***Official FIFA World Cup 2018 Thread***

[jdoggivjc]

Honest question - why isn’t the US playing that way?

We used to play that way before Klinsmann. I agree we should do this when we play the giants like Brazil, Spain, etc., because it neutralizes a team that's better than you. However, we should not be playing this way against CONCACAF foes (teams we play to qualify for the World Cup). Talent-wise we are one of the two best teams in this federation (with Mexico, although results didn't show that this time around), and playing conservatively like that against lesser teams will keep those lesser teams in games with you.

Also, it's a really horrible way to sell the game to a country like this where a good number of the population already is of the opinion that soccer is boring, because this is probably the most boring way to play the game.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

We used to play that way before Klinsmann. I agree we should do this when we play the giants like Brazil, Spain, etc., because it neutralizes a team that's better than you. However, we should not be playing this way against CONCACAF foes (teams we play to qualify for the World Cup). Talent-wise we are one of the two best teams in this federation (with Mexico, although results didn't show that this time around), and playing conservatively like that against lesser teams will keep those lesser teams in games with you.

Also, it's a really horrible way to sell the game to a country like this where a good number of the population already is of the opinion that soccer is boring, because this is probably the most boring way to play the game.

I didn't see the game but as a former soccer player and (apparently not "great") American I'll agree that until soccer games are 10-7 or 8-4, for example, it'll be a hard sell to the general public.

The Twins can score 10 runs one game and then 0 the next game. Not only is the 10 run game more fun to watch, but it makes the whole idea of the game more exciting because you never know which game you're going to get. Soccer isn't that way and it's a shame. I'd love to see Germany score 10 goals and then 0 goals on given games.

 

[Knownothing]

The biggest problem is not the scoring. It’s Americans who didn’t grow up on the sport not knowing the sport. I hated soccer until my daughter started playing. I didn’t understand it. Thought it was boring and to low of a scoring game. However, I think more and more kids playing it will make Americans understand it. It’s like Europe not caring about the NFL. They don’t know or understand it since they didn’t grow up on it.

I think it’s going to keep growing in America. People are starting to understand it more

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

The biggest problem is not the scoring. It’s Americans who didn’t grow up on the sport not knowing the sport. I hated soccer until my daughter started playing. I didn’t understand it. Thought it was boring and to low of a scoring game. However, I think more and more kids playing it will make Americans understand it. It’s like Europe not caring about the NFL. They don’t know or understand it since they didn’t grow up on it.

I think it’s going to keep growing in America. People are starting to understand it more

I totally agree. My point is still that it could be better. I love baseball and football and still think they could be better with changes. Liking a sport doesn't mean you don't want to improve it.

 

[BryceC]

We used to play that way before Klinsmann. I agree we should do this when we play the giants like Brazil, Spain, etc., because it neutralizes a team that's better than you. However, we should not be playing this way against CONCACAF foes (teams we play to qualify for the World Cup). Talent-wise we are one of the two best teams in this federation (with Mexico, although results didn't show that this time around), and playing conservatively like that against lesser teams will keep those lesser teams in games with you.

Also, it's a really horrible way to sell the game to a country like this where a good number of the population already is of the opinion that soccer is boring, because this is probably the most boring way to play the game.

We could be the highest scoring team out there. Americans will get on board if we win.

 

[Knownothing]

I totally agree. My point is still that it could be better. I love baseball and football and still think they could be better with changes. Liking a sport doesn't mean you don't want to improve it.

Right. However we both know America has no power in rule changes. The rest of the world gets to decide that. They don’t care what we think. Until we have a team go deep in the World Cup. We are a joke right now.

 

[IaState95]

Maybe Americans would like Soccer more if the MLS was a better league. How come every other soccer league does relegation and promotion but the MLS?

 

[CyArob]

Maybe Americans would like Soccer more if the MLS was a better league. How come every other soccer league does relegation and promotion but the MLS?

I imagine the team owners don't want to do it for $ reasons.

 

[srjclone]

Maybe Americans would like Soccer more if the MLS was a better league. How come every other soccer league does relegation and promotion but the MLS?

It helps that those European leagues have had clubs that have been established for 100+ years and they are all over. We just don't have the foundation of clubs that can compete to make it interesting enough, in my opinion. I like the idea, but it will take some time to get to a format like that, or a quicker expansion.

The MLS has done a nice job in being an appealing landing spot for on-the-way-out Euro stars, which helps grows some interest, I think. But there are only so many changes they can make to make the strides the MLS wants to make, without spreading itself too thin.

