The Third Dukes

7.5 from the Russian judge!

I like this ref. For all the crap the referees are getting, this guy's done a good job. I hope he gets the final.

Maybe I missed something, but on the replays it looked like #16 for Germany should have cleared it off the line but made a lackluster attempt. Thoughts?

Bwhahahaha -- the crowd is booing Argentina on the kickoff. Awesome.

Okay, I saw both matches. First, because the "Fire Arena" in my name meant "get that worthless coach out", it literally took me five minutes before I got it. That's how you know you're having a bad day. Second, the int'l record is Cameroon/Ivory Coast from the African Cup of Nations -- 12-11 in 12 penalties. Third, I suggest that Australia advance to the quarters ahead of Switzerland AND Ukraine given all their performances, but that's not happening. Fourth, Italy was the better team. Schwarzer made a lucky save with his feet while diving away from the ball which would have made the penalty irrelevant. Italy's chances were a lot better than Australia's, and quite frankly, if I told half the Aussie fans before the match that they'd lose 1-0 to Italy, they'd be comfortable with it. (I mean, they'd be upset about losing, but 1-0 is respectable.) THAT SAID... I think the penalty decision was harsh -- seeing it from the ref's POV I can understand the call, but I wonder why the linesman didn't overrule him. The level of refereeing in this Cup has been sub-par, and part of the problem is that FIFA takes officials from Singapore and Benin for diversity. The solution, IMO, is to allow referees to work outside their own country. American refs, for example, can only reach a certain level working in MLS and CONCACAF, but if they did a few early UEFA Cup or CL games, they'd be more capable of handling the important internationals. To me, the supreme number of cards -- 90% of them deserved -- come about because the referees are weak. How hard is it to talk to both captains and coaches at some point during the match and say "you keep this up and I'm going to start carding people -- get your team under control"? It's what basketball referees and baseball umpires do all the time. Would it help if people stopped trying to con the refs into fouls? Probably, but I will state that the US didn't do a lot of acting and wound up losing points to Ghana and players against Italy when they did. It's the official's job to tell people to get up and stop being prima donnas, and that's just not happening. When the US's most popular sport is one where throwing people to the ground is a strategy, it's no wonder your football can't catch on. Okay, rant over. Hopefully there isn't TOO much bullshit in it.

Best photo ever. Seriously, that's a damn good photo taken there (it's Mexico captain Rafael Marquez soon after the loss). I don't know why, but I love sports photos when done right, and this is done PERFECTLY. Thoughts?

Sorry to break it to you guys, but Americans have you beat when it comes to classic commentary lines. When the US hockey team (a completely amateur group) upset the USSR (the best professionals money could buy) in the Olympics, it gave birth to "Do you beleive in miracles? YES!!" which any American will tell you is the greatest commentary line of all time.

You crazy English blokes with your constant bitching and moaning about how awful the players are and how daft the coach is. Did any of you watch the USA games? Go watch what Bruce Arena did, then tell me Sven is clueless. Go watch the Americans phone it in against the Czechs, then tell me the English players are garbage. You're alive, we're not; so shut up. PLEASE. Oh, and can we borrow a coach for the team after Arena's gone?

We don't deserve to advance if we're playing like this. Arena needs to go. Just a tactical fiasco.

...a short corner? :blink:

Geez, the US is playing like garbage right now. Absolute garbage. The 4-5-1 has been a fiasco -- Reyna has been a farce -- Arena won't make changes -- crud. This is just awful.

Stupid ref. No way in hell is that a penalty.

DEMPSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY!!!!! We're still alive!

Reyna's down -- if he didn't injure himself there's no break. This is awful.

Let's go USA! Please! Y'all are watching Italy, right?

Screw that, what about that clearance off the line? Very well done. Everybody outside of Spain is on the Tunisian side now!

Italy and Czech could also draw, one point each. If the US won all they'd need is a better goal difference than Czech.

Still alive. Now to beat a Ghana team that won't have any of their attackers and pray for Italy to come through. Suddenly, this is looking kinda good!

KELLER!~

*sigh* -- And now Italy are out of subs. Stupid Lippi.