The game knowledge thing is fascinating to me

by Regular Joseph , Tuesday, July 07, 2026, 18:44 (15 days ago) @ HullieAndMikes

I'm on the record here as a soccer philistine who thinks it's boring, but even I can tell a distinct difference between the Belgian "one, two three and the ball's where we want it to be" and the labored US probing. It's crazy to watch as someone who has no background. They just know space and motion on the pitch in a pre-cognitive way that seems like magic to me.

I mentioned basketball in my last post, but in that game which I know how to play, I can appreciate motion with and without the ball. Even at the NBA level there is often a distinct difference between teams in ball movement and game sense even in the playoffs, but it doesn't work as the trump card it seems to in soccer. Anthony Edwards can make consistenly mediocre passing reads, but still beat Jokic in a series. Talent, tactics, or effort seem to play a bigger role.

Another aspect of my critique of soccer from earlier is repeated frustration at seeing the US just get toyed with by advanced teams. It's very clear they're playing a game I, and seemingly our players, don't understand. It makes me want to stamp my feet in frustration.