Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. don’t touch it.”

Usually wrong but never in doubt

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Republicans in disarray!

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

This fight is for everything.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

I was confident that someone would point it out and thought why not me.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

He really is that stupid.

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Ron DeSantis, the grand wizard, oops, governor of FL

In my day, never was longer.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

You are here: Home / Open Threads / FIFA Women’s World Cup – Group 1 of 3

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140Comments

  1. 1.

    Victor Matheson

    I am headed to Australia next week, so I will be at the Columbia/S. Korea match. Not expecting much from that one, but Australia/Canada the next week should be fun.

    Go USA. I figure they have as good a shot as anyone despite missing a couple of players due to injury. But I wouldn’t bet on the US against the field.

  6. 6.

    WaterGirl

    Remember, if you comment in these posts, it will show up in recent comments.  So even though they aren’t on the front page anymore, you can still have conversations.

  7. 7.

    Annie

    Really happy for New Zealand!  I want the U.S. to win but would love it if one of the underdogs made a  good run.

  8. 8.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Annie:

    It’s a pretty wide open tournament. Germany, England, France and Japan all have legitimate shots at the cup and considering we’re off to a banger of a start with two entertaining games from the hosts, it should be a helluva ride.

  10. 10.

    HumboldtBlue

    Canada dominates the first 20 minutes, but it’s the Super Falcons (not Eagles as I typed earlier) who have the first dangerous shot on goal. Good action, great pace.

  11. 11.

    HumboldtBlue

    And all of a sudden, Nigeria responds with 10 good minutes of pressure in the Canada end.

  14. 14.

    HumboldtBlue

    Canada threw away three points. Nigeria had their chances as well. That was a good match.

  15. 15.

    HumboldtBlue

    OK, game two, and you other cup watchers better show up or someone is gonna report me as the guy mumbling to himself acting weird.

  16. 16.

    HumboldtBlue

    Philippines robbed with a terrible penalty call.

    The Swiss did come into form, they were clearly pressing the Philippines and their No. 9 missed a cross served up on a plate.

  17. 17.

    HumboldtBlue

    Swiss are too big, too strong. Philippines went for the early heavy pressure and rush to snag a goal and almost got one.

    But the holey cheeses wore them down.

  18. 18.

    HumboldtBlue

    Spain are too fast, too skilled, too technical and too much for Costa Rica.

    It’s 3-0 at half, and it could be worse, the game has been played, not only in Costa Rica’s half, within five yards of their 18-yard box.

    Spain are fun to watch but sweet mother of faking it, they dive more than Greg Louganis.

  19. 19.

    scribbler

    @HumboldtBlue:  Just want to say good on you for keeping the comments thread running all on your own.  You’re a great play by play man.  Keep it going!

  20. 20.

    HumboldtBlue

    @scribbler:

    Ain’t nobody else doing it, but that’s OK, I’m fine, here, alone… ahem.

    Whole gang of late nighters/early risers (Betty Cracker will catch you at the crack of dawn, just sayin’)  are out there trying to pretend a World Cup isn’t on the line.

    The US plays today, so we’ll soon see some hot takes from this august commentariat.

    I will say, Spain looked good.

  22. 22.

    HumboldtBlue

    OK, US v Vietnam (poor Vietnam, they’re gonna struggle mightily in this game and in this group). Get some goals and a lead, and then close the game out and get out with three points and no injuries.

    What the hell is up with those jackets? They look like they were designed by Tesla.

  23. 23.

    WaterGirl

    It just occurred to me that all I have to do is change the published time and the soccer thread can show up on the front page.  Maybe that will get you some more company!

  24. 24.

    Jackie

    @HumboldtBlue: You can be our very own Jackals play-by-play sportscaster! And color commentator 😁🥰

    I have a hard time posting and watching in real time.

  28. 28.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    This is the toughest match up for the US,  Vietnam is really tricky and undefeated (clip)

  30. 30.

    HumboldtBlue

    @WaterGirl:

    I was gonna email you and ask for an open soccer thread at like 7 pm eastern time. We take it from there.

    @Baud:

    Lol, it was definitely a foul, and it went uncalled, but it wasn’t a red card.

    @Jackie:

    Someone has to do it!

  34. 34.

    Jackie

    GOOOOOOAAAAAALLL!!

    🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  38. 38.

    eclare

    Yay USA!

    After being wo power since 4:30 am on Wed, it came back this afternoon.  Happy to be able to watch on a big screen.  Watching soccer on a phone is not ideal.

    And yeah, A/C is good too.

  47. 47.

    SpaceUnit

    World Swimming Championships are also taking place now in Japan.  Pool racing begins on Sunday.

    They’ve held the open water events already.  US’s Katie Grimes took the bronze in the 10K ( 6miles! ), finishing just 4.5 seconds behind the 1st place winner.  She’s just 17 years old and improving at a shocking rate.  I’m expecting her to take the gold next year at the Paris Olympics.  She will also be heading up the US team in the 400 IM.  That girl is a badass.  The 200 IM is a blast once you’ve learned how to swim it but the 400 is like doing penance for all mankind’s sins.