 

[Cyfan1965]

I try and watch the MLS every 5 years or so to see if it has improved in quality. It has but it holds zero interest for me. I've got one team that is all I care about.

 

[IaState95]

I imagine the team owners don't want to do it for $ reasons.

Ah it's always money. I guess I'll stick to watching European soccer

 

[Clonefan32]

To me, soccer's enjoyability comes down to the stakes. It's alot like hockey in that sense. I struggle to get into your typical MLS game where there is not much on the line, because let's face it, the majority of the game is boring. But a World Cup match, US qualifiers, high level Premier League games-- that's a good watch because one slip up, or one moment of brilliance makes a breaks a game. It's the same a playoff hockey.

In other major sports there is a cumulative effect. There are big moments in a game, but very rarely does a single moment define a game. The outcome is defined by several plays, decisions, moments, etc. Hockey and soccer are different, and on a big stage that pressure of one moment defining an entire game makes for great viewing.

 

[srjclone]

Allianz Field has got me excited for the future of Minnesota Loons soccer. The product on the pitch.... not so much.

 

[IaState95]

It helps that those European leagues have had clubs that have been established for 100+ years and they are all over. We just don't have the foundation of clubs that can compete to make it interesting enough, in my opinion. I like the idea, but it will take some time to get to a format like that, or a quicker expansion.

The MLS has done a nice job in being an appealing landing spot for on-the-way-out Euro stars, which helps grows some interest, I think. But there are only so many changes they can make to make the strides the MLS wants to make, without spreading itself too thin.

It doesn't help that the salary cap is only 4 million

 

[srjclone]

To me, soccer's enjoyability comes down to the stakes. It's alot like hockey in that sense. I struggle to get into your typical MLS game where there is not much on the line, because let's face it, the majority of the game is boring. But a World Cup match, US qualifiers, high level Premier League games-- that's a good watch because one slip up, or one moment of brilliance makes a breaks a game. It's the same a playoff hockey.

In other major sports there is a cumulative effect. There are big moments in a game, but very rarely does a single moment define a game. The outcome is defined by several plays, decisions, moments, etc. Hockey and soccer are different, and on a big stage that pressure of one moment defining an entire game makes for great viewing.

I seriously think you could loop almost all sports into this threshold of enjoyability/stakes. The only one maybe is the NFL because there is so few games and room for error. But any game that is played at the highest level, with the best players in the game, competing as hard as they can, is always going to be more fun.

 

[srjclone]

It doesn't help that the salary cap is only 4 million

Agreed, the owners would have to see the value in it as well. But I also just don't think they have the established base yet to try and make such a drastic move. I think most people would like to see Rel/Pro get brought into the MLS at some point, though.

 

[jdoggivjc]

We could be the highest scoring team out there. Americans will get on board if we win.

To an extent. Had McDermott actually won at Iowa State, sure, more fans would have been on board with him. However, fans would have been complaining about how boring the games are. For example, Wisconsin over the last couple of decades has won a lot in both football and basketball. All you ever hear about from ISU fans is how they can’t stand to watch their games because of how boring they are, how Wisconsin sets football/basketball back several decades, etc.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Maybe Americans would like Soccer more if the MLS was a better league. How come every other soccer league does relegation and promotion but the MLS?

Perhaps I’m showing my ignorance, but I find Pro/Rel to be one of the most overrated concepts in sports. Take EPL, for example. Usually it’s the same 6 teams at the top (Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal), Everton, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and West Ham United are usually good enough to rarely sweat relegation but (excluding Leicester City’s magical year) never really compete for the top of the standings, and the rest of the teams are really just playing to not be relegated. How does pro/rel really help? IMO it doesn’t - the top and middle of the league just get a fresh batch of bad teams to beat up on every year.

 

[IaState95]

Perhaps I’m showing my ignorance, but I find Pro/Rel to be one of the most overrated concepts in sports. Take EPL, for example. Usually it’s the same 6 teams at the top (Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal), Everton, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and West Ham United are usually good enough to rarely sweat relegation but (excluding Leicester City’s magical year) never really compete for the top of the standings, and the rest of the teams are really just playing to not be relegated. How does pro/rel really help? IMO it doesn’t - the top and middle of the league just get a fresh batch of bad teams to beat up on every year.

It gives more of incentive to improve the team. A MLS team doesn't need to improve because it doesn't have to worry about being dropped from the league. All the owners want is $, they don't care if they are winning.

 

[IaState95]

Let’s go Sweden