2006 World Cup Chock full o' spoilers thread

[Jeff Kelly]

Well it was fun while it lasted.

Italy dived like there was no tomorrow but they earned the victory. The game vs. Argentina has taken its toll however. The last ten minutes the germans were just plain k.o.

Well I m still a bit sad. Go France.

[sigil]

Is it too early to start praying for the french national team to the diety of his or her choice?

We can't have an all diver finals.

When that ball  was held up at the top of the box,  I had this  overwhelming sense of dread. It was very much like waiting for the axe to fall.  Fortunately it was quick.

[Jobu]

Italy were on pretty good behaviour most of the game. I don't begrudge them their win at all. Their two goals were from clear, clean plays and finished with aplomb. Good show, Azurri. Keep it up.

[El Gallo]

2) Not really, football isn't a territorial game, it's a possession game, doing this would force people to play for territory by just hoofing upfield in order to get away from the half-way line. Poncing about with the ball around the half way line is a valid tactic anyhow, the best teams use it to pull the other team out of position before moving forward.

Speaking as an American,  I think we're just not wired well for possession over territorial games.  All our popular sports emphasize position more than possession.

It was really tough to change the way I thought when I played rugby in college.  The instinct is to charge down the field,  when you want to advance while maintaining solid possession and sucking in the opposing linies to create gaps and have the scrummies pummel them a bit.

I'm not sure about that.  Football certainly, hockey kind of (dump-and-chase being a valid tactic), but not basketball (baseball is hard to categorize on this ground).  In basketball, possession is more important than position; passing around the perimeter and even retreating--all the while probing for weakness and giving your teammates opportunities to find those weaknesses and move to favorable scoring positions--is the name of the game.  But without rules designed to keep the game moving, basketball would devolve into a "score two baskets and then play four-corners for 47 minutes and hope to win 4-0" snoozefest.  Soccer reminds me of basketball, except without the over-and-back rule or the shot clock.  It's obviously not as bad as four corners basketball, but it has a bit too much of that feel to it for my liking. 

Now, I'm sure ripping rules from basketball and applying them to soccer isn't the right way, but the they should have a similar goal: cutting down on egregious clock-milking.  Rule changes like the "goalkeeper can't punt it out when played back to him" are basically in that vein.  I suppose HRose sees that as some horrible American infringement on the game of his father, and his father's father.  I'd ask why he hasn't boycotted the sport since that rule change out of solidarity with the American Indian, but he's the living embodiment of everything people make fun of grimwell.com for, so who gives a rat's ass.

(oh yeah, politics was not flamebaity enough, I went THERE!) 

[sigil]

The game is not of italian origin. They're just the rules lawyering punk bitches who happen to be good as well.  Bastards.

While they were on good behavior today, I would venture that was more to the fact that the ref would have none of it.  That dive against Australia is worth two cups worth of grief from my view.

[Signe]

I am rooting for France until HRose cuts some of that hair off his face.  It's like some sort of facial forest!  I bet his mum hates it, too.

[Xerapis]

I can't root for France or I get fired. 

At least, that's what I heard.

[Tebonas]

Italy vs Portugal would be a finale to watch. 22 people falling down on cue and clutching their hurt legs in pain.

[Xerapis]

It's all good as long as France loses.

If I can ever figure out why Koreans think that Canada and France are cool....

Well, actually, my brain will probably implode.

It would be like Haemish discovering some deep hidden truths hidden in every Uwe Boll production that suddenly revealed Uwe to be a true genius of our times.

Hehe...

I'm so weird.

[HaemishM]

As much as i dislike italy i gotta say they earned that one.  Both of those goals where beautifull.

Yeah, both those goals were great. A complete breakdown on the part of the German defense and the Italians took advantage. Neither one were caused by a dive. I just hated that I got the ending spoiled by ESPNNews before I could finish watching the Tivoed match.

EDIT: I'll have to root for Italy in the Finals. The wife is Italian, so she'll be rooting for them. I can't in all good conscience root for France, as I'll be expecting them to surrender any moment during the match. And Portugal... they just play shitty, thuggy ball.

[Xerapis]

Sure, Italy sounds good.

Do the Italians have cute players this year?

[Rodent]

And Portugal... they just play shitty, thuggy ball.

Compared to the gracefull swandives of the Italians, it could be a good game. I'll be rooting for France though, I always enjoy football when Zidane brings his best.

[WayAbvPar]

Speaking of future World Cups...

All the commentators and pundits have been talking about the next Cup being held in South Africa, and how the big teams who have been suffering in the summer heat of Germany are going to have it even rougher.

Earth to idiots. South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a wonderfully comfortable 68-74 degrees of coastal winter right now. It's going to be an awesome venue for the World Cup. It makes me think they should hold them all in the Southern Hemisphere. It keeps the games livelier without the stifling heat.

