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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (14 Viewers)

Good day for England's coefficient race with Italy for the 4th CL spot - Spurs, Pool, and United all move on, while Napoli and Fiorentina both lose.

 
NewlyRetired said:
Barca has told Neymar they only want him to play in either the Copa or the Olympics.

With the Olympics in Brazil, I could see him maybe choosing that which would be a big loss to the Copa.
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When does La Liga generally start?  Because the Olympics aren't until August and might run into the start of next season.  I wonder what Barca wants Neymar to do (aside from "neither")?

 
Ted Lange as your Bartender said:
When does La Liga generally start?  Because the Olympics aren't until August and might run into the start of next season.  I wonder what Barca wants Neymar to do (aside from "neither")?
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Barca's first league game this year was August 23rd but they also play in various "Super Cup" type games earlier in August.  The Copa would work around this better.

But either way, you are right, Barca would prefer he play neither and just join them on what ever big money summer friendly tour they take.   If things go a certain way, Barca could be missing their star trident for any summer tours they take significantly lowering their value.

 
Are they still doing the transparent voting booths? I hope so... especially if they blow cash money in and make them grab as much as possible

 
Can someone explain how the olympics work and fit into a summer with Euro2016 and the copa America???? I saw something about Neymar in the Olympics and now I'm all confused.  

 
NewlyRetired said:
Barca's first league game this year was August 23rd but they also play in various "Super Cup" type games earlier in August.  The Copa would work around this better.

But either way, you are right, Barca would prefer he play neither and just join them on what ever big money summer friendly tour they take.   If things go a certain way, Barca could be missing their star trident for any summer tours they take significantly lowering their value.
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Barcelona is not doing a summer tour this year due to Uefa, Copa, and Olympics

 
shader said:
Can someone explain how the olympics work and fit into a summer with Euro2016 and the copa America???? I saw something about Neymar in the Olympics and now I'm all confused.  
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Olympics are a U23 tournament but you are allowed 3 overage players which is how a Neymar could fit in.

I think the likelihood of any non Brazilian big names in the Olympics this summer is dramatically reduced because of the Copa and the Euro.

 
Europa League round of 16 draw results




Shakhtar Donetsk(UKR) v Anderlecht(BEL)







Basel(SUI) v Sevilla(ESP)







Villarreal(ESP) v Leverkusen(GER)







Athletic(ESP) v Valencia(ESP)







Liverpool(ENG) v Man. United(ENG)







Sparta Praha(CZE) v Lazio(ITA)







Dortmund(GER) v Tottenham(ENG)







Fenerbahçe(TUR) v Braga(POR)



 
Mjolnirs said:
Europa League round of 16 draw results




Shakhtar Donetsk(UKR) v Anderlecht(BEL)







Basel(SUI) v Sevilla(ESP)







Villarreal(ESP) v Leverkusen(GER)







Athletic(ESP) v Valencia(ESP)







Liverpool(ENG) v Man. United(ENG)







Sparta Praha(CZE) v Lazio(ITA)







Dortmund(GER) v Tottenham(ENG)







Fenerbahçe(TUR) v Braga(POR)
Click to expand...
Did FS1 conduct this draw or something? Three english teams and Pulisic's team in two ties and now they can ignore everyone else.

 
Sammy3469 said:
Do they not prohibit teams from the same country meeting in Europa this early?
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Looks like that restriction was removed starting at this round.  I know it usually goes away as the number of clubs shrinks, but I thought it was still in place for this round.

 
TKq1G36.png


 
Its an oddly good draw for Spurs - win, and they become one of the favorites to win the whole thing, lose, and they can concentrate on the league.  I like that the away match is first.  

Should be a good test win or lose.

 
Infantino vs Sheikh now in round 2

US to likely switch vote to support Infantino.  Sunil shown on camera talking to Infantino.

While Infantino is probably status quo it might actually be better than Sheikh taking over.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
NewlyRetired said:
Almost every Ali vote switched to Infantino to put him over the top.
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Sunil and Garber are usually bad at the politics of greater FIFA even considering the relatively bad hand they're usually given (i.e. we usually can't deliver a block of votes), but they were quite deft today.  The image of Garber talking with Infantino before/during the second round of voting is a pretty powerful acknowledgement that our Ali coalition put you over the top.  Considering they really didn't have much power going into this thing, it was well played (at least for today). 

 
Sammy3469 said:
Sunil and Garber are usually bad at the politics of greater FIFA even considering the relatively bad hand they're usually given (i.e. we usually can't deliver a block of votes), but they were quite deft today.  The image of Garber talking with Infantino before/during the second round of voting is a pretty powerful acknowledgement that our Ali coalition put you over the top.  Considering they really didn't have much power going into this thing, it was well played (at least for today). 
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I know next to nothing about politics but it almost seems like this played exactly as the wanted it to.

It would not shock me if they told Infantino that they intended to flip before any voting took place.  They had to know Ali had no juice but must have been confident that a second round would occur.

If they did lead the rest of the rest of the Ali voters to flip as a block, that does speak volumes.

As much as I think little will change, I still feel better with a Euro in charge than one of the proverbial dog tails in charge.

 
NewlyRetired said:
I know next to nothing about politics but it almost seems like this played exactly as the wanted it to.

It would not shock me if they told Infantino that they intended to flip before any voting took place.  They had to know Ali had no juice but must have been confident that a second round would occur.

If they did lead the rest of the rest of the Ali voters to flip as a block, that does speak volumes.

As much as I think little will change, I still feel better with a Euro in charge than one of the proverbial dog tails in charge.
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Gulati is quoted as saying he told Infantino that he (they'd) vote for Ali in Round 1 and then flip to him in round 2. 

 
####### Butcher's Apron cleans up Italian blood left behind, & moves onward & forward.  All respect to Tottenham; Fiorentina is a good squad, & they demolished them.

 
NewlyRetired said:
a risky play but it worked out.

what this gets us is unknown to me. 
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I made reference to this above, but the US doesn't lead anything and really has no real power.  We can't get the Caribbean/Central American countries to follow in any meaningful manner consistently. By being bale to pull off what he did, Gulati publically showed that he controls 25 or so votes.  That may not seem like much, but when it ends up being Asia/Africa vs UEFA/SA, it ends up being the deciding factor.  As long as those two bigger coalitions hold together into the future (which it looks like it should), Gulati ends up being the power broker. 

He managed to hold his coalition of 25 together long enough to show Infantino that he can't F with the US or else he'll lose that block of support.  This is the best possible outcome from a bad hand since our preffered choice in Ali had no chance.  Really well played all things considered. 

And don't think 2026 didn't come up in discussions.  Gulati doesn't bring that up in public unless he's already brought it up to Infantino 

 
Sammy3469 said:
And don't think 2026 didn't come up in discussions.  Gulati doesn't bring that up in public unless he's already brought it up to Infantino 
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If memory serves, they changed how WC voting is to take place.  I think it is no longer the executive committee that votes but the whole world.

I wonder how much Infantino can control in a wide open process like that to help the US?  I guess at best he could promise to deliver the UEFA block and then put pressure where he could.

 
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