Soccer Thread 2011-2012 [Archive] - Front Office Football Central

Mac Howard

07-04-2011, 07:13 PM

How's this for a missed handball/penalty?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c-5ebHnlsE

The ball comes across from the left and is met at the near post by an attacker. The shot hits the left hand post and bounces out into the middle of the six yard box. A defender catches the ball, walks a couple of paces holding it in two hands and then, realising what she's doing, drops the ball which the 'keeper picks up and clears. No penalty given.

An attacker has the time while the defender holds the ball to stop, stare in astonishment, point at the defender and turn to the ref and say something like "look what's she's doing" and the look of sheer disbelief on her face as the ref waves "play on" is a classic.

DaddyTorgo

07-04-2011, 07:39 PM

Tevez puts in another transfer request. Thanks and goodbye!

Kun Aguero = yes please

Kun is great.

MIJB#19

07-05-2011, 09:41 AM

Easy Mac

07-05-2011, 10:21 AM

SirFozzie

07-05-2011, 10:27 AM

Easy Mac

07-05-2011, 11:00 AM

Hmmm. Knew the corner and throw. Didn't know the goal kick. I know I've seen it called before, but it must have been erroneous.

MIJB#19

07-05-2011, 02:33 PM

The last couple of days Jozy Altidore has been linked with AZ. That would be a nice addition for them.

DaddyTorgo

07-05-2011, 03:39 PM

The last couple of days Jozy Altidore has been linked with AZ. That would be a nice addition for them.

Different positions and all...but if they want an American they should go with Adu (based solely on current form admittedly).

Altidore would be okay I guess, but please god if they sign him, please play him and develop his ass, instead of letting him rot.

MrBug708

07-05-2011, 05:23 PM

Hmmm. Knew the corner and throw. Didn't know the goal kick. I know I've seen it called before, but it must have been erroneous.

He also touched him but it was after he had the ball. To be fair though, in a bang bang play like that, I dont think any ref wouldn't have given that less than a red card from the angle the ref was at.

Big Fo

07-05-2011, 05:23 PM

Blade6119

07-05-2011, 06:57 PM

It would be nice if instead of/in addition to signing players in positions where the team already has a number of good to great options (other than the de Gea signing obviously), Man Utd went out and bought a central midfielder. Preferably two of them, a ball-winner and a creative one who can score a few goals. So far the club's only been linked with the latter kind though.

Part of my wonders if they might shift Nani inside into a false 9 type of role, leaving young and valencia on the flanks and someone like fletcher acting as a destroyer in a 4-4-2 diamond type of deal. I know hes a winger, but hes the only player I see on the top team right now with the flair to pull it off(oh magnus eikrem, how i miss you so)

Big Fo

07-05-2011, 08:29 PM

Part of my wonders if they might shift Nani inside into a false 9 type of role, leaving young and valencia on the flanks and someone like fletcher acting as a destroyer in a 4-4-2 diamond type of deal. I know hes a winger, but hes the only player I see on the top team right now with the flair to pull it off(oh magnus eikrem, how i miss you so)

Rooney had done quite well towards the end of the season playing in the hole with Chicharito ahead of him, I imagine that is where he will be next season.

I don't think the 4-4-2 diamond is a formation SAF will be using next season, the 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1 worked really well once Rooney found his form again. If Arsenal actually do sell Nasri to Man Utd (I still doubt this is going to happen), I assume he would be played as part of the two in the middle but I wonder if he can contribute enough defensively for this to work against some of the better teams.

Icy

07-06-2011, 04:18 AM

Real Madrid is forming an incredible deep team, in fact they could field two different teams able to compete at the top level.

Casillas
Adan

Ramos Pepe Carvalho Marcelo
Arbeloa Varene Albiol Coentrao

Xavi Alonso Sahin
Kedira Granero
Di Maria Kaka C.Ronaldo
Altintop Ozil Callejon

Higuain
Bencema

And still one forward more to sign, either Kun Aguero or Neimar.

Between this and Barcelona, the Spanish league is becoming more and more of an Scottish league clone, with two teams who lose 1 or 2 games in the whole season and end with 40+ points over the 3rd team.

sovereignstar v2

07-06-2011, 05:58 PM

MIJB#19

07-06-2011, 06:12 PM

Different positions and all...but if they want an American they should go with Adu (based solely on current form admittedly).

Altidore would be okay I guess, but please god if they sign him, please play him and develop his ass, instead of letting him rot.That's very unlikely to happen, AZ won't be spending all that money to not actually play Altidore. This ain't one of those leagues where clubs can get away with spending money despite being in serious debt. Based on what I heard about Altidore, I think he would be a great fit overhere.

Mac Howard

07-06-2011, 06:58 PM

cue offside rule joke

Sexist it may be (though I think tongue in cheek) but I had to laugh at the comment "that's why they should be in the kitchen" :)

There could be a quarter-final match-up between the USA and the Matildas (Aussie women) depending on the USA's last game.

DeToxRox

07-06-2011, 08:44 PM

So is Qatar really going to get the World Cup? Christ.

LONDON (Reuters) - FIFA could allow matches at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar to be played over three 30-minute periods if temperatures in the stadiums became dangerously high for the players, a senior stadium engineer told delegates at a conference on Wednesday.

Michael Beavon, a director of Arup Associates who helped to develop the zero-carbon solar technology that will cool the 12 stadiums, told delegates at the Qatar Infrastructure Conference in London that the air-cooling would maintain a comfortable temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius in the stadiums.

"There is a moderate risk of heat injury to the players between 24C-29C but if you go above that you have high and extreme risk of injury.

"The one thing FIFA do say, although it is for guidance, is if it's 32C they will stop a match and play three 30-minute thirds rather than two 45-minute halves.

"The reason would be to re-hydrate the players before they could carry on playing. That of course would play havoc with TV schedules and those kind of things.

"The commitment from Qatar was to provide conditions in the moderate band, so that matches would go ahead and be played as normal. Matches have to be played at an acceptable temperature and in safety so that FIFA do not intervene."

A FIFA spokesman told Reuters: "This possibility has not been discussed. In any case, this would require a change in the Laws of the Game, and therefore would have to be analysed and approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in the first place."

The laws of the game state that a match will last for two periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed by the referee and both teams, though any changes to the usual 45-minute halves have always been to reduce the playing time for age-group matches.

INJURY RISK

Beavon said that when FIFA's inspection team evaluating the World Cup bids for 2022 visited Qatar in September last year, the external temperature was 44 Celsius - very similar to the external conditions there will be at the World Cup.

"During those conditions we had to demonstrate to them that we could create a comfortable, open-air environment, using zero carbon technologies in the stadiums.

"There are no actual requirements for the players, but 70 percent of their comfort issues surround heat and humidity and we have to keep the heat and humidity at bay.

"Players have to sweat their heat off when they are running around, and in this environment there is a risk of injury when you go above certain temperatures.

"I think FIFA are doing the right thing in having a contingency if the temperature was to rise above 29C in the stadium. It is very forward-thinking of them to take the players' safety into account, but I am convinced that the cooling systems will be 100 percent reliable.

"Over the next 11 years the technology will be improved and of course there will be a back-up system. With a solar-powered system it is almost 100 percent guaranteed now, and we have no real fears that it would fail."

Qatar was controversially awarded the finals last December, beating off bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States in the process.

