Do not even begin with the comparison between the NFL and professional soccer, they are completely athletic endeavors, with completely different cultures, and completely different athletes, resting on opposite ends of the sporting spectrum.
~
As for the Suarez hand ball, I can guarantee that every athlete playing in the World Cup would have done the exact same thing had they been in that position. Give your team a chance to survive, or let the ball go in and know in your mind that you didn’t commit a foul? The choice is obvious.
All of you talking about being righteous and upholding the “good” of the game are simply short sighted. Any athlete that competes at an elite level will do anything and everything possible to achieve victory, and if your not willing to do that, than you shouldn’t be playing. He did something that was against the rules, but accepted the punishment, and gave his team one last breath.
I can understand that some of you might whine that it isn’t fair, but that’s how the game works according to the rules, and if you don’t want to see someone lose than I suggest that you stop following sports. The only thing you should be frustrated with is the rules.
[quote]nrt wrote:
Just to change the subject completely, I really dont get why so many people - even in his own country! - dont like Maradona. He`s the greatest character ever.
Because he’s a douche-bag moron who doesn’t know how to train his squad. UGH! Anyways…
I’m still too bitter to post in this thread.
Call me over dramatic all you want! slams fist on table
[/quote]
Apparently not everyone in Argentina feels the same way (from the Indpendent): “after being sent tumbling out of the tournament by Germany at the weekend, the Albiceleste flew into Buenos Aires early yesterday morning accompanied by police. Fearing the worst, they cordoned off the terminal and arranged for a coach to meet the plane to whisk the players away. However, the fans were not to be denied and in extraordinary scenes they flocked in their thousands to the headquarters of the Argentine football association in the capital â?? but it was to applaud home the bemused looking players as heroes, demonstrating once and for all the unique appeal of Maradona, the man who really can do no wrong in the eyes of a nation.” Maradona makes me wish I understood Argentine Spanish - he must be even better in the original.
Apparently the Brazilian team is called “the Selecao” - any Portuguese speakers care to translate? Google isn’t turning anything up very fast. (the Argentine team is called “the Albiceleste,” another word I didn’t know; it means “white and blue”)
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
Do not even begin with the comparison between the NFL and professional soccer, they are completely athletic endeavors, with completely different cultures, and completely different athletes, resting on opposite ends of the sporting spectrum.
~
As for the Suarez hand ball, I can guarantee that every athlete playing in the World Cup would have done the exact same thing had they been in that position. Give your team a chance to survive, or let the ball go in and know in your mind that you didn’t commit a foul? The choice is obvious.
All of you talking about being righteous and upholding the “good” of the game are simply short sighted. Any athlete that competes at an elite level will do anything and everything possible to achieve victory, and if your not willing to do that, than you shouldn’t be playing. He did something that was against the rules, but accepted the punishment, and gave his team one last breath.
I can understand that some of you might whine that it isn’t fair, but that’s how the game works according to the rules, and if you don’t want to see someone lose than I suggest that you stop following sports. The only thing you should be frustrated with is the rules.
Athletes are trained to win.[/quote]
Not trying to use this as a comparison to American Football, but it jumps to the front of my mind as a very similar situation: Defensive Backs commit intentional Pass Interference anytime they are definitely getting beat and can still grab the receiver to make it happen(on deep routes, not small stuff where other defenders can still impact the play). In fact, you will get yelled at in the film room for not doing this. Them getting the ball at whatever yard line is superior to them getting a TD.
^Exactly. Just another example of utilizing the rules to give your team a chance at victory. Suarez did exactly the same thing, and in the end, it paid off.
[quote]Kerley wrote:
germany are gonna win the cup, but i want holland to win.
i dont call it Netherlands goddammit![/quote]
Germany vs. Netherlands (Holland) would be a great final and that is what I’m hoping for as well.
I just hope there are early goals in all of the upcoming games, because those quick strikes open up the game much more, and provide some very entertaining play.
Germany FTW. Klose is also on pace to become the top scorer in the history of the World Cup. He is quietly cementing his place as one of the best, while the youth continues to blossom in the form of Muller, Ozil, and Podolski.
As for the Suarez hand ball, I can guarantee that every athlete playing in the World Cup would have done the exact same thing had they been in that position. Give your team a chance to survive, or let the ball go in and know in your mind that you didn’t commit a foul? The choice is obvious.
All of you talking about being righteous and upholding the “good” of the game are simply short sighted. Any athlete that competes at an elite level will do anything and everything possible to achieve victory, and if your not willing to do that, than you shouldn’t be playing. He did something that was against the rules, but accepted the punishment, and gave his team one last breath.
I can understand that some of you might whine that it isn’t fair, but that’s how the game works according to the rules, and if you don’t want to see someone lose than I suggest that you stop following sports. The only thing you should be frustrated with is the rules.
[quote]Alpha F wrote:
You have been playing a game called FOOT ball for at least 20 years and switching to a volleyball action is a PURE instinctual reaction? Jesus Christ.
… [/quote]
So by that logic:
If I take a guy who has never played dodge ball, instead he has been using a PC all day for 20+ years, and throw a rock at his face from 6 yards away he will stay put.
[quote]Alpha F wrote:
You have been playing a game called FOOT ball for at least 20 years and switching to a volleyball action is a PURE instinctual reaction? Jesus Christ.
… [/quote]
This is purely moronic. Do you think that professional soccer players refuse to use their hands off the field? or in all other facets of life? They also use their heads, is that ok since it’s not indicated in the name of the sport?
[quote]JN7844 wrote:
For the moment, set aside the Suarez handball. That shit can be argued ad nauseum (and it probably will).
Uruguay vs. Holland
Predictions?
I expect a high scoring match with Forlan scoring twice, but Holland ultimately winning 3-2 in extra minutes.[/quote]
I think the Netherlands are just to strong. Uruguay could have had a shot had they been hitting on all cylinders, but without Suarez, that’s just not going to happen. There only hope now is set pieces and quick counters. I hope it stays close, but I think the Netherlands firepower will help them lock it up. Netherlands over Uruguay 3-1.
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
^Exactly. Just another example of utilizing the rules to give your team a chance at victory. Suarez did exactly the same thing, and in the end, it paid off.[/quote]
My point is that the rule as it stands, is ridiculous. I’ve been watching soccer for most of my life, and I maintained that it should have been changed to avoid this kind of a situation.
[quote]JN7844 wrote:
For the moment, set aside the Suarez handball. That shit can be argued ad nauseum (and it probably will).
Uruguay vs. Holland
Predictions?
I expect a high scoring match with Forlan scoring twice, but Holland ultimately winning 3-2 in extra minutes.[/quote]
I think the Netherlands are just to strong. Uruguay could have had a shot had they been hitting on all cylinders, but without Suarez, that’s just not going to happen. There only hope now is set pieces and quick counters. I hope it stays close, but I think the Netherlands firepower will help them lock it up. Netherlands over Uruguay 3-1.[/quote]
So far Holland have looked the much better team. I reckon they’ll score at least 2, with a good chance of 3. By all accounts, they should win it.
TO SET UP FOR A GERMANY HOLLAND FINAL!! Fuck. That would be great.
Loew: â??I said to the team: â??If you donâ??t move around the pitch, youâ??re not even going to beat teams like Canada!â?? â?? the German coach told the newspaper. â??That was our golden rule from Day 1."
Definitely far more excited to see tomorrow’s match, but I’ll be damned if the Dutch and Uruguay don’t put everything into this game seeing as it could be argued neither “should” be here(Brazil’s own goals, Suarez play).