In the beginning I heard a setpiece

Season 3 to eternity Blog/Audioblog Season 1 + 2 are delisted/unavailable for now

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Viniciusjr 02182026 various thoughts and replies

I argue referees need a post match public video assistant refereeing system to provide points to rank refs so that refs can be tabled like teams or players. Refs can be relegated or promoted. I know leagues and football associations don't want to publicize the judgement of refs but I argue, refs need to have their own table of quality like teams in league or players in golden ball races.

from EricKrakauer : It would have been simple for #Benfica & #Mourinho- at the very least, state that any form of bigotry is antithetical to club values, an affront to Eusebio’s legacy, suspend Prestianni and enroll him in a mandatory anti-racism educational program. my reply : Question, does any football club have defined penalties for negatively biased behavior? https://x.com/Thetenner10/status/2024290010350907729 from CalvinEmeka : How I hoped Vini was going to walk off the pitch last night. And then his team mates follow him. I have always insisted that the top black footballers need to do something like that during a big match to make a statement. Walk off. Get in the shower. my reply : so every time a white player insults a black player all black players need to walk off? @ojbsports said it best and I continue, Vini took the lesson from Sadio Mane, walking from the pitch will not change hearts of fellow players or people in the stands to negative bias. https://x.com/Thetenner10/status/2024291456320491734 from SundayOOliseh : What a night of Champions League football! After a slow start from the giants, the intensity has finally arrived. Real Madrid showed their class with a clinical 1-0 win over Benfica in Lisbon, PSG pulled off a stunning 3-2 comeback against Monaco, and Galatasaray absolutely shocked Juventus with a 5-2 masterclass. It seems the "safety net" for the big clubs is being tested, and the drama we’ve been waiting for is finally here. Is the new format finally starting to deliver, or are we just seeing the elite flex their muscles when it matters most? Check out the latest episode of Sunday Oliseh's Global Football Insights where we dive deep into whether this new Champions League format is a "genius evolution" or just a "Masked Super League." my reply : What of the europa league and conference league? I argue, those two competitions are full of the best battles because the teams of a lower financial scale, have to rely on specialist but also have equal quality so have to battle every step of the way. https://x.com/Thetenner10/status/2024302714751201547 In Amendment - well, the european club championship and cup winners cup were changed into champions league and europa league for money. It was never about athletic competition so with the advent of more financial opportunities uefa has made its club competitions more commercially viable. I don't mind it, but I wish uefa would admit it. No shame in making money but you don't need to lie about the intention to make money. Stars will always be needed, and even a commercial competition like modern uefa champions league eventually will expose your weakness. yeah neymar will be the last king of the free player. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Lrm913g5Y from eastonjamie : Here we go again. “No to any form of discrimination” says FIFA while giving World Cups to countries with laws against the LGBTQ+ community or don’t have gender equality. my reply not attached : the problem is, if you are going to judge a government on not abusing a people, then the world cup will be on hiatus forever, each and every government in humanity has a criminal/physical abuse to some minority or group under its jurisdiction? https://x.com/eastonjamie/status/2024150583188263281

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TRANSFERS SUMMER 2026

in comments

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US Soccer Truth from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbpVBwDvyJg

TRANSCRIPT

TRANSCRIPT of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbpVBwDvyJg - In the beginning I had a setpece

0:00So what are you guys going to do? You going to continue to be a bunch of soft, underperforming, tattooed millionaires? 0:066 secondsYou

VIDEO

IMAGE EXCERPT

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2026 World CUp round of four

France vs Spain

Argentina vs England

Looking at the expansion of teams this world cup and the further expansion of more teams, all which will benefit U.E.F.A. I think the world cup will be dominated by U.E.F.A. teams, not because their the best, but simple arithmetic odds. Cup play is not about consistency as much as being in form on the day, no team can guarantee form on the day, and sequentially , any team can be knocked off, so the confederation with the most entries, which is by far U.E.F.A. will always have the gamblers advantage of being in the latter stages.

