Explaining World Soccer

canabiz · 07-11-10, 08:49 AM

There is no need to equate anything to MLB or NBA. Just because those are 2 of the big 4 sports leagues in the U.S. of A, it doesn't mean they are followed or looked up to around the world.

Soccer is played year round. I personally watch the odd Premier League and Serie A games and the big international tourneys (World Cup or Euro Championship)

terpkeg · 07-11-10, 08:52 AM

So you are saying the top soccer leagues are comparable on a talent level? There is not a concensous #1, or is the a contentious point among soccer fans?

HoulihansTX · 07-11-10, 08:56 AM

1 Champions League

2 Premier Leauge

3. Euro Cup

4. World Cup

Believe it or not, Euro Cup is harder to win than the World Cup.

pavyracer · 07-11-10, 08:56 AM

Each country has their own leagues. They have the best teams in the top league and the rest of the teams in lower leagues like the minor leagues in baseball. The better the player the higher the league he plays and the higher the salaries are in each league.

In each country the teams play to crown the champion (but only teams from the same league level play). They play all the other teams twice. Once at home and once on the road. The one with most points at the end of season wins the Championship (3 points win, 1 point draw).

The Cup or League Cup are knock out plays where all the teams from all different levels of soccer in a country participate (Kinda like the NCAA basketball tourney..you lose you go home).

Champions League is for the best teams of each country to participate in and it's like the World Cup format. The best teams advance automatically on group stages and the others play qualifiers until the group stage. The teams who advance from group stage play knock out games until a champion is crowned at the final game. The knock out games are two legged. One home and one on the road except the final which is at a neutral side.

Soccer seasons are typically from mid to late August until mid to late May. June and July is left for World Cup and Euro every 2 years (even years). The odd years are the ones most players get the most off seasons.

terpkeg · 07-11-10, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by canabiz

There is no need to equate anything to MLB or NBA. Just because those are 2 of the big 4 sports leagues in the U.S. of A, it doesn't mean they are followed or looked up to around the world.

Soccer is played year round. I personally watch the odd Premier League and Serie A games and the big international tourneys (World Cup or Euro Championship)

I understand that they may not be followed around the world, but the only reason I used those two examples is because basketball and baseball are global sports and the NBA and MLB clearly are the upper echoleon of their respective sports on a talent and monetary level. I dont think that is debatable.

terpkeg · 07-11-10, 09:01 AM

Originally posted by pavyracer

Each country has their own leagues. They have the best teams in the top league and the rest of the teams in lower leagues like the minor leagues in baseball. The better the player the higher the league he plays and the higher the salaries are in each league.

In each country the teams play to crown the champion (but only teams from the same league level play). They play all the other teams twice. Once at home and once on the road. The one with most points at the end of season wins the Championship (3 points win, 1 point draw).

The Cup or League Cup are knock out plays where all the teams from all different levels of soccer in a country participate (Kinda like the NCAA basketball tourney..you lose you go home).

Champions League is for the best teams of each country to participate in and it's like the World Cup format. The best teams advance automatically on group stages and the others play qualifiers until the group stage. The teams who advance from group stage play knock out games until a champion is crowned at the final game. The knock out games are two legged. One home and one on the road except the final which is at a neutral side.

Soccer seasons are typically from mid to late August until mid to late May. June and July is left for World Cup and Euro every 2 years (even years). The odd years are the ones most players get the most off seasons.

Damn, long seasons. So is winning a league cup of equal prestige as winning the league championship on points?

Is there a concensous top league, or is it debatable?

terpkeg · 07-11-10, 09:02 AM

I have had such a good time watching the World Cup this year, I have become very intrigued by Soccer.

pavyracer · 07-11-10, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by terpkeg

Damn, long seasons. So is winning a league cup of equal prestige as winning the league championship on points?

Is there a concensous top league, or is it debatable?

Championship winning is the most prestige. Winning a league cup or FA cup is less prestige unless your are a small team and this is the intent. To allow the cinderellas of the country to have an equal chance to win a trophy.

Ruifgalmeida · 07-11-10, 09:14 AM

england premier and spain la liga are the top leagues right now, and european champions league the most important competion.the world cup and euro cup are important but they are only once in 4 years

Ace_of_Spades · 07-11-10, 09:30 AM

EPL is miles ahead imo in terms of competitiveness etc.

pavyracer · 07-11-10, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by Ruifgalmeida

england premier and spain la liga are the top leagues right now, and european champions league the most important competion.the world cup and euro cup are important but they are only once in 4 years

Actually the Euro and World Cup are not every 4 years. The finals are but qualification for Euro 2012 starts in just 2 months. It's a 2 year process and you only see the Finals in every 4 years.

