International Soccer/Football & UEFA Champions League

[ganesh]

I wonder if he's eyeing another position. 

[wanderingstar]

On 5/31/2018 at 8:49 AM, Fukui San said:

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

The thinking among some pundits is that since Real Madrid is expected to be doing a lot of rebuilding this summer, Zidane didn't want to have to deal with that process. I'm also guessing he didn't want to get into the politics of the Ronaldo and Bale transfer sagas (frankly, I don't blame him on that one). 

It may just be that he didn't see what else he could do at RM after winning three UCLs in a row, which is understandable. 

While I loved having Zidane as RM manager, I get why he left. I wish him well. He is still one of my all-time favorite players.

Edited June 8, 2018 by Gillian Rosh

[Silver Raven]

With the 2026 World Cup going to "North America", does that mean that the US, Canada and Mexico all get a pass into the tournament?

[ganesh]

That may well be because this will be a 48 team tournament. 

[ganesh]

My assumption was correct.

They're going to have groups of 3 now though. So only 2 games to advance. That might be interesting in that teams could play with more urgency either to scoop the 3 points in the first game, or needing the win in the second game. Honestly, the first two group games can be conservative overall. 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/13/three-hosts-48-teams-how-the-2026-world-cup-will-work-united

[ganesh]

Ronaldo finally shows up in the world cup. 

[Fukui San]

Hey, so can some one educate me as to the mechanics of moving football players from club to club? Ronaldo gets sold from Real Madrid to Juventus. Who initiated it? Does the player have a say in where he goes? Are there ever true free agents? Trades? Salary caps? Thanks in advance. 

[Athena]

17 hours ago, Fukui San said:

Hey, so can some one educate me as to the mechanics of moving football players from club to club? Ronaldo gets sold from Real Madrid to Juventus. Who initiated it? Does the player have a say in where he goes? Are there ever true free agents? Trades? Salary caps? Thanks in advance. 

Juventus is buying Ronaldo's contract from Real Madrid for a 100m euro transfer fee. This is basically a buyout of the player's current contract from their old club. It is not the player's actual wages. In general, players have a say even if their old club agrees to it. There's more politics for bigger stars. Ronaldo has not been happy for a few years at Madrid and may not be getting along with the President of Real Madrid so they both wanted cash in/out. Ronaldo, his agent, his team of middlemen (lawyers, consultants, whomever) and Juventus all hash out a new contract which will include his actual wages. Juventus will need to pay the one-time transfer fee to Real Madrid and pay Ronaldo at least four times what they are paying their previous most expensive player. New clubs do their research and due diligence before making offers to other clubs. There are no salary caps, only what all parties agree to. You can read this article from the BBC on the basics of it. 

Free agents in football are basically players whose contracts are about to expire. They are allowed to negotiate and talk to new clubs the last six months before their contract expires, usually the January before the summer transfer. Since they will be free agents, there is no transfer fee which means they can sometimes negotiate a better wage because they are saving the new club money. Their old club may not renew/make a new contract for a few reasons: the player had a bad couple of years (injury or whatnot), doesn't get along with their team mates/ management/ coaching, they want save money, and/or buy other players. 

[ganesh]

With only Napoli being any real competition for Juve, Ronaldo is going to burn up Serie A. 

[proserpina65]

On ‎07‎/‎05‎/‎2018 at 2:23 PM, ganesh said:

With only Napoli being any real competition for Juve, Ronaldo is going to burn up Serie A. 

True, Serie A is a bit of a step down for him.  Don't get me wrong, I like Juve, but this is at best a lateral move for him.  But he hasn't been happy at Real for awhile and the money's probably going to be phenomenal.  And he'll get away from Spanish tax authorities.

[ganesh]

I suppose it's what he wants. He's done all he can at Madrid with trophies all over the place. He'll be in CL with Juve basically every year. Maybe he wants to get titles in as many leagues as he can. I mean, at this point, legacy-wise, he's playing with house money. 

[Danny Franks]

Well, I'm glad Ronaldo's moved on. I didn't want him finishing his career at Real Madrid, but nor did I want United to go and spend stupid money to bring him back. This way, he gets to win a couple of championships in Italy, to further fatten his record.

This also, hopefully, means Real will keep Bale, and save United from wasting money on him instead.

[galaxygirl76]

Evidently the workers at Fiat are unenthused about Ronaldo getting paid so much.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2785499-fiat-workers-to-strike-following-cristiano-ronaldos-transfer-to-juventus

[ganesh]

The CL draw is out and Napoli is screwed again. 

[Silver Raven]

Ada Hergerberg of the Norway national team was awarded the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or, and the guy hosting the event asked her to twerk.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ada-hegerberg-s-historic-moment-overshadowed-twerk-request-n943371?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

[proserpina65]

Oh Arsenal, why do I ever expect anything of you in Europe?

[proserpina65]

On ‎12‎/‎05‎/‎2018 at 1:35 AM, Silver Raven said:

Ada Hergerberg of the Norway national team was awarded the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or, and the guy hosting the event asked her to twerk.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ada-hegerberg-s-historic-moment-overshadowed-twerk-request-n943371?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

I know it's old, but that's not exactly what happened.  He jokingly asked her if she knew how to twerk, allegedly in the context of her being great at everything else.  Now, I'm not saying that was good, either, but it's not quite the outrage some reporting has made it appear.  Hegerberg herself seemed more taken aback to the reaction than to what he actually said.

