World Cup 2006

[Gollum]

They're trying IMO, its just hard to judge these situations. Often there are tiny tackles or contacts that will make a player fall, but are not deserving of a penalty. Sometimes a player just looses balance or slips. When does diving start and where does the foul begin? And how do you judge that without the ability to slow-mo time?

Obvious dives have often been followed by a yellow card this WC, just yesterday Asamoah Gyan got sent of for diving. You can also clearly see that some refs are extremely cautious about giving out penalties, it took days before we had the first in the tournament, despite several penalty-worthy fouls before. Despite that we've had some questionalbe penalties, I don't want to be a ref in football these days, its not easy!

I'd vote for a 5th ref with access to TV feeds and slow-mo of critical situations. People always say it'd interrupt the flow of the game, IMO that's bullshit. In case of lets say an offside goal, a penalty-worthy foul or one of the ever popular "was it behind the line or not" situations, the game is interrupted for up to a minute anyway. More than enough time to watch the footage several times and give feedback to the field (especially now that the refs are carrying headsets anyway)...

 

[Hanners]

In the case of blatant diving, I'd be quite happy to see yellow cards dished out after games, with a panel looking at video replays (perhaps of events marked by the referee as dubious, but without enough evidence using his own eyes to make judgement during the game) - Sure, it wouldn't have any effect on the result of the game where the offence occured, but particularly in a tournament like the World Cup, yellow cards could potentially prevent players from taking part in future rounds, which may well be enough of a incentive for them to cut it out.

 

[StefanS]

In the case of blatant diving, I'd be quite happy to see yellow cards dished out after games, with a panel looking at video replays (perhaps of events marked by the referee as dubious, but without enough evidence using his own eyes to make judgement during the game) - Sure, it wouldn't have any effect on the result of the game where the offence occured, but particularly in a tournament like the World Cup, yellow cards could potentially prevent players from taking part in future rounds, which may well be enough of a incentive for them to cut it out.

Isn't that what they did in Italy this season? I have heard that that did greatly reduce the number of attempted diving.

 

[mcsven]

As far as I'm concerned, the most important change that could be implemented is a 10-minute 'injury-box' where players that are tackled and stay on the floor are sent. This would prevent almost all of the physio and stretcher appearances as well as the feigning of injury, speed the game up and be safer for the players to boot.

 

[t0y]

Same with Figo, he was trying so hard to get his head make contact with Boularouz' elbow for half the game, rarely have I seen a more obvious case of trying to provoke a red.

I think you're seeing it backwards. If I'm not wrong, it was the dutch player that had been chasing a red card for most of the game. It should've happened when he injured ronaldo, anyway. The referee just couldn't hold the players after letting this guy get away with such a foul.

Holland just lost it in all accounts in a nerve-wrecking game, you can witness this if you look for the situation leading and after deco's first yellow card [ it was worth it ]. Maniche's goal just destroyed their confidence and made things worse.

Let's see how things go with england. Too bad our team has been butchered with yellow cards [even blatter was disgusted with this ].

And remember kids: This time we won't have greece on our way.

 

[Zaphod]

In the case of blatant diving, I'd be quite happy to see yellow cards dished out after games, with a panel looking at video replays (perhaps of events marked by the referee as dubious, but without enough evidence using his own eyes to make judgement during the game).

Actually, they can, but only if the referee has not noted the incident in the match report. If the referee sees an action and does not react to it, then that's it. Likewise if he does take action, the same apply. The referee cannot be overruled. That's why Figo got off, even if the referee didn't see the incident. Had he not acted (because he didn't see it) FIFA may well have banned Figo for a couple of matches. I understand the reasoning behind this. On the pitch the referee must reign supreme. If you allow what you suggest, you risk either referees who loose authority due to being overruled by committee, or you risk referees that will defer the tough call because someone will review the video later, or both.

In related news: An oldie, but a goodie.

 

[Gollum]

I think you're seeing it backwards. If I'm not wrong, it was the dutch player that had been chasing a red card for most of the game. It should've happened when he injured ronaldo, anyway. The referee just couldn't hold the players after letting this guy get away with such a foul.

Oh I agree, he should have been sent off for that first foul. But that isn't the situation I'm talking about and thus doesn't change anything about my observations concerning the second yellow.

