The Soccer Thread (Version 13) — Winter World Cup Edition

Another thing that has never been consistent. I think there is a focus this year to make sure play is actually added due to stopped action and to combat the rolling around on the ground time wasting. I like it.

 

I always found it funny to explain to friends that close soccer matches don't end because of a clock, but rather a referee's discretion. "They give the losing team, or the aggressive team in a tie game, one last scoring chance and then blow the whistle." I actually like that it's still done that way largely in a time when technology and precision and taking the human factor out is becoming more and more prevalent across sports.

 

Portugal got away with a big blunder there at the end. That might have been an all-time ending. Dumb play by the keeper, heads up by everybody else (the Ghana player to hang back and steal the ball, the Portuguese defenders to hustle back and prevent a clean shot on the open net).

 

That also on the defenders. They need to speak to their keeper.

 

I think they try to get teams into the break on time. Might be a TV thing too but first halves rarely have more than 2 minutes unless there’s an egregious stoppage.

Second halves you tend to see more nonsense anyway. More guys trying to waste time by feigning a terrible leg injury only to be magically healed by spray. And guys who can sprint to chase a ball suddenly can barely trot when they’re coming out because of how warn out they are.

And this year has had a bigger emphasis on not rewarding the nonsense. We may see more teams trying to avoid space so they don’t get had in the sixth minute of stoppage like we’ve seen a couple of times.

 

Gotcha. I'm just waiting for the conspiracy theories in the knockout round when one of the big favorites like, say, Brazil or Germany, is down two goals at the 90-minute mark, gets about 10 minutes of extra time instead of the usual 3-5 minutes, and then rallies to tie it up or win it.

 

There was a WWC lnockout game between the US and Brazil when a Brazwent diw in a heap and needed Tobe taken off the pitch I. A stretcher. When she got to the sidelines.l, was a miracle and she jumped off the stretcher, her health restored like she'd been annointed with a miracle water. I think everyone watching knew extra time=how long it would take the US to score the go-ahead goal.

 

This was either typed on your phone and autocorrect went psycho, or you've gotten a healthy jump on the Thanksgiving booze

 

The first halves have always bothered me. A lot of times play is a little more straightforward, but not always. I love when there are four cards, three goals, and two injuries requiring stretchers and they still only add a minute.

 

Having a good thanksgiving there

 

Actually working my ass off since 6 a.m. I'll put up a new post when I get home. The original should stay, of course.