World Cup South Africa, 2010 Thread

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Ark2

It doesn't matter. I'm just stirring the pot. In a couple of hours, you guys will beat Algeria and I'll have to hear how England is the greatest team in the world from the media... again.

Going by what happened so far today, I wouldnt be so sure in any game.

[transplant99]

I think this game is the epitome of why this game is so hard to fall in love with. As much as it was exciting, and it certainly was, it was ruined with that nonsense at the end...regardless of whther that should have been a free kick or not, it was and from every angle they have shown on ESPN, that goal was clean as it could be. Even if he thinks the player was interfered with, it was a US player that was the guy getting mugged. He calls it the other way and its literally impossible to understand how he saw it that way...unless it was something not picked up on the replays.

just wow....and a reason the game will be viewed as a secondary one in the US...not that it matters apparently.

[You Need a Thneed]

I don't know the refs officail reason on calling back the US's third goal, but the Slovenian defender who might have gotten to that ball instead was being bearhugged - that is , slightly more than another Slovenian was holding another American. I don't think a goal there would have been fair to Slovenia.


Boooooooooo! to the US coming back in that game.

[transplant99]

US coach just saying after the game...no one knows what the call was on that disallowed goal....referees wouldnt tell anyone.

no kidding.

[d_phaneuf]

to be fair to the ref

he blew the whistle before the goal, he blew it at about the same time as Donovan hit the free kick

so you could say he wasn't really being unfair (goals happen from free kicks maybe 4% of the time? or less), and the Slovenians could have heard the whistle and stopped playing

[Ark2]

I just watched the replay of the yellow that sent Klose off. Why do people have an issue with that? He tackled from behind, didn't touch the ball and basically chopped the guys leg out. Should be a yellow everytime.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont particularly care either way, still pretty choked about that Germany game.

Its not that the Serbians played well or poorly, I felt Germany was the better team the whole game including being down to 10, but the way the ref called it played the game right in the Serbs' hands.

Podolski played poorly, that goes without saying, but that ref is the story really, he was punishing clean plays, sending Klose off was really, really weak, and then his whole style of refereeing changes in the last 30 minutes. I liked that the Germans went for it, putting on strikers, that was good.

I agree with you. I feel the Germans were better because they controlled the possesion more. Also, it's not that they were better, it's just us having a weak menatlity. Were we scared to attack or what, I don't know. All I know is they allowed the Germans to attack even with 10 men. but that said, our win was not undeserved because we too created good chances and could and should have scored couple of more (Jovanovic post, Zigic crossbar). As for the red card, it was deserved, you can't just go on tackling people from behind. And while I might see it, why you think the ref played for us, you have to remember he also very easily handed out yellow cards to us as well. Not to mention the penalty given to the Germans, which was a penalty though. Not a great reffed game but not that horrible either.

[Bertuzzied]

As much as i hate the US that 3rd goal should not have been waived off.

Refs have too much power in soccer. Save the game!!! have instant replay and coaches challenges. hehe

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by Ark2

I just watched the replay of the yellow that sent Klose off. Why do people have an issue with that? He tackled from behind, didn't touch the ball and basically chopped the guys leg out. Should be a yellow everytime.

I think the issue was more with the first yellow card, where he barely touched the player (it was an obvious dive).

It can be argued, however, that Klose should not have been playing so aggressively with one yellow card already in his name.

[Bertuzzied]

One good thing about those horns. We didn't have to hear that U-S-A, U-S-A chant.

[Jagger]

Exciting game. The US made a valiant effort in the comeback and at first I was convinced the third goal should have counted.

Like diane said though on watching the replay the ref blew the whistle early, right after the free kick was taken. There was an insane amount of pushing, pulling, hugging in the box and he gave the benefit of the doubt to Slovenia. It was a full out orgy on that free kick. It happens.

Very entertaining match.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I think this game is the epitome of why this game is so hard to fall in love with. As much as it was exciting, and it certainly was, it was ruined with that nonsense at the end...regardless of whther that should have been a free kick or not, it was and from every angle they have shown on ESPN, that goal was clean as it could be. Even if he thinks the player was interfered with, it was a US player that was the guy getting mugged. He calls it the other way and its literally impossible to understand how he saw it that way...unless it was something not picked up on the replays.

just wow....and a reason the game will be viewed as a secondary one in the US...not that it matters apparently.

