Yes, of course it is. FIFA is the international governing body that oversees the game on a global level. After that it's the Premier League for domestic games and UEFA for European club fixtures.
Yes, soccer, being favored by socialistic, one world government types, is thoroughly controlled by FIFA, which is thoroughly corrupt. Even MLS and the lower tier US leagues suck the FIFA cock. It's disgraceful.
FIFA is a disgraceful organization, with more corruption than you can shake a stick at. Nevertheless, for all its faults, FIFA is the reason for which soccer is truly a world sport: Instead of national organizations which each do things their own way, making international competition very difficult, and only possible among those who can agree on a common set of rules for a given tournament, the establishment of an internatial federation, to which the various national leagues all adhere, keeps things running internationally. Like all other international organizations, it is a morass of compromises, in which no one is really happy, but at least they work together. If the USA doesn't want to work with FIFA, the USA doesn't have to. But if they don't, they will be playing their own brand of soccer and either they won't be in competition with other countries (which takes away a lot of the interest) or they will have to play according to rules to which they are not accustomed when in international competition, which will give them disadvantages. So I'm all for any efforts to clean up FIFA's act, but it is ultimately an essential organization, and the inevitable compromises which go with being part of it are necessary in order to be a serious actor on the world level.
It's not just the National Team that would suffer, but the domestic leagues as well. FIFA provides the legal framework and infrastructure for how players interact with teams, teams with teams, teams with leagues, leagues with leagues, all the way up the chain. And when there is a dispute it's handled FIFA arbitration, not whatever jurisdiction the player happens to be in at the time. Good luck getting foreign talent to the US when the US doesn't play by the international rules for contracts and the such and players aren't protected under the international rules (or be prepared to pay a premium for that risk on the players part).
Oh man, both sides have been very dangerous. Yedlin is playing his ass off. C'mon, lets do this America! Sent from my RM-927_nam_vzw_100 using Tapatalk
USA are doing ok here although theres been a good bit of sustained pressure from Belgium in the second half. Having watched Beasly and Bedoya at close quarters on numerous occasions im struggling to see how they can live with Hazard, kompany and co. Saying that, ive been watching football so long that the underdog sneaking a 1-0 win won't surprise me.
If Belgium could finish they would be 5-0 up by now. But you've got to hand it to the US team, they are really giving it everything
Its been one way traffic since the start of the second half. USA have held out well and theres no shame in this performance. Belgium would probably have put England away inside 90 minutes
One of the biggest differences between an underdog fighting bravely and an established team is how long they can last. The Americans did a good job, but in the end the Belgians wore them down: 2 hours of play gets you into the area where the differences between teams start showing up. Still, you've got to hand it to the Americans, they gave Belgium a good run for their money.
Well, delighted with that result. Had to support the Belgians due to the Spurs players. But, having said that, I think the US acquitted themselves well in that game and punched well above their weight. Whether or not they will be able to carry that on beyond the tournament remains to be seen. Some of the better players like Howard and Dempsey are not gonna be around for the next tournament. Belgium, I think, will inevitably get pasted by Argentina if they continue to play as they have. They have been underwhelming in my opinion. The polar opposite of the US in that respect in that they have been less than the sum of their parts. Still, I look forward to the Argentina game with great relish. Delighted to see our players doing well.
Well the Belgians were relentless. You can't have such a big shots on goal advantage and not win in most cases. Howard was brilliant, but exhaustion was bound to get him in the end. Not a bad showing, though.
Belgians were relentless? Were you watching the same game as me? They were just about hanging in extra time.
They made a lot of shots. That's relentless in my opinion. It certainly would be considered as such in other goal defense games.