Ruifgalmeida · 07-11-10, 07:00 PM

ok but qualification is realy boring who cares about games like andorra-albania

Ruifgalmeida · 07-11-10, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by Ace_of_Spades

EPL is miles ahead imo in terms of competitiveness etc.

true but EPL is not the best league to bet on, the bookies have to much information and dont make much mistake in lines. the best leagues too bet are smaller ones and non professional.I dont know why my best results are with nordic leagues(that are on right now) sweden, norway, finland and island.

Karayilan9 · 07-11-10, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by terpkeg

Anyone feel like explaining the soccer heiracrchy and schedule to me? There are so many leagues and tournaments, what is cosidered the "major league"? Are Englands, Spains and Italy's leagues on equal footing. What can you equate to MLB, NBA?

And what is up with all the other Cup's, Champions league, Copa de ?.

It seems like there is no soccer season and it is just played 365 days of year.

The highest level and prestige can be split into international and club level.

International - World Cup is the greatest prize in international and football in general
- Euro Cup is a close second
- Copa America is a close third

Club level cups - Champions League is the elite of the elite
- Copa Libertadores
- Europa Cup

Club level leagues 1 EPL / La Liga
2 Serie A / Bundesliga / French League
3 Dutch league / Portuguese League / Russian League / Turkish League/ Ukranian League / Greek League / Brazilian League / Argentinian League
4 K League / J League / MLS / other Eastern European and Scandanavian leagues

Most European leagues have the same format and dates but with the other international leagues their are leagues running most of the year.

Its hard to compare to the NBA or MLB, think of it in terms of the European leagues as the big European leagues being regional conferences and the playoffs being the Champions League.

SilkBC · 07-11-10, 07:36 PM

I was going to post something similar as Karayilan did below, but I am not sure I could have put it better. I agree 100%.

Originally posted by Karayilan9

The highest level and prestige can be split into international and club level.

International - World Cup is the greatest prize in international and football in general
- Euro Cup is a close second
- Copa America is a close third

Club level cups - Champions League is the elite of the elite
- Copa Libertadores
- Europa Cup

Club level leagues 1 EPL / La Liga
2 Serie A / Bundesliga / French League
3 Dutch league / Portuguese League / Russian League / Turkish League/ Ukranian League / Greek League / Brazilian League / Argentinian League
4 K League / J League / MLS / other Eastern European and Scandanavian leagues

The only thing I feel compelled to point out for the benefit of those who do not otherwise know is that "Champions League" is for European clubs and "Copa Libertadores" is for South American clubs. Pretty much all the different regions have their own "club championship", who then contest the FIFA Club Championships each year, but the three mentioned are the biggest.

-SilkBC

Ruifgalmeida · 07-12-10, 08:03 AM

Fifa Club Championship is a joke, not competitive enought.
I cant remember a European club losing in this competition.

blackf1re · 07-12-10, 09:11 AM

Domestic soccer:
The domestic league which usually runs from August to May is the most important competition in each and every country. Seasons that run with the calendar year (espically in countries where it's difficult to play in winter-time) are also common. That's why you have soccer matches 365 days a year. The major Leagues usually consist of 18 or 20 teams which results in 34 or 38 games (you play each team home and away). A big difference to the big US leagues is that you can get promoted and relegated. Take a look at the English league pyramid: http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/wp-con...ue_pyramid.gif
The bottom 3 Premier League clubs will play their next season in The Championship whereas the 3 best Championship teams get promoted to the Premier League which is huge in terms of TV money and attracting players. It works the same in probably every other country. Italy has the Seria A, Seria B... Germany the 1st Bundesliga, 2nd Bundesliga etc...

Then there's the domestic cup. Teams from all the different leagues of one country face each other in knockout games. If we stay in England that means a team from the 5th level conference could meet a Premier League clubs which has caused some huge upsets and disgraces for the big teams over the years. That's why the Cup is a really big thing for lower league teams and their supporters. Imagine your local basketball club gets to play the Lakers. It's prestige really depends on the country. The English FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world and remains popular and is not that far behind the Premier League in terms of importance. Whereas the Italian Coppa Italia doesn't attract a lot of fans before the final.

International soccer:
The best teams from the major European leagues qualify for next year's Champions League which runs from September to May (CL games are always on Tuesdays and Wednesday whereas domestic games usually take place Friday to Sunday). The format is similar to the World Cup with 32 teams playing in group stages and knockout games. Some complicated coefficients decide how many entries each country gets. England for instance currently has 4. Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham (the top 4 from the 09/10 Premier League season). Champions League games (especially in the end stages) are considered to be the best games in terms of quality you will find on this planet. Which makes sense as the champions of the best leagues in the world face each other.

The Europa League (formerly UEFA CUP) is the 2nd tier of European football. Again each country has a certain number of entries. England will send the 5th, 6th and 7th placed team of last year's Premier League season.
There are similar competions in South America and Asia which I'm not that familiar with.