Facts about football that shouldn't be true - but are

Sandikan

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Scholes and Rooney played 8 and a half seasons together and Scholes only assisted Rooney on one occasion..

The 2007 semi against Milan.
One of those mad stats.

Like considering the 93-94 United lineup, that we can all name instantly. Hearing that they only started about 6 or 7 games together that league season!
 
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Have the players across Europe said they don't want to play it?
My comment was specifically the World Cup, and just watching the players it was obvious every time, after the disappointment of not getting to the final, who wants to go to the bigger of playing such a pointless game?
 

dinostar77

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Third play playoff game at WC is the most pointless game ever. Must be soul destroying for the players having just missed out on a WC final and having to play the most pointless fixture ever.
 

GazTheLegend

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Famous ex Man Utd midfielder Anderson is 33 years old, one year younger than Edison Cavani.

It's so weird that he was basically finished as a footballer fitness wise at 25 years old
 

The Boy

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Since 1982 a Bayern Munich player has been involved in every world cup final
 

diarm

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Since 1982 a Bayern Munich player has been involved in every world cup final
Not the only ones. There is another European club who have had a player in every World Cup final since 1982 as well.
 

Tomuś

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My comment was specifically the World Cup, and just watching the players it was obvious every time, after the disappointment of not getting to the final, who wants to go to the bigger of playing such a pointless game?
I just asked because it sounded as if it was a fact, not opinion. I remember English fans not wanting 2018 3rd place match but that's not 'everyone'.

I doubt there aren't teams who would have loved to have a medal nor that there aren't fans who wouldn’t like it and neutrals who wouldn't like another game between good teams. Just an opinion.
 

Tomuś

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What I do know for a fact is that kids love medals/trophies and see 1st, 2nd and 3rd as magical.

For them is a difference between going out in a semi final and seeing their heroes winning a bronze medal. For that reason alone, I wouldn't go as far as to say the match is pointless.
 

rcoobc

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What I do know for a fact is that kids love medals/trophies and see 1st, 2nd and 3rd as magical.

For them is a difference between going out in a semi final and seeing their heroes winning a bronze medal. For that reason alone, I wouldn't go as far as to say the match is pointless.
Yeah but we're talking adults
 

tentan

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Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker played at Euro 92 together. I swear they both played in different eras.
 

Iker Quesadillas

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This argument that the 3rd place WC game has no value is complete nonsense. Only eight teams have ever won the competition and most are repeat winners. The majority of teams have no expectation to reach the final, let alone win it, so being able to make it to the final four and then actually get third place is a big achievement. You don't think Turkish people cared about being third in 2002? Or Swedish people in 1994? Or Croatians in 1998?

If my home country got third place at the World Cup, nobody would work for a whole month. Possibly the entire year.

I'm sure there's some German or Brazilian dipshit who looks disillusioned because he has to play for third instead of winning their fifth title, but guess what, I don't care.
 

stefan92

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This argument that the 3rd place WC game has no value is complete nonsense. Only eight teams have ever won the competition and most are repeat winners. The majority of teams have no expectation to reach the final, let alone win it, so being able to make it to the final four and then actually get third place is a big achievement. You don't think Turkish people cared about being third in 2002? Or Swedish people in 1994? Or Croatians in 1998?

If my home country got third place at the World Cup, nobody would work for a whole month. Possibly the entire year.

I'm sure there's some German or Brazilian dipshit who looks disillusioned because he has to play for third instead of winning their fifth title, but guess what, I don't care.
German dipshit here. We usually call it the "small final" and German teams in general try to win it. It might not be played by the usual first team to give some bench players time to actually participate in the tournament, but they surely play to win it, as Germany proved in 2006 and 2010. 2006 was for example Oliver Kahn's last match for the NT while he was replaced by Jens Lehmann as Germany's first choice goalkeeper for the tournament.
 

Iker Quesadillas

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Yeah I just picked a random 'big' country, no offense to Germans. Germans clearly cared in 2006 (it was at home, and did better than expected) and in 2010 (when they were probably the most enjoyable team in the competition).

I mean, for feck's sake, Belgium had a parade when they finished third, that was just a few years ago! Everyone was having a blast. You can be disappointed to not reach a final and still care about being third, it is possible to have two emotions.
 
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OleBoiii

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I don't know why, but I'm incapable of reading the thread title without using a very dramatic voice when I get to " - but are".
 

Cheimoon

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This argument that the 3rd place WC game has no value is complete nonsense. Only eight teams have ever won the competition and most are repeat winners. The majority of teams have no expectation to reach the final, let alone win it, so being able to make it to the final four and then actually get third place is a big achievement. You don't think Turkish people cared about being third in 2002? Or Swedish people in 1994? Or Croatians in 1998?

If my home country got third place at the World Cup, nobody would work for a whole month. Possibly the entire year.

I'm sure there's some German or Brazilian dipshit who looks disillusioned because he has to play for third instead of winning their fifth title, but guess what, I don't care.
I know the Netherlands were too disappointed about the loss in the semis to care that much about the match against Croatia in 1998; but they did care about it in 2014 against Brazil. Different expectations, maybe. Also a more prestigious opponent, maybe that matters as well.
 

