US SOCCER

[CAA Flagship]

What a start to the Cup. End to end action.

How many flops happened in the first game?

How much "extra time" did they add after the clock read 0:00..........no wait.........they run the clock the wrong way right?..........so, after it read 90:00.

[Ibanez]

How many flops happened in the first game?

How much "extra time" did they add after the clock read 0:00..........no wait.........they run the clock the wrong way right?..........so, after it read 90:00.

[GannonFan]

Good first game, both teams had plenty of chances, and even after the penalty Croatia had a lot of opportunities to tie it up. But Group A will likely end up like it was always going to be - Brazil through at the top of the table and Croatia and Mexico playing it out for the last spot through.

Obviously great game today with the Dutch taking on Spain. England and Italy tomorrow as well. Good stuff.

[JMU DJ]

How many flops happened in the first game?

How much "extra time" did they add after the clock read 0:00..........no wait.........they run the clock the wrong way right?..........so, after it read 90:00.

How many time outs were called? How many times did they cut to commercial for 10 minutes during a critical play? How many times did the refs stand around for 15 minutes while the head ref reviewed replay?

[Grizalltheway]

How many flops happened in the first game?

How much "extra time" did they add after the clock read 0:00..........no wait.........they run the clock the wrong way right?..........so, after it read 90:00.

Try not tp hurt that little peabrain of yours thinking about it.

[CID1990]

How many flops happened in the first game?

How much "extra time" did they add after the clock read 0:00..........no wait.........they run the clock the wrong way right?..........so, after it read 90:00.

Lots of flopping

and some pretty pro-Brazil refs

[Grizalltheway]

Not to be racists, but in my experience, Latin countries are much more prone to the flopping thing than anyone else.

[Ibanez]

Not to be racists, but in my experience, Latin countries are much more prone to the flopping thing than anyone else.

In 61 minutes of game time, Mexico has flopped quite a bit. Seriously, the guy from Cameroon grazed this Mexican, and the Mexican collapses, grasping his shin.

[CAA Flagship]

Offsides Rule
That rule is such garbage. Refs constantly get it wrong. (See Mexico-Cameroon highlights)

[tribe_pride]

Offsides Rule
That rule is such garbage. Refs constantly get it wrong. (See Mexico-Cameroon highlights)

Nothing wrong with the rule. It prevents strikers from cherry picking which would bring defenders all the way back as well. You would then have teams just long kicking back and forth which would likely lead to fewer scoring chances.

Agree that it is not always applied well and read that there was at least a screw up in the Mexico-Cameroon game.

[CAA Flagship]

Offsides Rule
That rule is such garbage. Refs constantly get it wrong. (See Mexico-Cameroon highlights)

Nothing wrong with the rule. It prevents strikers from cherry picking which would bring defenders all the way back as well. You would then have teams just long kicking back and forth which would likely lead to fewer scoring chances.

Agree that it is not always applied well and read that there was at least a screw up in the Mexico-Cameroon game.

I recognize that it would be unfair to criticize a long standing rule without offering a solution, so......

Use a stationary line similar to hockey as the offsides line. I'm not sure where the line should exactly be but maybe somewhere between the top of the goalie box and mid-field. It is way to difficult to judge a moving line, especially if you are out of position.
Another line some 5-10 yards off the endline could be used for corner kicks, which would give the goalie some initial room to move.

[dal4018]

Not to be racists, but in my experience, Latin countries are much more prone to the flopping thing than anyone else.

In 61 minutes of game time, Mexico has flopped quite a bit. Seriously, the guy from Cameroon grazed this Mexican, and the Mexican collapses, grasping his shin.

These players should be grateful that no fines are being thrown at them a la NBA!!!

[tribe_pride]

Nothing wrong with the rule. It prevents strikers from cherry picking which would bring defenders all the way back as well. You would then have teams just long kicking back and forth which would likely lead to fewer scoring chances.

Agree that it is not always applied well and read that there was at least a screw up in the Mexico-Cameroon game.

I recognize that it would be unfair to criticize a long standing rule without offering a solution, so......

