The OFFICIAL TG FIFA World Cup 06 Predictions/discussion/hype thread

[Wulfyn]

Deco got a yellow card for holding on to the ball for too long and preventing the oppositon from taking a free kick. It was well advertised as being on the FIFA hit list of actions that refs were supposed to clamp down on. I agree that it was a very harsh decision, but if you are stupid enough to do that when you are already on a yellow card then you have to accept that you could have a decision against you. He was lucky not to get a straight red from the first one.

The problem with the ref was not the sendings off (most were yellows from pretty cynical fouls), the problem was that he completely failed to control the game. The early yellow cards did not settle the players down, and from then on he set a level of consistency that he could not control.

The amount of play-acting in this world cup has been the worst I have ever seen it, and it was never better highlighted than in this game. A very sad story indeed.

[Chappie]

I have to agree with Wulfyn and Santa...however one point I'd like to bring up. The foul that really turned the tone of the entire match was the one on Christiano Ronaldo by the Dutch player...I believe it was Van Bommel.

In my eyes that should have been a straight red....studs up making contact on Ronaldo's inner thigh??? Holy crap!!! On that foul there was intent to injure.....

I was initially disapointed at the way Figo went down when he caught the elbow...but seeing the replays..I do think he was caught pretty good...was it intentional??? Don't know..I doubt it.

I think maybe the only red card that was deserved was Portugal's initial one...to get a second yellow by intentionally playing the ball with your hand?? What the hell was Costinha (sp?) thinking???

And one other thing...was Van Nistelrooy injured??? I think Van Basten has some 'splaining to do.

[Wulfyn]

Horseface was apparently uninjured and available for selection, but unused. The media here speculated that he and VB had a bust up. Horseface has a track record of this.

[Obi]

I think I am correct in saying that there were 25 fouls and 16 yellow cards. It wasn't even a football match towards the end it was just drama.

The play acting is completely pathetic and I agree with Wulfyn that it is worse in this world cup than I have ever seen. I was really disapointed with Figo going down after the elbow the the face. Ok, contact was made but be a man for goodness sake. He was lying on the ground like he had been shot. This type of thing is really ruining football, it slows the game down, causes referees to make contraversial decisions and is simply unsportsmanlike.

[Faultline]

Originally Posted by 0b1one

I think I am correct in saying that there were 25 fouls and 16 yellow cards. It wasn't even a football match towards the end it was just drama.

The play acting is completely pathetic and I agree with Wulfyn that it is worse in this world cup than I have ever seen. I was really disapointed with Figo going down after the elbow the the face. Ok, contact was made but be a man for goodness sake. He was lying on the ground like he had been shot. This type of thing is really ruining football, it slows the game down, causes referees to make contraversial decisions and is simply unsportsmanlike.

I love the world cup but this kind of behavior (acting), coupled with the bringing out of the stretcher for every fallen player, makes me feel like I'm watching a bunch of pansies running around for 90 mins.

No one needs a stretcher to bring them off the field unless they have a broken leg/ankle, knocked unconscious, or they're paralyzed. They get on that goofy thing and strap themselves down only to hop right back up and sprint back on the field....C'MON!

/rant


Mexico-Argentina was a nail biter. So far the best game I've seen beyond the first round.

[JimmyTwoHand]

Portugal V Holland was basically a farce. The ref needed to grab the two captains when he saw the way things were going and tell them to cool their players down. There were some bad decisions in there but a lot of those yellows were the product of the ref following hardline FIFA regulations. So far this approach seems to be making diving, playacting, timewasting and other idiocy more prevalent rather than reducing it. I doubt we will see such refereeing rules again.

On the plus side england will be facing a much thinner Portugal side than we would have without this game but the circumstances are unfortuante.

As a sidenote and follow up to my triumphant "im going to the world cup" thread. I received an offer i couldnt refuse for my tickets and am watching the world cup from my new 40" HD LCD tv....

[Wulfyn]

Well after the amount of cheating that there was yesterday I guess it is no surprise that this one was settled by a blatent Italian dive for a penalty.

This world cup is a total joke.

[tau_neutrino]

The officiating is abhorrent. I thought the refs in the NBA were bad...

[RGM-79N_GM_CUstom]

I would sell my soul to be in Germany and have WC titles.

That Portugal V Holland match was hilarious but we seriously need less diving and I agree with just about everything everyone posted thus far.

BTW Italia advances. 1-0 (I was hoping the Aussies would win.) Next up is Switzerland vs Ukraine.

Edit: I didn't get to see the game today way to busy. Italy won by a dive? Today is a sad day for this sport. I don't know what is worse stuff like this sliding by or FIFA seemingly making no attempts to correct this.

[Drizzid]

As a sidenote and follow up to my triumphant "im going to the world cup" thread. I received an offer i couldnt refuse for my tickets and am watching the world cup from my new 40" HD LCD tv....

I was wondering about that. Nice trade Jimmy

[Obi]

Originally Posted by Drizzid

I was wondering about that. Nice trade Jimmy

The is an advert over here in the UK where the exact same thing happens.

[RGM-79N_GM_CUstom]

Ukraine advances. They won in penilty kicks.

[Obi]

Originally Posted by RGM-79N_GM_CUstom

Ukraine advances. They won in penilty kicks.

Horrible, horrible penalty kicks. 3 scored out of 7 (or was it 8). But watching people miss penalties is way more fun than watching them score.

[RGM-79N_GM_CUstom]

It was seven that went up I believe. I wish Ukraine luck though always nice to see new faces at the World Cup.

Next up Ghana getting owned by Brasil. (Hopefully)

[DudeMan]

Originally Posted by 0b1one

The is an advert over here in the UK where the exact same thing happens.

oh talking about adverts.... the budwieser campaign over here is golden... it features two american comentators highly steriotyped of knowing jack **** about football....

my favorite was when England played trinidad and tabago... it starts off with the one guy saying...

comentator one
" well today we are going to see England play against Trinidad AND Tobago...."

comentator two

"well now that just doesnt seem fair to me 2 teams..."


oh god less you have seen it it will mean nothing but it cracked me up... the simple fella i am....