The two-day conference in London highlighted the enormous infrastructure changes being planned for the Gulf state between now and 2030 which include new motorways, metro and rail projects, many of which are planned to be completed well before the World Cup.

(Created by Mike Collett; Editing by Clare Fallon)

DaddyTorgo

07-06-2011, 09:08 PM

This Qatar shit is fucking idiotic.

Icy

07-07-2011, 10:06 AM

Hey Icy, I'm curious about how often Atletico and Real do business. How upset would Atletico fans get if they sell their star player to their major rivals? All other factors relatively even, wouldn't they be better served to sell Aguero to any other team?

Atletico has stated that they won't ever sell Aguero to R.Madrid as the fans wouldn't ever accept it. But in Spain players have a release clause, so R.Madrid can pay it (45Million Euros) and the player is free to sign with them.

But...R.Madrid president has a honor pact with Atletico one about never using that clause against each other so... it's all about if R.Madrid will honor that pact or not.

Also related to that release clause there are some issues too and lawyers are discussing about it in the news. It's a bit complex but i'll try to explain:

The release clause is always paid by teams but the written law says that as it's the player who is paying to void his contract, it must be the player who pays that clause, not the buying team. In that case, R.Madrid can give the 45M to Aguero and he pays it but... it'¡s not that easy. If R.Madrid gives 45M to Aguero, it's like a salary, so Aguero needs to pay taxes over it. So to get 45M to pay Atletico, Aguero would need to receive from Madrid like 70M, that is way over his price.

Atletico has said that if Aguero comes with 45M to void his contract and signs with R.Madrid, they will denounce him to the tax authorities to make sure that R.Madrid didn't give that to him without paying the taxes.

So yes, there is a big war over it. Atletico doesn't want Aguero to come back as he is already hated by the fans for saying he wanted to leave, but on the other hand, they don't want to sell him to R.Madrid. The problem is that there aren't a lot of teams who can pay 45M for him besides R.Madrid, Chelsea, Juve, etc. Fans wouldn't probably accept either that Aguero is sold for less than 45M as R.Madrid is offering it already so... really complex and nobody really knows what will happen.

DaddyTorgo

07-07-2011, 10:09 AM

Word is that the USSF has contacted Bielsa about coming on as technical director (but leaving Bradley in place). I say fuck them - embrace wholesale change and bring Bielsa on as Technical Director and USMNT Head Coach. Give him the keys.

DaddyTorgo

07-07-2011, 10:11 AM

That's really interesting about the legality of the reserve clauses and taxation Icy...didn't know that was going on. Very very interesting.

bhlloy

07-07-2011, 10:24 AM

Isn't that basically the same reason that Rubio didn't want to come over - that he would have to pay the release clause himself and NBA rules wouldn't let Minnesota pay him directly to pay the release clause?

whomario

07-07-2011, 03:13 PM

The first semifinal in the U17 World Cup is underway, Brazil faces Uruguay.
2nd semi final will be Mexico versus Germany.

Should be 2 fun games, hope the german team learned sth from their late scare against England when they almost gave up a 3:0 lead with some very bad decicions on both ends. Up until the midway point of the 2nd half they played a good game although even then England was better than the score sugested.
The assist for the 3:0 was fucking brilliant btw

Big Fo

07-07-2011, 04:38 PM

I'm going to miss Wes Brown and John O'Shea, both of whom are joining Sunderland.

Brown was always underrated during his prime, overshadowed by bigger names like Ferdinand, Stam, and Vidic. But he was a good player for many seasons at both right back and in central defense. A surprising fact is that he had the most appearances of any player on the 2007-8 EPL/Champs League double winning team. Unfortunately injuries, the improvement of the da Silva twins, and a falling out with SAF led to him becoming more of a squad player in recent seasons.

As for O'Shea, there have been so many great moments. Nutmegging Figo in his first season, THAT injury time goal at Anfield, the chip against Arsenal, his wonderful goalkeeping cameo against Spurs. And although he wasn't flashy he was a steady performer at fullback over the years.

Their departures leave the team with just Evra and the twins at fullback. Either someone else will need to be signed, someone from the youth team comes up (though I think the best prospects are all midfielders or wingers), or Smalling/Evans will have to play out of position occasionally.

whomario

07-07-2011, 05:45 PM

Uruguay beats Brazil 3:0 and embraces the stereotypes along the way, that´s certainly not a squad afraid to make challenges ;) Fully deserved this win though, no question

Marc Vaughan

07-07-2011, 06:22 PM

I'm going to miss Wes Brown and John O'Shea, both of whom are joining Sunderland.
Surprised to see both leave to be honest, I could have seen one of them going - as they're both now over 30, but both Brown and O'Shea have been useful players and are still capable of solid performances when required and their experience and stability (in terms of the squad 'knowing them' and having worked with them for years) has been a real asset to the club.

If Man Utd get a few knocks next season then they'll be missed imho ...

Mac Howard

07-07-2011, 06:45 PM

So is Qatar really going to get the World Cup? Christ.

We often have "drink breaks" in the game over here (Australia) when the temperature rises into the mid-thirties. The ref stops play and the players all move over to the sideline to take on water or energy drinks.

The main appeal to FIFA on this, I suspect, is that it means an extra advertising break and millions more pouring into the FIFA coffers as a result. The other football codes here all, infuriatingly, have advertising during the match itself except soccer but the TV companies are very quick to take advantage of the drinks break :rolleyes:

Mac Howard

07-07-2011, 06:54 PM

Mac: You're the one with egg on your face:

BBC SPORT | Football | Laws & Equipment | Think you know your offside? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4993924.stm)

You are not offside if: You receive the ball directly from a goal kick, a throw-in or a corner

Absolutely right, SirFozzie. But there is another rule that says a defender isn't allowed to pick up the ball and walk with it inside her own six yard box. That's called "handball" and is usually frowned on even by FIFA refs :)

I suspect the defender thought the ball had gone out of play and was handing the ball to the keeper for what she thought would be the subsequent goal-kick. But it hadn't, it had simply come back off the post. But how the ref missed it with the defender carrying the ball in her hands for a couple of paces and for 2 or 3 seconds before dropping it for the keeper (who was screaming at her in disbelief) to pick up and clear is amazing. The ref says she didn't see it but where was she looking with the ball bouncing around in the six yard box?

Unfortunately FIFA seemed to have removed the video for "copyright reasons" but I think it was out of sheer embarrassment for one of the worst missed handball/penalty events you could imagine.

sovereignstar v2

07-07-2011, 07:49 PM

Absolutely right, SirFozzie. But there is another rule that says a defender isn't allowed to pick up the ball and walk with it inside her own six yard box. That's called "handball" and is usually frowned on even by FIFA refs :)

I suspect the defender thought the ball had gone out of play and was handing the ball to the keeper for what she thought would be the subsequent goal-kick. But it hadn't, it had simply come back off the post. But how the ref missed it with the defender carrying the ball in her hands for a couple of paces and for 2 or 3 seconds before dropping it for the keeper (who was screaming at her in disbelief) to pick up and clear is amazing. The ref says she didn't see it but where was she looking with the ball bouncing around in the six yard box?

Unfortunately FIFA seemed to have removed the video for "copyright reasons" but I think it was out of sheer embarrassment for one of the worst missed handball/penalty events you could imagine.

You made the same mistake I did. SirFozzie was replying to Easy Mac and not you.

Mac Howard

07-08-2011, 03:51 AM

You made the same mistake I did. SirFozzie was replying to Easy Mac and not you.