I agree with you, but it's easy for us to sit on the couch and critize, we have replay. The refs have a second to decide, who knows what he saw. Mistakes happen. I will say, though, that the goal shouldn't have been waived off.

[The Goon]

What I love about the USA is that they work hard for 90 minutes. They won't ever give up. It's that plucky spirit that defines them as a strong team and as a strong nation.

[nemanja2306]

I just heard an interesting fact on TV. Don't know if it's true though, maybe a Germany fan will help me. Anyway, I heard that nobody stopped a German penalty in 36 years before today. Awesome if true...doubt it though.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I think this game is the epitome of why this game is so hard to fall in love with. As much as it was exciting, and it certainly was, it was ruined with that nonsense at the end...regardless of whther that should have been a free kick or not, it was and from every angle they have shown on ESPN, that goal was clean as it could be. Even if he thinks the player was interfered with, it was a US player that was the guy getting mugged. He calls it the other way and its literally impossible to understand how he saw it that way...unless it was something not picked up on the replays.

just wow....and a reason the game will be viewed as a secondary one in the US...not that it matters apparently.

Both the US game and the Germany-Serbia game were definitely indicative of the serious problems plaguing the beautiful game. If I was new to the game and watched those two games, I'd dismiss Soccer as a corrupt, human error prone joke and never watch again. Absolutely shameful. If Klose deserved two yellow for those tackles, Serbia should have been treated to the optional red card for the hand in the box interrupting a goal scoring play, seeing as this ref was taking the rules and interpreting them to the max. Germany didnt deserve to win just because Podolski was a huge goat, but the loss on technicalities was gutting and frankly, damaging to the game.

FIFA really needs to shape up and start implementing some modern measures. Computer detected offsides, instant replay and coach challenges must be implemented. The World Cup is one of the most televised events on Earth, and everyone watching saw two really poorly officiated matches (even Serbian and Slovenian fans should be concerned... incompetence could strike them in their next critical matches too, especially since they will now be under the microscope for getting the favorable calls)

[dissentowner]

Go England! That is all.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

I agree with you. I feel the Germans were better because they controlled the possesion more. Also, it's not that they were better, it's just us having a weak menatlity. Were we scared to attack or what, I don't know. All I know is they allowed the Germans to attack even with 10 men. but that said, our win was not undeserved because we too created good chances and could and should have scored couple of more (Jovanovic post, Zigic crossbar). As for the red card, it was deserved, you can't just go on tackling people from behind. And while I might see it, why you think the ref played for us, you have to remember he also very easily handed out yellow cards to us as well. Not to mention the penalty given to the Germans, which was a penalty though. Not a great reffed game but not that horrible either.

The penalty was a penalty. There was zero subjectivity there, thats the easiest call a ref will make in their entire career. He had no choice but to give that, and the Germans should have put it away. Even so, that should have been a red to Vidic.

The 'tackling from behind' on Klose was soft. The first one especially, but he handed those out too easily, to both teams.

The one commentator said it best in my mind, Lahm got a legitimate yellow for a tackle and then later on made another perfectly clean tackle which the ref called a foul and the commentator says:

"This is when you know a referee has no control, when Lahm has to feel lucky to get to stay on the pitch and defend a free kick for making a perfectly clean tackle."

It went both ways, but you cant just keep handing out yellows, there has to be control without immediate and severe punishment, 'hey, that was a foul, thats the second time you've done it, do it again and I'll card you again.'

He did it with Schweinsteiger, when he booked him, he gave him 2 or 3 warnings, then he booked him for not heeding them. My issue is that Klose got nothing, no leniency at all and it changed the outcome of the game, potentially the tournament as you suspend one of Germany's best goal scorers.

[GirlySports]

It's unfortunate but the ref blew for the foul well before it was headed in. He can't know that a goal would come. Maybe the goal was a result of a foul so the ref got it right.

[PIMking]

I just woke up and seems like someone pee'd in my cheerios....

Not happy what so ever.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by PIMking

I just woke up and seems like someone pee'd in my cheerios....

Not happy what so ever.

You're lucky. I actually watched the whole thing.