World Cup South Africa, 2010 Thread - Page 104 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Jagger · 06-21-2010, 09:33 AM

Meh. This Saudi ref is a joke, flashing cards like they've gone out of style. A ref really can make the difference between a good and bad match.

Regardless, I'm still into this world cup despite all the crap. Brazil and Argentina are both looking good, thankfully, and are making it worth watching. The likes of New Zealand help too.

GirlySports · 06-21-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastiche

I expect basic sportsmanship and dignity.

You're watching soccer.

drew24 · 06-21-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJK

So what will be some of the big matches coming up? Make or break to the next round? I have been watching but am not sure who is in trouble.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fifa...ebreakers.html

EDIT: Of interest to me is the New Zealand and Paraguay game. A win for New Zealand and they are through to the next round. Pretty incredible that they are in that position.

troutman · 06-21-2010, 09:50 AM

I'm still amazed how often the best players in the world struggle to hit the net. (It's not just the new ball, because I've noticed this for years). So many shots soar over the net, or go wide. Do players need to take something off the shot, to improve accuracy?

Resolute 14 · 06-21-2010, 09:50 AM

Glorious chances each way, completely blown by the shooters.

and +1 to the ref for calling the diver that time. He's only about -7 for the game now...

Matty81 · 06-21-2010, 09:50 AM

man Chile are tactically atrocious, they look like a bunch of 12 year olds. why in gods name are they trying to get the 2-0 goal and giving up ridiculously good quality chances instead of killing the game off

Regulator75 · 06-21-2010, 09:51 AM

I haven't been to this section of the forum in a long time...

I'm stunned that there are this many fans of Soccer on CP.

Table 5 · 06-21-2010, 09:51 AM

A yellow card for diving there...about time.

Table 5 · 06-21-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulator75

I'm stunned that there are this many fans of Soccer on CP.

Why? At it's best, it's still the second best team sport in the world.

troutman · 06-21-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

A yellow card for diving there...about time.

Looked like a foul and a dive to me.

GirlySports · 06-21-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I'm still amazed how often the best players in the world struggle to hit the net. (It's not just the new ball, because I've noticed this for years). So many shots soar over the net, or go wide. Do players need to take something off the shot, to improve accuracy?

My theory has been if players take something off the shot then it'll be too slow and the keeper will get to it. Or worse it'll be blocked and there will be a counter-attack the other way. It's a fine line between a shot that's hard enough that the keeper can't dive to it and one that goes over the bar. With the new ball, that line is almost impossible.

Regulator75 · 06-21-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Why? At it's best, it's still the second best team sport in the world.

I don't want to get into a battle here...

As hardcore hockey fans on CP, I find it bizarre that some get excited by a brutally boring, horribly acted and pansy filled sport.

Or maybe it's the casual fan that jumps on the bandwagon that I hate more.

They pretend to care every 4 years about players they have no clue about and then they suddenly become patriotic of "old" countries that there families abandoned 4 generations ago.

Table 5 · 06-21-2010, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulator75

As hardcore hockey fans on CP, I find it bizarre that some get excited by a brutally boring, horribly acted and pansy filled sport.

Sad to say I don't disagree with your last two points (which is why I think simulation in football is such a cancer on the sport, no matter how many excuses people have), but i vehemently disagree about it being boring. This WC is definitely a let down in terms of entertainment, but this sport has produced some amazingly magical moment, and at it's best, can be tremendously exciting. It might not be as fast paced as hockey, but the build-up of plays can be just as exciting....at least to a lot of us (ie, a good chunk of the planet Earth).

Btw, I don't think it's odd that many hockey fans like soccer. At it's root, the two sports are not that different. A rectangular playing surface, two goals at opposite ends, and the intent is to put something in the other guy's net.

Sure beats watching baseball or golf in the hockey off-season.

Table 5 · 06-21-2010, 10:23 AM

Btw, I'd love to cheer for my old country (Hungary) but we've sucked for years now.

Muta · 06-21-2010, 10:33 AM

I agree with the fact that soccer has its share of pansies, but diving (although I hate it) is a tactic that can play in your favour. Especially when it gives you free kicks and gives the other team yellow, or even red, cards.

That said, I've played for 20 years, and I love the game. I don't think it's boring at all. It's not the most popular sport in the world for nothing.

PLUG: Go Kiwis!!!! YEAAHHHHH!!!!

mykalberta · 06-21-2010, 10:45 AM

The sport is popular cause its cheap to play and so everyone does when they are younger - that is the reason its popular.

Horns and Reffing make these games almost unwatchable. You would think the most popular sport in the world would get the clue that they need more than 1 ref.

Watching the games on mute is good enough to get rid of the horns, but the reffing is terrible.

Table 5 · 06-21-2010, 10:51 AM

Vuvuzela is the most annoying thing in sports fandom since the thunderstick.

GirlySports · 06-21-2010, 11:03 AM

I'm a bit surprised the vuvuzela bothers so many people.
Soccer is noisy to begin with so it shouldn't be that different.

Now if golf or curling had a continuous drone like that than I can see how ridiculous that would be.

Jagger · 06-21-2010, 11:30 AM

Looking forward to seeing if Spain can get their World Cup campaign back on track. Hopefully Torres will get a starting role this time.

The vuvu's are stupid really but don't bother me anymore. I wish we could hear traditional chanting instead but whatever, no big deal. It's just become something else for people who hate soccer to moan about along with the diving etc.

Tomorrow sees some group play wrap up. It now becomes really interesting. Will Uruguay and Mexico give more for the sports detractors to get their knickers in a twist over, by playing keep ball together in the centre circle for 90 minutes? Wouldn't that be something?

Flame Of Liberty · 06-21-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Even though I explain how diving and duping the ref is part of the game, I'm really disgusted that refs are of such low quality in the this WC that they actually are being duped. Whatever happened to the good ref like Collina, Frisk that the players were actually scared of and wouldn't dare try anything on them.

I don't care if this post is going to be politically incorrect, but the fact they have refs from such countries like Saudi Arabia Seychelles is absolute JOKE and nothing else than trying to play the "all nations are involved" card. What a load. They should rotate ~10 top international refs with experience instead of giving the keys to the game to some poor schmuck from Elbonia who's obviously waaay over his head.

Another thing..I don't usually pay attention to the pre-game stuff but today I did and I noticed that the kids with the players were all...well the same color. Is that normal? I mean if they were all white I'm sure everyone would blow a gasket...