World Cup

[jiggafini19]

USA and Ghana should be a great match, as will the Czechs and the Azzurri.

Problem is, ties will not do. USA and Azzurri both need to win. Sister kissing will not advance the USA.

I watched Game 7 of the Stanley Cup the other night. As much as I have as much interest in hockey as I do in Pete Carroll's fan club, there is something to be said about the Cup presentation and celebration of a clinching game. Good stuff.

 

[punishment]

I said I would be the first to eat my words if I was wrong, and well, I was wrong. My pick to win it all, the Czech Republic, got ousted today thanks to the 2-0 spanking the Italians gave them, and the Ghana win over the US. So now Ghana moves on in place of the Czech Republic.

It sucks that the Czechs lost their 2 starting forwards and a midfielder due to injury in the first game. But I guess there bench was not deep enough to replace them as they did not score after the US game. The loss of Koller for the Czechs was huge, one of the top players in the world.

So my final of Spain v. Czech Republic ain't happening.

 

[punishment]

A poor showing for North America overall. Mexico was the only CONCACAF team to advance, although they did not live up to expectations in the first round. They should have beat Angola, and given Portugal a better game.

Trinidad & Tobago was a pleasant surprise with a tie against Sweden. People thought T&T would be the team losing games 6-0, but did OK, and actually better than expected.

Costa Rica was a disappointment, I thought they were going to be much more competitive, and actually make a push to get into the second round.

I think most would say the US was the biggest disappointment. But, if you really look at it, the Czech Republic that the US lost to was at full strength, and ranked #2 in the world. (It still should not have been 3-0, consider the US is ranked #5.) The Czechs lost 2 forwards and a midfielder during the US game, and it showed when they were unable to score in their remaining two games. The tie with Italy was good. And the loss to Ghana should not be taken all that bad. I still think Ghana was the best African nation heading into the Cup, even though most people think it was the Ivory Coast. The bad thing is is that Ghana's best player was yellow carded in the game against the US. That's two yellows, so he will not play in Ghana's second round game.

Well, here's to the next WC and hopefully a better showing for North America. Next cup is a neutral site in South Africa. So it might get better.

 

[jiggafini19]

The Blue move on.

USA has become defunct in men's sports when it comes to International competition. In their defense, their Group was pretty tough.

Now, to win an Olympic Gold Medal in men's hoops.

 

[punishment]

It was the toughest group, by far. All four of those teams could have advanced to the field of 16 if they had been in any other group. Unfortunately, I think the US team will be judged based on the 3-0 loss to the Czechs.

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

I too will never understand. It is absolutely the greatest sport in the world, bar none. Even better than college football. (yikes)

If you are ever abroad, in Brazil, England, Italy, or any other soccer nation, go see a soccer game. I can guarantee that a healthy majority will come back soccer fans.

Better than college football? Are you kidding me? How is watching a 0-0 game for 2 hours any fun? Soccor is for the rest of the world. We suck at it and the sport sucks. It's boring!

Plus, the fans are stupid. They riot and I'm sure soccer related deaths are higher than any sport in the world. They throw blood bombs and urine bombs and they fight and literally kill the opposing fans. They may be passionate, but the sports is brutally boring to watch. And their wussies. American Football is better and that's why we, Americans, love it so much. Screw the rest of the world, let 'em have Soccer! We have Note Dame Football.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

The referee changed the entire dynamic of the game with the call on Onyewu. Whose to know what the score would have been if Ghana didn't get that PK?.. both teams would have reamained on the attack and I doubt the game would have ended on a tie.

Soccer is the 2nd best sport in the world, I'd say, behind football (and in the subcategory, college beats NFL by a mile). Basketball is third. Baseball can be third if you're really drunk and your team makes it to October. Other-wise, it can suck.

 

[punishment]

The referee changed the entire dynamic of the game with the call on Onyewu. Whose to know what the score would have been if Ghana didn't get that PK?.. both teams would have reamained on the attack and I doubt the game would have ended on a tie.

Soccer is the 2nd best sport in the world, I'd say, behind football (and in the subcategory, college beats NFL by a mile). Basketball is third. Baseball can be third if you're really drunk and your team makes it to October. Other-wise, it can suck.

