Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

We most likely watched different games. Up to the goal, Germans actually had more scoring opportunities, but didn't press nor follow through enough. A non-call at the end of first half also helped Spain, would have liked to see how it turned out. German defense comfortably handled Spanish attack, actually re-play the game and see how much smaller and slower Spain looked against bigger and faster German defenders. Germans simply fell asleep for long stretches, Villa simply had no one on one chances as time and again Germans provided cover tracking back at speed. Same for Torres, even that fast break away of 2 against 1 was quickly taken care of with Spain losing the ball.

I am routing for Holland in the final, Spain simply got to the final on pure luck in a number of games so far. I just hope De Jong, Van der Vaart and Huntelaar all start (with Elia, Robben and Dan Persie coming in at 70 minute mark).

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

I thought Germany got schooled today. They kept the same strategy, defend deep and counter, but Spain contained them. They weren't able to transition because Spain was on the ball carrier the second they got possession. Really good strategy on Spain's part.

And the goal they let in was awful. Puyol ran in unmarked from the top of the box and got a free header. Very poor defending, someone fell asleep on that play.

Anyhow, it should be a good final. Germany are a young team, it will be interesting to see them at Euro in 2 years.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

I think Robben should always start. Elia and Van Persie at the 70 minute mark sounds like a good plan. My team would be:
Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijssen, Gio, Van Bommel, Sneijder, De Jong, Robben, Huntelaar, Kuyt.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Honestly I think Spain squeaked by AGAIN. Germany let us down this past game.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Fernando, have you signed up to Bobbi Eden's fan club? She promised to give free blow jobs to all her followers if Holland wins on Sunday. Still time, you know...

http://outofbounds.nbcsports.com/201...ale-1.html.php

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

I added her to my twitter account the moment they announched 'teambj'. :D

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Wow, did the Spanish world cup team train with the Spanish Olympic diving team or what?

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Congrats to Spain...damn fine final!! :tu

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

this sucks! this really sucks!

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

The Dutch played the game they had to play and were oh so close to PKs. Congrats to Spain, but I wish it had turned out the other way!!

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Robben should have dived when Puyol tried to floor him. Puyol would have been sent off and we would have won the worldcup. So much for trying to play fair.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Damn! No bjs now :td

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

There have been allot of bad calls by the officials this year, Its hard for a game to be played fair. It looks like they may be doing an instant replay in the future.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Another game decided by the refs (sigh...) Stupid, stupid, stupid. Webb was so inconsistent it was awful. Robben is handled and pushed off the pitch, no call at all, yet just 10 seconds later Iniesta is touched on the shoulder (does a great Swan Dive - 0.3 degree of difficulty) and a player is sent off. Then just 2 minutes later Elia is clearly brought down on the edge of the box and again, no call. WTF?!

Not that f***ing Robben helped things, TWICE! Did I say already how much I don't like the guy playing a full game?

Oscars should introduce new categories starting next year: Best Sports Acting Team and Best Sports Actor. Both Spain and Iniesta should easily win.

Worst WC, by far! In so many ways.

Germany was the best team for me.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Sorry Ferdinand, I was rooting for your guys.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

in all seriousness Ferdi, even cigar aficianado called Spain to win... I don't think a dive from Robben would have saved you. Perhaps playing with 10 men was Netherlands bigger problem.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

If Robben dived, Puyol would have been sent off, that would have changed the game. Spain would not have been able to play their tactical game with 10 vs 11. He should have done what Inesta did to Heitinga, and I would have been a happy camper on his way to get hammered right now, instead of posting on CA.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

For this American viewer who admittedly is just now trying to better learn and enjoy the game, what drives me crazy is it seems in order to get a call you must embellish the foul. In hockey, the embellishment itself would be a penalty, and for other professional North American sports, embellishment is generally frowned upon. In football (American ;)), if a receiver is held but still makes the catch, they can decline the penalty. It seems to me, with soccer, if you don't go down and try to play through the foul, the foul is not called.

A serious question, is this part of the rules of soccer, either "by the book" or just generally accepted? If so, I'll probably be continuing my every four years viewing.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Agreed! :tu

I was thinking the same thing the second it happened.... And then Iniesta went for the Oscars and all I could think was Robben should've done the same. Which is really freakin' sad... B/c I HATE diving. I mean, I know a lot of times it is necessary for you to get the foul call (when you are fouled) but sheesh!!!

