FIFA World Cup 2014 (Brazil) SPOILERS: Read at own risk

[01101010]

[Lucas]

Today:

Mexico - Cameroon
Spain - Netherlands
Chile - Australia
---

During the 2010 WC, Mexico was a breath of fresh air; one of the youngest teams of the competition, quick and skillfull players. Hopefully we'll see a similar approach and performance 4 years later, they were really entertaining to watch. Obviously, a win for either team would mean getting 3 points ahead of Croatia (and put a serious dent on their qualification chancesI, which is very important considering how impressive the team was yesterday.

Spain - Netherlands is the highlight of the day: replay of the 2010 WC final, but without the immense pressure of the final. I look forward to a great game 

Chile - Australia: Chile could be a REAL pain in the ass and possibly get to the final stage ahead of either Spain or Netherlands. Look out for Vidal & Isla (FC Juventus), Sanchez (Barcellona)

[Xuri]

I'm hoping for some real surprises, à la Cameroon in Italy 1990. Good times, that World Cup.

[WayAbvPar]

Until FIFA starts handing out retroactive cards for simulation, shit like that Fred dive will continue to influence matches. Fucking shameful. They use goal line technology to make sure the score is correct, but do nothing to assist the referees. If they gave Fred a yellow card after the match, that shit would stop INSTANTLY. Especially with the (imo overly strict) yellow card accumulation rules in this particular tournament.

That being said, the first half was amazingly entertaining, and even the uneven second half had some fun spots. Hoping for 3 more good ones today. Hurray for TiVo!. Only complaint is this is really cutting into my US Open viewing, which is another event I normally like to watch.

[Rasix]

Do these assholes even know what offsides is? 

[Speedy Cerviche]

Soccer offside is retarded. If offside is ostensibly to prevent cherry picking, it's moronic to have it applied to passes originating in the box area or the final 10-20% of the field. I don't see why they don't just draw a line like in hockey, 3/4 way downfield, and say the ball must cross first before opposition players, after that anything is fair.

[Paelos]

Yeah offsides is one of those rules that needs to go. It would force teams to play the whole field, and open up scoring, which the international game desperately needs.

I agree on yellow cards after the fact. I didn't watch the game, I don't intend to watch any of the games because of shit just like that. It's crooked, it's biased, and they pretend it's part of the game.

[Fordel]

Off-sides are fine, just fix the flopping about and play the fucking game. You fall to the floor and roll around in pain, you get treatment off the field for 10 minutes. Oh your magically fine and don't need it, you get a card and fuck off for 20 minutes.


Seeing players just stop playing, when no whistle is blown, to complain to the ref that a whistle should be blown, just fucking play.

[Numtini]

Well that was pretty.

[01101010]

Well that was pretty.

That was just sick... 

[Lucas]

[Shannow]

Fucking surprised they didn't call it back for offside.

[Rasix]

This is quite a reaming.

edit: oops, used quote.  Meant to spoiler, but don't bother watching this if you recorded it.  This is like watching a kid getting beat up by a kangaroo.

[Shannow]

6/13/2014 - The day the Spanish dynasty died?

[Rasix]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAUY1J8KizU

[Lucas]

Whoa, what an unexpected beatdown!!! 

Robben...That half volley toward the end of the match was amazing. Nice match, anyway, no matter the abysmal Spain defence.
---

Next up for Spain is Chile, and if Chile wins tonight, I think we might witness an early exit for the champions.

[01101010]

Anyone know what happened to the spoiler icon? Did I mistakenly remove it from my button menu somehow?

[Rasix]

[Lucas]

.

Good match by Mexico earlier today, their attacking phase is still very enjoyable and dynamic. Brazil - Mexico should be very entertaining :)

[Shannow]

[Lucas]

[01101010]

[Numtini]

I DVR matches that are on while I'm at work. However, I'm not stupid enough to read a FIFA World Cup 2014 thread if I have something waiting unwatched on the DVR.

[Chimpy]

I only got to watch about half of the Spain and Netherlands match today.

[HaemishM]

I DVR sporting events because fuck the metric shitton of commercials, play stoppages and other various time-wasting bullshit sporting events are saddled with. Also, I was at work. I also knew not to click on any spoiler tags before I got to see the match.

[Cyrrex]

[rk47]

England's national football team visited an orphanage in Brazil yesterday. "It's heartbreaking to see their sad little faces with no hope" said Jose, age 6

[Ginaz]

Jesus, this shit is unwatchable.  Everyone is going to the ground like the stadium is full of snipers.  From what I've seen over the years, the only ones who don't seem to do this on a regular basis are the English, Scottish and Irish.  Its all to common with the other Euro teams and don't even get me started on the South Americans.  Soccer can fuck right off.  Not watching this shit anymore.  I should have known better than to waste my time.

[Cyrrex]

For whatever reason, I have always thought it was the Latin cultures that are the worst offenders.  The Anglos tend not to do it, the Asians don't seem to do it much.  The Africans might do it a little, but not nearly as much as the Latins.  Mid East players may be a close second.

I may be wrong, that's just how I have always seen it.

[01101010]

England's national football team visited an orphanage in Brazil yesterday. "It's heartbreaking to see their sad little faces with no hope" said Jose, age 6

I laughed a bit too hard at this... 

[01101010]

For whatever reason, I have always thought it was the Latin cultures that are the worst offenders.  The Anglos tend not to do it, the Asians don't seem to do it much.  The Africans might do it a little, but not nearly as much as the Latins.  Mid East players may be a close second.

I may be wrong, that's just how I have always seen it.

Was night and day in the Australia / Chile match. Chilean players seems to always drop and roll around for a bit. Makes me wonder how they got all that ink tattooed on their bodies since THAT stuff actually hurts. I can see getting kicked or knocking shins or having cleats jabbed into your leg could hurt, but don't make an ass of yourself by dying on the field and within the next 10 seconds be running around full tilt. Australian players dropped and got right back up save for 2 times that I saw and one of those times the player left the game because it was an actual injury.

I did like the fact that some of these refs are calling out the flopping, at least it seems that way from the interactions I see them having with 'victims' on no-calls. I can't speak spanish and only can cherry pick a few words so Univision is no help in the commentary.

And with the international mixture of the teams, what language do the refs speak when communicating with teams from different language background? Are they are multi-lingual? Was kinda curious about that in the Holland/Spain match and then in the Aussie/Chile match.

[Cyrrex]

I think English is expected.  Or at least, I think the Croatians were complaining that their judge did not speak English, and instead was speaking Japanese to everybody.  So that makes me think they usually speak English.

[Shannow]

The ref's are also supposed to communicate in English. Part of the job for this level.

[01101010]

The ref's are also supposed to communicate in English. Part of the job for this level.

Thanks for the info. I can put that question to bed then.

[Speedy Cerviche]

It's one of the perks of winning world wars.