Running, all-purpose World Cup thread

Wasn't a bad interview for the novice.

Here is the link for the WSJ article

http://online.wSportsJournalists.com/public/article/SB115205934369497935-p7zzoDIaTTMsg18YJAeHQhPCU50_20060803.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

 

My only problem is that he said the same thing yesterday that he is saying today.

We get it, you don't like the rules. Can we move onto the oohs and aahs of the game now? (Just my personal thought.)

 

That's M&MD's style -- repeat until it is fact. I thought that the interview was decent for something done from the perspective of the casual observer.

 

Webster, you are probably correct. I missed part of it due to other issues. I just heard part of it and wondered why it was necessary to go over the same things he asked callers yesterday.

I guess I'm a bit frustrated over the idea that Russo, who likes the niche sport tennis, will go into detail after detail of Wimbledon, which nobody calls in to discuss, yet when it comes to soccer its all about how rules seem silly to him.

I printed the article out and skimmed it over. I may not read it until I get home. I will comment on the ideas of playing in tournaments.

I think it is a must. There is no reason that this team shouldn't be playing as many games as possible. The South Americans play zillions of games just to qualify, more so than any other group. Then they have their tournaments.

The US' top competition in CONCACAF is Mexico. However, they are clearly not a world power in any sense. As such, the US needs to go out and find top teams to play.

I saw mention of MLS and the need to improve, which I agree with. I know the argument about playing in Europe. I agree to a certain point about the argument for playing against the best players in the world in order to challenge yourself. I just question to what aim is it necessary to go over there. I don't think every league in Europe is great. I think playing in the second division of England with a team that historically doesn't get promoted is a bad idea.

On top of that, I think MLS teams need to play outside the league, moreso than they do now.

 

Ref for the final is announced...

 

My bad, I didn't mean it that way. C. Ronaldo can pass, but at times, he only plays to make "cute plays".

 

I haven't weighed-in on the France v. Portugal match and I wanted to do so prior to the end games.
(I hope Germany wins the third-placer)
With the France win, and I was indeed pulling for France and Zidane and all that speed they have ...
But for all intents and purposes, we had ourselves at 0-0 tie game between the Maroons and French.
The penalty kick should have never happened. An allowance of that magnitude was unfair based on what the Portugal player did with the alleged tripping.
And it was Thierry Henry that got tripped.

Why in the rules of soccer does it say that Zidane or anyone else besides the person who was tripped would get to kick the ball?

Those two points - the improperly earned penalty kick and the fact that Henry wasn't the one who had to kick it - served to tarnish the game and the entire sport, in my eyes.
But yes, I became sold on France after they put on such a fine display against Brazil. And I've truly enjoyed watching this Cup tourney.

 

Hed, my comment on the two items of note:

1. There was a penalty in the box committed against Thierry Henry. As such, that region provides France with a penalty kick. If the foul was outside of the box, no PK. Now, you may not think it was a foul, but it was.

2. Why should the individual fouled have to take the free kick or penalty kick? In the US v Italy match, McBride went up to head the ball and was maliciously elbowed in the face to the point where he was bleeding and needed stitches. How is he to stay on the field in order to take a free kick? What if it was in the box? With blood running down his face, how is he supposed to take it?

Now, you may say that this is an "extreme" example, but how would try and make special exceptions to determine when a player is too injured to take the free kick or penalty kick?

 

Good points, all.
Rules is rules.
I think, and this is again just my opinion, that if a person is too injured to take a penalty kick, then someone should come off the bench to take the shot.
That would legitimize things and make for a fair, across-the-board solution in that case - as well as getting more players involved.
But thanks for the explanation of the rules.
--------------------
And this just in from ESPN
Germany's star Ballack won't play against Portugal in the third place game. :'(
For what it's worth.

 

Let's Go Italy!

 

It doesn't make France a bad soccer-playing country if they lose to Italy; it makes them just like the rest of the world!





In all seriousness, you should have seen 18th Avenue in Brooklyn on Tuesday. It was like Rome. Italians mobbing the street, waving flags, hugging, celebrating.

Forza Italia!

 

Except that 85 percent of U.S. starters play in the European Leagues you mentioned.