Official 20/21 Various National Soccer Team News Thread

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

Italy just got cooked...and Norway doesnt even like cooking. WTF happened at the end there? Did the Italians take a wine and pasta break and just ship 3 goals at the very end?

Defensively they've been leaky on the counter all campaign.

So in a game where they were going to be pushing for goals a bit recklessly they always had some risk of getting killed on the counter.

[CroFlames]

Surely they can't miss THREE World Cups in a row?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Surely they can't miss THREE World Cups in a row?

They might.

They've been terrible in the playoffs in both the 2018 and 2022 campaigns.

Will really depend if they get a lucky draw...which they might because FIFA will want them as a draw to sell more tickets at a high premium in the US for sure.

[GirlySports]

They couldn't beat North Macedonia or Sweden last time. Could get them again.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Defensively they've been leaky on the counter all campaign.

So in a game where they were going to be pushing for goals a bit recklessly they always had some risk of getting killed on the counter.

Italian Coach: "Do you see that Evil Gigantic Norwegian Snow Goblin? Dont let him behind you."

Is presumably how the team-talk went.

[Locke]

Now there is ze Germans!

"We eat your Bryndzové halušky!!"

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

Italian Coach: "Do you see that Evil Gigantic Norwegian Snow Goblin? Dont let him behind you."

Is presumably how the team-talk went.

Seems to be easier said than done with the Snow Goblin - guy is absolutely unplayable right now

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Seems to be easier said than done with the Snow Goblin - guy is absolutely unplayable right now

I know...dude is a machine at the moment.

[Locke]

Salah with a last minute winner against Zimbabwe at AFCON.

Then Egypt get a free kick and he tries to release Salah and then throws up his hands in frustration that Salah couldnt get to it! Dude...you launched it into the stands...The Flash couldn't get onto the end of that...

[SuperMatt18]

Feel like that's a pretty soft penalty call to give Egypt the penalty and the lead.

Can't have your arms out but feel like the hand barely grazed him.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

In the AFCON Final Morocco awarded a penalty in 90+8 after a VAR review. Terrible defending by Diouf. He just yanked him down. Ref had no choice. Chaos reigns all over the pitch trying to get this penalty taken

[GirlySports]

That's just a normal day at AFCON.

Then the penalty.......

[Matty81]

Im so glad Morocco didn't win, the whole thing stunk. the reffing all tournament has been either inept or willfully bad favouring the hosts. The disallowed goal was so soft, it was clearly a dive by the defender on the replays and then the penalty immediately after was debatable. 3 senegalese players mysteriously get food poisoning in warm ups or right before. There is footage of ball boys attacking senegalese subs and senegalese people being attacked in the streets after the games. Just no class at all from the hosts on any level.


Nevermind that no one on the damned team is actually Moroccan, they are all ethnic Moroccans from other countries which is absolutely ridiculous in my books, no one should be allowed to play for a country you have never even lived in, and yes that goes for Canada too.


Couldn't have been more of a karma finish with that embarassing penalty, good for senegal.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I thought the penalty was a pretty nailed on call, but the earlier disallowed goal was so soft. Brahim Diaz public enemy #1 in Morocco.

My hot take is I think it is a reminder how non-European tournaments are so much more entertaining. The drama, the chaos, the corruption? are all unmatched in Europe

[Locke]

Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has promised cash rewards of more than $130,000 and land plots to each player from the Africa Cup of Nations winning football team.

They had to do it the hard way, with Ismaila Sarr's goal disallowed late on, shortly before a dubious penalty was awarded, which resulted in the majority of the team walking back to the changing room, with Sadio Mane having to run in to get them back onto the field.

Almost 20 minutes after the 98th minute penalty was awarded, Brahim Díaz attempted a Panenka penalty and hit it straight at goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, who had to have help from reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf to look after his towel, with Moroccan ballboys trying to take it in a bizarre subplot.

He promised each of the 28 players 75 million CFA francs ($134,892), totalling 2.1 billion CFA francs, ($3.7 million) as well as 1,500 square-metre coastal plots of land.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/...-morocco-afcon

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Im so glad Morocco didn't win, the whole thing stunk. the reffing all tournament has been either inept or willfully bad favouring the hosts. The disallowed goal was so soft, it was clearly a dive by the defender on the replays and then the penalty immediately after was debatable. 3 senegalese players mysteriously get food poisoning in warm ups or right before. There is footage of ball boys attacking senegalese subs and senegalese people being attacked in the streets after the games. Just no class at all from the hosts on any level.


Nevermind that no one on the damned team is actually Moroccan, they are all ethnic Moroccans from other countries which is absolutely ridiculous in my books, no one should be allowed to play for a country you have never even lived in, and yes that goes for Canada too.


Couldn't have been more of a karma finish with that embarassing penalty, good for senegal.

Anecdotal, I know, but I was walking through the Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech when Senegal scored and a bunch of Senegalese fans came running out, going nuts. There was no trouble there and the people I spoke to were ok about it, but downhearted.

I was hoping Morocco would’ve won, because that would’ve been some night.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Anecdotal, I know, but I was walking through the Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech when Senegal scored and a bunch of Senegalese fans came running out, going nuts. There was no trouble there and the people I spoke to were ok about it, but downhearted.

I was hoping Morocco would’ve won, because that would’ve been some night.

My sister was in Morocco during the last World Cup and apparently the atmosphere there was insane!