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World Cup 2006 — Page 10

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I'm not baffled that the US doesn't (as a whole) like or get soccer, Zion.

In a bizarre way (please don't take this as US bashing or global empiricism), I think one of the main reasons the US will never accept it as a sport is that it's a game that the US can be beaten at, and quite convincingly by nations that are 30 times smaller in population than they are (Czech Republic). In sporting terms this does not and will never compute with the average American.

In regards to the officiating, it's actually been quite refreshing in comparison to some recent World Cups - I can understand that diving and faking can seem overplayed in replays, especially in slow motion - but the decisions made in the US v Italy game were in line with the new FIFA guidelines, the Mastroeni tackle could well have broken the opposing player's leg and I can quite understand the ref's decision.

When the only padding the players wear are shin protectors (shin pads) I think the officials should always err on the side of caution and penalise harshly those that are at fault, my personal opinion.
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I can kind of see where you're coming from. But at the same time taking dives in a game is totally against anything we're used to seeing in sports. I still roll my eyes every time I see it in a game. And I especially love it when players get taken off in a stretcher in seemingly agonizing pain. Then as soon as they get to the bench they're miraculously healed and jump right back into the game. Whatever.

I'm not sure I agree with your theory about the US though (no offense taken however). But take this into consideration: our best athletes do not play and probably never played soccer. The best athletes in the United States play baseball, basketball, hockey, and American football. It's really only been a short time that kids in the US have been exposed to soccer. Back when I was in gradeschool in the 80's, intramural leagues were just starting to gain popularity around the US. Only in the last 10 years has the US finally had thousands of athletes that grew up playing the game their whole lives. And I think that's a big reason why our team this year is probably the most talented we've ever had.

Still, America has tons of athletes that would be amazing soccer players. Instead they play the other 4 national sports, which remain much more popular in our country.

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Indeed, I similarly totally accept that soccer is not such a nurtured game in the States - I can well imagine parent's would hardly want a gifted sports son or daughter to persue soccer at the expense of the main sports in the US, which apart from garnering the highest revenue should they turn pro would expose them to greater respect (for want of a better word) from peers and society.

Soccer is of course the mainstay of British sports schooling and indeed holds the highest esteem - witness the small pond ripple of the Rugby World Cup won back in 2003 compared to what would be Knighting all of the players and the support staff should England win the World Cup this year (a very far probablity at the moment). I guess Rugby and Cricket are our Baseball and Basketball respectively.

As much as I think there should be tough penalties on those who commit potential career ending fouls, there should similarly be tough penalties on those that, like you say when stretchered off the field suddenly bounce back to full fitness. Hard to enforce, but if you're stretchered off (as opposed to hobble off) you should either be substituted or play no further part in the game. I have a feeling that would soon put an end to the fakers
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Originally posted by: Zion
First of all, why is it that every single player that falls down has to pretend his leg is broken or something? I've seen more Oscar-winning performances in the last week that at the last Academy Awards. Do the refs really call fouls depending on how bad the player on the ground rolls and moans? Most of the time the pain is real - these players don't wear helmets and shoulder pads. Dwight Yorke stopped a shot with his balls on Thursday, there's no way you could say that his agony was an act. (Why do we find it amusing when someone else gets hit in the balls?)

Sometimes however the delay is tactical, to give team-mates the chance to take on water. (There are no time-outs for commercials in this game.)

Then there was the famous incident where a Birmingham City player broke his leg in a tackle, thought it was just a dead leg, and tried to "run it off".

Originally posted by: Zion
Seriously, taking dives like that just seems pathetic and cowardly in the eyes of this American and many more like me. In fact, I was watching the Stanley Cup finals last night, and a guy got a penalty just for taking a dive. What a difference a rule like that would make in the World Cup.... Taking dives to gain a penalty or free kick is blatant cheating, and it is a bookable offence. The Germans used to be notorious for it. It was disappointing to see Gerrard take a dive in England's friendly against Hungary, but at least Lampard missed the penalty. England have won the Fair Play award at previous world cups and our players shouldn't be lowering themselves to cheating.

Originally posted by: Zion
Secondly, what was up with the officiating in that USA-Italy game?
Didn't see it, but by all accounts it was a bit of a farce.

