2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

#451      
the juiceman cometh
KBLEE said:
Penalties are already a different sport.
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Yes, and I prefer not to replace one thing that's dumb but at least has some tradition behind it with another thing that's dumb and has never been a thing in soccer (unless you're talking about playing with mini goals that you see in some youth soccer setups, in which case I'm game but that's not going to speed things up any).

No goalkeepers is a terrible idea unless you like the idea of each team camping three defenders on the goal line with their hands clasped behind their backs and trying to rocket shots in from far away and hoping to either get it past them, win a corner kick, or get a handball penalty (in which case what happens? do you shoot into an empty goal?). 30 minutes of that? I'll take the PKs, as much as I don't like them.
 
#452      
Carter Waller
KBLEE said:
I was gonna propose playing extra time with no goalkeepers. 10 v 10 but nobody on the pitch can use their hands. It might make teams play a bit more defensively, but scoring should (in theory) be easier.
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They could use the jerseys I proposed that have no sleeves and keep the arms pinned inside. It would be a must-see.šŸ˜€
 
#453      
Second place is 1st loser
the juiceman cometh said:
Yes, because number of players on the field already fluctuates due to red cards. The game is still the same, just more open space for players to exploit. Less opportunity for defenders to crowd the box. But still the same game.

And tbh I'm proposing this thing but also not 100% sold on it myself. I just don't like the penalty shootout and want to see games decided during open play. I'd still rather the entire match be re-played but know that's a solution from a bygone era and will never happen.

But the principle that once a player is out, that player is done is fundamental. It's been a part of the strategy of the sport forever, to the degree that even in penalty shootouts you can't use a player that was previously subbed out.

Same with any of these bizarre proposals to not have a goalie. That's just a fundamentally different sport. No thanks.
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For those who only watch soccer during the World Cup and are bringing up ideas that will keep them in front of the TV and potentially guide their child in that direction....I think that those in critical roles might want to listen. No idea is a bad idea.

One of this bigger frustrations for me are the penalty shots given, in regulation, for "fouls" that are incidental or even marginal. That is the most punitive call in sports. If a guy gets pulled down or forcefully tripped on plays that would be otherwise lead to point black shots, fine, award the penalty kick. Anything short of an absolutely egregious play....don't give away a goal. In a sport where every goal is celebrated like it was a 65 yard pass, as time expired, to win the Super Bowl.....you can't hand out a freebie.
 
#454      
wettsten
SuperintendentChalmers said:
In extra time, add an additional ball every five minutes.šŸ˜œ

Chris "Mad Dog" Russo once suggested a second ball as a way to make soccer more exciting for the American audience.
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j47CHs.gif
 
#455      
wettsten
KBLEE said:
I was gonna propose playing extra time with no goalkeepers. 10 v 10 but nobody on the pitch can use their hands. It might make teams play a bit more defensively, but scoring should (in theory) be easier.
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add in no offensive players allowed in the 18 yard box and no defenders allowed in the 6 yard box
 
#459      
Illini92and96
KBLEE said:
I understand, but if you allow "hockey subs" with twice the number of players (compared to hockey) for each team it would become chaotic. Just think of the NFL when teams have too many players on the field, except you have players constantly entering and leaving the pitch with no regular stoppages for the refs to count the players.
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You could limit it to the start of every minute, or even minutes, etc. Or even every 5 minutes. Point being you wouldn't have people totally out of gas on the field just trying to survive. Less people and more rested people would be quite exciting. This after playing for 90 minutes already, so why not the change of pace and tactics.
 
#460      
Illini92and96
the juiceman cometh said:
Guys, small tweaks are one thing but some of you seem to want to make soccer a fundamentally different sport.

If you want to watch soccer but also hockey, indoor soccer is already a thing! And it's pretty fun! Support your local team! (My dad used to take me to a bunch of St. Louis Ambush games growing up, it was great!)
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We're just talking about overtime, not regular time. After having already played 90 minutes. I get bored watching in the 115th minute of a 0-0 game.
 
#461      
the juiceman cometh
Illini92and96 said:
We're just talking about overtime, not regular time. After having already played 90 minutes. I get bored watching in the 115th minute of a 0-0 game.
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If this was basketball and I was proposing that OT be decided by having the shortest player from each team wear identical mascot suits and engage in a dunk contest judged by 5 fans chosen at random by seat number, and the winner is revealed by tearing the mask off the winner's costume Scooby Doo style, how seriously would you take that proposal?
 
#463      
Fly Illini Fly!
8:50 --


No one else thinks this was a dirty tackle? The Morroco player notices MBappe grimacing, and then immediately pounces on the opportunity to take him out.
 
#464      
KBLEE
Fly Illini Fly! said:
8:50 --


No one else thinks this was a dirty tackle? The Morroco player notices MBappe grimacing, and then immediately pounces on the opportunity to take him out.
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The tackle was worthy of a yellow and he was booked.
 
#465      
Fly Illini Fly!
KBLEE said:
Penalties are already a different sport.
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I mean we see penalties taken basically every game.

Is it the absolute best way to decide a winner in a setting like the WC? Perhaps not. But it's a lot more traditional than something like removing offsides.

.....

I personally think penalties are a lot better than away goals, which was the criteria in the champions league all those years if it were tied after 2 legs. (obviously there's only one match being played at the WC)

Now it's the same as the FIFA rules -- 30min extra game and then penalties.
 
#469      
the juiceman cometh
Fly Illini Fly! said:
I mean we see penalties taken basically every game.

Is it the absolute best way to decide a winner in a setting like the WC? Perhaps not. But it's a lot more traditional than something like removing offsides.

.....

I personally think penalties are a lot better than away goals, which was the criteria in the champions league all those years if it were tied after 2 legs. (obviously there's only one match being played at the WC)

Now it's the same as the FIFA rules -- 30min extra game and then penalties.
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Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I actually liked away goals. It encouraged the away team to be aggressive rather than try and close up defensively and grab a 0-0 draw or try and limit the damage if already down.
 
#471      
OrangeBlue98
the juiceman cometh said:
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I actually liked away goals. It encouraged the away team to be aggressive rather than try and close up defensively and grab a 0-0 draw or try and limit the damage if already down.
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I am with you. The only thing I didnā€™t like about the application of away goals rule was that it still counted in extra time. So if the away team scored in extra time, then then home team had to score twice.

Use away goals for 180 minutes, then donā€™t use it for extra time.
 
#472      
bdutts
the juiceman cometh said:
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I actually liked away goals. It encouraged the away team to be aggressive rather than try and close up defensively and grab a 0-0 draw or try and limit the damage if already down.
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Agreed
 
#473      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
USMNT supporters gotta feel a little better after seeing Belgium compete today with Onana out (torn ACL on Monday), Tielemans getting hurt in warm-ups, and Courtois having to be taken off due to injury in the 2nd half.
 
#474      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams has passed away at the age of 25. He started in South Africa's first two group stage games and came off the bench against South Korea. He did not play in the Round of 32 match against Canada. Adams' grandmother passed away prior to the match against Czechia.
 
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