U.E.F.A. has sixteen slots, C.A.F. plus A.F.C. plus Co.n.c.a.c.a.f. have nine or six . Con.me.bol has six which means conmebol has a statistical disadvantage but also means conmebol teams reaching the latter stages is actually a good gamble, in that you can profit off the house.

COMMENTARY THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET IS IN COMMENTS TO THIS POST

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2026 World Cup round of eight

France vs Morocco - France topped their group, won all their matches, and survived being kicked by paraguay absent a major injury. Morocco seconded in a group with Brasil and has overcome challenges, but is showing a sustaining ability starting from two world cups ago.

Spain vs Belgium- Spain haven't let a goal in all tournament. Belgium have been outed for their weaknesses but were not punished enough to end their campagin.

Norway vs England- Norway + England have been outed but their weaknesses were not punished enough to end their campaign.

Argentina vs Switzerland-- Argentina have been outed but their weakness were not punished enough to end their campaign. Switzerland have been alongside France side Spain the best defensive team in the tournament. Against the best opposition, Switzerland have no goals, Spain have a few, France have many.

CAF thoughts- all teams from CAF including Morocco had to come from behind at some point. Some like Senegal or Egypt lost two goal leads. What is the solution? From within each football association of the cofederation of african football, ane answer is better coaches, But another internal answer exist. Allow the proper player pool. Most CAF countries have a system that supports some players and ignores others. In the same way, Spain primarily uses Barcelona or Real Madrid players and usually ignores or doesn't utilize the spanish talent out the el classico participants. But whether it is egypt/south africa types who primarily use players who play in their respective caf country., or nigeria types who mostly use foreign based players. CAF teams have to stop asking for money for players to play. I have heard so many cases of CAF FA's asking for money for a player to play for a country, it is clearly a problem. Externally, all football associations in can be better by a harder tournament, to the confederation championship plus the confed championship itself, to the qualification method to the world cup used in each confed.

CFU Caribbean Football Union thoughts. HAiti plus Curaco have no excuse to improve and be dominant in the caribbean region.

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Brasil U26 at the current world cup

Quality of player is never Brasil's problem. But to the next Copa America, it will be interesting to see the Selecao having a under thirty by the next world cup.

Focus on what you need to improve. Brasil have in my opinion the best set of players for any coach to select from. But they lacked an overall energy for all of their quality. And the experience wasn't able to execute efficinetly to get them through. So, the question is, now that neymar jr.s ReiNey's era is over: who is over 26 in the world cup usa 2026 ?

Alisson+GABRIEL MAGALHAES+ marquinhos + Danilo +DOUGLAS SANTOS+Casemiro + BRUNO GUIMARAES +Ederson Silva +MATHEUS CUNHA+NEYMAR JR+raphinha+alex sandro+bremer +leo pereira+fabinho+paqueta+weverton +ederson

Who can be at the next world cup since they are younger than 26 at the time of this posting? Viniciusjr + Endrick + GABRIEL MARTINELLI+ Rayan+DANILO SANTOS+ rodrygo [to me his injury was devastating to the selecao, no one in brasil plays the right striker like him for me]+LUIZ HENRIQUE+IGOR THIAGO

when I look at the players who were in the selecao for this world cup and whom I feel have the age to make the next. center forwards- Endrick + Igor Thiago left side attackers- Viniciusjr +Martinelli right side attackers- rayan+rodrygo+luiz henrique midfielder- danilo santos so

based on these players: i say a 442 [ ] is player on bench or to take the spot Endrick + Igor Thiago Viniciusjr[martinelli] +Danilo Santos+?+rodrygo[rayan+luiz henrique] ?+?+?+? ? OR playing all of them

Endrick + Igor THiago Viniciusjr + Danilo Santos+ Rodrygo+Luiz Henrique MArtinelli +?+?+Rayan ?

thus all BRasil needs are two center backs and a keeper. Now I know Joao Pedro + Estevao will also be in so I can see the following

Endrick + Igor THiago [Joao Pedro] Viniciusjr + Danilo Santos+ Rodrygo+Luiz Henrique [Estevao] MArtinelli +?+?+Rayan ?