Ah, I see. I looked and looked, re-read my post a couple of times, in an attempt to understand how he could possibly have read it as involving the offside rule. I came to the conclusion that the video clip had been removed and MIJB#19's comment about the offside joke had perhaps misled him :)

RainMaker

07-08-2011, 04:13 AM

So is Qatar really going to get the World Cup? Christ.
The technology they are banking on has never been used in a large stadium and there are a lot of people who don't think it can be done on that level. I think this is going to end up being a disaster.

MIJB#19

07-08-2011, 09:04 AM

Unfortunately FIFA seemed to have removed the video for "copyright reasons" but I think it was out of sheer embarrassment for one of the worst missed handball/penalty events you could imagine.The video can still be found at the FIFA website, they actually let the handsball go into the highlights of the game, despite the referee blunder, which FIFA usually tries to hide from the general public.

Edit -link: http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/video/video=1467545/index.html , starting at 0:38, with the key moment highlighted at 0:53.

MIJB#19

07-08-2011, 09:20 AM

Atletico has stated that they won't ever sell Aguero to R.Madrid as the fans wouldn't ever accept it. But in Spain players have a release clause, so R.Madrid can pay it (45Million Euros) and the player is free to sign with them.

But...R.Madrid president has a honor pact with Atletico one about never using that clause against each other so... it's all about if R.Madrid will honor that pact or not.

Also related to that release clause there are some issues too and lawyers are discussing about it in the news. It's a bit complex but i'll try to explain:

The release clause is always paid by teams but the written law says that as it's the player who is paying to void his contract, it must be the player who pays that clause, not the buying team. In that case, R.Madrid can give the 45M to Aguero and he pays it but... it'¡s not that easy. If R.Madrid gives 45M to Aguero, it's like a salary, so Aguero needs to pay taxes over it. So to get 45M to pay Atletico, Aguero would need to receive from Madrid like 70M, that is way over his price.

Atletico has said that if Aguero comes with 45M to void his contract and signs with R.Madrid, they will denounce him to the tax authorities to make sure that R.Madrid didn't give that to him without paying the taxes.

So yes, there is a big war over it. Atletico doesn't want Aguero to come back as he is already hated by the fans for saying he wanted to leave, but on the other hand, they don't want to sell him to R.Madrid. The problem is that there aren't a lot of teams who can pay 45M for him besides R.Madrid, Chelsea, Juve, etc. Fans wouldn't probably accept either that Aguero is sold for less than 45M as R.Madrid is offering it already so... really complex and nobody really knows what will happen.Not to sound like a dick here, but can you explain how Real Madrid fans look at the whole idea of buying new 'gallacticos', and then throwing the previous set of stars into the thrash can, followed by many more millions spent on yet another dozen 'gallacticos'. And All that despite the 100's of Millions that Real Madrid is in debt?
I know, the same can be said about, say, Barcelona, Manchester United or any other 'succesful big club', but Real Madrid has caught my attention for the current buy and destroy a career trend.

whomario

07-08-2011, 09:30 AM

Amazing game between Mexico and Germany at the U17 WC last night, absolute classic. Incredible intensity from both teams, great atmosphere (in the 2nd half at least, fans showed up weirfly late) and good level of play on both sides.
And terrific goals and moments as well, german midfielder Can scored on an epic run to go up 2:1, than Mexico scores on a direct corner ! On said corner a mexican and a german heavily colide, the mexican blooding like crazy, comes back like 10 minutes later with a heavy bandage/turban to delirious cheers and then scores on an epic bycicle kick :eek:

I was rooting for Germany obviously, but boy was that still exciting :)

sovereignstar v2

07-08-2011, 09:58 AM

Haha the Bayern club chief is a douche. Tapping up Jerome Boateng and pouting when City don't want to deal with a lowballing club. You buy a 21-year old German international for over 10 million pounds, he struggles with injuries, then you apparently need to feel obligated to sell him for less money less than a year later. Fuck off, Rummenigge.

You have to look at it soberly - the player is under contract with Manchester City and the decision lies with them," he told Spox. "They have demanded a price we will never be willing to pay.

At the moment they're using a tactic that I've never seen: they don't respond, even if we try to contact them.

^LOL

I think they are going to have 48 players under contract, but according to Financial Fair Play they can have only 25. And according to their last balance sheet, if I'm correct, they are minus €143m," he explained. "Maybe they still have a trick up their sleeves but I'm not sure that they will be permitted to play in the Champions League.

Financial Fair Play? Oh knoes!!1!

We do not play Manchester City rates. The club apparently always adds a bonus on top of the price because they have an owner with no financial worries. But we certainly will not pay astronomical prices.

waaaaaah waaaaaaaaaaah

sovereignstar v2

07-09-2011, 09:47 AM

I see that Rummenfuck has his dickweed quotes on front of Soccernet now. Pretty amazing how much anti-City shit these news outlets come up with. Like Adebayor and Bellamy bitching is news? Anyone remember their time previous to City? They were fucking angels, right?

As for Boateng, Mancini came out in early May and said he wasn't going anywhere. BUT BUT BUT you have got to come to the phone when Bayern Munich is calling!

Manchester City rule out Jerome Boateng sale to Bayern Munich - ESPN Soccernet (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/915514/manchester-city-rule-out-jerome-boateng-sale-to-bayern-munich?cc=5901)

Roberto Mancini is adamant defender Jerome Boateng will remain at Manchester City next season despite interest from Bayern Munich.

Boateng, 22, signed from Hamburg last summer amid high expectations after he starred for Germany at the 2010 World Cup, but he has struggled with injuries.

Bayern director of football Christian Nerlinger said this week that the Bundesliga side were "keeping tabs" on Boateng, but Mancini insists the player is not for sale.

"I am happy Bayern have said this because it proves we signed a big player," Mancini said. "Jerome has had many problems this year, including three or four injuries, but he will be staying here.

"He is a big part of our future. If he doesn't have any problems next year, Jerome can be one of the best defenders in Europe."

City technical director Mike Rigg also dismissed suggestions Boateng could leave, although he did encourage Bayern to make a bid for Emmanuel Adebayor.

"Jerome is not for sale," Rigg said. "He will be very useful next season when we have Champions League games.

"Adebayor is a player who fit in in Bavaria - he's very similar to [ex-Bayern striker] Luca Toni."

SirFozzie

07-09-2011, 01:23 PM

England has less then zero left in the gas tank against France, but they're just four minutes from penalties.. if they have five players who can kick the ball.

rowech

07-09-2011, 01:34 PM

England has less then zero left in the gas tank against France, but they're just four minutes from penalties.. if they have five players who can kick the ball.

No clue how this game is in PK's right now. England has nothing left, has been the lesser team, and somehow has a 50-50 shot of winning all of a sudden.

SirFozzie

07-09-2011, 01:40 PM

And that's why you don't put a 20 year old with five national team appearances in your PK five.

SirFozzie

07-09-2011, 01:41 PM

France wins, deserved really, but still, boo hiss.

rowech

07-09-2011, 01:42 PM

And that's why you don't put a 20 year old with five national team appearances in your PK five.

Don't know too much about English team but it sure seems like the coach would have a lot of second guessers all the way around.

Crapshoot

07-09-2011, 01:42 PM

England loses a worldcup game on penalties. Apparently some things are just innate to the national character. Heartbreaking stuff - the English captain looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

Big Fo

07-09-2011, 01:43 PM

England and penalty kicks, always entertaining.

