never got into it, whereas Baseball- I watched back in The Sparky Anderson, Chet Lemon, Lance Parrish days. and Basketball, the last time-was when Detroit Pistons were The Bad Boys…The World Cup? was never my thing *
Before your time but did you know Monday Night Football started at 9pm for many decades. I used to be tired as ■■■■ on Tuesday mornings staying up to 1am watching football
I kind of disagree. It is a Friday night. People work until 5-6 pm. Go home eat a dinner, get some beers and settle in. Or head to a watch party.
8-9pm on a Friday night seems perfect to me.
But also I have zero idea what the actual data says. Maybe 7:30pm is the sweet spot for viewership in the USA on a Friday. I just know for me in the Summer I am outside while the sun is out so the later the better for me. a 7pm start and I might miss the game because I am outside I do not realize that the game started.
Now in the Fall/Winter yes 100% agree. Give me a 7:30-8 max start time. MNF starting at 9pm is a death sentence for me
It seems to win big in futbol at the World Cup level you need at least 1 if not both of the following:
1- an ELITE World Class Strike (top 5)
2- a playing style (think Brazil/Germany/France/Netherlands) I mean you know what you will be getting with the main powers style wise.
The USA team has neither and has never had either. Italy is all defense…sure it has failed them the last 2 cycles but also they have won it all before.
I would love for the USA team to make a decision on pick something:
we will be the best set team to ever play the game
we will have the most insane defense ever
we will have a monster midfield and control possession for 60% of every game we play
we will have an amazing header game and if we get it set up it will be on goal and dangerous every time
My point is that there is nothing the USA team does at a World Class level. It is gutting to be honest. And maybe it is just that our best athletes play other sports. But man we have 350 Millions humans in the country and countries of 15 M kick our butts all day long. So I really begin to think it is more about culture and coaching and not individual talent 100%.
Also it feels like from the outside looking in that they have some internal issues at the highest levels of USA soccer. Lots of in-fighting and no one running the show properly. Kind of like the Lions of old but with different issues. Actually reminds me a bit of MSU football, when they focus on the identity of defense and toughness they do well but as soon as they try to be something else it all goes to poop.
South Korea beat Czech 2’-1 in an entertaining game. Game would have been tied if not for an offside call. However the Koreans looked like a team to reckon with. Most of course are looking at the big names like Spain, Brazil France etc. But the good 2nd tier teams are no longer intimidated. I think Morocco got to the semis of the last world cup. The best will always be tough but it’s good to see that they will have to earn it. Living in Southern Ontario I will be rooting for Canada but I want USA and Mexico to do well and all three get out of the group stage.
