Also holy shit Messi gets blocked on penalty.

Nov 30, 2022 19:39:53 GMT All34LOL said:

Also holy shit Messi gets blocked on penalty.

Wojciech Szczesny is the real.

Austraila probably doesn't want Argentina to win the group but the way Szcesny is playing, your lucky to just get 1 goal. That might be all you need to beat Poland though, they have nothing going as far as possession goes. Textbook playing for the draw as it gets. 

Just as I say that, the dude with the Scottish last name gets Argentina on board

Wojizzle Sczecsizzle is amazing. Just saw the save. Shame the rest of his team isn’t helping.

Same as his time at Arsenal tbf

Guys made some great saves today… but as you’ve all said can’t do it on your own.

I'm still recovering. Amazing performance again by the boys, it was a completely different game to Tunisia where they had to hang tough during the first half when Denmark was completely dominating - but this team really has a fighting spirit. No one has really believed in them all the way through, the qualification period was a slog, no one backed them in the elimination game against Peru, and everyone wrote them off after being squashed by France, but you can just tell there is a real togetherness and never say die attitude throughout the squad.

I think a workmanlike team like this equalling what the mythologised 2006 Golden Generation did could be a huge moment for Australian football, I'm not ignoring some of the obvious improvements we can make, but it might be just the tonic to get past our cultural cringe. Bring on Argentina!

Nov 30, 2022 23:40:32 GMT @admin said:

I'm still recovering. Amazing performance again by the boys, it was a completely different game to Tunisia where they had to hang tough during the first half when Denmark was completely dominating - but this team really has a fighting spirit. No one has really believed in them all the way through, the qualification period was a slog, no one backed them in the elimination game against Peru, and everyone wrote them off after being squashed by France, but you can just tell there is a real togetherness and never say die attitude throughout the squad.

I think a workmanlike team like this equalling what the mythologised 2006 Golden Generation did could be a huge moment for Australian football, I'm not ignoring some of the obvious improvements we can make, but it might be just the tonic to get past our cultural cringe. Bring on Argentina!

Congratulations again man, sincerely.

Nov 30, 2022 23:40:32 GMT @admin said:

I'm still recovering. Amazing performance again by the boys, it was a completely different game to Tunisia where they had to hang tough during the first half when Denmark was completely dominating - but this team really has a fighting spirit. No one has really believed in them all the way through, the qualification period was a slog, no one backed them in the elimination game against Peru, and everyone wrote them off after being squashed by France, but you can just tell there is a real togetherness and never say die attitude throughout the squad.

I think a workmanlike team like this equalling what the mythologised 2006 Golden Generation did could be a huge moment for Australian football, I'm not ignoring some of the obvious improvements we can make, but it might be just the tonic to get past our cultural cringe. Bring on Argentina!

Very impressed by the effort of AUS and it's not just one guy who scores, it's a team that has a bunch of guys who believe they have the knock for scoring. 

I only knew Australia soccer for the head of Tim Cahill and how dynamic he was but I think their quality has been better since moving over to the AFL rather than the Oceania(Correct me if I am wrong there). 

Seeing the scenes of how crazy fans have gotten for this team is pretty crazy, very similar to the US fanbase here for the USMNT. Both in the shadows of their superior women's sides but both have a very passionate fanbase even if it falls behind other sports. I assume Cricket & Rugby are still the premiere sports of your country but maybe soccer can get past Basketball for 3rd, then again guys like Andrew Bogut and once longtime PW Australia poster Tommy's crush Patty Mills have done so well in the international scene so there might still be work to be done. 

Wonder who AUS would want if they (somehow) progress to the final 8. Dutch? USA?

Dec 1, 2022 3:26:12 GMT Blindy said:

Nov 30, 2022 23:40:32 GMT @admin said:

I'm still recovering. Amazing performance again by the boys, it was a completely different game to Tunisia where they had to hang tough during the first half when Denmark was completely dominating - but this team really has a fighting spirit. No one has really believed in them all the way through, the qualification period was a slog, no one backed them in the elimination game against Peru, and everyone wrote them off after being squashed by France, but you can just tell there is a real togetherness and never say die attitude throughout the squad.

