World Cup 2010

[Master J]

From the outset Spain looked like a precision well coached team with a plan. I thought they dominated the pace and time of possession. Maybe I missed their earlier games but they looked very good. I felt they took Germany out of their game. I think the two of the better team are playing in the finals. I think it is a great match up. New to the sport, but loving it.

I caught this article. Does Maradona really deserve a national statue?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...cc=5901&ver=us

[Big Travel Guy]

I don't wanna talk about it. Nobody to root for here.

[El Perro]

Great match! Two powerhouses put it all on the table and Spain wins out on a header by Puyol. Good move by Del Bosque to finally start Pedro instead of Torres. The defense of Spain was damn near impenetrable.

The Netherlands has looked good, but I have a hard time seeing Spain lose now.

[Rev BS]

It seems that the Netherlands is starting to grow into the designated title of the "team of destiny". Playing very solid defense and controlling the midfield, they are scoring just enough to win. With the lucky break of playing Uruguay in the SF, they have the easier route to the Final.

The Dutch match winners so far has been Sneijder and Robben, both rejects of Real Madrid, who have gone on to their best club seasons respectively. We have to wait and see if Real Madrid's outrageous spending might go the way Spain's economy has gone. I am going to pick Netherlands as the ultimate winner vs the Spain / Germany winner. It will be interesting to see how Germany will make up for the loss of Muller.

[El Perro]

I agree, I think this is the philosophy in terms of refereeing mistakes evening themselves out - and they probably do over the long haul or over a season. (Although anyone that follows the EPL will talk about Alex Ferguson and how he has massive influence over referees especially at Old Trafford)

BUT, the kind of mistakes we've seen at this world cup are just not acceptable. There has to be a better way and, as stated, football really is the only sport left that doesn't use any technology to aid the human eye and to aid human judgement in making a split second decision which can have massive, massive implications. Rugby, tennis and cricket have all introduced technology I think succesfully without changing the unpredicatability and "fabric" of the game.

I hope they put a linesman / ref behind each goal. That would help out alot with legit goals being disallowed as well as spotting diving / penalties. I think one of the big issues is that the referee in futbol has a tremendous amount of power, and I think FIFA is wary of the problems that might arise if there are disagreements between refs and linesman. Even these days linesman are often timid about making calls and often sit on a judgement unless the ref asks for their opinion.

I'm against replay technology in futbol. It's a "seamless" sport and I hope it remains that way. Then again, I hate the designated hitter, so maybe I'm too old school.

[Shagger123]

I agree, I think this is the philosophy in terms of refereeing mistakes evening themselves out - and they probably do over the long haul or over a season. (Although anyone that follows the EPL will talk about Alex Ferguson and how he has massive influence over referees especially at Old Trafford)

BUT, the kind of mistakes we've seen at this world cup are just not acceptable. There has to be a better way and, as stated, football really is the only sport left that doesn't use any technology to aid the human eye and to aid human judgement in making a split second decision which can have massive, massive implications. Rugby, tennis and cricket have all introduced technology I think succesfully without changing the unpredicatability and "fabric" of the game.

[Easy Go]

The philosophy seems to be that the job of the referee is impossible so he's going to make many bad calls but it will all even out in the end. I doubt that tinkering around the edges will change that essential nature. The only way to make a significant change would be to radically restructure the officiating which is bound to make unanticipated changes that could dramatically alter the game. Nobody is going to be willing to take the risk.

I would prefer to see the governing bodies use post-game replays to dole out suspensions for diving. It's way, way out of hand and it seems like it wouldn't take more than a couple of high-profile examples to change the behavior of the players. Expecting the referee to do it alone doesn't work since he will get it wrong so often it becomes just another random factor in the game.

[Rev BS]

Very often, we see penalties given to players who are not in any position to score, the defender committing the foul through sheer stupidity (Pique of Spain) or by accident. Yes, it is impossible to judge intent. But there are clear cut cases that can be decided by video. NFL has been very successful for a long time now. There is so much at stake in the modern era, even if you want to ignore fairness.

Tennis has also become a much better sport ever since they allow players to challenge the linesman's call through hawkeye. Of course, we had fun with McEnroe's tantrums. FIFA is now bowing to pressure after burying their neck in the sand over whether the ball cross the line. It is so frustrating to see Blatter having to apologize when he was so stubborn just a few weeks ago. Bureaucrats!

[Shagger123]

In rugby we have what we call is a "Penalty Try" that is awarded by the ref when the imminent score, (in rugby's case a try) is averted by the defender. The ref will automatically award the try. It seems to work well.