[AimingforYoko]

Bigger choke at home: Real or PSG?

[ganesh]

Real. 
PSG only gets so far on their star power. I don't really expect them to make the quarters. 

[wanderingstar]

PSG really do specialize in tanking second legs, don't they?

[ganesh]

They're like the 1980s New York Yankees in baseball. They paid for all these top players and never got anywhere. 

[wanderingstar]

No talk about the rollecoaster Manchester City-Tottenham game this week? I didn't see it live, but there was so much chatter about it online that I watched it OnDemand, and it was indeed a great game. I actually felt bad for Pep and Man City when Sterling's goal was disallowed (and I'm not a Pep or MC fan).

[AimingforYoko]

Has someone checked on John Oliver? Has he died from giddiness?

[ganesh]

That goal was total stealth. 

[AimingforYoko]

Damn, Spurs saw Liverpool's miracle and said, "That's cute, now watch this."

[Fukui San]

So....  this isn’t normal, is it? Two big comebacks back to back?

[ganesh]

I don't know if it's that EPL teams have a better mental toughness because the league is better, or the Ajax and Barca just didn't have the mental acuity to play a second leg or what. I have no idea. 

I mean, as stealth as Liverpool was for the fourth goal, there's no way the Barca GK should play a game of pro soccer ever again. He's the single defensive player in charge on a free kick. 

[Fukui San]

Prematch speech before the finals: "Alright lads, whatever you do, do NOT go up 3-0."

[DoctorAtomic]

*What is going on in Chelsea?!!!!*

[El maestro]

Barcelona has a blessing and a curse: Messi. They depend too much on him.

[AimingforYoko]

Man City banned from Champions League by UEFA for the next two seasons.

[AimingforYoko]

Diego "Hand of God" Maradona dies at 60.

[wanderingstar]

So, 12 of Europe's top clubs have announced they're forming a Super League. I know this has been coming for a while, but it's still shocking to see an actual announcement.

[DoctorAtomic]

I thought UEFA said they wouldn't be eligible for Champions League.

[emmawoodhouse]

22 minutes ago, DoctorAtomic said:

I thought UEFA said they wouldn't be eligible for Champions League.

That's what I understand. 

[DoctorAtomic]

PBS News was just reporting FIFA saying players might not be able to play in World Cup matches. 

 

[isalicat]

They, whomever "they" are, needs to shut this Super League thing down ASAP. Since its all about $$$ (as some of the bigger clubs are in a deep financial morass due to the Covid), maybe some sort of governmental tax breaks or other incentives would be helpful (given that at least in England both Boris and Prince William (the head of the British FA) are opposed to the Super League, you think they could make this happen). It will kill footie. :(

[emmawoodhouse]

I just read that Chelsea is backing out. Hopefully, others will follow.

[DoctorAtomic]

ManCity just now according to my cbs sports alert. 

[emmawoodhouse]

Yup, just got the alert about Man City. 

[xaxat]

Congratulations Super League! You have supplanted New Coke as the worst product rollout ever!

(The next ownership meeting in the PL sure is going to be fun!)

Edited April 20, 2021 by xaxat

[AimingforYoko]

All six EPL clubs are out; ManU CEO Ed Woodward to step down at the end of the season.

[DoctorAtomic]

Forget it then. You can't do it with no EPL clubs. 

[emmawoodhouse]

Agreed. The Super League is donezo.

eta Just saw that Inter has also withdrawn. 

Edited April 21, 2021 by emmawoodhouse

[xaxat]

It's Brexit's fault!

 

[DoctorAtomic]

Any takeaway from the Champions League final?

I was rooting for Chelsea, but they kind of just hung on in the second half. I thought they would have countered more. 

Sweet goal though. 

[DoctorAtomic]

Please tell me someone else is watching these Euro matches today.

[emmawoodhouse]

2 hours ago, DoctorAtomic said:

Please tell me someone else is watching these Euro matches today.

No, but I wish I had. WOW! France is OUT!

[proserpina65]

3 hours ago, DoctorAtomic said:

Please tell me someone else is watching these Euro matches today.

Oh yeah, didn't see all of the Spain-Croatia one, but the France-Switzerland match was off the hook.  And Arsenal's own Granit Xhaka was man of the match.  Which he absolutely deserved, because he and his stupid q-tip hair was everywhere.  (Like Xhaka, hate the hair.)  So now I'll be rooting for the Swiss.

If I had done a bracket, the Netherlands' shock loss would've busted it, but this would've as well.

I like most of the teams in the quarterfinals, though I would've preferred the Dutch to the Czechs.  (Nothing against the Czechs, but the Dutch World Cup team in 1998 was my first soccer love.)  Now all I need is England to beat Germany and I'll be happy.  Doesn't matter to me whether Sweden or Ukraine go through; I like them both.

[DoctorAtomic]

France gave the game away imo. I don't know if France thought the Swiss were just going to quit or what, but once they got into ET France seemed disoriented. I actually like the players, so I'm not trashing them because they're favored or anything, MBappe blew it in ET going with his left foot instead of opening up with the right. I'm curious as to why he went last too. I said before they started he should have gone third. Giroud should have been last. 

I mean, I can't believe not only 3-3, but the way all the goals were scored - long range, header, breakaway. Even the PKs were killer. 

I don't know if Hazard is going to play, but I think winner of Italy/Belgium is the champ. I root for Belgium, again, I like a lot of the players.