Football (Soccer) World Cup (3 Viewers)

[OzDigger]

Oz, In rugby it's a physical game and you need to respect the ref and his decisions. The culture of soccer, however, is very different: there's always a swarm of players yapping around a ref with every decision he makes. If video evidence was introduced for certain matters in soccer the pressure would inevitably extend it to other categories of offence. Eventually the game just wouldn't be played, as every blast of the referee's whilst would produce a stampede of players surrounding the ref to demand that he use video evidence to ascertain as to whether a tackle should have warranted a card. It may look ridiculously unprofessional to refrain from using the technology now available but a prerequisite would be a massive shift in players' attitudes and that's just not going to happen.

In Rugby League video evidence is not used for minor matters and in anycase the game can continue whilst the descision is being made. There is NO reason why that cannot occur in soccer as soccer players can be sent off for argueing with the ref the same as in the rugby codes.

Pending the result in league they restart a game or settle a contentious issue with a scrum or similar and in soccer a 'drop ball' is usually used. Therefore I can see little support for your arguement that some cultural differences in the games could negate the use of video evidence, and it wouldn't surprise me to see it used at the next world cup.

 

[jazzeum]

Spoken like a true fan but obviously you weren't watching the match. Your passion has gotten the better of your reason.

The fear of most seasoned observers is that Portugal will use its "tactics" to try to get France off its game and yellow card them out of the final.

No one doubts that Rooney deserved a card but the disquieting thing is that Ronaldo went out of his way to make sure he did
. He is not the only one who engages in this unsportsmanlike practice, just the latest pro at it.

Germany and France in the final. Allez les Bleus!

 

[VIRIATO]

With all due respect, I think this so called danger of Portugal yellow carding France out of the game is absolutely ridiculous. It is not the opinion of «seasoned comentators» but part of a dishonest campaign which is part of the mind games too often played by some before these decisive matches. I think the players should just let it go down the toilet where it belongs and concentrate on what's important. I found it very fitting that after some of the so called English «press» made a lot of filthy noise about Portuguese indiscipline found it amidst their own: a red carded Rooney.
On the incident, Ronaldo and Rooney have already put it all to rest, because they know better: what Ronaldo did was equal to what Cole and others did after the red card had been given: they protested before the ref. People like Shearer are being irresponsible when they exaggerate this so called incident ( really very minor stuff ) because it can generate violence among the weak minded, around in great numbers amongst football fans, especially English hooligans.
On Rooney. he is an excellent player with some temper problems, don't crucify him, just don't let him become another Gascoigne=waisted talent.

 

[VIRIATO]

Portugal-France
I am not very optimistic, because:
a) We do not have a good record against France ( two losses in overtime in two semis );
b) France is now riding a confidence wave, they look a different team and they are now better than either England or Holland;
c) I have seen better attacking performances from Portugal;
d) Portugal is not Brazil at it's best.

But hey, Deco will be back and once again, on the day, anything can happen.

 

[VIRIATO]

ITALIA, ITALIA, ITALIA!!!
Congratulations Zupp! The best performance I have seen in this world cup so far. Pilro's pass for the first goal is just poetry in motion, it reminded me of Magic Jonhson-looks one way passes the ball the other way. The Germans fight a lot, shoot a lot, they are strong, but Italy has that extra class and imagination.
If Portugal goes through tonight, I hope Italy won't be as inspired in the final.
At the moment though, they are a hot tip for champions.
Canavarro and Buffon-fantastic defending.
Pilro-fantastic passing around.
Gilardino and Del Piero-imagination and skill in attack.

 

[jazzeum]

France 1, Portugal 0!

However, I'm not sure I would have given a penalty for that.

 

[jazzeum]

My condolences to Portugal. They played much better than France although some of that was due to France's poor tactics.

