The Official Football/Soccer Thread: 2017-2018 Season
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
I'm very happy cause that's (the pass-around style) is the style I've liked to play since I was kid. And that was built very much here in Barcelona. I think is the most beautiful way and the smartest way to play football. There's 3 people not on the team that have had a big influence in all this... 1) Michael Laudrup Barça signed him in the 90s and his magic passes captivated people here 2) Guardiola Laudrup's admirer and the icon for always trying to play the ball, both him and Laudrup were the beginning of this kind of playing school here. 3) Raul He was Spanish biggest star for a long time and yet he defended and fighted liked the best defenders, always playing for the team. And that's how all the players of this team play, not for any kind of individual show-off but for the team... kind of like The Beatles did as rock and roll band. And they are being received as The Beatles today.
*drinks a soda then spits it out after choking on it* LOL! WHAT?!
All you're doing is listing your favorite players (again) and trying to give them a World Cup winners' medal that they couldn't earn on the pitch themselves.
: Johan Cruyff is the name that should be mentioned here. He brought the Total Football-passing style he played with those Ajax and Holland teams of the 70s to Barcelona when he was coaching them during the 90s and the style has been tweeked a bit and passed on to La Furia Roja via the Barcelona players on the team (Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets who's a great passer of the ball for a defensive player). Cruyff's influence on today's Barca team cannot be overstated. But with the final being Spain v Holland, the person who had the ultimate influence on both teams, the man who was watching from up above as the two teams took to the pitch and probably played out the tactics of both teams in his head as to what each should be doing to achieve victory, the true father of the 2010 World Cup Final, was Rinus Michels.
Meanwhile, Sandro Rosell doesn't sound like a good person.
He was a long shot from the start but I was hoping Agusti Benedito would somehow win the election. He ended up finishing second. Granted, a distant second, but second place was still quite a shock given not many knew much about him a year ago.
The thing is that I didn't want to mention Johan Cruyff cause I though that really could hurt the people of the Netherlands... like "and Spain won because of Johan Cruyff"... you know... Well, they're my fav players because of some reason... Not simply the most skilled but something else too, and that's what has leaded here. Sort of No Elvis, No Beatles... No Guardiola, No Raul, no this team... The thing is Spain can not be called The Red Fury anymore, that was in the 30s... It's proven it's about talent and team spirit. The Guardian headline was "Beauty 1 Beasts 0" And about Benedito, he'll have a chance in the next elections.
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Ammar:
I have one question, if the Holland player didn't get the red Card, would Spain score?? I doubt it although I think Spain was the most stable team in this world cup , they didn't win easily on any team at all. it was always 1-0 and with Holland they couldn't make it without that red card. If Holland played the same way they did with Uruguay or Brazil (second half) they could have finished the match without extra time. again bad defenders effected Holland, specially the Karate Kid No.8 and No .6 . but I dont think the player deserved Red Card As For Zidan 2006, he didn't kick the Italian for no reason, the Italian said bad things about Zidan's mother knowing this is a very sensitive case for Zidan, he wanted him to lose control, and he succeeded, and with a referee who wanted to be immortalized by giving red Card on final world cup match to the best Player in the world cup that year. it was unfair, he didnt give him yellow card or even asked why did he do that....or even gave the red card to the Italian player. Zidan is not the kind of player who needs to play dirty to win, and the ball was not between them when that happened.... even though Italy on 2006 was my favorite and did a great match in semi-finale beating Germany, but what happened was a shame , winning in that dirty way.
Ammar all you do is "if.." "if..." that makes not much sense to me... that was Spain's attitude in the past.. sort of "if that penalty would have been given" "if Tassotti would have received the red card because of destroying Luis Enrique's nose" "if Raul would have scored the penalty"... what happens is reality... things are not like they could be but like they are Ok
If Van Bommel and De Jong would have received his (more than deserved...) red cards in the first half... do you think Spain would have won?... If Holland would have not done such a dirty game... do you think Spain would have mad much more goal chances?
