Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[Santander]

LOL American media are saying USA is similar in quality as England. Some have specifically singled out Harry Maguire as a weak link.

While yes, Maguire sucks and is a weak link, but this is f**king fantasy based off a very lucky result for the US in 2010.

Unless Scotland manages to beat both Wales and Ukraine, the U.S should finish in a comfortable second in Group B (lose to England, defeat both Iran and the June Playoff winner). That would be enough to advance to the knockout round.

Scotland is the weakest team of the 3 lol.

[NewYorkExpress]

LOL American media are saying USA is similar in quality as England. Some have specifically singled out Harry Maguire as a weak link.

While yes, Maguire sucks and is a weak link, but this is f**king fantasy based off a very lucky result for the US in 2010.

Unless Scotland manages to beat both Wales and Ukraine, the U.S should finish in a comfortable second in Group B (lose to England, defeat both Iran and the June Playoff winner). That would be enough to advance to the knockout round.

What happened the last time the USMNT faced Iran in the World Cup?

That was in 1998, and the U.S lost 2-1, however, we've come a long way as a football nation since. The U.S in 1998 really only qualified because CONCACAF had more than one qualifying spot (same with Jamaica), as Mexico was the only good team in CONCACAF at the time.

[NewYorkExpress]

LOL American media are saying USA is similar in quality as England. Some have specifically singled out Harry Maguire as a weak link.

While yes, Maguire sucks and is a weak link, but this is f**king fantasy based off a very lucky result for the US in 2010.

Unless Scotland manages to beat both Wales and Ukraine, the U.S should finish in a comfortable second in Group B (lose to England, defeat both Iran and the June Playoff winner). That would be enough to advance to the knockout round.

Scotland is the weakest team of the 3 lol.

I'd disagree and say it's Wales, actually. I highly doubt Gareth Bale will be available for the World Cup, and Wales doesn't really have anyone else.

[parochial boy]

Unless you are like Germany you should never assume that you are going to have a "comfortable" route through the group stages.

And even Germany tripped up last time, on a group that on the face of it should have been no trouble. Just don't make assumptions, don't do it.

[Santander]

The US is very lucky to have been seeded in Pot 2 (at least 3 teams in Pot 3 are considerably better) and get drawn in arguably the weakest group. (Group A, C and H are not very strong, but let's be real, playing Iran and the weakest European qualifier is about as easy as it gets)

Even if they get out of their easy group, which I rate their chances at maybe 50/50, they'll have to play a real team like Senegal in the next round. Have fun getting past Koulibaly or containing Mane.

[Donerail]

Unless Scotland manages to beat both Wales and Ukraine, the U.S should finish in a comfortable second in Group B (lose to England, defeat both Iran and the June Playoff winner). That would be enough to advance to the knockout round.

What happened the last time the USMNT faced Iran in the World Cup?

That was in 1998, and the U.S lost 2-1, however, we've come a long way as a football nation since.

So has Iran. They're not a bad team — performed well against Spain and Portugal in 2018, basically level with the USMNT in the Elo rankings. Not a guaranteed win by any means.

[afleitch]

If Scotland make it to the finals they might actually be able to get out of the group stage.

Of course if we lose to Ukraine I will not in any way feel bad about it. Wales, more so, because I prefer England to Wales in ball sports anyway.

[buritobr]

A very strong group: Italy, Sweden, Colombia, Egypt

[NewYorkExpress]

Ajax Manager Erik Ten Hag to take over at Manchester United.

[Santander]

Everton sucks. I really see relegation in the cards... it is a scandal for a team with Brazil's #9 (not to mention Calvert-Lewin) to be in this position.

[NewYorkExpress]

What is going on with Villarreal? After knocking out Juventus in the Round of Sixteen, the Yellow Submarine won their home leg of UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal against Bayern Munich today, 1-0.

[Santander]

What is going on with Villarreal? After knocking out Juventus in the Round of Sixteen, the Yellow Submarine won their home leg of UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal against Bayern Munich today, 1-0.

Maybe Unai Emery is an absolute top coach who is finally getting the recognition he deserves...

I've said it before, but the way he was treated in England was an absolute disgrace. This guy is a serial winner who has won things with fewer resources than just about anyone in the past 20 years, yet he is memed for his Spanish accent when speaking English... Yeah, like Gareth Bale speaks fluent Spanish after living in Madrid for who knows how long.

