World Cup 2014

Wouldn't have gotten that without a google search. if you can dodge tanks, bullets, and landmines, then you should be able to chase a soccer ball.

 

Ok, all caught up in my recorded matches.
These are some seriously exciting games.
But, damn, why do some of these guys play the fake hits and exaggerated falls sooo much? They shouldn't have to.
They have all kinds of stamina and endurance, and seem like they would be all that was tough. I just don't get the playacting. It's shameful.

 

goallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

 

Still have no respect for floppers, divers or simulators in football (soccer) after reading both links.

 

I couldn't agree more. Just play the game and show the the fans, your competitors and yourself the necessary respect.

While we're on the subject, another thing that irks pisses me off is the complete and utter lack of respect shown towards referees. I can't think of any other sport where players rushing towards the referee to disagree (vehemently, with visible dissent) with a call he's made is not only NOT punished, but is even tolerated. I always draw comparisons to rugby, where the ref is utterly respected and frequently dismisses players with just a wave of his hand - decisions are made and will not be discussed or argued over. Add to that the fact that rugby players actually get physically tackled and don't roll around on the pitch bitching and complaining like some of these football players...just thinking about it pisses me off.

There's a definite need for change in football. I just have no idea where it's going to come from.

 

this korea match is boring me to death

 

As a buddy of mine put it, "Brazil definitely aren't looking like champions elect".

 

No instant replay? Seriously? Seems like a sport where many people worldwide treat it with a religious reverence would have such a thing. The technology is definitely available.

 

Yep - interesting day indeed. Spain out in the group stages? I don't think *anyone* saw that before the tournament...not the breakdown France suffered last go around, but still pretty hard result for them.

As to the conversation about the dives and the like - perhaps that's another thread, perhaps not. I will say that for me it's a question of extent, but the basic concept of drawing fouls doesn't bother me. When I played, the referee became a part of the game. Even if I didn't like it, I could appreciate it when an opposing player was able to either draw contact, or simulate it within reason to draw an advantage for their team. Maybe I just played with a bunch of disreputable types (ok, I definitely did) but cheating was an expected part of the game, as long as it wasn't so obvious that there is no way that the ref shouldn't have been able to tell.

That said, I wholly support goal line technology and instant replay. I think only for cases where a player goes down or something similar, the ref already has to make a call and time is essentially going to be lost off the clock anyways. In the end, I think it would either cut back on some of the fake injury, or at least make the players work harder for it and not risk some of the more obvious cases where there isn't even contact.

 

Aus v Netherlands was a cracking game. Given how we were dismissed as easybeats we have actually played pretty well.

The diving really pisses me off. I reckon they should have a post game video review and give yellow cards for diving and use them to suspend players. That would stamp it out quickly.

 

And instant replay won't work for this game. It doesn't have the natural breaks in play that allow replays to work in American football, rugby or similar games.

 

this match is boring me to death