497 replies to this topic

[AllseeingEye]

I don't care what anyone says, I think those chaps from Argentina are starting to figure out soccer's fundamentals.

Seriously though, I feel like Canada would score more goals if they tried kicking the ball toward the net whenever they have the opportunity. Methinks pretty much any squad in the world would have had at least one goal out of their chances tonight.

 

.......and therein lies our problem in terms of Canada taking the next step in terms of joining the real top soccer nations.

 

Its all well and fine for our "top" offensive players to look like superstars against 99th ranked Trinidad and Tobago whom we "crushed" all of 2-1 in order to get the invite to Copa. Its another thing altogether it seems when we play truly top tier sides. Under those circumstances too often we're just lucky to a get shot on goal. never mind an actual goal.

 

Until Canada can produce bona fide, top flight world class creative offensive talent - that can above all produce goals when the pressure is on - then we'll continue (probably) to beat some Caribbean nation with a population less than Nanaimo, but come up short every time when facing a real soccer nation.

 

Alphonso Davies is reputedly our best offensive player: did you notice him - at all - tonight? Neither did I until he got hurt and had to leave in the 71st minute. Ditto Jonathan David who is right up there with Davies as our best hope to score but he has repeatedly muffed shots and made generally poor decisions when he's been in a position to do damage. As one TSN analyst charitably said Canada "needs more" from David. And Davies. And Cyle Larin. Lots more if they expect to beat anyone beyond Trinidad & Tobago.

[aastra]

But it's weird because they seem to be able to create good chances now with half-decent regularity. They just can't take a good shot to save their own lives. The commentators constantly mention "bad last touch" and so forth.

[AllseeingEye]

Great Euro 2024 game on now between England - Netherlands; the Dutch jumped out to a really early 1-0 nil lead but all time English scorer Harry Kane delivered an absolutely perfect strike from the penalty spot. That should be mandatory viewing for every Canadian player because *that* is how you score at the highest level of world football. Just an outstanding penalty taken by Kane. Wow.

[Victoria Watcher]

I’m not sure it was a penalty though.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 July 2024 - 11:25 AM.

[AllseeingEye]

^ Debatable call certainly, although the point is when given an opportunity a real world class striker takes advantage. The Dutch keeper had zero chance to stop it.....

[Victoria Watcher]

The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed more than an hour on Sunday evening because of crowd issues, including fans breaching security gates.

 

Hours before kickoff, fans got past the gates at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, one of the host sites for the 2026 World Cup.

 

Video posted on social media showed fans, mostly wearing Colombia's yellow and red colors, jumping over security railings near the southwest entrance of the stadium and running past police officers and stadium attendants. Screams could be heard in the background.

 

A handful of people could be seen receiving medical treatment and asking for water in the sweltering South Florida heat. Officers were able to push the crowd behind the gates and lock down the entrance so that no one could get inside, although plenty of fans with tickets had already made it to their seats before then.

 

One young fan wearing an Argentina jersey was let inside the gate crying hysterically as the man who was with him and a police officer tried to comfort him.

 

 

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/s...uly14-1.7263502

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 July 2024 - 08:08 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Just ended.

 

 

[Victoria Watcher]

Opinion: Canada's soccer success may soon be overshadowed by World Cup costs

 

You would never gamble your household economy on the extraordinary expense and risky return that Vancouver will in playing footsie for footie with FIFA.

 

https://www.timescol...p-costs-9219900

 

 

 

 

The budgets will assuredly grow between now and audit time, but some numbers we do have some sense of: we had a record high $7.9-billion provincial deficit in the recent fiscal year and will have a $7.7-billion deficit this year and a $6.3-billion deficit in the year we host the games.

 

The government has no plan to produce prosperity, so in household economy terms, the World Cup is like throwing a party when you can’t put food on the table. It is also an enormous drain on our talent that might be better applied to a more sustainable activity. The World Cup will come and go, forever, but the bills will be ours to keep.

[Nparker]

MAY soon be overshadowed by costs? Is there any doubt this is a total loss for taxpayers?

[LJ]

Wait till all the extra security costs are added in.

[Mike K.]

Don’t forget that debt will accrue many years of interest payments.

[aastra]

 

Wait till all the extra security costs are added in.

 

You mean they'll actually start checking people for flares and smoke bombs?

[AllseeingEye]

As much of a futbol fan as I am including the WC, there is no doubt this is going to be very very expensive. From the reports I've seen online and in the news, and the numbers being quoted, I think it is very difficult at best, a lost cause at worst, to try to make a business case, or any case at all, for this sporting spectacle. Particularly given all the other social spending priorities the BCG should be focused on (housing, medical system, street level crime/drugs). The WC final co$t tally always comes with muchos muchos 0's after that first number. 

[Nparker]

It is absolutely irresponsible of any government to throw taxpayer money at this or any other massive sporting event. Private money or it doesn't happen.

[LJ]

It is absolutely irresponsible of any government to throw taxpayer money at this or any other massive sporting event. Private money or it doesn't happen.

I'm with you, Olympics can go as well.

[Nparker]

I'm with you, Olympics can go as well.

Indeed. The Olympics have become an overblown spectacle that leaves cities and even nations in dire financial straits.

[Victoria Watcher]

“Hosting a World Cup is like nothing any of us (know). I don’t even think I know what it’s going to be like. And I’ve put on a few of these things. And I still don’t know. I think I’m underestimate the impact this (tournament) is going to be. And if I’m underestimating, the person on the street is underestimating it too.”

 

Staff at the Toronto office are working on everything from stadium and venue operations, and safety and security to commercial, legal, finance and government relations.

 

They work in conjunction with FIFA offices in Miami and Mexico as well as the FIFA head office in Zurich.

 

Canada and Mexico, which has three host cities to Canada’s two, will each host 13 matches with the U.S. staging the remaining 78 across its 11 host cities. Toronto and Vancouver will each host five opening-round matches plus a round-of-32 knockout match.

Vancouver will also stage a round-of-16 game.

 

FIFA plans to open a tournament office in Vancouver in the second quarter of 2025. Both Canadian offices will be walking distance to their local venues: Toronto’s BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium.

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...s-away-1228356/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 December 2024 - 06:16 AM.

[Mike K.]

Broke-as-heck BC will spend up to $20.7 million per game to host seven FIFA games in 2026.

[Victoria Watcher]

Broke-as-heck BC will spend up to $20.7 million per game to host seven FIFA games in 2026.

 

It does seem expensive, but most of it goes to local salaries and facility and other upgrades.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 June 2025 - 02:03 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

There is less than a year to go before Vancouver is on the global stage hosting seven FIFA World Cup soccer games, and leaders are promoting the economic benefits of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the international showcase.

 

A joint statement from B.C. Tourism Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says one million additional out-of-province visitors are expected between 2026 and 2031, generating more than $1 billion in spending. 

 

The statement says more than 18,000 jobs could be generated in that same period.

 

It says FIFA predicts that preparing for and hosting the tournament could contribute $1.7 billion in economic benefits for B.C., including a $980-million increase in gross domestic product and $610 million in "labour income."

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...t-says-10858611