2026 World Cup Thread

Donate To GopherHole

Just a whole bunch of terrible penalties from both teams. Netherlands got exactly what they deserved parking the bus and playing a 5-4-1 all game
 

I noticed a theme about some of those PATHETIC penalties lately but not gonna say it :censored:
 




sweden is also terrible

along with the officiating in general
 
Last edited:



Meh. Lots of discussion on it on Twitter with stats and a lot of it from black people calling out they noticed it too
 




Genuinely interested how much extra the broadcasting rights cost were due to the “hydration break” commercials
 

Fox got a sweet discount on the deal even before taking the extra breaks into account.
 

bonin21 said:
Meh. Lots of discussion on it on Twitter with stats and a lot of it from black people calling out they noticed it too
Click to expand...
Interesting - is there any reason why that would be? Not looking to stoke a race war just more curious, is there some history of African nations being less successful with penalties?
 



Gophers1992 said:
Interesting - is there any reason why that would be? Not looking to stoke a race war just more curious, is there some history of African nations being less successful with penalties?
Click to expand...
I believe 9 of the 10 qualifying African nations in the World Cup reached the elimination Round of 32. Clearly they're doing something wrong...

Every so often, someone reminds us just how saturated this country still is with overt and closeted racism.
 

Slim Tubby said:
I believe 9 of the 10 qualifying African nations in the World Cup reached the elimination Round of 32. Clearly they're doing something wrong...

Every so often, someone reminds us just how saturated this country still is with overt and closeted racism.
Click to expand...
Everything needs to be racist. What does making it put of the group stage have to do with penalties, genius?
 

bonin21 said:
Everything needs to be racist.
Click to expand...
You make it that way, Bonin. This isn't a secret to anyone that reads the OTB. Your initial post and subsequent laughable attempt to justify your comment by stating "other black people are saying it, too" tells us all we need to know.
 

You think I care who is good at penalties in international soccer games lol
 

bonin21 said:
You think I care who is good at penalties in international soccer games lol
Click to expand...
Apparently you do since you felt the need to comment on it. Your exact quote verbatim:

"On the European sides which have gotten more and more African influence, the black players seem to miss a lot of penalties relative to their skill level during play."

Just stop digging the hole and move on.

bonin21 said:
On the European sides which have gotten more and more African influence, the black players seem to miss a lot of penalties relative to their skill level during play.
Click to expand...
 

Of the games that went to pens just to be really clear about how dumb this discussion even is or bringing it up. I'll let you decide what you think the term "African influence means" I guess

Germany (with country they play their club football as well as where they played professional soccer historically)
Makes: Kimmich (Bundesliga, has never played in Africa), Musiala (Bundesliga, has never played in Africa), Amiri (Bundesliga, has never played in Africa)
Misses: Havertz (EPL; has never played in Africa), Woltemade (EPL, has never played in Africa), Tah (Bundesliga, has never played in Africa)

0 players with any African influence whatsoever from playing career. Tah is a defender and Havertz and Woltemade are strikers

Paraguay
Makes: Mauricio (plays in Brazil, has never played in Africa), Gomez (Brazil, has never played in Africa), Galarza (MLS, has never played in Africa), Canale (Serie A, has never played in Africa)
Misses: Sanabria (Brazil, has never played in Africa), Balbuena (Argentina, has never played in Africa)

0 players with any African influence. Sanabria is a midfielder and Balbuena is a defender.

Netherlands
Makes: Koopenmeiers (Serie A, never played in Africa), Weghorst (Dutch 1st division; never played in Africa unless you want to count Turkey, which I would not)
Misses: Kluivert (EPL, never played in Africa), Timber (Ligue 1, never played in Africa) Summerville (EPL, never played in Africa)

0 players who played in Africa. Kluivert and Summerville are forwards, Timber is a defensive midfielder


Morocco (which is an African country, which is quite interesting when you consider they won by making more penalties than their non-African opponent...)
Makes: Rahimi (UAE, 1st professional league is in Africa/Morocco, Talbi (EPL, never played in Africa), Saibari (Dutch 1st div, never played in Africa)
Misses: El Aynaoui (Serie A, never played in Africa), Hakimi (Ligue 1, never played in Africa)

so 1 guy who played professionally in Africa and he made it. El Aynaoui is a midfielder and Hakimi is a defender (technically) who plays incredibly offensively

Literally nothing about the concept of "African influence" makes any sense. Your pro style taking pens has 0 to do with your youth playing career/where you grew up, parents, etc. as pens are drilled into you during your adult playing career.

The only reason this is getting any mention is becuase of the color of Kluivert, Timber and Summerville's skin compared with Koopenmeiers and Weghorst and I think that's just a disgusting comment to make. The penalties missed were how the guys take penalties typically with nervers pretty clearly getting to some players. Just acknowledge the games for what they were and the penalties as one of the seemingly easiest things in sport while simultaneously being incredibly difficult in that moment.

In case curious, Kluivert was 8/8 prior on pens, Summerville was 6/7, Timber 0/2 (his runup was short which is mind boggling as a penalty taker as it eliminates your chance for power and he hooked it after sending the keeper the wrong way)

The guy who should be getting skewered for Netherlands is their manager who thought parking the bus for 70 minutes and playing for pens was a good idea
 
Last edited:

I meant black players are we serious lol and I specifically said European teams
 

An England loss would be hilarious. Congo’s goalie has been brilliant.
 

What a massive choke that would be by England my word

Argentina/France rematch odds have to be climbing rapidly with every game
 

England losing would make my day. Their fans are like the soccer equivalent of Canadian hockey fans (with way less success to back them up).
 

Kane sure knows how to score goals.
6: Messi, Mbappe
5: Haaland, Kane
4: Vini Jr, Dembele

Pure class from all of them
 




I know the tradionalists oppose this, but they need to do something about the clock/time thing. It's the only sport in the world that uses a timer where no one really knows how much time is left. Stupid.
Sometime in the last year, I was channel surfing and came across a college soccer game. They figured it out. Not that hard. Clock wound down from 45 minutes and referee stopped it during injury, goal celebrations, reviews, etc (just like in our football). It was great as everyone knew exactly how much time was left and when clock struck zero, the game was over. Didn't matter if a team was pressing for a goal. Takes out any innuendo of a ref giving a team extra time.
The Senegal/Belgium game went to 1:31 and something. Crazy.
 



You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom