World Cup

[Per]

I should blame FIFA for letting him in as a referee, since he isn't dominant enough.

"Dominant"? It's a pissing contest between the referee and the players?

Players shouldn't respect the referee because he's got some personality trait or other that doesn't relate to how the game is played. They should respect him because he's the appointed referee first, and because he can IP ban their asses second.

Similarly, players shouldn't play fair because they're personally intimidated by the referee (which would strangely mean "dominant" players were more justified in fouling and losing their temper than others). They should play fair because it's the rules and spirit of the game first, and because dirty play has consequences second.

 

[Sander]

"Dominant"? It's a pissing contest between the referee and the players?

Players shouldn't respect the referee because he's got some personality trait or other that doesn't relate to how the game is played. They should respect him because he's the appointed referee first, and because he can IP ban their asses second.

Similarly, players shouldn't play fair because they're personally intimidated by the referee (which would strangely mean "dominant" players were more justified in fouling and losing their temper than others). They should play fair because it's the rules and spirit of the game first, and because dirty play has consequences second.

All very true. I'm not arguing whether fouls are justified or not, I'm arguing from the practical point of view that a referee that holds some dominance (not intimidation, mind you, but dominance. Inherent respect from the players and all that) over players is a much better referee and doesn't need to start swinging cards all over the place to attempt to keep a match under control.
Of course there shouldn't be any fouls at all. Fact: that's not how it works. Fouls are committed, and if people think they can get away with it, they will commit them.
Now, if the players have respect for the referee, they're a lot less likely to think they can get away with it, and fouls won't be committed so quickly. A referee the players don't have any respect for is going to have a much harder time, and won't be able to control the match so easily. So he resorts to giving a lot of cards. Of course, this works sometimes, but by far not always.

 

[Tandy]

Brazil - Ghana 1:0 so far...go ghana go...
I like underdogs

EDIT:

3.0....dam
Shoots herself into the foot

(do not double post, thank you - Kharn)

ups sorry must be that football fever

 

[Hellion]

And, Spain - France 1-3.

Too bad, I expected Spain to go pretty far. Brazil will probably obliterate France and get revenge for the 3-0 back in '98...

 

[quietfanatic]

Answer: Australia

I have a new one of my own.

How do you make an Australian laugh?

Answer: Say 'World Cup referee'

The Australia/Italy match was tragic, yet another decided by a referee. A clear example of where checking with a replay can have massive repercussions. So disappointing, to be so close, with little chance of getting such a good opportunity again for a long time.

Italy won't get far after the next match. It's sad that the Spaniards stuffed up again.

I hope all these little dramas provoke changes for the better in the system.

President Blatter[/url]]
Nevertheless, you continue to oppose the use of video evidence. Why is that?
I've always supported referees, who are essential in football, to the extent that I continue to oppose video usage and other experiments that would restrict them in the execution of their duties. If we want better matches, we need better referees as well. Because of that, we need to push for the professionalisation of the refereeing corps and spread the net in terms of who decides who the best ones are. I will make sure FIFA leads this debate once the World Cup is over.

In regard to taking advantage of technology, maybe not.

 

[Duckman]

I thought that the referreeing in this tournament was abysmal, as most Australians did, but it's the nature of the game.

I was a junior referee for a while in youth league in Sydney, and it is a fucking shit of a job to make split second decisions.

 

[Per]

Germany eliminates Argentina, and everyone's happy to see one of the "oh noes arghle someone touched me teh pain penalty pls" nations go. Germany's goal was beautiful, and coincidentally I voted for them to win the whole thing.

 

[Tandy]

Well to bad that we are playing crappy football like Sander said

 

[Sander]

It seems Germany has gotten better.
Still not great, but neither was Argentina. Not too interesting, that match. Too bad we won't be saying any more of Messi.

Also, Per, this is Argentina, not Italy or Portugal. Argentina actually wasn't all that bad with the falling this World Cup.

 

[Brother None]

It seems Germany has gotten better.
Still not great, but neither was Argentina. Not too interesting, that match. Too bad we won't be saying any more of Messi.

Also, Per, this is Argentina, not Italy or Portugal. Argentina actually wasn't all that bad with the falling this World Cup.

Germany wasn't that much better than in the matches beforehand, but Klinsman sure does display some humongous balls, when you look at the players he changed compared to this Argentine made switcheroonies on.

Messi is young and overrated. Name one great play he's made this WC.

I'll miss Tevez, though. I like that guy.

 

[Sander]

Germany wasn't that much better than in the matches beforehand, but Klinsman sure does display some humongous balls, when you look at the players he changed compared to this Argentine made switcheroonies on.

Messi is young and overrated. Name one great play he's made this WC.

He played a total of what, 50 minutes? He made great plays with both Argentina and Barcelona over the past year, though. Hell, he practically dragged Argentina through several pre-World Cup matches by himself.
Plus, he's a very dynamic player and those German defenders probably can't cope that well with quick players like that. His ball control is incredible. Really.

I'll miss Tevez, though. I like that guy.

Ugly as fuck, though.

 

[Brother None]

He played a total of what, 50 minutes?

122 minutes.

He made great plays with both Argentina and Barcelona over the past year, though. Hell, he practically dragged Argentina through several pre-World Cup matches by himself.

Yawn? Again, not in the WC.

Plus, he's a very dynamic player and those German defenders probably can't cope that well with quick players like that. His ball control is incredible. Really.

*sigh* It's Euro-2004 commenting on Zinedine Zidane all over again.

I love football player fellatio, don't you?

Ugly as fuck, though.

Dude, don't make fun of scarred people.

 

[Sander]

122 minutes.

Oh, that's right, he played the entire match against us Dutchies.

Yawn? Again, not in the WC.

Because of course a player's capabilities must never be judged by what he did before the World Cup.

*sigh* It's Euro-2004 commenting on Zinedine Zidane all over again.

You mean 'old fart who's almost lost it'?

I love football player fellatio, don't you?

Shut up you. You don't watch club football.
Really, you should've seen him in some of those matches, he dominated play. He completely re-spirited the Argentinian side, especially against Croatia, and dominated alongside players like Ronaldinho and Eto'o with Barcelona when fit and in shape.
He has a great control over the ball, which makes him a very dangerous player because he can quickly change direction. Coupled with his speed, that can be really, really dangerous.

Dude, don't make fun of scarred people.

Besides his scars, man. He's just plain ugly. Nothing you can do about it.

 

[Brother None]

Because of course a player's capabilities must never be judged by what he did before the World Cup.

Not when it comes to the world cup, no.

You mean 'old fart who's almost lost it'?

I said Euro2004. Didn't you watch television back then. Don't you remember the orgasmic crying of the commentator every time Zidane had the ball. "Oh...my...God...best football player ever!"

It was funny.

Shut up you. You don't watch club football.

A good thing, too.

 

[Sander]

Not when it comes to the world cup, no.

...
Somewhat silly, but meh. It is all about the form of the day, though, so you'd be in right that respect. Especially since Messi was still recovering from an injury when the WC started.

I said Euro2004. Didn't you watch television back then. Don't you remember the orgasmic crying of the commentator every time Zidane had the ball. "Oh...my...God...best football player ever!"

It was funny.

Don't think I saw that match, but that kind of stuff is annoying. Evert ten Napel should be shot for that.
he did it with the -21 finals as well, every time Milevsky got the ball he went 'Such a great player. He could almost win this match on his own.' while he didn't show a single thing throughout the entire match.
And yeah, he did with Messi when Argentina played against the Netherlands as well. Annoying stuff, that.

 

[Brother None]

...
Somewhat silly, but meh. It is all about the form of the day, though, so you'd be in right that respect. Especially since Messi was still recovering from an injury when the WC started.

There's also the key fact that your national team can play completely different than your own normal team. That has aversely affected many a player, Van the Man not the least of them.

Don't think I saw that match

It wasn't one match. It was Every. Single. Time.

God, that was awful. But the Argentine-Germany commentator mentioning Messi at every injury, card or switch wasn't exactly the best either.

he did it with the -21 finals as well, every time Milevsky got the ball he went 'Such a great player. He could almost win this match on his own.' while he didn't show a single thing throughout the entire match.

Milevsky's not been bad this WC, though. Better than Shevshenko, at least.

 

[Sander]

There's also the key fact that your national team can play completely different than your own normal team. That has aversely affected many a player, Van the Man not the least of them.

True. But Messi has already played really well within the Argentinian team a small time before the World Cup, so that shouldn't be the problem, really.

It wasn't one match. It was Every. Single. Time.

I don't think I actually watched a match by the French. It's not like they were any good anyway.
'Cept for that funny two-goals-in-the-last-three-minutes-by-Zidane-match.

God, that was awful. But the Argentine-Germany commentator mentioning Messi at every injury, card or switch wasn't exactly the best either.

Fuck Evert ten Napel.

Milevsky's not been bad this WC, though. Better than Shevshenko, at least.

Meh, I haven't seen either of them do much. Except for the Panenka-style penalty by Milevsky.

 

[Duckman]

Hmm, I am surprised that Germany beat the Argentinians. But I haven't seen the game yet, so I'll make my mind up then. I just thought that Argentina's form was much better than Germany's.

 

[Ashmo]

Germany won. Italy won. Both will face each other next.

We're fucked now.

If Germany wins, the German Italians will go on a rampage.

If Italy wins, the German neo-nazis will go on a rampage.

We're so fucked.

Why do I have to live in a part of Germany that has so many Italians?

 

[Lukus]

The game between England and Portugal was really boring. Only real drama was in the final minute of the second extra half, and the penalty shots of course.