Posted on 06/25/2006 11:30:31 PM PDT by soccer_maniac
In two more days, only 8 teams will remain in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
TODAY'S GAMES: Italy-Australia (11:00AM EST) followed by Swiss-Ukraine (3:00 PM EST).
(Excerpt) Read more at fifaworldcup.yahoo.com ...
Well, the first thing they tell you when you're learning how to take penalties is never, EVER shoot low and just to the right or left of the keeper, because more often than not it's going to be saved, especially the way keepers are allowed to cheat off the line the way they are now. If anything, it's better to take dead aim at the keeper's head and try to rip a hole through the back of the net. I've never seen so many bad penalties strung together.
I certainly don't see how the Ukrainian goalie beat the penalty takers there. Hell - he would have done well to get out of the way of a couple of those kicks.
This was just a terrible match all around. Is there anyway both of them could go home and we could give Mexico that spot? :P
anyway = any way
Mexico is where they deserve to be. And so is Ukraine.
I don't see it. Mexico showed they weren't afraid to go toe to toe and slug it out with the form team of the tournament. They looked like the better side for most of that game and it took the goal of the tournmanent to beat them.
Ukraine on the other hand have looked pretty bad in three of the four games they've played so far. Today was cynical, lethargic football; playing not to lose and looking for the set piece.
I'm sensing you're a Ukraine fan or something.... :)
Yes, Ukraine is the England of the East. But Mexico knows Argentina well and was able to play them to a good match. If it was the US, probably not.
Ukraine played the better game and a solid first half. They had major defenders out for the match so in the end they proved themselves.
The tournament is about improving as you move ahead with injuries and players out. Ukraine did that today and penalties are a tough test. I've been threre many times. Look at Italy's history, it's tough.
Let's see the big dog take down the mighty. Bring on Italy.
We've yet to see Shevchenko fit for a match. He's getting closer.
I'm so happy with the Ukrainian win, I'm about to blow my brains out.
UKRAINE!!!!
Now might not be the time. :)
Let's see what the full squad can do against the world power.
The best part of this match was that the ref didn't destroy it and let the players play. Can't say that much in this tournament. Look what he did to Italy.
Ladies... that's pretty cool that you can float in space... now come back down here... Trajan88 needs a kiss too :-)
:-)
Mexico are a sound side and I’m actually quite impressed that the USA manage to beat them regularly. I guess the difference is that Mexico have a top class player in Rafael Marquez and you need a top class player to go toe-to-toe with the best sides. The USA are well drilled but have no-one who can give them the edge against the elite.
Ukraine are ok. I can’t see them beating Italy though.
You are right. But the point is for the vast, vast majority of American's who could care less about soccer but are familiar with dominant American sports, the outcome of such an important game coming down to seemingly complete referee's whim is not going to endear anyone to the sport and it will continue to be a total non-event here. Kind of like peole paying attention to figure skating once every four years. To my ignorant untrained eye, it looked like a "cheap" pass interference penalty in football. Difference is, in football you mark off yardage and keep playing. It would be like calling pass-interference and then lining up all 11 offensive players on the one yardline against a lone defensive back in order to score a touchdown.
The complete subjective nature of the penalty (unlike the binary decision of if a "ball to centerfield") and the harshness of the penalty relative to the nature of the game don't jive compared to the dominant American sports. In my opinion, soccer will have a very hard time catching on here with the political and subjective nature of the rules.
It was interesting to see that Blohin left the field during penalties and was let back when it was over. Saved himself from a heart-attack...
Another curios thing: after the Holland-Portugal card-feast and FIFA's rebuke, the referee here was not giving cards left and right like all others the whole tournament,.. and ... nothing bad happened. I understand intentions of the referees training just before the Cup, but they went overboard too far and too fast.
Mexico is a solid side, but I've never seen them play so well as the played Argentina a few days ago. They jumped over their heads, and I don't expect them to show such quality every match.
BTW, many other sides displayed uneven play as well. I guess, they are just human.
Hey Italy is a titan with world class players. Ukraine is cinderella with a world class striker and some solid players. Every dance needs a cinderella.
Shevchenko isn't even fit yet. He probably took a crummy penalty from being so tired from being on the pitch the whole 120 minutes. He's really only good for about 50-60.
I see your point. Subjective and critical to a whole game in one second.
Kinda like a ball or a strike.
Yes, it was an interference call. But it isn't cheap. And yes, the ump called it a strike.
These things change games, kinda like a fan in Chicago catching a fair/foul ball.
You could have said the same about USA-Germany in 2002. But just like the USA, Mexico goes home because the other team put it in the net more times than they did.
I blame FIFA. I don't know what these people do, but if in 4 years they can not come up with some "standards" that everyone can follow... then, they are not doing their jobs.
Another thing: technology... how come the referees don't see what billions of people can see on the replays?... That's right, maybe there should be one or two referees watching every replay of questionable, especially violent actions, just like we all see it on TV everyday... and then pull the red card, or even change a card from yellow to red or whatever.
The point is: the WORLD CUP IS IMPORTANT, and they should take every precaution to make sure the games are clean and fair for everybody.
CREDIT WHERE IT BELONGS: I like the referees using audio communications!... this is already half of the solution and that is good. Technology should do the second part here: Having referees out of field checking on replays of every questionable play, especially physical aggression. FIFA, should see videos of the game afterwards and see if they for flagrant violations the referees may have missed during the game and punish the offenders.
Soccer should be about skill, agility, intelligence but not about violent flagrant physical attacks like happened with Holland vs Portugal injuring the Portuguese player... I almost think this was intentional to take him "out" of the game.
The players, the coaches, the fans, EVERYONE, should know before hand, exactly what is expected from them and what will not be tolerated. This will save the games for the next generations.
What do you think? :)
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