Who's ready for the World Cup?

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by Pass

Yup... But the key difference between Rooney and Torres is that Rooney went home early.

You better bet that the whole of the Argentinian squad is going home to some seriously bad press. Especially Messi and Maradona. Spain will too... but it won't be as bad b/c the DID make it to the Semis.

Rooney's getting bashed b/c England went home early. Press forgive star athletes so long as the team is winning. But when they aren't... The stars usually take all of the blame.

Look at the stats. Messi played just one more game, but took almost twice as many shots as Rooney (through WC). What someone needs to track is how many times Rooney, Messi and Torres (and others as well) actually had the ball, I suspect that Rooney's number will be way, way lower than others' due to the "wonderful" service provided by the Gerrard/Lampard/Barry "support girls". Gerrard and Lampard never could play together, I now hope Chelsea buy Gerrard so we have one less team to worry about in the future. And it looks like Barry's days playing at ManCity are also done with the latest buys, he will get well acquainted with the plank next season... That is, if he even makes the bench...

Both Messi and Torres had plenty of support and saw the ball plenty a time and yet both fell flat. Hell, Torres could not even pass.

I suspect there will be a run on Paraguay players after WC. They made Roque Santa Cruz irrelevant. Defenders, in particular, were very collected and unperturbed on the ball what with vaunted Spanish mids running around.

[mithrilG60]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Although most of us want and expect improvements I am not sure we're on that road just yet.

Take today's Spain game, for example. Some replays were forbidden from being shown, this is how Blatter plans to "improve" things in the future and we had our first glimpse. Blatter resisted technology/extra refs for some time now, he will simply wait for things to calm down and carry on as before. Only because he stated a few days that the sport needs improvements in regard to officiating doesn't mean he will actually do something. "Masking" bad calls, as they did today, is Blatter's way of "improving" things.

Besides technology, they need to ban any and all refs from Third World leagues, but there is a fat chance of that since these leagues are the only reason Blatter has been elected time and again. He is not going to cut his own throat...

Until FIFA wants to enter the modern world by allowing video technology, expect and enforce both compete/fair ref'ing AND fair play without all this pansy diving and acting for advantage (read: cheating and dishonourable play) soccer is just going to continue on being more and more of a joke. That's why I say the member nations need to step in. If you have the major soccer nations of the world coming out and publicly saying they won't participate in test soccer until FIFA pulls it's act together then they'll be forced to act. Blatter may be kept in power by pandering to the 3rd world nations, but the money is still in Europe and parts of South America and a boycott by France, Brazil, England, Argentina, Spain, Germany, etc will send the message really quickly.

The reality is that would never happen, but it really needs to if test level soccer wants to retain any legitimacy as a real sport. Either way, this World Cup does serve a purpose.... it's something to kill time and talk about at work, and something to take the piss out of the World Cup starts in 13 months.

[Pass]

Originally Posted by mithrilG60

Until FIFA wants to enter the modern world by allowing video technology, expect and enforce both compete/fair ref'ing AND fair play without all this pansy diving and acting for advantage (read: cheating and dishonourable play) soccer is just going to continue on being more and more of a joke. That's why I say the member nations need to step in. If you have the major soccer nations of the world coming out and publicly saying they won't participate in test soccer until FIFA pulls it's act together then they'll be forced to act. Blatter may be kept in power by pandering to the 3rd world nations, but the money is still in Europe and parts of South America and a boycott by France, Brazil, England, Argentina, Spain, Germany, etc will send the message really quickly.

The reality is that would never happen, but it really needs to if test level soccer wants to retain any legitimacy as a real sport. Either way, this World Cup does serve a purpose.... it's something to kill time and talk about at work, and something to take the piss out of the World Cup starts in 13 months.

Unfortunately, the diving is integral to the sport. There is usually no way to tell that you were fouled unless you go down. Why would you not want your penalty if your were fouled?? It's an advantage.