Blade6119

07-09-2011, 03:45 PM

oykib

07-09-2011, 04:45 PM

That was a great effort by Japan. It was a bit nervy near the end though.

Marc Vaughan

07-09-2011, 09:42 PM

England and penalty kicks, always predictable.
Edited for truth ;)

Blade6119

07-10-2011, 02:56 AM

Found this interesting, I knew of a few but not all of them:

With the recent promotion of Swansea to the Premier League, I was wondering whether there are any other football teams around the world which are based in, and compete in, separate countries' football leagues? Ekrem Sonmenis asked

This is an awkward situation. Technically Wales is not a different country, though it has its own national team, but is part of the United Kingdom. However, there is a separate League of Wales. Nevertheless, six Welsh teams are in the English football pyramid: Swansea, Cardiff (in the Championship) and, in non-league, Newport, Wrexham, Colwyn Bay and Merthyr Town. Newport, Wrexham and a former club in Merthyr Tydfil have all played in the Football League in the past.

However, there is an English team who play in a different league: Berwick Rangers, members of the Scottish League since 1955 and currently in the third division. To further complicate matters, one Scottish club - Queens Park - have played in the English FA Cup, albeit in the 19th Century. They reached the final in both 1884 and 1885. Cardiff, by the way, are the only non-English club to have won the FA Cup.

In addition, the League of Ireland includes one club from Northern Ireland, Derry City. They required special dispensation to join the division south of the border. Leaving the British Isles, Major League Soccer in the United States contains two Canadian teams, Toronto and the Vancouver Whitecaps and its predecessor, NASL, also included clubs from Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal as well as Toronto and Vancouver. In addition, the Australian A-League has a side from New Zealand, Wellington Phoenix. In both cases, there is a tradition of other sports competing in club leagues across the two countries while Canada and New Zealand lack a full-time professional football league.

There are other examples. The seven-times champions of France, Monaco, actually play in a separate country, though Monaco is not a member of FIFA. Exceptions are made for other small countries, too: San Marino Calcio are in Serie C2 in Italy, FC Andorra play in Spain and Liechtenstein's club sides are in the Swiss system. Perhaps the most extreme example is Singapore's S League which has featured 10 different non-Singaporean teams, though only two are in the current division.

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 11:19 AM

USA up 1-0 on a 2nd minute own goal as we go into halftime. USA's been better than Brazil, but this one's not over by any means.

Big Fo

07-10-2011, 11:53 AM

A red card for that? Not even sure that was a penalty.

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 11:53 AM

Oh wow. Horrid call, No foul, NOT a PK, and definitely not a RED..

AND SOLO SAVES IT!

Big Fo

07-10-2011, 11:53 AM

Solo saved the PK \o/

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 11:54 AM

Someone check the ref's bank account.

Big Fo

07-10-2011, 11:54 AM

Oh for fucks sake

PilotMan

07-10-2011, 11:55 AM

holy fuck what total bs

digamma

07-10-2011, 11:56 AM

Brazil looks better than us to me, but we totally got jobbed there.

The Jackal

07-10-2011, 11:57 AM

Re-friggin-diculous.

PilotMan

07-10-2011, 11:58 AM

Brazil looks better than us to me, but we totally got jobbed there.

IMO Brazil was better before the game started.

terpkristin

07-10-2011, 12:01 PM

That sequence was absurd.

/tk

oykib

07-10-2011, 12:03 PM

That was the most ridiculous pair of calls I've ever seen in such a short stretch in a big tournament (the penalty and the retake of it).

BYU 14

07-10-2011, 12:05 PM

Someone check the ref's bank account.

You really have to wonder on that retake, Solo made a great play and that was total Bullshit, not even close.

PilotMan

07-10-2011, 12:05 PM

As soon as Marta popped up that ball it became a 50/50 ball and is fair game. She was clearly NOT in possession of the ball.

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 12:07 PM

Fans have turned on Brazil

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 12:19 PM

And Rapinoe gets booked for winning a free kick (probably for dissent or verbal argybargy, but the ref doesn't make it clear)

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 12:28 PM

Refs 2, USA 1, Brazil 0

whomario

07-10-2011, 12:30 PM

And Rapinoe gets booked for winning a free kick (probably for dissent or verbal argybargy, but the ref doesn't make it clear)

no, she got yellow for that tackle of hers that followed and was actually lucky not to get a red for doing so after the whistle. Not saying she did so consciously, but it´s either yellow for the tackle of if deemed after the whistle it´s a red.

the penalty decicion was fine imo, and i guess the ref though it was a "clear chance" (= automatic red by the rule) but should have bent the rules a bit there imo ... And the retake is obviously tough, although again propably correct by the rules as a US player was inside the area before the shot was taken ... (it wasn´t for Solo´s movement)

The US player Lloyd (?) had to get a 2nd yellow early in the 2nd half btw for an obvious handball but the Ref let that one slide only calling a free kick, so it´s not like the US didn´t get lucky as well.

Martha is pretty much the female version of Christiano Ronaldo. Whiny punk but boy can she play with that ball ... Clearly above everyone else in terms of ability.

Hope the US can come back here, their play after the red has been great.

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 12:32 PM

There's no way it was a penalty. The two players were grappling and Marta jumped in the air and dove for the penalty.

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 12:34 PM

Marta (who's on a yellow) nearly pulls an Elizabeth Lambert, but it's only a foul

Jon

07-10-2011, 12:34 PM

And the last goal should've been disallowed as a player was in the offside position.

rowech

07-10-2011, 12:35 PM

There's no way it was a penalty. The two players were grappling and Marta jumped in the air and dove for the penalty.

If you were seeing that play from field level, live speed, it looks like Marta beat the girl and got hammered from behind. I can understand the PK awarded but I will never understand the red.

Big Fo

07-10-2011, 12:36 PM

As someone who watches all of the USMNT's games I should be used my country getting this kind of treatment in big tournaments. It still stings every time though.

oykib

07-10-2011, 12:40 PM

If you were seeing that play from field level, live speed, it looks like Marta beat the girl and got hammered from behind. I can understand the PK awarded but I will never understand the red.

Refs are only supposed to call what they see. The ref couldn't have seen a denial of a gaol scoring opportunity because there wasn't one. That was an example of a ref not being big enough to handle the moment.

whomario

07-10-2011, 12:54 PM

by and large the refs have been absolutely awfull all tournament.

And some players on brazil are absolutely shameless ...

sovereignstar v2

07-10-2011, 12:59 PM

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

cartman

07-10-2011, 12:59 PM

HOLY SHIT!

The Jackal

07-10-2011, 01:00 PM

SWEET JUSTICE

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 01:00 PM

YES! YES! GET IN YOU BEAUTY! FUCK YEAH!

THEY DID IT! HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

whomario

07-10-2011, 01:00 PM

awesome goal by the US http://sportforen.de/images/smilies/jubel.gif

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 01:01 PM

The score is now: Refs 2, USA 1, Own Goals 1, Brazil 0 :)

The Jackal

07-10-2011, 01:04 PM

I think Marta gets at least a 1/2 goal for that finish, even if it was offsides beforehands.

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 01:07 PM

I don't like the look on the US taker..

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 01:13 PM

I have no fingernails left..

For the win....

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 01:13 PM

USA WIN!

cartman

07-10-2011, 01:14 PM

What a hell of a comeback!

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 01:15 PM

USA WIN!

