The Beautiful Game Thread

[VTPack919]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Chucho Benitez vs Per Mertesacker for a header. El oh El.

[dubcity]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

I really want to get into soccer..its confusing with all the different leagues though. I never know what the hell is going on. I have no idea why, but I seem to have a thing for Chelsea..thats the only team I know about.

Can someone explain the different leagues to me? Like when each season starts because there never seems to be an off season for soccer.

Well, most of the leagues around the world start in August and finish in May/June, but all of the international team play and the promotional club friendlies do make it seem like it's a year round thing. Like last weekend Manchester City played Chelsea at Yankee Stadium, and today's England/Ireland friendly. The MLS is an exception; they play their season from March to October just to be annoying.

I can understand having a thing for Chelsea, they are up there with the top teams in the world in terms of exposure.

[Bruins]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

The MLS is an exception; they play their season from March to October just to be annoying.

That's a pretty ignorant statement.

[dubcity]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

That's a pretty ignorant statement.

Heh, sorry. I was just being a smartass.

[Gonira]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

atlético mineiro is a brazilian team famous for having one of the most passionate fan bases of all. but despite always being considered one of the top 10 elite teams on the country, they unfortunately have a rather unsuccessful history when it comes to winning championships.

despite being runner-ups of the brazilian league last year, the one and only league title of atlético happened in 1971. 42 years ago.

they also never won the copa libertadores (south american "ucl"). never even reached the finals.

the last decade was terrible, arguably the worst in atletico's history, including a league relegation in 2006 (promoted back in 2007 though).

all in all, a very sad record for a very passionate team. fans are hungry for an important title, very hungry.

i happen to be one of them. proudly.

2013 was seeming to be a turning point in the team's history. incredible football shown in the libertadores, undisputably the best team in this year's competition, perhaps the best team in atlético's history. a top squad for brazilian standards, led by ronaldinho (yes, him) playing his top football, possibly the best player of atlético's history already, a true maestro, joga bonito.

the best record between all the 32 teams on the cup's first round (5 wins, 1 loss). two wins on the round of 16 against the almighty são paulo, including a 4-1 in the home game.

and then the quarter finals came.

2-2 in the away game against mexico's tijuana, after being two goals behind. a tie that was strongly celebrated. because now we only had to draw in the home game, with our VERY LOUD fans pushing the team to the victory.



atlético's record on its new stadium that was reopened in 2012 was so far 26W-8D-0L

i mean: they never lost a game there. 34 times, never lost. if you count home games in different stadiums, the record in the last 48 games is even more impressive: 40W-8D-0L. and they only had to draw against a random mexican team. ez game ya


but no. they didn't play their best. tijuana has shown to be a strong challenge. we managed to keep the game tied anyway.





1-1 until the 91st minute.




and then this happened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFxIYRshmPs

i had to make this lenghty post so you could understand what all of this that has happened yesterday on these 2 shocking minutes means to us as fans.

but actually, words can't describe.


i cried like a baby.
really... i'm crying now.


anyone that doesn't LOVE football has to be a deeply sad person.

what a game this is.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

That was an iffy penalty call. Glad your team didn't get knocked out because of it.

[steelerfan]

That was amazing Gonira. Thanks for sharing, I don't follow much outside of Europe, when it comes to football. Congrats, and best of luck going forward.

I'm using Tapatalk 2 and the Cleveland Browns STILL suck.

[HKPound]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Living in San Diego we have a good amount of Tijuana fans and boy were they pissed about blowing the lead at home as well as not making that PK. People were going crazy for Ronaldinho though. It's a bit ironic because El Tri fans have thought of so highly of themselves after beating Brazil, but the majority of them have Brazil kits and worship Ronaldinho.

[Gonira]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

i feel mexicans have a lot of admiration for brazilian football since we won the world cup of 1970 there (with what many people here consider the best football squad of all times). they are very nice people and really competent in football. i always support their squad in international competitions - when it's not against brazil, obv

and who in the world would not worship ronaldinho? he's the man =D

[HKPound]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

i feel mexicans have a lot of admiration for brazilian football since we won the world cup of 1970 there (with what many people here consider the best football squad of all times). they are very nice people and really competent in football. i always support their squad in international competitions - when it's not against brazil, obv

and who in the world would not worship ronaldinho? he's the man =D

Yeah I think it's a part of why they thought so highly of themselves after beating Brazil in the finals of the Olympics.

[Mo]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

FOX Sports has won the US English-speaking media rights to the European qualifiers for Euro 2016 and FIFA World Cup 2018. But in a new development, announced by FOX Sports today, FOX has a sublicense arrangement with ESPN where both networks will split the games 50/50....

ESPN, the UEFA EURO 2016 rights holder, plans to offer its more than 270 qualifying matches across ESPN networks – ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN and ESPN3. ESPN has also attained highlights rights for studio programs including SportsCenter, ESPN’s new daily soccer program ESPN FC on TV and ESPN FC. During the UEFA EURO 2016 qualification cycle, ESPN has first selection from each week’s pool of games leading into its tournament coverage.
Qualifying matches for the UEFA EURO 2016 and 2018 FIFA World Cup are slated for carriage across several FOX Sports platforms, including FOX Sports 1; FOX Sports GO, launching this summer; FOX Soccer Plus; and FOX Soccer 2Go. During the World Cup qualification cycle, FOX Sports has first selection from each week’s game pool leading up to its coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

http://epltalk.com/2013/06/04/fox-sports-to-split-european-qualifiers-with-espn-for-euro-2016-world-cup-2018/

[Leon]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Welcome, Crystal Palace!

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gRzBNGGb-zc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[HKPound]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Corona again saved Mexico against Jamaica. Huge saves on set pieces, this time to secure 3 points.

[Ermolli]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LAExZjcwydk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[gopher_guy]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LAExZjcwydk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Holy crap that's impressive.