June 25, 201015 yr I'm kinda surprised - especially given our European members and the American success thus far - that no one has mentioned the World Cup. In any event, in recognition of Sunday's UK vs Germany game, I thought I would bring up ...
June 26, 201015 yr HI Brad, I'm kinda surprised - especially given our European members and the American success thus far - that no one has mentioned the World Cup. In any event, in recognition of Sunday's UK vs Germany game, I thought I would bring up ... hehe... Yes, I´m very impressed of the US soccer team. They have become a soccer middlepower in only 15 years and that is extraordinary. Congratulations to our American friends! England vs. Germany...that´s really kinda ...specific. Before each game the British (mud) press declares war on Germany and instantly our (mud) press reacts in a similiar way. But in fact we all know: The Brits are our friends, the mother nation of soccer and we deeply respect each other. Only thing is that they have a soccer complex regarding us and thus lose 9 out of 10 games. Ralf
June 28, 201015 yr I'm kinda surprised - especially given our European members and the American success thus far - that no one has mentioned the World Cup. I don't like soccer
June 28, 201015 yr Stupid refs screwed Australia over again. We've had a dodgy call or bad refs in something like the last 5 of 7 games we've played. Had a Japanese player barrel into our goalie so he missed the ball and lost us a goal in our first match in 2006. Came back to win 3-1 though. The 2nd against Brazil was okay. The 3rd we had the ref give a player on the other team 2 yellow cards but not send him off. He got 3 yellow cards before he did. He also missed a blatant rugby tackle on our forward that should've been a penalty, and then for some reason ignored a goal we scored right at the end of the match (luckily it didn't matter, as we went through with the 2-2 draw). In the first KO match in 2006, we had an Italian diving in the box to win a last second penalty that knocked us out. In 2010, our first match vs Germany, we had our best player sent off for a harmless tackle, admittedly from behind, but he withdraw from it, and only made slight contact. Even the player who got tackled said it wasn't a red card. Although it was 2-0, we were coming back. The red stuffed us, and it ended 4-0, which screwed us on goal difference at the end of the group stage. Against Ghana, we had a dodgy red card for our second best player who had the ball hit him in the arm even though he had no chance to get out of the way. Until that point, Australia was dominating and probably would've gone on to win 2 or 3 to 0. The game finished 1-1, when we really need a win. The Serbia game was a joke, with the foul count being 24-10 against us. We still won the match though, but getting thrashed by Germany, and the red card in the Ghana match meant we only drew it 1-1, so we finished 3rd. There was also an incident in the Germany/Ghana game (played at the same time as Australia/Serbia) where a German player did the exact same thing as our player did in the match vs Ghana. Did he get red carded and sent off? Of course not. Plus Germany and Ghana knew that a 1-0 German draw would mean both teams would go through, so neither bothered attacking.
June 28, 201015 yr Stupid refs screwed Australia over again. We've had a dodgy call or bad refs in something like the last 5 of 7 games we've played. Had a Japanese player barrel into our goalie so he missed the ball and lost us a goal in our first match in 2006. Came back to win 3-1 though. The 2nd against Brazil was okay. The 3rd we had the ref give a player on the other team 2 yellow cards but not send him off. He got 3 yellow cards before he did. He also missed a blatant rugby tackle on our forward that should've been a penalty, and then for some reason ignored a goal we scored right at the end of the match (luckily it didn't matter, as we went through with the 2-2 draw). In the first KO match in 2006, we had an Italian diving in the box to win a last second penalty that knocked us out. In 2010, our first match vs Germany, we had our best player sent off for a harmless tackle, admittedly from behind, but he withdraw from it, and only made slight contact. Even the player who got tackled said it wasn't a red card. Although it was 2-0, we were coming back. The red stuffed us, and it ended 4-0, which screwed us on goal difference at the end of the group stage. Against Ghana, we had a dodgy red card for our second best player who had the ball hit him in the arm even though he had no chance to get out of the way. Until that point, Australia was dominating and probably would've gone on to win 2 or 3 to 0. The game finished 1-1, when we really need a win. The Serbia game was a joke, with the foul count being 24-10 against us. We still won the match though, but getting thrashed by Germany, and the red card in the Ghana match meant we only drew it 1-1, so we finished 3rd. There was also an incident in the Germany/Ghana game (played at the same time as Australia/Serbia) where a German player did the exact same thing as our player did in the match vs Ghana. Did he get red carded and sent off? Of course not. Plus Germany and Ghana knew that a 1-0 German draw would mean both teams would go through, so neither bothered attacking. You could learn a lot about good sportsmanship and losing in style from the Brits. Seldom read such a blatant nonsens regarding soccer analysis and mixing it up with worldwide conspiration theories against the Australia soccer team. Australia simply is no soccer nation right now. Maybe one day it will be one. I hope it will have fans with a feeling for faiplay by then, who don´t insult other nations. Sorry, normally not my style but this post was an insult.
June 29, 201015 yr Author Sorry, normally not my style but this post was an insult. I didn't read anything in mack's post that insulted any particular nation. Moreover, posts about sports - and the feelings or opinions they may invoke - are not generally to be taken as insults. They should be taken in stride, as it is part and parcel of the sport and the fans, imho.
June 29, 201015 yr Sorry, normally not my style but this post was an insult. I didn't read anything in mack's post that insulted any particular nation. Moreover, posts about sports - and the feelings or opinions they may invoke - are not generally to be taken as insults. They should be taken in stride, as it is part and parcel of the sport and the fans, imho. You´re right, Brad. It´s only soccer Mack, sorry for my sharp response, but when it comes to soccer; calm and patient Germans become furious. Regards, Ralf
June 29, 201015 yr The only nation I intended to insult was Italy. It's actually pretty funny in a way, as Germany are my 2nd team (through my family ancestry), so I'm supporting them now Maybe you meant that about the "not bothering to attack at 1-0" thing? I don't see anything bad about it, both teams knew what they had to do and did it (and I don't count that as cheating like diving), it's just sad because Germany thrashed us 4-0, then England 4-1, and really could've put that many past Ghana if they felt like it, which would've helped Australia maybe make it instead. The boys held their heads up high after the 2-1 win over Serbia in the last match though. Ah well, there's always Brazil 2014 to look forward to. And the Asian Cup in 2011. And the 2022 announcement.
July 5, 201015 yr The country of my birth is Portugal. Portugal is and probably always will be All show no Go. But its nice too see so many of the favorites bite the dust one by one so early on. Netherlands at this point would be a cool pick since they haven't ever won one, neither has Spain but I don't like them much (see sentence #1 for explanation)
July 8, 201015 yr Author So, Spain vs Netherlands in the final. Two hungry teams, eager for their first World Cup win. Should be exciting. (Or, at least, as exciting as soccer/football can be. )
July 8, 201015 yr Insist, I don't like soccer, and other explanation is the spanish government is using soccer to evade the spanish people of the actual problems of our nation. It's only the old latin motto: panem et circenses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses … Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses. (Juvenal, Satire 10.77–81) Indeed, Spanish intellectuals between the 19th and 20th centuries complained about the similar pan y toros ("bread and bullfights"). It appears similarly in Russian as хлеба и зрелищ ("bread and spectacle"). Also, you can read about hooliganism and civil war and revolts associated with sports (Chariot racing in in Constantinople in AD 532): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nika_riots I understand your reasoning, Eclipse, but I like Portugal and the Portuguese people very much. But it's true, a prolongued in the time mutual non-compression between Spain and Portugal. It's a pity for me (writing from Carmona, near Seville, with some good portuguese fellows in a counter-terrorism seminar).
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