Football

[Lonewolf2003]

What if it is repeated or nearly repeated and often, look at the financial strength of the Premier League, which should be considered the best league due to the number of good quality teams. Arsenal need to win to qualify for Champions League, the other 3 teams already qualified through league position along with Manchester City who may win the domestic double of league and FA Cup and they are not of course in a European final having lost to Spurs earlier.

Well, this year EPL can claim they're the best league in the world But surely the other leagues will have something to say about this

The Spanish especially . The dominance of Spanish clubs in the CL this last decade can't be overlooked. Although this dominance is made by just the 3 topclubs and less a showing of the strength of the entire league like for the EPL.

Anyhow the influx from money because of that major broadcasting deal sure is having and going a influence on the performances of English clubs in the CL and Europa League. Cause now even subtop clubs have way bigger budget. (Of course money doesn't make a great team, but it sure can help.)

[Cippenham]

Barcelona rely on Messi and Real Madrid used to on Ronaldo but otherwise are good but not that good as they used to be and when Messi retires he is not replaceable

[bal3x]

What if it is repeated or nearly repeated and often, look at the financial strength of the Premier League, which should be considered the best league due to the number of good quality teams. Arsenal need to win to qualify for Champions League, the other 3 teams already qualified through league position along with Manchester City who may win the domestic double of league and FA Cup and they are not of course in a European final having lost to Spurs earlier.

Well, this year EPL can claim they're the best league in the world But surely the other leagues will have something to say about this

The Spanish especially . The dominance of Spanish clubs in the CL this last decade can't be overlooked. Although this dominance is made by just the 3 topclubs and less a showing of the strength of the entire league like for the EPL.

Anyhow the influx from money because of that major broadcasting deal sure is having and going a influence on the performances of English clubs in the CL and Europa League. Cause now even subtop clubs have way bigger budget. (Of course money doesn't make a great team, but it sure can help.)

Yeah, that's why I feel no single country will be able to dominate in Europe, despite all the money. The money sure helps, but it's not a guarantee of success, look at City and PSG, in fact I was just reading the other day that the Qataris will be cutting down investments as the results had not been achieved that they expected...

[bal3x]

Barcelona rely on Messi and Real Madrid used to on Ronaldo but otherwise are good but not that good as they used to be and when Messi retires he is not replaceable

Not quite so - big clubs like that cannot afford to rely on a single player no matter what caliber they are since if they get injured their season is over... so I'm sure Barca will cope fine without Messi as I'm sure Real will cope without Ronaldo - it may take one or two seasons for adjustment but they will certainly do that.

[Cippenham]

Barcelona rely on Messi and Real Madrid used to on Ronaldo but otherwise are good but not that good as they used to be and when Messi retires he is not replaceable

Not quite so - big clubs like that cannot afford to rely on a single player no matter what caliber they are since if they get injured their season is over... so I'm sure Barca will cope fine without Messi as I'm sure Real will cope without Ronaldo - it may take one or two seasons for adjustment but they will certainly do that.

We will see, they will compete again and have a chance for sure and are at roughly the same level as Premier League sides. Manchester City might reach the semi finals next time as well.

[Lammetje]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48220247

No wonder UEFA only allocated 6,000 tickets to each club, your only options to get there is through indirect flights or a ~60h drive where you'll be passing through a flipping war zone!

No, the almost 60h drive suggested in the article avoids the war zone in Ukraine. Good read though. Baku isn't even in Europe, but they have oil and oil = money, so Baku is where the final will take place. Wonderful world we live in.

[Ivan0716]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48220247

No wonder UEFA only allocated 6,000 tickets to each club, your only options to get there is through indirect flights or a ~60h drive where you'll be passing through a flipping war zone!

No, the almost 60h drive suggested in the article avoids the war zone in Ukraine. Good read though. Baku isn't even in Europe, but they have oil and oil = money, so Baku is where the final will take place. Wonderful world we live in.

They changed it, the original route they had went right through it. UEFA probably wanted to give the stadium a go before the Euro.

[lynchs]

Bosman rule KILLED football..

[Ivan0716]

Half-time Chelsea-Arsenal, probably the least exciting cup final I've ever seen atmosphere-wise. I can totally imagine someone accidentally tuning in and thinking the pre-season Asia tour started early...

[Lilarcor]

I love motorsports racing in Baku (because of the track and particularly for Formula 2) but man it's such a bummer to host the football there. I'm not getting excited about Saturday honestly after this...

[Ivan0716]

At least that one will be played in a footballing city.

But don't worry, we'll be able to experience this again next year when not one, but TWO quarter finals of the Euro will be hosted in Baku! If your team's gotta go out that'll be the best place to do it...because it won't feel like a quarter final at all.

EDIT: wait no, I was wrong, only 1 QF will be played there.

[Cippenham]

The second half was amazing in Baku compared to the first with five goals. Arsenal could not cope in the end so well done Chelsea. It’s ridiculous to be held in Baku I agree.

[GruesomeTwosome]

Predictions for tonight’s final?

I’ll go with 2-2, Spurs winning 4-3 on penalties.

[Lilarcor]

3-0 for Liverpool

[Ivan0716]

3-1 Liverpool

[Cippenham]

1 nil Spurs

[Traveller]

3-1 Liverpool

This, a.e.t.

[Ivan0716]

Well fuck, I just tuned in and already missed a goal.

Also: take note UEFA, this is what a cup final sounds like.

