OFFICIAL WORLD CUP 2006

[FavreChild]

[quote="No Mo Moss"]Has anyone seen any of the Italian press after that game, I'd be really eager to see what they were saying.[quote]

I'd be interested in that, also. It's always insightful to hear alternate perspectives. It seemed that USA/ITA was quite a physical game, but I can't rely on my own observations....

World Cup is great...especially when you are umemployed (by choice) and get to watch it all day.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Marcus Hannaman (sp) and Convey played big roles in getting Reading promoted. McBride was named Fulhams MVP. He showed why against Italy. Tim Howard actually has been loaned to Everton next year by Man U, so he will be starting again.
All its going to take is one big name player coming to the MLS and its on. A lot of people will cite failings of the past when Pele and others came here to play, but I'd say that America wasn't ready yet.

During the Brasil match, they said that Ronaldo and Beckham will probably be playing in MLS within 2-3 years.

[No Mo Moss]

Marcus Hannaman (sp) and Convey played big roles in getting Reading promoted. McBride was named Fulhams MVP. He showed why against Italy. Tim Howard actually has been loaned to Everton next year by Man U, so he will be starting again.
All its going to take is one big name player coming to the MLS and its on. A lot of people will cite failings of the past when Pele and others came here to play, but I'd say that America wasn't ready yet.

During the Brasil match, they said that Ronaldo and Beckham will probably be playing in MLS within 2-3 years.

Really. I don't know if I want Ronaldo, but BEckham is a guy that would have a long career in the MLS. A lot of players make a huge mistake when they come from Europe to play in the MLS. They think its a lollipop league and they'll just dominate the whole time. That doesn't happen. I've seen it time and time again with European players. That's why I think Ronaldo would be a dissapointment. He seems to be almost out of gas. Beckham though is perfect. He's in great shape and has some respect for the league. That would be great.

Harv you said you had read some of the European press in regards to the ITL/USA game. Could you summarize?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Mostly they said that it was a foul-plagued game, and that the USA was overly physical. A few praised the USA for outplaying Italy, and they thought the red cards were unjustified. Most didn't. Totally different reaction than here, but I've seen it going back to since I started watching the World Cup in 1994. People always think we got lucky, or a team was overlooking us. The only games we probably got near universal praise were the Mexico and Germany games in 2002. That's okay. They can keep disrespecting us. We are gaining, and they don't acknowledge it. Just like the Euros gained on Americans players in basketball. Now, the African and Pacific countries, America, Australia, etc. are slowly, but surely gaining on the Euros.

[MJZiggy]

England v. Sweden was an interesting match...at least this time I remembered to watch it. We thought England had it sewn up with a goal in the 86th minute and then Sweden came back again right at the end and tied it up. The announcer was all over Beckham too. I got the impression he didn't like him much.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I was listening to a suggestion on a radio show to improve soccer: relax the rules on offsides. Not sure exactly how to do it, but one idea is to eliminate offsides penalites once ball has crossed midfield.

I think it is a terrific idea!!! Way too many offsides penalties slowing down the game, preventing exciting scoring opportunities.

I think the United States should dictate this rule change and invade any country that doesn't go along with it.

Only kidding about the invasion, but damn serious about the rule change.

[No Mo Moss]

I was listening to a suggestion on a radio show to improve soccer: relax the rules on offsides. Not sure exactly how to do it, but one idea is to eliminate offsides penalites once ball has crossed midfield.

I think it is a terrific idea!!! Way too many offsides penalties slowing down the game, preventing exciting scoring opportunities.

I think the United States should dictate this rule change and invade any country that doesn't go along with it.

Only kidding about the invasion, but damn serious about the rule change.

What you're describing is impossible. If there were no offsides penalties past the mid field (im assuming you're saying the opposite midfield) it would ruin the game. A forward could just go stand by the goal and wait for a long pass. There is no real way to soften the offsides rule, you either are or you aren't. FIFA did pretty much all they could this last year to soften offsides. Now you can be in an offsides posiiton if you don't get the ball or interfere with the play. Beasley's non-goal against Italy is a perfect example. Two years ago that would have been offsides, an obvious call. The reason it was borderline (albeit the correct call) was because McBride didn't touch the ball or interfere with play. The refs did rule however that his positioning interferred with the goaltender, therefore he was in an offside position. Had he been standing 3 feet further towards the corner, the US win that game.

[Harlan Huckleby]

What you're describing is impossible. If there were no offsides penalties past the mid field (im assuming you're saying the opposite midfield) it would ruin the game. A forward could just go stand by the goal and wait for a long pass.

OK, I attempted to educate myself a little better on what offsides means.

http://www.burtrandworld.co.uk/offside-rule.php

But as far as your example, the forward would have to remain onsides until the ball crossed midfield, so it's not like he'd just be able to hang-out down there. Perhaps the be able to run down field until the ball crossed midfield, so it's not like he'd just be hangin-out there. Also, you might also make it illegal for a player to hang-out inside the penalty box without the ball.

[Fosco33]

So the match (err - game) is 10 AM ET. That's damn early here in Cali - I'll have to roll out of bed a little earlier than normal. Do we have a chance w/o two starters against a fast Ghana squad? Will Italy rebound and give the Czechs a run for their money? If we advance, the likely draw is Brazil - so either we're done tomorrow or Saturday.... I can definitely wait another 4 years for the next Cup - I'm having more trouble waiting 2.5 months for NFL kickoff

[HarveyWallbangers]

Ghana will be without the two guys that have scored their goals in this World Cup, so I don't think we can use the loss of Mastroeni and Pope as an excuse. We'll have to play tight defense while trying to push more than one forward up.

[Partial]

anyone know where we can get a webcast this morning?

[Partial]

15 minutes until kickoff.. Anybody? I am at work so our internet kind of sucks, I think it may be on ESPN but I cannot get the page to load!!

[Partial]

bump

[Partial]

i googled english world cup streaming audio and the second result works and is free!


USA! USA! USA! USA!

[Badgepack]

i googled english world cup streaming audio and the second result works and is free!


USA! USA! USA! USA!

Thanks for the link