Inside: U.S. Soccer's March to Brazil
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South America has 10 international soccer teams and gets 4 to 5 world cup spots
Europe has 54 international soccer teams and gets 13 world cup spots
Sounds pretty fair for South America. In fact, by ratios, you could say the World Cup committee thinks there is a higher percentage of talent in SA.
I guess I should have said most skilled region as a whole. Especially with all of the top leagues in the world existing there. With these amazing professional clubs and youth teams in place, the development system would seem to be much more prevalent. This then cold lead to more skilled players. It clearly makes sense they get more spots when the region includes England, Spain, Germany, Italy, etc etc etc. (though I know you weren't arguing against that point)
South America has 10 international soccer teams and gets 4 to 5 world cup spots
Europe has 54 international soccer teams and gets 13 world cup spots
There aren't even 54 nations in Europe. How can they have more teams than they have countries? Are they like taking countries and dividing them up? Like does England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland count as 4 different "teams". Well, fuck, if they can do that, then we should have different soccer teams for California/Texas/Florda/New England/New York/Ohio/Montana etc. etc. etc.....and demand at least 10 slots for all those teams.
Sounds pretty fair for South America. In fact, by ratios, you could say the World Cup committee thinks there is a higher percentage of talent in SA.
I guess I should have said most skilled region as a whole. Especially with all of the top leagues in the world existing there. With these amazing professional clubs and youth teams in place, the development system would seem to be much more prevalent. This then cold lead to more skilled players. It clearly makes sense they get more spots when the region includes England, Spain, Germany, Italy, etc etc etc. (though I know you weren't arguing against that point)
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There aren't even 54 nations in Europe. How can they have more teams than they have countries? Are they like taking countries and dividing them up? Like does England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland count as 4 different "teams".
Basically, international matches started out as being between England and Scotland, and generally what's known as the 'home nations' over here - including Wales and the Irelands. The fact that those places still have teams is a legacy thing. but even if you disagree, and count the UK as one team, you're still looking at 50-odd teams compared to south america's 10.
We got into this because hockey and soccer are played essentially the same way. A rectangular field with a goal and a goalie. And the tactics to score are almost the same. One is played on ice with a puck, the other on grass with a ball....but otherwise there is not much difference.
Disagree entirely about the tactics to score. Other than 'get it in the net without it getting stopped' - which is also how you score in basketball - there's not much similarity, if any.
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There aren't even 54 nations in Europe. How can they have more teams than they have countries? Are they like taking countries and dividing them up? Like does England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland count as 4 different "teams".
Basically, international matches started out as being between England and Scotland, and generally what's known as the 'home nations' over here - including Wales and the Irelands. The fact that those places still have teams is a legacy thing. but even if you disagree, and count the UK as one team, you're still looking at 50-odd teams compared to south america's 10.
We got into this because hockey and soccer are played essentially the same way. A rectangular field with a goal and a goalie. And the tactics to score are almost the same. One is played on ice with a puck, the other on grass with a ball....but otherwise there is not much difference.
Disagree entirely about the tactics to score. Other than 'get it in the net without it getting stopped' - which is also how you score in basketball - there's not much similarity, if any.
Basically, international matches started out as being between England and Scotland, and generally what's known as the 'home nations' over here - including Wales and the Irelands. The fact that those places still have teams is a legacy thing. but even if you disagree, and count the UK as one team, you're still looking at 50-odd teams compared to south america's 10.
You are going to have to list all those teams for me to get to 50. Though I guess if you count Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra, Liechtenstien, Vatican City, San Marino, Malta and all the recent splintered countries after the breakup of Yugoslavia you might get there.
Disagree entirely about the tactics to score. Other than 'get it in the net without it getting stopped' - which is also how you score in basketball - there's not much similarity, if any.
Not from a neutral point of view. It is similar. Create creases in front of the goal and get it in.
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Countries in UEFA:
Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France FYR Macedonia Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Israel[n 6] Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania Russia San Marino Scotland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine Wales -
Countries in CONMEBOL (South America)
ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileColombiaEcuadorParaguayPeruUruguayVenezuela -
The current world top 31 ranked countries are made up of 3 african teams, 3 teams from north/central america, 6 south american teams and 19 european teams. The next 31 ranked countries have 8 African teams, 4 Asians, a couple from north/central america, 3 from S. America, and another 12 from Europe.
