General Chat / World Cup 2014

Poor Wondolowski...never again will his life be the same

Felaini gets picked because he is one of the only players in the Belgian squad who is a serious threat in the air. 

Congrats to Belgium, absolutely deserved the win. Probably the greatest defensive performance from the US the whole WC, and absolutely nonexistent attack. My life is empty now.

I'm curious, can any American point out if soccer is seen as big as baseball or American Football in the USA currently or how it compares to those?

I don't follow any of them, but judging from my family via Facebook, the order is football > baseball > soccer by rather large margins.

I agree with Ling, but during this World Cup people were super into it. Bosses telling their employees to go home an hour early to watch the game today, my city had a big party beforehand, and just general interest in the sport. But it'll probably fade again now that we've lost. 

I went to a Buffalo Wild Wings a few days ago and some dude was WAY too into it. Screaming, smacking the bar, fists in the air, yelling at people, chanting. Sadly he was the only one in a restaurant full of ~30 people.

I'm curious, can any American point out if soccer is seen as big as baseball or American Football in the USA currently or how it compares to those?

The most popular sport can vary depending on where you are but generally it's...

 

American Football (NFL, College and or High School depending on location)

Baseball (MLB)

Basketball (NBA or College Depending on Location)

Hockey (NHL)

Nascar (lol god bless 'Murrica)

Football (Soccer)

 

In some cities like Boston, Los Angeles and New York Baseball is more popular than football but it's rare. Generally the further north you go the more popular Hockey is and the further south you go the more popular Nascar is. Personally I have no interest in Nascar and my favorite sports are baseball and hockey but it all depends.

 

That being said there are a lot of soccer fans in this country, and everyone got really excited about the world cup. We're generally not very informed about the sport but we got caught up in the hype, and I think a lot of Americans came away from this world cup with a new appreciation for the sport... I know I did.

 

I remember a few years ago being in a bar that was packed with people watching the English Premier league so there are some hardcore American soccer (football) fans.

I went to a Buffalo Wild Wings a few days ago and some dude was WAY too into it. Screaming, smacking the bar, fists in the air, yelling at people, chanting. Sadly he was the only one in a restaurant full of ~30 people.

 

Yet another reason to never go to BW3s. 

Buffalo Wild Wings is the greatest place ever.

tim howard was the bro of the game

Tim Howard now holds the record for the most saves made in a World Cup game. I believe the figure was 15 or 16. Unbelievable performance.

Is Nascar a sport? I thought it was an event that takes place once a year where people just drive in a circle. Is there a season? Are there other shapes that they drive? 

About the world cup, it's a shame the US are out, I like their team. However, I liked Belgium more.

^It's a season, they drive in a circle at lots of different locations throughout the year. How thriling!

Well that actually sounds fun. It doesn't always have to be complicated. 

Most NASCAR tracks (>85%) are ovals, but there are two road courses and a triangle. Actually, a lot of the "ovals" are actually not true ovals, and are kind of shaped like trapezoids. http://en.wikipedia....ion_.28shape.29

Is Nascar a sport? I thought it was an event that takes place once a year where people just drive in a circle. Is there a season? Are there other shapes that they drive? 

About the world cup, it's a shame the US are out, I like their team. However, I liked Belgium more.

 

 

It's accepted as a sport but I really don't feel like it is. The only people doing anything that involves any physical effort are the pit crews who change tires but I don't consider my local mechanic an athlete so I don't see how people call Nascar a sport.

 

Personally I think Nascar is incredibly stupid, as do the majority of people in the Northeastern United States.

i suppose nascar is a sport in the same way that F1 is a sport, though F1 and le mans take a lot more skill

How we Belgians feel at this moment:

 

 

 

 

Perfect representation of the game:

 

 

 

 

 

How we feel about the quarter final against Argentina:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Please don't take those images above not too seriously, only posted as a joke and still in a rush)

 

 

What a game... what a game... what a game... I still can't believe it! I had my doubts about the game because Belgium wasn't really strong in the previous game and USA has a physically strong team and a big winning mentality (and they survived the group of death). 

 

But the game from yesterdag is just the best one I've seen in my life. Finally we played without stress, like real Devils and we just dominated from the start until the end! Our game play was world class, our finishing could be better but Howard was simply amazing, best goalie performance on the WC (since 50 years or so I've read?). He seems like a nice guy so good for him, but fortunately we go to the quarter finals!

 

Sick stats btw:

 

- Belgium have had more shots than any other team on the WC 2014 (83). We also have the most attempts at target (32).

 

- Kevin De Bruyne has created 10 chances against Team USA. The most for a WC player in one match sinds 1982!

 

- Team USA had made 67 clearances against Belgium, one more than England in their 3 games combined...

 

- Only 3 teams between 1966 & 2014 have recorded more shots in a match than Belgium vs. Team USA (39).

 

- Howard saved 15 (or 16?) goal attempts in the game vs. Belgium, which is a new record... 

 

 

 

Tim Howard should get his face on Mount Rushmore lol. I'm still enjoying, can't believe we played that good. I'm looking forward what they'll do against Argentina!

 

regardless of who won the best thing about that Bel-Usa was that no team ever felt the need to play dirty or dive to get the upperhand, it was a very fair match and that was an achievement on it's own by both teams... How often in a knockout stage of an event like this do you see players disgracing themselves for a penalty or a free kick? WAY TOO OFTEN.

 

Honestly Argentina and Switzerland should've both been eliminated and the Usa and Belgium should've both progressed.