Brasil are alright but the road to the 2028 Copa America two years from now, should be with the youth movement. players like Vini + Rodrygo will be the senior late 20s players in morocco/portugal/spain world cup which will mark 100 years since the first world cup. A perfect one to win for the Selecao !

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Real Madrid balance

#Jude bellingham led real madrid from goals as a midfielder, before mbappe came in . Jude is the best goal scoring midfielder in uefa. Real Madrid didn't need Mbappe. by 41:30 England was up two goals to zero. through Jude. I think Jude isn't the best passing or recovering or mobile midfielder. I think Jude is a goal scoring midfielder. thus ancelotti's 442 with Vini + Rodrygo wide up top and Jude atop Modric/casemiro/Kroos worked.

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BRAZIL vs NORWAY 07052026

FIRST HALF

in comments

HALFTIME

Again the only issue with Brasil is finishing. Brasil has a great history of goal scorers, from Pele to Neymar. But, Brasil in the Neymar era and in the beginning of the Vini era simply don't have the goal scorers. Great footballers, but not necessarily the goal scorers. And that allows opponents opportunity. I go back to the Copa America argentina won in the Maracana . Brasil dominated all the statistics but never scored. I argue Endrick needs to be in. But I don't mind Ancelotti's idea of Endrick being a second half impact substitution.

SECOND HALF

in comments

FINAL

I have said for a long time that in the Neymar era Brasil simply lack one thing, goal scoring. Brasil in this match, was better than Norway. But didn't score. People remember the Pele + Ronaldo era but forget how great a goalscorer they were. Once BRasil gets a set of great goalscorers they will dominate matches. If you look at the most successful teams they have players battling for top goal scorer. Brasil didn't have a player in that race, that is the problem. Congrats to norway, though it hurts, but if Norway give away two penalties + a one on one and the soccer gods they will lose badly https://www.tumblr.com/rmfantasysetpieces1/821330424346378240/brazil-vs-norway-07052026 #rmfantasysetpieces

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CAPE VERDE vs ARGENTINA 07032026

Cape Verde can play!

FIRST HALF

Cape Verde play a system consistently, it isn't open , it is from a defensive set. With no shame. Messi scored, but Cape Verde played their system. Cape Verde is never trying to win possession, Cape Verde is trying to reduce opponents opportunities and have patience with their attack.

HALFTIME

SECOND HALF

Cape Verde played consistently, and survived weighted officiating. They should had the last kick of regulation time

ADDED EXTRA TIME

a handball goal is what knocked cape verde out.

FINAL

Great tournament for Cape Verde. I want to see what they do for the next cup of nations.

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TEAMS VS COLLECTIONS

Looking at Portugal+ Netherlands+ Germany you see collections of players who are not a team.

Making a team comes in many forms.

Some teams like Cape Verde or Paraguay have no superstars so they are pure team focused on playing together at all times.

Some teams like Argentina are a superstar plus others, where the others work for the superstar.

Some teams like Senegal or Croatia are a blend of youth plus experience, where the senior players know their limits and the young players know how to help.

Some teams like Morocco or France are a bunch of players in their prime who play a style that suits the set of in form players.

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CAF teams summary by 07012026

South Africa , Senegal, Ivory Coast, DR COngo, all are out. All of them were competitive, none were overwhelmed, but none got the job done.

Morocco won but Morocco for me isn't a CAF team. They are a UEFA team that because of geography plays in CAF. they are like Turkey.

That leaves Cape Verde, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana.

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Senegal vs Belgium 07012026

Senegal are not a bad team, arguably the best in CAF and were definitely more dangerous or in control than Belgium in the match. But, Senegal I have watched many times. This is the end of the Sadio Mane era, now that he is gone, who is the offensive talisman for Senegal? I don't know. Senegal have many great players but not that icon. If Senegal don't have an individual icon will they be able to be the team way. I argue, senegal need the coach for Bodo Glint or Norway, to enforce a team first mentality. Too often for Senegal they act to aggressively or too passive. In the end of the day, the key is to be aggressive while unsloppy. It can be achieved but Senegal lack that ability to play unsloppy all the time.

One question, for the second belgium goal in regular time, wasn't Niakhate fouled?