    Men’s team is without Caeleb Dressel and Michael Andrew but should still do pretty well.  Connor Foster will have his hands full with Frenchman Leon Marchand in both IM’s.  Ryan Murphy is in good form.

    The women’s events are where the action is at this year.  I’m hoping Raygun Smith will set a new world record in the 200 back.  Expect to see fireworks in the 200 and 400 freestyle.  Canada’s got a firecracker named Summer Macintosh setting world records all over the place.  Australia’s Ariarne Titmus will have something to say as well.

    It ought to be good.  Okay go back to talking about soccer.

  52. 52.

    SpaceUnit

    @eclare:

    Yes.  I believe she’ll be swimming the 200, 400 and 800 and 1500 freestyle, although she might scratch the 200.  She got beat out at Nationals in that event by Claire Weinstein.  Didn’t look great.

    She’ll likely pull some relay duty as well.  But that 400 is gonna be a barnburner.

  53. 53.

    HumboldtBlue

    Good pace to the game…

    THAT COULD BE A PENALTY

    It would be harsh, but that’s a penalty.

    Harsh, but that’s the correct call.

  56. 56.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Baud: ​

    It was the right call.

    Great save!

    What a weakly taken penalty

    I think there’s been a penalty called in every game so far, and that’s at least the second miss.

    Nice nutmeg!

    OFFSIDE!

    That was rather anticlimactic, but it’s a goal.

  64. 64.

    citizen dave

    As a 5 year fan of this team, and no hockey fan at all, the one thing both sports could do to dramatically improve their sport is get rid of the offsides rule.   It is so incredibly stupid.  Basketball doesn’t have it.  Your man leaks out, play defense

    Rant over.

  66. 66.

    HumboldtBlue

    There were five penalties called in the first five games with three misses, and the US makes it six games and four misses.

    That’s extraordinary.

    @citizen dave:

    As a 5 year fan of this team, and no hockey fan at all, the one thing both sports could do to dramatically improve their sport is get rid of the offsides rule

    That’s a really bad take and you should feel bad.

  74. 74.

    Central Planning

    I’m watching the USA-Vietnam game on Peacock. Picked the first one that I saw – it’s all in Spanish and I know maybe 29 words. My wife has been doing duolingo and is catching maybe every 15th word :)

  75. 75.

    Yarrow

    @eclare:  I think they’re only there for a week. He’s a huge football fan and they do most of their vacations around football tournaments. She’s texting me pictures from the match! Their daughter plays and is a big fan of the USA Women. She’s old enough now to really appreciate going.

  77. 77.

    Jackie

    @Baud: I hate it when in their mind, they’re already focused on the next team. That’s how “favorite to win” lose.

    Be humble and focus USA. Your 💩 stinks as badly as anyone else.

  83. 83.

    HumboldtBlue

    @eclare:
    Buddy just texted me that she’s the shortest keep he’s seen at this level, but she’s very tough. Vietnam have been dogged, the US beat Thailand 13-0 in the first match four years ago.
    Vietnam keeps this at two goals, that helps immensely in goal differential. Of course, they’re gonna have to find a way to score, so…
    @Alison Rose:
    Welcome to the party, pal!

  85. 85.

    Alison Rose

    OH GREAT. So the Fox app only lets you watch part of the match if you don’t sign in with a cable provider, and it just cut me off. What the fuck is that bullshit?

  88. 88.

    Yarrow

    @Alison Rose:  Oh, yeah. They only give you a ten minute preview. Sucks. I read that they’ll replay the matches on Tubi right after the match, so I guess that’s an option.

    The team seems sort of sluggish or something.

  90. 90.

    Alison Rose

    Okay, I totally forgot I had a Peacock subscription and my friend told me I could watch there in Spanish, which is fine with me because most sports announcers annoy me, so if I can’t understand them, it’s much more pleasant.

  91. 91.

    citizen dave

    @HumboldtBlue: I’m standing by my No Offsides position.  The rule adds absolutely nothing to hockey or football.  Let the players go wherever the hell they want to.  (I will admit I don’t know the history of the rule, why it exists, etc.  Only if I were designing these sports, I would not have it)

    Educating myself ”

    First introduced in 1883 when the Football Association (FA), for the first time, formalised football rules, the offside was constructed to deter players from always lurking near the opposition goal to look for scoring opportunities.

    Without the offside rule, long balls could be kicked directly towards team-mates placed in the opposition goal area and would prove to be too effective, thereby reducing the element of skill and strategy in football games.”

    I totally disagree with this.  It’s up to the defense to cover the offense.  It’s not an issue for basketball.

  94. 94.

    HumboldtBlue

    @citizen dave: ​

    Only if I were designing these sports

    Which is why we are glad you stick to what you do know, being a good citizen.

    Three nil should settle things. Comfortable win, no injuries, well done Vietnam. They put in a lot of work and made the US work for it.

  97. 97.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Martin: ​ 

    Nothing is gonna change until they change the ownership model. I follow and watch the Philly Union, but I can’t take MLS all that seriously until they stop playing on turf and play on grass.

    MLS is fun to watch, but the quality is still far below Europe.

