My oldest, who’s almost 2, has twice ran headfirst into walls on purpose.

Holy crap, you’re absolutely right, I had completely forgotten Ramos was also responsible for Karius’ concussion!

This is such a cool goal. I end up watching this and “The Marc Bartra Goal” like, once a month.

That helped, but I’d argue the biggest reason why Real Madrid won the Champions League final last year was that Liverpool’s GK was possibly concussed and ended up having one of the most ridiculously bad games ever at the worst possible time. 

Yeah and he did a lot of other amazing things, too!

Bale and Real Madrid...

You make some good points and I agree with most of what you’re thinking. It’s absolutely true that to expect any club to consistently develop a one-in-a-million generation of players is absurd.

Hey Billy. I just want to say I enjoyed this article. I give you a lot of crap on other posts so I just figured it’d be fair to compliment the ones I do enjoy.

Granted. I just feel like Llorente probably deserves a little more credit for his role in the win than a passing insult regarding a single play.

“Typically inept” Fernando Llorente was absolutely key in the 2nd half. He was the target man up front who won dozens of long balls and fixed the Dutch centerbacks thereby opening up space for Moura, Dele and Son.

I think Colombia played better yesterday, I’m just not sure the score is an indictment of either team’s quality.

Also in play in Group B if Portugal and Spain both win by the same result or both draw against Iran and Morocco respectively.

I made a sound halfway between a scream and an orgasm and woke up my 7-month old son whom I then spent the better part of an hour trying to get back to sleep. Totally worth it.

I hear you and you’ve swayed me. Great point re: “It’s not that England isn’t a 2nd tier team, it’s that Argentina IS one.”

But if you’re gonna look at only the last 20 years (which is totally reasonable) look at the rest of the data.

Dude, what even is this? Am I supposed to feel bad for Messi for being Argentine? For having pressure on him to win a World Cup? So basically for being like any other superstar soccer player born in Argentina, Brazil, England, Italy, France, Germany, etc.?

I stand corrected, sir.

Patini was never a striker, barely even a forward. He was one of the best 10s to ever play the game.

Sampaoli is maddening.

This take is actually spot-on. He seems like he’s trying so hard all the time it would be endearing if he wasn’t, you know... Ronaldo.