World Cup Thread

[Level42]

[Malenko]

I'm really sorry man, It fits fine on my 27" iMac.



And I had a few beers....


Revenge after so many years is simply sweet....  

whats so different about a 27" iMac then my 25" widescreen PC samsung monitor? just joshin ya. you fixed , the end. While Im not a fan of soccer, I dont really get the hate towards it.

[CheffoJeffo]

Cheffo, if you think the cards were distributed evenly, think again:

The referee wasn't terrible, but he gave the cards WAY easier to the Dutch than to the Brazilians.

I said that I thought that they should have been evenly distributed. At least one additional yellow card (which would have been the second) for Brazil was avoided by timely substitution.

And, as I said, there were lots of bad kicks from l'Oranje ... hence, the yellow cards you mention.

My problem is that, since it was morning here, I was watching sober.

[Samstag]

I didn't think I'd see a team out-dive this year's Brazil squad.

Nice acting, Nederlanders! 

[Kevin Mullins]

So if I'm keeping up with this correctly......
Netherlands has one more game to get through... and if they do that..... I'll actually get to watch "the big game" FROM Holland.
 

[patrickl]

Cheffo, if you think the cards were distributed evenly, think again:

The referee wasn't terrible, but he gave the cards WAY easier to the Dutch than to the Brazilians.

I said that I thought that they should have been evenly distributed. At least one additional yellow card (which would have been the second) for Brazil was avoided by timely substitution.

And, as I said, there were lots of bad kicks from l'Oranje ... hence, the yellow cards you mention.

My problem is that, since it was morning here, I was watching sober.

Did you miss the red card though?

[CheffoJeffo]

No -- as I said -- that was totally deserved.

[hypernova]

Heinze from Argentina was the master puss.  That pansy was on the ground crying for half that one match against Mexico.

The referee wasn't terrible, but he gave the cards WAY easier to the Dutch than to the Brazilians.

So 4 cards to 2 cards is a huge anomaly?

I still say start carding players after the match who obviously flop.  That'll stop pansies like Ketchup-wuss from Argentina.

[Level42]

So if I'm keeping up with this correctly......
Netherlands has one more game to get through... and if they do that..... I'll actually get to watch "the big game" FROM Holland.
 

Inderdaad !

[Level42]

YES !!!!

[Level42]

I don't give a ---fudgesicle--- how or what, WE DID IT !!!!!!


The Van Bronkhorst goal is definitely the most beautiful of this tournament !

http://nos.nl/wk2010/video/170132-neduru-10-van-bronckhorst.html



And to know that his last match EVER will be the World Cup  final !!! Van Bronkhorst grew up with a club that my brother sill plays for, and the last years, he gave his best for my team, Feyenoord, and now, this MAGNIFICANT, BRILLIANT GOAL !!!! I love it, and he deservers it !!!

Now, dear god please let US become World Champions for once in my lifetime....we deserve it !

Ully....Spain or Germany, you better expect one ORANGE car this weekend !!!!

[Zakk]

I've been trying like heck to figure out where the guy with the whiffle bat is at in those games, but the camera keeps watching the guys with the big polka-dot ball.  How are we supposed to know who wins if we can't see the main golfer?


You europeans are kooky. 

[Kevin Mullins]

YES !!!!

 

[Samstag]

I've been trying like heck to figure out where the guy with the whiffle bat is at in those games, but the camera keeps watching the guys with the big polka-dot ball.  How are we supposed to know who wins if we can't see the main golfer?


You europeans are kooky. 

I see the confusion.  That's a picture of Rugby.  It's a "sport" where teams of men in sweaters yell at teams of men in differently color sweaters.

[protokatie]

Cricket, now there's a sport... As retarded as NASCAR, and almost twice as stupid.... Well maybe not that stupid. Query: Why do people get so worked up over sports?

[Benevolance]

I'm glad that the Netherlands won, if just to quell the furor over Uruguay's blocked goal against Ghana. Quite frankly, I think the player made a smart, calculated decision to stop the ball with his hands. It's World Cup. Suarez realized he'd be carded, but if he didn't stop the ball, the team was out. I know it robbed Ghana of the game and we're all supposed to root for those kooky africans hosting the tournament but...I've seen some sports commentators decrying this as the end of all sportsmanship in soccer. Really? With all the guys flopping around on the ground being considered tactical assets? I guess the bar of sportsmanship is rather low.

The real shame is that there was no on-field way for the refs to declare an obvious goal a goal, that Ghana missed on the ensuing penalty kick (and what's up with teams missing those? It's supposed to be a gimme!), and that the league demurred on passing out further judgement on Suarez.

[patrickl]

With all the guys flopping around on the ground being considered tactical assets? I guess the bar of sportsmanship is rather low.

YEah, what's up with that? I rarely watch soccer. Pretty much only European and World cup matches and even those only half. It's really embarassing how the players just fall down when they feel another player near. Or the whining of a player that he should get the ball when it was obvious that he was the last to touch it before it went out.

