World Cup fans?

[ChewaBrave]

I think the reason the call against england is such a big deal is simply, it was the easiest call to make. Offsides still depends on monitoring timing, distance, and the positioning of half a dozen players on the field at any one time - the goal is just a simple call. Furthermore, for people who have played a lot of soccer or watched a lot of soccer, offsides calls being wrong one way or another is not uncommon - but having goals not acknowledged is pretty rare from my viewing and playing experience. I think in the end, FIFA will accept some form of replay on items that directly affect goals. My suspicion is that they wont put anything in place that would have given us back our goal against slovenia, but they could easily stop things like our second goal called back, and the england/argentina goals today. On the other hand, it would not shock me if nothing changes. THey have had "replay" discussions frequently over the past couple decades, and the status quo has always remained - this isn't a new phenomenon.

[tornado]

since there are so few goals in a game, then I think at least the plays that either lead to a goal or that cause a goal to be disallowed are the ones that need some kind of review.
Just like American football, a ref reviewing the play would only take a minute or so...

BUT -- to me, even a bigger story than the blown calls, is the attitude everyone officially has about them...
it's as if FIFA is saying ...
"screw you all, we want to stick to our guns and continue to have top world competition decided by horribly bad blown calls"

I have watched maybe 25 or so of the roughly 50 matches thus far, and seen the highlights of many more...
With the two games yesterday, then the two US games, and a few more where hand balls were allowed that led to goals, etc..
it can easily be seen that the OUTCOME of roughly 25-30% of ALL games are decided by plays in which the refs got it wrong....

in other words, the blown calls and stupid mistakes by the referees at the highest level sway the outcome in fully 1/4 or more of all games, and that is just horrible and inexcusable.
As I have always said...they will laugh when it happens to the US, but when it happens enough to their beloved top teams like England, Argentina, etc...then finally they will act interested in fixing the problem.
But, by then, the will have lost untold millions of fans who finally realize that this game is crooked or nearly so when the outcome of major games lies in the hands of one sole individual who isn't doing a very good job.

I am apparently not alone in thinking there may actualy be some corruption behind all this and making sure the favorite teams advance...

http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/06/27/fifas-corruption-and-censorship-at-the-world-cup-the-keyword-is-not-trust/

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/feature?id=803313&cc=5901&ver=us

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/incompetent-or-corrupt--flip-a-coin-96713039.html

Here's a great quote about the corruption in Africa...
"in French football you might expect 10% of the money to disappear – in
Africa 90% disappears'. Just about everything that can go on, does go on in
African football: rampant match-fixing, corruption in transfers, rigged national
football elections…
Many players, even at the top of the game, have two different ages: their
real age and their 'football age', which is several years younger."

http://www.euractiv.com/en/sports/why-world-cup-will-not-be-won-african-team-analysis-495639

[ChewaBrave]

Do I think the reffing has been poor - yes. Do I buy the mass game fixing corruption bit - not so much. Again, absolutely none of this stuff is new. It is pretty common knowledge that Drogba is like 4-5 years older than he is. Futbol players have a self life like every other athlete and they don't want their age to affect their contracts and there are plenty more like him. There are elements of illegality as far as money goes in futbol i'm sure as well, but again, that has been the case for ever - just reference south american futbol, when basically the drug lords ran the leagues. The problem with the 'fixing' thing is that it just doesn't make any sense. The only call i've seen that would have been a possible bribe call would have been our slovenia game. Offsides calls aren't any good because it is too risky to hang a game on being able to call offsides. As i said, the reffing has been poor and something should be done, but aside from our algeria game, England lost a goal, lost the game by 3, argentina put in a bad goal, and was up by 3 when they started taking out people, won by 2. I understand the idea of momentum but still - very little indication that those things were part of a 'larger plot' to forcible assemble a top 8.

[ChewaBrave]

Anyone see the defender biff it off the post? heartbreaker. I was hoping to see Japan continue on.

[SFP]

Anyone see the defender biff it off the post? heartbreaker. I was hoping to see Japan continue on.

I was listening to Univision and one of their announcers was Jose Chilavert a retired world class goal keeper from Paraguay. You should have listened to him. I'm partial to the Latin American teams but Japan sure played some really nice soccer. I really want to know what was wrong with the 0-0 game? It was two team going at each other for 120 minutes. There was not one team looking for a draw. Just exciting futbol!

[ChewaBrave]

I don't heavily favor Japan, but I like to try and keep a geographic mix in the countries hehe. And South America is still bringing the train. Who do you have in Spain - Portugal this afternoon?

[SFP]

Spain has way too much talent all around. It should be tight but Spain wins. Portugal's back line is a bit too slow IMO to stop the great passing of Spain. Portugal's forwards are too predictable and plays to Spain defensive strengths. I also though can see Cristiano Renaldo burning by Capdevila. That will be the one area that Portugal will try to exploit.

[ChewaBrave]

Thats all pretty dead on as far as I'm concerned. Spain has a lot of weapons, and they appear to have finally decided to start playing some ball. With Villa playing so well, it allows Torres to be a bit less effective (be it due to lingering injury or just drought), but Torres is bound to connect at some point - Between the two of em Spain can just score so quickly. it should be fun to watch even though portugal is likely to turtle and try to rely on the counter.

[ChewaBrave]

It has been a good one. Honestly looks like Portugal's drop deep and counter strategy is winning out. Spain has had the ball so much more, but the best opportunities have come to Portugal imo. Should be a fun second half.

[SFP]

What a goal! That should open up the game completely because Spain does not know what it means to be in a shell. I expect this to become a real track meet

[Braves4Life]

D@mn! I had really good odds on Portugal winning the whole thing. Now I've got to hope for my hedge bets of Argentina or Brazil to pick me up.

[SFP]

Quarter Finals has some real classic match ups!

Ghana/Uruguay - I have to pick Uruguay. They are playing real nice ball on both sides of the ball. This will be a close one and I would not be surprised to see Ghana win.

Brazil/Netherlands - A classic game which I hope the Dutch style prevails but I have to pick Brazil because they are monsters.

Germany/Argentina - I'm picking Argentina, this should also be a classic and very fun to watch

Spain/Paraguay - Very similar styles but Spain plays it better so I pick Spain.

[ChewaBrave]

Ghana/Uruguay - Going with Ghana here. They are the great African Hope.

Brazil/Netherlands - Hard to look off Brazil, especially with a bit of unrest amongst the dutch.

Germany/Argentina - Should be a great deal of fun to watch. Going to go with my historic favorite, Germany on this one.

Spain/Paraguay - The paraguay dream comes to an end. Torres scores, Finally.

[robsam]

I just love FIFA. The whole time is full of excitement and entertainment. I am eagerly waiting for the next match between Brazil and Netherlands. I bet that Brazil is gonna be the winner and also going to get the world cup as well. Any doubts?

[Da Coach]

I just love FIFA. The whole time is full of excitement and entertainment. I am eagerly waiting for the next match between Brazil and Netherlands. I bet that Brazil is gonna be the winner and also going to get the world cup as well. Any doubts?

It should be a great match. Brazil is very good, but the Netherlands team might be the biggest surprise in the tournament. Netherlands went 3-0 in their pool, and their win over Slovakia in the Round of 16 was impressive. They are the only team other than Argentina to win all their matches so far.

The barrage of excessive yellow cards could have an effect on the game.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/article526931.ece/Yellow-cloud-hangs-over-Netherlands-Brazil