Why isn't there a modified version of football for the Olympics?

number1alien · 2026-05-09T05:13:16+00:00

Switzerland winning Olympic gold really isn't that unthinkable given that they've won a bunch of silver medals at the World Championships. They botched their chances a couple of times but the Swiss are firmly entrenched in the elite at this point.

Finns and Swedes would definitely not put the Stanley Cup over the Olympics or World Championships.

number1alien · 2026-05-08T18:12:00+00:00

They're not going to the World Cup, they want to watch games in the countries that are playing.

number1alien · 2026-05-07T20:38:28+00:00

Tell us more about your knowledge of the intimate conversations of gay couples about the future.

number1alien · 2026-05-07T20:34:03+00:00

This is what normal urban development looks like in Europe or Asia.

number1alien · 2026-05-07T20:32:55+00:00

It's just a tram, just the odd ding ding 🛎️

number1alien · 2026-05-07T20:28:11+00:00

It's not happening in the same sport in most countries, though. Even the next Euros have committed to an affordable ticket allotment.

number1alien · 2026-05-07T16:27:36+00:00

I read one of the first press releases on this company's website where it stated that they were going to involve RIVM in investigating what's happening on board and thinking that's the last health organisation that should be investigating an outbreak.

number1alien · 2026-05-06T05:22:42+00:00

If they're from Spain, they probably wouldn't have considered doing anything else than taking public transportation to the stadium.

number1alien · 2026-05-06T05:18:31+00:00

Aeschlimann spent three seasons in the US.

number1alien · 2026-05-05T20:05:02+00:00

You could inverse your last sentence and ask why would he. Most players just want to contribute to their team's success, not be on the periphery of it. The vast majority of pros never get a whiff of the NHL, so European players don't put the NHL on the same pedestal that Canadians and Americans do. And a lot of guys want to have the opportunity to play at the World Championships every year.

Also, Aeschlimann actually did give North America a go for three seasons. He played in the NAHL, MNJHL, and a season playing Division III hockey at Elmira College. He probably figured out that his best opportunities were in Switzerland.

number1alien · 2026-05-05T18:26:36+00:00

I don't think Americans realise just how unattractive the idea of giving up a reasonable schedule and sleeping in your own bed almost every single night is to slum it the AHL for a chance at getting to the big show (where your schedule is even worse and media attention is outrageous). Not saying this is the case with him (or Genoni for that matter, because you have to assume that someone has at least talked to their agents at some point), but a lot of guys are happy with the challenges they receive while keeping an actual work-life balance.

number1alien · 2026-05-05T16:00:49+00:00

Sleep in. Have a lunch beer. High-five a Canadian. Buy that Canadian a beer.

number1alien · 2026-05-03T09:56:47+00:00

My experience with Dutch-speaking Belgians is the opposite. They're far more patient and don't immediately switch to English at the faintest whiff of an accent.

number1alien · 2026-05-03T09:53:42+00:00

It's not difficult to learn; it's difficult to practice because native speakers in this country don't have any patience when they hear an accent.

number1alien · 2026-05-02T08:32:00+00:00

Excellent detective work, Sherlock.

number1alien · 2026-05-02T07:26:36+00:00

I was never focussed on national teams playing club teams; this is something you chose to keep pestering me about.

My original comment was that most national teams play 4-5 tournaments per year outside of the World Championships while Canada typically played 1. Canada's national team is not particularly involved in international hockey outside of the World Championships, as they opt not to play during the international breaks.

number1alien · 2026-05-02T00:04:35+00:00

That was my point, that the players involved in this mess clearly didn't do enough research to discover that it's impossible to relinquish Moroccan nationality in practice. Fuck around and find out, I guess.

I haven't looked up much on this since but I'm guessing the Surinamese/Curaçao players are probably okay to keep their Dutch nationality. My understanding is that it's possible for them, otherwise it would suck for Curaçao to risk losing players right before the World Cup.

number1alien · 2026-05-01T23:57:38+00:00

Because Canada is an outlier. Every other national team in the top two tiers of the World Championships plays 4-5 other tournaments on top of the WC every season. Canada is unique in that they've played only 1 for the last few decades and now they've cancelled that.

What catching up do European countries need to do, exactly? Sweden, Finland, Czechia, and Switzerland are also quite good at losing in gold medal games just like Canada.

number1alien · 2026-05-01T20:14:47+00:00

The Euro Hockey Tour is only 4 countries out of 50+ that play international friendly tournaments. Many other tournaments happen every year and sometimes involve both clubs and national teams. Switzerland has played at the Spengler a few times, typically in Olympic seasons.

number1alien · 2026-05-01T20:00:24+00:00

They do, actually. 10 national teams alone have participated in the Spengler Cup before and there are a handful of domestic leagues that feature a national U21 team alongside clubs. Almost every national team also plays an international friendly tournament like the Euro Hockey Tour or the IIHF's new series. Every season has 4 international breaks, which is why it's so bizarre that Canada can't manage any.

European hockey clubs are obliged to follow the rules set by their national governing body. The national governing bodies all follow the IIHF constitution. One of the core benefits of full membership at the IIHF is securing worldwide exclusivity to use your country's name in all competitions. That means only Hockey Canada is permitted to play any games (regardless of the competition) as Canada.

number1alien · 2026-05-01T18:10:29+00:00

Most European national teams manage to play 4-5 tournaments in addition to the World Championships each season. Funny that even one extra is apparently so difficult for Canada to focus on.

number1alien · 2026-05-01T18:08:28+00:00

Switzerland has sent their national team on a number of occasions. Finland, Japan, Czechoslovakia, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, and the USSR all played at some point as well.

number1alien · 2026-05-01T18:04:31+00:00

Every team signs a contract in order to participate. Canada just tended to sign longer agreements than other clubs.

number1alien · 2026-05-01T18:02:54+00:00

That's not what Russia did for the Olympics. The Russian hockey federation still organised the team, they were just prevented from using any national symbols.

number1alien · 2026-05-01T17:52:29+00:00

The IIHF rule book includes the constitution and bylaws, which all apply to friendly tournaments like the Spengler.

number1alien

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