OT: World Cup so far

Submitted by MGoRobo on

So I figure it's a Thursday afternoon...we're all either at work or bored at home.  So I figure I'd ask what the general opinion is on the World Cup so far and what you expect from the next couple of days.

Favorite goals, favorite games, games you most look forward to...etc.  Thing you haven't liked can go here as well...why not.

MichfaninWisc

June 17th, 2010 at 1:05 PM ^

The red card on South Africas goalie last night makes me turn off soccer....he maybe got a toe on Uruguay forward, but the dude somehow went flying 10 feet....he may or not be Carlos Brown's lost brother

Sgt. Wolverine

June 17th, 2010 at 1:19 PM ^

is why that can't just be a penalty shot.  That's already a pretty severe punishment with a very strong chance of a goal.  If the play was dangerous, then sure, I understand a red card.  But if he takes away a near-certain goal but doesn't put the player at risk, then the punishment of a penalty kick AND a red card seems ridiculously excessive for the crime.

MGoBender

June 17th, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^

But without it there is really no penalty.  Remember, the foul is preventing the (extremely likely) goal already.  If you only give a PK, all you are doing is giving the offense what it had already earned and you are not penalizing the defense for an egregious infraction.  Without the thread of cards, there's never a reason not to foul in situations like where the RSA keeper fouled.

Furthermore, this helps keeps the game more fluid and exciting.  Would you rather watch a bunch of PKs or actually see defenders give an honost effort and see a goal scored during the regular course of play?

Sgt. Wolverine

June 17th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^

Yes...much like, say, goaltending in basketball.  Except when they call goaltending, they don't also call a technical foul on the offending team.  Or like a hockey penalty that illegally takes away a clear scoring chance from an opponent, except they don't also send the offending player to the box to serve the two minutes (unless he was called for a double minor, in which case he serves the second half of the double).  Unless there's something serious above and beyond simply taking away the scoring chance, giving a player a red card and removing him from the match is overkill.

Aren't you overstating what might happen if the red card were taken out of the mix for non-dangerous fouls in those situations?  The threat of a likely goal is pretty significant.  Besides, hockey awards penalty shots with no further punishment, and even though a hockey goalie has a pretty decent chance at stopping the shot, that hasn't resulted in a rash of penalty shots due to infractions on breakaways.

MGoBender

June 17th, 2010 at 5:34 PM ^

But neither of those cases are nearly as egregious as taking away a clear goal scoring opportunity in the soccer sense.  Basketball for fairly obvious reasons - there are something like 50 buckets vs. 1-2 goals.  In hockey a breakaway isn't really a sure thing at all.

A red card isn't given for taking away a scoring chance - it's more for taking away a for sure goal.

Soccer example: a non-goalie handles the ball to prevent it from entering the goal.  This is a red card, by rule.  The act took away a 100% "chance" of a goal and gave up a 80% chance of a PK goal.  Without the red card, you'd have players handling the ball on corner kicks all the time.

The trip by the goalie, with nobody between the attacker and the net, took away a 100% chance of goal and gave up an 80% chance of goal. 

It's a stiff penalty, but I think it is the right way to do it.  Otherwise you see a lot more fouls and many more PKs instead of players playings respectable defense and offensive players scoring real goals.

Note my distinction - for a red it really needs to be a for sure, 100% goal that the defender is taking away.  If it isn't, the yellow comes out.

Korean Wolverine20

June 17th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^

What I liked

- Tshabalala's goal in the first game

- All the spirit and the excitement of the World Cup

- S. Korea 

- The fact that N. Korea actually scored a goal and dominated the first half against Brazil

- Bafana Bafana

 

What I dislike

-Today's red card to Nigeria when the Greek guy flopped like shit and the red card on South Africa's goalie.

- Flopping in general

- A whole bunch of pusscakes running flopping or acting like they fucking got shot. Seriously, play like men and grow some balls

PIJER

June 17th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^

That OSN report failed to capitalize on what truly could be considered gay! (In a "that's gay" type of way) All of the flopping sucks! Only sport where superior atheletes lay on the ground to gain a foul!

MGoRobo

June 17th, 2010 at 1:54 PM ^

You don't play to tie the game...tho in the group stage if you have a tied game and momentum is on the other team's side, you play conservatively so you dont give up a goal and lose the match.  1-1 is much better than giving up 3 points to the other team.

When it's an even game, they're not playing to tie.  I'm sorry you feel that way, but the intensity will pick up a lot more once games are actually win or go home in group stage or elimination games from the next round on.

EDIT: have to agree with the bzzzzzz, though. I don't notice cause most games I watch on mute at work, but at home it is distracting.

johnvand

June 17th, 2010 at 2:35 PM ^

I will admit, I will probably care/watch more once we get to the win or go home round.

Also, what's up with ESPN importing all these analysts from England, Spain, South America, wherever?  I have such a hard time understanding what they hell they're trying to say.

For somebody who is soccer dumb, this World Cup (both the games, and the TV production) has done nothing to bring me in.

dr eng1ish

June 17th, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^

Best team- tie btw Germany and Argentina.  That was quite a performance today by Argentina's attack, but their defense may well betray them soon enough.  Interested to see how Germany handles Serbia.

Best player- Lionel Messi.  He's done everything but score a goal.  Really played well so far.

Best goal- Tshabalala's in the opener by far.  Really an amazing strike.

Most disappointing team- (duh) Spain. WHAT HAPPENED?!? Still expect them to win the group but they have to be on alert now.

Worst team- Algeria.  They looked like crap losing to another team that looked slightly less like crap.

jmblue

June 17th, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^

Even though it seems to happen every WC, it's always amusing to see Spain come in massively hyped and then leave tails between their legs.  (I know, they still have time to recover, but their margin for error is very slim now.)  Serves them right for putting their first names on their jerseys.  Brazil can get away with that because they've won five Cups.  Spain hasn't earned that.

I also look forward to England's inevitable controversial defeat in the quarters.

Blue in Yarmouth

June 17th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^

I realize that this background noise from their horns is a cultural thing, but for me it ruins the atmosphere a bit. One of my favorite things about european football (world football in general) is the singing and chanting that goes from the opening whistle to the closing whistle. I can't hear any of it. Anyway, a few nice goals and a lot of draws so far. I look forward to the next round.

The Real T

June 17th, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^

I think Brazil is very "unBrazilian this year."

There will be an average of 2-3 goals per game.

Germany will likely make a run.

Hopefully USA makes it out.

Wes Mantooth

June 17th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^

I like that there's another game about to start in 10 minutes.  Work is a whole lot more interesting when you have a World Cup Match to follow in the background.  Having games on from the minute I show up at work until a little while before I go home is awesome.

I also like that I took tomorrow off and will be able to roll out of bed to watch the next US match...

jamiemac

June 17th, 2010 at 2:46 PM ^

Uruguay. Best D in the field. Great goal scorer in Forlan, my new man crush.

Swiss over Spain was a game that didnt expect to have your attention, but you couldnt take your eyes off it once it got going.

The tournament is picking up steam. 14 of 16 first leg games went UNDER the total. But, all three games in the second leg that have gone final went OVER the total.

This whole second leg should be exciting.

Also: I, ahem, have really liked the justcoverblog's soccer coverage. Check it out, yo!

Go Mexico! Go France! DRAW!!!! My bank account needs it

ken725

June 17th, 2010 at 5:02 PM ^

My favorite moment was Robert Green's attempt at a save.  Since I'm a USMNT fan, I was going to say watching Mexico not make it out of group, but France failed to do their job.