FIFA World Cup 2026 - Page 7

mfw13 · 02-25-2026, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YayNJ

I still can’t wrap my head around Josh Sargent throwing a whole season of his career in the trash in a World Cup year on home soil. What a dunce.

In all fairness, he's been out of the picture for quite a while....not sure his contract dispute with Norwich has affected his chances one way or another.

He's been given numerous chances over the past four years and hasn't taken any of them.

Not sure he's even among the top five US strikers any more...Balogun, Pepi, and Haji Wright are all ahead of him for certain, and probably Agyemang too.

YayNJ · 02-25-2026, 04:52 PM

Without looking to check, I’m pretty certain that he’s been the highest scoring American in Europe over the last three years.

Balogun is rancid, though had a wild European Cup campaign this year.

mfw13 · 02-25-2026, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Without looking to check, I’m pretty certain that he’s been the highest scoring American in Europe over the last three years.

He's playing in the Championship....doesn't mean much....he's scored 5 goals in 29 USMNT appearances....none in the last SIX years.

And three of those five goals were against Cuba (the other two were in friendlies against Bolivia and Peru).

Heck...he's only made six USMNT appearances since the 2022 World Cup.....

Crosby 87 · 02-25-2026, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Without looking to check, I’m pretty certain that he’s been the highest scoring American in Europe over the last three years.

Balogun is rancid, though had a wild European Cup campaign this year.

51 in past 4 (7 this year)

YayNJ · 02-26-2026, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

He's playing in the Championship....doesn't mean much....he's scored 5 goals in 29 USMNT appearances....none in the last SIX years.

And three of those five goals were against Cuba (the other two were in friendlies against Bolivia and Peru).

Heck...he's only made six USMNT appearances since the 2022 World Cup.....

Buddy.. Pepi and Balogun are playing in France and Holland - incredibly poor leagues outside of the top few clubs. Both you and I could score in the Dutch league.

The Championship is one of the most physical leagues in the world. It’s absolutely brutal.

YayNJ · 02-27-2026, 10:36 AM

Speak of the devil..

Sargent joins Toronto for £20m.. makes him one of the top 10 most expensive US players of all time.

yiguiri2002 · 03-01-2026, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Buddy.. Pepi and Balogun are playing in France and Holland - incredibly poor leagues outside of the top few clubs. Both you and I could score in the Dutch league.

The Championship is one of the most physical leagues in the world. It’s absolutely brutal.

Honest question: Do you think the Championship is a tougher league than Ligue 1? Outside of PSG, how do you think the other top clubs would do in the Championship?

YayNJ · 03-01-2026, 01:19 PM

Tougher is subjective I guess. The Championship is a brutal league for various reasons. Championship players can play something like 50 games a year, playing twice a week. It's incredibly physical, yet also demands the running and athleticism of the Premier League. Ironically, I think this years Championship is the weakest it's been for a good while.

There's plenty of clubs in Ligue 1 that would do very well in the Premier League, nevermind the Championship, but the lower end of the league - as is the case in most European leagues on the continent - especially places like Portugal or the Netherlands for example, the quality drops off incredibly.There's teams in the top Portuguese league that have attendances of no more than 2,500.. that's less than some teams in the sixth division in England.

France overall, outside of the giants like PSG, is slower, players have more time on the ball.. it's more open, which benefits attackers.

If you can cut your cloth as a reliable Championship striker - Josh Sergeant, Joel Piroe etc.. you'd do more than fine with more time in those leagues.

Just my opinion, from the matches I've taken in abroad over the years.

YayNJ · 03-06-2026, 09:51 AM

the World Cup will feature 3 minute advert breaks half way through each half for "player welfare"

JWBlue · 03-06-2026, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YayNJ

the World Cup will feature 3 minute advert breaks half way through each half for "player welfare"

Probably due to the expected oppressive heat.

YayNJ · 03-06-2026, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Probably due to the expected oppressive heat.

Aye, can't believe we've managed without them for over 165 years.

Ianhatcher · 03-07-2026, 10:38 AM

Euros 2024 had water breaks when pitch temperature were over 90 degress so it's not anything new. A blanket break for every game I'm not sure is warranted when a place like Mexico City average temps are like 70s I think. But, FIFA has shown their desire to make money so it tracks.

YayNJ · 03-07-2026, 11:39 AM

I’m talking about adverts pumped into our eye balls for three minutes. Not water breaks, and then pretending it’s for the welfare of the players.

Ianhatcher · 03-07-2026, 12:16 PM

Oh No, 180 seconds of commercials. Whatever will people do to pass the time.....

YayNJ · 03-07-2026, 12:20 PM

Sucker.

YayNJ · 03-11-2026, 12:20 PM

to be expected .. looks like Iran will not be at the World Cup.

In slightly related news, the USA has barred 10 players from the Jamaican club Mount Pleasant from entry to the USA for their CONCACAF Champions Cup match against LA Galaxy.

03-01-2026, 01:19 PM	#158
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,635 hanelcocards	Tougher is subjective I guess. The Championship is a brutal league for various reasons. Championship players can play something like 50 games a year, playing twice a week. It's incredibly physical, yet also demands the running and athleticism of the Premier League. Ironically, I think this years Championship is the weakest it's been for a good while. There's plenty of clubs in Ligue 1 that would do very well in the Premier League, nevermind the Championship, but the lower end of the league - as is the case in most European leagues on the continent - especially places like Portugal or the Netherlands for example, the quality drops off incredibly.There's teams in the top Portuguese league that have attendances of no more than 2,500.. that's less than some teams in the sixth division in England. France overall, outside of the giants like PSG, is slower, players have more time on the ball.. it's more open, which benefits attackers. If you can cut your cloth as a reliable Championship striker - Josh Sergeant, Joel Piroe etc.. you'd do more than fine with more time in those leagues. Just my opinion, from the matches I've taken in abroad over the years. Last edited by YayNJ; 03-01-2026 at 01:29 PM.

02-25-2026, 04:52 PM	#152
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,635 hanelcocards	Without looking to check, I’m pretty certain that he’s been the highest scoring American in Europe over the last three years. Balogun is rancid, though had a wild European Cup campaign this year.

02-27-2026, 10:36 AM	#156
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,635 hanelcocards	Speak of the devil.. Sargent joins Toronto for £20m.. makes him one of the top 10 most expensive US players of all time.

03-06-2026, 09:51 AM	#159
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,635 hanelcocards	the World Cup will feature 3 minute advert breaks half way through each half for "player welfare"

03-07-2026, 10:38 AM	#162
Ianhatcher Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,991 ian5555	Euros 2024 had water breaks when pitch temperature were over 90 degress so it's not anything new. A blanket break for every game I'm not sure is warranted when a place like Mexico City average temps are like 70s I think. But, FIFA has shown their desire to make money so it tracks.

03-07-2026, 11:39 AM	#163
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,635 hanelcocards	I’m talking about adverts pumped into our eye balls for three minutes. Not water breaks, and then pretending it’s for the welfare of the players.

03-07-2026, 12:16 PM	#164
Ianhatcher Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,991 ian5555	Oh No, 180 seconds of commercials. Whatever will people do to pass the time.....

03-07-2026, 12:20 PM	#165
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,635 hanelcocards	Sucker.

03-11-2026, 12:20 PM	#166
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,635 hanelcocards	to be expected .. looks like Iran will not be at the World Cup. In slightly related news, the USA has barred 10 players from the Jamaican club Mount Pleasant from entry to the USA for their CONCACAF Champions Cup match against LA Galaxy.