The unofficial World Cup Thread,

[Rhyfelwyr]

@Rhyfelwyr that must be one of the one's that the Daily Mail or The SUN reckon the FA lost from a batch of 50 so

What are you saying they aren't on sale or something? So it's not the real thing?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

What are you saying they aren't on sale or something? So it's not the real thing?

Put it on ebay, quick! Advertised as the soccer ball football...ball that ruined the world cup!

[gaelic cowboy]

What are you saying they aren't on sale or something? So it's not the real thing?

Dunno about that but the Tabmongoloids reckoned the FA losta batch before the tournament and that it caused England not to be used to the ball

[Ser Clegane]

For tomorrow:

Portugal - North Korea 1:0
Chile - Switzerland 0:0
Spain - Honduras 3:0

[Myrddraal]

Dunno about that but the Tabmongoloids reckoned the FA losta batch before the tournament and that it caused England not to be used to the ball

Put that on eBay and you'll probably find a mob of angry hooligans knocking on your door looking for someone to blame for England's failures.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Good game, but the Ivory coast players got a bit whiny towards the end.

[Ronin]

Kaká red card should be lifted by FIFA....that call was a total joke!

For tomorrow.

Portugal 0 - 0 - North Korea

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Where's johnhughtom? I scored 2 yesterday and 4 today.

Kaká should have gotten a red for punching the ivory-man in the face. Was the second or third foul of him. What an arrogant ... it's not all about being handsome I guess.

1 - 2

0 - 1

3 - 0

[Rhyfelwyr]

Dunno about that but the Tabmongoloids reckoned the FA losta batch before the tournament and that it caused England not to be used to the ball

Funny how they should end up in Scotland... I sense a conspiracy, no doubt planned with French support!

EDIT: As for tomorrow:

0 - 0

2 - 1

2 - 0

[Marshal Murat]

0 - 0
1 - 0
2 - 1

[Louis VI the Fat]

This tournament belongs to the Latin Americans. Europe is rubbish. Asia mostly anonymous also-rans. Africa yet again does not live up to its promise.

Meanwhile, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil are dominating everywhere. It's all about them, and the anglophony, US, NZ and OZ.

~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~

This tournament could well be about who can stop Brazil. Ever since 1982, only Maradona and Zidane have been able to defeat Brazil. That means this year only Argentina can stop the canaries.

~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~

World Volleyball Cup:

1) Maradona
2) Fabiano
3) Henry

~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~

1 - 0

1 - 0

2 - 0

[InsaneApache]

Portugal 1 - 1 North Korea
Chile 0 - 1 Switzerland
Spain 1 - 0 Honduras

[Louis VI the Fat]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...d-refuse-train

What became of France?

What became of France? What Meneldil said. This is not an isolated incident, this is the face of 21st century France.

France has changed. Why should these players listen to coaches or old guys? Their rap videos tell of rage, of 'respect' (which nowadays means people must treat you like a ghetto gangsta king, or you go into full rage mode immediately), of gang bangs with underage girls. Which is what this team, what the (sub)society they come from, is all about.

When there are two or three of these players, they adapt. Use sports to uplift themselves, to become part of mainstream society. When they are the overwhelming majority, their values are the norm, dominate the values of the team. The ballet dancers of 82, 84 and 86 are a distant memory. The rainbow team of the 90's worked because of many strong characters. This new crop is worthless.



Will they even show up for the game on Tuesday? We'll have to wait and see!

Oh, the sensation of it all!

[Husar]

Meh, all these complaints about the ball, as someone said on TV, a lot of teams had one or two years to play with that ball and only now that they're losing in the world cup, they start to complain about it...just excuses IMO. It's not the first world cup where people keep shooting 100 meters above the goal either.

And it's interesting to see how Switzerland beat Spain, yet most people here bet on Spain winning and Switzerland losing their next games.
I actually like the idea that it's a bit more even this time and even the favourites have to fight a bit to get further in the tournament, it's either step up your game or go home, why shouldn't Honduras for example win the cup if they deserve it? Or the dutch?

[naut]

Meh, all these complaints about the ball, as someone said on TV, a lot of teams had one or two years to play with that ball and only now that they're losing in the world cup, they start to complain about it...just excuses IMO. It's not the first world cup where people keep shooting 100 meters above the goal either.

It's set to be the lowest scored world cup in the current format. Less goals = boring tournament.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

It's set to be the lowest scored world cup in the current format. Less goals = boring tournament.

How true is that now? I can't find the stats anywhere. It seems like we've had a string of 3-5 goal games.

Kaká should have gotten a red for punching the ivory-man in the face. Was the second or third foul of him. What an arrogant ... it's not all about being handsome I guess.

He didn't punch him in the face...the other guy ran into his back and then fell down clutching his face.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Kaká should have gotten a red for punching the ivory-man in the face. Was the second or third foul of him. What an arrogant ... it's not all about being handsome I guess.

He was walking along when the Ivory player walked into him, touching Kaka's elbow with his chest, then fell to the ground clutching his face.

The Ivory player should have gotten a yellow.

CR

[Rhyfelwyr]

The commentators were talking about it and the Ivory Coast player may be facing a ban for one or two games, since that's what happened when (Rivaldo was it?) went down clutching his face pretending a Turkey player kicked the ball at it.