So why exactly should the other continents get an equal amount of teams there?
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Countries in UEFA:
Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France FYR Macedonia Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Israel[n 6] Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania Russia San Marino Scotland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine WalesCountries in UEFA:
Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France FYR Macedonia Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Israel[n 6] Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania Russia San Marino Scotland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine WalesThe nations in bold are in fucking Asia. Can't these guys read a map?
And the Faroe Islands? Gibralter? Those are like declaring Hilton Head and Martha's Vineyard as separate nations. WTF?
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The current world top 31 ranked countries are made up of 3 african teams, 3 teams from north/central america, 6 south american teams and 19 european teams. The next 31 ranked countries have 8 African teams, 4 Asians, a couple from north/central america, 3 from S. America, and another 12 from Europe.
So why exactly should the other continents get an equal amount of teams there?
The current world top 31 ranked countries are made up of 3 african teams, 3 teams from north/central america, 6 south american teams and 19 european teams. The next 31 ranked countries have 8 African teams, 4 Asians, a couple from north/central america, 3 from S. America, and another 12 from Europe.
So why exactly should the other continents get an equal amount of teams there?
So, I guess what I say is correct. Soccer is merely a regional sport.....Europe and SA.
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I showed you the map, that's not true. Its the most popular sport in the world.
The tactics in hockey and soccer are very different, unless you're just looking at it from an incredibly high level. This belief again just plays in to you just not knowing what you're talking about.
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I showed you the map, that's not true. Its the most popular sport in the world.
The tactics in hockey and soccer are very different, unless you're just looking at it from an incredibly high level. This belief again just plays in to you just not knowing what you're talking about.
I showed you the map, that's not true. Its the most popular sport in the world.
The tactics in hockey and soccer are very different, unless you're just looking at it from an incredibly high level. This belief again just plays in to you just not knowing what you're talking about.
It is not the most popular sport at all in the two largest Democracies in world....the USA and India.
And yes, I AM looking at the two sports from a high level. Because the purpose of the game is to play on a rectangular field and to put a biscuit in a basket, the methodologies of doing so..as I said, the passing, the spacing, are all very similar. Soccer is played on a larger surface and you cannot use your hands, but the maneuvering to get into position to score are quite similar.
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Countries in UEFA:
Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France FYR Macedonia Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Israel[n 6] Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania Russia San Marino Scotland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine WalesThe nations in bold are in fucking Asia. Can't these guys read a map?
And the Faroe Islands? Gibralter? Those are like declaring Hilton Head and Martha's Vineyard as separate nations. WTF?
Countries in UEFA:
Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France FYR Macedonia Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Israel[n 6] Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania Russia San Marino Scotland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine WalesThe nations in bold are in fucking Asia. Can't these guys read a map?
And the Faroe Islands? Gibralter? Those are like declaring Hilton Head and Martha's Vineyard as separate nations. WTF?
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan - doesn't matter, they wouldn't qualify anyway. I'm not sure why it's split up like this, but the countries have to apply to join the confederation, and so obviously they did and their application was successful.
Israel - joined UEFA because matches with neighbouring Asian countries were becoming highly political, with lots of violence surrounding them.
Turkey - has always been the bridge between Europe and Asia. Could go either way, they chose Europe - probably due to the improvements in their game that would come with playing against a higher standard of competition, is my guess.
Cyrpus - half greek, half turkish. So half european, half half-european-half-asian (and just a tiny bit British) - 75% european.
If Martha's vineyard declared independence from the USA, became a sovereign state in its own right, it would have a football team that could compete in the world cup qualifying.
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I showed you the map, that's not true. Its the most popular sport in the world.
The tactics in hockey and soccer are very different, unless you're just looking at it from an incredibly high level. This belief again just plays in to you just not knowing what you're talking about.
It is not the most popular sport at all in the two largest Democracies in world....the USA and India.
And yes, I AM looking at the two sports from a high level. Because the purpose of the game is to play on a rectangular field and to put a biscuit in a basket, the methodologies of doing so..as I said, the passing, the spacing, are all very similar. Soccer is played on a larger surface and you cannot use your hands, but the maneuvering to get into position to score are quite similar.