I think the officiating overall this WC has been real bad. Refs have been so quick to give out cards this year. It sucks because there are several teams that are going to be missing key players in the second round thanks to all the yellow cards.

The thing with Onyewu is that he has built up a bit of a reputation as being a little rough. He was carded in the Italy game, and had some other tough tackles. Today's card though, was probably a tough call, and should not have been called that way.

I would kind of agree with you on your assessment that soccer is 2nd best behind college football maybe. Nothing, I mean nothing, comes close to packing the excitement of the World Cup. Not March Madness, not the Super Bowl, not Bowl Week. But as far as teh regular season is concerned, I would have to go with Cfootball first, and then with soccer. But the WC is the most exciting time, and march madness would come next, but that gap is really, really huge.

 

[NDAlumSon]

Just a few thoughts after todays U.S. loss to Ghana. While I agree with all that's been said about the strength of group E and the toughness of overcoming a loss in the first game of any World Cup, combined with the fact that they still had a chance to advance, I have to say the U.S. side was not only the weakest in their group but one of the three weakest teams in the tournament. After watching almost all the Cup games, the sad fact is this squad is not good. And that hurts to say because I really bought into the #5 world ranking and the teams impressive run up through qualifying.
I've read the articles, I've listened to the ESPN crews and read the foreign press. I heard about certain guys not playing up to potential. Bruce Arena not employing the right formations and/or player rotations and all the reasonings for such a poor performance.
What none of them mention and yet seems quite apparent to me is the lack of skill from the American side. I know it sounds harsh and almost vaguely blunt to say that but the games prove it.
It's not the set plays or the flying headers or the sideline runs that set them below the other squads but rather the fundamentals. The simplest, most basic plays in all of sport is one guy/girl with control of a ball passing it to his/her teammate accurately. Watch the skilled sides do this most basic activity and the skill level difference jumps right out at you.
For instance, watch a twenty yard square pass (square is lateral in the vernacular) from the Brazilian's and it's crisp, on the ground and to the receiver's proper side, where it is settled (caught) with one touch.
Our boys tend to play these balls with little touch, really poor accuracy and often in the air where its always more than one touch to settle it. Result..... turnover or possession with a man right in your grill.
The end result [all in my opinion, by the way, if I forgot to say that] is a transition game that cannot (and shouldn't) matriculate (had to throw a football term in there) the ball up the field with short and medium range controlled passing. They are forced to depend on sending balls long into the corners or risky thru balls to initiate the attack. It's really a hit or miss offensive strategy with high turnover rates and very low production.
Witness not only the lack of goals scored in this tournament but the utter lack of shots on goal.
I've gone on too long already (really long for me if you knew how badly I type) so I'll end with this.....It will be until young boys who grow up with nothing but a soccer ball on their feet and their contol of it becomes second nature to them that we see the skill and quality of the worlds best players playing for the American side. I think Freddie Adu and his generation could be the vanguard of this development but unfortunately, it'll take decades to develop and mature. Until then, the beauty of the "beautiful game" will have to wait.

 

[jiggafini19]

Adu told PTI yesterday he's not sure if he'll play for USA or Ghana. The US needs a kid like that in 2010.

He is leaving for overseas soon, which shouldn't shock anyone. And he's doing it to prepare for the World Cup in 2010.

Where will it be hosted then?

 

[NDAlumSon]

I'm not sure. I think South Africa.

 

[punishment]

Where will it be hosted then?

It's in South Africa.

 

[NDAlumSon]

By The Way

By The Way

I also heard a commentator say yesterday that the American lads need to play in Europe to get better, presumably to play against the world's best competition rather than the MLS.
The problem with that is, like in love and sex,....you have to be wanted. Only four of the American boys was thought good enough to be invited to play in Europe.
I would love to play outside linebacker for Notre Dame (and blindside MSU's Stanton with a spine tingling hit...... He doesn't get up in my dream). But it's just not as easy as showing up and saying....OK Charlie, er I mean Coach, I'm ready. Put me in.

