imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I also gotta admit this was the most entertaining World Cup I've ever watched. Tons of goals. Players eating other players. Great goals. Horrible goalie errors. Amazing goalie play. PK drama. Upsets galore (Costa Rica especially). Ghanaian players being sent home for attacking FIFA officials over a money dispute .

And I heard so much of how the stadiums wouldn't be ready in time (some actually weren't for the first matches) and how there were parts of stadiums collapsing just months before the start of the cup and the anger of the people in Brazil. But I admit it went very well. Much better than most people expected, except for the Brazilian national team

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I think Rio will do a great job hosting the summer olympics in 2016.

CCColtsicehockey

Definitely was an amazing goal to win on and I agree I was really happy it didn't go to a shootout.

CCColtsicehockey

I hope a gif gets created of the little kid that is upset and shoves his dad away when he tries to comfort him.

F-C

Hmmm, interesting. I don't even remember entering.

F-C

Thanks World Cup for a great month. Deserved #4 for Germany.

1Louder

Speaking as someone who is on the fringe of the sport (I played when I was 10-12 yrs old, but follow only passively now) I think the combination of the event and ESPN's coverage combined to do the whole thing justice and went a long way to generate some long-term interest in the sport. At least for me I enjoyed watching a lot of the matches, and was drawn into the story lines. Honestly the last world up I could not watch just because of the noise generated by those stupid horns. That constant "hum" in the background drove me insane. But this was a good show top to bottom - on and off the field. I hope it moves interest in the game forward here in the US.

Oh and Goetze - how many out there wish we were this guy right now. I can only imagine how good his life is going to be for the forseeable future. Good looking guy with a country full of very happy women....

myron

iTrader: (4)

22 years old, first time in world cup, one and only goal in overtime and wins the world cup for Germany, this guy is a national hero. Talk about a dream come true

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

He will be fucking so many hot bitches

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

It's funny b/c I have played soccer since I was 4 y/o (played all through HS and club in college... still play indoor and pickup recreationally today) so have always loved the WC. While watching the final yesterday my wife asked me why she didn't remember the last WC. I reminded her that except for the US games, I did not watch any of it b/c it was unwatchable with those stupid vuvuzelas. Then she remembered about "those stupid horns" (her words as well) and said this year was so much better.

Coverage was good and the games were generally all pretty interesting. This was a good WC and I hope the momentum carries forward. Being this is the US I know it won't make it past December, but seeing matches like Manchester City v Liverpool coming here to Charlotte gives me hope that we can keep the spark alive by having games like that around the US. We'll see!!

Only 11 months until the Women's WC (which is usually watch as well). And it's in Canada!

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

That was one hell of a goal. Agree that this was one of the best world cups in recent history. I would have liked to see Argentina pull off a victory but the better team won.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I'm still trying to figure out how Messi won the Golden Ball award. I mean, he didn't even score a single goal in a knockout game . I mean, I'm sure it was all politics, but it just doesn't make sense.

F-C

It's easy. Did you see how much money adidas spent on Messi and the World Cup? They needed to get some ROI.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

FIFA is corrupt. Duh.

Doom878

http://screamer.deadspin.com/hey-che...97706/+Tom_Ley

Nicks2001tl

Mario Gotze scored 10 goals with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last season and won the Bundesliga championship. Great young star.


And all of the above......

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Well yeah, I worded my post more dramatically then necessary (sorry, too much soccer over the last month). I mean if Maradona could figure it out, it's pretty clear

F-C

Kid's saying Messi sux.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

jangkai

I'm sad that the world cup is over but am fully ready for the transfer market!

CCColtsicehockey

Excellent

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

without knowing stats and facts..