I think a workmanlike team like this equalling what the mythologised 2006 Golden Generation did could be a huge moment for Australian football, I'm not ignoring some of the obvious improvements we can make, but it might be just the tonic to get past our cultural cringe. Bring on Argentina!

Very impressed by the effort of AUS and it's not just one guy who scores, it's a team that has a bunch of guys who believe they have the knock for scoring. 

I only knew Australia soccer for the head of Tim Cahill and how dynamic he was but I think their quality has been better since moving over to the AFL rather than the Oceania(Correct me if I am wrong there). 

Seeing the scenes of how crazy fans have gotten for this team is pretty crazy, very similar to the US fanbase here for the USMNT. Both in the shadows of their superior women's sides but both have a very passionate fanbase even if it falls behind other sports. I assume Cricket & Rugby are still the premiere sports of your country but maybe soccer can get past Basketball for 3rd, then again guys like Andrew Bogut and once longtime PW Australia poster Tommy's crush Patty Mills have done so well in the international scene so there might still be work to be done. 

Wonder who AUS would want if they (somehow) progress to the final 8. Dutch? USA?

We definitely don't have any big stars, and although our lack of players playing in the top European leagues has been bemoaned for a long time now, we're in a better position now than a few years ago with a lot of the team playing regularly in the SPL and Championship rather than in the Arab and Asian leagues. 

Moving to Asia (AFC not AFL) has obviously helped because we play regular competitive games, rather than having two every four years which doomed us repeatedly prior to 2006. 

Soccer is definitely more popular than basketball here, both in participation and viewership terms. More people play soccer than Aussie rules and both rugby codes combined, but we have some major problems with talent development because of poor structuring and exorbitant fees (as I've heard is also the case in the US). We also haven't progressed our domestic league setup anywhere near far enough over the past 15 years. 

Morocco have been so impressive, just relentless.

While I'm happy that Canada made the World Cup, I can't help but feel extremely disappointed that we STILL couldn't get one fucking point!

Two World Cups, zero points.

Dec 1, 2022 16:55:32 GMT CM Punk'd said:

While I'm happy that Canada made the World Cup, I can't help but feel extremely disappointed that we STILL couldn't get one fucking point!

Two World Cups, zero points.

Nobody projected us to finish anywhere but the bottom of the group. Belgium should have stomped us and underachieved making a red hot Canada look better than they were. Croatia did what everyone expected and toyed with our midfield and could have scored 8 goals if they wanted to. Morocco played better than anyone expected and won the group.

When you have people on TV saying your best bet at advancing is trying to hold other teams to a draw, you’re not going anywhere. Canada played great offensively and have a lot of young talent that gets to play on home turf in 2026. I’m incredibly excited to see what happens next.

GERMANY IS OUT!!!

Good for Japan! I’ve enjoyed watching them play. They went for it and again their subs make the difference.

Beating Spain and Germany is an unreal effort by Japan. People have been prematurely predicting the rise of African & Asian countries for quite a while now, but this might genuinely be something resembling a changing of the guard with five (with an outside chance of a sixth) through to the second round. There were six in the previous three World Cups combined.

Had a really busy day and didn't get to see much of anything and only saw Canada highlights on my lunch break. That first Morocco goal, man...yikes. I gotta think that Canada has a new keeper for 2026, I just don't know who. And obviously their defence needs work but that was already known coming into this. CONCACAF seems to have a hard-on for fast-paced games with lots of attacking, which is the kind of style Canada built themselves for in order to qualify. But mid-field and defence needs to be just as solid if not better in order to succeed. Still lots of work to do on that end for Canada.

I hope Lukaku shuts the fuck up forever after today. He should have had 4 goals. He looked completely shook and almost like he was trying to fuck up. Window is closed for Belgium it seems. Can't see them doing any better in 2026, if they even qualify. The way things are going they have an uphill battle with a declining team.