  100. 100.

    billcinsd

    @citizen dave: If you want a game of Iowa girls basketball played by big stiff guys, your rules would be fine. Not even basketball wants Iowa girls basketball.

    One reason basketball doesn’t have a problem is that the court is 93 feet long. The soccer field is more like 330 feet long. Thus it takes 7 or 8 more seconds for a player to get from one end of the field to the other making playing offense and defense mush easier in basketball than in soccer.

  101. 101.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Alison Rose:

    FIFA changed how they measure extra time at the men’s world cup and it more closely reflects how much time should be added.

    Nine, 10 even 12 minutes occur regularly now.

  104. 104.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Alison Rose:

    I don’t mind it at all. It was changed to offset the most egregious time wasters and it more accurately reflects what happened on the pitch, People wanna see the ball in play and this helps accomplish that.

  105. 105.

    billcinsd

    @HumboldtBlue: Well, they only did this at the Men’s World Cup. More normal stoppage time occurred in the Pro Leagues I watched, and at the U-20 World Cup, IIRC

  106. 106.

    Jackie

    Good win for 🇺🇸!!!

    Hopefully they focus on the game of the moment and don’t look ahead from this point on.

  108. 108.

    Trollhattan

    Tonight the Portland Thorns* score 7 in two hemispheres.

    *Lindsey Horan will never not be a Thorn.

    You’re welcome,  America.

  111. 111.

    HumboldtBlue

    Zambia was Northern Rhodesia when I was growing up.

    @eclare

    Japan are certainly heavy favorites and should win this match. By how much is the question.

    Kate Scott is the play by play voice, the same role she plays for the 76ers. She’s a Fresno native and built her career in the Bay Area. She’s an up and comer.

    Japan forces a great save and the hits the post!

  114. 114.

    HumboldtBlue

    @eclare: ​ 

    Actually, it was Northern Rhodesia until 1964, and I wasn’t here yet, so I didn’t grow up with that.

  117. 117.

    HumboldtBlue

    The Copper Queens are holding out.

    Lovely ball from Japan, who have the possession and the dangerous chances, but who look vulnerable to the counter and that Zambia speed.

    Japan is gonna get a goal.

    GREAT SAVE!

  119. 119.

    HumboldtBlue

    That was absolutely clinical execution by Japan.

    Beautiful goal. It took four touches before the ball is in the back of the net.

  121. 121.

    HumboldtBlue

    @eclare:
    Zambia are one of the debutantes who are up against it. If they stay close and maybe get a quick long ball counter, they could make it interesting.
    That’ll do it. And I will say Kate Scott’s call was pretty terrible. She is not in voice.​

    Ohhhh nooooo

    That’s gonna be offside.

    Goooooaaaalllll, that was lovely! What a through ball!

    Japan’s technical ability has shown up. Quick feet and passing.

  127. 127.

    HumboldtBlue

    Great save,

    Another beautiful pass for the through ball.

    Japan showing out.

  132. 132.

    PAM Dirac

    Not exactly the most scintillating half for Denmark-China. Neither side had enough vision or precision to be very threatening. I was a bit surprised to hear that Denmark hasn’t made it to the finals since 2007, but they played like no one has any finals experience. China looked a bit better overall, but Denmark showed a bit of life near the end of the half. Who knows what will happen in the second half.

  133. 133.

    cmorenc

    @citizen dave:

    @HumboldtBlue: I’m standing by my No Offsides position.  The rule adds absolutely nothing to hockey or football.  Let the players go wherever the hell they want to.  (I will admit I don’t know the history of the rule, why it exists, etc.

    I’ll bet you are one of those folks who think soccer would be much more exciting if goals were much easier to score and games had scores like 20-18 than 2-1.  You want games like that, the NBA is for you, not the EPL or MLS.

    The offside rule actually results in a far more, not less interesting game – a well-timed attacking run to beat defenders offside line, coupled with an accurate, well-timed through ball, is one of the most exciting, appealing aspects of the game to true soccer fans.

  134. 134.

    PAM Dirac

    Denmark gets a goal at the death. Very nice delivery on a corner kick. Denmark were putting much better pressure in the last 10 minutes or so. They always looked more likely to score. China still has 5 or 6 minutes, but seems unlikely to get the equalizer.

  136. 136.

    HumboldtBlue

    OK, Colombia v South Korea in the final match of the opening round and so far it’s a wide-open free-flowing game and South Korea has had two good chances.

    Wow, Colombia player just kicked a Korean player in the head. Unintentional, of course, but that is surely a red not just a yellow?

  137. 137.

    HumboldtBlue

    Colombia on the attack and they force a hand ball against Korea. Yet another penalty kick.

    and Colombia scores! 1-0

  138. 138.

    HumboldtBlue

    More Colombian pressure leads to the second goal and the goalie has got to be better than that.

  139. 139.

    HumboldtBlue

    South Korea is in trouble, trailing 2-0 at half, and they have shown no ability to work around Colombia’s pressure.

  140. 140.

    HumboldtBlue

    Colombia have talent, whether it’s enough to trouble France, US, Germany etc. remains to be seen.

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