Olympic GDT - 6 August

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Admittedly, I should have added an asterisk on my statement about arrogance. Solo is definitely that.

Nothing wrong with Wambach's statement, you take what you can get.

I missed the hand ball on the other end, sorry. I'll take your word for it.

So you admit Solo is arrogant but fail to see how the team appears to be arrogant? Okay.

Nothing wrong with Wambach's statement other than basically calling the Canadians sore losers. I'd love to see her/their reaction had the shoe been on the other foot. Just think about that for a second, you really think they'd just concede that Canada beat them fair and square? No chance.

Of course you missed the handball the other way. You say the Canadian handball is called more often than not, the American handball is called 99.9% of the time. That would've likely given Canada a 4-2 lead so its clear to see why the call wasn't made.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by calgarybornnraised

I hope the americans enjoy their gold medal*

I hope Canada enjoys their Gold Medal too. But seriously was the officiating that horrible? I mean even in the thread here people were saying America was dominating the play.

[calgarybornnraised]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

I hope Canada enjoys their Gold Medal too. But seriously was the officiating that horrible? I mean even in the thread here people were saying America was dominating the play.

No the officiating was that horrible.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

Actually, nobody here is blaming the Americans for taking advantage of the breaks. Also, that call is not made more often than not. The ball was kicked directly into her, she did not have time to react, therefore most refs would have let it go. The call for a free kick that directly lead to the penalty kick was even worse.

In my time following the sport, I've watched my teams get called for that hand ball on multiple occasions. Inadvertent got the PK, intentional got the PK and a red card. I know that different leagues have different enforcement of the same rules, so YMMV.

Not sure how their team is considered arrogant? Look no further than the goalkeeper. Last time I checked she is part of the team and undoubtedly one of their leaders. When the face of your team and one of your leaders is incredibly arrogant, that tends to rub off on the rest of the team.

Anyway, just like you say you expect that from people on this site, I've learned to expect that Americans are more often than not oblivious to their own arrogance.

Well, I would like to think that my history on here would show that I'm not your typical arrogant American, but OK. It was just an observation that some here on CP tend to have a bit of a complex when it comes to competition with American teams. I don't get the hate.

As for Solo, I clarified a bit later that she's the obvious exception.

You're calling the Canadian coach a 3rd party? He's done more for the program than any coach in the history of women's soccer in Canada.

You want to take a shot at him for trying to steal the headlines. What about the referee that stole the actual game? That's what is truly sad.

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I meant the ref. I like Canada's coach, and I love some good gamesmanship in the press. Take any advantage you can get, especially when you're going into a game against a superior opponent.

Of course you missed the handball the other way. You say the Canadian handball is called more often than not, the American handball is called 99.9% of the time. That would've likely given Canada a 4-2 lead so its clear to see why the call wasn't made.

No, I mean that I actually missed the hand ball. It very likely could have happened but I was occupied with one of my kids or something. I'll gladly admit when bad calls/missed calls are made. I just don't think the Canadian hand ball was a bad call. The delay call was a bad call.

[calgarybornnraised]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

In my time following the sport, I've watched my teams get called for that hand ball on multiple occasions. Inadvertent got the PK, intentional got the PK and a red card. I know that different leagues have different enforcement of the same rules, so YMMV.




Well, I would like to think that my history on here would show that I'm not your typical arrogant American, but OK. It was just an observation that some here on CP tend to have a bit of a complex when it comes to competition with American teams. I don't get the hate.

As for Solo, I clarified a bit later that she's the obvious exception.




Sorry if I wasn't clear, I meant the ref. I like Canada's coach, and I love some good gamesmanship in the press. Take any advantage you can get, especially when you're going into a game against a superior opponent.

So if were against a better team we should just lay down and die?

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by calgarybornnraised

So if were against a better team we should just lay down and die?

Um, no? Where did I say that? I said Canada is a team on the rise, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the World Cup final in 2015.

I root for/believe in the underdog, why do you think I'm a Flames fan?

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

I hope Canada enjoys their Gold Medal too. But seriously was the officiating that horrible? I mean even in the thread here people were saying America was dominating the play.

The US did control the game for the most part.

That doesn't have anything to do with the fact that the ref helped them tie the game at 3-3 when it could have easily been 4-2 Canada had she made the proper call minutes earlier.

The ref (if you can even call her that) basically took a goal from Canada and gave one to the US. The fact that the US had more attack time doesn't matter in the least.

[Nehkara]

In addition, while the US controlled most of the play they weren't getting many quality chances on goal. I honestly believe that if the penalty kick was not awarded that Canada would have closed that game out and would be playing for Gold.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

I didnt watch the game but i thought I stumbled into an old Flames Game thread or PGT with all the bitching about the officiating .

In other words, you don't have a clue what happened but still feel your opinion matters somehow.

FYI, calling out people for bitching when you don't have the slightest clue what they're even talking about makes you look pretty silly.

[trackercowe]

The Americans did dominate time of possession, no doubt about it, but experience says that is only a part of the game.

If the US does not get that penalty kick, they are still down one with 20 minutes left. They still might have tied it with that much time remaining, but who really knows. I thought Canada played better in the second half as well, so it was even more likely they could have been able to hold on.

Honestly it's too damn bad Canada lost that way, and it might take a while for soccer fans to get over it. I was not a fan coming in, but even I couldn't stand watching any of the replay tonight knowing what was going to go down.

However, whenever Canada is out my rooting interests usually fall towards the USA, so I will be cheering for them against Japan. I have always preferred to see the US win instead of countries like China or Russia. Which is also why I hope the US is able to top China in the final medal count.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

However, whenever Canada is out my rooting interests usually fall towards the USA, so I will be cheering for them against Japan. I have always preferred to see the US win instead of countries like China or Russia. Which is also why I hope the US is able to top China in the final medal count.