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

For certain countries it is the norm. Spain and Italy are main culprits, their youth academies spend as much time on "acting" as they spend on technique. Watch Germany, England and Dutch play, if you see a dive it is a rare occurrence and only lately after their leagues have been infected by foreign players and coaches. Arsenal won a load of games this way in years past (Pires, anyone?), although they have cleaned up after their manager was taken to the task by other teams/managers. Drogba, Ronaldo (I am a Manchester fan) and a few others imported this BS lately to PL. Too bad.

But as usual, Blatter won't do crap about this...

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

If the foul is in the possessing teams favor, and the ball was not turned over on the foul, the play is allowed to continue. Unfortunately "diving" has become an art forn in soccer, the Italians are especially talented. If it's a blatant dive, the diver can be issued a yellow card.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Pretty sure that the Italians all go to Soap Opera acting classes...

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Don't forget the teams from South America, they dive like the best. I love Luis Suarez (he plays for Ajax Amsterdam, which is my team), but he's also a diver first class.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Oh, indeed. I'm pretty certain that if the South Americans recruited some of their soccer players for their Olympic dive teams, they'd be taking home golds. lol.

...Actually, wasn't there a South American player (I think Uruguay) that actually WAS a swimmer with his country's international team?

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Yeah and in my opinion Forlan was one of the best players in the WC... but not because of his dives. His ball control and shots were unreal.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Forlan won the award for best player. He deserved it too. I was really wanting the Dutch to win. Sorry Ferd.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Forlan was unreal. I am surprised he won that award... but it is much deserved IMO.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Hmmm. Thought Forlan played tennis...

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Okay, but if there's a foul, play continues and when ultimately possession goes to the other team or the ball is played off the field, does the team that was fouled get a free kick from the spot of the foul (per the rules)? Or is the foul ignored?

I actually saw a couple of yellow cards for diving in group play and was happy to see it called. But it seemed it was for actually diving when there was no foul at all. I guess embellishing an actual foul is okay per the rules, but I sure don't like it. I would rather see the player fouled try to continue the play.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Yeah, he was! I was also happy to see Muller get the Golden Boot and Young Player award... Though, I thought Schweinsteiger might have been a better choice there. At any rate... 5 goals and 3 assists for a 20yr old is pretty epic!

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

no, if the foul is not called immediately, it cannot be called retro-actively, "play on" is what is the commonly called by the ref in those instances. There are no time outs, and the only time the clock is stopped is when there is an injured player down that requires non-players on the field (medics/trainers).

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Not true. Refs can call it after the play and I've seen them do that.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Matter of fact, there was a foul and yellow issue well after the incident -- while a certain drama queen was on the ground crying -- in today's game.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Sorry, Moe. Greg is correct. A referee will wait to see if an advantage is maintained. If within a few seconds, the potential advantage is lost, the referee can and will whistle the foul. If, however, the referee feels the advantage was realized and then the ball turned over, the foul is not called. Lots of latitude in judgment given to the referee.

Also, consider this scenario. A player is fouled and the foul is worthy of a yellow card. However, a clear advantage is given and the whistle is not blown for the foul. Attack continues, and eventually possession is lost and play continues. A full minute or two later, the ball goes into touch or over the end line. The referee can then appropriately issue the yellow.

And the clock is never stopped - even for an injury requiring medics/trainers. The referee will add (stoppage) time for any additional time he deems appropriate - including substitutions and dealing with misconduct.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Webb sucked, how the hell could he book Nigel de Jong, this was clearly a dive by Xabi Alonso http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/1036...t_gewoon_.html :D

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Thanks for the education Peter, I had never seen this before.

So at that point, is it a free kick? And where?

When they show the ref's handling their watches I figured they were stopping the timers. Is it left to the refs discretion weather to add time for subs (ie if they are trying to burn the clock in the final minutes) or is a cut and dry policy?

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Thanks for the education Moe, Greg and Peter. I'm glad I asked the question.

I guess, based on all of this, my opinion is the ref could have decided the advantage was maintained, which I have no problem with, but could/should have issued a yellow on Robben's chance. I should stipulate this is based on my understanding of the rules (which obviously is limited).

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

Good game yesterday. Even with all of the b.s. calls, I thought that the better team won.

Is it Football (U.S.) season yet? I'm ready to watch a sport where tackles are rewarded!

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

No but I'm pretty sure it is Rugby time... And tackles are DEFINITELY rewarded in that sport lol.

Re: Who's ready for the World Cup?
 

You're not saying anything we can disagree on. Disgrace for FIFA to pick Webb to ref the game, something that was called as soon as his name was announced days prior. I have no idea how Spanish players can think they are winners.