Originally posted by: Zion
If FIFA really wants the United States to become more interested in soccer, and you know they do because of all the money and exposure they would receive, they're going to have to do a lot better than that.
I'd give up on the States, you have your own TV entertainment... sorry, "sports", and trying to promote football over there is a lost cause.

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About the two red cards for USA against Italy: one of them was justified, the other was due to a yellow card. Two yellow cards in the same game mean a red card.

And well, to sumarize the whole thing, football (soccer) is not popular on USA because it's a game the country is not good at, and they are not good at because it's not popular. It's hard to step out of this circle. It's kinda like Formula 1, it's not popular on USA because the last american on it, Mario Andretti I belive, was not even able to finish a race. Ever. For a sport to be popular on USA, it's gotta be a big breathtaking show, or americans beating other countries (or themselves).
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Well, all of us Aussies got up at 2am to watch the game against Brazil, and we were proud to see our boys hold their own for the first half. I felt as though Australia put on more pressure in the first half than Brazil did. Never in the first half did I think there was danger of Brazil scoring. But alas, in the second half the Brazillians seemed to dial their football skills up to a whole 'nother level, and we couldn't hold them off any longer. A 2-0 loss to the Brazillians is something we can live with. We did waste some very good goal opportunities, though. Now we have to beat the Croatians, which I think we can do.
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It'll be Brazil and Australia for sure. You guys ready to face Italy?
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Originally posted by: ricarleite
It'll be Brazil and Australia for sure. You guys ready to face Italy?
Does that mean you are confident Italy will beat Czech Republic and top the group Ric?

War does not make one great.

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Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Originally posted by: ricarleite
It'll be Brazil and Australia for sure. You guys ready to face Italy?
Does that mean you are confident Italy will beat Czech Republic and top the group Ric?


Yes, I am. Italy should be able to do it's game, and so will USA. I belive Italy and USA will be the teams to move to the next round - and we'll face USA, again at the first game of the second round. In 1994 we won.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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If USA and Italy qualify, and England beat Sweden tomorrow, I will win 50 pounds. Then I will put 5 pounds of that on USA to beat Brazil (just for fun but if they win I'll get loads I'm sure because it's such a long shot) and the rest I will put on England to beat whoever they play next - which will prbably be Equador or..... GERMANY!

War does not make one great.

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How are you able to bet, being in the US? Are you on a state where gambling is legal, or playing through the internet on a british betting place?
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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I gave my friend a fiver before I left and told him what to do with it. If I win I will tell him what to do next.

Well, I'm not a fan of Spain, but that was one helluva comeback. Not sure that penalty was a fair decision, but it didn't really matter anyway.

War does not make one great.

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Are there any games today?
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Originally posted by: ricarleite
Are there any games today?



Ecuador vs Germany

&

Costa Rica vs Poland

^ both games kick off at 3pm UK time (about 30mins from the time off this post)



England vs Sweden

&

Trinidad & Tobago vs Paraguay

^ both games kick off at 8pm UK time.



After these 4 matches we'll know who will be qualifying for the knockout stages, and which team will play which in that part of next round...



some good info on the World Cup:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/default.stm

and one with some info with South American kick-off times :-

http://www.latinamericanfootball.com/WorldCup2006/worldcup_2006.htm

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Germany just beat Equador 3-0 so they will play the runner up of group B. Hopefully England will beta Seweden, win the group and avoid Germany until later.

War does not make one great.

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WHAT A GOAL BY COLE!!!!

It's halftime and we're 1-0 up against Sweden. COME ON!!!

War does not make one great.

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That goal was pretty spectacular.
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Good goal by Joe Cole but Im worried by the injury to Michael Owen (even though he isnt playing well) fingers crossed it isnt serious.
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Oh dear! 2-2. That last goal was a travesty.
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Typical f**king England, throwing it away. The defending on that second Swedish goal was a bloody embarassment. We should have won that but as usual we made dumb mistakes. The life of an England fan is a frustrating one.

Respect to the Swedes for bringing it back though. They needed it more than England, so good for them I guess. I lost my bet though

War does not make one great.

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Jeez, talk about snatching medriocity from the jaws of an unjustified win.

Roll on Ecuador
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England have the potential to be amazing, and every now and again they shine, but more often than not they are just average. Thank God we have Equador next because I don't think we are eready for the Germans, expecially as they are the home nation and they are coming off a very strong group performance.

War does not make one great.