World Cup football/soccer

[cyclops]

the Netherlands against Mexico. Just in Time. I almost started to despair but then there were Kuyt, Robben, Sneijder and Van Huntelaar. Hup Holland hup!

[RobertJasiek]

It was a game of strategy. First half, NL had rest to avoid running like mad for 90 minutes in the tropic heat. Second half, NL actually played soccer. Then came Robben in good old Maradona style, but instead of a Hand of God Robben fell for the devil just in time.

[wineandgolover]

the Netherlands against Mexico. Just in Time. I almost started to despair but then there were Kuyt, Robben, Sneijder and Van Huntelaar. Hup Holland hup!

Don't forget the ref's unwillingness to book uber-diver Robben for his flops. Disgraceful from a neutral's perspective.

[cyclops]

Just to avoid my own bias I watched this match on the neutral Belgian TV station. They clearly stated that Robben was denied a sure penalty earlier. They assumed the referee restored the balance of his decisions. Apart from that Robben was unjustful hindered in the penalty area and by implication deserved the penalty. At least as much as Brazil deserved its penalty in the first match. Objectivity is needed more than neutrality.
@Robert: I guess Oranje avoided in the first half to attack because that would be at the hot sunny side of the stade. In the second half they could attack over the right side in the shade. I advised this strategy to dutch coach and I was glad he listened to me.

[quantumf]

They clearly stated that Robben was denied a sure penalty earlier. They assumed the referee restored the balance of his decisions.

Did these Belgians also refer to the first half incident where the Mexican striker was kicked in the face in the penalty area? That was probably the worst incident in the game, certainly the most dangerous (admittedly hard for the referee to see from his angle). I very much doubt good referees "balance the books" - that's a really dangerous path to go down.

Note that I don't think Robben's theatrical fall at the end was a particularly egregious dive. I would say that the Mexican defender was tired and lost concentration, and made a clumsy challenge. He made it easy for the referee to give the penalty. Mexico paid for relaxing during the second half after their goal - they surrendered the initiative to the Netherlands, and couldn't reclaim it when they needed it.

[wineandgolover]

Hehe, Belgium ain't exactly neutral. I agree that Brazil's penalty in the first match was ridiculous. Do you really believe in giving game deciding make-up calls in added time?

FWIW, Robben even apologized for diving in this match...

I have to apologise in the first half I took a dive and I really shouldn't do that. That was a stupid, stupid thing to do but sometimes you're expecting to be struck and then they pull their leg away at the last minute.

Robben is no less a criminal than Suarez, just better at it. And maybe whiter.

[Hushfield]

Hehe, Belgium ain't exactly neutral.

I strongly disagree. Which is very un-Belgian-like, as having strong opinions on anything is generally frowned upon here.

[Uberdude]

Robben is no less a criminal than Suarez, just better at it. And maybe whiter.

If, whilst walking along the street, I bite someone on the shoulder I expect to be rather more harshly treated by my country's criminal justice system than if I pretend to fall over.

[Fedya]

Arjen Robben deserves a yellow card just for breathing, regardless of whether or not it was a dive.

And I say that as a Bayern München fan.

[SoDesuNe]

That's why something like football/soccer is way more popular than Go.
You can go on and on about trivial stuff like fouling and diving and whether or not the referee could have decided better... although this says nothing about the match itself, says nothing about anything really but surely you have plenty to say nevertheless =D

[Uberdude]

That's why something like football/soccer is way more popular than Go.
You can go on and on about trivial stuff like fouling and diving and whether or not the referee could have decided better... although this says nothing about the match itself, says nothing about anything really but surely you have plenty to say nevertheless =D

I thought we were pretty good at having long pointless discussions about KGS admins.

[leichtloeslich]

If, whilst walking along the street, I bite someone on the shoulder I expect to be rather more harshly treated by my country's criminal justice system than if I pretend to fall over.

How about you not only pretend to fall over, but in addition you accuse some innocent bystander of having pushed you to the floor?
And then you insist upon that innocent bystander being punished for his "crime" and pay you reparations?

Is it still obvious that the "diver" is morally superior to the "biter"?

[Uberdude]

If, whilst walking along the street, I bite someone on the shoulder I expect to be rather more harshly treated by my country's criminal justice system than if I pretend to fall over.

How about you not only pretend to fall over, but in addition you accuse some innocent bystander of having pushed you to the floor?
And then you insist upon that innocent bystander being punished for his "crime" and pay you reparations?

Is it still obvious that the "diver" is morally superior to the "biter"?

I was not making a point about moral superiority, but degree of criminality. Breaking the rules of an organised sport is not a crime*, biting someone is a crime of assault (grievious if it draws blood) in English law and I expect there is a similar offence in Brazil.

* though I suppose it could be breach of contract which is a civil offence.

[RobertJasiek]

The tournament's best player is Manuel Neuer, who does the job of two players.

[cyclops]

The tournament's best player is Manuel Neuer, who does the job of two players.

Nice match, congratulations to Germany that was more efficient after the first half hour than Algeria.