 

[punishment]

I don't know if I would put the US as one of the 3 worst teams in the Cup. I also don't believe they played lower than their capabilities. I think the problem was that people bought into the hype of the US being the #5 team in the world. I mentioned in another post that I have a hard time ranking any team from North America in the top 10. Mexico is not the #4 team in the country.

The US has been very successful recently in North America, but playing in Europe is a whole nother ball game. I still believe that the US is a top 25 team though. I think that most people would agree, that in order to improve your game, you have to play the best that is out there. The best soccer nations are in Europe, and they constantly play each other in friendly games. We do not have that advantage because of the distance. Also, US soccer is not a cash cow, and therefore does not have money to go play some of these European teams in Europe. And European teams are not willing to travel and play the US, unless the US returns the favor.

But I do agree that I expected more out of the US. Maybe the next cup. But it still sucks that we are pitting our hopes for the next cup on a 16 year old US resident, who is an African citizen. You're right though, until American kids take up the games from the time they are very young, we may always be playing catch up.

 

[NDAlumSon]

U.S. Soccer's Future

U.S. Soccer's Future

Here's hoping that Germany goes far in the rest of the tournament thus redeeming Jurgin Klinsman in the eyes of the world, especially his own countrymen, regarding his coaching ability and style.
Then, once their run has ended, let us further hope that he returns to Southern California and his wife and accepts a U.S. Soccer Federation's (hopeful) contract offer to coach our team up to and though the 2010 World Cup.
This would go a long way in progressing our abilities in the world's game.
Viva le football.

 

[irishfan81]

I love watching the World Cup except the U.S. lost but GO BRAZIL. I like Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.
________
cannabis seeds

 

[irishwavend]

Between Germany, Portugal, & Argentina, I hope the world opens up to swallow all three. Germany is the dirtiest team out there, Portugal fakes quite a bit and kills time like a bunch of little pansies, and Argentina takes the cake when it comes to acting... Argentina is an embarrassment to the game of soccer...faking injuries to draw cards...play like real men and win legitimately instead of cheating your way towards wins.

 

[jiggafini19]

Totti hits a PK in extra time to defeat Austrailia.

THE AZZURRI ADVANCE!!!!

 

[TexasDomer]

I haven't seen that much diving since the 2004 Summer Olympics.

 

[punishment]

It's a shame the Italy-Australia game ended the way it did. It's unfortunate that this WC will probably be remember as the worst officiated WC.

 

[jiggafini19]

It's a shame the Italy-Australia game ended the way it did. It's unfortunate that this WC will probably be remember as the worst officiated WC.

I have to agree. I don't know much about soccer, but I know these guys are inconsistent. A casual viewer like me is confused right now. They eject guys for doing far less than what someone got away with five minutes before.

With the US out, I have to cheer for Italy. I'm being told by my significant other, a D-I women's soccer player and varsity HS coach, that the play justified a penalty but she also can see how some people would be upset and question the call. (Think calling a foul on the last shot of the game and giving a shooter two free throws in basketball)

They were playing a man down because of a red card that probably didn't deserve a red card.

 

[punishment]

I have to agree. I don't know much about soccer, but I know these guys are inconsistent. A casual viewer like me is confused right now. They eject guys for doing far less than what someone got away with five minutes before.

With the US out, I have to cheer for Italy. I'm being told by my significant other, a D-I women's soccer player and varsity HS coach, that the play justified a penalty but she also can see how some people would be upset and question the call. (Think calling a foul on the last shot of the game and giving a shooter two free throws in basketball)

They were playing a man down because of a red card that probably didn't deserve a red card.

I don't see how that penalty can be justified at all, regardless of the time period of the game. In order for it to be a penalty, the defender has to be moving. At the time that the Italian player threw himself to the ground, the Aussie was not moving. He had already claimed his spot, and beat the Italian player to the spot by about 2 yards. If you look at the replay, the Italian player was not hit, he actually had enough time and distance to jump over the Australian player. And even worse, it didn't appear like there was any contact. There definitely wasn't any contact initiated by the Aussi player.

There have already been 24 red card ejections in this WC. The previous records was 18, and we still have a week and a half to go.

My other comment on how inconsistent this WC has been, is the situation with Figo of Portugal in teh Holland game. Figo headbutted a Dutch player, which the ref saw, and he did'nt even get carded. And when FIFA reviewed, they apparently thought that headbutting another player was not worth a suspension.

