FU: So, whom are you all rooting for now?
I'm finding myself torn between seeking a new rooting interest and just hoping that everyone loses as comprehensively and painfully as we did. The latter option seems a touch unhealthy, but I have no personal connection to any of the remaining teams and thus no reason to root for them. (Well, technically I do have family roots in the Irish corners of Manchester, but the Irish part makes rooting for England a bit complicated...)
So, France? They're fun to watch, and their Black-Blanc-Beur thing is an aspirational good, but their best players ply their trade for truly odious clubs. Morocco? They're playing decent football this time, at least, but their bandwagon-jumping fans were pretty annoying in 2022, and the constant whistling when out of possession gets old. Spain? They were much more fun two years ago, when Yamal and Williams were running rampant, instead of playing this tiki-taka redux stuff. Belgium? Their pre-match histrionics and post-match trolling might have been warranted and well-done, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Norway? Fun story and the Viking row thing is cool, but I spend the rest of the year rooting against all things Haaland. Argentina? They're less obnoxious than in 2022, but I've had enough Argentine shithousery to last a lifetime. Switzerland? I almost fell asleep just thinking about it. Which leaves England, who play dull football but somehow gave us the best match of the tournament and, in Jude Bellingham, the best individual performance, plus Jordan Henderson's immortal statline of zero minutes, one yellow card, and a tournament-ending injury while singing "Wonderwall." But I really don't think I can stomach football coming home in New Jersey.
So, yeah, I guess I want everyone to lose. How about you guys?
it's coming home
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The Wire of God.
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VAR ignoring Pickford…
by PMan 
, The Banks of the Spokane River, Sunday, July 12, 2026, 13:44 (10 days ago) @ Bryan (IrishCavan)
speaking to opponents while covering his mouth.
Dan Burn deserving at least a yellow card on that forearm to the head on that final header.
I don't think that was a confrontation with Odegaard.
Odegaard was frustrated, but it was pretty friendly, I think.
He did it multiple times during the lead-in and aftermath...
by PMan , The Banks of the Spokane River, Monday, July 13, 2026, 10:13 (9 days ago) @ ndroman21
of all those Norway corners.
Norway - Haaland is a HUGE Caniac and that's good enough.
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"F--- everyone who isn't us."
#Team128
If Norway can manage to win
by Jack , Thursday, July 09, 2026, 11:21 (13 days ago) @ Chris
it would be one of the most amazing athletic years for a small country in the history of international athletics, after they smoked the competition in the Winter Olympics.
With a player as good as Haaland, it's certainly possible.
Without looking, I'm comfortable saying Haaland is the best
by Brendan 
, The Chemical and Oil Refinery State, Thursday, July 09, 2026, 12:05 (13 days ago) @ Jack
player they've ever had. Odegaard, if you'll excuse the Americanism, is probably also on their Mount Rushmore. Many of the traditional national powers have looked wobbly at times. If not now, when?
Actually, I did look, and even though he's only 25 the gulf between Haaland and everyone else is hilariously large. Haaland is Norway's most prolific Top 5 Euro league (Prem, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue Un) scorer ever with 174 goals between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City. Man United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær is next with 91. In Champions League play, it's Haaland atop the list with 57 and Solskjær again second with 19 - in 19 more CL games than Haaland has played. For the national team, Haaland again is on his own level with 62 goals (in 54 games) while Jørgen Juve, who played mostly in the 1930's, is second with 33 (in 45 games).
Odegaard, interestingly, is first all time in Top 5 club assists by Norwegians with 43, just ahead of Haaland with 40, and tenth in goals.
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"Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy." - Yeats
I’m a soccer dilettante, but
by Jack , Friday, July 10, 2026, 15:45 (12 days ago) @ Brendan
One player of his caliber on a team can sure make a difference, it would seem.
Dan Burn needs to have a game
He's really the only UK guy that can "size up" against Haaland and he's had good success in the past.
Dan Burn can't stop Haaland. Nobody can
If the ball gets anywhere near him, he's going to score. He's the best finisher on the planet, and it isn't particularly close. Playing Burn isn't a terrible idea, but the best way to keep Haaland from scoring is to shut down service. This means Rice, O'Reilly, and James, if healthy, or Konsa/Spence, all need to play brilliantly.