The USWNT say "94th minute goal to make it to the knockout stage, guys?.. 123rd minute goal after being down a player for 65 minutes and two horrible referee-assisted goals to make the World Cup Semifinals. The bar has been raised, boys."

bulletsponge

07-10-2011, 01:16 PM

USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MJ4H

07-10-2011, 01:16 PM

marry me hope solo

George

07-10-2011, 01:16 PM

Friggin' awesome!

B & B

07-10-2011, 01:16 PM

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnUa_HZe-Bw/Tf7jcafYUbI/AAAAAAAABDY/UPjmQeVFWAs/s1600/US-Goalkeeper-Hope-Solo-in-Nike-Make-Yourself-campaign.jpg

rowech

07-10-2011, 01:17 PM

I can't believe I'm this excited about a women's soccer game.

BYU 14

07-10-2011, 01:37 PM

JUSTICE, sadly I had given up after the 2nd Brazil goal and went on a Bike ride....poor choice!!

Great job and Hope Solo is my new crush!

oykib

07-10-2011, 01:37 PM

Nice to see justice served.

MizzouRah

07-10-2011, 01:39 PM

THAT WAS AWESOME...

What a game.. I'm still ampted!!!!!!

King of New York

07-10-2011, 01:41 PM

That was one of the most incredible matches I've ever seen. I'm hoarse from yelling at my TV.

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 01:42 PM

So, Ian Darke has been with ESPN for just under a year and has called two of the most insane footy moments ever:

USA Men: 94th minute goal against Algeria to get to the knockout stages
USA Women: 123rd minute goal to make the World Cup Semifinals.

He's a freaking drama magnet, he is!

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 01:45 PM

MizzouRah

07-10-2011, 01:49 PM

I love the sound of the ball smacking against the back bar of the goal.

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 02:32 PM

At least with Brazil now eliminated from the WWC, Erika will have a lot more free time on her hands to rehab that horrible injury that saw her carried off the field on a stretcher near the end of extra time (evil grins)

MJ4H

07-10-2011, 02:34 PM

Im trying to work up the courage to ask Han for his daughter's hand.

PilotMan

07-10-2011, 03:27 PM

I finally got to watch the PK's and I have to say. The Brazil keeper was off her line by a good 2 steps each and every time. It still irk's me to see that. Especially the last one, by the time that the ball is struck she is a good 5 feet in. Killer finish though. I can't believe that pass and finish in extra time. How can you NOT get excited about soccer?

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 03:27 PM

Im trying to work up the courage to ask Han for his daughter's hand.

never quote me the odds.

MJ4H

07-10-2011, 04:00 PM

How can you NOT get excited about soccer?

The previous 65 minutes.

whomario

07-10-2011, 04:48 PM

Germany wins 4:3 (from down 1:3) against Brazil in the 3rd place game at the U17, what an amazing match :eek:
Should have been the final it feels like though, aaargh ... :banghead:

German guys need to work on their character a bit and obviously there´s weaknesses still, but in terms of individual and technical talent that was an impressive tournament :)

The final (Mexica-Uruguay) in front of a probably delirious crowd at the famous Aztec Stadium to follow in a little while .

Big Fo

07-10-2011, 06:05 PM

I'd love to see Uruguay shut the Azteca up.

DaddyTorgo

07-10-2011, 08:06 PM

Horrible reffing in the US vs. Brazil game (both on the initial call and then on allowing Brazil to retake the PK). Nice to see the team that deserved to win got the win.

wahoomac

07-10-2011, 08:19 PM

I'm so glad Abby Wambach plays for Team USA. (Also glad she played for UF and helped UF win the 1998 soccer National Championship. She's been fun to watch for many years.)

SirFozzie

07-10-2011, 09:30 PM

BTW, according to ESPN, the ref indicated after the game that the retake was due to Solo, not encroachment:

Women's World Cup -- U.S. captured lightning in a bottle against Brazil -- soccer - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6754797/women-world-cup-uscaptured-lightning-bottle-brazil-soccer)

Shortly following the post-match news conferences, soccer's often bumbling governing body, FIFA, said it was because Solo went forward before the ball was struck.

So that's a missed call.

DaddyTorgo

07-10-2011, 09:49 PM

The announcers on TV pointed out that it was because the ref said Solo moved at the time - but anyways that was a botched call because she didn't move forward off the line before the kick. That was my point about them botching it.

miked

07-10-2011, 10:25 PM

I think it's nice poetic justice that all the time Brazil wasted with their BS antics ended up saving the US with more injury time added. How absurd is it to fall to the ground a minute after the play, roll for 3 minutes, get carted off on a stretcher, then unstrap and run around to the other side the second you are off the field. THAT, is why people don't like soccer.

SirFozzie

07-11-2011, 02:40 AM

Some where in the secret ESPN genetic labs, they are attempting to genetically combine Ian Darke and Gus Johnson. God help us all if they succeed.

JonInMiddleGA

07-11-2011, 02:43 AM

THAT, is why people don't like soccer.

Umm, I don't think that's it.

I mean, most people who don't give two hoots in hell about it (i.e. the majority of the U.S. population) aren't likely to have seen anybody take a dive for that to be a factor.

Karlifornia

07-11-2011, 03:09 AM

People who complain about dives in soccer are noob fans that have no place opening their mouths. There is "diving" in every sport. Get over it. It's called doing whatever it takes to win.

miked

07-11-2011, 07:44 AM

Yawn. The diving in other sports doesn't really eat into the actual game time. I know they add injury time on, but it stops the game and takes time away from regulation. In most other sports, the clock completely stops for injuries, here we have some chick falling (it was quite a dramatic, silly fall as well) 50 yards away from the ball, a minute after the play, and we know the rest. In this country, I think you need win over the "noobs" and "casual fans" and most that I've spoken too thinks it detracts from the game.

SirFozzie

07-11-2011, 06:02 PM

Nice series of tweets from Hope Solo:

Thank you for standing behind us. Never has a team come back to win from a man down, a goal down, and in such dramatic fashion. Last night I had a moment as I sat waiting for the penalties. I felt the energy of the stadium, I witnessed how far the game has risen, and I felt the spirit of our team as we fought together, unwilling to lose, our backs against the wall. Last night is a feeling you work your whole life for. To break free. To write your own destiny. And That's what WE, this 2011 USA team have set out to do, to write OUR OWN story.

Go ahead, jump on the bandwagon and let's do this together. One Nation, One World, One Team.

cartman

07-11-2011, 06:15 PM

Some where in the secret ESPN genetic labs, they are attempting to genetically combine Ian Darke and Gus Johnson. God help us all if they succeed.

So it is written, so it shall be.

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IngiX9zZRc8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

MacroGuru

07-11-2011, 06:48 PM

Im trying to work up the courage to ask Han for his daughter's hand.

+1....

Blade6119

07-11-2011, 06:48 PM

Today was the first pre-season game for the Man Utd reserves, so for me today was the start of the new season :)

sovereignstar v2

07-11-2011, 08:45 PM

Never has a team come back to win from a man down, a goal down, and in such dramatic fashion.

okay then

DaddyTorgo

07-11-2011, 08:55 PM

okay then

eh - she can be forgiven for feeling like that I think.

JPhillips

07-13-2011, 11:10 AM

What a beautiful pass to start the attack on the USA goal.

SirFozzie

07-13-2011, 11:42 AM

USA having the better of play.. so far so good.

