***Official 2026 World Cup Thread***

[clonedude]

I'm no soccer expert at all, so can someone explain to me how Argentina couldn't get a single shot all game with all 11 players... but in the overtime periods they were seemingly getting shot after shot after shot with only 10 guys, and the ball was almost always in Spain's own end?

Is it just a case of Spain playing everyone back and just defending and not even being aggressive at all? Sounds like the NFL and college football teams always playing "not to lose", right?

I wanted Spain to win so bad... and then end of that match was making me SO nervous. How are they just taking pot shots on Spain's goal like crazy there? Messi nearly put one in on that free kick from way out there, and nearly put the corner kick he took in the goal too. It was nuts.

 

[EnkAMania]

Argentina had no chance.

 

[Clonehomer]

I'm no soccer expert at all, so can someone explain to me how Argentina couldn't get a single shot all game with all 11 players... but in the overtime periods they were seemingly getting shot after shot after shot with only 10 guys, and the ball was almost always in Spain's own end?

Is it just a case of Spain playing everyone back and just defending and not even being aggressive at all? Sounds like the NFL and college football teams always playing "not to lose", right?

I wanted Spain to win so bad... and then end of that match was making me SO nervous. How are they just taking pot shots on Spain's goal like crazy there? Messi nearly put one in on that free kick from way out there, and nearly put the corner kick he took in the goal too. It was nuts.

Argentina didn’t take risks when it was tied. They kept defenders back to make sure to cover the counter attack. Once they went down a goal, they got very aggressive and pulled their defenders up. It was a nothing to lose mentality that allowed them some opportunities. Honestly, very similar to the last several games. They play very well when they are backed into a corner. Not so well when they play passive.

 

[Urbandale2013]

Argentina is trashy

 

[dafarmer]

Paredes should have been red-carded earlier in the game.

 

[STLISU]

I’m a neophyte when it comes to football (soccer). But I thoroughly enjoyed this tournament and championship game.

 

[NWICY]

I’m a neophyte when it comes to football (soccer). But I thoroughly enjoyed this tournament and championship game.

For me it was similar to the NBA once you got to the qtr finals, the quality was good enough that even if I didn't understand it all the quality of play made it fun to watch.
I tried watching some of the group play, not quite my cup of tea.

 

[jdoggivjc]

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I’m a neophyte when it comes to football (soccer). But I thoroughly enjoyed this tournament and championship game.

For me it was similar to the NBA once you got to the qtr finals, the quality was good enough that even if I didn't understand it all the quality of play made it fun to watch.
I tried watching some of the group play, not quite my cup of tea.

Regardless, I'm glad you each gave it a shot. Just like any sport, there are good and bad games. IMO, there were a lot of really good matches during this World Cup, with a few bad ones (cough cough, US/ Belgium) sprinkled in.

Overall, it seems like visiting nations came away impressed with the US, so I'd call the tournament a success from a worldwide perspective. Hopefully, some of the animosity between the US and everyone else has subsided.

 

[NorthCyd]

I really enjoyed the World Cup overall. It's too bad the final was 0-0 in regulation. But that's what Spain was, a dominant defensive team. Unfortunately doesn't make for an exciting game and won't win many new fans.

 

[BryceC]

I really enjoyed the World Cup overall. It's too bad the final was 0-0 in regulation. But that's what Spain was, a dominant defensive team. Unfortunately doesn't make for an exciting game and won't win many new fans.

The Belgium game wasn’t great but people were very excited about the US team, that’ll probably win more fans than any final could.

 

[Clonehomer]

I really enjoyed the World Cup overall. It's too bad the final was 0-0 in regulation. But that's what Spain was, a dominant defensive team. Unfortunately doesn't make for an exciting game and won't win many new fans.

See, I thought it was a very exciting game even without the goals. Because of the lack of goals from the great defense, it created immense tension because that first goal meant so much. And it wasn’t because teams were sitting back and not taking shots. The shots were coming and the keeper was playing out of his mind.

 

[NorthCyd]

See, I thought it was a very exciting game even without the goals. Because of the lack of goals from the great defense, it created immense tension because that first goal meant so much. And it wasn’t because teams were sitting back and not taking shots. The shots were coming and the keeper was playing out of his mind.

The first goal meant so much because it took over 100 minutes to get one, and Argentina couldn't get a shot on goal and seemed like all they wanted to do was muck the game up. To me it wasn't so much exciting as relief when the goal was finally scored.