Use a stationary line similar to hockey as the offsides line. I'm not sure where the line should exactly be but maybe somewhere between the top of the goalie box and mid-field. It is way to difficult to judge a moving line, especially if you are out of position.
Another line some 5-10 yards off the endline could be used for corner kicks, which would give the goalie some initial room to move.

You realize that the sideline official and not the head referee is the one that designates a player in an offsides position, right? There is 0 excuse for him to be out of position. The referee gets to decide if the player is offsides (involved in the play) but does not call whether the player is in the offsides position.

Are you saying for your offsides rule that once a player gets inside the line, they cannot be offsides and if they beat the ball inside the line that they bring the play offsides? That would get rid of tons of attacking opportunities that are currently out there since strikers would have to wait for the ball to cross the line. I tried to think of a way where you could get part A of the hockey rule but not part b and can't think of a good way to do it.

Out of curiosity, on your new corner kick rule, 5-10 yards which way? Towards the goal or towards the midfield line. Why do you have an issue with the way the corner kicks are now done?

[bluehenbillk]

Are you saying for your offsides rule that once a player gets inside the line, they cannot be offsides and if they beat the ball inside the line that they bring the play offsides?

Admittedly I don't follow soccer much nor care much about it but the offside rule seems dumb to me. Here's what I think would make it more exciting, once the ball has advanced to a certain point in the field, say the equivalent of inside a hockey blue line (final 1/3 or 1/4 of the field), once a team gets possession beyond that line there is no offsides. Then guys would have to actually play defense versus all try to coordinate moving upfield & putting an attackman offsides. 1-0 games do nothing to attract fans.

[tribe_pride]

Are you saying for your offsides rule that once a player gets inside the line, they cannot be offsides and if they beat the ball inside the line that they bring the play offsides?

Admittedly I don't follow soccer much nor care much about it but the offside rule seems dumb to me. Here's what I think would make it more exciting, once the ball has advanced to a certain point in the field, say the equivalent of inside a hockey blue line (final 1/3 or 1/4 of the field), once a team gets possession beyond that line there is no offsides. Then guys would have to actually play defense versus all try to coordinate moving upfield & putting an attackman offsides. 1-0 games do nothing to attract fans.

The problem is that many goals start where the ball is on the defensive half or just over the half mark and there is a pass up field. Under a hockey rule, neither of Netherlands' goals today would have been scored.

By the way, RVP's goal is sick.

RVP's goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1S3aLvZMbQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Robben's goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnhDciSmzoo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GannonFan]

RVP is just a quintissential striker.

[JMU DJ]

Dear Arsene Wenger,

Please take this match as further reason why you should not pursue Iker Casillas... I mean, the guy doesn't even start for his club anymore.

Thanks,
JMU DJ

[bluehenbillk]

Admittedly I don't follow soccer much nor care much about it but the offside rule seems dumb to me. Here's what I think would make it more exciting, once the ball has advanced to a certain point in the field, say the equivalent of inside a hockey blue line (final 1/3 or 1/4 of the field), once a team gets possession beyond that line there is no offsides. Then guys would have to actually play defense versus all try to coordinate moving upfield & putting an attackman offsides. 1-0 games do nothing to attract fans.

The problem is that many goals start where the ball is on the defensive half or just over the half mark and there is a pass up field. Under a hockey rule, neither of Netherlands' goals today would have been scored.

By the way, RVP's goal is sick.

RVP's goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1S3aLvZMbQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Robben's goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnhDciSmzoo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well that would be fine then, I was only talking about once a team has established possession in the "offensive zone". I didn't mean to copy the NHL off-sides rule at all.

[GannonFan]

The Dutch are looking fantastic right now tearing up Spain. Of course, this will just be the high point of the tournament for the Dutch and they'll crash out of this things once they get out of group play.

[bandl]

The Dutch are looking fantastic right now tearing up Spain. Of course, this will just be the high point of the tournament for the Dutch and they'll crash out of this things once they get out of group play.

