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.



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).

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.

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.

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My blog about Macs and more: Kirkville

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.

I just witnessed a slaughter. GG North Korea .

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.

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a1h1 [1d]: You just need to curse the gods and defend.
Good Go = Shape.
Associação Portuguesa de Go

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?

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Main Entry: zing·er Pronunciation: \ˈziŋ-ər\
1 : something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock
2 : a pointed witty remark or retort

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.

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My blog about Macs and more: Kirkville

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

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

I have seen the slow motion replay and I am 100% convinced that it was 100% deliberate. He raised his arm to block the ball, then handled it not once but twice - first off his arm, then a second tap with his fingertips (!!) to drop it perfectly onto his foot for the shot.

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Main Entry: zing·er Pronunciation: \ˈziŋ-ər\
1 : something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock
2 : a pointed witty remark or retort

Definitely agree. Good grief, they were up 4-0 then scored in the 81st, 87th, and 89th minutes. I wonder if their coach or someone else was trying to send a message.

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Main Entry: zing·er Pronunciation: \ˈziŋ-ər\
1 : something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock
2 : a pointed witty remark or retort

Humiliation is unfortunate.

However, suppose Portugal stopped at 4. Then they lose to Brazil 2-0. Do you seriously think anyone would then tell Ivory Coast to stop at 4 when 5 would get them out of the group in their last game?

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My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle

It's really rare, but it occured that a team wins 4-0, then loses 4-5. I don't really think that a big loss in Football can be seen as en humiliation.

Whereas I'm french, I do agree that Henry must be blamed for his hand, just like I don't know which brazilian, just like Maradona some years ago...

In fact, it would have been far better for France not to play this World Cup, that would have spared us some true humiliations...

Wouldn't the France/Ireland leg simply have gone to penalties? France might have qualified anyhow.

The play by Brazil could at least be interpreted as inadvertent. Henry's was blatantly intentional. Maradonna on the other hand ...

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Main Entry: zing·er Pronunciation: \ˈziŋ-ər\
1 : something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock
2 : a pointed witty remark or retort

Might, perhaps. I bet that doesn't console Ireland any.

Similarly the Mets might have beaten the Red Sox anyway, if Bill Buckner had fielded that ground ball - the game was tied at the time. But few remember it that way.

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Main Entry: zing·er Pronunciation: \ˈziŋ-ər\
1 : something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock
2 : a pointed witty remark or retort

IIRC, He didn't do anything condemnable with the other hand

There appears to be an interesting pattern for the French team:

1994 - Failed to qualify
1998 - Won the WC
2002 - Failed to qualify
2006 - WC Finals
2010 - Failed to qualify

1994 - Zidane didn't play
1998 - Zidane played
2002 - Zidane didn't play
2006 - Zidane played
2010 - Zidane didn't play

HMMM...

France was automatically qualified because the team won the previous edition. They played poorly (1 draw, 2 loses, no goal scored) and Zidane played in the last game.

edit: Maybe I misunderstood part of your post. What do you mean by qualify? What happened in 1994 is different from what happened in 2006 and 2010.