It is not the most popular sport at all in the two largest Democracies in world....the USA and India.
And yes, I AM looking at the two sports from a high level. Because the purpose of the game is to play on a rectangular field and to put a biscuit in a basket, the methodologies of doing so..as I said, the passing, the spacing, are all very similar. Soccer is played on a larger surface and you cannot use your hands, but the maneuvering to get into position to score are quite similar.
If you're looking at it like that, then soccer, hockey, basketball, netball and quidditch are all the same sport, while you have another group of gridiron football, rugby and ultimate frisbee.
There are crossovers between basically any sport in terms of high level tactics - move the ball/puck/frisbee around to move the defence around, wait until it loses its shape and exploit the weakness
Similar to how a coffee cup is topographically equivalent to a donut - doesn't mean I'm drinking my morning joe out of a krispy kreme though.
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Countries in UEFA:
Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France FYR Macedonia Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Israel[n 6] Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania Russia San Marino Scotland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine WalesThe nations in bold are in fucking Asia. Can't these guys read a map?
And the Faroe Islands? Gibralter? Those are like declaring Hilton Head and Martha's Vineyard as separate nations. WTF?
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan - doesn't matter, they wouldn't qualify anyway. I'm not sure why it's split up like this, but the countries have to apply to join the confederation, and so obviously they did and their application was successful.
Israel - joined UEFA because matches with neighbouring Asian countries were becoming highly political, with lots of violence surrounding them.
Turkey - has always been the bridge between Europe and Asia. Could go either way, they chose Europe - probably due to the improvements in their game that would come with playing against a higher standard of competition, is my guess.
Cyrpus - half greek, half turkish. So half european, half half-european-half-asian (and just a tiny bit British) - 75% european.
If Martha's vineyard declared independence from the USA, became a sovereign state in its own right, it would have a football team that could compete in the world cup qualifying.
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan - doesn't matter, they wouldn't qualify anyway. I'm not sure why it's split up like this, but the countries have to apply to join the confederation, and so obviously they did and their application was successful.
Israel - joined UEFA because matches with neighbouring Asian countries were becoming highly political, with lots of violence surrounding them.
Turkey - has always been the bridge between Europe and Asia. Could go either way, they chose Europe - probably due to the improvements in their game that would come with playing against a higher standard of competition, is my guess.
Cyrpus - half greek, half turkish. So half european, half half-european-half-asian (and just a tiny bit British) - 75% european.
If Martha's vineyard declared independence from the USA, became a sovereign state in its own right, it would have a football team that could compete in the world cup qualifying.
Neither the Faroe Island nor Gibralter are sovereign states....by any means. They are like, I don't know Guam or something aren't they? The only thing on Gibralter is a rock and navy base,no?
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It is not the most popular sport at all in the two largest Democracies in world....the USA and India.
And yes, I AM looking at the two sports from a high level. Because the purpose of the game is to play on a rectangular field and to put a biscuit in a basket, the methodologies of doing so..as I said, the passing, the spacing, are all very similar. Soccer is played on a larger surface and you cannot use your hands, but the maneuvering to get into position to score are quite similar.
If you're looking at it like that, then soccer, hockey, basketball, netball and quidditch are all the same sport, while you have another group of gridiron football, rugby and ultimate frisbee.
There are crossovers between basically any sport in terms of high level tactics - move the ball/puck/frisbee around to move the defence around, wait until it loses its shape and exploit the weakness
Similar to how a coffee cup is topographically equivalent to a donut - doesn't mean I'm drinking my morning joe out of a krispy kreme though.
If you're looking at it like that, then soccer, hockey, basketball, netball and quidditch are all the same sport, while you have another group of gridiron football, rugby and ultimate frisbee.
Sure, there are some similarities between a lot of sports. The difference perhaps between soccer and all those others is that they move at a much faster pace.
There are crossovers between basically any sport in terms of high level tactics - move the ball/puck/frisbee around to move the defence around, wait until it loses its shape and exploit the weakness
Similar to how a coffee cup is topographically equivalent to a donut - doesn't mean I'm drinking my morning joe out of a krispy kreme though.
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I showed you the map, that's not true. Its the most popular sport in the world.
