FLHoya
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Post by FLHoya on Jun 21, 2006 15:59:35 GMT -5
Personally, I think a lot of it has to do with Jose and his chubby friend from those Adidas commercials.
People are bound to think soccer is a slow game when it takes two kids a week and a half to pick teams and get the game started. Maybe it took a while for them to find Doc Brown and the DeLorean to go fetch Beckenbauer and Platini.
Predictably, that game ended in a scoreless draw when Jose's mom called him in for dinner*. Us Americans just can't deal with that lack of scoring, whether it's Argentina-Holland keeping it in first gear for 90 minutes or two kids of ambiguous nationality with over-active imaginations on a sandlot.
(*This is depending on whether you believe Oliver Kahn or not when he says the ball didn't go over the line. Truth be told, there's something about that man which suggests to me he'd be apt to cheat in a pickup game.)
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FLHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by FLHoya on Jun 25, 2006 22:14:28 GMT -5
And the last remaining memorable thing the US did at the World Cup is now eclipsed, as Portgual, Holland, and Valentin Ivanov join forces to produce the biggest clusterf**k of the World Cup. sports.yahoo.com/sow/photo?slug=getty-fbl-wc2006-match52-por-ned_7_10_21_pm&prov=gettyThey couldn't even fit all the cards into a PHOTO COLLAGE!! 16 yellows and 4 red cards. Most total cards ever in a game, I believe it tied the record for most yellows with a game from the 2002 WC (I wanna say Spain was involved cause I can vaguely recall my friend Jon bitching about it). To be honest, Ivanov didn't really have a great performance, and he definitely lost control of the game, but there's some games where both teams decide to come out and act like d-bags. This was pretty much the case on the evening. Personally, I thought the game took a turn for the worse when Ivanov ejected the lead singer from Hoobastank, but that's just me. sports.yahoo.com/sow/photo?slug=afp-060625221913.xt2vl306&prov=afpfifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/player/199026_DECO.htmlAlso of note, although with no actual explanation...ESPN Soccernet has a list of the referee rankings for the World Cup. Out of 21 center refs, the US ended up with (as of today): #14 (Amarilla), #17 (Merk) and #20 (Larrionda). Ivanov ain't doing so hot either, and it's beginning to look a lot like an AFC official might be doing the final--they have three of the top five. Two brilliant matchups so far for quarterfinals: Germany-Argentina (finals worthy stuff...although Germany's path to the quarters has been about the difficulty of Atlanta's run into the 1995 World Series) and England-Portugal (I mean, it could go 4-3 or 0-0 into PKs).
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nodak89
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by nodak89 on Jun 26, 2006 10:03:07 GMT -5
time to end the Socceroos pipe dream.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2006 10:48:16 GMT -5
Suck it, nodak!!!
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nodak89
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Post by nodak89 on Jun 26, 2006 11:10:04 GMT -5
ooof. Straight red card and a man down. Thanks for the good karma, Buff.
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SEAHoya
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Post by SEAHoya on Jun 26, 2006 11:53:31 GMT -5
No worries, Italy dive for a late penalty and pull it out. This WC is leaving a really bad taste in my mouth... Still, good defending with 10 men (I thought the red was a bit dodgy) so perhaps they deserve it in the end.
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miamihoya
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Post by miamihoya on Jun 26, 2006 12:10:10 GMT -5
What a screw job they just pulled on poor Australia...in a world cup full of awful officiating, that might just of been the worst call yet. A ref has got to know that A) u dont call a penalty in that situation unless your 100% sure and B) the italians are expert divers. What could of been a classic game had it gone into extra-time, instead turned out to be another embarssment for FIFA. I know that they wouldnt dare say it was a bad call in the ESPN studio with what's-his-name in there, but on Univision, the announcers had no problem telling it like it was. Australia got robbed. Between yesterday's Portugal-Netherlands debacle and this, the whole knockout round has become tainted. Looks like all the traditional powerhouses are going to be advancing to the quarterfinals.
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nodak89
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Post by nodak89 on Jun 26, 2006 12:20:28 GMT -5
No worries, Italy dive for a late penalty and pull it out. This WC is leaving a really bad taste in my mouth... Still, good defending with 10 men (I thought the red was a bit dodgy) so perhaps they deserve it in the end. I caught the end on espn.com and it was a dive. The Aussie defender slides to tackle/block a shot and then Grosso attempts to jump the downed Socceroo with a vertical worthy of a 16-year-old Hibbert with a fractured metatarsal. Of course, he stumbles as he "trips" over his man. It was a great run to get into that position. Totti makes no mistake from the Elfmeterpunkt.
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JimmyHoya
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Post by JimmyHoya on Jun 26, 2006 13:09:08 GMT -5
I think you're giving him far too much credit for that "jump." He basically let his legs freeze and fall like some lumber.
Totally garbage and a disappointing way to end a match. This stuff ain't convincing me of anything for soccer.
It was amusing how Grosso took the dive and immediately poked his head up to see if there was a call (and one not on HIM!), and then put his head down and began clutching his legs untill his teammates finally got sick of it all and pulled him up.
The thing I wonder about these divers is what are their teammates' opinions? I'm sure publicly they'd all say it was a legit foul, but I wonder if behind closed doors they ever remind their diving teammate that while it was nice the team won, he's still a royal tw*t.
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nodak89
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Post by nodak89 on Jun 26, 2006 13:21:42 GMT -5
It reminded my of the Collin Falls "kick my legs out while shooting a last second three-pointer so that I can brush up against Brandon Bowman and crumple to the floor."