The red card was a very deserved red card (well, like others...), he stopped Iniesta when he was heading to goal... he didn't try to play the ball, that's a yellow card, and if you think he's the last defender it's even a straight red card. Yes, of course Zidane's thing was different, even worse so, I don't think Spain players would have insulted Van Bommel and De Jong... For me it was like 2 models of football (destructive and creative) facing each other. What I like about football and what I don't like. And if (this is another impossible if...) I would have been born in Holland, I would have wanted Holland to lose and Spain to win, anyway. It's like choosing between love and hate... count me out for that kind of playing. Casillas promised that if Spain won the World Cup, he would marry or shave his head bald. She says she must forget about the wedding and that he should go bald cause he will look better. Bald Casillas soon...
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Unfortunately the tournament spawned this:
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Pepe Reina is ever so slightly barking mad.....
We Love Pepe!!! Well done Spain!...Pepe is a Liverpool hero......and believe me in our present state we need all the heroes we can get.
.....fully deserved!
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david mitchelson:
Pepe Reina is ever so slightly barking mad.....
We Love Pepe!!! Well done Spain!...Pepe is a Liverpool hero......and believe me in our present state we need all the heroes we can get.
.....fully deserved!
"El Show de Pepe Reina" began two years ago on the flight home from Austria/Switzerland when a drunken Pepe thrilled his teammates by giving credit to each player for their part in the EURO victory.
Upon their arrival in Madrid he was asked to replicate his 'show' when the parade ended at the Plaza Colón. And later in the evening he once again took over the stage with his "Camarero" performance. Once the team arrived back from South Africa everyone was waiting to see the latest version of El Show. As always, Reina did not disappoint. A legend indeed. -
21 century boy it is not the matter of if as you place it what I want is a clean Final match Holland can beat Spain in another game, although I respect the Spain team and was happy for them, they didnt show a real giant world champion image through the world cup, they cant score more than 1 Goal per match, they were lucky Holland didnt play the way they CAN really play, but thats it. Holland played badly taugh but not all the match, and van bomel specially I wished he got the red card with Uruguay, so that he wont play final, he is a bad player and made alot of mistakes that could have made Holland lose the Semi-Final but was Spain really angels on the Field?? come on the referee ruined the match with many cards, he wanted to prove that he is not against Spain, cause Spain said they were afraid of him before the game for what he did in Switzerland-Spain match.
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21st century boy?
I am of English and Danish and Swiss German descent and was born in the absolute heart of America...I have some profoundly hardworking and intelligent workmates who were born in either holland or mexico ...I keep telling them...It's only a futbol game...It's only a...foot...ball...game...
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Ammar:
21 century boy it is not the matter of if as you place it what I want is a clean Final match Holland can beat Spain in another game, although I respect the Spain team and was happy for them, they didnt show a real giant world champion image through the world cup, they cant score more than 1 Goal per match, they were lucky Holland didnt play the way they CAN really play, but thats it. Holland played badly taugh but not all the match, and van bomel specially I wished he got the red card with Uruguay, so that he wont play final, he is a bad player and made alot of mistakes that could have made Holland lose the Semi-Final but was Spain really angels on the Field?? come on the referee ruined the match with many cards, he wanted to prove that he is not against Spain, cause Spain said they were afraid of him before the game for what he did in Switzerland-Spain match.
I think Holland was not in playing a "clean final match"... If Holland would have played open Spain would have scored lots of goals instead of one. All the rivals of Spain (except Chile for some minutes) have played very defensively... with all the team near the area, pure catenaccio. Yes, there's still ways of making goals even against that but it's not so easy... And Spain didn't want to win 4-2 every game, just winning the world cup is enough... And Spain doesn't have forwards that are very good against that kind of defense... Well, they have the best forward against that defense... Raul, but he's not selected for the national team (and that's another discussion) since a lot time ago. What about the fact that Spain haven't received any goal in all the knock out rounds? I guess this has never happened before... No goal from Germany, Portugal, Paraguay and Holland. And not even much work for Casillas. if you think "the referee ruined the match with many cards" then you see it in such a different way than me that it makes no sense we keep on talking about it
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SurSteven:
21st century boy?
I am of English and Danish and Swiss German descent and was born in the absolute heart of America...I have some profoundly hardworking and intelligent workmates who were born in either holland or mexico ...I keep telling them...It's only a futbol game...It's only a...foot...ball...game...