I gotta disagree about you blaming mostly the dutch players for this, the portuguese were just as bad. Of course the blame also lies with the ref, who totally failed to bring the game back under control. No matter how bad the ref was though, he certainly didn't commit all those fouls and stupid little fights himself. Players on both sides just lost it and even veterans who should know better just screwed up.

Anyway, the quarters are ahead, so lets get back to football again...

 

[davefb]

I hope France wins... we need at least one African team in the quarter finals.

jeez......

i hope you feel ashamed by that comment.
http://www.worldcup365.com/story/0,16726,8501_1305443,00.html

 

[L233]

jeez......

i hope you feel ashamed by that comment.
http://www.worldcup365.com/story/0,16726,8501_1305443,00.html

Nope, why? It's one thing to crack a joke about the fact that a central European national team is like 80% African - that's basically a comment about France's lack of indigenous talent. It's another thing to hurl racist insults at these players.

 

[Zeross]

It's one thing to crack a joke about the fact that a central European national team is like 80% African

Sorry but WTF ? I didn't react to your joke because I know that you were exagerating to be funny but now you seem serious. On 23 players in the french team there are two players who are born in Africa (Vieira and Makelele) all the others are born in France or in French DomTom...

 

[_xxx_]

Sorry but WTF ? I didn't react to your joke because I know that you were exagerating to be funny but now you seem serious. On 23 players in the french team there are two players who are born in Africa (Vieira and Makelele) all the others are born in France or in French DomTom...

You'd think so. Zidane is a Tunesian (or Maroccan?) originally, for example.

And it's just a joke, like l-b's "the Brazilians will return home to Italy and Spain after the WM"

 

[Zeross]

You'd think so. Zidane is a Tunesian (or Maroccan?) originally, for example.

Zidane was born in Marseille, Marseille is in France I live here his father is Algerian and is mother French so by our laws he is french (or at least he can chose his nationality)

 

[davefb]

Zidane was born in Marseille, Marseille is in France I live here his father is Algerian and is mother French so by our laws he is french (or at least he can chose his nationality)

beat me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinedine_Zidane

i assumed l-b's joke was from the fact that they actually played/lived in those countries not from the fact that they are of european decent? say for example "at least owen hargreaves wont have far to go when england get kicked out"

this issue of not really being french is being used currently by le-pen for political capital.. i just dont think it's a subject for a joke........ maybe i'm just too old and remember when the first non-whites played for england and the way some people viewed that... oh well

 

[StefanS]

And it's just a joke, like l-b's "the Brazilians will return home to Italy and Spain after the WM"

Credit where credit is due. That was nutball, not l-b.

 

[_xxx_]

Oops, sorry!

But my opinion is, if they're french citizens, they're French, period. Just look at US, if there's anything they ever did well, it's to make such a mixture of nationalities and colors live together in (rare minorities of idiotic groups like KKK excluded) peace. The rest of the world is still very far away from that level, unfortunately.

 

[_xxx_]

i assumed l-b's joke was from the fact that they actually played/lived in those countries not from the fact that they are of european decent?

Dat.

 

[Mariner]

Don't cry for me Argentina...

Bit a of drab game in the end but I think the Germans just about deserved to go through. A big error by the Argentinian coach IMO to make defensive substitutions in an attempt to hold on to their lead near the end of normal time. If he'd had the opportunity to bring Messi on in extra time he could have caused all sorts of problems for Germany.

What was the cause of all the Argy-bargy (literally!) at the end of the game?

 

[_xxx_]

I think one of the Argentinians is partly german and had some trouble because of that, but don't ask me what it was.

Anyway, this was a really awsome game!!! They played at about the same (high) level and the winner was just a question of luck. Germans are grateful for having Lehmann guarding the goal, that's for sure!

 

[nutball]

On the basis of that performance I'd have to say that Germany are now head and shoulders the clear favourites to win the World Cup. They played for a penalty shoot-out from the get-go, and the Argentinians delivered it to them with their negative play when they went ahead.

I can't see any team beating them in a penalty situation, and Germany will play for that from now on, against ... Italy next and then ... Brazil in the final.

 

[_xxx_]

I still think that Brazil didn't even bother really playing yet. I'm pretty sure, axtually.