World Cup GDT: June 21st

[GirlySports]

Yeah what a huge save. Pretty much seals 2nd place for Nigeria.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I <3 Klose

Just watched the match now (was able to successfully avoid the score all day). Ghana played a fantastic game and exposed the Germans with their speed. I'd really like to see Lahm back at RB and Schweinsteiger - Kroos anchoring the attack. Khedira has been so slow and Lahm hasn't done much (including passing up a shot from 6 yards out). Klose needs to play up front as well.

Both teams had numerous chances to score, Neuer played a great game.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

I <3 Klose

Just watched the match now (was able to successfully avoid the score all day). Ghana played a fantastic game and exposed the Germans with their speed. I'd really like to see Lahm back at RB and Schweinsteiger - Kroos anchoring the attack. Khedira has been so slow and Lahm hasn't done much (including passing up a shot from 6 yards out). Klose needs to play up front as well.

Both teams had numerous chances to score, Neuer played a great game.

Yeah, the back line is sooooo slow. They were burned most of the day with the speed of Ghana.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Can't really see it from that angle but there is head to head first (below).

http://gfycat.com/MinorCommonCavy

Ouch.

[You Need a Thneed]

Should I be ashamed that is was wearing a Germany Jersey while cheering for Ghana today?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by PIMking

This photo needs a caption contest.

"I didnt do it...."

[saillias]

The Germany-Ghana match was the first soccer/football match I've watched in my life. I think I'm hooked.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yay Kiwi ref.

Dzeko doesn't agree. Another example of subpar officials deciding team's fates. Must be frustrating to spend years working up to a tournament like this only to have your fate decided by a combination of inexperience and incompetence.

His goal wasn't even close to being offside.

“The referee was shameful,” he said. “We are going home and we are sad because of that but this referee should be going home too. He changed the result and he changed the game. That’s why we lost.”

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ameful-referee

This is an ongoing cyclical 4 year problem with a fairly simple solution to minimize the risk of it repeating.

[SuperMatt18]

Offside as a rule is just flawed in today's game.

With the speed of the players and the skill of some of the passes it is impossible to watch the exact moment the ball is being played, while also watching where the player in regards to the last defender.

Even with that the refs get it right 95% of the time. They do need to offer some help the other 5% of the time though.

[Bagor]

Agreed, but as far as offsides go, Dzeko's wasn't even close. He was a good couple of feet onside with both the ref and the linesman having an unobstructed view. That's a call that quite simply an experienced team gets right.



Agreed that they need help. These mistakes have massive repercussions and the risk of them being repeated can be managed either by (a) technology or (b) having the best personnel available to manage and reflect these games of high magnitude.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah was speaking more in general.

The Dzeko call was just an absolute horrid call no matter how you look at it.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Offside as a rule is just flawed in today's game.

With the speed of the players and the skill of some of the passes it is impossible to watch the exact moment the ball is being played, while also watching where the player in regards to the last defender.

Even with that the refs get it right 95% of the time. They do need to offer some help the other 5% of the time though.

Most TV broadcasts can figure out if a play's offside within 10 seconds. Just replace the ref's assistant with a guy watching TV with a buzzer to the ref. Buzzer = offside. No buzzer = onside. Play is never whistled down from the pitch.

[GirlySports]

But if the play is never whistled down it could cause unnecessary plays and/or collisions or the ball being hoofed somewhere wasting time.

I think it's fine. FIFA made a mistake giving an unexperienced crew such a big game. That crew should be getting their first game like Spain-Australia which means nothing.

Matt: I think linesmen watch the line and listen for the ball being struck.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

But if the play is never whistled down it could cause unnecessary plays and/or collisions or the ball being hoofed somewhere wasting time.

There's about five offsides per game (EPL 2010 stat). Is it really a big deal to add an extra minute or two of stoppage time?

As for collisions, this isn't like icing where it's a high risk situation to allow the play to develop.

If possession's changed by the time the ref gets buzzed for an offside he could play the advantage.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Matt: I think linesmen watch the line and listen for the ball being struck.

No possible way you can hear the sound of the ball being struck when 60k screaming fans are chanting as loud as they can and you are 25 yards away from the ball.