Normally, I'd also cheer for the US when Canada is no longer in the picture. My mother is american and I have dual citizenship so the US is like my second home.

In an instance like this, I just can't bring myself to cheer for a team that clearly has no respect for Team Canada or the fight they put up today.

From Wambach basically calling them sore losers to Hope Solo not giving Christine Sinclair any credit whatsoever for what was undoubtedly the game of her life. Would it have killed her to admit Sinclair is a world class player and had a great game? Instead she takes all credit away from Sinclair and blames the goals on her teammates.

The game is over, they won and they're still not capable of showing any sportsmanship.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

In other words, you don't have a clue what happened but still feel your opinion matters somehow.

FYI, calling out people for bitching when you don't have the slightest clue what they're even talking about makes you look pretty silly.

I know who won the game , so I guess I do have the slightest clue of what went on. You seem to know exactly what happened in the game and Im pretty sure somehow your opinion doesnt matter either.

Refs are a part of the game. I seem to remember a ref assisting on a "golden goal" in the last winter olympics . I mean one would argue had the puck not hit the ref , the Canadians wouldnt have scored. Refs are part of the game. I remember once when my ball team in college was bitching about the officiating in the last inning of the game our coach called us out, made us run ladders, and then said if you would have have scored more runs earlier in the game the horrible umpiring wouldnt have mattered.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

I know who won the game , so I guess I do have the slightest clue.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by calgarybornnraised

So if were against a better team we should just lay down and die?

Enough. He didn't say that at all.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

I know who won the game , so I guess I do have the slightest clue of what went on. You seem to know exactly what happened in the game and Im pretty sure somehow your opinion doesnt matter either.

Whether you agree with my opinion or not, at least I saw what happened.

You, on the other hand are just arguing about something you didn't even witness. That is silly.

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Refs are a part of the game. I seem to remember a ref assisting on a "golden goal" in the last winter olympics . I mean one would argue had the puck not hit the ref , the Canadians wouldnt have scored.

Did you really just compare this to a puck going off a refs skate? Seriously?

That's a terrible comparison.

To make a hockey comparison, this would be like calling a too many men on the ice penalty late in the game when the skater coming off is a foot away from the bench. Then awarded them with a penalty shot when the defencemen clearly got the puck before the skates.

The US soccer coach even said after the game she has never seen that call before, and she looks to be about 55-60 yrs old. Do you honestly think Mike Babcock can say he's never seen a puck go off a refs skate that ultimately lead to a goal? It happens all the time.

Anyway, lets just agree to disagree on the matter.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

Normally, I'd also cheer for the US when Canada is no longer in the picture. My mother is american and I have dual citizenship so the US is like my second home.

In an instance like this, I just can't bring myself to cheer for a team that clearly has no respect for Team Canada or the fight they put up today. From Wambach basically calling them sore losers to Hope Solo not giving Christine Sinclair any credit whatsoever for what was undoubtedly the game of her life.

The game is over, they won and they're still not capable of showing any sportsmanship.

What interview are you referencing? Here Wambach says "...credit to Canada. They're a great team. Their coach made them into believers." "[You have said]..Sinclair is the most underrated player in the world and carried that team on her back..'

If anything, Herdman is a poor sport with comments that the US wins with illegal tactics and blaming refereeing with 40 plus minutes to make the awful officiating a non factor.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

What interview are you referencing? Here Wambach says "...credit to Canada. They're a great team. Their coach made them into believers." "[You have said]..Sinclair is the most underrated player in the world and carried that team on her back..'

If anything, Herdman is a poor sport with comments that the US wins with illegal tactics and blaming refereeing with 40 plus minutes to make the awful officiating a non factor.

Wambach brushed off complaints about the ref as a loser's lament and said it was in line with the relentless talking Canadian coach John Herdman did in the build-up to the game about how the Americans use "illegal tactics" such as setting picks on set plays.
"I feel like you can't blame something on a referee," Wambach said.

I get the felling she is calling Canada sore losers there. She says she feels you can't blame something on a referee, but does anyone honestly believe they wouldn't be blaming the ref had this been the other way around? You're fooling yourself if you believe that crap.

Wambach should have nothing but respect for Christine Sinclair, and for that I give her full marks on her comments re: Sinclair. Unfortunately, Hope Solo doesn't agree and made her comments with the sole purpose of taking credit away from Sinclair.

Even if I'm mistaken on Wambach, Hope Solo's comments alone are enough for me to cheer for Japan. Like I said, I usually cheer on the USA but comments like that really get on my nerves.

Also, the Canadian coach making those comments BEFORE the game is normally called gamesmanship. Hope Solo's comments are more in line with poor sportsmanship.

[Mango]

While I certainly won't defend Solo, that's just who she is. She's been like that her entire career. She would steal candy from a baby if it could make her look better. That said, she probably is the world's best goalie. She wasn't the best last night though. She may want to have a look at that game tape.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Mango

While I certainly won't defend Solo, that's just who she is. She's been like that her entire career.

Exactly. A poor sport and incredibly arrogant.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

In addition, while the US controlled most of the play they weren't getting many quality chances on goal. I honestly believe that if the penalty kick was not awarded that Canada would have closed that game out and would be playing for Gold.

And this is where the US got cheated as well, not that they'll care. Their victory yesterday, and therefore any medal they win, will forever be tainted because we simply don't know what would have happened if the game was officiated on the level. It is certainly not beyond the realm of possibilities that the US would have legitimately tied the game in the last ten minutes, but Canada also could have held on to win. We will never know who deserved to win because an incompetent official took the game away from the players.