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Soccer Sunday: Your Running Commentary

NeymarBy MICHAEL KLINE

Today’s quiet soccer action heads to the European Under-21 Championships before Brazil and France meet in a friendly.

The Netherlands face Russia to kick-off the day, followed by a showdown between Germany and Spain.

The Netherlands and Spain sit atop the group table, with both squads on three points, while Germany and Russia are level on zero points at the bottom. A loss for either Germany or Russia will result in a group-stage exit from the tournament.

Brazil and France go head-to-head later in the afternoon, in an international friendly in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Brazil’s recent international form is poor, with the Selecao having won only once in their last six matches. Similarly, Brazil has beaten France only a single time in the last seven meetings between the international giants.

If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule is after the jump):

TODAY’S SOCCER ON TV

SUNDAY

12pm – ESPN3 – Netherlands vs. Russia (European Under-21s)

2:30pm – ESPN3 – Germany vs. Spain (European Under-21s)

3pm – beIN Sport – Brazil vs. France 

 

Comments

  1. When you see the passionate nature of football in other countries, you can truly understand how the sport can end such chaos.

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  2. And just to make sure we’re all on the same page, Egypt is facing enormous challenges, but it is NOT in Civil War.

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  3. In women’s soccer, Jordan beat Kuwait 21-0

    and they were picking up the ball after they scored and running back to start the game asap, must be some bad blood there….

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    • Kuwait’s pro-West/modernist/moderate brand of Islam (or at least their willing to put financial progress above other concerns) isn’t all that popular with the other Middle Eastern nations… Imagine that.

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      • So….this score represents some kind of hostility from Jordan and the other countries of the Middle East towards Kuwait, for their “pro-West/modernist/moderate brand of Islam”? Or their “willing to put financial progress above other concerns” which somehow is unique in the region to Kuwait?

        I don’t know what’s more absurd, your characterization of the region or the fact that you are using a women’s soccer game to support it.

    • Meh. Egypt plays again next week vs Mozambique again, a team that has scored exactly 1 goal in 4 matches of WCQ and has just been softened up by Guinea. A win, and Egypt’s through.

      There are several other permutations still working in Egypt’s favor, too.

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  4. Courage and leadership cannot be provided by a “sporting club”. It is the mandate of a society and their true moral compass. I don’t wish them ill, just tired of the failed state(s) in the region.

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  5. Bradley yes, definitely, but what is there to celebrate in the forsaken and disgraced land of Egypt? Another oppressive and shameful human rights disaster of a country. Oh, that’s right, we supported their descent.

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    • Sports have the power to unify a nation. Countries at civil war have agreed to cease-fire agreements because of World Cup qualification.

      We in the States take qualification for granted, especially those of us born in the 80s. We don’t know what it’s like to not qualify, it’s just a given for us. But in other parts of the world it is a BIG deal. A strong showing for Egypt could do a lot to relieve the tension there.

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      • “Countries at civil war have agreed to cease-fire agreements because of World Cup qualification.”

        And when and where did that happen?

      • Pele negotiated a cease fire in Nigeria’s civil war in 1967 to play an exhibition match in the country.

        Ivory Coast qualified for the World Cup in Germany and it was such a shock that the civil war was ended and both sides entered peace negotiations for the good of the team.

        Instead of acting like a d*ck you could have spent 10 seconds on Google.

      • Ah! A typical product of today’s generation. This is what happens when you have to reply on grossly inaccurate 10-second soundbites for your history lessons.

        After the 48-hour ceasefire in Nigeria, which of course was not negotiated by Pele, the sides proceeded to kill each other with the same vigor they had been prior to the ceasefire (and are actually still doing it today).

        And if you think that Ivory Coast is all good and peaceful right now, start by educating yourself — http://world.time.com/2012/06/11/bitter-divide-remains-in-ivory-coast-a-year-after-civil-war/

      • “After the 48-hour ceasefire in Nigeria, the sides proceeded to kill each other with the same vigor they had been prior to the ceasefire (and are actually still doing it today).”

        Cease fire, is just that: a temporary stoppage of warfare. SanFran never stated or implied it ended it permanently so I’m not entirely sure why you’re referencing after that 48 hour period.

        Are you simply disputing Pele’s involvement?

      • SanFran stated that “Pele negotiated” the cease fire, which is not quite the same as the story goes, “In 1967, the two factions involved in the Nigerian Civil War agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play…” Even if the story is true (and frankly to me it sounds like a feel-good urban legend), it didn’t bring any peace or unity to the country.

        If Egypt makes it to the finals, in the best case scenario it might temporarily reduce the level of violence for a few weeks. Maybe, maybe not. It might provoke more violence, especially if Egypt doesn’t do well. Do we forget what happened in Port Said just last February?

      • I’m not sure if this is a “generational” thing where you feel the need to preach but you didn’t answer my question and you are going on about something SanFran did not say.

        I asked: Are you simply disputing Pele’s involvement? The simple answer was: Yes.

        You going on and on about long-term peace or unity is irrelevant. SanFran never made that claim.

        Try “educating” yourself on what a cease fire really means. That was the term SanFran used.

    • The USA is forsaken and disgraced; the most murderous country in the world….word…you call Egypt oppressive and shameful as your government drops bombs from drones every day on people…

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  6. Actually, given the situation on the ground in Egypt, and the people there that generally support the Egyptian soccer team (as I understand), I think I’d be supporting Egypt this time around even without Bradley.

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  7. Never thought I’d be rooting for Egypt, but they won today against Zimbabwe, and getting closer to the playoffs for the World Cup slot.

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  8. Congratulations to Egypt and Bob Bradley on remaining perfect in CAF qualifying with a 4-2 victory over Zimbabwe. Anything less than a win for Guinea this afternoon and Egypt are through to the final round play-offs.

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