[tacomax]

This is going to be a good football match.

[BigD]

1-1 but football starts in Sept.

[tacomax]

Watch it, BigD. Don't forget who invented America.

[bigboydan]

that was actually a pertty good game. both teams scored early, and that was the end of the scoring to O.T.

oh, in case anyone missed it. Argentina won 2-1

[tacomax]

Best game of the tournament I've seen so far. A pity that the Argie player didn't get sent off for a blatant red-card offence - would have made for an even better game I think.

[Mudcat]

Wow. I was wondering if people would consider that a good game or not. I only watched the second half and overtime and I found it stunningly dull. They need to find a way to get more action within yelling distance of the nets IMO. Things get too congested in the Penalty area. There is too much unthreatening dinking around midfield.

I was extremely disappointed because I wanted to see Penalty kicks. That would have had my full attention.

[Terris]

if you dont like soccer it was a dull game mudcat i bet, but for me it was great to watch.
If i would try to watch a baseball game id fall asleep, and it can be a 20-19 game between the yanks and boston - i just dont care.

[tacomax]

Wow. I was wondering if people would consider that a good game or not. I only watched the second half and overtime and I found it stunningly dull.

The first half was an absolute cracker and there was no way the second could have been as fast paced.

They need to find a way to get more action within yelling distance of the nets IMO. Things get too congested in the Penalty area. There is too much unthreatening dinking around midfield.

What about making the nets smaller and bringing them closer together? And making the pitch smaller? And instead of kicking the ball, they hit it along the ground with a stick-like implement? And what about making the ball circular and flat instead of spherical? And how about playing on ice instead of grass?

Mudcat, for severe crimes against football I'm officially giving you a yellow card. Please consider your future behaviour when discussing football.

[diamond]

I have to agree with mudcat, 2nd half was dull. But take into consideration that its ALOT on stakes, and teams tend to get tense in important games.

I liked the first half, and overall not a bad game. But again, any game that creates some excitement with wrong disallowed goals and extra time, will be quite funny.

[Mudcat]

What about making the nets smaller and bringing them closer together? And making the pitch smaller? And instead of kicking the ball, they hit it along the ground with a stick-like implement? And what about making the ball circular and flat instead of spherical? And how about playing on ice instead of grass?.

I like how you're thinking.

Seriously though, has there ever been talk of just eliminating the offside rule? It seems to me that would make a positive difference. That rule just promotes congestion.

Mudcat, for severe crimes against football I'm officially giving you a yellow card. Please consider your future behaviour when discussing football.

Acknowledged. I am hanging my head appropriately.

[diamond]

I like how you're thinking.

Seriously though, has there ever been talk of just eliminating the offside rule? It seems to me that would make a positive difference. That rule just promotes congestion. .

Eliminating the offside rule? As an European you lost my respect

[adriano]

Give the guy a break people

I really like your thinking Mudcat

[Dark Horse]

Eliminating offside is subject of serious debate. Dutch coach Van Basten discussed this idea with the UEFA, along with his idea to have a hocky-type penalty bench, where players with a yellow card get to spend some time during the match. This way, the team that was fouled has an advantage, instead of the next opponent for the fouling team.

FIFA is basically ruled by old men. The game hasn't kept up with the times. Teams pull up a defensive wall and the rest is yawning. By eliminating offside you'd increase the pitch to about twice its size. Teams would be forced to spread out more, there would be more space to play the ball, and the spectacle could return. Soccer desperately needs this.

[diamond]

Eliminating offside is subject of serious debate. Dutch coach Van Basten discussed this idea with the UEFA, along with his idea to have a hocky-type penalty bench, where players with a yellow card get to spend some time during the match. This way, the team that was fouled has an advantage, instead of the next opponent for the fouling team.

FIFA is basically ruled by old men. The game hasn't kept up with the times. Teams pull up a defensive wall and the rest is yawning. By eliminating offside you'd increase the pitch to about twice its size. Teams would be forced to spread out more, there would be more space to play the ball, and the spectacle could return. Soccer desperately needs this.

If the offside rule is totally eliminated within 5 years, I will walk from South Italy to Germany wearing a sign saying "im offside"

[diamond]

And if I might add, no surprise the Dutch want this rule for more freedom. After all they allow harder stuffs and girls sitting nicely in windows

[Mudcat]

I hope people understand that I'm not anti-football (soccer). I'm always looking for creative improvements in everything, from my favorite sports to the way I do business to the way I trim my nose hairs. I'm the enemy of traditionalists everywhere.

Eliminating offside is subject of serious debate.

Now see? I figured it must be.

[diamond]

To be serious, I would not say its a subject of serious debate. I mean once in a while new suggestions to the game pops up, thats just normal. I cant see soccer change a lot. One of the really hot issues is to use video referees in the game or not. With the ever increasing spead and high demanding to referees, this might be a reality soon. Other than that, there has not been any big changes the last years. Perhaps only that the goalie is not allowed to pick up the ball from own player when its intentionally kicked.

Fair play is another issue of importance. More bookings for elbows, holding etc. These are the kind of things I want to prioritize in the game of soccer.

[tacomax]

Eliminating offside is subject of serious debate.

I've never been aware that the elimination of offside has been the subject of serious recent debate at all. Over the last few years, the offside rules have been amended a number of times to encourage a more attacking style of play.

Anyone with nothing better to do can read the history and changes to the offside rule over the years:

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/...ub/offhist.htm

[Dark Horse]

lol

There are people who are seriously debating it.

We almost qualify.

[diamond]

lol

There are people who are seriously debating it.

We almost qualify.

which country?

[RickySteve]

What about making the nets smaller and bringing them closer together? And making the pitch smaller? And instead of kicking the ball, they hit it along the ground with a stick-like implement? And what about making the ball circular and flat instead of spherical? And how about playing on ice instead of grass?

Mudcat, for severe crimes against football I'm officially giving you a yellow card. Please consider your future behaviour when discussing football.

hahahaha

I was waiting for the day when your blathering would actually produce something entertaining.

[mad]

I pretty much slept through most of it, I saw two goals i think. Damn games are on during the night over here and after two weeks i'm starting to struggle. Lucky my couch is so comfy.

Anyways, love or hate that game, you gotta love the winning goal. Two passes, one from the half-way line, the other just outside the box. The first time the ball hit the ground it was in the back of the net.

[Mudcat]

Anyways, love or hate that game, you gotta love the winning goal.

Agreed.

As a fan of Chef's father, I also love your signature.

[BuddyBear]

yeah that winning goal sure was pretty...

[noyb]

it still amazes me North Americans find a soccer-game "boring", while they themselves have invented the most boring sport ever (being American Football)
i try to watch the superbowl every year but fall asleep every single time. 3 seconds of play every five minutes doesn't do it for me.

anyway, apparently this only shows what we already knew: americans are looking for something totally different in a sport then the rest of the world. the argentina match for me was excellent (only the aussies - croatia game was better in my humble opinion), the play might not have been divine, there might nog have been a lot of goals and red cards and so on, but you could actually feel the suspense coming of your tv-screen (at least you could in my house)

[JoshW]

Little late, but I thought it was a pretty good game. I put it up there with England Sweden which didn't have as much on the line, but still was good in my mind and the late goals were exciting.