November 13th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
Wow, I'm not a huge soccer affeciando, however the trio of Italy, The Netherlands, and Chile missing the world cup has to be pretty rare over the past 50+ years.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:33 PM ^
Chile has missed out more than they've qualified, over the last 50 years. The Dutch hadn't qualified since before WW2 when they finished runner-up in '74--since then they've missed three times.
But Italy's a different story altogether. You have to be at least 59 years old to remember a WC without Italy. They've only missed two world cups ever until now, and one of those (1930) they didn't even enter a team into qualifications. Only Germany's done as well (they've also missed two, one they didn't compete for and one they weren't allowed to).
November 13th, 2017 at 5:35 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:37 PM ^
The Dutch were runner-up in 2010, third in 2014...and now missing in 2018.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^
Hey, pretty similar to us!
No, wait . . .
November 13th, 2017 at 6:23 PM ^
The Dutch are feast-or-famine. They don't always qualify, but when they do, they go far.
November 14th, 2017 at 12:11 AM ^
They are the JT Barrett of soccer teams.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^
Brazil has done better
November 13th, 2017 at 6:05 PM ^
Both Brazil and Germany have qualified every time they've entered, but Brazil showed up for the first one and they haven't had a posthumous-Nazi ban.
November 13th, 2017 at 6:21 PM ^
I can't get the first 30 minutes of that 7-1 loss to Germany out of my mind.
November 13th, 2017 at 7:10 PM ^
And he's right, and I was wrong.
But I admit the very first thing that popped into my brain when I read his message was "7-1." Then "hey, he's right what was I thinking but 7-1 anyway."
November 13th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
What a run for Sweden - they were in a group with France and the Netherlands, managed to finish second, and then beat Italy in the playoff. They've earned their spot.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
When will soccer ever take hold in Italy? With their population and resources, you'd think they'd be an international power.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^
They've got to stop steering all their best athletes toward bocce.
November 13th, 2017 at 6:07 PM ^
It's not for lack of trying when it comes to development... Need-a less-a plumbing, more-a kicking.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:03 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^
We should have an "NIT" World Cup with Italy, Chile, Netherlands, and USA. Would be a lot of fun.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:21 PM ^
The N.I.T ( Not In Tournament ) Tournament
November 13th, 2017 at 5:22 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:41 PM ^
....and the blow can't be far behind, you know, in between hands.
Hey Mad Hatter, is that you?
November 13th, 2017 at 5:10 PM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 12:18 AM ^
This can't be good for them though. I should say can't be good for the Network that paid to cover it.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:12 PM ^
All of Italy, Chile and The Netherlands may be eliminated. But they weren't eliminated at the hands of fucking Trinidad and Tobago.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,
November 13th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
Yeah. Qualifying out of UEFA and CONMEBOL is an order of magnitude tougher than CONCACAF.
In Italy's case, they finished second in a group of six teams that also included Spain, and that only earned them a trip to the qualifying playoff against Sweden, which they lost.
November 13th, 2017 at 6:10 PM ^
You're not wrong, but the implication is that UEFA groups don't also have a bunch of crap in them...Italy finished a (relatively) close second to Spain. You can find a few Monserrat and T&T look alikes in Italy's group of Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel, Macedonia, and Liechtenstein.
November 13th, 2017 at 6:21 PM ^
But the thing is, you have to win the group or else face a do-or-die playoff. That's a lot of pressure. In its ten group stage games, Italy had 23 points - and that wasn't enough to finish first.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:14 PM ^
Hey, Italy!
November 13th, 2017 at 5:27 PM ^
Italy has had a roster selection crisis for 10 years now almost parallel to USA hockey. They bring older guys who are good team players and leaders while the younger talent sits at home.
Even last year when they made the Euro quarters that team had guys starting who shouldn't have been considered for the squad.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:17 PM ^
We live and breathe Michigan football, but for Italians, the Azzurri ( = blue, team color) not making the World Cup is beyond humiliating, simply unthinkable.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:24 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:20 PM ^
I vaguely pay attention to soccer during the league seasons, but come World Cup time I'm all in rooting on the U.S. and Italy. When the U.S. was eliminated I was disappointed, but for me that meant I could cheer on Italy without tempering my enthusiasm due to the U.S. inclusion. With Italy and the U.S. out of it I truly don't think I'll watch the World Cup with the same level of excitement. Truly disappointing.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^
It's OK, Mr. casual soccer fan. You can root for The Netherlands, they're really good. Or maybe Chile, they've made a lot of noise recently.
I'm here to help.
November 13th, 2017 at 8:06 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:20 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:58 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 8:10 PM ^
Yes, I watch a shit ton of soccer. They cheat in every way possible from diving, to fouling, to grabbing shorts so the opponent can't get to a header, to outright elbowing an opponent in the face, drawing a decent amount of blood from a dude's nose, and getting away with it.....dude lost a pint of blood.....in the penalty area.....no call:
https://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/luis-enrique-shakes-hands-with-mauro…
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jun/26/spain-italy-euro-…
that enough for you or shall I continue?
November 13th, 2017 at 10:31 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 11:01 PM ^
It's cheating when the mafia PAYS the ref to let them get away with it .... which is long what was suspected happened here and something the higherst levels of Italian soccer got busted for many, many times. One quick example: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/15/newsstory.europeanfoot…
"Moggi and other Juventus executives were accused of arranging for amenable referees and assistants to officiate at games involving the Turin club and at those involving other teams considered allies. The judges, headed by a former president of Italy's top court, imposed a 2½-year ban on Pierluigi Pairetto, one of two officials responsible for allocating referees for Serie A matches."
And wow....touched a nerve there did we? Yes, I played my entire life all the way up to, but not including, the collegiate level - does that disqualify me from having an opinion? Is it totally normal to break a bone in an opponents face with impunity? Was that something you saw regurlaly in your days on the pitch?
November 13th, 2017 at 10:34 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 10:50 PM ^
I wouldn't think steroids would be much use to a soccer player.
Stimulants and blood doping are a different matter.
(Although a bit of googling turns up some steroid cases in England. Probably says something about how they approach the game.)
November 14th, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^
I wouldn't go so far as to call the Italians cheaters but I sure would say they're dirty as hell. Everytime I watch Italy play any international match they are by far the dirtiest players on the field - and at the same time the worst fakers/floppers/actors. This makes them intolerable to watch and I can't stand them. They also constantly appeal/whine to the ref. They're a disgrace to the game. I'm glad they didn't make it.
Honorable mention in this department: Portugal, Uruguay, Mexico and any Central American team that gets a one goal lead on the US in the 22nd minute and fakes injuries for the rest of the game to run out the clock. I don't know much about Team Russia but I'm sure they're filthy too (I would bet they're actually cheaters too considering their Olympic teams have had state-sanctioned doping programs.) I used to love the World Cup - this is gonna be a weird summer.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:42 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:42 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 5:48 PM ^
It's almost over. Italy just got eliminated.
Only one match left.
It's Sweden and the LA Galaxy in the final.
November 13th, 2017 at 5:55 PM ^
November 13th, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^
I'm all for inclusion and wanting representation across continents, but it's remarkable that all 13 non-host European qualifiers are ranked ahead of all African qualifiers and all but one Asian qualifiers.
Probably should give Europe and South America a couple more spots each and take 1.5 away from Asia, 2 away from Africa and 0.5 away from concacaf.
November 13th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
Europe and SA already get more teams in as is, and don't forget (no American should) that there's always one African team that goes farther than expected.
November 13th, 2017 at 7:25 PM ^