 

[zup66]

ITALIA, ITALIA, ITALIA!!!
Congratulations Zupp! The best performance I have seen in this world cup so far. Pilro's pass for the first goal is just poetry in motion, it reminded me of Magic Jonhson-looks one way passes the ball the other way. The Germans fight a lot, shoot a lot, they are strong, but Italy has that extra class and imagination.
If Portugal goes through tonight, I hope Italy won't be as inspired in the final.
At the moment though, they are a hot tip for champions.
Canavarro and Buffon-fantastic defending.
Pilro-fantastic passing around.
Gilardino and Del Piero-imagination and skill in attack.

thank you, we have played the match of life with the germans a little kind with us before the contest they say about our pizza and we had serve to germans team two of this pizza one by Grosso ( great) and one from Del piero
italy is explose like a nuclear bomb.. so now we wait the final and we hope another great match, im sorry for portugal i dont have seen the match tonight
but a friend tell to me who the penalty not there was... is the world cup and sometimes dont it rewards the best in contest... i repeat lucky lucky and lucky

 

[jazzeum]

Perhaps it's me but where are the England, Portugal and other fans who posted here when their teams were winning? There's a Cup going on, even though your team may not be in it anymore. I've had a ball watching Zidane and the French team (even though they knocked out my teams, Spain and Brasil) and win or lose, this Cup may be remembered for their valiant never-say-die spirit.

 

[OzDigger]

I've lost interest in this World Cup as it's more of a 'best group acting award' than a serious football competition. Which is entirely the fault of FIFA as they refuse to ensure existing rules are observed and deny the introduction of video evidence.

 

[jazzeum]

If you've watched the later aspect of the competition, the referees have ignored the diving that you refer to.

Aside from the merits of video evidence, FIFA could hardly change the rules in mid stream.

The World Cup is a grand spectacle and you're only spiting yourself by ignoring it.

 

[UK_BOD]

Well I'm supporting Italy on Sunday, no Englishman worth his salt could ever support France.

Zidane is probably player of the tournament (besides his first two games), but I think Italy will just nip it 1-0.

Must admit I did smile when Ronaldo cried after being knocked out by the French. It would have been an absolute travesty if Portugal had got to the final after their attempt at winning penalties, fouls and their blatent attempts at getting opposition players' booked and sent off. (Sorry to all Portugal supporters but the World Cup is better without their team.)

It has been an ok World Cup, but there hasn't been any epic games, maybe the final?

Andy

 

[VIRIATO]

Oh no, not this anti Portugal stuff again. Tabloids are certainly today's opinion makers, whatever happened to the good old BBC? All this started with Portugal-Holland, the Russian ref spread cards around, almost one per foul, really crazy strict interpretation of FIFA's rules. And then the tabloids grabbed this pretext and said a lot of silly things exaggerating and distorting incidents we see in football day in day out. When will people understand that the Portuguese are no better and no worse than the others in this matters?

 

[VIRIATO]

France-Portugal: France didn't play any better than Portugal but scored and Portugal didn't, period. I was disappointed at Portugal's tame reaction to being 1-0 down, more speed was needed to break up the French defense, were they too tired or was it this tactical, defensive World Cup? Same thing in the second half against England, they should have done a lot more against 10. Ah, and against France Postiga should have been yellow-carded for diving, but there are other divers around, some of them you don't even notice...
But hey, we're still around, unlike some other overvalued teams that let their shirts do the playing: tomorrow third place game against Germany, will these teams still be able to run?
For the final I'll be supporting Italy, I loved their game against Germany.

 

[jazzeum]

Oh no, not this anti Portugal stuff again. Tabloids are certainly today's opinion makers, whatever happened to the good old BBC? All this started with Portugal-Holland, the Russian ref spread cards around, almost one per foul, really crazy strict interpretation of FIFA's rules. And then the tabloids grabbed this pretext and said a lot of silly things exaggerating and distorting incidents we see in football day in day out. When will people understand that the Portuguese are no better and no worse than the others in this matters?