It got so bad that the Dutch coach was lamenting that the Brazillians were better at this "part of the game" than the Dutch in the first half of their match.

So they actually see this as part of their strategy! That's just retarded.

[cloudyimpulse]

ESPANA!

[Kevin Mullins]

House of Orange ! 

[Level42]

HUP HOLLAND !!!!

[RayB]

Hey, are armless people permitted to play professionally or is that considered cheating?

[CheffoJeffo]

From an opinion piece in the local paper:

His continuous play-acting and outrageous complaining blighted xxxxxx. And every other game he played in. He is a noxious little twerp. That he’s also very good makes it exponentially annoying.

Three words would elevate xxxxxx’s game to genuine greatness: Just. Keep. Running.

He won’t. He has no shame. There is no shame left in football. It’s too far gone.

I removed the player's name as it applies to far too many players to be leveled at one in particular (although it was spot-on for that player).

A sober, dispassionate review of this year's World Cup has left me with the conclusion that, yeah, goal line technology would be a good idea, but it isn't the problem. The game isn't beautiful anymore.

The way the game is currently set up, it rewards the two types of players that we all dislike -- the actors and the slashers. My beloved Brasil has always numbered amongst the former, but this year joined the latter. The houligans of this tournament used to be called the Flying Dutchmen for the free-flowing way they played the game. Spain's trademark possession passing was marred by dives and hacks.

The author of the quote above suggested that penalties/suspensions after the fact based on replays for missed/obvious infractions (or, presumably, retractions of incorrect cardings) would be a good start. Apparently they do that in rugby.

I dunno, but this was a pretty disappointing World Cup no matter who you were cheering for and what their results.

[Samstag]

The author of the quote above suggested that penalties/suspensions after the fact based on replays for missed/obvious infractions (or, presumably, retractions of incorrect cardings) would be a good start. Apparently they do that in rugby.

The problem is that when you get down to the last 8 teams the refs are told to be more lenient because FIFA would rather let them play dirty than lose big stars (ie: revenue).  There's probably no fix for that.

But I'd like to see some consequences for dirty play after the match.

[Kevin Mullins]

I know little to nothing about the specific rules of soccer/football, but after watching the World Cup this year I can already agree with everything you just said cheffo.  
I was able to watch the game from here in Holland and really looked forward to it. Then was rather disappointed, not for losing, but for the gameplay shinanigans in general.

The problem is that when you get down to the last 8 teams the refs are told to be more lenient because FIFA would rather let them play dirty than lose big stars (ie: revenue).  There's probably no fix for that.

But I'd like to see some consequences for dirty play after the match.

The problem with that is when things become one sided and only one team has the advantage of playing dirty. (even though they did have a better offense)  

[Dartful Dodger]

0 to 0 in the first half.
Followed by an equally exciting 0 to 0 second half.
Then they followed that up with 0 to 0 in the first extra 15 minutes.

Luckily they only have the World Cup every four years, I don't think I'd be able to contain myself if this was a yearly event.

[Blanka]

I give a maximum of 4 weeks until bribery is proven.

- Webb keelhauled Spain in the match against Switzerland. That makes him not suspicious! The perfect referee to use for bribery.
- Merkel has to pay a shitload of money on the Spanish debt. She was around last Saturday, and she probably spoke with Blatter and co.
- Spain was the next Greece. Winning the World Cup is giving the Euro a boost last week as the Spanish are in a less ---smurfy--- perspective.
- Even the Netherlands do economically better with a Spanish victory.

[Malenko]

0 to 0 in the first half.
Followed by an equally exciting 0 to 0 second half.
Then they followed that up with 0 to 0 in the first extra 15 minutes.

Luckily they only have the World Cup every four years, I don't think I'd be able to contain myself if this was a yearly event.

 

bigger nets?

[patrickl]

0 to 0 in the first half.
Followed by an equally exciting 0 to 0 second half.
Then they followed that up with 0 to 0 in the first extra 15 minutes.

Luckily they only have the World Cup every four years, I don't think I'd be able to contain myself if this was a yearly event.

 

bigger nets?

Or have no nets and score every time they move from one end to the other end of the field? Like American football ...

[Samstag]

0 to 0 in the first half.
Followed by an equally exciting 0 to 0 second half.
Then they followed that up with 0 to 0 in the first extra 15 minutes.

Luckily they only have the World Cup every four years, I don't think I'd be able to contain myself if this was a yearly event.

 

bigger nets?

Or have no nets and score every time they move from one end to the other end of the field? Like American football ...

I don't think any anybody wants to watch american football played by entire teams of placekickers.

[Benevolance]

I don't think any anybody wants to watch american football played by entire teams of placekickers.

[Malenko]

0 to 0 in the first half.
Followed by an equally exciting 0 to 0 second half.
Then they followed that up with 0 to 0 in the first extra 15 minutes.

Luckily they only have the World Cup every four years, I don't think I'd be able to contain myself if this was a yearly event.

 

bigger nets?

