OFFICIAL WORLD CUP 2006

[No Mo Moss]

The German goal at the very end was really wild. Was originally thinking it would be nice if Poland won, but Germany dominated and deserved the W. I even saw what I thought was an offsides penalty that didn't get called.

Sounds like you're really getting into it. Good stuff isn't it.
I wish they would do it every two years though, 4 is agony!!

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Sounds like you're really getting into it. Good stuff isn't it.
I wish they would do it every two years though, 4 is agony!!

Well, unless you happen to be a sexist, you can always watch the women plays in 2 years. I am still waiting for the moment when a nice looking gal takes off her shirt after a score to only revail nothing but c or d cups.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think soccer might be a game made for high definition TV, and big screens. The camera angle needs to be so wide, because action is taking place over wide area. You can't see what is going on with their feet, except on close-up replay.

I can't understand why the crowds cheer when they do. Actually, it is kind of a continuous uproar that ebbs and flows for no apparent reason.

I went to a couple pro games up in the twin cities. In one of them, Pele was playing, to show how long ago that was! Very exciting game to watch in person, those guys really move.

[Tarlam!]

Tarlam, where are you at?

Hi No Mo, I am having some troubles at home. I also started a new job, and I've got school. Packer Rats has slipped on the priority list, but I was stoked by the comeback - so was everyone non-Japanese, I daresay!

[MJZiggy]

I can't understand why the crowds cheer when they do. Actually, it is kind of a continuous uproar that ebbs and flows for no apparent reason.

I watched the end of the match from my dentists chair and he said that he went to a match in Europe and the crowd noise is actually them singing. He said at one point they were singing nursery rhymes. Still kind of eerie when you're in the crowd. Funny he and his assistant spent a lot of time in my "room" and complimented me often on my choice of what to watch. We had a conversation about Big Ben, etc. while Around the Horn was on.

[BallHawk]

About 4 hours till kick off for England VS. Trinadad & Tobago. I was born in London so I'm rooting for England. I'm cheering on USA also, but England has the better squad.

[Tarlam!]

Germany through, Ecuador through. This is a fun time.

Aussies play Brazil next. That's just sooooo unfair.

[Harlan Huckleby]

They need more scoring in this game. Let the offensive guys grab the ball with their hands and throw it. Or make the goalies wear boots.

I'm sure the NFL would find a way to deal with the low scoring.

[Fosco33]

They need more scoring in this game. Let the offensive guys grab the ball with their hands and throw it. Or make the goalies wear boots.

I'm sure the NFL would find a way to deal with the low scoring.

Hell yeah - either make the field smaller, make the goal larger or BOTH.

[jack's smirking revenge]

I have no faith that the U.S. can right the ship after their first game dud, especially with who they still have left to face.

Best start looking toward 2010.

tyler

[Tarlam!]

They need more scoring in this game.

That's just your opinion. The game's rules are just fine.

What they need to do is stop and start the clock, like in the NFL. Teams ahead "play for time" and slow the game down, hoping to wind out the clock. The clock keeps running, no matter what. Although a game lasts for 90 minutes, only 65 minutes are actually played.

In order to make the game higher scoring, they only need to take out the off-sides rule. That would loosen up defenses and open the field. Hence, you can expect more goals.

The problem with that is, off-sides is a significant defensive strategy. That would be like outlawing the blitz in the NFL.

[BallHawk]

England is tied with T&T at 49:00. This makes me sick.

[jack's smirking revenge]

They need more scoring in this game.

That's just your opinion. The game's rules are just fine.

What they need to do is stop and start the clock, like in the NFL. Teams ahead "play for time" and slow the game down, hoping to wind out the clock. The clock keeps running, no matter what. Although a game lasts for 90 minutes, only 65 minutes are actually played.

In order to make the game higher scoring, they only need to take out the off-sides rule. That would loosen up defenses and open the field. Hence, you can expect more goals.

The problem with that is, off-sides is a significant defensive strategy. That would be like outlawing the blitz in the NFL.

I agree Tar. It's an American, ADD need to have fast scoring and lots of action. Tinkering the rules to increase scoring may work for MLS and would help to increase American interest, but we'd fall flat in global competition. The rest of the world has no need for high-scoring games because the beauty is in the slowly development and strategic march of a single match.

I personally like defensive football struggles and soccer is really a defensive chess match. It truly takes a team to score (and win), unless you have players that can individually dominate a game, such as Pele or Ronaldinho, and those players are extremely rare. I would argue that the U.S. has never produced a player of dominating caliber. Probably also a reason why we have such a hard time following the sport.

It's just not a priority here.

tyler

[Fosco33]

They need more scoring in this game.

What they need to do is stop and start the clock, like in the NFL. Teams ahead "play for time" and slow the game down, hoping to wind out the clock. The clock keeps running, no matter what. Although a game lasts for 90 minutes, only 65 minutes are actually played.

This strategy is not unique to soccer. It happens in basketball, hockey and even football all the time (think Holmgren's conservative strategy in the 2nd half from 95-97). Personally, I always hate when a team plays this way. What made the team successful was their offensive pressure/strategy. I laughed during the NCAA when a few teams lost huge leads by running the shot clock.

Watching this England-Trinidad match made me realize why soccer (as is) could never be really successful in the US. Since there are generally no stoppages in play, there are no commercials! Instead, we get to see a ticker of various company logos (Budweiser, Kia, etc.) and the stadium is blanketed with every major company in the world. If soccer made this rule change (stop the clock during out of bounds, player injuries, after goals, etc) and implemented a few mandatory timeouts (for rest and commercials), it would have a better market.

So, England just scored (83 min) - from the 55-83 minute nearly 90% of the plays were on the English side - now, of course, they're milking the clock and giving their opponent no chance to score. It would be sweet to have penalties for this (like in boxing where some boxers just stall).

[Anti-Polar Bear]

The kid for the Washington National or Senators of MLS, i dont really know, Ado i believe is called a soccer prodigy by Sports Illustrated. Ado signed a pro contract at age 14, i believe. Why isnt he with the US national team? Too young? If so, and if he develops his skills like Michael did his in basketball, perchance he will eventually become America's soccer saviar...just like Beckem is with England.