Viriato,

I don't think it's anti Portugal. I think it's anti Ronaldo. I think people have a great deal of affection for Luis Figo and I was impressed by Miguel. However, Ronaldo seeks the limelight and, as you could tell from the crowd, people don't like what he did with Rooney when Rooney was already getting the red. I think you'll also have to agree that he was doing some diving in the France match.

 

[VIRIATO]

Viriato,

I don't think it's anti Portugal. I think it's anti Ronaldo. I think people have a great deal of affection for Luis Figo and I was impressed by Miguel. However, Ronaldo seeks the limelight and, as you could tell from the crowd, people don't like what he did with Rooney when Rooney was already getting the red. I think you'll also have to agree that he was doing some diving in the France match.

I did see Postiga dive but not Ronaldo. Ronaldo fell down in the first half after contact with French players, the ref might have given a legitimate penalty, but it's acceptable that he did not-Ronaldo was trying to get to the ball with his head, not diving, and he fell down in the process-that's the way I saw it in replay.
Henry is the one who dived, he was in my opinion fouled by Ricardo, but he is very experienced and knows that a little diving would help to get the ref's attention.
I used to play veteran's official tennis, amateur stuff, but even at that level all kinds of mind games and line call robbing goes on. Any experienced tennis player anywhere in the world can tell you about this. Now what do you think happens at the football World Cup level? It's unfortunately «war without tears» and it must go right into FIFA level.

 

[VIRIATO]

Well I'm supporting Italy on Sunday, no Englishman worth his salt could ever support France.

Zidane is probably player of the tournament (besides his first two games), but I think Italy will just nip it 1-0.

Must admit I did smile when Ronaldo cried after being knocked out by the French. It would have been an absolute travesty if Portugal had got to the final after their attempt at winning penalties, fouls and their blatent attempts at getting opposition players' booked and sent off. (Sorry to all Portugal supporters but the World Cup is better without their team.)

It has been an ok World Cup, but there hasn't been any epic games, maybe the final?

Andy

Because of English hooliganism, the fact is that any World Cup is always better without England. Just ask any police chief anywhere in the world. How about that for fair play? That's pretty clear, unlike what you say about Portugal. What blatant attempts? How many? How different from any others?

 

[jazzeum]

I did see Postiga dive but not Ronaldo. Ronaldo fell down in the first half after contact with French players, the ref might have given a legitimate penalty, but it's acceptable that he did not-Ronaldo was trying to get to the ball with his head, not diving, and he fell down in the process-that's the way I saw it in replay.
Henry is the one who dived, he was in my opinion fouled by Ricardo, but he is very experienced and knows that a little diving would help to get the ref's attention.
I used to play veteran's official tennis, amateur stuff, but even at that level all kinds of mind games and line call robbing goes on. Any experienced tennis player anywhere in the world can tell you about this. Now what do you think happens at the football World Cup level? It's unfortunately «war without tears» and it must go right into FIFA level.

It appear that your passion again is getting in the way of your objectivity. In the first half, Ronaldo was lightly pushed and he goes down like a house of cards. The referee correctly ignored him. Henry was fouled, tripped by Carvalho I believe. It was a penalty but I would have waved it off.

 

[jazzeum]

Because of English hooliganism, the fact is that any World Cup is always better without England. Just ask any police chief anywhere in the world. How about that for fair play? That's pretty clear, unlike what you say about Portugal. What blatant attempts? How many? How different from any others?

This is a silly post. What does so called hooliganism have to do with what happened at the Cup? It's a shame you have to take this tack.

 

[OzDigger]

Settle down guys it's only soccer afterall.

Imo most of the countries had players that took a dive at some stage throughout the comp, but I didn't see any Australian players do it I have to say

As for hooliganism. From the news I've seen over the past years it does appear that some of the English supporters do get carried away at times and were actually banned from some countries a few years ago.

And I have to say there has been more than enough prejudice against certain countries. Perhaps it's best that some 'ancient' history is forgotten at times. You may recall the history of the British - American - French past intrigues nearly cost the allies the loss of WWII.