Originally posted by ElleEffSeeeOk, but taking the diving aside for a second... do you think that 3 games for 4 years is enough? Especially when 1 or 2 bad calls in one game can drastically change not only the game, but chances of moving to the next round? Where one or two bad calls can determine whether a team advances or not? I am NOT saying that this is what happended to the US (because they needed a win, not a tie). But hypothetically, this is very plausible. And while we're talking about bad calls... where the HELL did they find these referees?? Yes, I'm an American. Yes, I dont know a whole lot about soccer, but I've played in (when I was younger) and watched better-refereed games on a LOCAL level, nevermind state or national. These games are INTERNATIONAL. Should FIFA not seek out the best that they can get? Where do these refs come from anyway?
True diving is a problem in soccer - referees are supposed to give yellow cards to divers, but instead they nearly always fall for their thetrics, and it's immensely frustrating. Some countries are worse offenders than others and it seems the Ghanians are obviously used to a much weaker gravity field back in their own country.
The fact is though that if you score goals, this mitigates the problem.
Originally posted by lioyankWhat do you mean 3 games for 4 years? Each team has had to play loads of games in qualifying over the past few years. Also, there are continental finals around the world as well. If your team isn't good enough, it should go home, end of.
Ok, but taking the diving aside for a second... do you think that 3 games for 4 years is enough?
D
Originally posted by RagnorakExactly. So when the best teams finally DO qualify (after playing all those games just to get to the WC), don't you think that they should play a couple more teams, or play a couple more games, where the luck factor is (hopefully) not as important as skill?
What do you mean 3 games for 4 years? Each team has had to play loads of games in qualifying over the past few years. .
D
Originally posted by lioyankThe ref was a german and is supposed to be one of the best in the world, but every single one of them makes a bad call now and again. It's a tough job when things happen so fast and there literally is the pressure of two countries on your back.
Ok, but taking the diving aside for a second... do you think that 3 games for 4 years is enough? Especially when 1 or 2 bad calls in one game can drastically change not only the game, but chances of moving to the next round? Where one or two bad calls can determine whether a team advances or not? I am NOT saying that this is what happended to the US (because ...[text shortened]... L. Should FIFA not seek out the best that they can get? Where do these refs come from anyway?
As Ragnorak says there are other competitions. For two years international teams qualify and play in a 'local' tourney (e.g. Copa America, European Cup, etc.). Then they spend the next 2 years qualifying and playing in the world cup - USA has been playing teams for the past two years (rubbish teams like Panama and Grenada), but the chances of big coverage of these games by the US media is likely to be zero.
Originally posted by lioyankThere just isn't time for players to play many games, what with European club commitments.
Exactly. So when the best teams finally DO qualify (after playing all those games just to get to the WC), don't you think that they should play a couple more teams, or play a couple more games, where the luck factor is (hopefully) not as important as skill?
Originally posted by lioyankThere are only 7 games if you go all the way to the final.
Exactly. So when the best teams finally DO qualify (after playing all those games just to get to the WC), don't you think that they should play a couple more teams, or play a couple more games, where the luck factor is (hopefully) not as important as skill?
Remember, its a month long tournament, not a season.
Also, I think you're concentrating on the negatives of a bad refereeing decision too much. If the u.s. had offered anything in their games, they'd still be there.
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You know, that was a disgraceful decision. Should never have been.
Very sad to see a match tainted like that.
But that said, the US needed a win, and didn't look much like getting it. Did well against the Italians, poorly against the Czechs. You get three games. You need to play well in two to have a chance. That's how it works.
Hard luck to the USA. At least you have a bloody easy time qualifying anyway, so see that as a consolation. You'll be in there next time, whereas Ireland will have to qualify looking to finish 1st or 2nd in a group with 4 top teams and a few minor ones, while you're off playing Hawaii or Easter Island... I don't know. Anywhere. We'll have to knock out a top team in the qualifiers like we did last time round with Holland...
Originally posted by sjegOk. Just to make things completely clear. I'm not angry that the US lost that game. They had a bad call. Even so, they didn't play well. They played like absolute s*** against the Czechs. They faired well against Italy. They didn't do that well against Ghana. The better teams advanced. Well done to Ghana and Italy.
You know, that was a disgraceful decision. Should never have been.
Very sad to see a match tainted like that.
But that said, the US needed a win, and didn't look much like getting it. Did well against the Italians, poorly against the Czechs. You get three games. You need to play well in two to have a chance. That's how it works.
Hard luck to the USA. A ...[text shortened]... have to knock out a top team in the qualifiers like we did last time round with Holland...
I was just trying to point out some of the things within the game of soccer itself (not the US game specifically) that concern me. Sorry if I came across bitter. And yes, the US clearly has easier qualifiers and I do think that coming into this tournament we were overranked.
Originally posted by JusuhSince I'm new to the World Cup tournament and do find some of the finer points a bit confusing, could someone please tell me for sure if the USA ended up behind Finland, or ahead of Finland?
USA is eliminated. They couldnt even draw against a weak third world nation like Ghana...
Once more, for old good times:
HAH HAH HAH