Also, at the risk of sounding pedantic, just FYI: it's England, not the UK. (Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all have their own national teams.)
That goal over Gabriel was ridiculous
by Brendan , The Chemical and Oil Refinery State, Thursday, July 09, 2026, 11:47 (13 days ago) @ HCE
My favorite complaint about Haaland is that he only scores easy goals. Do you know why they're easy? Do you think every team he plays against is desperately trying to keep him out of a position where they'll be easy for him? Do you know why they can't?
BECAUSE HE'S REALLY FUCKING GOOD.
The raw power, size, and speed are obviously very helpful, but he also knows where to be when and has a lion-like ability to smell when the defender is asleep or vulnerable. The one over Gabriel, who is legitimately a very good defender, is a perfect example. Gabriel had tabs on him, took his eyes off him, and Haaland - didn't pounce. He lurked. Once the ball was in the air and halfway to the spot, then he pounced, and it was too late. Continuing the leonine analogy, he's in the weeds until the throat is exposed and he only pounces when he knows it's too late for you to get it covered back up. Congratulations, you're dead.
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"Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy." - Yeats
Haaland first goal against Brazil speaks to your point
the Brazilian defender had forward position on Haaland when the ball was struck. Defender (??) lept and tried to seal Haaland off with his arms.
It was like a fly hitting the windshield.
Haaland just broke on the ball and ran right through the defenders arm (which sent him spinning throught air like a top) and had a clean play on the ball. His speed and strength were astonishing within that small space.
I'm not sure England has anyone besides Burn who can physically offer resistance to Haaland.
FWIW, UK was simply be being lazy and using the abbreviation on my phone as opposed to typing out England. Frankly I didn't think of the issue you mentioned at all.
Yeah, he does stuff like that every week
I don't know if you follow the Premier League at all, but Haaland scoring absurd goals is about as regular as English rain. He makes the extraordinary seem boring.
The thing is, though, that while Haaland might just be tbe best pure goalscorer who ever lived, he can't do anything else. He can't really pass or dribble, and he won't drop deep for the ball, a la Harry Kane, so he's not going to create chances for himself or anyone else.
That should be some comfort to England, who are talented and technical enough to shut down service from the midfield. Their options at right-back, on the other hand, should keep them up at night.
Funniest soccer video Ive seen lately
(sorry couldn’t find it now, not sure why)
But essentially, its defenders bouncing off Haaland as he scores. Play after play the little guys go splat like the bug on the windshield of a semi.
The video also explained Haaland’s Dad’s career which ended after some rough play and basically led Haaland’s Dad to tell him NEVER FLOP … EVER. (Huge props for that ideology imo)
I’d love to see Norway win it, but Mbappe and Olise have 19 points (ie goals & assists per player) combined right now for this WC. That’s top 2 or 3 all time for World Cup duos. France should win it easily. They’re the only team that has seemed really complete imo. So the way I see it, its basically France vs everyone else at this point.
Roy Keane ended Alfie Haaland's career
Keane (ManU) put in a dirty challenge against Haaland (Man City), which essentially ended his career. Keane later claimed he did it intentionally because Haaland had once told him to get up after Keane was seriously injured against Leeds United, Haaland's former club.
It’s a wild story.
by San Pedro , Friday, July 10, 2026, 06:16 (12 days ago) @ Bryan (IrishCavan)
Keane went down with a torn ACL. Haaland Sr. Immediately went over to him and screamed at him for diving. It was a classless act with Haaland. Keane then waited years to get his revenge. The ultimate FAFO. Keane was an absolute maniac.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShithouseSuperstars/comments/1pmj2d3/roy_keane_revenge_on_alfi...
Its still playing out today
Keane, now a commentator, spent a couple seasons throwing Erling under the bus. Originally Keane said Erling didnt belong in the premier league and that he was “like a League Two player” essentially throwing a ton of shade at Erling bc he didnt like his style of play (ie just focusing on scoring and not doing anything else for his team).
Erling then dominated and put up ridiculous numbers and Keane had to walk back his comment bc Erling clearly proved he not only is a phenom, but he’s going to also end up (most likely) being one of the permier leagues all time great goal scorers.
