That was an American team to be proud of.

The dissallowed goal was definitely good call, wished it was a goal but it was the right call. There was some hard tackling, and one of the card's passed out the tackler made contact with the ball first. This is still a contact sport.

The elbow across the face was pretty simple, I busted my nose on a play like that, even scored during the process:).

I would be very suprised and to see that ref working another game in this cup.

None the less, that was a great game. Ghana beating the Czech's was a nice suprise. Hopefully that same team we saw yesterday shows up on Thursday.

Just realized I'll be on a plane while England plays on Tuesday, damn...

It seems wierd for me to be rooting for the Italians but I'll only do so if we beat Ghana. If we lose to Ghana... it's GO CZECHS! they would certainly deserve it a lot more.

The only reason I'll give these guys any of my support is for the self-centered need of my own team to advance.

The Azzuri were poster boys for Eric Cantona's "Cheating" commercial. When a player kicks the back of his own heels when he realizes he's been beat... swan dives into the air with a grimace on his face worse than that of my wife giving birth to a 9.5 LB boy... gets carried off on a stretcher and magically appears a minute later ready to run... I say you should pursue your new acting career and the ref you fooled should be ousted!

As a player I've been dumped many times and the most amazing things come about when you jump right up and get into the fray instead of crying... the ball is usually close. I remember setting up a goal by doing this when an opponent and I hit the ball around the same time. i went down... he stayed up but immediately looked to the official claiming he had not fouled... surprise... no whistle... and I've now got the ball.

Last night's post was after quite a few brews but its good to see some of you feel the same way... that our side showed guts and gave a World soccer power a match!

After all the matches so far I have to agree with Alan on Argentina... but the real excitement isn't too far away... when playing for a draw isn't an option... and even the best team is GONE with one bad day.

Saw the highlights from Australia vs Brazil.

Also a good game. The aussies gave a good match and brazil were not at their best. Ronaldo is too fat anyways. Like me.

I did not see the game but so I cannot speak to the disallowed goal. But the official giving Zidane a yellow card for touching a player after trying to reach a ball the goalie lost. When did judgement cease to be a factor in officiating? Perhaps you speak to the offending party or perhaps you pay attention to what is happening a realize what occured. If these are cardable fouls then football has surely changed. I only saw the first 5 minutes of Brazil. My family expected me to spend Father's day with them. The nerve! I came home for the final minutes of the France-Korea match and saw the rediculous yellow card issued Zidane.

Bad officiating can ruin a match more than lack of energy or fear of losing by the teams playing. I thought the officiating had done a good job until these past two matches. Offsides is an impossible call to make. They are going to be 50/50 judgement calls, but missing a goal over the line and yellow cards for minor offenses. These idiots ought to be sent back to the holes from which they came. The Times reported that the idiot offical who fouled our game was from Urugrury and he was suspended by the Urugrurian Federation for "unspecified irregularieties" after being selected to officiate in 2002 World Cup. No wonder the Urugruians cannot make it back to play in the World Cup if he is the best of their officals. They must not be allowed to play.

Brazil/Australia will most probably be replayed tonight and I'll see the rebroadcast. Brazil has so much talent that they can play lethargicly and still win.

Lots of Latins working in NY. I sure underestimated Ecuador. No way I saw that team advancing to the round of 16. Argintina was my "surprise" team. Hardly a surprise team but given their showing in 2002 and in the Copa America against Brazil it would not have taken much not to believe in them. My only question was did they have the "ganas" and the aswer so far seems to be yes.

Alan

I just began reading ESPN.com's coverage of the World Cup and by far the writers either saw a different game or are playing by a different set of rules than I.

