New to Soccer / Football

[PaulVE64]

I'm from Canada so my background is hockey related but the Stanley Cup playoffs are done and there is alot if soccer on TV right now and I'm watching it.

 

It's amazing how tough these soccer players are. 

They rarely get injured but dozens of them are nearly maimed in every game.

 

Hockey players need to find out how they stay healthy.

[casts_by_fly]

5 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

 

It's amazing how tough these soccer players are. 

hahahahahahahaha!  You’re new to this.  Soccer players are maybe the softest of all of the professional sportsmen. The lightest foot to foot clip and they look like they are trying to be Superman. 

[gim]

Soccer players dive and fake injuries more than perhaps any other sport. If you watch the replays, they rarely get nicked and flop like they’ve been shot. Bunch of grass fairies, I say.

 

I will admit that they are generally in very good shape though.

[PaulVE64]

And what do they put in those water bottles they squirt onto an injury.

One squirt and POOF the guy can walk again!

[N Florida Mike]

 Yeah, If I had to choose between soccer and hockey ( to watch), Id choose hockey.

 

[flyfisher]

It is part of the gamesmanship of the sport.  They play 45 minutes each half and have no time outs no breaks and minimal subs.  So yes they flop but it is kind of an understood part of the game.  There was a time it used to be way worse in the EPL and they started giving yellow cards for it.   I did read one time that of all the major sports actual sports play soccer has the most action of any sport and it isn't even close.

 

And that spray is ridiculous really, it is basically a concentrated ice pack with some pain reliever built in.  I have used it when I played basketball and it is like instant ice pack rather than taking 20 minutes.  

 

Messi's ankle looked bad though last night for sure.

[JackstrawIII]

Though we can all agree that there is an inordinate amount of flopping and theatrics in soccer, people who never played the sport at a high level have NO IDEA how physical this game is. Soccer is an incredibly rough sport and guys are absolutely brutal to each other. Watch what happens in the 18 yard box during corner kicks sometime. It’s a zoo. Imagine what the guys would do to each other if the NFL only had 1 ref on the field…
 

That’s what soccer is like. 

[BrianMDTX]

I agree that they are excellent athletes and it is demanding running up and down the pitch as long as they do. 
 

But for the most part, I find it incredibly boring. Being raised with it as the premier sport likely helps. 
 

I’d rather fish lol. 

[VolFan]

Still better than the NBA…