World Cup 2006 in Germany

[k thx 0]

The idea that the Italians would ever have a biased referee is just absurd...

[Guest NYankees]

I like how the Ref who screwed over the United States had been previously suspended in 2002 for irregularities. Great job by him.

[Guest]

The Czechs are gonna be playing EXTREMELY shorthanded against Italy. No Ufalusi, Koller, Baros, and their other striker. Italy would have to be piss poor.

 

The US must take care of business, Ghana's going to be missing two of their best. Trust me, Eddie Johnson can run on Ghana's defense if he plays.

 

The officiating was shit on both sides, but I will say that Pope's red was deserved. Mastroeni's was far from it.

 

I am proud of US Soccer, regardless of what happens in the next game. They busted their asses against a great team.

 

My one question, is if they find the ref guilty of irregularities, can that Beasley non goal count?

[megaadvice 0]

To the people critising diving or players pretending their injured. I agree that it is a disgrace and it certainly hurts the games reputation in America.

 

Diving (and pretending to be hurt when you are not) is now such a commen place in Italian leagues, South America and other European leagues that it is becoming IMO a big problem.

 

The good thing that it is quite rare with English players still although it is definatly creeping into our game aswell.

[Dark Age 0]

No, there is no way of the US getting that goal. And, also, the goal was disallowed due to interference in the play. The ball doesn't need to be touched for a player to interfere. It's a great topic of debate in English football/soccer right now, due to numerous rule changes over the last couple of years.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

This game is why I can't watch "world class" soccer. You can't screen a goalie or that's offsides? Guys who dive get players tossed. Get the fuck outta here. It's time to get back to watching real sports like baseball and poker.

 

I played soccer as a kid so I do watch a match when I have a vested interest (i.e. USA game) but I was thinking pretty much the same thing. Whenever a soccer fans rags on us uncultured Americans for not getting the "beauty" of soccer, I'll think of this game. Itialians flopping all over the place, refs making themselves the focal point of the game, goals being disallowed because a player was offsides even though there was no pass to him. Just rediculous. If I were Arena the USA soccer officials would have to ban me from the postgame conference because I'd rip FIFA a new asshole.

[Guest]

No, there is no way of the US getting that goal. And, also, the goal was disallowed due to interference in the play. The ball doesn't need to be touched for a player to interfere. It's a great topic of debate in English football/soccer right now, due to numerous rule changes over the last couple of years.

Ok, I'm fine with that.

 

I'm sick of the diving from the Italians, Portugese and Argentines.

 

The US should have had a penalty kick on that ball that Nesta slapped away from the play, that's the call that pissed me off the most.

[A Happy Medium 0]

I don't believe Pope's second yellow was deserved. He came from the side and actually made good contact with the ball. A foul? Sure. A yellow card...no way.

 

The U.S. looked pretty good out there. They made some good runs down the flanks. Donovan and Beasley showed up, too.

 

My big beef was the fact that Arena had nine players out there...all of them dead tired. He had one substitution left. Zuh?

[Guest]

If Johnson would have been subbed in for McBride, they would have scored on one of the counter-attacks.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Pope gets a red card on a bullshit call. This ref is so fucking Biased it is not even funny. Two red cards for the United States on late tackles. What is the person supposed to do while tackling? Stop? Fuck this ref, fucking bitch.

Of course you can't always stop the tackle once you realize you'll only hit your opponent, but that's why the players are supposed to make sure they hit the ball before they jump in for a sweeping tackle. Flying into the opponent's feet with barely a chance to hit the ball is just stupid, especially if you're already booked like Pope was. The refereeing in this game has been pretty much spot on, the discipline of the US boys has not.

 

Still, the US is plaing surprisingly well and I hope they get a draw. That'll make for an exciting third round.

 

Mastroeni did touch the ball! And got a red card. The refs were very biased.

 

Not that I care.

 

Unless the US beats Ghana like 3-0, they're gonna need many things to go their way to have any chance at the 2nd round.

[2GOLD 0]

Pope gets a red card on a bullshit call. This ref is so fucking Biased it is not even funny. Two red cards for the United States on late tackles. What is the person supposed to do while tackling? Stop? Fuck this ref, fucking bitch.

Of course you can't always stop the tackle once you realize you'll only hit your opponent, but that's why the players are supposed to make sure they hit the ball before they jump in for a sweeping tackle. Flying into the opponent's feet with barely a chance to hit the ball is just stupid, especially if you're already booked like Pope was. The refereeing in this game has been pretty much spot on, the discipline of the US boys has not.

 

Still, the US is plaing surprisingly well and I hope they get a draw. That'll make for an exciting third round.

 

Mastroeni did touch the ball! And got a red card. The refs were very biased.

 

Not that I care.

