What??? Another thing, the backstabbing press of England but I don't know if this is really a big deal?? Looks to me like much ado about nothing. Daily Mail coverage
Posted on 06/11/2014 12:22:26 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
"When you talk about playing in the heat, the travel, it doesn't bother us," midfielder Michael Bradley said Tuesday. "And not only does it not bother us, it excites us to see that now the other teams are so worried about it."
(Excerpt) Read more at sport24.co.za ...
From FIFA Laws of the Game (2010/2011):
LAW 11 – OFFSIDEOffside position
It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if:
- he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
A player is not in an offside position if:
- he is in his own half of the field of play or
- he is level with the second-last opponent or
- he is level with the last two opponents
Offence
A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:
- interfering with play or
- interfering with an opponent or
- gaining an advantage by being in that position
No offence
There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:
- a goal kick
- a throw-in
- a corner kick
Infringements and sanctions
In the event of an offside offence, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick).
Officiating can be sloppy in the World Cup, I think this video shows it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPd8YmFcvtQ
8:30 minutes in, on or offsides? I’d have to say evidently onsides.
-— This is going to be difficult to get out of Group G everyone -—
Definitely a group of death.
Mark Lawrenson, Lawro’s formulaic predictions are in at the BBC, Lawro 98% of the time picks a scoreline along the following, 1-1, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1. Really. (Does every week for the BBC during the regular season.)
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27712282
Former player for Ireland and Liverpool.
For some reason, I thought Croatia might be able to get a shock draw...but the pressure is on Brazil. I suppose all the people picking them to win are correct.
No way Ghana will defeat us a 3rd straight time in the World Cup, in fact, respectfully, I don’t think they get the draw, USA, 2-1.
Gadzooks, the first game, Brazil/Croatia, is now about 18 hours away.
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Just found this, one of Iran's players was born, yes, in America.
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America-born Iran defender Steven Beitashour is ignoring political tensions between the two nations as he prepares to fulfil his dream.
The 27-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps defender is in Iran's 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup, but often fields questions regarding his background and upbringing.
Tensions between the United States and Iran - the native country of Beitashour's parents - have been high for some time, but the player says he does his best to avoid talking about such issues as football draws his full focus.
What??? Another thing, the backstabbing press of England but I don't know if this is really a big deal?? Looks to me like much ado about nothing. Daily Mail coverage
I'd like to see the defense put up a clean sheet, or get more goals. We need +2 or +3 vs. Ghana if we're thinking to advance with a 1-1-1 group record.
I did a little bit of research as to those speaking about having a 1-1-1 record in the group stage. 4 points to advance.
For the heck of it, I went through the last 4 World Cups back to 1998. A bit of a task of labor.
It looks like where a group is strong such as in the USA's group this year, 4 points can get one through while if the group is more average or weak, the teams do not advance.
2010 World Cup
Group A, Mexico and South Africa both had 4 points but only Mexico advanced.
Group B, South Korea advanced with 4 points.
Group C., Slovenia with 4 points does not advance.
Group D., Ghana with 4 points advances, Australia with 4 points does not.
Group E., N/A.
Group F., Slovakia advances with 4 points.
Group G., Ivory Coast with 4 points does not advance.
Group H., Switzerland with 4 points does not advance.
2006 World Cup
Group D, Mexico with 4 points advances.
Group F, Australia with 4 points advances.
Group G, South Korea with 4 points does not advance.
2002 World Cup
Group B., Paraguay advances with 4 points, South Africa with 4 does not.
Group C. Turkey with 4 points advances, Costa Rica with 4 does not. Whipping boy in the group was China with no wins.
Group D. USA advances with 4 points in 2002, basically our best World Cup ever.
Group E. Cameroon with 4 points does not advance.
Group F. Argentina with 4 points does not advance.
Group G. Italy with 4 points advances.
1998 World Cup
Teams advancing with 4 points. Denmark
Teams not advancing with 4 points, Morocco, Spain
Chile advances with 3 draws and 3 points.
It really looks like half the teams with 4 points advance and the other half doesn't. Interesting stats.
The 1-1-1 scenario is beat Ghana, draw Portugal, lose to Germany, while Portugal beats Ghana and loses to Germany. (Or flip-flop Germany and Portugal, if you prefer.) At that point, it comes down to tiebreakers, starting with goal differential.
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