World Cup

[Kirsten]

@ Richard: How very disgusting!!! Well, he didn't play over the entire 90 minutes, so maybe he didn't trade his jersey with anyone - hopefully not!

@Barbara: Well, I used to be an addict in the early 80s (VfB Stuttgart). Always hated Bayern München, btw. These days, I'm only watching the big tournaments, and this time, the entire atmosphere is so positive that it's just addictive.

Kirsten

[CultureJunky]

What do people think of the football overall?
I have to admit I'm pretty disappointed by the level of it, it seems quite poor compared to other world cups that have been before.
There doesn't seem to have been one particular player that has stood out for me, the world cup always makes at least one star, and I've yet to see it.
There has also been only a handful of great goals, the two in Germany's first match, Maxi's goal for Argentina, Joe Cole's goal for England and Gerrards....other than that I have to say I'm quite disappointed.
It's also a shame the refereeing has been so dire! It's funny cause FIFA were on about the refs were going to be very good this tournament and they've been worse than I've ever seen!! Bring back Collina!
I am glad they're clamping down on the diving, but I have to say the ref bought the penalty against Australia and Italy cheated blatantly. So I am NOT rooting for Italy at all, I do not like cheats, if you can't beat the man, tough, you don't go down and cheat! grrrrrrrrrr.
My respect for Henry has gone down too when he cheated and covered his face against spain which led to the free kick which they then won the match.
I HATE people who cheat. If the players are so skillful and are worth the ridiculous amounts of money they're on, then show me already!!!!!

[beeniesmom]

I am glad they're clamping down on the diving, but I have to say the ref bought the penalty against Australia and Italy cheated blatantly. So I am NOT rooting for Italy at all, I do not like cheats, if you can't beat the man, tough, you don't go down and cheat! grrrrrrrrrr.
My respect for Henry has gone down too when he cheated and covered his face against spain which led to the free kick which they then won the match.
I HATE people who cheat. If the players are so skillful and are worth the ridiculous amounts of money they're on, then show me already!!!!!

You aren't biased at all I see.
If it was the other way around I'm sure you would have "seen" it differently.
Do you play soccer? How can you tell REALLY if someone is injured? Only that person knows. I HATE people who are so drammatic about sports. It's a game. Get a grip and get over it.

[Miss Z]

People, people! It's *only* a game!

(How many times have I said that and caused a riot)

I can see CultureJunky's point. If you can't play fairly, then why bother playing at all? It doesn't show skill and certainly doesn't do anything for character. But there are far more teams than Italy that have 'cheated' so far.

And everyone sees things differently. When Maradonna scored against England many years ago, there was huge uproar as they said the goal shouldn't have been allowed.
More recently, Peter Crouch scored for us against Trinidad & Tobago. We would say it was a great goal. Not long after the match, a picture emerged of the huge Peter Crouch holding down the Trinidad & Tobago defender in order to score his great header.

How could we have missed something we saw so clearly before, some might say.

[beeniesmom]

Ms. Z,
I, like you, think it's just great fun and a sport.
Gosh I remember the Maradona thing too and it was..... how many cups ago?
Wow, what a memory!

[Miss Z]

LOL, it was before I was born, 1986 I was just brought up on how it was 'an outrage'. From my dad's words 'the Hand of God my ar$e'

[beeniesmom]

I was 10!

[Killearn Kitties]

Gosh I remember the Maradona thing too and it was..... how many cups ago?
Wow, what a memory!

No, no, no. You misunderstand. Zara's memory is not that good (notwithstanding the fact that she wasn't born!), it's just that the English press still talk about that particular incident every time Argentina is mentioned!

And never mind 1986, they still talk about the time they won the World Cup in 1966 as if it were not only last week, but their rightful place to be.

[DIANESDOGS]

Hi Everyone,

I haven't been on in a while, but I knew there would be a thread on the World Cup somewhere. I just love the game and get caught up in the fervor. Although, I must admit I do not normally follow until now!

Help me out though, a I am a relative newcomer to the sport and as you all know (and as Bob's Dad seems to have riled up some), Soccer is not as big in the States - WHAT IS the Hand of God???

[Miss Z]

And never mind 1986, they still talk about the time they won the World Cup in 1966 as if it were not only last week, but their rightful place to be.

Ha ha, LOL, yes, it could be like yesterday by the way some people talk about it

Soccer is not as big in the States - WHAT IS the Hand of God???

'The Hand of God' is how Diego Maradonna described his goal against England in 1986. The ball hit his hand before going into the net, and the goal was counted, The English fans were absolutely gobsmacked and completely rebelled against this. Maradonna replied by saying his goal was allowed by the Hand of God

[Barbara]

@Barbara: Well, I used to be an addict in the early 80s (VfB Stuttgart). Always hated Bayern München, btw. These days, I'm only watching the big tournaments, and this time, the entire atmosphere is so positive that it's just addictive.

Kirsten

I would have guessed you were rather a Lion type (TSV 1860 )

Guess who has an appointment at the hairdresser tomorrow at 5

[RICHARD]

@ Richard: How very disgusting!!! Well, he didn't play over the entire 90 minutes, so maybe he didn't trade his jersey with anyone - hopefully not!

LOLOLOL..

Here's another observation....

why do the defenders put both hands in front of them on the penalty kicks?


One of my fondest memories was going to a restaurant with my dad and watching a game when the cup was here in Lost Angeles.

what wonderful fans.

There was a story about a couple who rode bicycles from Uzbekistan to get and autograph from a player...

Those are fans!

[Miss Z]

LOLOLOL..

Here's another observation....

why do the defenders put both hands in front of them on the penalty kicks?

LOL, ask any footballer, those free-kicks are taken with a very poweful kick....

1-0 Argentina so far

[Anita Cholaine]

The match is going really well by now. Any team could still win anyways...
I think Ayala's goal was beautiful

[Kirsten]

Yes, it was, even though I'm not too happy about it.

I hope David Odonkor can still turn the match around. At least they all play more offensive now after the 0:1.

Kirsten