World Cup!

[Boges]

I would think head to head is the first tiebreaker.

[Guest]

Goal difference, then goals scored, I think.

[Black Dog]

Ghana Is playing well. Maybe Germany wins, Ghana wins and USA and Portugal go home.

That would be the ideal result. Ghana has deserved much better from this tournament. Great team.

[Boges]

That would be the ideal result. Ghana has deserved much better from this tournament. Great team.

That didn't mark a substitute defender to lose to the USA. Much like Bradley let Ronaldo go Ronald on him. So meh.

If the USA v Germany game ends in anything but a tie, I'll be shocked. Moreso for Ghana to advance they would have to make up 2 goals on the USA in Goal Differential

[Black Dog]

That didn't mark a substitute defender to lose to the USA. Much like Bradley let Ronaldo go Ronald on him. So meh.

Yeah one play can make the difference, but Ghana dominated the USA for 88 minutes and gave Germany all they could handle.

If the USA v Germany game ends in anything but a tie, I'll be shocked. Moreso for Ghana to advance they would have to make up 2 goals on the USA in Goal Differential

I agree, but I'm still hoping Germany does the right thing and actually plays for the points. I don't rate Portugal at all so I don't see 2 goals being a out of the question.

[Boges]

Don't forget Ghana also let Clint Demsey look like Pele in the first 30 seconds of that game. They were playing Tick-Tack-Toe with the Ghana defence.

The USA is playing very well.

Edited June 23, 2014 by Boges

[-TSS-]

I have a reasonable hunch that the Germans and the US are going to play a tie in the last match.

[GostHacked]

[-TSS-]

I'll take back what I said the other day that there should be more European teams in the world cup. Mexico making minced meat out of Croatia and otherwise too the tournament has been a disaster for Europe when as CONCACAF marches on.

[guyser]

I'll take back what I said the other day that there should be more European teams in the world cup. Mexico making minced meat out of Croatia and otherwise too the tournament has been a disaster for Europe when as CONCACAF marches on.

Its the heat dont ya know ?

The Italians were complaining bout the heat, 27C with relative high Humidity.....same day almost the same in Rome.

Uh....and you wonder why we call you whiners?

[Boges]

It would make my World Cup to see Italy lose to Uruguay today.

[Black Dog]

It would make my World Cup to see Italy lose to Uruguay today.

Seconded.

[Big Guy]

I do understand that this is a free flowing game but there is still room for technology to assist the "fairness" of a result.

There was a goal by Brazil yesterday that was clearly (on relay) off side. Why not allow some kind of an appeal process on contested goals so a video replay can be referenced? We already have technology that proves when the ball goes over the line. why not extend its use?

There are a number of crucial calls (hand ball or foul in penalty area) that determine the result of a game but depend on the line of sight of one official.

Another question I have is the number of referees adjudicating a game. In Hockey, where there are only 12 players on a small surface, we have a referee and two, linesman as well as two goal judges. In soccer, there are 22 players with only one referee trying to keep up with the play and two linesmen. The field is also much, much larger and the referee is almost always behind the play.

One last note, I wonder if the technology is available in TV coverage to create a virtual reality off side line that would follow the last defensive player up and down the field. It would certainly assist those who are new to the game.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Big Guy

[Boges]

I do understand that this is a free flowing game but there is still room for technology to assist the "fairness" of a result.

There was a goal by Brazil yesterday that was clearly (on relay) off side. Why not allow some kind of an appeal process on contested goals. We already have technology that proves when the ball goes over the line. why not extend its use?

Another question I have is the number of referees adjudicating a game. In Hockey, where there are only 12 players on a small surface, we have a referee and two, linesman as well as two goal judges. In soccer, there are 22 players with only one referee trying to keep up with the play and two linesmen. The field is also much, much larger and the referee is almost always behind the play.

One last note, I wonder if the technology is available in TV coverage to create a virtual reality off side line that would follow the last defensive player up and down the field. It would certainly assist those who are new to the game.

In hockey, a call like off-side or icing isn't reviewable. In American football you can review calls like Pass Interference, Holding, False Start or Offside. In Baseball something subjective like Balls and Strikes can't be reviewed AND in Basketball you can't review fouls.

Reviewing what a penalty, violation or could is will never happen in any major sports.

The more galling things about Soccer when a penalty is called. Costa Rica had should have gotten a penalty against Italy but didn't and Brazil shouldn't have gotten a penalty but did. It's more important in a sport like Soccer because a penalty kick is a real game changer.

Another ref could help, but there would still probably only be one ref covering either side like they do in hockey.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Boges

[-TSS-]

As it is an outdoor game therefore things like heat, humidity, altitude etc can play a major part in the outcome of the matches. If you are unaccustomed to circumstances you are bound to play below your potential. That's why it is not only superstition that a European team can not win in South-America, very unlikely this time either.

[Boges]

As it is an outdoor game therefore things like heat, humidity, altitude etc can play a major part in the outcome of the matches. If you are unaccustomed to circumstances you are bound to play below your potential. That's why it is not only superstition that a European team can not win in South-America, very unlikely this time either.

Dunno, I still think Holland and France look pretty good.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Boges

[overthere]

I don't think the number of referees or having access to appeals on calls in the prime problem with officiating at the World Cup.

The bigger problem is the quality of the officials.

FIFA wants to have everybody represented: nations, continents, races, leagues etc. That means they have a wide cross section of humanity blowing a whistle, it does not mean they have the best refs at the tournament. They should be using only pro level officials selected solely on merit.

[-TSS-]

It would make my World Cup to see Italy lose to Uruguay today.

Your wish has been granted!

[Boges]

I haven't seen the video but I hear Suarez bit a dude and Italy got a Red Card.

Delicious Irony.

[Boges]

Nice

[overthere]

I expect Suarez then fell to the ground writhing and clutching his mouth, in the finest soccer tradition of fake injuries?

[Boges]

That photo I posted was one of the 2 previous times he bit a dude.

Here's a Vine of the Biting today.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/suarez-strikes-uruguay-star-bites-chiellini-article-1.1842070

[guyser]

I expect Suarez then fell to the ground writhing and clutching his mouth, in the finest soccer tradition of fake injuries?

Exactly !

Pretty cheap of Suarez. If I were the coach, he'd sit a game.

[overthere]

I was just guessing what happened after Suarez bit the Italian this time, but I was right: Suarez fell to the turf with painful teeth.

Here is the greatest biting incident in soccer; a player biting his own teammates pink bits in a goalscoring celebration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oByEN7Bwpp8

Oh my.

[overthere]

Exactly !

Pretty cheap of Suarez. If I were the coach, he'd sit a game.

If I were

a)FIFA

had any balls at all

Suarez would sit at least 10 games as a repeat offender.