Zidane's Headbutt Discussion and also some stuff on that FIFA World Cup 2006 thing

[Kirobaito]

But it does make sense, in a fashion. Eddie Pope committed an awful drag-down foul in the first half, and was rightfully yellow carded. If his second foul -- which I missed -- was just as bad and another yellow card worthy, then it could be justified.

Pope's red card was a result of a perfect play on the ball - the Italian player, after taking about three perfect steps after losing the ball, just furiously collapsed to the ground. But then again, that's all there is in soccer. Guys faking injury after injury just to get calls.

Now, that's 20 fouls on the US compared to 8 for Italy. This could either be an agenda against the US, or our players just might not be total pansies like the Italians are, diving every time someone gets within 3 feet. If anyone wonders why the US hates soccer, this is why.

[Cz]

But it does make sense, in a fashion. Eddie Pope committed an awful drag-down foul in the first half, and was rightfully yellow carded. If his second foul -- which I missed -- was just as bad and another yellow card worthy, then it could be justified.

To be honest, I think you're right. Pope's second challenge wasn't the cleanest, and certainly as deserving of a yellow card as some of the others we've seen in the tournament so far. That won't stop the Italians and Americans from complaining about their respective sendings off, though. And it really has had a negative effect on what was looking like an excellent game. Still, it would be rather unfair to fault the ref, I suppose.

[Kirobaito]

Dammit. God forbid someone actually score in this dang-blasted sport.

I do like that the ref has stopped calling fouls every time the Italians fall down. It's been absolute crap so far how much flopping they've done.

EDIT: This ref is awful.

[Cz]

Hmm, not sure what to make of that offside decision. McBride didn't seem to touch the ball, but the fact that he was there in the first place (both because he was in a position to control it, and because he was blocking Buffon's line of sight) could mean he's considered active. Still, the US are looking threatening even with their numerical disadvantage, and with twenty minutes to go they could yet win this.

[Kirobaito]

Hmm, not sure what to make of that offside decision. McBride didn't seem to touch the ball, but the fact that he was there in the first place (both because he was in a position to control it, and because he was blocking Buffon's line of sight) could mean he's considered active. Still, the US are looking threatening even with their numerical disadvantage, and with twenty minutes to go they could yet win this.

It was for obstruction. I didn't know that was a rule.

[Croyles]

But it does make sense, in a fashion. Eddie Pope committed an awful drag-down foul in the first half, and was rightfully yellow carded. If his second foul -- which I missed -- was just as bad and another yellow card worthy, then it could be justified.

Pope's red card was a result of a perfect play on the ball - the Italian player, after taking about three perfect steps after losing the ball, just furiously collapsed to the ground. But then again, that's all there is in soccer. Guys faking injury after injury just to get calls.

Now, that's 20 fouls on the US compared to 8 for Italy. This could either be an agenda against the US, or our players just might not be total pansies like the Italians are, diving every time someone gets within 3 feet. If anyone wonders why the US hates soccer, this is why.

Please, dont start assuming its an agenda against your country, thats un-sportsman-like and makes you look foolish. I'm not sure whether the last sending off of the american was justified, but theres no reason to say its a biased ref. If he really is a biased ref (which i very much doubt), since Uruguay is in South America, and is way closer to Italy, Id say he'd be rooting for the USA.

The americans seem to be falling down just as much as any other team including the Italians, so their equal pansies, as is every other football player then. I admit its awful how much falling and diving there is in football generally, but l0l god forbid that doesnt make football an awful sport
If you dont like football (and while your in this thread you should probably call it that ), dont watch it.

Anyhow, even with 9 against 10, the USA are looking slightly stronger I reckon. But Del Piero has been getting a few chances.

[Kirobaito]

But it does make sense, in a fashion. Eddie Pope committed an awful drag-down foul in the first half, and was rightfully yellow carded. If his second foul -- which I missed -- was just as bad and another yellow card worthy, then it could be justified.

Pope's red card was a result of a perfect play on the ball - the Italian player, after taking about three perfect steps after losing the ball, just furiously collapsed to the ground. But then again, that's all there is in soccer. Guys faking injury after injury just to get calls.

Now, that's 20 fouls on the US compared to 8 for Italy. This could either be an agenda against the US, or our players just might not be total pansies like the Italians are, diving every time someone gets within 3 feet. If anyone wonders why the US hates soccer, this is why.

Please, dont start assuming its an agenda against your country, thats un-sportsman-like and makes you look foolish. I'm not sure whether the last sending off of the american was justified, but theres no reason to say its a biased ref. If he really is a biased ref, since Uruguay is in South America, and is way closer to Italy, Id say he'd be rooting for the USA.

The 20-8 foul differential (not sure what it is now) was my main focus about that. And my main point was not that there was an agenda against the US (though I think that both ejections were unjustified), but that we simply weren't flopping every time someone got close like the Italians have spent the entire match doing. Good for the ref, though, that since Pope's ejection, he hasn't fallen for them near as much.

[Croyles]

Fair enough.
But I gotta give credit to the refs this world cup, because they really have been trying to punish diving more than in any other previous world cup.

P.S This "dang-blasted" sport is our sport, and we dont come into your American Football thread (assuming that is what you watch) and say how crap it is l0l.
Annnnnnyywaaaay, things are really taking surprising turns in the world cup lately.

