Fooootball, Soccer, whatever........

[lwien]

Ya know, typically, I'm not into Soccer, but I've been watching the US teams every game in the World Cup this year, and it's pretty darn exciting. Wanted to kill a few of the refs though. Some of those disallowed goals were really bogus. Also watching Mexico's and England's games. Never wouldv'e thunk that I'd be watching the World Cup.

US and Ghana coming up in about an hour. US hasn't advanced this far in the World Cup since 1930.

 

[bluntfaced]

You should watch Brazil games too

 

[lwien]

Yeah, Brazil has always had a great team.

 

[steiner666]

I'm very excited for Germany to take on England! I'm sure it will be a really intense match, but I'm fairly confident Germany will win

 

[lwien]

USA vs Ghana, going into overtime.

Edit: And.....we lost.

Kinda fun watching Clinton and Jagger hangin' out together.

 

[mattybass]

My German blood dictates who I'm a fan of, hehe. And it looks like we're doing well!

 

[lwien]

My German blood dictates who I'm a fan of, hehe. And it looks like we're doing well!

Yup. They very well could win the whole thing. I think England is going to go down tomorrow.

 

[AustralianVaporizers]

I think the England will be going home but there has been quite a few upsets in this world cup. I think Argentina have a very good chance of winning this year... Maradona has promised to run naked through the center of Buenos Aires if Argentina wins haha

 

[lwien]

Could be Argentina against Brazil in the final. That would be pretty amazing. Argentina is just cruising by Mexico, but man, some of the ref calls are just insane.

 

[mattybass]

Damn, I was hoping Germany vs. Argentina in the final but it looks like only one of them will get through next week. My countrymen eliminate another favourite today! I feel for the controversial goal though, that could've significantly changed the outcome at that stage.

 

[lwien]

I feel for the controversial goal though, that could've significantly changed the outcome at that stage.

Yeah. I wonder if someday, they'll use instant replay for refs to review. There were some goals that were disallowed that should have been allowed, and when you look at the replays, some of the calls were just outrageous.

 

[mattybass]

Well at this halftime show (when the players go in the dressing room and eat orange slices amirite?) they were discussing having video replay and while they are considering having goal referees for the next World Cup, I think FIFA is hellbent on keeping the 'flow' of the game and the lack of technological advances to run the game. They like the human input... pff, Brits and their old-fashioned ways . (jk)

 

[lwien]

Well, at least goal refs would be a step in the right direction. I mean, with a game like this, where scoring is a pretty rare occurrence, it makes each goal even that much more important. Hell, in basketball, you could be down by 10 points with 3 min. to play and still win the game. Here, you could be down by 1 point for the whole fucking game.

 

[wilf789]

I think FIFA is hellbent on keeping the 'flow' of the game and the lack of technological advances to run the game. They like the human input... pff, Brits and their old-fashioned ways . (jk)

Uh I think you'll find every single Englishman in the world is calling for video-tech today, and we have done for a while. The SWISS president of Fifa Sepp Blatter has always opposed it. Just because we invented the game doesn't mean we still somehow control it all!

Personally I'd be fine with either the introduction of video-tech, just for goal-line disputes, or two extra refs like they have in the Europa League tournament. It would need to be limited though, because keeping the 'flow' of the game is indeed extremely important, unlike other video-tech sports like cricket and tennis where the action is broken-up more.

Despite how that goal yesterday would have changed the entire rest of the game, we were still f*cking embarrasing. The only respite is the fact that at least we're not France or Italy!


Edit: PS congrats to America for putting on some very brave performances. You genuinely have every football fan in the rest of the world worried that you'll actually start liking the sport and ruin it for the rest of us!

 

[lwien]

Edit: PS congrats to America for putting on some very brave performances. You genuinely have every football fan in the rest of the world worried that you'll actually start liking the sport and ruin it for the rest of us!

lol. Kind of like that "sleeping giant" thing, eh? But thanks. That put a smile on my face this morning.

But I have to tell you, that it seemed that more of us were into this World Cup than ever before. I know I was. The bar/pubs out here were packed with fans. We did put up a good show. I just wish that we played as well the first half of that game with Ghana, as we played the last. It was like we were two different teams out there.