 

Unless the US beats Ghana like 3-0, they're gonna need many things to go their way to have any chance at the 2nd round.

 

 

Don't they just need Italy to beat the Czech Republic and they need to beat Ghana?

[Guest]

Yeah. Italy beating a decimated Czech side isn't tough to see happening, and Ghana's missing two of their best.

 

I'd rather have the US play like they did today and not advance than see them play like a bunch of divers and advance. I hated the way Italy played.

 

Of course, they would play Brazil in the 2nd unless Brazil messes up.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Pope gets a red card on a bullshit call. This ref is so fucking Biased it is not even funny. Two red cards for the United States on late tackles. What is the person supposed to do while tackling? Stop? Fuck this ref, fucking bitch.

Of course you can't always stop the tackle once you realize you'll only hit your opponent, but that's why the players are supposed to make sure they hit the ball before they jump in for a sweeping tackle. Flying into the opponent's feet with barely a chance to hit the ball is just stupid, especially if you're already booked like Pope was. The refereeing in this game has been pretty much spot on, the discipline of the US boys has not.

 

Still, the US is plaing surprisingly well and I hope they get a draw. That'll make for an exciting third round.

 

Mastroeni did touch the ball! And got a red card. The refs were very biased.

 

Not that I care.

 

Unless the US beats Ghana like 3-0, they're gonna need many things to go their way to have any chance at the 2nd round.

 

 

Don't they just need Italy to beat the Czech Republic and they need to beat Ghana?

 

Yes

[Mystery Eskimo 0]

Whenever a soccer fans rags on us uncultured Americans for not getting the "beauty" of soccer, I'll think of this game.

 

Well, in a way this game does show the beauty of soccer, in that you can never be sure what will happen. Strange games like this are great, although admittedly more so for the neutral.

 

And yeah, if US beat Ghana and Italy beat the Czechs, US are through.

[2GOLD 0]

I actually want Ghana to beat the US and advance to the next round. I like the way they play more and I enjoy the speed they bring.

 

The US really looks like they are moving in slow motion most of the time.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Yeah, Italy plays dirty shit constantly. But, I guess you could say the same for most teams.

 

I think odds are against Italy beating the Czechs. Czechs are still a tough team, and Italy doesn't impress me at all. But, it's soccer, who knows.

 

I think the US is in trouble against Ghana. The US does look like a slow team. I see Ghana getting lots of chances.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

I'm not a big soccer fan and don't ever watch it except for U.S. games in the World Cup but I got a big kick out of today's game. You have a crazy referee throwing red cards everywhere, rabid announcers who were yelling and screaming all game long about the terrible officiating, McBride in a crimson mask, and tons of goal scoring opportunities due to more spacing on the field. I like how the U.S. played against a good Italy squad and thought they deserved to win but maybe we should be blessed with the tie considering we were playing 9 on 10.

 

Count me in for those who fear a loss to Ghana but I'll be watching.

[Fökai 0]

There's no way the Czechs are going to beat Italy after their loss to Ghana, especially going into the game short-handed.

 

The United States control their future, and they played 3-4x better than they did against the Czechs. The game they played today aginst the Italy certainly isn't an aberration for either team; both teams are REALLY good and Italy will make it far in the Cup no matter what happens to the rest of the pool.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

MoleisaLunatic

 

NO! Bad...

[Slayer 0]

You'll never stop me

[k thx 0]

Go Yoshi!

 

A draw in Japan/Croatia would go a long way to getting Australia through.

[PLAGIARISM! 0]

Great penalty save, although the delay will have put the taker off. I love erratically good keepers.

[k thx 0]

Great penalty save, although the delay will have put the taker off. I love erratically good keepers.

Then you'll love Yoshi!

 

He wasn't good enough to get in our side when we were in the Championship, but he's doing well at the moment.

[Mystery Eskimo 0]

Brazil/Australia could be a great match. Brazil have got to be wanting to respond to Argentina's last display, so will hopefully be a good attacking display from them.

[Guest]

Robinho is the next Brazilian star.

 

Instant energy.

[Slayer 0]

Fuck a bunch of Brazil

 

They're the only team I really root against in the WC

[Guest]

I hate France and Iran. That's it.

 

I like talking to the Mexicans after their team plays like they did against Angola.

[devo 0]

Man, the Korean fans are going nuts. They're arguably supporting their team better than any other country's fans thus far.

[Guest]

Zidane may never play an international match again, after a terrible call.

 

Score should have been 2-1 if it weren't for the terrible non-goal.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Zidane may never play an international match again, after a terrible call.

 

Score should have been 2-1 if it weren't for the terrible non-goal.

 

I wouldn't call it terrible

 

That shot was a laser that went in and out quickly, it would be tough for anyone to catch that in real time