Modern soccer is not funny to watch

[Bagge]

Did you miss the last World Cup?

Nope, should I miss something?

 

[Suiteness]

Nope, should I miss something?

I meant miss as in "did you not see" the last world cup. It was a shit show of low block 5-5-0 football, just ugly for the most part.

 

[Bagge]

I meant miss as in "did you not see" the last world cup. It was a shit show of low block 5-5-0 football, just ugly for the most part.

I know, but I still think 2008-2014 was worse. If you cant remember it, its probably because there was nothing good to remember.

 

[Jussi]

So boring...

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Thanks for the jinx!

The games today are amazing!

 

[Blender]

Only thing that is funny is how terribly this thread has aged, and it already started from a poor place.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Only thing that is funny is how terribly this thread has aged, and it already started from a poor place.

Rarely do things age this much in 1 day, this should be congratulated.

 

[sr edler]

Football today feels kinda generic. I see some of the same tendencies, a lot of pin-balling & deflections, as in hockey. It's probably even worse in football. From what I've seen so far this tourney, it's a lot of that. You've gotta miss a virtuoso like Bergkamp.

Also, why aren't Serbia in the tourney? Do they suck so much nowadays?

I watched the Croatia vs Spain highlights, and despite all of the goals, it felt like watching a game between the Minnesota Wild and the Phoenix Coyotes, or something.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Football today feels kinda generic. I see some of the same tendencies, a lot of pin-balling & deflections, as in hockey. It's probably even worse in football. From what I've seen so far this tourney, it's a lot of that. You've gotta miss a virtuoso like Bergkamp.

Also, why aren't Serbia in the tourney? Do they suck so much nowadays?

I watched the Croatia vs Spain highlights, and despite all of the goals, it felt like watching a game between the Minnesota Wild and the Phoenix Coyotes, or something.

Serbia have some individual talent but play lifeless football and no one misses them.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Atleast since 2010 soccer have lost gigantic step in entertainment.

Todays game is all about running and passing. You hardly see any dribbling anymore, not much scoring chances and physical play is not allowed. It was not like this in the 90s and 2000-2010.

How do people enjoy the current game?

14 goals in two games today and non stop action: this aged like a wheel of gorgonzola marinating in the sewers of Kolkata in a 110F / 43C day.

 

[Eye of Ra]

14 goals in two games today and non stop action: this aged like a wheel of gorgonzola marinating in the sewers of Kolkata in a 110F / 43C day.

i just miss those dribbles we saw so often in the 90s. everything is so robotic today.

 

[garbageteam]

Today’s games were higher scoring than NHL games against Detroit or Buffalo.
That 5 sub rule has got to stay, fresher legs in the latter half of the game and less doggedly tired players.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Serbia have some individual talent but play lifeless football and no one misses them.

what is wrong with them? serbia has to be the "best" nation that underrachives. if their cousins croatia can figure things out so could serbia.

 

[Maestro84]

Tbh international events usually have lower quality than domestic leagues in Europe but it's the raw energy and emotion from the fans, players, and personnel during these international events that make them so awesome

 

[PanniniClaus]

what is wrong with them? serbia has to be the "best" nation that underrachives. if their cousins croatia can figure things out so could serbia.

There are probably some Serbs that know better than me but i have watched a number of their qualifiers over the last few years and they are pedestrian. The whole is not equal to the sum of the parts...

 

[Suiteness]

Two games today that had more goals than an entire round of the group stage is an exception not the rule.

 

[JJ68]

I don't debate it's the greatest sport in the world mostly due to the fact that it's played all over the world and a LOT of nations are really good at it (unlike hockey which has 5 countries). It's also much more diverse and multicultural (unlike hockey). However, I find it a lot less exciting than hockey personally. Apples to Oranges, I know.

This is true that there are more countries that play and can be competitive but really...much like Hockey, it's usually about 6 teams that have a chance in the major tournaments.

 

[sr edler]

everything is so robotic today.

I tried to watch some highlights on YT from the games yesterday and came across a really weird penalty shot bird view angle that looked like something from a modern video game. First I couldn't tell if it was an actual video game or the real game. Robotic indeed.

I'm almost starting to believe the simulation theory.

That 5 sub rule has got to stay, fresher legs in the latter half of the game and less doggedly tired players.

Wait, is that actually a thing? Tired players are part of the charm. Players are supposed to get tired, because when players get tired they make mistakes and mistakes are part of the game, it opens up the game.

If we don't want tired players let's put everyone on steroids & blood transfusions and allow free substitutions.

but it's the raw energy and emotion from the fans, players, and personnel during these international events that make them so awesome

True, but globalism and this pandemic nonsense has killed some of that emotion. It almost feels like cheering on a corporation.

At least if there are different styles, you can still cheer on your preferred style. But now every team plays either generic millennial football or they're parking the bus.

 

[sr edler]

If Kevin De Bruyne is injured and out from the tournament it will suck even more. That guy can at least carry the ball himself on his feet without panicking after 5 metres.

 

[Savi]

If Kevin De Bruyne is injured and out from the tournament it will suck even more. That guy can at least carry the ball himself on his feet without panicking after 5 metres.

He's not, read what I posted in the BEL v ITA thread

 

[Civetty]

I don't think the football being played is boring, I do however think the fact that many of the clubs nowadays having billionaires backing them is boring though

 

[Czechboy]

This is true that there are more countries that play and can be competitive but really...much like Hockey, it's usually about 6 teams that have a chance in the major tournaments.

Maybe.. but as an example.. the Czechs just beat Holland.

That's the 40th ranked nation beating a Top 10 nation.

In hockey, that would be like Bermuda beating Slovakia.lol

Coincidentally, the Czechs tied Belgium in qualifying a couple of months ago... so that would be like Taiwan tying Canada in hockey.

It's much more even which is awesome! I wish hockey would get bigger and have more than 5 contenders and 4 pest like teams and then, literally, nothing.

Note: I know soccer rankings aren't 100 percent accurate and leave something to be desired but so do the hockey ones.

 

[alko]

 

[Albatros]

Maybe.. but as an example.. the Czechs just beat Holland.

That's the 40th ranked nation beating a Top 10 nation.

In hockey, that would be like Bermuda beating Slovakia.lol

The Netherlands are ranked 16th, so the equivalent of Bulgaria beating Great Britain if we go by corresponding positions in the IIHF Ranking. Make of that what you will.

 

[Czechboy]

The Netherlands are ranked 16th, so the equivalent of Bulgaria beating Great Britain if we go by corresponding positions in the IIHF Ranking. Make of that what you will.

Thats more my point.. Bulgaria would never make a main tournament in hockey while Netherlands are a legit contender. So if the 16th ranked nation in soccer won it all.. I don't think anyone would be that shocked? I cannot fathom Bulgaria winning the best on best Olympics in hockey. Ironically, Great Britain had a decent team the World's in hockey... I think they may have snuck in a tie or a win? However, the odds of them winning the Hockey World Championships is pretty slim to none. In hockey, it'd be a major upset if the 6th ranked Czechs won a tournament.