World Cup 2010

[Jonas]

Well then referee wasnt the best, but I'm quiet happy that the german team kept fighting even with only 10 people on the field! Hopefully they'll be able to defeat Ghana and advance to the enxt round

[Phelan]

I just watched Netherlands-Japan, and I thought Japan deserved at least a tie. Great game!

As for Slovenia-USA's refereeing, I still have no idea what happened during the goal, and in the play before, that made the referee say it was a foul.

[Jonas]

You have seen Brazil - Ivory Coast ?
I thought the german - serbia referee was bad, but he really tops everything.

A goal after two handballs?!

[Solomon]

You have seen Brazil - Ivory Coast ?
I thought the german - serbia referee was bad, but he really tops everything.

A goal after two handballs?!

I hope I'm not in the minority for thinking that FIFA should just adopt instant-replay technology and allow refs to look at those for these sort of situations. From what I've read, their reasoning for not doing this is that it breaks the flow of the game or that it's not tradition...just unsound. It makes watching the game just too stressful at times.

And oh, I'm staying up to watch the NK vs. Portugal game - should be enjoyable .

[kirkmc]

I hope I'm not in the minority for thinking that FIFA should just adopt instant-replay technology and allow refs to look at those for these sort of situations. From what I've read, their reasoning for not doing this is that it breaks the flow of the game or that it's not tradition...just unsound. It makes watching the game just too stressful at times.

Any sport with such an international sport should stop being medieval and not only use instant replays, but also have more referees. Just think: Ireland would have qualified, instead of the spoiled French who are making such asses of themselves now...

[HermanHiddema]

I just watched Netherlands-Japan, and I thought Japan deserved at least a tie. Great game!

I though it was very boring

The Dutch team played slow and uninspired, but the Japanese were no better. The Dutch had possession over 70% of the game or so, and Japan really had only one real chance at a goal during the whole game. Overall I think the Dutch deserved victory, but they're going to have to do a lot better than that if they want to win the cup.

As for Slovenia-USA's refereeing, I still have no idea what happened during the goal, and in the play before, that made the referee say it was a foul.

I've heard the theory advanced that the ref felt he made an error in giving the US that free kick in the first place, and had decided in advance to call a foul immediately when it was taken. The reason for the free kick was this: http://i.imgur.com/T2FyU.gif (which does look a bit like a dive).

[karaklis]

Any sport with such an international sport should stop being medieval and not only use instant replays, but also have more referees.

Agreed.
I used to be a regular sumo watcher on Eurosports (there is no more sumo on Eurosports), and in spite of being a very traditional sport, there are many referees (shimpan) besides the main referee (gyoji) and in case they do not agree, they immediately look at the slow-motion in order to decide who has won.

This is something the FIFA could learn from.

[kirkmc]

Yes, and one other thing they should do: provide some sort of post-game penalties for players who clearly fake getting hurt. While you can't always stop the game for such things, that kind of whining really makes these "athletes" look like children, and they should be penalized afterwards. If that were to happen, you can be sure that the fakery would end.

[Jonas]

Actually there is already a rule like this!

F.e. the brazil player who scored the 2:0 was afterwards asked by the referee if it was a handball, he answered no. In the video you can clearly see him playing the ball with his hand two times! For lying to the referee he can get disqualified even after the game.

[Solomon]

I just witnessed a slaughter. GG North Korea .

[Phelan]

And oh, I'm staying up to watch the NK vs. Portugal game - should be enjoyable .

Hope you liked the game.

I thought Portugal were not playing so well in the beginning, and that NK shot might have made a big difference in the game, but the second half was dominated by Portugal.

[zinger]

miscellaneous comments ..

Agree that more officials on the field and also replay should be used.

Agree that France fully deserves their current state after the blatant deliberate handball against Ireland.

Portugal dominated yes, but should not have run up the score to 7. Four goals was more than enough to ensure advancing, even if they lose to Brazil. They should have turtled. Humiliation should not be a part of the World Cup. Especially against North Korea, who knows what consequences the players will suffer when they get home?

[kirkmc]

Agree that France fully deserves their current state after the blatant deliberate handball against Ireland.

To be fair, I don't know if I'd say it was deliberate. It happened very quickly, and looked more instinctive than anything. But Henry knew he used his hand, and he should have gone to the ref and admitted it. But then, on TV, all they did was show the slo-mo that the refs couldn't see, which shows how stupid the principle of not using replays is.

[Mosdefgo]

I just witnessed a slaughter. GG North Korea .

Indeed. Every goal after the third one was just an insult to injury.

[Jonas]

damn it, my collegues were laughting at me yesterday because I bet 6:0 for portugal...