This from Jeff Carlisle ( who I have no clue if he knows football or not ) " Pablo Mastroeni's rash challenge on Andrea Pirlo to end the first half drew a straight red. " and then later, " But while Larrionda certainly didn't do the Americans many favors, the unfortunate reality is that the Yanks have only themselves to blame. Conveniently forgotten is that Mastroeni's poorly timed tackle occurred not only in front of the referee, but a good 70 yards from the American goal, making it totally unnecessary. And Pope should have known better than to engage in a risky challenge when already carrying a yellow card, especially given how tightly the game was being called. "

I was always under the impression that you were supposed to play by the rules and football was not the NBA. A tackle was still a tackle and if you kept your boots down there was no intent to injure you might be called for a foul but not carded. Evidently, the scribes are suffering from some sort of mass stupidity. George Vecsey wrote similiarly in Today's Sunday Times sports column. His opinion was that " Pablo Mastroeni clumsily slid into Adrea Pirlo with both sets of cleats extended, a red card in the officials' guidelines and a red card in the judgement of the referee." I have no idea what is in the official official's guidebook but I can clearly state that Jorge Larrionda, the referee, has as much judgement as a 5 year old in a candystore or a bank robber in an open safe. Not merely for his red card to Mastroeni but to most all of the yellow cards he handed out to both sides. The fact that this POS was allowed to officiate at the World Cup is a crime that all should be screaming about. It is not merely one bad call or two but a pattern of misjudgement that in this POS in Claudio Reyna's words, "ruined the game for us." [

[Link: soccernet.espn.go.com]
]

I do not live or die with football. I wanted a tie with Italy before the turnament began just to see all of Italy go into mourning. I was disappointed with the effort displayed against the Czechs in the first game but if the US doesn't advance t the second round it's not as if I'm a Redsox fan trying to square one championship in 80 years and Bucky F'ing Dent. I only wish to see good football, the kind Argintina is playing and England will hopefully. I also remember some very questionable officiating 4 years ago with the exception of the German who officiated the final, proving that Germans are the best policeman in the world. A good offical does not put his mark upon a game. You call the fouls that need to be called and you issue cards for cardable offenses. But the writer's are letting FIFA and the Uruguaian SOB off the hook which means that POS could go on to ruin an other game for some other side(s). The best thing for old Jorge would be for him to go back to his day job and give up what his side job ( and I sure hope it's a side job ).

The article on Englands subpar play is accurate with the way I see the English side's play, though I have no clue as to the back story.

Edit

It looks like FIFA hasn't a clue as they seem overjoyed with the mess they are making.

[Link: soccernet.espn.go.com]

I have no problem with carding an intent to injure, forcing elbows down or cards for impeding the progress of an attacking player. But cards for fouls goes too far, in my opinion. Let the players play. Neither of Pope's fouls deserved a card and Mastroeni's deserved a yellow card. But FIFA believes that all is penglossian and all is for the best in their best of all possible worlds. What a batch of jerks. And the only way to change things is to embrass them and no scribe is doing his job. One can only hope that the more knowledgeable European press is doing a better job. Maybe they'll listen to the Kaiser but these arrogant asses listen to no one.

Alan

Interferance with the goalie? What the F'][= is that? Thats one of the reasons this game will never be popular in the US. As far as Im concerned we won that game!

If the US player was not in an offsides position then the goal would have been allowed. I wanted the US to win as much as anyone, but that was not a goal.

Man when I saw that net move I lost vocal chords! Then I screamed and almost threw a beer at the screen... then the replay and silence because I knew it was the right call. Its actually a tactic to hide between a player with the ball and the keeper... but if you are doing that you are "involved in the play"... and if you are "involved in the play" and you are in an offside position... you are whistled.

A big thing I was wondering is... here you have 19 tired players and an Italian side that's practically walking.... why wouldn't you bring speedster Eddie Johnson off the bench? A friend and I were arguing that when you are down a man that the team out there is in a zone together and you shouldn't mess with it. McBride was slowed but probably made a few better defensive plays. I would have personally tried to stuff it down their throats with a fresh pair of fast legs on a counter attack and let the chips fall where they may.

I kind of envy you guys that are making money this month...

I took a long lunch to watch England/Sweden and missed a very important call... hope it doesn't cost me. I just don't know what to make of England. Brilliant first half... nasty defensive lapses could have cost them the game in the second... at least they won't have to face Germany. I'm having a hard time with those who say the German side is not up to snuff... they look pretty good to me.

A lot of great matchups on the way to suck up DVR space...