No, the world Cup is not only a football game... Some even say (Kissinger?), that is a substitute for World Wars... let it be that way forever... There are lots of good effects for Spain now. The economy will grow because of this. The financial problems will fade away (the day after the final China signed a billion dollar suprising loan to Spain, for instance). "Spain" as a commercial mark is gonna be now more linked to talent, work well done, team camaradery and being professional.... Tourism into Spain will increase... 700 milion people over the world watched the final game, it's the biggest commercial (120 minute commercial) a country can get. I'm not gonna talk about the kind of image Holland showed to the world.
Now there seems to be 2 kind of attitudes in the world (and it football). One is about speculation and violence and hate. The other about putting talent to use and camaradery and working "for the team". It's about choosing. What kind of economy we want, and what kind of relationships between people we want, and what kind of world we want. And what kind of football we want. Unclesox knows me (though often disagrees with me :wink
and knows I want my fav team to lose sometimes (Real Madrid) because they're playing in a way I don't like at all.
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david mitchelson:
Pepe Reina is ever so slightly barking mad.....
We Love Pepe!!! Well done Spain!...Pepe is a Liverpool hero......and believe me in our present state we need all the heroes we can get.
.....fully deserved!
I thought there was no way of translating that
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SurSteven:
21st century boy?
yes
I don't like the 21st Paul name (sorry to say that) cause Paul is alive and no one will ever be another Paul, so I used a song-related name, no offence really.
SurSteven:
I am of English and Danish and Swiss German descent and was born in the absolute heart of America...I have some profoundly hardworking and intelligent workmates who were born in either holland or mexico ...I keep telling them...It's only a futbol game...It's only a...foot...ball...game...
it is only football game, talking about it does not hurt and FYI I am not from Holland or Mexico or America I like Holland team, they have the best players from 1970's they are just unlucky
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21st Century Paul:
I think Holland was not in playing a "clean final match"...
I didnt said Holland played clean final match, read my post again and I hope you will understand it
21st Century Paul:
If Holland would have played open Spain would have scored lots of goals instead of one.
and Holland would have scored lots of goals just like they did to Brazil and Uruguay and others. arent you the one using If ...now
21st Century Paul:
All the rivals of Spain (except Chile for some minutes) have played very defensively... with all the team near the area, pure catenaccio.
ahhh thats why Switzerland ( a team who didn't pass the first round) beated Spain early in this world Cup
21st Century Paul:
Yes, there's still ways of making goals even against that but it's not so easy... And Spain didn't want to win 4-2 every game, just winning the world cup is enough...
didn't want to win 4-2 every game??? when was that???? did they win ONE game more than 1-0?????oh yes they did that to Honduras , 2-0 thanx to David Villa!
21st Century Paul:
And Spain doesn't have forwards that are very good against that kind of defense... Well, they have the best forward against that defense... Raul, but he's not selected for the national team (and that's another discussion) since a lot time ago. What about the fact that Spain haven't received any goal in all the knock out rounds? I guess this has never happened before... No goal from Germany, Portugal, Paraguay and Holland. And not even much work for Casillas.
maybe because they played defensive as much as the others??? Spain were lucky enough to have David Villa who saved them for 5 games
21st Century Paul:
if you think "the referee ruined the match with many cards" then you see it in such a different way than me that it makes no sense we keep on talking about it
I agree on that, and by the way this is can be helpful in explaining what I meant about Referee and a clean final matchby an expert : http://www.worldcup2010.vdeal.net/news/franz-beckenbauer-blasts-spain-and-netherlands-for-football-anti-advertisement/ The Final match was not a good game or as Beckenbauer said it : "but this final unfortunately was rather an anti-advertisement for football" again Spain deserved winning the world cup, they were lucky but sure they are a well organized team with very good players and great Coach....it could have been for Holland the same way, they were not less than Spain. it was luck in a bad final game.
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Ammar:
SurSteven:
21st century boy?
yes
I don't like the 21st Paul name (sorry to say that) cause Paul is alive and no one will ever be another Paul, so I used a song-related name, no offence really. Well, I liked it when I choosed it (2003)... but I don't like it since a long time ago. I asked the mods to change it but there's no way. It's somehow sort of a joke cause many called Paul 20th Century Mozart, and there will never be another Mozart or another Paul. Even if I win Paul's song contest I'm not gonna be another Paul at all... the thing is I want to be called Oliver.
