Or play the 2nd OT with no goalie.

 

That would be interesting, but a problem I see occurring is that if the goalie was removed from the game, you would have field players who are acting as goalies. This would inevitably lead to those players using their hands when they can't stop the shot with their feet or heads, so you would give up a PK. Then what? Do they get a red card, get sent off, and then have a another position player come in to try to stop the penalty without using their hands? Either way, the games would probably often end with a hand ball in the box penalty kick.

 

Rules would have to be changed a bit especially for balls that go out of bounds around the goal but I'm not quite sure why players would need to use their hands. When a goalie is pulled in hockey, nobody plays goalie, that's the inherit risk of pulling the position to add the extra offensive player. If it's too complicated then remove the (typically) three defenders and play seven-on-seven. I know I'm making this sound too simple but there are ways to adjust the game to increase scoring within those 120 minutes.

 

I'm all for changing the rules to encourage wins brought about by on-field success, and not the penalty spot. But there's a huge difference between hockey and soccer. In hockey the goalie only leaves his spot when they are down a goal with less than 2 minutes left (usually much later in the game: 1 minute or so left). He doesn't leave in overtime and just let 5 v 6 all OT. Another goal against them in the waning seconds of the game doesn't really matter if they are going to lose anyway.

 

Soccer employs the same tactic. If there is a corner with less than a minute left, and the team taking the corner is down 1 goal, they will pull their goalie and have him try to score a goal.

 

I totally understand your point. My point is that no one actually plays goalie while the goalie is pulled. Again FIFA would have to play around with the rules a bit to eliminate any incentive for someone to be a "goalie". This is never going to happen anyway!  ;D

Croatia joins France in Sunday's Final.  Croatia defeats England 2-1 on a game-winning goal in the 109th minute during extra time.  My favorite part of the highlight video is when the Croat goal celebration spills over into the sideline photographers pen and one of the photographers gets mixed into the celebration pile:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX5Wji8ZBZU

At 1:04 it looks like much of the upper deck is unoccupied. 

 

Earlier this week it was reported that there were many empty seats at the other semifinal:

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/world-cup-2018/2832613/world-cup-2018-thousands-of-empty-seats-at-france-semi-final-clash-against-belgium/

At 1:04 it looks like much of the upper deck is unoccupied. 

 

And that kiddos is what's called "Dropping a Jake".

At 1:04 it looks like much of the upper deck is unoccupied. 

 

Earlier this week it was reported that there were many empty seats at the other semifinal:

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/world-cup-2018/2832613/world-cup-2018-thousands-of-empty-seats-at-france-semi-final-clash-against-belgium/

 

Jesus, give it a rest. you hate soccer, we get it. Stop trolling.

 

I can't wait for all the posts in 4 years on what hopefully will be empty stadiums in Qatar. Of course in 8 years you'll have sold out stadiums all across North America.

 

Anyways, good for Croatia. They've been the trendy dark horse pick. Now can they prove everyone wrong again and beat France on Sunday?

 

England's lack of a midfield finally caught up with them. It was a good run on limited resources. Good luck to Croatia in the final. Hope they win it.

England's lack of a midfield finally caught up with them. It was a good run on limited resources. Good luck to Croatia in the final. Hope they win it.

 

Croatia is perplexing to me. They don't seem to have any outstanding athletes. They constantly fall behind. And yet here they are on the verge of the Cup.

As a Clevelander fan for life, I have to root for Croatia :D

Don’t let the name recognition fool everyone. Croatia is pretty stocked up with players from the top serie A and la liga teams. Luka Modric miiiiiight Be the best passer I’ve ever seen. And they are tough, when they get down, they almost expect to win.  That’s a trait that not all players have, especially some of the greatest in the world. Croatia’s whole team has the trait.  I like France and I think they will win, but I am Rooting for croatia

As a Clevelander fan for life, I have to root for Croatia :D

 

As a Clevelander who had a Croat step father: Vive la France!  8)

France defeats Croatia 4-2 to win the 2018 World Cup

 

This 64th and final match of the 2018 World Cup seemed to have it all: Thunder & Lightning - an own goal from a set piece - a Penalty Kick goal - a VAR decision to award that PK - multiple run-of-play blasts for goals from both teams - a Croat goal poached from the French keeper - Putin - pitch invaders - and a torrential downpour during the trophy ceremony!

 

In a tournament that saw some favorites bow out earlier than expected, pre-tourney favorite France played with a quiet confidence that belayed them being the second youngest team in this World Cup.  In their 7 games and nearly 700 minutes of game-time, France only trailed for 9 minutes during their Round of 16 match with Argentina, en route to their second World Cup title.

 

Talented and plucky Croatia had a more difficult route to the final, having to survive three straight extra-time knockout games.  This additional game time through the knockouts added up to an extra 90 minutes for the Croatian team (an entire extra game).  This was the best World Cup finish for Croatia since they reached the Semi-Finals in 1998 - and were eliminated in that game by France en route to 'Les Bleus' winning that 1998 World Cup title.

TV ratings for the 2018 World Cup were terrible:

http://fortune.com/2018/06/22/world-cup-us-ratings-fox-telemundo/

 

Far more Americans -- likely 5x -- are watching the Thursday night regular season NFL game between The Bengals and Ravens than watched any of the World Cup matches.

 

But soccer's taking over because the soccer studs said so. 

Without the US, and the fact that the World Cup was in some 3rd world country 8 time zones away, of course the ratings suck.

Without the US, and the fact that the World Cup was in some 3rd world country 8 time zones away, of course the ratings suck.

 

More people watched Monday Night RAW.  More people watched this:

Odd attempted troll job.  I'll never understand why there's a segment of the population who feels the need to lash out at soccer.  Why so threatened/offended that some people enjoy following the sport?  As for the ratings, there are plenty of reasonable explanations for why ratings were down from 2014.

TV ratings for the 2018 World Cup were terrible:

http://fortune.com/2018/06/22/world-cup-us-ratings-fox-telemundo/

 

Far more Americans -- likely 5x -- are watching the Thursday night regular season NFL game between The Bengals and Ravens than watched any of the World Cup matches.

 

But soccer's taking over because the soccer studs said so. 

 

Gee, do you think maybe the fact that the World Cup games were happening at 9am EST might have had something to do with low ratings? Do you think the fact that the USMNT failed to qualify might have had something to do with low ratings?

 

I'm as big of a soccer fan as anyone and I was barely able to watch any of the World Cup live. I would record every game and watch them when I got home.

 

Comparing the ratings for an NFL game happening at prime time to World Cup games being played at 9am EST between countries that most Americans don't care is probably one of the most pointless statistical comparisons you can make.

 

Also, nobody is saying soccer is taking over football as the top sport in America. That's just not a thing. People are rightfully pointing out that soccer is, in fact, on par with other big pro sports in America such as NBA and NHL. It's hilarious that people like you are so upset by that fact.