I prefer the more physical style of play, and hate flopping, but Keane really comes across as a complete asshat in this incident (w Erling (not the part about Haaland Sr)), but I’ll willingly admit I dont know Keane’s story that well so my opinion of him is pretty shallow at this point.
It's such a great, long held grudge. Keane is a nut.
by San Pedro , Monday, July 13, 2026, 11:16 (9 days ago) @ Mark
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I like the idea of anyone new winning it.
by PMan , The Banks of the Spokane River, Thursday, July 09, 2026, 09:19 (13 days ago) @ HCE
Except Belgium now.
Morocco, Norway, or the Swiss.
Still going to be the French.
Anyone but England
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what’s the beef
Just the Irish thing, or something about this particular team?
This English team is full of good dudes.
by San Pedro , Thursday, July 09, 2026, 10:10 (13 days ago) @ Jay
Some of whom went through a terrible ordeal after missing penalty kicks in Euro 2020. Their superfan hooligans are largely trash, but the team itself is very likeable in my opinion. Harry Kane and Declan Rice are as Irish as anyone on this board.
Yep. Kane's dad's from Galway, Rice's grandparents from Cork
by Jack , Thursday, July 09, 2026, 11:14 (13 days ago) @ San Pedro
edited by Jack, Thursday, July 09, 2026, 11:18
and Jude Bellingham is Irish on his father's side (Jamaican mother).
I didn't know that until the other day, though I suspected it and looked it up.
Vive la France!
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Also leaning that way
by Jack , Thursday, July 09, 2026, 11:19 (13 days ago) @ Dylan
Mbappe deserves to win the championship at least once, why not now?
Yeah. I think France & Argentina are the most complete teams
I see it in the top half of the bracket its France V Spain with France advancing (could go either way). Lower half England V Argentina with Argentina advancing.
France V Argentina for the Cup with the Frenchmen winning it all.
Not sure how "complete" Argentina is
given that they allowed four goals against Cape Verde and Egypt. That would indicate a very exploitable defense.
They're not complete at all. Completely fortunate so far.
by San Pedro , Thursday, July 09, 2026, 10:11 (13 days ago) @ BPH
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Their run defies all logic
Their tactics amount to "let's just hope our 39 year-old, MLS-based captain magically wins the game for us." The fact that this approach keeps working doesn't make it any less insane.
If Messi does manage to drag Argentina to the final, we'll need to consider the possibility that he is, in fact, a god.
I don't care for Messi, but his record is insane.
by San Pedro , Thursday, July 09, 2026, 10:27 (13 days ago) @ HCE
I don't know enough about soccer to say this, but I think he could be the greatest of all time. The quality of play in the sport has never been better, and he's dominant at 39!
I think he's dominant *in moments* at 39
by Brendan , The Chemical and Oil Refinery State, Thursday, July 09, 2026, 11:42 (13 days ago) @ San Pedro
which, lest anyone mistunderstand my position, is absolutely part of his genius. Zlatan said for him the greatest ever is Messi and there's no discussion to be had, because what makes Messi great is that he sees the game on another plane from everyone else. He's able to be effective at 39 not because his level of play is so consistently higher than everyone else's, but rather because he knows where the highest-leverage moments are and he turns it on in the right place at the right time to meet those moments.
His footy IQ is absolutely off the charts insanely high, and that's what has always separated him from everyone else. In his prime it let him put up absurd goal scoring numbers because he could also run all over everyone for 90 minutes. At this stage he can't be the fastest guy on the field for the full 90 anymore, but he can pick the exact five moments where if he's faster than you for five seconds it's lethal.
Came across a really good video recently too where a mathematician explained that Messi's "gravity" changes the geometry of the pitch. It's not just his individual brilliance, it's that the entire shape of the game shifts because of how much attention he draws and how effectively he lures defenders out of position.
People make fun of him walking or even standing on the pitch and... well... yeah, that's the point man. He leads the Golden Boot race over Mbappe, 12 years his junior, and Haaland, 14 years his junior. Ronaldo runs around plenty, but until he had a brace against lowly Uzbekistan in the group stage, Ronaldo hasn't scored from the run of play for Portugal in five years. I care more about the goals than the running.
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"Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy." - Yeats