[Jolt]

Enough said.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Enough said.

Yeah I saw that, but it was a great goal and a good no-call by the ref I think.

[Craterus]

Enough said.

I'm sure if he was playing for Brazil B (Portugal) you wouldn't have such a problem with him.

France, very entertaining, they're making England's struggles look minor.

And, as others have said, Kaka didn't deserve to walk in my opinion. I'm sure if he had let the guy run into him and fallen down, you would all be complaining about diving and trying to get the Ivorian sent off. Catch-22. Hopefully it gets rescinded, if that's possible.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Well, maybe ye saw the incident better than me. But all in all, it was just. The goal was not correct and that crippled Ivory Coast's game, which is quite bitter imho.

Also what was said about anglophony? This tournament is about anglophony? This tournament is, if anything, not about anglophony. At least if you don't belong to this anglophony yourself, I guess ...

And concerning Brazil: I have to take back that comment about them being "old". But still I don't bet on them. They do have weaknesses. Let's not forget they just beat NKDPR and CIV. No real big teams, but these made Seleçao struggle albeit poors' and teethless' admitted incompetence.

Concerning France: Dignity. Where? It's such a shame. La Grande Nation! Admired even deep in the hearts of the Germans. What has become of you!!??

Who's gonna be next champion? Unpredictable. Whoever not, it's the ball's fault I guess ...

[Jolt]

I'm sure if he was playing for Brazil B (Portugal) you wouldn't have such a problem with him.

France, very entertaining, they're making England's struggles look minor.

And, as others have said, Kaka didn't deserve to walk in my opinion. I'm sure if he had let the guy run into him and fallen down, you would all be complaining about diving and trying to get the Ivorian sent off. Catch-22. Hopefully it gets rescinded, if that's possible.

If he was playing for Brazil B, I'd still have a problem with it. If he was playing for Portugal, not so much. But the thing is two handballs and a given goal is only available for a few select national sides, among which Portugal unfortunately isn't in. It isn't good to see Fabiano has been learning with Henry in mastering the technique of playing football with their hands.

[Marshal Murat]

Finally got the Brazil - Ivory Coast game score right.

I'll give kudos to Brazil for the win, they really look like they're to walk away with this tournament. Hopefully Chile will pull out over the Swiss, the Spanish will redeem themselves, and the Portuguese redeem themselves. Seemingly the smaller countries (Slovenia, Serbia, Switzerland) are able to really to pull the rug out from under the bigger teams.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Yeah I saw that, but it was a great goal and a good no-call by the ref I think.

Nononon!

That were the two single worst handballs I've ever seen. That was not a great goal, that was simply pathetic.

Click here for a close-up of that Fabiano goal.

Also what was said about anglophony? This tournament is about anglophony? This tournament is, if anything, not about anglophony.

Nononon!

England is woeful. But the other anglophonians have been massive! And it's not as if the refs have been kind to them either, far from it...

The US gave us two great games. Australia was overran by Germany, but were awesome with ten man against Ghana. New Zealand has been exhilariting throughout.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Nononon!

That were the two single worst handballs I've ever seen. That was not a great goal, that was simply pathetic.

In football "holding" is a major penalty. It happens all the time but the ref decides when to call it and when not too.

I don't see the urge for 100% adherence to the letter of the law in sports, no-calling is often better. It's silly to call someone for a handball when they were trying to hit it with their chest and it bounced off their shoulder instead.

[Pannonian]

In football "holding" is a major penalty. It happens all the time but the ref decides when to call it and when not too.

I don't see the urge for 100% adherence to the letter of the law in sports, no-calling is often better. It's silly to call someone for a handball when they were trying to hit it with their chest and it bounced off their shoulder instead.

The only time handball isn't called is when an opponent whacks it at you and you can't realistically get out of the way. If you deliberately handle it, it's a yellow. If you miscontrolled it and the ball touched your hands/arms, it's a free kick. If an opponent kicks it at you and you could realistically have been expected to get out of the way, it's a free kick. Hence the advent of defenders keeping their hands behind their back when pressing the shooter.

Also, as you've mentioned, handball is a direct (major) free kick, ie. it can be scored directly from the set piece, and if it occurs in their own penalty area, is a penalty. Re: your earlier question, the backpass rule applies to all passes made by feet where the defender was attempting to pass the ball to their own player, and if the goalkeeper subsequently touches the ball with their hands without anyone else having touched it, results in an indirect (minor) free kick. This means headed and chested backpasses are ok to handle, and skewed clearances that were meant to go into orbit, but end up in the keeper's hands, aren't called either.

[Romanic]

2 - 1
2 - 0
2 - 0

[Myrddraal]

Handballs are often called even if it wasn't intentional, the key point is whether it affected the course of play. If it give you an unfair advantage (which it almost always does) then play should be stopped, whether you meant to do it or not. If you deliberately handle the ball in the box, then go on to score, you should be sent off, if not crucified.

On a related note, the rule concerning handballs to stop a goal has been in the spotlight recently. Technically the ref is constrained, and must give a straight red, but that seems unfair to me.

[Sarmatian]

Touching the ball with your shoulder is not a handball. The first picture Jolt posted is a handball, the second isn't.