Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[Santander]

Arsenal's signing of Declan Rice became official yesterday.

Inter Miami's last Messi and Busquets-free game ended in a 3-nil loss to my St. Louis City SC.

Meaningless career move to the worst team in a no-consequence league. At least the guys going to Saudi Arabia are going to a rapidly-improving league with real history.

[NewYorkExpress]

Arsenal's signing of Declan Rice became official yesterday.

Inter Miami's last Messi and Busquets-free game ended in a 3-nil loss to my St. Louis City SC.

Meaningless career move to the worst team in a no-consequence league. At least the guys going to Saudi Arabia are going to a rapidly-improving league with real history.

At least in MLS you aren't shilling for league run by a country where the government murders journalists.

[JGibson]

The USWNT kick off their FIFA Women's World Cup 3-peat bid by beating Vietnam 3-nil to gain 3 points and a +3 in goal differential. 

[Santander]

https://talksport.com/football/1509661/kylian-mbappe-wages-al-hilal-saudi-arabia-psg/

Al-Hilal (KSA) make a €300m bid for Mbappe. Mbappe himself is reportedly offered €700m (tax-free, of course) to play for a year before being allowed to go to Madrid.

I love Saudi Arabia even more. Blow it all up!

[NewYorkExpress]

Pretty big upset in the Women's World Cup, as the Philippines shocked New Zealand 1-0.

The goal was their first World Cup goal in men's or women's World Cup (the men have never qualified, and this is the first time the women have ever qualified).

[Santander]

MLS farmers' league.

[NewYorkExpress]

David Silva retiring

Silva's a four time English Premier League winner with Manchester City, and a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup squad, as well as their Euro 2008 and 2012 Championship Squad.

[NewYorkExpress]

We had another upset in the Women's World Cup, as Nigeria defeated Australia 3-2.

[JGibson]

New Zealand are the first-ever women's World Cup hosts (or co-hosts) to get eliminated in the group stage phase with their nil-nil draw to Switzerland, in conjunction with Norway's 6-nil thumping of the Philippines.

[JGibson]

The USWNT drew with Portugal nil-nil, good enough to see them through to the Round of 16. Portugal came within a whisker of eliminating the US. With the 7-0 beating of Vietnam, the Dutch take the group.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/gianluigibuffon/status/1686727431887933440

[JGibson]

Sweden eliminated the USA on Penalties 5-4 after drawing nil-nil. There will be no threepeat, as the USWNT are eliminated in the round of 16. This is the first time ever the USWNT go home medalless in the FIFA WWC.


Rapinoe and Smith's misses from the spot cost us.

FIRE VLATKO!!!

[Santander]

Sweden eliminated the USA on Penalties 5-4 after drawing nil-nil. There will be no threepeat, as the USWNT are eliminated in the round of 16. This is the first time ever the USWNT go home medalless in the FIFA WWC.

Nobody liked the US team anyway. Grossly overpaid, arrogant divas who hate America.

[buritobr]

Women's soccer was forbidden in Brazil from 1941 to 1981. In the early years after the permission, there was no interest of sport managers, sponsors and media in women's soccer. The first female Brazilian soccer players had very hard times. We could understand easily the bad results in the 1991 and 1995 World Cups. At that time, Brazil was easily the best of Latin America, but had no chance against the superpowers in this sport that time: USA, Germany
Then, Brazilian women's soccer became better and the Brazilian squad got the silver medal in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and in the 2007 World Cup.
But now, unfortunately, Brazilian women's soccer is getting worse. No new generation could replace Marta and Cristiane. After the 2007 runner up, Brazil is always doing worse the following World Cup than in the previous one. In 2023, Brazil had its worst results because they failed to score a goal against Jamaica. In 1991 and 1995, Brazil was also defeated in ther 1st round, but those tournements had only 12 teams. 2023 is the first time Brazil fails to reach the top 16. Despite the fact that now, there are sponsors, media's interest, manager's interest.
The swedish coach couldn't do any miracle.

[NewYorkExpress]

Arsenal topples Manchester City to win the English Community Shield on penalties.

It's the Gunners's first victory over Manchester City in any competition since the 2019-20 FA Cup Semifinal.

[NewYorkExpress]

We had an upset in the UEFA Champions League, as Faroe Islands Champions KI Klaksvik defeated Norwegian Champions Molde, 2-1 in the first leg of the Third Qualifying Round, in Torshavn.

[NewYorkExpress]

After Clinching the CONCACAF Gold Cup this Summer, Jaime Lozano has been elevated from the interim head coach of the Mexican National Team.

Truthfully for El Tri, why mess with success? However, the 2026 World Cup Cycle, which Lozano will be overseeing, will be very important, especially with Mexico co-hosting. A good showing will be paramount, and getting farther than the United States has to be the minimum requirement.

[Lechasseur]

Harry Kane has been undergoing his medical today ahead of a move to Bayern Munich, and may be playing for Bayern as soon as tomorrow.

[Lechasseur]

Harry Kane has officially joined Bayern Munich on a 4-year deal.

[NewYorkExpress]

Despite outpossessing RB Leipzig 2-1, Bayern Munich still lost the German Supercup 3-0, as Harry Kane made his debut off of the bench.

He'll have to wait a bit longer to win his first trophy.

[NewYorkExpress]

PSG's decision to freeze out Kylian Mbappe looks like it's going to backfire, as they ended up with a 0-0 draw with Lorient at Parc des Princes to kick off their season.

I have a sneaking suspicion, that this season will be the first season since the 2010-2011 season, that PSG does not qualify for the Champions League.

[NewYorkExpress]

Roberto Mancini has resigned as head coach of Italy.

[JGibson]

Arsenal kicked the season off with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

[NewYorkExpress]

Spain is heading to the Women's World Cup final following their 2-1 win over Sweden at Eden Park.

They'll face the winner of tomorrow morning's semifinal between co-host Australia and England.

[NewYorkExpress]

It'll be England vs Spain in the Women's World Cup final, after England's 3-1 victory over Australia.