World Cup GDT: June 24th

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by nik-

What drives me the most crazy about diving in soccer is the times that the player dives away a good opportunity. Where he had his man beat, he had space, he just needed to stay on his feet and he dives. Infuriating.

Yup.

although I've seen less of that this tournament which is probably why goals are up. Players staying up and taking their opportunities.

Uruguay was a lot of people's 2nd favorite team in the world before Suarez showed up. Little engine that could, tradition etc...
He's tarnished everything.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

Is that coming from the heights of the moral high ground? I suggest golf or tennis then.

lol, yeah thats it.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by nik-

What drives me the most crazy about diving in soccer is the times that the player dives away a good opportunity. Where he had his man beat, he had space, he just needed to stay on his feet and he dives. Infuriating.

It's no coincidence that the best player in the world right now will try his hardest to stay on his feet.

[GirlySports]

Colombia vs Uruguay will be a bloodbath.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by rich76

It would be across all competitions.

It's now his 3rd biting offence, so as a "repeat offender" I would expect maybe 25 games. Maybe even a season.

At Man United in the past, Cantona was banned for 8 months for attacking a fan, and Rio Ferdinand the same length for missing a drugs test.

So a ban of that length wouldn't necessarily be out of the question.

Good to hear.

It seemed he turned a corner this year. I actually felt sorry for him after the Crystal Palace match when he lost it.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Unfortunately when you watch soccer, far more often the wrong thing (flopping/diving/embellising) gets rewarded while the right thing never does.

We've seen quite a few goals already in this tournament where one team has either lost the ball due to a dive, stopped playing because they expected the other guy to dive or just otherwise players playing themselves out of a situation by diving.

Diving is like all cheating, risky.

Personally what I don't understand is why so many people make this huge difference between diving and other kind of playing dirty, such as illegal hits.

For me, cheating is cheating. Some teams do more, some teams do less, some teams are more prone to dirty hits and some teams more prone to diving, and certain types of sports will always have it. Soccer and hockey are those kinds of sports. If you want to watch those sports, you have to accept that it happens to some extent.

Of course, one major reason I root for Germany football is because IMO they generally flop around way less than most other major countries and otherwise play a rather clean game. (I think this considered somewhat of a consensus opinion, but I wouldn't bet on it.)

I don't think it makes them more "manly" though. Just more pleasurable to watch

[Locke]

Cesare Prandelli resigns as Italy head coach.

http://www.espnfc.us/italy/story/190...h-at-world-cup

Dies on his sword.

[GirlySports]

Itse: Germans dive just as much, Klinsmann and Voeller in the 90s were the worse.
The Dutch were so pissed a Voeller's diving they spat at him.

[Bagor]

Chiellini.

“Suarez is a sneak and he gets away with it because FIFA want their stars to play in the World Cup. I’d love to see if they have the courage to use video evidence against him.
“The referee saw the bite mark too, but he did nothing about it.”

FIFA has to throw the book big time at this clown.Give him a year.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

Good to hear.

It seemed he turned a corner this year. I actually felt sorry for him after the Crystal Palace match when he lost it.

I thought he had too.

But Uruguayans play with this anger and desperation not seen in other countries. It's like they invented the World Cup but have become victims of their own success as other countries get bigger and surpass them.

They'll do anything, and I mean anything, to restore their former glory. Sometimes this desperation can be good as Uruguay are very good in do-or-die matches as shown by the numerous times they qualify for the WC via the playoffs.

But that emotion can also cross the line. I remember in the 86 World Cup, a Uruguayan got a red card within 60 seconds.

[Bagor]

It's not because he is Uruguayan. It's because he has issues. Serious issues.

[Gundo]

On a serious note, he could face up to a 1-2yr ban.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Bagor

It's not because he is Uruguayan. It's because he has issues. Serious issues.

True but I think being in that pressure-cooker of Uruguay and how they operate makes it worse. If he was i don't know, Peruvian, there wouldn't be this pressure of expectation.

Also in Uruguay this time, this "we won the world cup last time it was in Brazil and we're going to do it again" pressure has been all over the media.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by devo22

no need for a lifetime ban IMO, but it should be a lengthy suspension ... like 10-15 games.

I don't know - this is his third biting offence. Ten games didn't work last time out.

[Burke Salad]

Originally Posted by devo22

Two bucks and two incisors, payback for messing with Zidanes sister - priceless!

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

True but I think being in that pressure-cooker of Uruguay and how they operate makes it worse. If he was i don't know, Peruvian, there wouldn't be this pressure of expectation.

Don't buy that at all. Lots of pressure everywhere. Uruguay is nothing exceptional. So ... this pressure of expectation from the Uruguayan people caused him to bite in Amsterdam and Liverpool?

He is under a lot less pressure than a lot of people. Indeed, all the spotlight on him is self imposed through his behaviour. Never mind the biting. He's a right little stamper too.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

The Italians got jobbed. That should've been a yellow.

And Suarez, LOL.

Meh makes up for '06 when they showed FIFA the videos of Schweinsteiger "throwing punches" to get him suspended before their game

[Itse]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Itse: Germans dive just as much, Klinsmann and Voeller in the 90s were the worse.
The Dutch were so pissed a Voeller's diving they spat at him.

Well, sports is the one place where embracing your cognitive biases is considered the norm

But more importantly, that was a long time ago. Back in those days emphasis was in ball control and just waiting the for the right chance. Diving went along with this just fine.

For the last 2-3 World Cups Germany has played a more commonly entertaining style, resulting for example in the highest goals-per-game count in I think all of those three tournaments. (Meaning, they scored and got scored against.)

The basics are not that different really, but they now generally like a higher tempo and like to force mistakes by keeping the opposition moving. Diving doesn't go together with this, since it stops the play.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Don't buy that at all. Lots of pressure everywhere. Uruguay is nothing exceptional. So ... this pressure of expectation from the Uruguayan people caused him to bite in Amsterdam and Liverpool?

He is under a lot less pressure than a lot of people. Indeed, all the spotlight on him is self imposed through his behaviour. Never mind the biting. He's a right little stamper too.

Yes cause when he is playing for Amsterdam or Liverpool he also representing all Uruguayans.
You are Canadian no matter where you play for example and bring that hard working honest Canadian ethic with you.

That said I do agree with you that he's insane.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

I don't know - this is his third biting offence. Ten games didn't work last time out.

Seems like the appropriate thing would be some kind of lifetime ban where he could seek reinstatement after a year if he proves remorseful and has completed some psychiatric treatment. You have to think the state he is in currently, he is a legitimate danger to seriously or grotesquely hurt someone.