5-Ring Circus: The Olympics Soccer Thread

Zososoxfan

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Olympic soccer is underway with Argentina currently trailing Morrocco 2-1 and Spain leading Uzbekistan 2-1 in the 75th minute. I'm watching Argentina.

USA plays at 3pm ET.

Mascherano is coaching Argentina and all 3 over 23 players are on the field--Rulli in goal, Otamendi at CB, and Julian Alvarez (!) up top. Medina has been Argentina's best player IMO, spraying the ball out to the wings and playing incisive thru the middle consistently. Almada was wasteful on the RW in the first half. Simeone (yes, another Simeone offspring) scored for Argentina. Argentina is loaded with Boca players (booooooo), but River's Echeverri (joining MANC in January) just came on.

Hakimi is leading Morrocco and there are another handful of players that some here will recognize (Abde of Betis and Akhomach of Villarreal are both La Masia graduates). They're playing well but benefitted from a very soft penalty call on the second goal.
 

Kliq

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Argentine team not very popular in France. Can't imagine why.
 

Zososoxfan

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Spain should be a wagon this tournament, led by Baena (Villarreal), Fermin (Barca), Cubarsi (Barca), and a number of other young promising players.
 

Zososoxfan

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France are also bringing a loaded squad to...Paris:

Olise
Lukeba (RBL)
Millot (Stuttgart)
Doue (Rennes, but already rumored to PSG, Chelsea, Spurs, etc.)
Cherki (Lyon)
Mateta (Palace)
 

Zososoxfan

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Really liked what Gondou brought when he came on. Dude looks huge at 6'3'' but very nimble, quick, and skilled. 23 year old at Argentino Juniors.
 

67YAZ

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What am I seeing online right now about Argentina & Morocco coming back on the pitch a hour later because a VAR review???
 

ifmanis5

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What am I seeing online right now about Argentina & Morocco coming back on the pitch a hour later because a VAR review???
Yes.
View: https://twitter.com/AP/status/1816158118407008420

Morocco fans crashed the pitch to protest a late goal by Argentina at the opening match of the Paris Olympics men's soccer tournament, suspending the game for nearly two hours.
Officials have overturned the goal by Argentina that prompted Morocco's fans to crash the pitch at the opening match of the Paris Olympics men's soccer tournament.
 

rguilmar

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What am I seeing online right now about Argentina & Morocco coming back on the pitch a hour later because a VAR review???
Unbelievable. Even by soccer standards this is literally unbelievable.
 

Zososoxfan

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Where's the offside?

https://x.com/NBCOlympics/status/1816129693126389771

0:03 - Shot by pink cleats at top of box is blocked by MOR defender. MOR RB seems to be keeping 2 ARG central forwards onside
0:05 - 2nd shot by pink cleats at top of box is stopped by MOR keeper. Everyone looks onside
0:07 - volley by ARG player from approx. penalty spot is parried by keeper off of crossbar. 2 ARG players in offside position, but highly unlikely affecting play. Keeper is not screened, doesn't seem affected by possibility of pass as the play was hectic and bang-bang. This is the most understandable call if they make it though.
0:09 - ARG header blocked by Keeper. There's a MOR defender attached to the keeper's hip ahead of every ARG player
0:11 - ARG header goal. Keeper on the line, and a MOR defender literally in the net

Edit: Embed megafail
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Where's the offside?

https://x.com/NBCOlympics/status/1816129693126389771

0:03 - Shot by pink cleats at top of box is blocked by MOR defender. MOR RB seems to be keeping 2 ARG central forwards onside
0:05 - 2nd shot by pink cleats at top of box is stopped by MOR keeper. Everyone looks onside
0:07 - volley by ARG player from approx. penalty spot is parried by keeper off of crossbar. 2 ARG players in offside position, but highly unlikely affecting play. Keeper is not screened, doesn't seem affected by possibility of pass as the play was hectic and bang-bang. This is the most understandable call if they make it though.
0:09 - ARG header blocked by Keeper. There's a MOR defender attached to the keeper's hip ahead of every ARG player
0:11 - ARG header goal. Keeper on the line, and a MOR defender literally in the net

Edit: Embed megafail
I think the guy who heads at 0:09 was offside at 0:07 on the volley. Doesn't matter if he wasn't affecting the keeper, if he's offside on the shot he can't head the rebound without committing an infraction.

USA-France coming up at 3:00, streaming on Peacock.
 

67YAZ

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I like this line up. It has a solid spine from the CBs up the the 9 and I can immediately see how they will line up.
 

rguilmar

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Given the roster selection, this is probably what should have been expected. This US team might get chances when space opens up on a counter attack, on set pieces, and if Duncan can poach one. I don’t see them creating much.
 

ifmanis5

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Cool to see Henry as the French manager. No empty seats that I can see, good atmosphere although a bit more quiet than I expected.
 

rguilmar

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Watching this instead of the Sox. For now, at least. I don’t know these guys. Who is exciting on the US team that I should be looking for?
Not too much. Tanner Tessman (8) has a good future ahead of him but he won’t be exciting, and if he is it’s likely bad news for the US. I like Paxten Aaronson (11) and hope to see Paredes (7) make a mark.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Probably one of the worst yellow cards I've ever seen. 50/50 ball, he got ball, barely clipped the guy after while both were falling down. Absurd card.
 

rguilmar

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Not a glorious match so far, but the US will take it. France is loaded, and the US is set up to play disciplined defensively.

Djordje has been invisible except for two poor passes.
 

InstaFace

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Last 10 minutes of that first half were great for the US. Our defensive plan seems to funnel the ball exactly where our (veteran) CBs can expect it, and we were able to spring some attacks in those last moments. Aaronson is going to see that shot again in his sleep tonight, win lose or draw.

We're not the better team out here, but somehow we seem to have the better plan.