The tactics in hockey and soccer are very different, unless you're just looking at it from an incredibly high level. This belief again just plays in to you just not knowing what you're talking about.
It is not the most popular sport at all in the two largest Democracies in world....the USA and India.
And yes, I AM looking at the two sports from a high level. Because the purpose of the game is to play on a rectangular field and to put a biscuit in a basket, the methodologies of doing so..as I said, the passing, the spacing, are all very similar. Soccer is played on a larger surface and you cannot use your hands, but the maneuvering to get into position to score are quite similar.
It is not the most popular sport at all in the two largest Democracies in world....the USA and India.
Alright?
You claimed it us a "regional" sport. That isn't true. But you seem two consider the USA one region, and the rest of the world another, equal region.
It is the most popular sport in the world. That's a fact. I'm sorry you don't understand the game and don't enjoy it. That doesn't make what you're saying true. Either about the popularity of the sport or the tactics used within the game
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It is not the most popular sport at all in the two largest Democracies in world....the USA and India.
Alright?
You claimed it us a "regional" sport. That isn't true. But you seem two consider the USA one region, and the rest of the world another, equal region.
It is the most popular sport in the world. That's a fact. I'm sorry you don't understand the game and don't enjoy it. That doesn't make what you're saying true. Either about the popularity of the sport or the tactics used within the game
Alright?
You claimed it us a "regional" sport. That isn't true. But you seem two consider the USA one region, and the rest of the world another, equal region.
Sounds about right to me, no?

It is the most popular sport in the world. That's a fact. I'm sorry you don't understand the game and don't enjoy it.
I do understand it. That is precisely why it is not as enjoyable.
That doesn't make what you're saying true. Either about the popularity of the sport or the tactics used within the game.
I said that I think the tactics are similar to hockey. That is a basic truth....even if perhaps you are too close so you can't see the forest for the trees.
As for popularity...as we noted elsewhere, that is apparently an economic issue, as I guess you can play soccer in a landfill if you have a ball..
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From your previous posts it is clear you do not understand the sport.
You can claim that the sport is only popular worldwide because of its ease to play for the poorer countries. That obviously doesn't work in a lot of countries, but you seem to be jumping around to try to prove the sport as inferior or something. You want to just call it an "economical issue"... That's stupid.
Its the most popular sport in the world. Its growing in popularity in the US and will continue to do so. And the US is just one country in the world. It doesn't determine the popularity of a sport.
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In what way is it an economic issue? It's by far the most popular sport in western Europe, which is one of the wealthiest parts of the world.
You could play gridiron football in any place you can play association football, you just need a ball. So why isn't it so popular in China?
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From your previous posts it is clear you do not understand the sport.
You can claim that the sport is only popular worldwide because of its ease to play for the poorer countries. That obviously doesn't work in a lot of countries, but you seem to be jumping around to try to prove the sport as inferior or something. You want to just call it an "economical issue"... That's stupid.
Its the most popular sport in the world. Its growing in popularity in the US and will continue to do so. And the US is just one country in the world. It doesn't determine the popularity of a sport.
From your previous posts it is clear you do not understand the sport.
You clearly misunderstand what I say. I understand the sport. YOU just disagree with my opinion about it. The next thing you are going to say is that I don't understand Michigan football. Let me make this clear: FUCK Michigan. And FUCK Soccer. Equate the two. Do I make myself clear now that you don't misunderstand me?
You can claim that the sport is only popular worldwide because of its ease to play for the poorer countries.
I say that based on what you told me. If there is a misimpression, it is your own fault.
That obviously doesn't work in a lot of countries, but you seem to be jumping around to try to prove the sport as inferior or something. You want to just call it an "economical issue"... That's stupid.
Soccer IS an inferior sport. That has nothing to do with economics. But, its popularity around the world very well may have to do with economics.
Its the most popular sport in the world. Its growing in popularity in the US and will continue to do so. And the US is just one country in the world. It doesn't determine the popularity of a sport.
Lacrosse is growing in popularity..and may be a superior sport, though it has a lot of soccer/hockey elements to it.. Jarts is growing in popularity. Bocce Ball is too. X games are growing in popularity. Football, baseball, and basketball are growing in popularity as well even thought they were already popular...and probably at a pace outstripping soccer.
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In the US, baseball is growing in popularity?
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