Losing in the final of the 2010 World Cup against the best team in the world is crashing out?

[JMU DJ]

The Dutch are looking fantastic right now tearing up Spain. Of course, this will just be the high point of the tournament for the Dutch and they'll crash out of this things once they get out of group play.

Losing in the final of the 2010 World Cup against the best team in the world is crashing out?

No, but when it's the third time you have in the finals alone, it only adds to the history of great Dutch teams failing in the semis/finals. As much as I'd like to see them get one, and as great as it was for Robben and van Persie to become the first Dutch internationals to score in three consecutive world cups, their nations history of starting well and constantly coming up short is still there.

[bandl]

Losing in the final of the 2010 World Cup against the best team in the world is crashing out?

No, but when it's the third time you have in the finals alone, it only adds to the history of great Dutch teams failing in the semis/finals. As much as I'd like to see them get one, and as great as it was for Robben and van Persie to become the first Dutch internationals to score in three consecutive world cups, their nations history of starting well and constantly coming up short is still there.

Agreed, and I understand their history. But getting to the final game is not crashing out.

[CAA Flagship]

I recognize that it would be unfair to criticize a long standing rule without offering a solution, so......

Use a stationary line similar to hockey as the offsides line. I'm not sure where the line should exactly be but maybe somewhere between the top of the goalie box and mid-field. It is way to difficult to judge a moving line, especially if you are out of position.
Another line some 5-10 yards off the endline could be used for corner kicks, which would give the goalie some initial room to move.

You realize that the sideline official and not the head referee is the one that designates a player in an offsides position, right? There is 0 excuse for him to be out of position. The referee gets to decide if the player is offsides (involved in the play) but does not call whether the player is in the offsides position.

Are you saying for your offsides rule that once a player gets inside the line, they cannot be offsides and if they beat the ball inside the line that they bring the play offsides? That would get rid of tons of attacking opportunities that are currently out there since strikers would have to wait for the ball to cross the line. I tried to think of a way where you could get part A of the hockey rule but not part b and can't think of a good way to do it.

Out of curiosity, on your new corner kick rule, 5-10 yards which way? Towards the goal or towards the midfield line. Why do you have an issue with the way the corner kicks are now done?

I'm saying a line should be drawn something like 5-10 yards in front of (away from) the goal (end line). The issue is (see highlight from Mexico game today) that it is too difficult determine offsides with the offensive AND defensive players moving at the same time. The typical set up seems to be about 5 yards away from the goal. Just paint a line and be done with it.


Oh, and there needs to be more scoring. Goalies are bigger and more athletic today. I say make the goal wider by at least 6 feet (I think it should be 10 though) and taller. Right now it is 8 feet tall. 8 feet? A goalie today can stop a ball without jumping, and that's not factoring in the angle of the ball's flight when the goalie is a few feet in front of the goal. It should be at least 2 feet taller than where a typical goalie can reach on an average jump. I figure that should be at least 11 feet, if not 12 feet.
There is no reason that a goalie must be able to physically stop all shots. When you are only able to use your feet or head, accuracy is poor at best.

Hockey averages over 5 goals per game. Professional soccer's worldwide average is 3 goals per game (Austrailia skewing the numbers with 6+ per game). Something needs to be done if the game is to grow any further. Just look at highlights of a soccer game. It is mostly shots on goal. You rarely see a highlight where there are three guys in the middle of the field fighting over control of the ball. Just like you won't see a ground out to second base in baseball highlights or a 2 yard rush up the middle in football highlights.

The last World Cup I saw a game where a team scored the first goal with 16 minutes left in the game. The announcers were saying that the game was essentially over. There is something seriously wrong with a sport where the odds of scoring the tying goal in the last 16 minutes of play is almost nil.

[JMU DJ]

Also, that was a sick goal by RVP... but can we get Daley Blind some credit for that service. What is that? 40-50 yards?

[JMU DJ]

Oh, and there needs to be more scoring.

Clearly you have not seen the score of the Spain v Netherlands game... or the Brazil v Croatia match.