International Soccer/Football & UEFA Champions League

[hendersonrocks]

Quote

You have got to be kidding me.

My partner was at the game (we were in Barcelona last week for his life goal of seeing Messi & co. in action). I'm not sure he's come back down to Earth just yet.

We went together to the two games at Camp Nou leading up to the PSG game, and then he saw that one with a friend who lives in France (heh) while I watched in the hotel before our 6 am flight home. The goal differential for the three games we saw was 17-2, but no numbers can even really come close to that PSG game. It was just...wow.

[ganesh]

Congratulations to the Foxes. Schmeichel gets pints on the house anywhere in town. 

[JustaPerson]

Why are so many teams choking on the second leg this season? Well congrats to Leicester, they'll be facing the big boys (well mostly) from here on out.

[ganesh]

I wouldn't call Sevilla choking. They didn't play well, and dude was an idiot for headbutting someone while on a yellow. Even if they got the PK, they were a man down for 40 more minutes. 

[proserpina65]

Way to go, Leicester!  They might be tanking in the Premiership this season, but at least they have the Champions League going for them.

[JustaPerson]

Draws!

Real v Bayern

Barca v Juve

Leicester v Atletico

Dortmund v Monaco

Welp. Leicester are for sure done. They don't have enough quality to beat a team like Atletico.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti can get some revenge against the club that fired him.

[ganesh]

Leicester would be an underdog in any of the matchups though. If Schmeichel plays out of his gourd they might have a chance. Atletico aren't known for scoring at will like the others. 

[JustaPerson]

I agree, anything can happen especially where Leicester are concerned. Atletico aren't exactly Barca in terms of free scoring, but they do have a strong defense and a quality striker in Griezmann -- it should be enough for Leicester. But Leicester have defied some big odds before, so Atletico shouldn't be complacent. 

Edited March 18, 2017 by JustaPerson

[ganesh]

And their manager won't let them be complacent. I just think it will be tight but interesting.

[Steph619]

As a Real Madrid fan, I'm happy they made it through to the semifinals, but I can't help wondering if things would've been different if Bayern hadn't had a player sent off in each leg. Real Madrid gets the job done, but they suffer in every game and concede silly goals like today with Sergio Ramos. Real Madrid can play better and that usually happens when the BBC aren't all playing at the same time.

I really hope Real Madrid don't face off against Atlético Madrid yet again. I'm kind of tired of them, lol.

[ganesh]

Too bad for the Foxes. When they conceded first, I knew Atletico wouldn't give up 3. 

[JustaPerson]

As a Bayern fan, ugh. I'm heartbroken Philip Lahm and Xabi Alonso couldn't end their careers with a Champions League trophy, but luck (and the refs) just weren't on their side yesterday. I guess I'm rooting for Juventus now? Who else is there that it's halfway palatable to root for? Wouldn't it be fun if they won the CL the season after Pogba finally followed the money back to Man U? I'm a petty bitch, it's fine. 

[wanderingstar]

So, Juventus to win vs. Real on June 3 in Cardiff? I think it's Juve's time. They have looked great throughout the Champions League this season, and I just don't see Real getting past that defnese.

[JustaPerson]

Xabi Alonso and Philipp Lahm played their final games today. Danke and gracias to 2 legends!

[wanderingstar]

I can't believe Xabi has retired. Feels like just yesterday he was joining Real.

[Fukui San]

Oof. No World Cup for the US this time around as they lose to the worst team in their group and two other results go the wrong way as well. Total disaster.

[JustaPerson]

Oof indeed. The Netherlands not qualifying, I think is a bigger loss but they failed to qualify for the last Euros too so it's not that surprising. At least Messi and Ronaldo will be there?

[Fukui San]

Chile missing out as well seems to be a big deal.

[JustaPerson]

Yea, I didn't see that they hadn't made it when I wrote that. So many surprises and the World Cup hasn't even started. 

[ganesh]

This is the reason why USA not qualifying the the last two Olympics is so important. 

[Fukui San]

It's crazy everything that had to go wrong to eliminate the US.

