RobVarak wrote:After the US - Italy game, well actually during a drinking binge after the US - Italy game, I decided that 10v9 was interesting. Rather than going right to PK's, they should play one more 20 minute period, removing one player from both sides every 5 minutes, coaches choice. That would open things up and be fun...and crazy.
Like I said, I was drinking at the time...
I agree that penalties are a rubbish way of settling a game of that importance. At a minimum, I'd like to see a replay system for the Final so that if it's still level after extra-time the game goes to a replay on another date. They used to do that for the FA Cup final and I believe that is the most appropriate way for getting a decisive result. However, logistically that could prove difficult and the expense would likely make the idea unpalatable to FIFA.
Perhaps another option would be to provide 3 more substitutions in extra-time to provide some fresh players on and take the strain off the tired players.
Best wishes,
Doug
"Every major sport has come under the influence of organized crime. FIFA actually is organized crime" - Charles Pierce
No chance for replays - logistically impossible in a tournament of limited duration, without adversely affecting the winners for the next round.
FIFA's experiment of the golden goal (first goal in ET wins) and silver goal (goal in ET means you play to the end of that half) have both been failures. The only other way is the toss of a coin....and don't laugh, it's been used in European competitions before now.
As for the real objectors to the replay, it isn't FIFA (who would gladly take the extra money) but the clubs. They will already be whining that their players haven't had a proper break (translation - been playing for their country, as opposed to being dragged halfway across the world to play in meaningless friendly for commercial reasons..), but to lengthen that, no chance.
Can't wait to the next WC, it'll be interesting to see whether the G14 and their allies get their wish of massive compensation payments for anyone injured. As a WC related aside, I do hear that the South African FA reps have compared their plans to the infrastructure that Germany put into place, shook their heads and are now shitting blue bricks that they will not be ready for 2010.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
Considering the murder rate and the number of rapes occurring in South Africa I'd say they'll have their hands full just trying to protect the fans, players, wives, hangers on etc. from the graces of some of the more unpleasant members of the local population. Should be good fun!
Best wishes,
Doug
"Every major sport has come under the influence of organized crime. FIFA actually is organized crime" - Charles Pierce
davet010 wrote:[No - Ronaldo will get spannered for going to the referee in an attempt to get Rooney sent off. FIFA were supposedly cracking down on that, which as usual resulted in one player getting booked in a meaningless group game.
Spannered? Interesting expression.
Ronaldo didn't make Rooney step on the guy or make Rooney shove him.
Nothing forced Rooney to take the bait.
Do the English not understand the concept of being responsible for one's own actions? Are they that easily hoodwinked?
Even with the red card, England had chances to win the match. They even had a chance to go up 2-1 in the penalty shootout, I believe.
davet010 wrote:[No - Ronaldo will get spannered for going to the referee in an attempt to get Rooney sent off. FIFA were supposedly cracking down on that, which as usual resulted in one player getting booked in a meaningless group game.
Spannered? Interesting expression.
Ronaldo didn't make Rooney step on the guy or make Rooney shove him.
Nothing forced Rooney to take the bait.
Do the English not understand the concept of being responsible for one's own actions? Are they that easily hoodwinked?
Even with the red card, England had chances to win the match. They even had a chance to go up 2-1 in the penalty shootout, I believe.
I think you will find that the English are well versed in the concept of fair play - after all, we invented and popularised it. What we aren't so keen on is playground sneaks and informers...McCarthy wouldn't have got very far over here.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
But there's no proof that Ronaldo's lobbying convinced the ref. in this case is there?
Rooney did it with the ref right there in front of him.
Since winning the WC is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for many nations, I can understand the resentment.
I guess if Man U. fears Ronaldo will alienate English fans and ultimately hurt business, they should transfer him.
It's not quite the same thing but if Ginobli or some other foreign player in the NBA beat the US team in the Olympics or the World Championships under similar circumstances, I don't think American NBA fans would hold a grudge.
wco81 wrote:
I guess if Man U. fears Ronaldo will alienate English fans and ultimately hurt business, they should transfer him.
It's not quite the same thing but if Ginobli or some other foreign player in the NBA beat the US team in the Olympics or the World Championships under similar circumstances, I don't think American NBA fans would hold a grudge.
Ronaldo's off anyway - Fergie is spewing about him saying that he wants to join Real Madrid, and then confirming that he mant it rather than saying he was misquoted.
The odd thing is that the election for Pres of Real Madrid is today...there are 5 candidates, each of whom make extravagant promises to the members, and not all of them have (the fake)Ronaldo in their plans.