The rumors are that the ref in the Italy - Australia game is being investigated. I'm not sure if you are aware of htis, but Italy, the Italian soccer league, and most of its major teams, are under investigation for betting scandals and fixing games, with refs included. FIFA officials believe that this ref might be a part of it.

Of all the commentary about that penalty that has been made since the game, I haven't seen or heard one that supports teh giving of the penalty.

 

[jiggafini19]

Wasn't the ref from Spain?

The guys on ESPN said it was a foul, but that it was a tough call to give a penalty kick to. Again, I am not privvy to the rules of soccer. Sounds like, to some people who know the game, there is enough gray area to consider it a good call to some and a bad one to others.

 

[punishment]

Yea, the ref is from Spain.

I'm not exactly sure what the allegations are against the Italian teams. They didn't surface until either the week before the WC started, or during the first week. Apparently, the belief is that it might have spread to more than just the Italian league.

I'm not saying the Spanish ref was involved. I was just pointing out that a questionable call went in favor of Italy, and because of the allegations which are hovering over their heads right now, that FIFA decided to investigate it just to make sure. I doubt any ref in the WC was paid off.

I just can't understand why the officiating was so horrible this year. And there are a lot of veteran officials this year.

 

[shark83]

Don't blame the refs they are only doing exactly what they were told to do before the cup started & that is to crack down on fouls. It's all down to Blatter & then he fails to give support to the refs. The Portugal Holland game practically every card was deserved. The players on the pitch deserved to get their arses smacked & sent to bed without supper but as this would be frowned upon they got carded. A tough way for Australia to get sent home but thats whats gonna happen when an inexperienced(and to be honest average) player makes a tackle in the box against someone so experienced. He's gonna make a meal of it to ensure the penalty

 

[shark83]

P.S

It WAS a penalty. The Aussie after the tkl held his arm up to impede the Italian therefore foul

 

[punishment]

Don't blame the refs they are only doing exactly what they were told to do before the cup started & that is to crack down on fouls. It's all down to Blatter & then he fails to give support to the refs. The Portugal Holland game practically every card was deserved. The players on the pitch deserved to get their arses smacked & sent to bed without supper but as this would be frowned upon they got carded. A tough way for Australia to get sent home but thats whats gonna happen when an inexperienced(and to be honest average) player makes a tackle in the box against someone so experienced. He's gonna make a meal of it to ensure the penalty

I had no idea that FIFA wanted to crack down on fouls. The games have been called way too softly though. Soccer is beginning to turn into the NBA, where everytime Shaq misses a shot, a foul is called whether there was contact or not.

The Portugal - Holland game was getting out of hand, and it was played extremely rough. In that type of situation, the ref needs to take control of the game, and he does it by carding more plays than usual until everyones temper cools down.

Regardless, players should decide outcomes of games, not the refs. I'm not an aussie fan or anything, but that call should have never been made. If that was a foul, then a foul has occurred on every play inside the box this WC.

 

[punishment]

P.S

It WAS a penalty. The Aussie after the tkl held his arm up to impede the Italian therefore foul

I just saw the replay again to see what you were talking about. I didn't see an arm go up. THe Aussie guy rolled over and gave him his back, and when the Italian player took two steps and jumped, he dragged his foot and hit the Aussie player on the shoulder.

 

[jiggafini19]

The guy in the Ukraine-Switzerland game really seemed to let them play compared to some of these other refs.

Do you agree Punishment? Did you see that game by chance? I thought that ref did his best to let the players or PK's decide it.

 

[irishwavend]

P.S

It WAS a penalty. The Aussie after the tkl held his arm up to impede the Italian therefore foul

When you don't call it consistently, you continue not to call it. These officials during the entire World Cup have ignored and ignored penalties in the box.

As the Manchester United fan club would say... "F(&*&%g I-Ties!!!" Now, I hope the Spaniards can show those frogs what futbol is really about!!!

"My baby takes the mornin' train. / He works from nine to five and then, / he takes another home again to find me... watching the Manchester United Football Team! Ah? The best freakin' team in all the land! Woo hoo!"