World Cup 2010

[hizzle?]

Hey Thuggy, this one is just for you baby!

BA-ZING

Is that you?

You look like a lesbian.

 

[hizzle?]

Also, not even an hour after the match ended, FIFA officially said that he doesn't want to talk about goal-line technology being introduced in the game.

 

[Universal]

England were poor. Mexico showed heart but were completely outplayed. Refs mistakes changed the landscapes of the games. But then again the losers defense wasn't good enough to prevail.

 

[Universal]

The winner from Spain/Portugal to win the cup!

 

[Duke]

FIFA should go fuck themselves. Fat heart-attack deserving Blatter upfront.

The situations of today, England's disallowed 2-2 and Argentina's offside 1-0 are absolute affronts to the game. It's ridiculous that this happens on the highest level. I can understand why a random American cannot take this sport seriously when you see shit like this.

A 100 million people saw "it". One man didn't and that happens to be the ref.

It's preposterous.

The winner from Spain/Portugal to win the cup!

Nonsense.

 

[Flipmo]

I haven't posted lately for I've been busy these last few. I watched the 2 games, England was horrible - disallowed goal or not. Nonetheless, the goal should have been counted. The Argentina offside was just laughable... Either way, happy to see the 2 better teams progress.

I wouldn't mind using extra linesmen like it was used in the Europa cup like Bobby said; and it was a HUGE success.

Anyways, I saw this article quick today, I thought I'd post it. Comment on it if you'd like...

World Cup credibility on the line
* Posted by Nigel Reed

Another day, another controversy. Or, in this case, two for the price of one which the 2010 World Cup and the watching world could have done without.

Like the goals England sloppily conceded to Germany, these mistakes were entirely preventable. Yet FIFA continues to score own goals by ignoring the issues. When will football's rulers wake up and accept their resistance to change is seriously damaging their product?

Luck, and luck alone, prevented a bigger black eye for the global showpiece. Neither Frank Lampard's 'non' goal, nor Carlos Tevez' 'offside' goal ultimately made a difference to the fact that Germany and Argentina will meet in the quarter finals.

We are talking here about the very credibility of the game. FIFA's declared and very visual policy of fair play amounts to a ceremonial flag which means nothing. If FIFA wants fair play to have any meaningful significance, it has a responsibility to ensure it delivers on its promise.

More than once I have voiced my support and respect for match officials. They do the best they can with the tools they are given. They are given a pair of eyes, a whistle and a flag. In 2010 they need more but their employers refuse to yield.

FIFA makes sure its World Cup looks fabulous. It spends enormous amounts of money ensuring the High Definition images it broadcasts around the world catches every moment of every game from every conceivable angle. In doing so it is also making its own referees look like chumps.

The solution is on its doorstep but FIFA won't open the door. We all knew in an instant Lampard's shot off the crossbar had fully crossed the line. The player knew it, as did his manager sitting in a dugout on the halfway line. The referee and his assistant were hung out to dry in no man's land.

Tevez knew he was offside when Lionel Messi delivered the rebound. The Argentine striker did what he's been taught to do and played to the whistle. The assistant needed help to try and make an accurate decision. It was available to the whole world except the man who required it most.

It is not fair on the players. It is not fair on the officials. It is not fair on the fans. One man has the power to change it but FIFA President Sepp Blatter refuses to pull his head out of the sand. By the time he does he may find events have overtaken him.

Blatter's outright rejection of video technology will ultimately cost him his job. He will stand for re-election next year on an embarrassingly out of date ticket that the introduction of video replays will disrupt the natural flow of the game, and what is done for one must be done for all.

The fact is Blatter knows better. We all do. Exhaustive tests have concluded goal line technology can be reliably delivered in less than half a second. FIFA's response, earlier this year, in the wake of Thierry Henry's 'hand-goal' was to suspend, indefinitely, any further research and development.

How far down the soccer pyramid does one take this technology? Here, Blatter has more of an argument but FIFA must surely acknowledge it cannot stage another World Cup without it. There are plenty of FIFA sanctioned tournaments over the next four years in which to iron out the kinks.

His would-be Presidential rivals should be cringing at what millions of fans have witnessed in South Africa. The dam is about to burst and they must act before they are swept away and drowned under the weight of public condemnation.

Forty four years after England's Geoff Hurst hit the bar against the Germans, lightning has struck twice. In 2010 we no longer have to rely on a Russian linesman. We now have assistant referees, so for goodness sake, let's assist them.

Also, Sebastian, you look too German for your own good. Congrats on the win though.

 

[SiGh]

Who won the mexico game today?

 

[2Pax]

Argentina beat them 3-1.

 

[Pittsey]

England were poor, but it would have been a different game, mentally, at 2-2. Germany would have had the wind knocked out of them, and England would have been buoyed. We also wouldn't have commited too many players in attack.

Saying that England have no pace, and were positionally poor. Germany deserved the win.

Capello should stay as manager. Otherwise we will be changing manager every time we have a "bad" tournament. ie. Every two years. We need to invest in grass roots. Get rid of the donkeys in the FA. And start blooding what "good" young players we have. Time for a change.

And maybe now Capello will see 4-5-1 is the formation needed at this level. I wouldn't agree with changing tactics at a world cup. But now is the time to experiment.

 

[Kobe]

@Flipmo: Pedro Pinto of CNN did an article on goal line tech. One of the aspects Blatter gave was that if it can't be included at all levels, it shouldn't be in the game in the first place (read that as if Africa can't afford it, forget about it). We have our own brand of goal line technology here. If the fans see it go over the line and the ref disallows it, they storm the pitch and give the ref a good kicking. Works like a charm since its applicable vice versa.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Who won the mexico game today?

so SiGh must be Mexican

 

[DJ Manny]

Comon Argentina we gonna win the world cup

 

[2Pax]

^Are you Argentinian?

 

[Bobby Sands]

anyone see the ROy Keane interview on Sky Sports News just now? lol

he calls it as it is at least.

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

^What did he say?

And I also like what he says. He comes out and pretty much is spot on.

 

[Bobby Sands]

^^the reporter asked why these top premiership players cant perform at the WC and Keane went through them all and said that most of them werent much good last season which is spot on really. You could only say that Lampard, ROoney and Cole had good seasons and Cole was just coming back from injury.

 

[Pittsey]

The winner from Spain/Portugal to win the cup!

Still Brazil for me.



But I'll be cheering for Ghana.

 

[Bobby Sands]

fairly comfortable for Holland. not that impressive but did enough. Kuyt was brilliant imo.

 

[Pittsey]

@Flipmo: Pedro Pinto of CNN did an article on goal line tech. One of the aspects Blatter gave was that if it can't be included at all levels, it shouldn't be in the game in the first place (read that as if Africa can't afford it, forget about it). We have our own brand of goal line technology here. If the fans see it go over the line and the ref disallows it, they storm the pitch and give the ref a good kicking. Works like a charm since its applicable vice versa.

That's a ridiculous argument. Is he a communist?

 

[Pittsey]

What do you guys think of the comments from the FA today, that they are taking 2 weeks to reflect on Capello's success and failures before deciding if he keeps his job?

Sounds to me like they are going to be looking and speaking to possible replacements. If they can get one they want, bye Don Fabio. If not, Vote of confidence.