at a later age is the best way to produce great footballers. Belgium and Switzerland are now following suit, and so is Australia but we are bit behind now.

Future looks bright for the aussies, a good number of youngsters are coming through. We have Tom Rogic back from loan and Jackson Irvine came through our youth system.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I want to see the game progress to an even higher level of skill. I think the US has to get interest built up here and start producing quality soccer players to begin that next trend of events. (This is just my opinion)

Well we need to develop the extensive network of community programs backed by youth training programs and professional development programs that are a grassroots and basic part of the social and cultural foundations of the other nations who are good at this game.

I mean in this country kids can start playing peewee football when they are 5, then they can play in community leagues until middle and high school where they play for their school teams, then they play college football, and the best of the best make it to the NFL. This is the kind of grassroots community foundation that feeds into the NFL. It's the same for basketball in this country, kids start balling on the local courts and that's where you begin your journey to the NBA.

 

[Nesotenso]

Feasted on the MURICA tears and came back for the salt. Keep this going.

you seem to have the most ridiculous vendettas. Except when it comes to the Indian cricket team. Then you just become a terrible poster.

 

[DukeBobby]

US will win next year's World Cup because Freddy adu will be going pro.

Yes, I can't wait for next year's World Cup.

 

[Verano]

Feasted on the MURICA tears and came back for the salt. Keep this going.

same. feast was glorious from bars and freeway upon their sad faces...

 

[Stainless]

Am cry. Was so nervous all day, I just kind of knew we were up against it big time, but as always we are proud of the efforts of our team, especially Howard.

Grats Belgium. Good luck to you.

 

[Talka]

For kicks, I went back with a stopwatch and rewatched the second half of overtime. I counted six minutes of stoppage time. Playing just the one minute was kinda nuts.

No hard feelings in the end, though. Belgium deserved to win and I had a great time watching. Too bad we're down to the last eight matches of the tournament. It's been an absolute blast so far.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

I agree with Alexi Lalas (I'm shocked too) in that the U.S. desperately needs a footballing philosophy and mold our team with that goal in mind.

That seems to be the problem with Argentina and England right now, and has always been a problem with Mexico.

 

[Kraftwerk]

It's...beautiful

:"(

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Yes, I can't wait for next year's World Cup.

He means gold cup

 

[figadapaura]

It's...beautiful

:"(

fucking hell

 

[Nesotenso]

same. feast was glorious from bars and freeway upon their sad faces...

lol just like clockwork, guess who shows up.

 

[Godslay]

Yes, I can't wait for next year's World Cup.

You fell for it...

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

same. feast was glorious from bars and freeway upon their sad faces...

What goes around comes around.

 

[figadapaura]

lol just like clockwork, guess who shows up.

do you keep tabs on people who 'hate' the US?

 

[DukeBobby]

You fell for it...

I fall for everything. I'm dumb as fuck.

 

[IceCold]

The US will never be on the level of other top countries and here's why:

In the US, sports are tied with school. Want to be a top NFL player? Then you have to play while you are in highschool and college. With soccer you can be 6 years old and already play for the youth team of the best clubs in the world and by the time you are 16 years old, you could be playing at the highest level of the game. What that means is that Europeans get to play way more soccer at a higher level than Americans can. Take a player like Messi. Dude was signed to Barca since he was 11. The club has been controlling every aspect of his life since then and look at what he became. It's the same thing with Ronaldo and other top players. That level of commitment isn't gonna happen in the US since they don't operate the same way (with youth academies). People who say that the US's top talent is going to other sports might have a point, but athleticism only takes you so far and being good in the big 4 doesn't mean you'd cut it in soccer.

 

[Acorn]

do you keep tabs on people who 'hate' the US?

He works for the NSA

 

[alfredofroylan]

Pope Francis watching the game, the other guys are the Swiss guard

 

[chicko1983]

Future looks bright for the aussies, a good number of youngsters are coming through. We have Tom Rogic back from loan and Jackson Irvine came through our youth system.

Celtic lad hey?

Yeah Rogic is gifted and funnily didn't come through the traditional system but rather focused predominately on futsal. This is why his skills are amazing yet he wasn't up to the endurance side of things. If he gets fully fit, I believe he has osteitis pubis, then he could be a star. He was on the bring of the World Cup team but was cut due to injury.

Funnily, his decision to join Celtic is very polarising within Australian soccer. Many believe he would be better off in Belgium or Holland to develop, or even back in the a-league with his former coach. The opposite side state that Celtic is a good development team, one of the best for selling young players to bigger clubs, and play champions league football. I'm probably sided with the former group, that he should have gone to mainland Europe and in a lower division team to get consistent game time.

Jackson Irvine's name is floated around a bit on Australian forums. I have only seen him play for our youth national team once and he was good defensive midfielder.

However, the names to remember in my opinion are Amini (currently at Dortmund) and Ikonomidis (currently at Lazio). Both have the ability to break into their first team this season if they get a good run with injuries.

 

[figadapaura]

He works for the NSA

lol I see.

 

[mantidor]

Chile is about the same size as the Netherlands and we haven't won a WC either. We did win 1 EC, but so did Greece and Denmark.

Your team is awesome, great technical skills and a rock solid mindset, but I think you are held back by your size. Your dudes average about 1.70m and that's a problem with corners and free kicks especially. Brazil used their physicality during the game, and that's the main reason why they held on and ultimately eliminated you.

Also, I'm a huge fan of Felipe Gutiérrez. Such a great player, I'm praying he stays at Twente for another year.

I think Brazil also has a low average, Neymar is tiny for instance.

I think that is the reason the sport is so popular in South America. Physicality is not as important as skill, which doesn't happen in sports like basketball, american football, rugby, etc, etc where south americans get usually trashed because of height and size. There are good players in those sports that are smaller but the physicality/skill ratio is completely insane for them and make them rare. Soccer is more universal. The "best players ever" like Pele or Maradona are not tall people, and compared to europeans they are small.

 

[Godslay]

I fall for everything. I'm dumb as fuck.

Well at least you were smart in your avatar choice