2022/23 International Club Football Thread

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Loved by some.

He was an incredible player, at his peak one of the best strikers of all time so that’s not really surprising. Unfortunately some loose screws in his brain tarnished his reputation. He maximized all his abilities, was a force of nature with a forceful bite. Felt like every shot he took ended up in the back of the net in 2016.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I honestly think Suarez might be my most hated footballer ever.

That guy was SCUM.

What? No Cantona?

I mean, say what you will about Suarez but at least the spectators were reasonably safe.

[devo22]

Barcelona have now officially been charged with corruption.

Barcelona have been charged with corruption over payments they made to the vice-president of Spanish football’s refereeing committee.

Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, who held that role between 1994 and 2018, is also facing charges of corruption in a case brought by the Spanish public prosecutor’s office, as is Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barca president from 2014-2020, and Sandro Rosell, president from 2010-2014.

Enriquez Negreira has denied ever favouring Barcelona in terms of refereeing decisions. Barca have explained they hired an “external consultant” who provided reports “related to professional refereeing” and also deny any wrongdoing. All parties — Barca, Enriquez Negreira, Bartomeu and Rosell — have been approached for comment by The Athletic.

https://theathletic.com/4290919/2023...ra-corruption/

[Bagor]

Quelle surprise.
Hasn't played a full game in nearly a year.
There's always next year.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is set for another lay-off after suffering a thigh injury while taking free-kicks.

The 29-year-old will be out for about three weeks and will miss the start of France's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

After being dropped for Juve's Europa League win over Freiburg last week, he missed Sunday's 4-2 win over Sampdoria.

"This morning Pogba was taking free-kicks and felt a twinge in his adductor," Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said after Sunday's game.

A club statement said that Pogba underwent a medical test on Monday and that he has suffered "a low-grade tear to his right thigh adductor".

"He has already started with the rehabilitation process aimed at resuming competitive activity," it added.

Juve have the return leg against Freiburg on Thursday, with Pogba having been dropped for the first game after being late for a team meeting last Wednesday.

Pogba has only made two substitute appearances since rejoining Juve from Manchester United last summer, with the first of those coming on 28 February.

Pogba's previous appearance was for United in April 2022, when he suffered a calf injury in a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool which ruled him out for the remainder of last season.

The 2018 World Cup winner then suffered a knee injury in pre-season but initially opted not to get an operation, fearing it would rule him out of last year's World Cup.

But he was later deemed to need surgery anyway and, although he returned to the Juve squad in January, he suffered another muscular problem that further delayed his return to action.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64944492

[cam_wmh]

Did anyone see that tackle way out of the box by Ederson?

This ref is straight trash.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Ederson has to be the most reckless keeper in recent memory. More often than not gets away with it, but it's almost like the boredom of doing nothing most matched just turns his brain off.

[devo22]

ref is having a an absolute shocker. Hard to remember a ref with such an atrocious and one-sided half in recent memory.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

This ref is straight trash.

I'm not normally one for conspiracy theories but this is at a level that has to be looked at further.

[Senator Clay Davis]

It would be better if it were a conspiracy, at least there's some predictability in that. Incompetence is simply random.

[Elkyiv]

Haaland has the nose for goal like no one else right now. I was skeptical he'd fit into this system but he cleans up garbage like no other. He might be the answer to City's previous shortcomings in the CL.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Pep protecting Messi by not letting Haaland go for the record, what a jerk.

[devo22]

well, losing 7-0 is not the end of the world lol

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Locke

What? No Cantona?

I mean, say what you will about Suarez but at least the spectators were reasonably safe.

Missed this gem.

Never changes even when fully aware of the facts. Continues to downplay racist behavior.

Tries to compare a racist pos to someone that attacked a xenophobic pos from one of the scummiest fanbases in England.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

What? No Cantona?

I mean, say what you will about Suarez but at least the spectators were reasonably safe.

Cantona redeemed himself with all his amazing Nike commercials, can't hate him.

Haaland with a crazy game today.

Inter hangs on for life against Porto.

[GirlySports]

We interrupt Champions League to announce that FIFA has confirmed a 32 team Club World Cup every 4 years starting in 2025. UEFA gets the 4 winners spots and 8 wildcards.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_FIFA_Club_World_Cup

UEFA 4+8 = 12
CONMEBOL 4+ 2 = 6
CONCACAF/AFC/CAF 4
OCEANIA 1
HOST 1

So Liverpool Chelsea, Madrid and Seattle are already in!

Each country can only have 2 reps, unless they win 3 or 4 of the championships. So for example, if an EPL team wins one of the next 2 championships, there no longer can be an EPL wildcard team.

[SuperMatt18]

Think you actually mean Chelsea - Liverpool hasn't won the CL in the last two years.

But think it's a cool concept even though the teams that win those CL will be much different than those actually playing in the Club World Cup. Hell Chelsea might turn over the entire squad 2 times by then.

[devo22]

he's such a weird, weird dude.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1635775521844781056

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Pep protecting Messi by not letting Haaland go for the record, what a jerk.

I don't recall a player like this. My old uncle would say Gerd Mueller was like Haaland, but man. Every ball he touched went into the net yesterday. Even that weird one where it bounced on the line and who does it hit? Haaland.



In modern times? Closest comparable maybe Lewandowski? Zaltan?


I probably woulda scored a couple more if he played all 90.

[CroFlames]

Entertaining match so far Real vs Liverpool despite lopsided aggregate.

[Elkyiv]

all the giants (RM, MC, Bayern) will be hoping to avoid Napoli next round. they are playing some great football.