World Cup 2010 (spoilers inside of course)

[metallimonster]

As said above, for the US to take an interest in soccer a lot of things would need to change.  Replay, better officials, and such to start with.  I am only a very casual fan and this Cup left a bad taste in my mouth.  I just couldn't help feeling like the refs were dirty.  Might have something to do with the area it was held in.  

But what really needs to change is the cheap acting.  I understand that falling down like you're going to die and then getting right up to pregnant dog about it has long been a part of the game but it turns me off instantly.  I don't want to compare sports because I know it is totally different but these guys seem like pussies and choke artists.  Too many times I see a guy get a good shot and totally hesitate.  I think the guy who scored the goal yesterday must have had 3 chances while I was briefly watching and let the defenseman get to the ball before even trying to score.  Maybe I don't understand the intricacies but at least try to shoot it even if it is off the wrong foot. I would like to see them take a shot from Ray Lewis or play a round of Austrailian rules football or even Lacrosse.  That is real hitting.  Disclaimer- I'm not saying soccer isn't physical but the exact opposite.  I like watching soccer when it is physical and no ones crying.

Sadly for soccer fans, America's best atheletes play American Football.

[Vindingo]

Can you ever see some professional soccer player getting an hour on a Thursday Night to say he is signing with the Galaxy and leaving the Crew?

  That one made me laugh out loud!!!

There was a moderate amount of buzz when Beckham moved to the galaxy, but I think that was because he is married to a spice girl. 

[El Matador]

I didn't see the dutch as playing dirty, just very physical.

Really now? you need to get your hate-on-spain glasses off.

Terrible fouls (Netherlands vs Spain) World cup 2010 final

I count 4 here that should have been straight reds.

[El Matador]

What class from the Dutch, I almost expected him to sock the referee:

2010 Final Goal by Spain - Andres Iniesta goal vs Netherlands Spain Wins for the First Time 1 - 0

Apparently even with a defender four feet behind him it was supposed to be offside?

[El Matador]

i don't kow about the fouling of spanish players to stop them. it seemed a lot more like spain fielded a diving team.

the dutch were jsut playing more physically and spain decided to cheat to get ahead. and it worked. congrats.

See above 

[derby]

But what really needs to change is the cheap acting.  I understand that falling down like you're going to die and then getting right up to pregnant dog about it has long been a part of the game but it turns me off instantly.

NBA Flops

[El Matador]

Anyone know what his undershirt said?

It said something about Dani Jarque being with them on the field. Jarque was a midfielder that died of a massive heart attack a couple of months back, he was 26 IIRC.

[metallimonster]

Hey man I didn't say it doesn't happen in other sports but it just seems blatant in soccer and a lot of people do not watch the NBA for the same reason.  All I'm saying is, that to get a bigger US audience those things would have to change.  That is all.

My uncle works for the Columbus Crew and I love going to MLS games, seems like there is much less of this kind of stuff going on.  I don't mind a little bit of it as a part of the game but it seemed like it was every 10 seconds in yesterday's match.

[triangleforge]

What class from the Dutch, I almost expected him to sock the referee:

2010 Final Goal by Spain - Andres Iniesta goal vs Netherlands Spain Wins for the First Time 1 - 0

Apparently even with a defender four feet behind him it was supposed to be offside?

Look at the video you posted, at 0:13 -- Iniesta is clearly offside by a yard or two at that point... BUT the Dutch player intercepts the pass; Iniesta gets back onside, shakes the defender, takes a nifty pass under huge defensive pressure, connects on a really tough bouncing ball and scores a beautiful goal. The linesman called it correctly (at least as well as I understand the whole "passive offside" rule) but until I saw the replay I was dead certain he was still offside from the prior volley -- and if that first pass had made it through, the ONLY call would have been offside. I'd wager a fair amount that with emotions & exhastion running high, no video replay & the same scenario on the other end of the field, Spanish players would have reacted exactly the same way.

[KnightofNi]

See above  

yes, i know you are cheering for spain.
yes, i didn't want spain to win.

i already said there should have been more red cards.

iniesta and villla should have been carded for simulation.

[El Matador]

Look at the video you posted, at 0:13 -- Iniesta is clearly offside by a yard or two at that point...

Actually, no. That angle does not show it, but the pass had already been shot at that point. Iniesta was in front of the leftmost defender at the time.

See?

[KnightofNi]

Actually, no. That angle does not show it, but the pass had already been shot at that point. Iniesta was in front of the leftmost defender at the time.

See?

read the rest of his post. he was offsides, then got back on before that ball was played to him.

[El Matador]

yes, i know you are cheering for spain.
yes, i didn't want spain to win.

i already said there should have been more red cards.

iniesta and villla should have been carded for simulation.

Villa, yes. Iniesta, no. the laugh was towards the part when you said that the Dutch wasn't fouling as much as the Spanish diving. Just look at the video and say that with the straight face.

read the rest of his post. he was offsides, then got back on before that ball was played to him.

I did. That is the proof that he wasn't. The pass that is being made in the picture is the one that gets intercepted, not the one for the goal, in that one Iniesta is a good four yards in front of the defender.

[triangleforge]

It said something about Dani Jarque being with them on the field. Jarque was a midfielder that died of a massive heart attack a couple of months back, he was 26 IIRC.

That's a very fitting tribute.

[cyrus buelton]

As said above, for the US to take an interest in soccer a lot of things would need to change.  Replay, better officials, and such to start with.  I am only a very casual fan and this Cup left a bad taste in my mouth.  I just couldn't help feeling like the refs were dirty.  Might have something to do with the area it was held in.  

But what really needs to change is the cheap acting.  I understand that falling down like you're going to die and then getting right up to pregnant dog about it has long been a part of the game but it turns me off instantly.  I don't want to compare sports because I know it is totally different but these guys seem like pussies and choke artists.  Too many times I see a guy get a good shot and totally hesitate.  I think the guy who scored the goal yesterday must have had 3 chances while I was briefly watching and let the defenseman get to the ball before even trying to score.  Maybe I don't understand the intricacies but at least try to shoot it even if it is off the wrong foot. I would like to see them take a shot from Ray Lewis or play a round of Austrailian rules football or even Lacrosse.  That is real hitting.  Disclaimer- I'm not saying soccer isn't physical but the exact opposite.  I like watching soccer when it is physical and no ones crying.

Sadly for soccer fans, America's best atheletes play American Football.

Sorry Jay, but your understanding of soccer is very little.

Compare FIFA to a group that is like the NFL, but manages the entire world...............


Soccer lovers don't see that as crying.............it is emotional attachment to the game..........


The reason the "best athletes" (which is purely debatable they are NFL or Hoops players or whatever) choose these sports as kids are taught that soccer is everything you mentioned above. Acting, bad refs, etc etc.


I got into an argument at a bar with a Road Pirate (I'll explain that if need be) yesterday during the game.

He was trying to claim the NFL is the biggest and most watched sport in the world.

Boy, is he ever wrong.


Hate to admit to all those Americans, but Soccer (futbol) is probably the most watched team sport in the world.

(I suppose Cricket could be up there but based purely on the amount of people that live in India)