Coffee Warlord

07-13-2011, 12:15 PM

Not so much in the 2nd half. France draws level and are dominating.

spleen1015

07-13-2011, 12:19 PM

I don't understand soccer at all.

Every time France touches the ball, it ends up in the USA's end. They pass the ball the way down the field.

When the USA gets the ball, they get it almost to midfield and attempt a long pass that France intercepts and takes it back down the field.

Is this the USA's strategy or what? Are they just making stupid plays?

spleen1015

07-13-2011, 12:20 PM

It just seems like every time France passes, they're wide open and free to do what they want. It feels like they are playing with an extra player or 2.

whomario

07-13-2011, 12:36 PM

Wambach is kind of annoying, running into others all the time and then whining about being fouled ...

edit : Oh well, now that´s timing ;) Great goal !

BYU 14

07-13-2011, 12:52 PM

Great finish again, US to the finals.

Now who poses the better matchup Japan or Sweden?

rowech

07-13-2011, 01:04 PM

whomario

07-13-2011, 01:44 PM

I know nothing about the French team but that game changed entirely when French made the sub to pull off the defender for the offensive player. Went for the win and it cost them big time.

especially since that particular striker´s main quality is her speed (which is unreal) and she had struggled in the "half court" game all tournament.

But the 2:1 fell so directly afterwards (plus from a corner) that i wouldn´t attribute it to that and the 3:1 was a 2 on 5 break where a france defender just made a horrible mistake.

But yeah, weird substitution really.

France was definitely the "better" team in terms of technical ability and space management, but their finishing was bad and they lacked the "punch" the US has. For example they got a striker alone on goal early in the 2nd half on a amazing pass, but then she just couldn´t controll the ball... Plus their GK was a weak link for sure.

For the US i was again very impressed by Rapinoe (who despite coming off the bench imo has been their best midfielder this tournament), very dynamic player who can strike a clean ball from the wing.

MrBug708

07-13-2011, 01:50 PM

Great finish again, US to the finals.

Now who poses the better matchup Japan or Sweden?

I think we have beaten Japan three times this year and have lost to Sweden

DaddyTorgo

07-13-2011, 02:06 PM

Fuck yea USA women. At least one of our teams is world-class.

PilotMan

07-13-2011, 02:36 PM

I think we have beaten Japan three times this year and have lost to Sweden

I'd kind of like to see the Japan team make it. A real cinderella story and all the emotions from the 'quake and tsunami. It would be very emotional. Otoh, the US coach is from Sweden and they lost, so it could make the circle complete. Either storyline is intriguing.

MizzouRah

07-13-2011, 02:57 PM

I want revenge on Sweeden, bring em on!

whomario

07-13-2011, 03:39 PM

With the way women soccer is structured (in terms of leagues and all) in-season or pre-tournament (exhibition) national team matches are less than worthless and past tournament results in this case as well since Japan clearly made a giant leap forward in recent years.

Japan is just such an unusual matchup because there isn´t another team like them out there (they are very small and agile, extremely good technically but are also great at working against the ball and pressuring) and they will be absolutely brimming with confidence.

They played brilliant today, imo the single best performance by any team so far.

Should be very interesting to see at any rate :)

MizzouRah

07-13-2011, 05:19 PM

Should be an excellent game!

PilotMan

07-16-2011, 07:44 AM

Courtesy of the Onion today:

http://o.onionstatic.com/images/articles/article/20/20945/SSWS_Hope_Solo_R_jpg_630x1200_upscale_q85.jpg

Marc Vaughan

07-16-2011, 10:25 AM

rowech

07-16-2011, 11:02 AM

Probably not going to be a popular 'tip' - but I'm favouring Japan to win the final I'm afraid.

I think their work rate combined with an intelligent gameplan and technical ability will see off the US team .... regardless should be a great match :D

I'm with you. I think Japan wins 2-1. I've been very impressed with how they've played and I still don't think the US have been outstanding throughout much of the tournament.

whomario

07-16-2011, 03:25 PM

Copa America KO stages are up right now btw, currently Colombia vs Peru (Falcao just missed a penalty, still 0:0 at the 68th minute), next up is Argentina vs Uruguay !

MizzouRah

07-16-2011, 03:47 PM

Probably not going to be a popular 'tip' - but I'm favouring Japan to win the final I'm afraid.

I think their work rate combined with an intelligent gameplan and technical ability will see off the US team .... regardless should be a great match :D

Damn you. :D

USA - 2 Japan - 0

Solo gets a shutout in the Final.

sovereignstar v2

07-16-2011, 04:06 PM

shutout?

DaddyTorgo

07-16-2011, 04:08 PM

Copa America KO stages are up right now btw, currently Colombia vs Peru (Falcao just missed a penalty, still 0:0 at the 68th minute), next up is Argentina vs Uruguay !

Nice reminder...I had sorta forgotten that these would be on today.

MrBug708

07-16-2011, 04:09 PM

Yup - When a team does not score a goal; shutout

Big Fo

07-16-2011, 05:42 PM

Argentina - Uruguay is 1-1 after 26 minutes, it's been a good one so far.

If you don't get a channel showing this game, Youtube is streaming it live.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CopaAmerica

DaddyTorgo

07-16-2011, 05:43 PM

Very good one so far...quite enjoyable.

Big Fo

07-16-2011, 08:04 PM

cartman

07-16-2011, 08:47 PM

Uruguay wins on penalties after a 1-1 draw despite being down a man for around 50 minutes, what a game. Muslera was brilliant. And it might be awhile before you see five penalties taken that well by one team.

Muslera got two blocks in 3 seconds, neither one using his hands!

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0aEetXmI-h4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

MIJB#19

07-17-2011, 09:05 AM

Yup - When a team does not score a goal; shutoutI suppose some are used to the term 'cleansheet' as the individual achievement?

MrBug708

07-17-2011, 10:38 AM

I suppose some are used to the term 'cleansheet' as the individual achievement?

Sure, but some are used to calling it football, yet here we are posting in a thread with the term called soccer.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 11:00 AM

So, here's hoping the USA makes it 24-0 vs Japan in their history.

OldGiants

07-17-2011, 11:02 AM

So, here's hoping the USA makes it 24-0 vs Japan in their history.

Yes, death to the whale-killers!

However,

http://mobile.theonion.com/articles/us-womens-soccer-team-better-not-fucking-blow-it,20935/

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 11:06 AM

One correction, the US is 22-0-3 vs Japan, that's what I gewt for listening to Sports center.

saldana

07-17-2011, 11:24 AM

Lets go christie!!!! (I went to college with christie rampone)

kingfc22

07-17-2011, 01:58 PM

US dominating early. Hopefully this doesn't turn into a case of missed chances letting the outclassed team hang around for an upset.

JPhillips

07-17-2011, 01:58 PM

We're dominating play, but we need one of those close shots to get in.

JPhillips

07-17-2011, 02:16 PM

Wambach needs to dial down the diva.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 02:50 PM

This is turning into one of those FM games where you outshoot the opponent 25-6, and hit the woodwork 6 times and lose 1-0 :P

EagleFan

07-17-2011, 02:52 PM

This is turning into one of those FM games where you outshoot the opponent 25-6, and hit the woodwork 6 times and lose 1-0 :P

My thoughts exactly.