If you told me Germany, Belgium and Denmark would all be out after the group stage I would have asked what drugs you were taking. Unbelievable.

Super happy Japan won. I was rooting for them in that group and they took it. Really exciting team to watch and their fans are unreal. I hope they get a good match up when elimination games start. No idea how that is decided and I'm too lazy to look it up. I'm pulling for them going forward now that Canada is out (well, and England too, obviously, but I've always cheered for them so it goes without saying).

Japan plays Croatia, should be a good match.

And CONCACAF is down to one more team, is time to put all the eggs in the USA basket. Mexico and Costa Rica gave better final efforts that I gave them credit for but it's all for naught.

It's been by far the worst continent of soccer thus far of this tourney.

I think Uruguay is joining those powerhouses as well out the door, been really liking this young Ghana side. They are the lowest ranked side outside of Qatar but they have put on a lot of good shows in their games. Even gave Portugal a fight. 

Despite there being a couple players for Uruguay I enjoy watching, I’m rooting for Ghana too… they have been fun as hell to watch.


I’m behind Japan as well, have family there who are head over heels about the team. And they have proven themselves a team to be reckoned with.

Dec 2, 2022 1:42:24 GMT Blindy said:

Japan plays Croatia, should be a good match.

And CONCACAF is down to one more team, is time to put all the eggs in the USA basket. Mexico and Costa Rica gave better final efforts that I gave them credit for but it's all for naught.

It's been by far the worst continent of soccer thus far of this tourney.

I think Uruguay is joining those powerhouses as well out the door, been really liking this young Ghana side. They are the lowest ranked side outside of Qatar but they have put on a lot of good shows in their games. Even gave Portugal a fight. 

Think I spoke too soon on all accounts here, Uruguay has been the better side today. Ghana's defense has these lapses that make a team who with passes can give up a golden opportunity of a goal. What was surprising was that after the missed penalty kick, Ghana has lost any bite after that. 

Inconsistent reffing in this game but… it hasn’t changed the outcome… yet.

South Korea plays with tremendous flair, much like Japan. What an effort in the extras to take down Portgual and put themselves through barring late Uruguay magic.

@admin was right, Asia is really putting in the work. Had no idea about the South Koreans. 

Seeing Luis Suarez cry on the bench and Uruguay fans in shambles in the stands just made my day.

You know I think they’d should have had a penalty on the Nunez one. I mean every angle that’s a foul.


The ref had Suarez in his face all night, and Uruguay bitched about several other in box dust Ups that I don’t think rose to the level of penalty… and they are known for dives and what not. No wonder the ref didn’t want any of it.

And then they basically chased the refs off the pitch at the end.


Good riddance for my tastes.



Happy for South Korea.

Uruguay have always acted like it’s an insult they have to actually compete for the World Cup instead of FIFA just awarding it to them. They give off the biggest “don’t you know who I am?” vibes. Like it’s an inconvenience they have to play.

They are the worst of the worst when it comes to fair play imo. It’s like they are raised being told they are special and amazing but also play dirty because Argentina and Brazil will always be better than you. :lol:

USA needs to play brave and with fearlessness today to win this. Score early and defend your heart out. Cannot make this a game of up and down, Dutch will feast if so.

Dec 3, 2022 14:55:25 GMT Blindy said:

USA needs to play brave and with fearlessness today to win this. Score early and defend your heart out. Cannot make this a game of up and down, Dutch will feast if so.

Pulisic misses a golden chance but Walking in Memphis does not for Dutch, 1-0. Different class of talent really.

Down 1-0 is probably enough to beat America. We can barely score against Iran.

Dec 3, 2022 15:23:47 GMT KING KID said:

Down 1-0 is probably enough to beat America. We can barely score against Iran.

If 1-0 is enough, then 2-0 would be insurmountable. 

The Americans got broken apart and smoked like a Dutch.

Get it?

🤯 you get it right?

@ness gets it but doesn’t understand why he’s in the Sports Empire.