I hate belgium, that country makes me sick, that country is an enemy of black people and any black person serving belgium is a traitor to the black people wherever we live.

For the cup of nations, who will lead Senegal in attack? I think they should keep their coach, but he has to push harder. Demand more efficiency. No mistakes. IT isnt' that senegal is mistake prone or dont attack but they need to do it more so.

Considering the way Belgium were playing I wish the coach would had given Koulibaly a chance to play the remaining... but ok.

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Barca 2026-2027

Salma Paralluelo + Alexia Putellas + Mapi Leon are leaving barca.

referral

https://x.com/FCBfemeni/status/2071896739515183528

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Cote D'Ivoire vs Norway 06302026

Diallo came off the bench. I don't know his health situation but Diallo is the electric player. For me, Ivory coast need to hire coach for argentina in the trophy lifting messi tenure for the albiceleste. Make Ivory coast Diallo + 10 . Franck Kessie is a great player but a number of players like Nicholas Pepe want to be the star but don't give enough to the team. With the Cup of NAtions coming in next year. Ivory Coast need to consider how they will be designed going forward with Diallo. Diallo against the best opposition was the only scorer, with Kessie coming up second. Nicholas Pepe, could only score against Curacao. The second goal norway scored stemmed from an ivory coast player giving a norway player the space behind him to run in. why? that is cocky and can not be allowed.

Iceland Viking clap

Norway Viking rowing

What do the swedes do?

Haaland scored but it was from a defensive error by Ivory Coast, outside that Error, Haaland didn't have the ball or any role in the game.

DIallo Goal

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Brazil vs Nippon 06292026

This Brasil versus Japan match exposed the slowness of the defensive and midfield sector of Brasil. With the lack of speed they have to be more attentive on the ball. Second and most importantly, the players had three moments of collission from bad communication. They have to talk more to each other and comprehend what each other is doing. Casemiro is a great player, yes not of the speed of yesteryear, but his comprehension of the game is still legendary. I booed martinelli when he came in but Martinelli was in the right place at the right time and showed great composure. Endrick also whe he came on wideneed the defense of japan, they couldn't play the weak side cause they needed to double vini + double endrick.

In all earnest Japan for me have to reach the finals of the next cup for the AFC. They are too good to suggest.

In the japan goal, the center back from Arsenal didn't come forward.

First goal was assisted by Gabriel MAgalheas to Casemiro center forward skills always come through and had a second saved by the team defense of japan. Second goal, Bruno Guimaeres, top of the box, found Martinelli in the box who knew exaclty what he wanted to do.

Save of the game was from the Japanese keeper, the Vini strike started by the nutmeg dribble.

GOAL 1

GOAL 2

SHUT MY FACE ARSENAL

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South Africa vs Canada 06282026

South Africa in the group stage played their low ball out of the back style, no matter the errors, no matter how much their low ball process from the back to front low ball hurt them or aided their opponents. The question for me going forward is will South Africa maintain their style. Does the under 18 under 16 South Africa teams play the same forced low ball from the back style, win lose or draw? I argue if South Africa maintain this style, they will be a danger in the next CAF Cup of Nations in East Africa as well as earning qualification to the next world cup.

But will South Africa maintain the style they showed in every match of this tournament. Get the players throughout south Africa to comprehend they have to fit that style to be called.

South Africa have to speed up their modulation from defense into midfield but also have to have a zero tolerance personal or collective policy on giving up the ball in the back. In each match of the group stage plus against Canada , South Africa gave the ball away absent pressure with a poor pass OR made a risky ball that was read. To force playing the low ball from the back, you have to show the greater patience, South Africa showed more and more as world cup 2026 progressed. But, also, keep making risky passes while making them faster or sharper. Is it easy for receivers? no. But that is what the style demands.

Outside of that, they need better goalscorers. Attacking styles demand shaprshooters, killers. South Africa need that. The goal canada scored came from a header from a South Africa defender who was not pressured but didn't head it high and wide, but mid range and central.

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Colombia vs Portugal side DR Congo Uzbekistan 06272026

Quick Thoughts at the end of the game.