This winning Panama goal never crossed the line.

This double-doink was the winning goal for Honduras.

And the two Trinidad and Tobago goals were a clearance shank that just evaded the keeper for an own goal, and a 35 yard prayer that was placed perfected.

If any one of these one in a thousand goals don't go against the US, then they're at least alive for a one game playoff vs. Australia. Crazy. Suffice it to say that the ball did not bounce their way today.

[ganesh]

Yeah but you don't want to leave it to chance. Put the game away and the test of that doesn't matter. 

[proserpina65]

16 hours ago, ganesh said:

This is the reason why USA not qualifying the the last two Olympics is so important. 

Yeah, player development is the weakness of the US program, and this really hurt those young guys who needed to replace the aging dinosaurs this year.

[ganesh]

They should have had a better mix of young players and vets. 

[galaxygirl76]

On 10/10/2017 at 9:21 PM, JustaPerson said:

Oof indeed. The Netherlands not qualifying, I think is a bigger loss but they failed to qualify for the last Euros too so it's not that surprising. At least Messi and Ronaldo will be there?

The Dutch team is a big steaming pile of flaming poop who think they are a world class team while in reality they haven't been in a long time. There doesn't seem to be any interest in looking into why it's going so wrong or admitting that we just don't have the talent right now. Robben is retiring from the national team and there are no big names left.

 

(I'm Dutch, I have a lot of feelings)

[MyAimIsTrue]

I'm not Dutch though I did vacation in your amazing country earlier this year, and I always root for the Dutch national team in the World Cup so I'm very sad they didn't qualify.  Over the years I've said they were the best team never to win it all and I still believe that.

[galaxygirl76]

4 hours ago, MyAimIsTrue said:

I'm not Dutch though I did vacation in your amazing country earlier this year, and I always root for the Dutch national team in the World Cup so I'm very sad they didn't qualify.  Over the years I've said they were the best team never to win it all and I still believe that.

Outside of 1974, which is still traumatic to people my parents age, I think the best chance they had to win a WC was in Italy 1990. That was the group that had won the previous EC and had the likes of Gullit, Van Basten, and Rijkaard playing. That team was destroyed by in-fighting and mismanagement by the coach and the rest of the staff.

 

I agree that my birth country is the best country to have never won a title and it's a shame. The European title of '88 is still one of the, if not THE, greatest moment in my country's sports history.

[ganesh]

Weren't they in the final against Spain? So they did have a shot fairly recently.

[proserpina65]

On ‎10‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 11:32 PM, galaxygirl76 said:

The Dutch team is a big steaming pile of flaming poop who think they are a world class team while in reality they haven't been in a long time. There doesn't seem to be any interest in looking into why it's going so wrong or admitting that we just don't have the talent right now. Robben is retiring from the national team and there are no big names left.

 

(I'm Dutch, I have a lot of feelings)

They were pretty good in Brazil in 2014.  But I'll agree that the World Cup qualifying campaign was bad.  There should be good young players coming up - there used to be on a regular basis - what's happened?

[proserpina65]

I cannot believe that Italy won't be in the World Cup next year.  That just seems like something from bizarre world.

[Flarking Schnit]

A World Cup NIT Tournament could kick ass (US, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland, Wales, Chile, Ghana, Cameroon, among others). Not surprisingly, US could easily be knocked out in first round.

[proserpina65]

The groups for the 2018 World Cup are set:

Group A — Russia, Uruguay, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Group B — Portugal, Spain, Iran, Morocco

Group C — France, Peru, Denmark, Australia

Group D — Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria

Group E — Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

Group F — Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

Group G — Belgium, England, Tunisia, Panama

Group H — Poland, Colombia, Senegal, Japan

 

Poor Iceland, they're in something of a Group of Death; the other contender is Group F.  Russia got an easy group, but they probably still won't advance out of the group round because they really are that bad.  England's got a good group for advancement.

