football anyone? as in soccer...

[OldieButFrenchie]

Expand Quote

Anybody know the time slot for the final? Or any of the knockout stages?

[close]

They should be on the FIFA website, no? I could use a handy overview/calendar type thing actually. Brings me back to pre-internet days where you'd cut them out of a magazine and hang them on the wall to keep track of everything.

Edit: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/scores-fixtures?country=&wtw-filter=ALL

Dates and time are already given in the place you're browsing from I think.

I did exactly that, it's kind of a tradition at every wc with my boys. French magazine SoFoot always has a good poster to put on the wall.

I watched second half of the opening game yesterday... Mexico did good! Also their kit is kit of the tournament for me.

did you guys get mexican fans honking in the streets and celebrating the victory?? In the US was that ever a thing? is it too risky now in Trump's America? I live in Brussels so any victory by Morocco/portugal/Spain/Belgium/Italy (when they qualify....) is celebrated pretty loudly. France....not so much 

[ThatIsNotCricket]

I watched a little bit of Mexico - South Africa, but it was pretty bad and uneventful. Switched over to the Berlusconi-AC Milan documentary on the BBC, which was fantastic.

On that note, did someone already tip that documentary on the debacle of France in South Africa 2010? Can't remember who I talked with about that one. It's called 'The Bus: a French Football Mutiny' (Netflix). It's a good watch. Could only vaguely remember the whole thing, as a non-Frenchman. Never really knew Domenech was such a weird, slightly sketchy, narcissistic dude.

[ThatIsNotCricket]

from r/soccer

[brycickle]

did you guys get mexican fans honking in the streets and celebrating the victory?? In the US was that ever a thing? is it too risky now in Trump's America? I live in Brussels so any victory by Morocco/portugal/Spain/Belgium/Italy (when they qualify....) is celebrated pretty loudly. France....not so much 

I think it's mostly a European thing. Our friend that lives in St. Gallen always likes to give us the goose (honking) report after major victories.

[ThatIsNotCricket]

Mourinho to Madrid is a pretty brave bet. I was under the impression that Mourinho's best days were behind him, and he had pretty much lost his candidacy for absolute top-level jobs. But I wouldn't be surprised if he manages to mould this team into a winning machine again.

[brycickle]

Mourinho to Madrid is a pretty brave bet. I was under the impression that Mourinho's best days were behind him, and he had pretty much lost his candidacy for absolute top-level jobs. But I wouldn't be surprised if he manages to mould this team into a winning machine again.

I feel like I was one of the few Manchester United fans that really did not like it when Mourinho was hired. His system has always been boring as fuck.

[Síota]

LOL

[ThatIsNotCricket]

LOL

Jezus. I hope they sell Buckfast in corner stores over there, at a reasonable price. Wouldn't wish this on anyone.

[Atiba Applebum]

Expand Quote

LOL

[close]

Jezus. I hope they sell Buckfast in corner stores over there, at a reasonable price. Wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Buckfast?  They’re not even getting irn bru

[ThatIsNotCricket]

No, it was a bit of wishful thinking of course. I was just imagining that a couple of Scottish people living there had some secret import scheme set up after Scotland qualified. Under the counter Buckfast. Code word is Bucky Lasek.

[Síota]

I'd love a bottle of Buckie right now...

[OldieButFrenchie]

morocco brazil is cooking right now    1-1

[Atiba Applebum]

morocco brazil is cooking right now    1-1

Very good for Scotland

[GuessAgain?]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

[close]

Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

[close]

if that were true, then England should probably be number 1. Or maybe Spain. And Netherlands + Germany should not be 2 and 3.

[close]

If what were true?

[close]

what you were implying. That colonialism is the reason. Just stop implying stuff and say what you think.

[close]

You were implying that, not me. I didn't even imply anything. Anyways, there's a reason all the countries on that list, bar Brazil and Argentina, are West European economic powers that attract millions of Global South immigrants. No shit some of them will decide to play for their ancestral country. Sure, colonialism/postcolonialism plays a part in this but it's not the only factor. Point being, it's only 'crazy' if you're oblivious to the reasons behind the numbers.

[close]

I guess I misunderstood you, sorry about that then! I do agree the fact that these countries attract immigrants is of course a factor. But that does not explain why France has twice as many players in the WC as Germany or England. again, quality of academies is the difference IMO.

I get heated on this subject pretty quick I guess. It just drives me nuts that any time I see something about the French squad in the global media, the first comment is almost always "oh but they are not french". Considering my background I take that shit personal. so f**k you Trevor Noah! If you ever make it to Slap haha.....

Not to drag this back up, but 8% of players being born in France doesn’t automatically prove French football is miles ahead of everyone else.

The key question is, who are they actually playing for?

If a player is born in France but represents Haiti, Algeria, DR Congo or another nation then that stat reflects immigration patterns and dual nationality as much as it reflects the French academy system.

By the same logic, Sunderland have more players at this World Cup than Real Madrid, does that make Sunderland the bigger footballing powerhouse? Context matters

As a Wolves fan our bench player, Jean-Ricnar Bellegarde is French but plays for Haiti - he’s a pretty average baller.