World Cup and European leagues

[Ejay]

Very low expectations for Australia, it seems a very long time now since we won the 2015 Asian Cup and much longer back to 2006 when arguably our best ever team got to the second round of the WC.  The 2022 team is a hardworking one, but I can't imagine them scoring, let alone getting a result.

I loved Tim Cahill. He lived nearby when he played for NYRB. One of those guys you just loved to watch play. Best of luck to the Soccerroos!

[EnmoreCat]

Very low expectations for Australia, it seems a very long time now since we won the 2015 Asian Cup and much longer back to 2006 when arguably our best ever team got to the second round of the WC.  The 2022 team is a hardworking one, but I can't imagine them scoring, let alone getting a result.

I loved Tim Cahill. He lived nearby when he played for NYRB. One of those guys you just loved to watch play. Best of luck to the Soccerroos!

thanks Ejay, it's definitely gonna be more about organization and luck this time out.  As a Crystal Palace supporter, I was hoping to see Chris Richards play for the USA and am sad for him that he got injured.  Fortunately, there is still a Palace connection through Gregg Berhalter, who played for us about 20 years ago.

[northman]

Very low expectations for Australia, it seems a very long time now since we won the 2015 Asian Cup and much longer back to 2006 when arguably our best ever team got to the second round of the WC.  The 2022 team is a hardworking one, but I can't imagine them scoring, let alone getting a result.

I loved Tim Cahill. He lived nearby when he played for NYRB. One of those guys you just loved to watch play. Best of luck to the Soccerroos!

thanks Ejay, it's definitely gonna be more about organization and luck this time out.  As a Crystal Palace supporter, I was hoping to see Chris Richards play for the USA and am sad for him that he got injured.  Fortunately, there is still a Palace connection through Gregg Berhalter, who played for us about 20 years ago.

If we're citing Premier League players, I'm a Liverpool fan and thus can't make any USMNT references.  But I'm hoping Leeds comes through in the form of Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams for the USMNT!

[deutschfan]

Giving thanks to Brazil today.  Second goal one of the sickest ever.

[Hopkins92]

Absolutely an all-timer, no question... On any stage. But in a World Cup?

Sweet Mother of Pearl.

[camosfan]

Absolutely an all-timer, no question... On any stage. But in a World Cup?

Sweet Mother of Pearl.

Pele scored a more spectacular bicycle kick in 1958 finals in Sweden as a 17 year-old.

[blooter442]

Kind of out of left field, but the D3 connection made it worth posting.

The NIFL (Northern Ireland's top division) doesn't have the same commercial appeal as the Premier League or La Liga, but provides fans with the universal football emotions. YouTube channel The Peakys (formerly Peaky Bannsiders) was started by Niall Quinn, a supporter of Coleraine FC who wanted to chronicle his match day adventures with his eight year old son. I stumbled upon it a few months ago and it's a lot of fun.

This past weekend, Coleraine played in the NIFL League Cup final, and Wisconsin-Whitewater coach Tony Guinn (a native of NI who was at the match) ran into the channel's creator. Guinn lost his son Shaymus at age 11 to bone cancer, but wanted to thank Quinn for providing some level of joy for him to see another father being able to do what he never got the chance to. The interaction was featured in the Belfast Telegraph this morning. I can't imagine what it is like to be in that position, but also pretty incredible that he has kept going on the sidelines for UWW in the decade since.

https://belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/coleraine-fc-vloggers-emotional-exchange-with-bereaved-dad-who-found-joy-in-father-son-videos/812832084.html