[Carmel1379]

That’s never a penalty lol

[Carmel1379]

This killed the first half honestly. Hope Pochettino gave a damn good speech there for them to come back.

[GruesomeTwosome]

Come on you Spurs...can’t let the CL final be decided by a hand-ball call 30 seconds in.

[Cippenham]

They think it’s all over 2 nil Liverpool , edit, it is now

Mistake to start Kane, not Match fit

Not a great game, they somehow should have the final a bit earlier than this

[matthewscott8]

I missed most of the match, was on BT Sport in the UK which is a pay channel, they tried to run a stream on YouTube but it blew up. I caught fragments on my account stream as I'm a BT internet customer, but that was intermittent. Not sure I missed much though.

[flaiky]

I went to the screening at the Spurs stadium, which was fun...until the game started, then the atmosphere kind of died with that damn penalty.

I'm glad it wasn't a flat-out disaster, anyway, unlike for a certain other north London team.

Onwards and upwards! COYS

[bal3x]

I'm actually happy for Klopp - the guy deserved this! Indeed it was a mistake to start Kane... and that penalty I'm not actually sure, the ball didn't quite hit the hand, but there was movement... 50/50 I'd say. Oh well, anyway, Pool was the better team here.

[Carmel1379]

It looked like he was signalling to his teammate and then the ball flicked off his chest barely scraping his arm while Mané wasn't even passing to anyone.. I mean that's just not a penalty. It was very telling they didn't show more than one replay of the penalty incidence during the entire game (while the penalty itself got about 5), they knew the call was dodgy.

Liverpool is the best defensive side in the world, so it's no surprise they won after this 1-0 head start. But man, that was one of the shittiest football games I have ever seen, such an anti-climax to a pretty eventful CL.

[bal3x]

It looked like he was signalling to his teammate and then the ball flicked off his chest barely scraping his arm while Mané wasn't even passing to anyone.. I mean that's just not a penalty. It was very telling they didn't show more than one replay of the penalty incidence during the entire game (while the penalty itself got about 5), they knew the call was dodgy.

Liverpool is the best defensive side in the world, so it's no surprise they won after this 1-0 head start. But man, that was one of the shittiest football games I have ever seen, such an anti-climax to a pretty eventful CL.

Well, yeah, but you don't throw your hands around in the box just because such things happen... it may as well not have been intentional but I can also see why it would be given. But I'm not arguing it was the correct decision..

[flaiky]

It looked like he was signalling to his teammate and then the ball flicked off his chest barely scraping his arm while Mané wasn't even passing to anyone..

If you rewatch it, it really looks like Mane intentionally created the 'hand ball'. There's a moment where he notices that Sissoko has his arm out (100% because he is pointing for a teammate) and then he basically kicks the ball straight at him. You can blame Sissoko for being careless but that's pretty shitty of Mane.

Yeah it was an anticlimatic final. I spent most of the match chatting to my friend, it just wasn't engaging. The heat and the three-week break must have a lot to do with that. I'm mostly disappointed that we didn't even get to celebrate a goal in the stadium - I was prepared for us to lose but I at least wanted a moment of excitement and joy with 60,000 other fans.

[GruesomeTwosome]

Yeah I was looking forward to this match so much, and it was a struggle to keep my attention on it. Really bad all-around.

[lynchs]

[Ivan0716]

I guess no one cares for the women's world cup here?

[Teproc]

I watched the opening match, and it just wasn't very interesting because the Korean team was too amateurish to make it a real game. I think the elimination rounds will be more interesting.

[Cippenham]

Do women play football?

[GruesomeTwosome]

USA is currently up 10-0 on Thailand.


EDIT: make that 11-0...

[GruesomeTwosome]

Wow, final score of 13-0. US women’s team is ruthless!

[maxwelldeux]

Wow, final score of 13-0. US women’s team is ruthless!

That should set them up OK on goal differential...

[Ivan0716]

I watched the opening match, and it just wasn't very interesting because the Korean team was too amateurish to make it a real game. I think the elimination rounds will be more interesting.

I've watched 3 or 4 matches but none of them have been very exciting, the football has been awful for the most part...I mean, the two headed goals by France...really?

It's a shame Necib retired, she single-handedly lit up the last two tournaments for me - being probably the ONLY real technical player among all those who were playing. I was really looking forward to the Netherlands match this afternoon since they supposedly boast two of best forwards in the world, but turns out watching one of them being marked out by 3+ people the whole time and the other constantly running into a wall of defenders wasn't much fun.

Oh yeah, at least there was this.

[GruesomeTwosome]

Wow, final score of 13-0. US women’s team is ruthless!

That should set them up OK on goal differential...

Yup, I think these upstarts might just make it through to the next round.

[Ivan0716]

Wow just saw the USA game, not sure what's more embarassing: the team losing 13-0 or the team celebrating every one of the 13 like it's the fucking winning goal in the final. Have some humility ffs, you were playing against a team of semi-pros that were half your size.

[GruesomeTwosome]

Wow just saw the USA game, not sure what's more embarassing: the team losing 13-0 or the team celebrating every one of the 13 like it's the fucking winning goal in the final. Have some humility ffs, you were playing against a team of semi-pros that were half your size.

Yeah, all of that celebrating was a bit...much, to say the least. Especially when you're still doing choreographed celebrations after goals 9, 10, 11, etc. I started to feel really bad for the Thailand team. I had never seen such a large gap between the talent of two teams on the World Cup stage (women or men); it was clear that the Thailand team's talent was on the level of, I dunno, a decent high school girls team in the US?