Might as well start a general Footy/Soccer thread

**1080Rider** · 06-22-2016, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Too much emphasis on coaching.

In soccer nations boys play at every opportunity from the moment they can walk. With any item they can find..

In the US OF A it's taught to them and involves shouting adults, traffic cones and an hour a week for six weeks a year.

This and the fact that we don't play for fun. If every public piece of grass had two small goals and kids went out and played 3v3 and 4v4 for fun after school, we would be competative w/ the top teams in about 10 years. Now, kids touch the ball 3 times a week, 2 practices and a game...

**iceman** · 06-22-2016, 01:41 PM

When we were kids we played soccer every day before school and at recess, just on a field no lines and with two rickety wooden football goalposts as goals, whatever number of kids divided into two teams. I don't think club teams even existed back then but we had some decent players considering no one had ever been coached at all. I guess those days are gone.

**PNWbrit** · 06-22-2016, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

When we were kids we played soccer every day before school and at recess

I always assumed you were born here?

**iceman** · 06-22-2016, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

I always assumed you were born here?

Yeah this was in the Boston area in the late '60's and early '70's. Not sure how it got started or anything but we played every day we could go outside, all the way through elementary school, even in winter if there wasn't much snow. We never even had a real soccer ball as far as I can remember, just those big red rubber playground balls. Definitely not typical for America I realize.

**PNWbrit** · 06-22-2016, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by flowing alpy

Did you ever hear about Kyle Rote Jr.?

Nope, I had to google him.

Why?

**~mikey b** · 06-22-2016, 05:17 PM

He was the USA man back in the day.

**PNWbrit** · 06-22-2016, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by ~mikey b

He was the USA man back in the day.

After last night's game someone should maybe ask him if he's interested in a comeback?

Edit: I did wonder if he was running in the ID 1 race against candidate James Piotrowski.

**Sluff** · 06-22-2016, 05:24 PM

Ireland!!! My boys advance. I'll drink to that.

**AlpiNord** · 06-22-2016, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Yeah this was in the Boston area in the late '60's and early '70's. Not sure how it got started or anything but we played every day we could go outside, all the way through elementary school, even in winter if there wasn't much snow. We never even had a real soccer ball as far as I can remember, just those big red rubber playground balls. Definitely not typical for America I realize.

I started playing North Shore early 70's. Soccer hit the coasts first and then moved inland. It was unheard of in the mid-west. Colorado had a lot of interest in the 70's onward due to the Latinos and foreigners in ski towns. Ski town soccer tourneys were always an epic adventure.

Kyle Rote, Jr was the US soccer poster boy as the son of his famous dad and namesake, IIRC. He was not a stellar player but did generate American interest.

**iceman** · 06-22-2016, 05:26 PM

@the brit:He's a little past it at this point.

Not sure how good he was at soccer but he was definitely a good athlete in the day.

**LightRanger** · 06-22-2016, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Sluff

Ireland!!! My boys advance. I'll drink to that.

Fingers crossed for an Ulster v. Leinster/Munster/Connaught Euro 2016 Final.

**PlayItLeo** · 06-22-2016, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Sluff

Ireland!!! My boys advance. I'll drink to that.

Come on you boys in green!!!!

All this talk of best players and no mention of Maradona?

**smitchell333** · 06-22-2016, 08:42 PM

Breaking out the squeegees to push rain off the field chile v Columbia

**Grape_Ape** · 06-23-2016, 07:53 AM

Ireland!!!

Hellz yeah.

**Tippster** · 06-23-2016, 10:09 AM

A lot of fun football in store this weekend.

**Kinnikinnick** · 06-23-2016, 12:11 PM

USA need to beat Columbia to get revenge and to put the notion to bed that we can't beat Conmebol teams (although we've already beaten Paraguay and Ecuador in the Copa A)

**BigDaddy** · 06-23-2016, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

A lot of fun football in store this weekend.

Oh hell yeah!

**BigDaddy** · 06-23-2016, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

A lot of fun football in store this weekend.

Hell yeah!

**Bobby Finstock** · 06-23-2016, 02:30 PM

So Italy win their group (the so-called "group of death") and get Spain. England finish second in their group and get Iceland? That ain't right.

**PNWbrit** · 06-23-2016, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Bobby Finstock

So Italy win their group (the so-called "group of death") and get Spain. England finish second in their group and get Iceland? That ain't right.

Let us know if you also need help understanding the offside rule.

**shafty85** · 06-23-2016, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by Bobby Finstock

So Italy win their group (the so-called "group of death") and get Spain. England finish second in their group and get Iceland? That ain't right.

When Iceland beats England, they'll wish they at least had lost to Spain so they could blame it on inferior talent

but yeah, that's a tough draw. The one side of the bracket with Spain, Italy, Germany and France is tough. The other side with maybe Portugal or Belgium as favourites? is a much easier path to the finals

**retirwntm** · 06-23-2016, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Yeah this was in the Boston area in the late '60's and early '70's. Not sure how it got started or anything but we played every day we could go outside, all the way through elementary school, even in winter if there wasn't much snow. We never even had a real soccer ball as far as I can remember, just those big red rubber playground balls. Definitely gay I realize.

FIFY