It all starts with the elementary schools, and if we are going to get any better at this game, that's where it has to start, and..........it is. There are more schools here who have soccer/football as part of their athletic programs than ever before. It also helps that the best current basketball player in the world, Kobe Byrant, said that his most favorite sport to watch when he's not on the court is soccer. As mundane as that might sound, it did open some eyes around here for people to say to themselves, "Ok, what am I missing here".

So, Brazil vs Argentina in the final? South America would just go nuts.

 

[Plant]

when i saw US play against England i saw the US shirts and i was like kinda congressional army looking they wanna beat the redcoats again psychological warfare

ps holland is through

 

[mattybass]

I'm hoping Netherlands v. Germany in the final... Probably won't see that happen but would be sweet.

 

[lwien]

This is an interesting read: http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/06/28/football.goal.line.technology/index.html?hpt=C2

 

[wilf789]

I just wish that we played as well the first half of that game with Ghana, as we played the last. It was like we were two different teams out there.

It all starts with the elementary schools, and if we are going to get any better at this game, that's where it has to start, and..........it is. There are more schools here who have soccer/football as part of their athletic programs than ever before. It also helps that the best current basketball player in the world, Kobe Byrant, said that his most favorite sport to watch when he's not on the court is soccer. As mundane as that might sound, it did open some eyes around here for people to say to themselves, "Ok, what am I missing here".

So, Brazil vs Argentina in the final? South America would just go nuts.

Yeah you guys seemed to start off every game with the other team scoring, but always showed a fair bit of passion to get back into it. Our players didn't do arse on the other hand.

The god Becks seems to have befriended Kobe and co. since he joined LA Galaxy and that seems to have helped too. Definitely right it needs to start young, you need to build them up through the acadamies all the way. I think the main problem for the US watchers is the lack of scoring and commercials! We play for 90 mins with one 15 min break and it could be 0-0 at the end of it all, and you're only a true football fan when you can appreciate those!

Edit - This sums it up well! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjI-qh37xf0

On another note, I'm extremely proud of the English fans at this tournament. They were the only supporters you could hear singing over the vuvuzelas, in every game, even 4-1 down to our old enemy. Plus apparently we didn't beat a load of others fans up this time, which is nice.

 

[bcleez]

What about the Irishmen who were robbed by Henry's double handball?

I have always loved soccer, but the USA will never catch the fever if the ref's have so many blunders, and they continue to fail to understand the game. (like you said a 0-0 tie can be a great game) Many people don't understand how big of a chess match it is, every game is a "Super Bowl".

 

[wilf789]

Thanks to the amazing Dutch win last night over Brazil, and due to their (hopefully) imminent semi-final victory over Uruguay, my friends and I are going to drive to Amsterdam next weekend to watch the Dutch beat the Germans/Argentinians/Spanish in the final.

The atmosphere in the city will be amazing if they win, oh and I think I read somewhere once the weed aint half bad either over there

 

[chucku]

I have tried to appreciate soccer but I just don't get it. I identify much more with ice hockey. I guess my dads side of the family being from Canada has something to do with it. Ask any NHL player what is more important, winning olympic gold or the Stanley cup. If they say olympic gold they are lying. With soccer where is the higher caliber of play? At the world cup where practically all the players are all stars but only play with each other a few times or with their professional club teams they play with and against each other for months at a time year after year. What is truly a measure of the best of the best? Winning the champions cup or the world cup. Also should obvious dives (faked injuries) be penalized with at least a yellow card? I may not know the game well but I know incompetent officiating when I see it.

 

[lwien]

Also should obvious dives (faked injuries) be penalized with at least a yellow card? I may not know the game well but I know incompetent officiating when I see it.

Same things happen in basketball with players flopping.

 

[bcleez]

Hockey sucks. No one gives a shit about the NHL. Soccer is the worlds most popular sport... Cricket, basketball, baseball, Rugby, Volleyball, Tennis, Table Tennis... even Field Hockey is more popular than Ice Hockey. It seems more people don't "get" Hockey..

 

[lwien]

I love hockey, but it's such a fast moving game, that the only way to really appreciate it is to see a game..........live. Gotta be there. I just find it amazing what these guys can do on skates. Such a frustrating and exciting game and lets not talk about all the fine young ladies who go to hockey games. Been to a ton of sporting events, but hockey is one of the most exciting.