*Has a minute of Silence for Fritz Walter*

[Cz]

Not the best football match you'll see in your life, but plenty of drama. A draw leaves the group nice and open, at least, and the USA played far better than they did against the Czechs, posing a reasonable attacking threat while continuing to defend well with nine men. I'd say that all three red cards were justified, but that the game would have been better off without them nevertheless. They overshadowed what was an excellent competition for the opening thirty minutes, and will hurt both teams in their final group games.

Still, a good result for the USA, and it keeps Group E interesting. We should see a great final round of games.

[Russielloyd]

Mastroeni's tackle was horrific, though I'd like to see it a few more times before saying it definitely wasn't a red.

That's nonsense, his studs were showing his tackling foot was off the ground and caught Pirlo right in the ankle, it could of been a serious injury.

Deffinately a red card.

Pope was sent off because he picked up 2 yellow cards, his 2nd yellow card was a stupid tackle, he took the player from behind and didn't take the ball and 2 yellows make a red.

Deserve to have gone down to 9 men.

And it's FOOTBALL, not f**king soccer! call your own pathectic sports soccer. If you don't like how FOOTBALL is played then piss off, simple as...

[Spatvark]

As I said, I want to see it a few more times; not caught any replays of it since I posted that.

Group E table now stands as:<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td>Rank</td><td>Country</td><td>W</td><td>D</td><td>L</td><td>GF</td><td>GA</td><td>GD</td><td>Pts</td></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>Italy</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>4</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>Czech Republic</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>Ghana</td><td>1</td><td> 0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>USA</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>-3</td><td>1</td></tr>
</table>

[Resha]

[q]Hmm, not sure what to make of that offside decision. McBride didn't seem to touch the ball, but the fact that he was there in the first place (both because he was in a position to control it, and because he was blocking Buffon's line of sight) could mean he's considered active. Still, the US are looking threatening even with their numerical disadvantage, and with twenty minutes to go they could yet win this.[/q]

Well, the replays showed him trying to poke it in. He didn't make contact with the ball -- he didn't need to -- but he attempted it, from an offside position, and maybe that's why they called offside. He definitely attempted a swipe at it. A beautiful strike from Beasley, though.

All the red cards are going to be debated, hotly defended and controversial. But there's no denying this match was a very physical one right from the start, when Totti was yellow carded under five minutes of play, and a million free kicks given away.

Full credit to the USA -- they played brilliantly against all odds. Keller made some great saves; Landon Donovan, Jesus Christ, was amazing. They clung on, the USA, and surely no critic will deny that. A much, much better game than they had against the Czechs. If they continue on in this vein, they'll give Ghana a run for their money. Italy didn't shine overmuch, and the Czech Republic -- if they pick themselves up after their loss -- might provide a good match yet.

With so many teams confirmed a place in the 16, it's fantastic to have a nail-baiting last round of matches.

[Psychotic]

Even you have to admit you were somewhat entertained by that, KB.

As Spat said, those Czechs sure do miss Koller and Baros. Rosicky doesn't look so hot now, does he Resha? and he has terrible hair, and so I am going to mock him all season just like Cz mocked Harry Kewell.

Italy will be fuming that they couldn't beat a 9 man USA, and eh, they didn't deserve to anyway. I remember discussion in this thread about how the USA would miss Brad Friedel...based on this evidence, I don't think so. Keller more than made up for his mistake against the Czechs. Even Landon Donovan didn't play terribly, but for me the star was Reyna, who held everything together.

Mastroeni didn't deserve a red, he deserved a yellow for that challenge, and as for Pope, well, some refs would give either one of them as a yellow, some would give neither, and some would give both. Tonight's falls into the last category.

Group E is going to have a fascinating last game.

Oh, and two of my fantasy football players got sent off today. Yeehaw! :laugh:

[Russielloyd]

I think Mastroeni did deserve his red card, he could of broke Pirlo's ankle, the studs were showing aswell and that's a number one example to give a straight red card.

[Kirobaito]

Even you have to admit you were somewhat entertained by that, KB.

As Spat said, those Czechs sure do miss Koller and Baros. Rosicky doesn't look so hot now, does he Resha? and he has terrible hair, and so I am going to mock him all season just like Cz mocked Harry Kewell.

Italy will be fuming that they couldn't beat a 9 man USA, and eh, they didn't deserve to anyway. I remember discussion in this thread about how the USA would miss Brad Friedel...based on this evidence, I don't think so. Keller more than made up for his mistake against the Czechs. Even Landon Donovan didn't play terribly, but for me the star was Reyna, who held everything together.

Mastroeni didn't deserve a red, he deserved a yellow for that challenge, and as for Pope, well, some refs would give either one of them as a yellow, some would give neither, and some would give both. Tonight's falls into the last category.

Group E is going to have a fascinating last game.

Oh, and two of my fantasy football players got sent off today. Yeehaw! :laugh:

It was one of the better soccer games I've seen, I will admit (though, our victory over Portugal in the last world cup was better), but honestly, there were two goals in the first 27 minutes, both of which I missed, and then 65 minutes of nothing but flopping and more flopping and more flopping and more flopping.