SurSteven:
I am of English and Danish and Swiss German descent and was born in the absolute heart of America...I have some profoundly hardworking and intelligent workmates who were born in either holland or mexico ...I keep telling them...It's only a futbol game...It's only a...foot...ball...game...
it is only football game, talking about it does not hurt and FYI I am not from Holland or Mexico or America I like Holland team, they have the best players from 1970's they are just unlucky
Ammar, I don't believe in luck, for instance Spain seemed always "unlucky" but the cause of losing was not that at all
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Ammar:
21st Century Paul:
If Holland would have played open Spain would have scored lots of goals instead of one.
and Holland would have scored lots of goals just like they did to Brazil and Uruguay and others. arent you the one using If ...now
Yes, of course it makes no sense to use "ifs", the only match that has happened and ever will happen is the one that happened.
21st Century Paul:
All the rivals of Spain (except Chile for some minutes) have played very defensively... with all the team near the area, pure catenaccio.
ahhh thats why Switzerland ( a team who didn't pass the first round) beated Spain early in this world Cup Switzerland played that way too, Spain had not the best attitude still in that match.
21st Century Paul:
Yes, there's still ways of making goals even against that but it's not so easy... And Spain didn't want to win 4-2 every game, just winning the world cup is enough...
didn't want to win 4-2 every game??? when was that???? did they win ONE game more than 1-0?????oh yes they did that to Honduras , 2-0 thanx to David Villa! No, the goal was winning the World Cup, not winning 4-2 every game. I think that would have been harder.
21st Century Paul:
And Spain doesn't have forwards that are very good against that kind of defense... Well, they have the best forward against that defense... Raul, but he's not selected for the national team (and that's another discussion) since a lot time ago. What about the fact that Spain haven't received any goal in all the knock out rounds? I guess this has never happened before... No goal from Germany, Portugal, Paraguay and Holland. And not even much work for Casillas.
maybe because they played defensive as much as the others??? Spain were lucky enough to have David Villa who saved them for 5 games yes, and "lucky" to have Casillas, Xavi, Puyol, Ramos, Busquets, Iniesta...
21st Century Paul:
if you think "the referee ruined the match with many cards" then you see it in such a different way than me that it makes no sense we keep on talking about it
I agree on that, and by the way this is can be helpful in explaining what I meant about Referee and a clean final matchby an expert : http://www.worldcup2010.vdeal.net/news/franz-beckenbauer-blasts-spain-and-netherlands-for-football-anti-advertisement/ The Final match was not a good game or as Beckenbauer said it : "but this final unfortunately was rather an anti-advertisement for football" again Spain deserved winning the world cup, they were lucky but sure they are a well organized team with very good players and great Coach....it could have been for Holland the same way, they were not less than Spain. it was luck in a bad final game.
Well, you see it almost all like "luck", even that the main scorer of Spain (Villa) makes goals seems kind of Spain's luck, he has missed a few too. You see it in a totally different than me so it makes no sense we keep on talking, I hope you won't be offended if I don't keep answering you.
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the best moments of the Spain celebration: Spain's team dancing to We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions
Ramos and Reina singing with Bisbal one of the World Cup's songs Reina and the best defender and the best midfielder of the world cup singing to the best goalkeeper and his girlfriend The players don't let sing some Spanish singer the Spanish "unofficial" anthem... and the octopus dancing around -
World cup fuzzy critters (Beessies) as they are calling them Dutch
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Thread title changed as the new season rapidly approaches.
The calendario for La Liga has been released today. Once again, Real Madrid gets to host the return 'vuelta' of El Clasico for the fourth consecutive season.
: This time it will be on Sunday 17 April. Here's the full fixture list And today also saw the first full day of training for the defending Spanish Liga champions.
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unclesox:
And today also saw the first full day of training for the defending Spanish Liga champions.
and some also the present World Champions
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21st Century Paul:
unclesox:
And today also saw the first full day of training for the defending Spanish Liga champions.
and some also the present World Champions
All 8 Barcelona players that played in the World Cup have been allowed to holiday until after the team returns from the Asia tour in early August. I know Ibra is training, but I don't think Messi and Dani Alves have arrived yet. I'm guessing it's the same for the rest of the Spain team. They're all on vacation since they've had no rest since last summer.
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Ammar:
by the way I think Mick Jagger brought bad luck to England he did the same to U.S and Argentine.
agree!