[soccer_maniac]

World Cup Ping!

[onja]

Go Australia! Destroy the divers.

[Aquinasfan]

Only a couple of underdogs left, and how can you root against Australia and the Ukraine?

[Toby06]

Capri sun time! WOOT!!

[stillonaroll]

Do you have that link to The Sun's "off tube" commentary?

[ElPatriota]

Hi all, I am sure you all have been talking about this but I must say it as well. I am appalled by the latest "officiating" results. By the inconsistency of it... two referees can apply the rules so differently... it's almost incredible. Let's face it, no referee can see EVERYTHING that goes on a game, especially one as hot as Holland vs Portugal was.... Actually I think the Russian ref did a good job considering how difficult that game was.

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? :)