Crapshoot

07-17-2011, 02:52 PM

This is turning into one of those FM games where you outshoot the opponent 25-6, and hit the woodwork 6 times and lose 1-0 :P

Absolutely. And you fine the offending defender 2 weeks wages. :D

Crapshoot

07-17-2011, 03:05 PM

Big break for the US there - the linesman screwed the pooch, the Japanese player was onside, one on one.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:05 PM

Wambach so close.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:10 PM

GREAT job shielding off the defender, and well placed shot gives US the lead!

JPhillips

07-17-2011, 03:10 PM

The replay showing the fat boy lifting his shirt is awesome.

whomario

07-17-2011, 03:10 PM

Rapinoe is so good, wow. I don´t care that she came off the bench most of the tournament, but imo she´s been the best player in the tournament (not just for the US but period), i´m not sure anybody else could have played that pass.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:21 PM

F***!

EagleFan

07-17-2011, 03:23 PM

they are looking shaken now

whomario

07-17-2011, 03:23 PM

seriously, trying to clear/pass the ball across the area with no solid footing ? Now that´s what i call a stupid idea.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:24 PM

Near perfect cross, just needed someone to turn it home

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:24 PM

Tried the hero run from the Nike Commercial there.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:25 PM

Somebody turn on the Abby Wambach Bat Signal!

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:33 PM

Extra Time.

Here we go again.

PilotMan

07-17-2011, 03:37 PM

The replay showing the fat boy lifting his shirt is awesome.

Thank god I wasn't the only one who saw that. Awesome!

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:51 PM

THE ABBY WAMBACH BAT SIGNAL HAS BEEN ANSWERED!

JPhillips

07-17-2011, 03:53 PM

Where's the fat boy?

Warhammer

07-17-2011, 03:54 PM

Wow, helluva goal.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 03:59 PM

We still have subs on the bench

And Julie Foudy did it again.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:01 PM

They're going to give me a nervous breakdown

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:06 PM

Yup. Nervous breakdown complete.

JPhillips

07-17-2011, 04:06 PM

Damn it.

William051071

07-17-2011, 04:06 PM

2-2

whomario

07-17-2011, 04:08 PM

Sawa with the brilliant goal for the 2:2 ! just before the corner she also had another amazing killer ball and does a lot with very little athletic ability.

William051071

07-17-2011, 04:09 PM

Almost another Wambach answer.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:10 PM

they'll take a red to stop that.

William051071

07-17-2011, 04:10 PM

A PK?

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:11 PM

Outside the box

William051071

07-17-2011, 04:12 PM

So close, yet so far from winning goal.

whomario

07-17-2011, 04:13 PM

spectacular game overall, very entertaining. And now the ultimate drama with penalties :)

Very impressive reaction shots from the Japanese, almost can´t help but root for them. Their coach seems pretty awesome.

William051071

07-17-2011, 04:13 PM

PKSO time.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:13 PM

Yikes: Two shots in a row.

Japan High fiving and energized..

and our goalie getting her calves wrapped.

We have Hope (Solo).. Let's go.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:14 PM

Shades of the Suarez Red card from the Men's World Cup Quarterfinal last year..

RainMaker

07-17-2011, 04:18 PM

Self destructed

Lathum

07-17-2011, 04:18 PM

Game over

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:18 PM

"We've secretly replaced the US WNT penalty takers with English players. Let's see if they can tell the difference"

WE STILL HAVE HOPE!

William051071

07-17-2011, 04:19 PM

US can still get this.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:19 PM

Jeez. 0 for 3?

Come on Hope.. ONE MORE TIME (really TWO MORE TIMES)

William051071

07-17-2011, 04:20 PM

A miracle now.

SirFozzie

07-17-2011, 04:21 PM

Congrats to Japan. *sighs*

William051071

07-17-2011, 04:22 PM

That's disappointing.
Japan wanted it more, a big moral boost for their country.

whomario

07-17-2011, 04:23 PM

Cold as ice on that last penalty, right under the bar, wow !

Obviously the US was the better team today, but from the 60th minute on Japan really came on strong and the way they played was a lot of fun for me, doing a lot with very limited athletic ability but relying on technique and tactics much more than most other teams.

Brazil-Paraguay at the Copa America also about to go into penalties (115th minute)

jeff061

07-17-2011, 04:24 PM

Heh, turned it on to watch 15 seconds before Japan tied it at 2. Sorry guys :(.

PineTar

07-17-2011, 04:24 PM

US deserved that result

GrantDawg

07-17-2011, 04:25 PM

God, I hate penalty decisions.

PilotMan

07-17-2011, 04:25 PM

Ohhh, that hurts. Damn. Coulda shoulda woulda.

kingfc22

07-17-2011, 04:27 PM

Game should have been at least 2-0 in the first half...

JonInMiddleGA

07-17-2011, 04:29 PM

Idly I wonder how much the team members just collectively lost in future endorsements?

Big Fo

07-17-2011, 04:38 PM

Elano (Brazil) just made Carli Lloyd's penalty kick look like a good one. Still rising.

kingfc22

07-17-2011, 04:39 PM

Elano (Brazil) just made Carli Lloyd's penalty kick look like a good one. Still rising.

Beat me to it. That was awful.

kingfc22

07-17-2011, 04:40 PM

Idly I wonder how much the team members just collectively lost in future endorsements?

I think Alex Morgan will be fine since she has the looks. The rest are SOL.

BYU 14

07-17-2011, 04:42 PM

Great story for Japan, congratulations to them, they needed that as a country. Feel bad for the US women, two moments of poor play on the backline and the post turned what should have been a decisive win into heartbreak.

I wonder if the result would have been different if the US had played their normal game instead of going into shut up shop mode at the end of both regulation and extra time. That style reminds me of prevent defense in football in that it allowed Japan to play their game and set things up from the final third instead of pressuring them the length of the pitch, which is much more disruptive to the way they like to play.

It was a helluva world cup though, some great moments for both Japan and the US throughout and the final stayed true to course.

Big Fo

07-17-2011, 04:43 PM

Andre Santos giving Elano a run of his money, damn. Shootouts are much more fun to watch when you don't care who wins.

lol, 0 for 4 now. Paraguay goes to the semifinals. Brazil and Argentina are both out.

I wonder if the result would have been different if the US had played their normal game instead of going into shut up shop mode at the end of both regulation and extra time.

I actually thought they were too offensive late on. In the giveaway that lead to Japan's first goal, the wingers and strikers were way up and Lloyd was pretty far forward. With all of the Japanese players pressing some people needed to come back for there to be more passing options. Instead it was just the backline and Boxx nervously trying to maintain possession.

BYU 14

07-17-2011, 04:43 PM

I think Alex Morgan will be fine since she has the looks. The rest are SOL.

Hope will be OK too......And Head and Shoulders should step up and give Wambaugh an endorsement deal :)

kingfc22

07-17-2011, 04:43 PM

Brazil must of had a live feed of the women's final on the bench. 0 for 3 so far in PK's

MizzouRah

07-17-2011, 06:20 PM

Good game... I really think soccer needs a sudden death in OT. :)

MJ4H

07-17-2011, 06:42 PM

It needs something besides penalties. Almost anything, really.

chrisj

07-17-2011, 07:19 PM

I think Alex Morgan will be fine since she has the looks. The rest are SOL.

Already has her website "coming soon" page up...
ALEX MORGAN SOCCER (http://www.alexmorgansoccer.com/)

McLovin

07-17-2011, 07:21 PM

I think Alex Morgan will be fine since she has the looks. The rest are SOL.