Maybe Australia for 2018, and Brazil or someone else in the deeper bits of South America can have it for 2014. Nice and cool, southern winters. The players and teams would appreciate it more, I bet.

Thank you! I was wondering if they moved South Africa when I wasn't looking the way they were talking about how hot it was going to be. Dear sweet God I hope they get some semi-competent talking heads for the next Cup. ESPN/ABC's band of idiots have been excrutiating.


GO FRANCE!!!! I wanna see Zidane win 2 more games to go out like the champion he is. Love watching him play. Absolutely loathing Italy and Portugal also makes France a bit easier to root for.

[Mr_PeaCH]

Yay for a game that was decided by the players in regulation/overtime and not by overzealous refs or shootouts.  Was rooting for the Germans but have to give it up for the Italians.

Any chance FIFA will clone that ref for all future international matches... or at least force the other refs to watch the game footage to see how it's supposed to be done?

(And throw me in with the 'never-thought-I'd-say-it-but-COME-ON-FRANCE!' crowd... Zidane 4tw)

[Xerapis]

For a second there, I misread your crest as saying "We Do Not Solo".

Maybe I'm just tired :P

Speaking of tired....TIRED OF WAITING FOR THE NEXT BOOK, GRRM!!!

[Rasix]

We have thread titles for a reason.  I know you're bored, but please attempt to stay remotely on topic at least once.

[Hoax]

re:  my comments on who I've pulled for and why.

I didn't mind Argentina or Brazil because neither of them are in Europe, and Argentina played at least one half of every game at the level everyone else has just started picking themselves up to.  Also Tevez/Messi are such a joy to watch, Requelme isn't too shabby either.

I hate France because they are France, asking me to explain that is just asinine.  Oh yeah, the fact that most of their players aren't even French is annoying.

Therefore I am now pulling for Portugal (who aren't nearly as bad a bunch of divers or thugs as people have been saying suddenly imo) to beat the stuffing out of France and somehow get Italy to a shootout so their keeper can stand on his head and win them the cup.  Plus Portugal has some truly talented individuals and on the odd occasion they actually try to play as a team they are a joy to watch.

[Righ]

I hate France because they are France, asking me to explain that is just asinine.  Oh yeah, the fact that most of their players aren't even French is annoying.

With Germany being out, the only decent and sportmanlike team I have left to root for is France. Supporting cynical manipulators of the rules like Italy or Portugal would be like supporting Michael Schumacher and Ferrari, it would pollute my very soul, and damn me to hell for all eternity. As for France's players being the offspring of immigrants, well... that's never happened in another country. 

[Signe]

Hoax, you said you won't root for certain teams because they're in Europe and you don't want a team from Europe to win.  Fair enough.   You said you wouldn't mind Argentina or Brazil, because they're not in Europe.  Now you say you're pulling for Portugal.  Where exactly do you think Portugal is? 

Just sayin'....

PS  Portugal aren't bad divers at all!  They're quite good at it, actually, though not to the level of Italy.  Italy has it down to a science.

[Rasix]

PS  Portugal aren't bad divers at all!  They're quite good at it, actually, though not to the level of Italy.  Italy has it down to a science.

They add a certain amount of thuggery though which makes up for their lack of acting skills.

Like Righ, I'm routing for France mostly due to the sportsmanship issue.  I was trying to get behind Brazil, but I just couldn't bear to watch another Shamu inspired dive from Ronaldo.

Damn, what a furious end to that game.

[Kenrick]

Pizza vs. croissants.  Oh boy oh boy.

[Hoax]

Hoax, you said you won't root for certain teams because they're in Europe and you don't want a team from Europe to win.  Fair enough.   You said you wouldn't mind Argentina or Brazil, because they're not in Europe.  Now you say you're pulling for Portugal.  Where exactly do you think Portugal is? 

Just sayin'....

PS  Portugal aren't bad divers at all!  They're quite good at it, actually, though not to the level of Italy.  Italy has it down to a science.

Actually my original rooting strategy was anyone-who-hasn't-won-the-cup-before, hence Portugal.

This final is about as bad as it can get, I wonder if I'll even bother to watch...

[Llyse]

With Germany being out, the only decent and sportmanlike team I have left to root for is France. Supporting cynical manipulators of the rules like Italy or Portugal would be like supporting Michael Schumacher and Ferrari, it would pollute my very soul, and damn me to hell for all eternity. As for France's players being the offspring of immigrants, well... that's never happened in another country. 

Amen to that Righ, Italy and Portugal are diver teams. Irony is that France beat Portugal with Henry diving 

Portugal had more attacking opportunites and Figo made a meal of that screw up by Barthez.
I don't know why the commentator was ranting on how good and safe Barthez's hands were, in the Brazil game he made 3 screw ups in the last 20 minutes that could have given an equaliser to Brazil. ah well

Go France and Germany!  :-D

[Abagadro]

The PK was a legit foul.