Or have no nets and score every time they move from one end to the other end of the field? Like American football ...

I was merely pointing out that its practically impossible for the goalie to cover the entire net as it is, though I do find it amusing that you think I love American Football (I'm actually a MUCH bigger fan of Hockey)

[patrickl]

0 to 0 in the first half.
Followed by an equally exciting 0 to 0 second half.
Then they followed that up with 0 to 0 in the first extra 15 minutes.

Luckily they only have the World Cup every four years, I don't think I'd be able to contain myself if this was a yearly event.

 

bigger nets?

Or have no nets and score every time they move from one end to the other end of the field? Like American football ...

I was merely pointing out that its practically impossible for the goalie to cover the entire net as it is, though I do find it amusing that you think I love American Football (I'm actually a MUCH bigger fan of Hockey)

It was more of an add on remark for the benefit of Dartful.

The point is that it's a tad silly to act like the only entertaining thing to watch is the number of "points" that are counted. They would score a lot more "points" if they counted how often the players moved from one side to the other.

[Malenko]

sooooo bigger nets then?

[Benevolance]

Clearly, the goalie's equipment is too big. Have you seen those gloves? Massive! There should be limits.

[patrickl]

Maybe they can count an actual goal for 6 points and when the ball is stopped by the goalie that still scores 3 points? Or less? At least that would give Dartful something to watch.

[Level42]

From an opinion piece in the local paper:


The way the game is currently set up, it rewards the two types of players that we all dislike -- the actors and the slashers. My beloved Brasil has always numbered amongst the former, but this year joined the latter. The houligans of this tournament used to be called the Flying Dutchmen for the free-flowing way they played the game. Spain's trademark possession passing was marred by dives and hacks.

What you guys should do is watch some games of the 1974 (f.i. Brazil-Holland) and 1978 (f.i the final) again.
The number of fouls (esp. in the first game) are simply UNbelievable and with today's standards there wouldn't have been enough players on the field to continue the game because of the red cards.

It is a myth the the Dutch team always played so beautifully. In 1988 we had a pretty bad game (against Ireland, with a clear off-side goal for us) just as well. The first game we lost 2-0 from the Russians.

The whole idea that the Dutch team had for the finals was probably that they didn't want to get themselves run over like the Germans did and watch it happen...so they were intending to fight. I agree that in some cases there were stupid an unnecessary fouls BUT the referee CLEARLY saw a lot of those from the Dutch, where he completely "missed" them from the Spanish team. Also a good number of yellow cards from fouls that I would rate as a regular foul, but the referee let himself go nuts.

I seriously have never seen a worse referee in a game before, and I dearly wish the UK will send him back to the police force where he can play the main role against little boys that steal an apple, because he conducted if the final was the "Mr.Webb" show.

I read that he experienced the final like a ride through hell, well not amazing since he acted like the devil himself. A good ref. you don't notice during a game. He was constantly acting like a ---tallywhacker---, thinking the players needed to be lectured. Instead he should just have shown the card and be done with it.
Of course he completely missed the corner-kick that we deserved just before the Spanish goal, and also the off-side situation the first time the ball was passed.

About the international press: the funny thing is that up to the final the Dutch team got real good international press. All that was forgotten in one game (typical for today's poor memory of people).

May I remind everyone of the cycle kick from the Urugayan guy which required De Zeeuw to have a couple of teeth put back in place in hospital ? We didn't complain about that, it happened in the fire of the game. De Jong's kick on the chest looks very bad if you look at that one picture, but if you see the actual play on video, it's clear that it's just another duel.

Anyway, I agree that there was little beauty in the way football was played on this World Championship, but we have to keep things in perspective.

[Kevin Mullins]

Wow..... I actually understood every bit of that, and I've only been here a week. 
(and I agree on all your points made)

I'm gonna have to go home and suffer through some American Football now. 

[Malenko]

the only thing I dont really get in soccer/football is the offsides call. Theres no line or mark on the feild (that I'm aware of other then the fact the grass is mowed in a different direction) so I'm not sure how people know where to be. In hockey if you're on the other side of the blue line when the puck crosses, you're offside.

I watched a few games, and my main gripe is all the diving. I think they should get yellow cards for that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- or just start tosing people out of the game, or even better the guy you tried to get in trouble gets to kick you in the danglies.

[Samstag]

About the international press: the funny thing is that up to the final the Dutch team got real good international press. All that was forgotten in one game (typical for today's poor memory of people).

In America I started hearing about it during the Brazil game.  The dutch commentator here was pretty embarrassed by the way they played.

[RayB]

the only thing I dont really get in soccer/football is the offsides call. Theres no line or mark on the feild (that I'm aware of other then the fact the grass is mowed in a different direction) so I'm not sure how people know where to be. In hockey if you're on the other side of the blue line when the puck crosses, you're offside.

If I remember correctly, the half-backs (or whatever they call the row of players nearest your own goal) can't get ahead of the forwards. Haven't played in 24 years, so forgive me if I got that or the terminology wrong.