Granted... I am NOT referring to the bullshit diving and wallowing when no one touched you to either waste time or get a free kick when YOU screwed up. That's one of the reasons that I have so much respect for the Japs and this USA team. They consider it dishonorable to dive. Of course, there were a few times... but nothing like the S. Americans, Ghana, the French or Italians. Which is why the refs are supposed to book players for acting... they just don't do it b/c they don't want the game to get out of control.

[mithrilG60]

Originally Posted by Pass

Unfortunately, the diving is integral to the sport. There is usually no way to tell that you were fouled unless you go down. Why would you not want your penalty if your were fouled?? It's an advantage.

If you have to dive to get a penalty you weren't fouled and you're not entitled to the penalty in the first place, it's as simple as that. Staying that it's ok if it gains you an advantage is exactly the same as saying it's ok to cheat on school exams, that gains you an advantage too. One of the major thing that turns me off about soccer right now is the lack of ethics and honour with which it's played (at least at the elite level).

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by Pass

What a crazy match!!! I really hoped that Paraguay would walk away with the win... And for a while it looked like they would. But alas, David Villa strikes again lol.

The good news is that if Spain plays Germany like they played today... Germany will crush them.

Hey Fernando... How's that Germany v Netherlands game looking to you now?

Still think it will be Spain vs The Netherlands.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Still think it will be Spain vs The Netherlands.

Spain will need way more than luck versus Germans, they ain't no Paraguay. Torres will finally be benched, but I don't think Fabregas will make that much difference.

[Don Fernando]

Germany ain't no Paraguay, that's true, but the kind of football Germany is playing suits Spain better than the kind of football Paraguay is playing. We'll see on wednesday who's right.

Originally Posted by Pass

Unfortunately, the diving is integral to the sport. There is usually no way to tell that you were fouled unless you go down. Why would you not want your penalty if your were fouled?? It's an advantage.

This is unfortunately very true. I once had a ref tell me 'if you want the call go down' in a local competitive league. I couldn't believe it.

The other issue is that players will go down easy to prevent injuries too. If someone comes in hard and you don't go down easy you take a much harder impact...so players prefer to take the foul and preserve their shins rather than go for it. I know Ronaldo and Pires have even mentioned this in press conferences when being accused of diving in games.

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Remind me, please, didn't Rooney fight with ankle injury for the last 2 months? Just saying...

Totally...and he was just as garbage as Torres has been. The difference is that Torres has enough quality around him that it hasn't mattered for Spain.

[landhoney]

The Netherlands almost have this wrapped up!

[kelmac07]

Congrats to the Netherlands!!!

[Don Fernando]

worldcup final herf at my place on sunday

[Pass]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

worldcup final herf at my place on sunday

Grats, Fernando! Hope to see your boys in the final!

[taltos]

Congrats to my nephew Fernando and to his beautiful country. Best of luck in the finals.

I thought on the whole it wasn't that great a game. The first Holland goal was amazing and the second Uruguay goal was REALLY nice as well.

Holland were the better team though, I'm happy they made it through. Should be a great final regardless who makes it from the other semi.

[Don Fernando]

the outdoor parties last night were great, I think the whole country will stop to move if we win the final, everybody will call in sick on monday with a hangover

[Pass]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

the outdoor parties last night were great, I think the whole country will stop to move if we win the final, everybody will call in sick on monday with a hangover

Well... If Germany beats Spain today, and Netherlands plays as sloppily as they did the second half against Uruguay, then you won't have to worry about it lol. But I think that was more of a fluke than anything. I look forward to a tough match between us. Of course, if the Soccer Gods show Spain favor and they advance I'll be pulling for Netherlands.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

the outdoor parties last night were great, I think the whole country will stop to move if we win the final, everybody will call in sick on monday with a hangover

Grolsch and Amstel will come out with orange bottles to celebrate.

[Don Fernando]

and all the girls will be wearing Bavaria dresses

[Partagaspete]

Oh how I wish I could be in Holland this weekend. Especially if they win it all. I bet it would make May 1st look like a backwater carnival. And that it is not!

Best of luck to the men in orange.

T