I'm kinda diggin Hope Solo.

molson

07-17-2011, 08:47 PM

Good game... I really think soccer needs a sudden death in OT. :)

At least in a final where there's no more games to wear yourself out for.

Marc Vaughan

07-17-2011, 08:56 PM

This is turning into one of those FM games where you outshoot the opponent 25-6, and hit the woodwork 6 times and lose 1-0 :P

Haven't seen the second half / extra-time yet (watched the first here then took my wife out on a date ... which included watching the penalty shootout in the Cheesecake Factory .. but thats another matter entirely ;) ) .... but one thing I noticed watching the first half before we left, the commentators were stat crazy but weren't picking up on the actual positioning of the players and suchlike.

The US shot count was crazy in the first half but relatively few were actually clear cut chances and even the better ones in the box the Japanese defensive positions were quite good for all bar one or two of them, in contrast while the final ball let down the Japanese side a fair bit the space their attackers had would have left them with clear cut chances .....

Was very impressed with how both sides were playing in the first half, the US team were working very hard and playing nice football but tended to snatch at any shooting opportunity, Japan was far better technically and I felt trying to work for clearer cut chances.

(will be watching the rest of the match in a minute - intrigued to see how it went)

RainMaker

07-17-2011, 08:58 PM

I really hate penalty shoot-outs in Finals.

Marc Vaughan

07-17-2011, 08:59 PM

Good game... I really think soccer needs a sudden death in OT. :)

There have been LOADS of things tried over the years, Golden goal, Silver goal and the US had an 'alternative' to penalty shootouts for a while where you dribbled from the half way line I seem to recall.

None of them 'truly' satisfied people - personally I much prefer just replaying the final until a team wins a match fair and square, I remember fondly watching FA Cup 4th replays as a kid :D

MizzouRah

07-17-2011, 09:55 PM

There have been LOADS of things tried over the years, Golden goal, Silver goal and the US had an 'alternative' to penalty shootouts for a while where you dribbled from the half way line I seem to recall.

None of them 'truly' satisfied people - personally I much prefer just replaying the final until a team wins a match fair and square, I remember fondly watching FA Cup 4th replays as a kid :D

I don't mind the hockey setup the NHL has currently.. if a team scores in OT, the game is over.. if not, then go to a shootout. Although for a final such as this was, they should play the 15 minute halves and the first team to score, wins.

I also think that if you go out of the game hurt, you're done.. a sub MUST come on to take your place. Players that take a dive should get a yellow card too.

Of course I also think that when an injury happens, the clock should stop and then be restarted once play has resumed.

It was a great World Cup though, I enjoyed watching most of the matches I was able to watch.

RainMaker

07-17-2011, 09:59 PM

sovereignstar v2

07-18-2011, 06:43 AM

Tevez to Corinthians. You couldn't make it up. And Kun should slot in just perfectly.

Big Fo

07-18-2011, 03:26 PM

Good move for Tevez, he'll get to play for a big club again.

Butter

07-18-2011, 03:35 PM

My wife and I went to Harry Potter last night, and I saw on her facebook right before the movie started that someone posted "Finally, a goal!" Then at like 9:30, she asks me "are you sure you really want to watch that game?"

I said "yes", but I knew what that meant. We blew it. In a spectacular fashion, as well. But well done to Japan, they earned it.

sovereignstar v2

07-18-2011, 05:37 PM

City plan 'unbelievable' expansion | Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7046754,00.html?)

The ambitious Premier League club want to develop up to 80 acres of brownfield land as part of their recently-announced Etihad Campus project.

City have spent three years planning a scheme which could take a further three to six years to come to full fruition.

When complete the facility will include an Academy for 400 players, 16 football pitches, state-of-the-art first-team training and injury rehabilitation facilities, a 7,000-capacity stadium and staff offices.

Chief Rum

07-18-2011, 05:41 PM

Beat me to it. That was awful.

Yeah, even Beckham winced watching that.

Pumpy Tudors

07-18-2011, 06:23 PM

if you congratulate japan, you are a bad american. go to mexico or some shit

sovereignstar v2

07-18-2011, 09:06 PM

Small Club vs. Vancouver on ESPN2 right now.

MizzouRah

07-19-2011, 08:19 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP6onVyO1l0&feature=player_embedded

whomario

07-19-2011, 12:10 PM

Tottenham got U17 WC standout (and to goalscorer with 9) Coulibaly for 2 mio from Siena, no idea how they pulled that off with the names whirling around the kid.
Is Tottenham´s reputation for developing young talent that good ?

sovereignstar v2

07-19-2011, 10:44 PM

Tevez to Corinthians. You couldn't make it up. And Kun should slot in just perfectly.

Grrrr. Corinthians is as skint as you'd imagine and it looks like the Tevez to Brazil deal is over with. Could be a little bit of a clusterfuck as it sounds like Aguero is on his way no matter what. I think it's time to make a deal with Inter. Tevez for Sneijder baby!

Big Fo

07-24-2011, 04:58 PM

sovereignstar v2

07-24-2011, 05:23 PM

Pretty sure he thought play stopped.

Blade6119

07-24-2011, 07:59 PM

Pretty sure he thought play stopped.

If you watched the match live you would know there is about a zero percent chance of that

Mac Howard

07-25-2011, 12:03 AM

Good move for Tevez, he'll get to play for a big club again.

nasty! :D

Oilers9911

07-25-2011, 10:19 PM

Pretty sure he thought play stopped.

Even if he did, that's an amateurish move to not play to the whistle. The guy is a nutter.

sovereignstar v2

07-25-2011, 10:48 PM

I would've liked to have gotten some quotes from him on the incident, but that's probably not likely. I don't like the guy and I doubt he'll ever be as good as he could be. One more season and I'm sure he's off to Milan.

Ronnie Dobbs2

07-26-2011, 05:38 PM

Worst Away End in Football (http://www.footballspotter.com/worst-football/)

sovereignstar v2

07-26-2011, 06:04 PM

Small Club Party Time Tomorrow!

http://i51.tinypic.com/2912vsk.gif

sovereignstar v2

07-26-2011, 06:10 PM

BBC Sport - Beckham backs 'great' Mario Balotelli after back-heel row (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14289648.stm)

I've watched it back and, from his mannerisms, I believe he thought he was offside," said Beckham, advising the Italian to still score in the future.

DeToxRox

07-28-2011, 01:55 PM

Bob Bradley was fired today. Just saw a blurb on the Bottom Line.

tyketime

07-28-2011, 01:59 PM

Bob Bradley was fired today. Just saw a blurb on the Bottom Line.

Please be true... Please be true...

DeToxRox

07-28-2011, 02:01 PM

From ussoccer.com

© U.S. Soccer
U.S. Soccer

CHICAGO (July 28, 2011) — U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced today that Bob Bradley has been relieved of his duties as the head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team.

“We want to thank Bob Bradley for his service and dedication to U.S. Soccer during the past five years,” said Gulati. “During his time as the head coach of our Men’s National Team he led the team to a number of accomplishments, but we felt now was the right time for us to make a change. It is always hard to make these decisions, especially when it involves someone we respect as much as Bob. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

This announcement comes after a meeting at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., between Gulati, Bradley and U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn.

Bradley was named the head coach of the U.S. MNT in January of 2007 and during his five-year tenure compiled a 43-25-12 record. He led the team to a number of accomplishments, including winning the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, finishing second in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, winning their World Cup qualifying group and advancing to the Round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.