Gio

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This argument that the 3rd place WC game has no value is complete nonsense. Only eight teams have ever won the competition and most are repeat winners. The majority of teams have no expectation to reach the final, let alone win it, so being able to make it to the final four and then actually get third place is a big achievement. You don't think Turkish people cared about being third in 2002? Or Swedish people in 1994? Or Croatians in 1998?

If my home country got third place at the World Cup, nobody would work for a whole month. Possibly the entire year.

I'm sure there's some German or Brazilian dipshit who looks disillusioned because he has to play for third instead of winning their fifth title, but guess what, I don't care.
Let's be honest the reason nobody would work for a month is because they reached the semi-finals and were one game away from a final. Whether the country comes third or fourth is just about irrelevant. For each of those examples, there is a counter example in Bulgaria in 1994 (lost 4-0), Holland and South Korea who clearly did not give much of a shit as, once they were out, they were out. The fact most countries rotate in players who haven't kicked a ball demonstrates how little priority it is afforded.
 

Caesar2290

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Every single CL final that Chelsea reached have been under managers who've been appointed midseason. Grant, Di Mateo and Tuchel.
 

harms

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Cafu's debut in Champions League happened when he was... 31 years old.
 

reuben290

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Not sure if this really counts as 'shouldn't be true' but I still find it interesting...

England and Germany, went on a run that lasted 16 years (2000-2016), of winning in each other's back yards. Not unbelievable, but unusual nonetheless.

England 0-1 Germany (2000 - last game at Wembley)
Germany 1-5 England (2001 - don't really remember this one) ;)
England 1-2 Germany (2007)
Germany 1-2 England (2008)
England 0-1 Germany (2013)
Germany 2-3 England (2016) - super comeback in the second half from 2-0 down!
 

Wolf1992

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I know the Netherlands were too disappointed about the loss in the semis to care that much about the match against Croatia in 1998; but they did care about it in 2014 against Brazil. Different expectations, maybe. Also a more prestigious opponent, maybe that matters as well.
Brazil 2014 was garbage, only more prestigious in name, i would take Croatia 1998 all the way over that horrendous Brazil team that got smacked 7-1 at home with some defensive amateur bloopers.
Germany was the best team of the tournament, but even Algeria caused them more trouble than that rubbish Brazil...that says it all.
 
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horsechoker

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I know the Netherlands were too disappointed about the loss in the semis to care that much about the match against Croatia in 1998; but they did care about it in 2014 against Brazil. Different expectations, maybe. Also a more prestigious opponent, maybe that matters as well.
 

Wolf1992

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Since 1982 a Bayern Munich player has been involved in every world cup final
1982 - Germany
1886 - Germany
1990 - Germany
1994 - Jorginho
1998 - Lizarazu
2002 - Germany
2006 - Willie Sagnol
2010 - Van Bommel and Robben
2014 - Germany
2018 - Pavard and Tolisso
 

Cheimoon

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Brazil 2014 was garbage, only more prestigious in name, i would take Croatia 1998 all the way over that horrendous Brazil team that got smacked 7-1 at home with some defensive amateur bloopers.
Germany was the best team of the tournament, but even Algeria caused them more trouble than that rubbish Brazil...that says it all.
That may well be true, but I wasn't talking about the size of the challenge. No matter how rubbish Brazil is at a given moment in time and how good Croatia, Brazil is still the more prestigious opponent. It's a question of reputation.
 

432JuanMata

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German dipshit here. We usually call it the "small final" and German teams in general try to win it. It might not be played by the usual first team to give some bench players time to actually participate in the tournament, but they surely play to win it, as Germany proved in 2006 and 2010. 2006 was for example Oliver Kahn's last match for the NT while he was replaced by Jens Lehmann as Germany's first choice goalkeeper for the tournament.
The third place match is prestigious and what he said is right but I can understand the likes of Germany/Brazil not being as fused or playing it like the SF/F.
It all depends on the country too be fair. I’m from Ireland and we don’t even make WC so if we finished 3rd the whole country be on a piss up for weeks.
It’s a huge achievement 3rd place in a WC but I guess for say Germany or say the current France team losing the SF would be painful and considering they are there to win it the mindset might go for that 3rd place match
 

stefan92

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German dipshit here. We usually call it the "small final" and German teams in general try to win it. It might not be played by the usual first team to give some bench players time to actually participate in the tournament, but they surely play to win it, as Germany proved in 2006 and 2010. 2006 was for example Oliver Kahn's last match for the NT while he was replaced by Jens Lehmann as Germany's first choice goalkeeper for the tournament.
Brazil 2014 was garbage, only more prestigious in name, i would take Croatia 1998 all the way over that horrendous Brazil team that got smacked 7-1 at home with some defensive amateur bloopers.
Germany was the best team of the tournament, but even Algeria caused them more trouble than that rubbish Brazil...that says it all.
Brazil in general was not that bad. Against Germany Thiago Silva and Neymar were missing, and the rest of the team had a complete mental breakdown due to it. That's what made the 7-1 possible.
 

AllGoodNamesRGone

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Thierry Henry played in 9 finals but never scored in any of them.

Arsenal
UEFA cup final 2000
FA cup final 2001
FA cup final 2002
Fa cup final 2003
Champions league final 2006

Barcelona
Champions league final 2009

France
World Cup final 1998
Euro championship final 2000
World Cup final 2006

Edit
New information has just come to light and it turns out he played in 10 finals and scored in one.

He scored in the final of the 2003 confederations cup final