World Cup

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

Peter- keen observation, I find similarities between soccer and hockey. I
understand soccer 1000 times more but think hockey players are skilled
athletes (and yes, I know that's an understatement).

Back to thread purpose- will be fascinating to keep an eye on Pulisic's health.
Will Argentina remember they are the #3 team in the world? Trent King

I think it's definitely an understatement to call hockey players just "skilled".
MOST skilled is arguably more apt.

ESPN did a thorough study on which sports are the most difficult and skilled, with Hockey ranked #1 for team sports, second only to boxing overall.

Devised by a panel of experts that included "sports scientists from the United States Olympic Committee, of academicians who study the science of muscles and movement, a star two-sport athlete, and of journalists who spend their professional lives watching athletes succeed and fail", the study was based on 10 categories, or skills, including Endurance, Strength, Speed, Agility, Flexibility, Hand-Eye Coordination and others.

Boxing scored 72.37, with hockey close behind at 71.75. Football was second for team sports and third overall, scoring 68.37.

https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

[ClementeFanOh]

Back to the topic- Spain OUT! Wow. Morocco was stout. And France /England looming. Great stuff. Trent King

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

I think it's definitely an understatement to call hockey players just "skilled".
MOST skilled is arguably more apt.

ESPN did a thorough study on which sports are the most difficult and skilled, with Hockey ranked #1 for team sports, second only to boxing overall.

Devised by a panel of experts that included "sports scientists from the United States Olympic Committee, of academicians who study the science of muscles and movement, a star two-sport athlete, and of journalists who spend their professional lives watching athletes succeed and fail", the study was based on 10 categories, or skills, including Endurance, Strength, Speed, Agility, Flexibility, Hand-Eye Coordination and others.

Boxing scored 72.37, with hockey close behind at 71.75. Football was second for team sports and third overall, scoring 68.37.

https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

There must be some relationship between the skill level required in hockey and the fact that so many hockey players are playing into their 40s when obviously their physical gifts have diminshed.

Back to soccer, I hate games decided on penalties. Unimaginably bad performance by Spain in that respect today.

[packs]

That ranking is fundamentally flawed to me. It might be difficult to be an elite basketball player but it's not difficult to play basketball. How does it end up so highly ranked?

[ClementeFanOh]

Who will win (versus who you WANT to win):

1) Will win- Brazil, Netherlands, France, Portugal

2) Want to win- Croatia, Argentina, England, Morocco

Basically, if I'm rooting for them, they'll probably lose

Trent King

[Carter08]

Netherlands all the way

[commishbob]

Forward Portugal!

Screenshot (20221208-182924).jpg

[Shoeless Moe]

Croats! Croats! Croats!