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Originally Posted by Matty81
Yes I have to agree... it's beyond diving with the Central American national teams, they would literally do anything to win and have no shame at all - it's OK to take the high road if the refereeing catches it, but calling the games are refs from other Central American nations and sometimes amateurs from the Caribbean who are among the worst in the world and are used to this behavior back home.
Canada needs to at least be wise to whats going on. Even being smart on the pitch can only take you so far when off the pitch, they do the whole throwing batteries, coins and bags of urine thing and some of the crap they pull at the teams hotel at night when Canada is visiting goes well beyond what we think is acceptable within NHL terms.
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I've heard these things when the Americans play in some countries that hate the USA (for various reasons). Never for Canada. I'm sure it happens, but I think some things get overblown. And again, Panama isn't Honduras or Costa Rica.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matty81
Not condoning the bench incident, but making sure you don't lash out at all against these teams and slowing the clock down when you get a lead are absolute minimums to compete. I have no problem with slowing the clock down against Central American teams. It's smart and until the refereeing in CONCACAF improves and the refs crack down on it you either play that game against some of the crappier countries or you basically give them a huge advantage.
You might have a moral victory at the end of it but a hockey mentality against the Honduras' of the world will get you 2 or 3 red cards and a 4-1 loss.
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It's not a hockey mentality as there is plenty of diving and play-acting in hockey. That second half was one of the worst displays of sportsmanship I've seen, even counting Latin American and Continental Europe teams. Mckenna's dive was ridiculous. An embarrassment.