[NewYorkExpress]

Once again, teams in Big Five leagues simply refuse to take the Europa Conference League seriously, as Bodo/Glimt defeated Roma 2-1 today.

[NewYorkExpress]

Just wow. With their 1-1 draw in Munich today and 2-1 aggregate victory, Villarreal has now knocked out two European superpowers in a row, in Juventus and Bayern Munich.

They will face either Liverpool or Benfica, with Liverpool leading that match 3-1 after one leg.

[NewYorkExpress]

With Eintracht Frankfurt's 3-2 win today at Camp Nou, Die Adler have defeated Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate in the Europa League Quarterfinals, their second straight knockout of a Spanish side, after taking out Real Betis in the Round of Sixteen.

They'll face West Ham United in the Semifinals.

[JGibson]

UECL Semis

Leicester City v. Roma, Feyenoord v. Marseille

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

F.C. Südtirol, which has given up just nine goals all season in Serie C Girone A, have likely clinched the club's first ever promotion to Serie B after their second 0-0 draw with second place Padova, the heavy favorite for promotion going into the season.

Padova still has a tiny window if Südtirol loses to 7th place Triestina to suffer their third loss on the year, or has another draw, and Padova has a 4-goal win in their finale.

Padova should be the favorite to win the 4th promotion spot in the playoff, but there's always a lot of risk on that pool. Even after Catania's sudden bankruptcy, the south has three legitimate foes, and you can't count out Reggiana, who is barely clinging on in Girone B.

[Mike88]

Portuguese league is now in the home stretch:

Porto faces Portimonense this evening and is eyeing to continue their 57-win record streak in the league. Tomorrow, Sporting faces Benfica in the "Lisbon Derby". If Porto wins today, and there is a draw or a Sporting loss, Porto's lead could become insurmountable.

Can't believe that I'm actually rooting for a Benfica win tomorrow. It literally goes against every fiber of my being.

[JGibson]

Arsenal's faint top 4 hopes are fading fast, and possibly their European hopes as well, as they lost again for the 3rd match in a row, this time 1-nil to Southampton.

If we get no European football for two years in a row, then Arteta should be sacked.

[Santander]

Arsenal's faint top 4 hopes are fading fast, and possibly their European hopes as well, as they lost again for the 3rd match in a row, this time 1-nil to Southampton.

If we get no European football for two years in a row, then Arteta should be sacked.

2 goals in 5 matches - pretty clear they're missing the main man, as disruptive/out of form/overrated/overpaid as he was. Dominating possession with all the technically attractive players in the world means nothing if you can't score.

[Mike88]

Portuguese league is now in the home stretch:

Porto faces Portimonense this evening and is eyeing to continue their 57-win record streak in the league. Tomorrow, Sporting faces Benfica in the "Lisbon Derby". If Porto wins today, and there is a draw or a Sporting loss, Porto's lead could become insurmountable.

Can't believe that I'm actually rooting for a Benfica win tomorrow. It literally goes against every fiber of my being.

Done. Porto defeated Portimonense by 7-0.

[Mike88]

Benfica defeated Sporting 0-2 this evening. Porto now has a 9 point advantage with 4 rounds yet to play.

https://twitter.com/sporttvNAO/status/1515800486762491914

Matheus Nunes literally tossed Gil Dias like a piece of paper. Yikes.

[NewYorkExpress]

So, Barcelona lost to Cadiz 1-0 yesterday, which is really embarrassing for Barcelona.

Today we have two very exciting derby matches. We have the Northwest Derby between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield, and the Derby Della Madonnina between Inter and AC Milan, which as usual, will be at the San Siro. The latter match should be especially tension filled as AC Milan and Inter are the top two sides in Serie A.

[NewYorkExpress]

Liverpool wins the Northwest Derby in a 4-0 rout.

Meanwhile, Inter advances to the Coppa Italia final with their 3-0 Derby Della Madonnina win today. They'll face either Fiorentina or Juventus, who play the second leg of their match in several hours.

In addition to the aforementioned Fiorentina/Juventus game, Wednesday gives us a very important Chelsea/Arsenal match, with a potential Champions League place on the line.

[NewYorkExpress]

Big win for Arsenal today, as they defeat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal is now level with Tottenham Hotspur at 57 points for the fourth and final Champions League spot in England, trailing Tottenham by goal differential. Tottenham travels to Brentford on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Coppa Italia will have a Derby D'Italia match for the final, as Juventus will face Inter on May 11.