My favorite was late in the game there was a cross with Ronaldo and another guy in the box and they both simultaneously hit the ground without any contact whatsoever.   It was beautiful.

[Wolf]

actually there was one replay, that was only played when Henry got substituted, that really showed what happened. The defender did touch henry's foot, but he made it out of the tackle without falling down than after he saw he can't reach the ball he fell down. I won't argue, there was a foul, what I'd argue is the referee calling that. It was a ticky-tack foul, that 9 out of 10 referees won't call a penalty on, and decide the game (which is exactly what happened). It was lame. And tbh France had only one other real chance to score, they really didn't deserve to win this game... but sigh, that's football for you.  Also, Portugal are not thugs, they had 2 red cards in the last 2 years, both of them against the Netherlands.

Anyway, it's a good final. The golden France generation will have one last go at it and Italy, one of the two true European historical football superpowers, was due for a final (they are there every 12 years - 82, 94 and now 2006). I'm defo rooting for them, I just fucking hate how arrogant French players (and people in general tbh) are.

[Tale]

Rooting for France would be great, actually quite l33t given the reputation of the French. And rooting for Italy, well, that's just your typical Italian male.

Now read that again in my local vernacular ...

http://psy.otago.ac.nz/r_oshea/FUN%20STUFF/oztaboo.html
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/root

Now you say you're pulling for Portugal.

That would take some doing!
http://english2american.com/dictionary/cat_sex.html
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pull

I'm going to pull for France, because they're old and may need some help with that kind of thing. But I'll probably get drunk and wake up in a strange place after rooting for Italy. Oh well.

[Cyrrex]

actually there was one replay, that was only played when Henry got substituted, that really showed what happened. The defender did touch henry's foot, but he made it out of the tackle without falling down than after he saw he can't reach the ball he fell down. I won't argue, there was a foul, what I'd argue is the referee calling that. It was a ticky-tack foul, that 9 out of 10 referees won't call a penalty on, and decide the game (which is exactly what happened). It was lame.

I thought the very same thing...until I saw it from another angle and could see that not only did the defender have one foot on Henry's foot, but he flat out smacked him across the shins with his other leg (ball no where to be seen).  I agree that Henry then did a bit of a dive, but the fact of the matter - in my eyes at least - was that Henry was almost certain to score and the defender impeded.   In my book, that is the very definition of a deserved penalty kick.  It wasn't ticky tack...it prevented an almost certain goal.

[Wolf]

I don't know about the penalty. Let's just say that it was lame that the game was won and lost only on it. Certain goal? Not so much, a shot on goal yeah but you never have certain goal as Figo quite resourcefully proved :)

[Cyrrex]

By "certain" I mean in the relative context.  He would have at least had a golden opportunity, probably nearly as good a chance as your average penalty kick.  Whatever, he appeared to have a lot of room to work with right in front of the goal and no defenders in close proximity.  In my head, this is what PKs should be granted for.

Edit:  For the sake of comparison, you recall the Italian PK that got them past the Aussies?  Good call according to the rules (I suppose), but total bullshit in my mind.   

[Signe]

Yes, Tale, it all sounds weird to me, too, and rooting makes people sound like rent boys or pigs.   With people rooting and pulling all over the place, you have to just forget what you think you know and go with what it means in the American vernacular.  Today is moving day and even by Sunday I shall still be busy and much to weary to pull a whole football team and root them.

[Tale]

i.e. you'll be rooted.

[Signe]

And then I'll be knackered.

[Hoax]

Also, Portugal are not thugs, they had 2 red cards in the last 2 years, both of them against the Netherlands.

Shhh they are thugs and divers, that's the way it is.  I would be truly dissapointed in the match if the Portugese hadn't responded to having a pk awarded against them by diving all over the box to try to get their own.  It was by far and away the worst display I've seen from them all cup.  They also were screwed as they have been all cup  by Figo and Miguel on the right side of their offense.  Figo just didn't have it in him to be a star this cup and never looked sharp.  His best performances would net them a corner many didn't even accomplish that.  Here's hoping for their sakes that they have someone worthy of lining up opposite of Rinaldo come 2010.  Miguel would show flashes of brilliant ball movement and speed but I swear that guy choked on 8/10 passes and 10/10 if said pass was into the box.

 

[Azazel]

You'd be bollocksed as well.

[WayAbvPar]

Yay France! Have I mentioned how much I enjoy watching Zidane play? The ball looks like it is on a string tied to his foot. Ribery is gonna be really good too, it looks like. If he can learn to temper his enthusiasm enough to last an entire match  :-D

I would be truly dissapointed in the match if the Portugese hadn't responded to having a pk awarded against them by diving all over the box to try to get their own.  It was by far and away the worst display I've seen from them all cup.

It was sadly predictable, and pathetic to watch. Ronaldo himself was ready for the Summer Olympics with all the diving practice he got. I am just glad the referee (who made a shambles of the Italy/USA game) didn't fall for their bush league 'tactics' this time.