The World cup.

Italy got hosed worse than any team I can remember in ANY World Cup. The multitude of questionable calls against them is dumbfounding. However, you just knew the Koreas were going to get the calls - as they will continue to get. Another penality kick? Unreal BS.

Can Korea beat Spain too. Why not?
If they make the final it will be a travesty IMO.

 

The multitude of questionable calls against them is dumbfounding

Disagree.

Totti deserved to go. He went down like a skittle.For a minute I thought I was watching Germany(THE worst divers on the planet)

The penalty was a good call, if you watch the replay you will see TWO fouls commited in the area at the same time.

Some refs will allow the pulling/tugging of shirts during corners/setpieces...FIFA have ordered a crackdown on this type of incident.

About time it was outlawed.

And Vieri (a £20 million plus player) misses an open goal from less than 4 yards out..Italy did not play well enough to win it...it's as simple as that.

The Italians underestimated the S.Koreans and are now bleating and whining because thay are on their way home.

OK..the goal that was ruled offside was a bad call but that happens nearly every game.

The idea that there is some sort of conspiracy to get S.Korea to the final....that's just the drink talking I hope.

 

Brazil waltzes into the final again. They are still man for man the most skilled team in the world. With descent goal tending they should be the favorite in any tourney. Germany will challenge them in the final and I expect a good game, but picking against Brazil is reaching ATP.

 

Never ever count the Germans out.

This is supposedly the worst German team ever and yet here they are in the World cup final!

They will probably win.

 

I think the Germans can win a 1-0 type game. Their goalie has gotten them here and he is fabulous. However, he hasn't faced a Brazil yet either.

Another thought, what if the US had gotten that hand ball and somehow defeated the Germans - who they outplayed for the most part. The US could easily be in this title match. Unreal.

 

Any number of teams could have made it this time.

This World cup has been the most open ever.

This does not mean the standard worldwide has dropped it just shows that the rest have caught up with the more "established" footballing nations.......it has been great.

And just a final note on the S.Korea "refereeing scandal"......bad refereeing and dodgy decisions have always been there, it's as much a part of the game as the rest of it....I don't seriously think there was any conspiracy to get the hosts to the final.

I predict 2-0 to Brazil.(Please)

Looking forward to 2004 in Portugal now(European championship tournament)....

 

I not saying a full fledged "conspiracy" but the referees can and did effect the outcome of plenty of matches in this tournament. S.Korea got the benefit of just about EVERY single borderline call in their games. To me FIFA should really look at making sure that these referees are held accountable for ridiculous calls and blantent bias. Period.

And yes, Italy had a number of VERY bad calls against them. I stand by that.

 

To me FIFA should really look at making sure that these referees are held accountable for ridiculous calls and blantent bias

They are:
The problem is that when they clamp down or loosen up on a particular rule or infringement the game suffers.

They have changed/tightened up the laws in recent times.

Some would argue that having a referee from a "minor" footballing nation who does not get the experience of top games is not a good idea.
But I have seen the more "experienced" referees make some outrageous calls.

The referees are put under enormous pressure by FIFA....

The players themselves should also take some of the blame.
They are the ones who will dive, fake injury and use their hands when they think they can get away with it.

 

I watch a lot of football aka soccer (mainly the Premier League.. Go Leeds U!) but I have to admit one rule that have no understanding of. Just what is the purpose of the offside rule? To me it just seems a rule to reward defenders for not marking their men. I've seen quite a few cases where defenders knowing a striker has gotten behind them immediately run towards the ball to put the striker off side. That's defense? Looks like to my untrained eye that elimination of the offside rule will open up the offense in the game.

 

Ah............the infamous offside rule.

The idea is NOT to give unfair advantage to strikers.
The reason defenders step up is indeed to catch dozy strikers offside.
Of course by playing the offside trap you rely on the linesman calling it correctly each time, this obviously does not happen.....it's a game of percentages!

Only girls do not fully understand the offside rule.

In your case I will make an exception as your a yank.
Leeds have just lost their Manager.


I predict 2-0 to Brazil.(Please)
Call me Nostradamus.