I know countless millions of people love soccer, and it can be a thrilling game, as we witnessed repeatedly during the World Cup, but it suffers from a fundamental structural flaw.
Because offense is in such short supply at this level, scoring is highly dependent on penalties.
This means that scoring often comes outside the normal flow of play, and incentives flopping and pretend injuries that are unworthy of grown men—you think someone rolling around the turf in agonizing pain is going to have to be transported immediately to the hospital, then you look up and he’s played another 45 minutes, no problem.
Then, there’s the courting of artificial penalties—a player steps in front of another, gets bumped, and proceeds to pretend he got shot.
Whatever the other merits of soccer, this stuff is a blight on the game and brings an element of low comedy to even the highest-stakes competition.
The USA a few weeks ago murdered 180 kids just like this.
As they sat in school a missile blew them to pieces.
Trump still denies it and sat here smiling.
But now it's "let's believe in love" - tomorrow we will murder more kids in Gaza & Iran.
Chelsea reach an agreement with Manchester United to sign forward Melvine Malard. Initial fee is worth around £850k with add-ons on top taking the total package just shy of £1m.
Club-record sale for Manchester United Women, as @TomJGarry first called.🔵
🚨 Youri Tielemans move from Aston Villa to Manchester United through £35m release clause in midfielder’s contract. #AVFC had no wish to sell + offered new deal but left with little choice due to mechanism & #MUFC set to proceed on transfer @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/KbWwD1jxov
If that's all Dan Burn does this entire tournament, then he was worthy of his place in this England squad. I thought he was excellent when he came on, as were all of Tuchel's late subs.