I can confidently say that the sport grows exponentially every year. whether there is a world cup or not.

and not even necessarily because of TV exposure.

when I started playing at 4/5 years old.. my town had 3 teams.. even by the time I was in my early teens, there was about 6 competitive teams in local rec.

it wasn't until I was in high school and played club soccer that I saw how the game was really played at a high level. by the time I was senior in high school, our town, that started with 3 teams as a child, played in 2 straight state championship games.

now when I pass the fields that I grew up playing on during the weekend... there are literally a several hundred kids all day long.

it may not be on a nationwide scale, or something we see on the news.. but the sport is growing, and with it, young talent.

im not saying we will play for a world title in the near future, but the US will continue to grow in soccer for the time being, and having a national team do great things is only helping.

one day, the lebrons and Adrian petersons of the US will start to funnel into the sport and watch out world...

Nicks2001tl

Noyer deserved the Golden Glove. Howard, Ochoa and Navas had incredible runs but Noyer and the German defense allowed the fewest goals.


Golden Ball; Rodriguez or Klose

Nicks2001tl

Soccer in America has no where to go but up. For the U.S. to be competitive in the World it will take a team of individuals that are dedicated to each other to be competitive against there opponents. Youth is a huge factor also. Getting a strong base of young players with a Veteran Coach could pay huge dividends.


You saw superstars like Messi and Ronaldo that couldn`t carry there teams alone. On the World Stage it`s a little different than Club soccer.

F-C

I hope you mean Neuer.

I agree. Neuer was very active in his goalkeeping, which prevented a lot of risky situations for the defense. He didn't stay in his box like most of the other keepers.

On the other hand, while Ochoa and some other keepers had fantastic games, some of their saves were purely luck.

I feel bad for Julio Cesar. He didn't make any mistakes in Brazil's final two matches, but his stats will show that he let 10 goals in.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Neuer without a doubt deserved golden glove. Best keeper overall. And even a sweeper! And you are correct about Cesar. More like the Brazilian defense let in 10 goals in 2 games, not Cesar.

Golden ball... lol @ Messi getting it. Klose??? Not even close. Yea, he broke the WC scoring record but in no way was he even close to being the best person in the tournament. My vote goes to James Rodriguez, with Robben (as much diving as he does) second.

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

yes.

I just mean the super-athletes will eventually start to funnel into the sport. id rather have a team of good players than a bunch of mediocres and 1-2 great ones.

Nicks2001tl

With MLS and College there are plenty of players to put on a roster. Hopefully we can also send more young players to Europe to gain valuable experience. Europe and South America are sending there veterans here to play in MLS. David Villa recently committed to play here in New York and Kaka for Orlando City.

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

its a damn retirement home.

1Louder

I think part of the problem the US has to overcome is money - particularly 90 minute games with only one commercial break. I know that's a bit cynical, but that format makes it a low-value proposition to TV and advertisers (for the major networks anyway). But we've been on this upswing now across a couple decades where the kids that played in the 80's are now adults who will watch a game, and who are also getting their own kids into it. So the audience is there - we just have to figure out now to reach it. When the money is there, the coverage and corresponding popularity will follow. Unfortunately all the other major sports are more driven by TV schedules than actual game play.

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

Doesn't most of the money Internationally come from uniform sponsorships, field level adds etc.? Or do the teams actually have deals with networks?

bent09

iTrader: (1)

I am not exactly sure youth soccer will continue to grow. I read somewhere that there are more kids in youth soccer than ever other sport combined. The problem is they go on to do other things. It seems with so many youth sports kids almost graduate from playing soccer and go into other avenues.

I have my son in soccer because it is good for footwork, continuous involvement and good exercise. Now he likes soccer but wants to go back to flag football


US Youth Soccer Annual Registration of Players
1974 - 103,432
1980 - 810,793
1985 - 1,210,408
1990 - 1,615,041
1995 - 2,388,719
2000 - 3,020,442
2005 - 3,050,465
2007 - 3,123,698
2008 - 3,148,114
2009 - 3,094,868
2010 - 3,036,438
2011 - 3,025,551
2012 - 3,020,633

Doom878

Why is it declining? XBOX 360 came out?

F-C

Most of the revenue for the major European leagues come from tv deals. I assume the money is from cable and satellite subscription fees. I guess you don't need that much advertising on tv if you charge people to pay for watching.

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

thanks OBAMA!

Nicks2001tl

I was hoping to see a World Cup in 2018.