To be fair, it wasn’t offside. Saw the scene again and the Brazilian player who played the cross to Fred was closer to the line than Fred.
MB, I hope you don’t mind that I pasted your post into my Facebook page (I cited you properly, of course).
Mexico were very impressive there. Jorge Ramos made a very good point, though: whatever training Croatia did to play in hot weather, it didn’t work. Mexico’s conditioning was much better. Especially considering that they’ve adopted a “run around a ton” style.
Italy-Uruguay is pretty tedious so far. If it weren’t for the diving, there’d be nothing happening. Uruguay will have to start showing some signs of life if they hope to advance.
Tonight’s matches are:
Japan vs Colombia
Greece vs Cote d’Ivoire
I auppose I coild set up dual screens and watch them simultaneously, but I’d rather not.
So which one do you think is going to be the most entertaining / attractive / open / attacking / fun to watch?
On Thursday, should I watch US-Germany, or are they just going to knock the ball around casually for 90 minutes and then congratulate each other on advancing?
The flop count is off the charts in this Italy/Uruguay game.
Yeah, I was watching that. Do the Italians always play like 4-year old sickly girls every time somebody touches them? Christ what a bunch of wimps - this is the football that Americans hate.
If I were the ref, I’d tell that Chiellini guy that the next time he goes down on incidental contact, he’s off the pitch for good.
On the other hand, it is pretty funny to hear the announcers call him a puss without actual saying that…
Anybody watching England? Is that game better?
Italy and Spain are the archetypal diving sides, though certain South American teams have been known to engage in it (probably because so many of them play in La Liga and Serie A.)
I would much rather be playing Algeria (or whoever finishes second in Group H) than Belgium (though I have not been impressed by them), so I’d be playing for the win were I managing the US team. Germany is ahead by three on goal difference so they will win the group unless the US beats them.
Something needs to be done to keep players from surrounding the referee protesting their sides case. Buffon ran 3/4 of the field to be in the refs face. That stuff needs to met with a fine after the game. There is no reason for him to leave his goal.
Buffon is the captain, so he does have some business talking to the ref.
He is the Italian captain, why shouldn’t he be able to talk to the ref?
Anyway, this game is boring so far and I’m worried Italy are about to park the bus now they’re down to ten players.
He’s the captain. If anyone should be allowed to protest, it should be the captain.
Italy is appearing to be highly discombobulated at the moment; this is Uruguay’s chance.
Nope. Not in that manner. The laws of the game afford the captain no special rights. He was lucky not to get a yellow.
Why did Italys Mario get a red?
I was told he “went over the ball” and I have no idea what that means. I’m at work and can’t watch anything, can someone fill me in?
This is an odd match.
The law of the game say nothing about running across the field; they do say that protesting to much can lead to being carded. Which he wasn’t. So what are you talking about fines for?
I am not the first person to say that something needs to be done to eliminate players surrounding the official pleading their case. It’s one thing to have the player who committed the foul to protest. It’s another thing to have all 11 players surround him. The only way to prevent it is more yellows or fines.
Strong contender for worst match of the Cup, I should think. They’re not playing terribly, but they’re not brilliant, there’s nothing massively exciting happening, and it’s dirty and divey.
…and Suarez bites a defender. Classy.