[Morrigan2575]

23 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

Poor Iceland, they're in something of a Group of Death; the other contender is Group F.  Russia got an easy group, but they probably still won't advance out of the group round because they really are that bad.  England's got a good group for advancement.

I was in Iceland when they qualified for the World Cup. I now have a soft spot for them and hope they make it out of Group.

Italy and USA didn't even make the cut, so I only have Portugal to route for this time around.

Let's go Portugal and Iceland ?

Edited December 2, 2017 by Morrigan2575

[wanderingstar]

So, Manchester United get eliminated from the Champions League by Sevilla. I actually got to watch this match, and Sevilla deserved to win. Is this the end for Jose Mourinho?

Edited March 13, 2018 by Gillian Rosh

[ganesh]

Yeesh, you can't concede two goals at home. 

[wanderingstar]

So Manchester City and Liverpool are the only Premier League teams left in the Champions League. I'm curious to see how Manchester City performs - how far they go in the rest of the competition. They haven't done well the few years (save their one semi-final appearance), but with Pep at the helm now, they might have a better shot.

[wanderingstar]

UCL Quarterfinal draw:

• Sevilla vs. Bayern
• Liverpool vs. Manchester City
• Juventus vs. Real Madrid
• Barcelona vs. Roma

So, City, Juve, Barca, and Bayern to go through?

[proserpina65]

I think Liverpool stands a decent chance of eliminating City.

Arsenal made it to the Europa League quarterfinals - woo hoo!  They have to be praying they win it all.  Otherwise Wenger is probably gone.

[proserpina65]

Thank you, Liverpool, for vindicating my opinion that you stood a chance of eliminating City.  Now just don't blow it at the Etihad, and you'll be my second favorite Prem club.  For now, anyway.

[Athena]

17 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

Thank you, Liverpool, for vindicating my opinion that you stood a chance of eliminating City.  Now just don't blow it at the Etihad, and you'll be my second favorite Prem club.  For now, anyway.

I was so glad that they won as well. I think Klopp is currently my favourite EPL manager. It use to be Arsene, but not anymore sadly.

[wanderingstar]

How are Real Madrid still in this competition - and I say this as a fan.

I'm happy for Roma and Liverpool. One or both of them in the final would make me happy.

[AimingforYoko]

12 hours ago, Gillian Rosh said:

How are Real Madrid still in this competition - and I say this as a fan.

As a neutral observer, that was a penalty. Less sure about the Red for Buffon, but if he touched the ref...

[wanderingstar]

Semi-finals

• Liverpool vs. Roma
• Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich

Gimme that Liverpool-Bayern final, football gods!

Edited April 13, 2018 by Gillian Rosh

[wanderingstar]

I'm a Real Madrid fan, but I actually don't want to see them win the Champions League this season. I can't explain why, but I hope Bayern beats them in the semis. I know it means Zinedine Zidane (whom I've loved since the '98 World Cup final) will lose his job, but two CL titles in a row is enough. Plus, I just don't think they're good enough to win this season. The second leg against Juve is evidence enough of that.

I do think that Liverpool-Bayern would be a great final.

[wanderingstar]

Except for Liverpool's display against Roma in the first leg at Anfield, these semi-finals were a mess. I still don't know how Real Madrid are alive in this competition. They've done very little to distinguish themselves over the course of it. Anyway, I think Liverpool should be able to beat Real, but the defenses of these 2 two teams is like mutually assured destruction.

Edited May 4, 2018 by Gillian Rosh

[proserpina65]

Well, fuck.

[Silver Raven]

Platini says the 1998 World Cup draw was fixed so that France and Brazil could avoid each other until the final.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2776691-michel-platini-1998-world-cup-draw-fixed-for-france-to-avoid-brazil-until-final?

[ganesh]

Wouldn't they have been in the same pot for the draws anyway though? That would preclude them meeting until deeper into the tournament. 

[wanderingstar]

Crushed to see Mo Salah go off injured in the UCL final. 

Dramatic final, for all the wrong reasons.

[Fukui San]

Is this the right thread to ask why Zidane is stepping down as the manager of Real Madrid?