OT: World Cup Day 1 Open Thread

Submitted by JamesBondHerpesMeds on

RABBLE RABBLE SOCCER IS A DUMB SPORT RABBLE

I was like a kid on Christmas Eve last night. So excited for the next month.

Blue in Yarmouth

June 12th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^

I get that people don't think soccer isn't a very phyical sport, and in comparison to hockey and football that's absolutely correct. Players still have to be in tip top shape though. It isn't lke football where you get a whistle every 10 seconds and can take a breather. There's a ton of running/jogging and there is significant contact. As I said previously, it isn't football but it isn't golf either. Watch some of the slide tackles and just shoulder to shoulder contact where guys go flying. It's a pretty physically demanding game too.

Valar Morghulis

June 12th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^

I get what you're saying, and you're absolutely correct, but people that make these comments will never understand because they aren't willing to give soccer a fair shot.



Their perception is that everyone fakes injuries and goes down with a slight breeze. Granted, some players don't do much to help the cause, but the perception from people that rarely or never watch the game won't change.



You can keep trying if you'd like, but I think it's a rather futile effort because this guy probably won't watch many games, if any, and will never try to play the game himself.

maize-blue

June 13th, 2014 at 7:51 AM ^

I played football for 6 years. I don't know if you played any sports but there is usually an antagonism between football and soccer guys. The soccer and football seasons were both fall sports in my area. In my instance, we passed them on our way to practice as they lightly jogged in shorts and t-shirts while we went to our half mud, half grass practice field. We went to work our asses off while soccer players at least boke a sweat. There is just no way I can ever be conviced that soccer is a tough sport.

Blue in Yarmouth

June 13th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

You look at football players and they come in all shapes and sizes. You're 6'8" and 340lbs, you're our LT. 5'8" 175 lbs, you're our scat back. 6'4" 205 lbs, you're our WR. 

You look at soccer players and the size range is very small. In terms of height they may range from 5'8" to 6'4" but from a weight perspective or BMI it would be a very small range. You could plug most of them into a position in football and I don't think the rigors of the game would hamper them much. The skill set is obviously completely different so they probably wouldn't be great at football, but from the perspective of being able to stand up to the physical nature of football...I don't see that as being a problem for most. 

Now ask a bunch of linemen to play a full 90 minutes of soccer where there are no timeouts...that would be physically impossible I'd think.

Blue in Yarmouth

June 13th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^

Being from Wales rugby has always been one of my favorite sports and I still have many friends over there who play the sport. Your comments about soccer players sound a lot like their comments about american football players. They laugh at them because of all the equipment they need to play the sport. 

It doesn't matter which sport you're in there will always be players from other sports who want to argue about which sport is more manly or demanding. The bottom line is if you can't watch a sport like soccer and 1) enjoy the amount of skill it takes to play the way these guys at the WC will be playing and 2) acknowlegde that it is physically demanding (maybe not in the same way football is, but that isn't the only definition of physically demanding) you're even more ignorant than you sound in your posts. 

bacon1431

June 13th, 2014 at 3:42 PM ^

So you're basically just admitting ignorance. You're basing your opinion of soccer on one high school and your 5 minute walk past them in practice? I guess they should base their opinion of American football when they walk by and the defense is on the field and the offense is taking a break. Meanwhile, soccer players have to play both sides of the field all game long. But if they'd be ignorant if they said football players didn't work hard if that's all they based their opinion on.

Even if you don't like soccer, I don't see the reason to troll every single soccer thread as if it must be known that maize-blue does not enjoy the sport. I'm sure most of the board was dying to know.

Blue in Yarmouth

June 12th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^

very little in this world gets me as excited as UM football season, but the world cup of soccer is one and the world cup of rugby is another. I'm on pins and needles right now just waiting to get home to start watching the games. Good Luck to the USA. Just making it out of that group would be a huge accomplishment. 

Wolverine In Iowa

June 12th, 2014 at 3:36 PM ^

I recommend watching at least the kick-off of the Brazil-Croatia game on Univision.  The announcer will sound like he's having a stroke when the game starts - it's hilarious.

michchi85

June 12th, 2014 at 3:38 PM ^

Just showed him on ESPN and looked like he hurt an ankle/knee in warmups.  That will put a big question mark into one of the favorites.

 

Edit: Came back from commercial and he's running around much better.  Probably just a tweak.

Rhino77

June 12th, 2014 at 3:49 PM ^

Neymar is limping around already. Dude is Fra-Gi-Le. 

Wish they had a night game tonight. Spain VS Netherlands should be fantastic tomorrow.