The Weekend Is Almost Upon Us
The 4 game days have done a number on my sleep schedule and my DVR/DVDR work, but hopefully this weekend, I'll be able to make sure I have watched all the matches and recorded them for prosperity.
One thing I'll say today as the last four group matches are finished the refereeing has been HORRIFIC. Going back to the penalty called on the Croation defender against Spain, and subsequent red card...the entire match that was USA vs. Italy, and countless quick yellow cards that could have changed the course of action for a player and team for the entirety of the tournament.
Then we came up to yesterday. Two matches in particular. USA vs. Ghana and Croatia vs. Australia. First off, it's kinda funny, many players on the Croatian and Australian team could have played for either team on a national level, as there are many Croatian immigrants in Australia. One of these players Croatia's Josep Simunic was involved in a situation that could have been a major, major, major controversy for fifa and the World Cup.
Referee Graham Poll from England, one of the favorites to officiate the Final match, gave Mister Simunic 3 Yellow cards before sending him off post match. Yes, I understand, after 2 yellows you are supposed to be sent off, but it appears Poll didn't realize he had 2, even though Australian Captain Mark Viduka (someone who could have played for Croatia) pointed out to Poll that he had 2. If Croatia had scored a goal, while there was a player that should have been sent off, on the field, and Australia did not advance to the second round...What would have happened?
I'm sure the papers would have been very pleased, as they would have had fodder for weeks. Oh yeah, Poll also missed two clear penalties against Croatia, and also missed Harry Kewell being offside on the tying goal. Great game Graham. Great Game.
Also, German Dentist/Referee Marcus Merck. That may have been the single worst penalty call of all time...Because Onyewu is tall and big, and the guy he's defending isn't, doesn't mean he committed a foul!!! I mean, he stood there, probably was being held by the opposing player, his arms were down, and he moved his head to clear the ball, but I guess that's a foul. Thanks for changing the entire dynamic of the game. Two yellow cards in like the first 3 minutes of the game, and an awful penalty call. That's the way to get noticed.
Allright enough with the refs. Without having seen the final day of group matches I will say this, I think the strongest teams left are:
Germany
Argentina
Brazil
and Spain.
And as loyal reader Dan pointed out...these teams will end up playing eachother in the quarter finals probably, opening the door for teams like England, Holland, Portugal to sneak in there.
It will be interesting from here on out.
Final day of group matches and I will say this, The strongest group was probably Group C with Group E being next. The worst Group had to be group G. Awful.
One thing I'll say today as the last four group matches are finished the refereeing has been HORRIFIC. Going back to the penalty called on the Croation defender against Spain, and subsequent red card...the entire match that was USA vs. Italy, and countless quick yellow cards that could have changed the course of action for a player and team for the entirety of the tournament.
Then we came up to yesterday. Two matches in particular. USA vs. Ghana and Croatia vs. Australia. First off, it's kinda funny, many players on the Croatian and Australian team could have played for either team on a national level, as there are many Croatian immigrants in Australia. One of these players Croatia's Josep Simunic was involved in a situation that could have been a major, major, major controversy for fifa and the World Cup.
Referee Graham Poll from England, one of the favorites to officiate the Final match, gave Mister Simunic 3 Yellow cards before sending him off post match. Yes, I understand, after 2 yellows you are supposed to be sent off, but it appears Poll didn't realize he had 2, even though Australian Captain Mark Viduka (someone who could have played for Croatia) pointed out to Poll that he had 2. If Croatia had scored a goal, while there was a player that should have been sent off, on the field, and Australia did not advance to the second round...What would have happened?
I'm sure the papers would have been very pleased, as they would have had fodder for weeks. Oh yeah, Poll also missed two clear penalties against Croatia, and also missed Harry Kewell being offside on the tying goal. Great game Graham. Great Game.
Also, German Dentist/Referee Marcus Merck. That may have been the single worst penalty call of all time...Because Onyewu is tall and big, and the guy he's defending isn't, doesn't mean he committed a foul!!! I mean, he stood there, probably was being held by the opposing player, his arms were down, and he moved his head to clear the ball, but I guess that's a foul. Thanks for changing the entire dynamic of the game. Two yellow cards in like the first 3 minutes of the game, and an awful penalty call. That's the way to get noticed.
Allright enough with the refs. Without having seen the final day of group matches I will say this, I think the strongest teams left are:
Germany
Argentina
Brazil
and Spain.
And as loyal reader Dan pointed out...these teams will end up playing eachother in the quarter finals probably, opening the door for teams like England, Holland, Portugal to sneak in there.
It will be interesting from here on out.
Final day of group matches and I will say this, The strongest group was probably Group C with Group E being next. The worst Group had to be group G. Awful.
posted by fuge at 11:32 AM
2 Comments:
That 2 of those 4 teams is going to be bounced before the semi's is depressing, but they will make for riveting quarterfinal matches. Here are my power rankings:
1. Argentina
2. Brazil
3. Spain
4. Germany
5. Holland
6. England (tie)
6. Portugal (tie)
8. Italy
9. Ecuador
10. Ivory Coast
11. France
12. Mexico (tie)
12. Switzerland (tie)
12. Ghana (tie)
15. Sweden
16. Czech Republic
17. South Korea
18. Australia
19. Ukraine
20. Angola
21. Croatia
22. USA
23. Paraguay
24. Trinidad & Tobago
25. Tunisia (tie)
25. Serbia/Montenegro (tie)
25. Poland (tie)
28. Japan
29. Iran
30. Costa Rica
31. Togo
32. Saudi Arabia
If Switzerland beat South Korea by 2 goals and France win, Switzy moves up to a tie with France. If Switzy wins by 2 and the Frogs lose or tie, Switzy leapfr-- well you get the idea.
and while the US Ghana match was poorly reffed, including that ridiculous foul on the Gooch, I don't feel like it had a significant effect on the US' chances to advance. The US just wasn't good enough to advance. They haven't finished well, they haven't even shot well - only 4 shots on goal in 3 matches is 32nd out of 32 teams, they don't play creatively in the midfield, Reyna and Keller are overrated, and Donovan and Beasley didn't show up at all with the exception of a few plays. They just weren't that good this year. I don't think this is a death blow to US soccer though. We will continue to put good teams out there and some day it may all come together for us.
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