Argentina never looked like they had a chance. I went in hoping to see Messi do something special, but when it was clear that wasn't going to happen I found myself hoping for Spain to score some goals to end the damn thing. And of course another goal was taken off the board over a highly questionable call. I'm guessing most would agree that was objectively a tough watch.

 

[Peter]

The first goal meant so much because it took over 100 minutes to get one, and Argentina couldn't get a shot on goal and seemed like all they wanted to do was muck the game up. To me it wasn't so much exciting as relief when the goal was finally scored.

Argentina never looked like they had a chance. I went in hoping to see Messi do something special, but when it was clear that wasn't going to happen I found myself hoping for Spain to score some goals to end the damn thing. And of course another goal was taken off the board over a highly questionable call. I'm guessing most would agree that was objectively a tough watch.

It felt like one of those football games where one team wins 17-0 but absolutely dominates, and the outcome was never in doubt. Argentina was just trying to get to penalties, as they had no shot at scoring a real goal on Spain.

 

[Clonehomer]

It felt like one of those football games where one team wins 17-0 but absolutely dominates, and the outcome was never in doubt. Argentina was just trying to get to penalties, as they had no shot at scoring a real goal on Spain.

It’d be more like a football game where the ball is continually on one side of the field, but the better team keeps missing FG’s and TD passes. So the score remains 0-0 and one Hail Mary pass would let the lesser team win.

The outcome was certainly in doubt as Argentina had an advantage in PK’s and it would only take one mistake on defense to completely change the game. It wasn’t like Spain was sitting on a goal advantage all game. They just controlled the possession. But possession doesn’t win you games.

 

[jdoggivjc]

The Belgium game wasn’t great but people were very excited about the US team, that’ll probably win more fans than any final could.

I still wonder how we would have played the Belgium game differently if the entire team hadn't been dealing with that terrible Balogun red card and the distractions that came with the debate about it all week - which is saying something because Balogun was one of the few players that actually showed up to play the game. That and Belgium was extra motivated to stick it to us for perceived injustice. In a lot of ways you could say the World Cup was over for the US the moment Balogun got that red card.

 

[harimad]

It’d be more like a football game where the ball is continually on one side of the field, but the better team keeps missing FG’s and TD passes. So the score remains 0-0 and one Hail Mary pass would let the lesser team win.

The outcome was certainly in doubt as Argentina had an advantage in PK’s and it would only take one mistake on defense to completely change the game. It wasn’t like Spain was sitting on a goal advantage all game. They just controlled the possession. But possession doesn’t win you games.

Reminds me of the Nebraska 9-turnover game that we won. Nebraska just dominated, but in that one we pulled off the equivalent of getting to PKs and winning.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

The first goal meant so much because it took over 100 minutes to get one, and Argentina couldn't get a shot on goal and seemed like all they wanted to do was muck the game up. To me it wasn't so much exciting as relief when the goal was finally scored.

Argentina never looked like they had a chance. I went in hoping to see Messi do something special, but when it was clear that wasn't going to happen I found myself hoping for Spain to score some goals to end the damn thing. And of course another goal was taken off the board over a highly questionable call. I'm guessing most would agree that was objectively a tough watch.

England thought that, too. It would have been fun to see the chaos at the end of the match had Argentina been at 11. Once they went to 10, they still put a scare in Spain, but that made it all but inevitable.

I don't think Argentina played that much worse yesterday. It was just that Spain was far better. And honestly, Spain didn't play as well as they could play.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I still wonder how we would have played the Belgium game differently if the entire team hadn't been dealing with that terrible Balogun red card and the distractions that came with the debate about it all week - which is saying something because Balogun was one of the few players that actually showed up to play the game. That and Belgium was extra motivated to stick it to us for perceived injustice. In a lot of ways you could say the World Cup was over for the US the moment Balogun got that red card.

I'd like to think things would have gone differently, but we still looked pretty outmatched all game long. Our passing and first touches made us look like Belgium's B or C team.

I really think the talent is there, but our consistency, depth and composure are still playing catch-up.

 

[Bigman38]

England thought that, too. It would have been fun to see the chaos at the end of the match had Argentina been at 11. Once they went to 10, they still put a scare in Spain, but that made it all but inevitable.

I don't think Argentina played that much worse yesterday. It was just that Spain was far better. And honestly, Spain didn't play as well as they could play.

They really imploded after their goal imo, they went from dominating to letting Argentina get great chances over and over.