Damn. What a match. Can definitely walk away with our head held high. Sent from my RM-927_nam_vzw_100 using Tapatalk
So, this is a draft of a Guest Post I've been working on for the Sounders blog. I see US soccer on the rise, and 2016 will be a crucial test. If we can keep up this support of soccer up in it will be a game changer IMO. 2014 doesn't matter, it's all about 2016 Much ink and many pixels have been spilled discussing how 2014 is the year soccer really makes it's breakthrough in the US, or that it's just a flash in a pan, or soccer has already made it's big breakthrough. While interesting to think about and fun to debate over a pint between matches, I don't think we’ll actually learn anything. Viewership for the World Cup has been growing for the last couple of cycles. 2016 will be the real test. Three words: Copa América Centenario. The Copa América is the world’s oldest international soccer tournament. 2016 will its 100 year anniversary. However while it is old and prestigious, it isn’t very profitable. While the 2012 Euros brought in around $1.6 billion, the 2011 Copa América only brought in a comparatively paltry ______ [I found people saying this and that money is the reason they're holding it in the US, but no hard facts]. In an effort boost the profits and international recognition of the tournament CONMEBOL made the historic decision to partner with CONCACAF and host the tournament in the United States. This could be a game changer, not just for the tournament but for soccer in the United States as well. (Read that link, it explains WHY this is such a great opportunity for the USMNT) The US has participated in the Copa América before, but the most recent was 2007. By any metric interest in soccer has grown significantly in the US in the last 7 years. CONCACAF and CONMEBOL are doing very well in Brazil, at the same time that American viewership is at record highs. This is giving teams from the hemisphere lots of exposure. And now Americans will be able to see these teams in person. Following the ratings bonanza from the World Cup, whoever gets the TV rights will make sure that the publicity and excitement surrounding the tournament will be unmatched by any non-World Cup soccer tournament. The stage has been set for a GREAT tournament, with lots of excitement around the United States. If it isn't we'll know that World Cup fever doesn't translate into even steady US National Team fandom, much less US soccer as a whole, it is just a four year surge. So stop arguing about whether or not the 2014 surge in soccer enthusiasm can be maintained and start thinking about how we insure that the 2016 Copa América Centenario is the raging success it deserves and needs to be. Sent from my RM-927_nam_vzw_100 using Tapatalk
Wtf, links didn't show. Fuck tapatalk. Have to wait till I get home. Sent from my RM-927_nam_vzw_100 using Tapatalk
Tim Howard is The Man! With a lesser goalie it would've been 3-0 easy. The US attack could've provided more pressure, but we had our chances. I was entertained and definitely not embarrassed for the team.
In the last 10 minutes of extra time the Belgians were hanging on correct, but for the full second half of the game and the first 20 minutes of ET, it was wave after wave of Belgian attack. Gul is correct, it was relentless.
Not sure I agree with that section of your blog, maybe in the US it will be the biggest yet, but having been in other parts of the world when Euro champs are on, and when Copa America's are on, there really isn't a comparison unless things have drastically changed in the last 6 years and the rest of the world has suddenly decided that Copa America is where it's at.
I'm talking about in the US. If the US were to pay attention that'd be a major win for the Copa America (and the US IMO).
Still working on the piece (adding language to make it clear I'm talking about US ratings) and realized an interesting bit of trivia. Assuming Costa Rica makes the Copa America, fully one half of the teams that made it to the knockout round will be competing. UEFA cup will only have 6. Long term if the combined format is a success and it continues, I'd like to see CONMEBOL drop the sud from America and North and Central America join. If we want to be one of the best we must be consistently playing the best. Politically this also works as CONMEBOL would double it's membership (votes) while adding three of the largest economies. North and Central America get to drop the corrupt as shit Caribbean nations that don't give a shit about soccer but dominate CONCACAF with 21 of 31 votes. Sent from my RM-927_nam_vzw_100 using Tapatalk
^ no one cares! A more interesting statistic is that Tim Howard made more saves than any other goalkeeper in a world cup match since they began collecting those records in 1966!
Some would, but not to the level Liverpool fans do. Seen fans of other teams have a go at their players for being dicks (Beckham got it in the neck from his own fans after the Simeone incident.) But not to worry, he's got his move to Barca, so you call call him a cunt now It's not the act on it's own, but the fact it's the third time he's done it, and on the biggest stage. I don't think Uruguay's stance helped much either. Had they manned up and been honest I suspect it would've been a shorter ban. No. Barcelona are being punished...
And Brazil are being steamrollered by the Germans. Didn't see that coming, after my betting successes at the last WC I was kick myself for not putting some bets down this time, but my each-way on Brazil and Argentina wouldn't have paid off like my Spain/Dutch one 4 years back!