It was a similarly bogus call AND the Aussie (like Bobo) put himself in a position to get a bad call against him.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Jun 26, 2006 17:16:35 GMT -5
Wow, the Swiss really crapped the bed on those penalty kicks. Just a poor performance by their shooters.
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Post by Nitrorebel on Jun 26, 2006 19:44:06 GMT -5
But hey, the red card was just as much of a joke. The penalty was a joke, but it wasn't a classic dive either. When you're the ref calling it in a split-sec, I can see how you would give it. Still, it shouldn't have happened.
I actually think the red hurt Australia. They're not talented enough to play creatively and attack, which is what they were forced to do once Italy was down a man. So they did their best impression of England at this World Cup - with the same results (in quality of play, though not in terms of winning - but then they weren't playing Paraguay or Trinidad or Ecuador).
By the way, can someone tell the English that their team is not stacked with the best defender in the world (apparently Terry), best midfielder (apparently this is either Gerrard if you're from the North or Lampard if from the South), and attacker (Rooney) from the best League (apparently the Premier League). The English seem to be making the astounding discovery that there are loads of teams and players that are much better than them. The world's dirty little secret I guess...
My final is still Argentina-Brazil.
Maxi Rodriguez's goal is SIIIIIIIICCCK. Followed by Joe Cole's against Sweden.
Portugal-Holland was an embarrassment to football. Both teams should be ashamed of their sportsmanship.
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JimmyHoya
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Post by JimmyHoya on Jun 26, 2006 19:48:24 GMT -5
Perhaps, but that match was also friggin' hillarious.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Jun 26, 2006 22:17:07 GMT -5
Came home this afternoon to the nice surprise that not only had my DVR taped the Ukraine/Switzerland PKs instead of PTI, but that the last 10 minutes of the Australia/Italy match was re-airing on Classic. Have to admit I don't think the call against Australia was absolutely terrible and I think the Colin Falls comparison is apt. Why go to the ground with your leg out when you know you're playing a team apt at diving and that the refs have been giving out PKs, red cards, etc. at extremely inopportune times during this tournament? Also, as the Swiss showed us later in the afternoon, making a PK isn't always a given. If it were me I would never make a call like that so late in the game unless I was certain a foul had been committed. So yeah, the Australians got screwed, but it was a very mild screwing, IMO. I am really bummed that the Aussies are headed home, though. In addition to having family in Melbourne, I always like to see at least one true underdog move into the quarterfinals. Now I've got to pin my hopes on Ghana. Also Hiddink truly is a very good coach and I would have liked to see him get rewarded with more than a Round of 16 appearance. FWIW, Michael Cockerill, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, sums up the national mood (nodak will appreciate the nice camera work at the top of the page): Michael Cockerill: Goodbye Cruel World (SMH)BTW, my prediction for tomorrow: Spain 2, France 1.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Jun 26, 2006 22:22:38 GMT -5
My final is still Argentina-Brazil. That is looking more and more like a great pick. The Germans and the Spanish are the only teams that have a chance to throw you off, I think. Kind of sucks that on both sides of the bracket there is a "strong side" and a "weak side." England has the benefit of being in the weak part of its bracket, and I think you're going to have to put up with the fans in London until at least July 5.
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FLHoya
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Post by FLHoya on Jun 26, 2006 22:48:09 GMT -5
My final is still Argentina-Brazil. That is looking more and more like a great pick. At what point would that have NOT looked like a good pick?? ;D What's been "interesting" about this World Cup is how few surprises there have been. Who in the final 16 is really shocking besides possibly Ghana (who are pretty darn good) and Australia (full marks for their performance, but competing with Croatia and Japan for a second place slot ain't exactly a mini-group of death)? There's no Senegal, South Korea, Turkey, etc. this year...in fact, we have the distinct possibility of the first "All Killer No Filler" WC Semifinals since 1990 (Argentina, Italy, W. Germany, and England then). Upsets are fun, but these quarterfinal games with all the top teams are gonna be sick--Argentina v. Germany, England v. Portgual (no in between, it's either gonna be awesome or suck terribly), Italy vs. Ukraine (probably be won 1-0 on the 34th penalty kick), and possibly Brazil vs. Spain.
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Post by washingtonhoya on Jun 27, 2006 0:05:17 GMT -5
Italy vs. Ukraine (probably be won 1-0 on the 34th penalty kick), Only if they somehow allow Roberto Baggio take the first 33. Go bottom corner, Robby!
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Post by Nitrorebel on Jun 27, 2006 17:33:05 GMT -5
France-Spain was a really great game. Very disappointed in Henry's conduct though. I've never cared for him much, but this has pushed me over the edge on him. Next time he whines about other players and refs...
France played a great game though, and their back 4 were incredible in shuting down Spain.
Some great QF action coming up. Can't wait!
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Jun 27, 2006 18:02:40 GMT -5
For those who saw the Spain-France game, did Casillas look as ineffective in goal all day as he did in the highlight reel I just saw? I didn't get a chance to see the match this afternoon and forgot to DVR.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2006 18:20:26 GMT -5
Nitro - agree on Henry. I took particular pleasure (I, like you, don't care much for the guy as a player) in that excellent close-up ESPN provided us towards the end of the match where he was GENTLY elbowed in the sternum and immediately fell to the ground grasping his face.
What. A. Freakin'. Punk.
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