As for alienating England fans, Fergie couldn't give a f**k. After all, Beckham cost us both 1998 and 2002, and he lasted there until he had a falling out with the Drunken Scot in 2003 (the 'boot to the head' incident).
And with regard to your NBA analogy, I think if Ronaldo had cost England the game through a piece of skill, then no-one would mind that much - it was just doing it by cheating that pissed people off.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
I think the ref was going to send him off anyway. He did stamp on someone's groin right in front of the ref. And Ronaldo claims he was only complaining to the ref about what Rooney did, not actually asking for a red card. Unlike Podolski and the Germans who surrounded the ref in that game, and managed to get the Swedish defender a second yellow card for a microscopic bit of shirt pulling.
Last edited by Feanor on Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
South Africa 2010 should be interesting. I would be surprised if that WC isn't a failure. Attendance should be lower than low due to the security issues, crime rate, and general inconvenience of the location. I don't think there are too many places in this world from where South Africa isn't an expensive airline ticket.
Feanor wrote:I think the ref was going to send him off anyway. He did stamp on someon's groin right in front of the ref. And Ronaldo claims he was only compalining to the ref about what Rooney did, not actually asking for a red card. Unlike Podolski and the Germans who surrounded the ref in that game, and managed to get the Swedish defender a second yellow card for a microscopic bit of shirt pulling.
I agree he deserved a red.
As for the Gremans that only worked because they are in Germany...Refs are only human....well except in the NFL where they are evil or the NBA where they are Sterns lackeys...
mobiggins wrote:South Africa 2010 should be interesting. I would be surprised if that WC isn't a failure. Attendance should be lower than low due to the security issues, crime rate, and general inconvenience of the location. I don't think there are too many places in this world from where South Africa isn't an expensive airline ticket.
Travel should be no more expensive than Korea/Japan. I've heard some of the ESPN idiot commentators talking about the German heat wave and mentioning how much worse it could be in 2010. South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere and June temperatures are pretty mild. I don't know about precipitation (and four more years of global warming), but it'll have less effect than the summer heat of Mexico City or Orlando.
The World Cup is largely a media event anyways. Most fans attend via video. As long as the pictures come through the wire and the high rollers are relatively safe, I think the event will be fine. It's gotten so big that it can endure a lot.
The ESPN commentators can be total morons can't they? You would think they would realize South Africa is in the Southern hemisphere. I recently checked the weather for Durban at this time of the year, and the 10-day forecast was 75 F and sunny. Perfect football weather.
I cracked up when Balboa kept saying that Owen Hargreaves would be the only English player used to the heat cause he plays his football in Germany. The Bundesliga doesn't play any matches in June, you stupid idiot. And Beckham plays for a Spanish team.
I remember FIFA was thinking about making the WC every two years instead of 4. I think it would be a great idea to have it every 2 years. What happened to that? did they nix the idea?
That's a terrible idea...one of the things about the WC is knowing that this could be the last WC you play in. That's why losing teams "feel" the lose. Beckham may not make it into South Africa. Owen might not have legs by then. Rooney might force FIFA to invent a another card.
The fact that this may be one players chance for international glory is what makes this tournament so special. It doesn't need to be tinkered with.
Inuyasha wrote:I remember FIFA was thinking about making the WC every two years instead of 4. I think it would be a great idea to have it every 2 years. What happened to that? did they nix the idea?
No, they realised it would clash with an event that has a stronger field..
Euro 2008.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
Inuyasha wrote:I remember FIFA was thinking about making the WC every two years instead of 4. I think it would be a great idea to have it every 2 years. What happened to that? did they nix the idea?
No, they realised it would clash with an event that has a stronger field..
Euro 2008.
Oh, another competition that England won't win in your lifetime.
Inuyasha wrote:I remember FIFA was thinking about making the WC every two years instead of 4. I think it would be a great idea to have it every 2 years. What happened to that? did they nix the idea?
No, they realised it would clash with an event that has a stronger field..
Euro 2008.
Oh, another competition that England won't win in your lifetime.
Maybe not, but you'll never absolutely slaughter us in front of our own fans in a qualifier - giving rise to the chant
"5-1, even Heskey scored"
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
fsquid wrote:
Oh, another competition that England won't win in your lifetime.
Maybe not, but you'll never absolutely slaughter us in front of our own fans in a qualifier - giving rise to the chant
"5-1, even Heskey scored"
It went downhill from there for your boys, didn't it?
From a peak like that, the only way is down
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
Wembley was a dump, it needed going - plus you got rid of Mad Kev, so no-one was overly bothered.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
I recently checked the weather for Durban at this time of the year, and the 10-day forecast was 75 F and sunny. Perfect football weather.