I'm not advocating this in soccer as I haven't thought about it that much but you could certainly build a tenable argument for this. I don't know the conversion rate for PKs but I would guess it is in the 80 % range + or - 5 % so you can certainly understand the rational for what Suarez did as it is by no means an automatic score.

(I would guess the PK conversion rate for the shootouts is significantly lower due to the pressure type situation and the less specialist takers having to step up. Another comment: The automatic red card for stopping the goal scoring opportunity is a relatively new rule change and I generally think it is good if the ref gets it right - another discussion. This rule change is a relatively minor tinkering and certainly much less so than the introduction of a pentaly goal)

[Schmoj]

For me, there never should be an "automatic" goal. The Ghana dude fucked up by clanging the penalty shot off the crossbar. You can look at it as a cruel thing, but I like the "cruelty" in futbol. Only three substitutions. Once you are out of the match-you are out! And the best- the relegation system. If your team finishes at the bottom, you are "relegated" to the next lower division.

I agree with Doggboy. A red card and a penalty kick are sufficient. If you can't convert the penalty kick, you probably don't deserve to win.

[Damman]

The Titan! One of my favorite players being a Boca fan. BUT, Palermo was a controversial choice by Maradona given that he is older and slower as time goes on. He remains a local idol and many of the locals were championing his selection, but the reality is that there were other strikers more deserving of selection than Palermo. Maradona took him to the WC more as a good luck charm, and because he knew he had tons of better strikers to put on the pitch.

All that said, nobody has a better nose for being in the right place at the right time than Palermo. I was at the Monumental during the monsoon, when Palermo scored the goal against Peru that gave the Argentina national team a shot at going to South Africa. Without that goal in the last seconds of the match, Argentina would have been home licking their wounds, and most likely Maradona would be history.

Palermo kind of sounds like the Argentine version of George Blanda in American football. Old and tired, but always able to score. Anyway, it is all ancient history now. La Bombonera, what an experience.

Thanks

[Easy Go]

Palermo cracks me up. It usually appears that he is standing around completely overwhelmed by the action swirling around him when the ball suddenly appears at his feat. Looking totally surprised, he gives is a little kick and it trickles into the goal. It appears that he's just a lucky guy but they say that luck favors the well-prepared and it takes a lot more than luck to become the all-time Boca goal scorer.

My guess is that if Argentina had been tied or only down a goal with 10 minutes left, we would have seen him.

[El Perro]

Never hear anyone talk about Martin Palermo. It seems he was a clutch player in the work-ups and got the win when Argentina played Greece. I always thought he was one of the best for Argentina. Was surprised Maradona never threw him into the mix Saturday.

The Titan! One of my favorite players being a Boca fan. BUT, Palermo was a controversial choice by Maradona given that he is older and slower as time goes on. He remains a local idol and many of the locals were championing his selection, but the reality is that there were other strikers more deserving of selection than Palermo. Maradona took him to the WC more as a good luck charm, and because he knew he had tons of better strikers to put on the pitch.

All that said, nobody has a better nose for being in the right place at the right time than Palermo. I was at the Monumental during the monsoon, when Palermo scored the goal against Peru that gave the Argentina national team a shot at going to South Africa. Without that goal in the last seconds of the match, Argentina would have been home licking their wounds, and most likely Maradona would be history.

[Damman]

Never hear anyone talk about Martin Palermo. It seems he was a clutch player in the work-ups and got the win when Argentina played Greece. I always thought he was one of the best for Argentina. Was surprised Maradona never threw him into the mix Saturday.

[El Perro]

I was viewing the hand-ball by Luis Suarez of Uruguay of a SURE goal that would have put Ghana ahead with only minutes left in the game, It probably would have been a win to put them in the semi-finals, the first African country to get that far.

Would you agree on a rule change, that upon further review, the refreee can award an automatic goal in cases like this one. Penalty kicks should continue to be awarded for other type of fouls.

I think to change the rule would be a knee jerk reaction, and when you think it through would result in a complete mess. There are handballs in the area all the time that result in straight reds and expulsions. Players stick out their arms and elbows to deflect shots frequently. If you were to change the rule it would result in refs having to determine what exactly is an "automatic" goal and what is not. And then having to fine tune an impossible to fine tune criteria.

For me, there never should be an "automatic" goal. The Ghana dude fucked up by clanging the penalty shot off the crossbar. You can look at it as a cruel thing, but I like the "cruelty" in futbol. Only three substitutions. Once you are out of the match-you are out! And the best- the relegation system. If your team finishes at the bottom, you are "relegated" to the next lower division.