Argentina-Netherlands
Mexico-Portugal
US-Ghana
Italy-Czech

I finally am using my PIP as I just now took notice of the fact that they stack the third games of group play to avoid one team knowig the result of the other match before it starts its own (either that or a sports bar... but its hard not to get a brew... which at noon would stop me from visiting any clients for the rest of the day).

So does anyone think we have a chance? I'm figuring on a 5 goal win over Ghana... that way it won't matter what happens in the other game (I know... I'm on dope).

I am programming both Lutron and Crestron with the Netherlands/Argentina game on in the backgound. Serbia/Ivory Coast is on the other channel but I have no interest in it. I missed the last England match vs Sweden. England certainly seems a Jeckel-Hyde team. Tons of talent but they are so out of sorts. With Michael Owen now out with a knee injury, despite his spotty play England's hopes seem a bit less bright today than yesterday. With the Mexico-Portugal game over all I can say is that I shall eagerly await the rebroadcast on Spainish language TV this evening. Interesting if it will be Argentina or Mexico match that is replayed.

Alan

Oh well Alan,

I guess it's down to you and me... at least we got 1000 views. I realize this isn't really the spot but as a group we've been known to wander. I enjoy talking about this with a few educated peers instead of rude little euro-teens who think I am " a walking piece of vennereel disease" (sic) just because I'm American.

TO ALL... Tomorrows our last chance... hope you all take time out to watch your country beat up the Africans!!!! GO USA!!!!!

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

Is anyone watching this? Unfortunately the USA is going to have to play realizing they are NEVER going to get a break from officals of any other country. I won't say mor in case you are DVRing.

I will say that anyone writing off Ghana was not smart... they are a good defensive side with a lot of speed and the ability to win balls and distribute them to their own man (something we need to learn how to do).

US Soccer team is the most talented, WORST Coached team in the World.

Erik Winalda had the guts to say it Publicaly on ESPN "Bruce Arena screwed up the world cup for the US team"

Aside from terrible tactical decisions in not bringing in fresh legs until the 60th minute of a must win match, the US needs a sports pschologist to work with their midfield and Strikers who have had more than ample opportunities to score goals and constantly choke!

The talent is there for the US, it just needs to be better managed!

teams like Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago have already now proven what can be done with less talent and better management/coaching

Argintina did not make it out of the preliminaries last time and France habitually disapponts. Then there is England where a surfiet of talent on paper that only finds its way on to the field for brief moments that must frustrate our cousins when they watch their national team play. I did not see the game and I have been very disappointed with the officiating of late. But FIFA seems to be quite happy with it and the way officals are calling matches. However, I am a believer that in Branch Rickey's words, "luck in an element of design." Arena's coaching may or may not have been tactically sound. But he is not missing the chances, he is not on the field making the errors or playing without purpose and he is not the one giving red cards for simple fouls. The only thing I know for sure is that it is far easier to coach with the benefit of hindsight than it is in run time. I think I may have been wise to continue to work if I have read between the lines.

Alan

Dismal...

I dont know why our failure strikes so hard with me. I guess it's mainly that we have talent and like Andrew says... we're not managed well. It's well know that Eric and Bruce aren't friendly but it did take some balls to say it.

Why no Eddie Johnson against tired Italians?

Why did the starting midfield against the Czech Republic have a total of 59 minutes playing time together when we've had 16 bloody qualifiers and god only knows how many friendlies?

Why no strategy of some outside shots when other teams are blowing goalies away from 35-40 yards out?

Those are Arena questions...

Now... Why can't we trap a ball as well as other teams?
Why doesn't our defense play as a unit?
Why are the officials handing out SO MANY CARDS? It ruins the game.
Can we get the goal mouth widened by 6 inches so we can stop hitting it every time we beat the keeper?
Can Claudio Reyna retire?
Can we hire someone fresh with some international experience (possibly Brazilian) for our 2010 run? I don't hate Arena but I think 8 years is lnog enough and we can't go into another one like this.

I'm just depressed but when you look at it objectively... terrible PK call or not... we just didn't play well enough to be included in the best 16 teams in the world.

Anyone think Ghana can take Brazil? THAT would be funny!