World Cup 2006

[Liam]

I bet on France to beat Spain, won money.

I said that France would beat both Brazil and Portugal, and didn't bet.

What kinda fool am I?

Oh well, I might lump some on France in the final.

[unbedeutend]

So in other words, its a fairly meaningless match?

Other than deciding who comes third and who comes fourth.

Seriously, it's called the "Third Place Playoff". What exactly are you expecting?

[Liam]

As for anyone querying the point of the 3rd/4th place match, as well as naturally showing who is 3rd and who is 4th, it probably affects prize money, bonuses and stuff like that.

[unbedeutend]

And of course honor...

[Buford Ripley]

And of course honor...

[therockbox]

I've got to come to the defense of Miguel. From my viewpoint, and I rewound it a few times to see if he infact dove, it looked like just as he got rid of the ball his left leg planted in the ground and he kept going forward. Looked to me as if he tweaked his knee then, so I've got to say I don't think he purposely dove, many other Portuguese players did throughout the game, but for me it looked like him falling was as a result of the tweak.

[TheArsenal]

And of course honor...

[Liam]

And of course honor...

I think you mean honour.

I think he is from a country that drops the "u".....'tard

[TheArsenal]

And of course honor...

I think you mean honour.

[Guest Ringo Hates Divers]

And of course honor...

I think you mean honour.

I think he is from a country that drops the "u".....'tard

[Liam]

Guffaws all around.

[Big Red Fury]

I've got to come to the defense of Miguel. From my viewpoint, and I rewound it a few times to see if he infact dove, it looked like just as he got rid of the ball his left leg planted in the ground and he kept going forward. Looked to me as if he tweaked his knee then, so I've got to say I don't think he purposely dove, many other Portuguese players did throughout the game, but for me it looked like him falling was as a result of the tweak.

My main beef with that was the fact that Pauleta ran straight to the referee demanding a free kick, despite it being blatantly obvious he'd fallen over.

[therockbox]

So he definately shouldn't have reacted the way he did. It may just be because I was always taught to play to the referees whistle, but if he didn't even see what happened he had no real right to react like that.

[Toe]

The thing I hate most about Portugal's play isn't the diving. It is when they trip or are bumped down by mistake or even when they do get fouled. There is always 2 or 3 Portuguese players running to the referee to complain, and even when they trip themselves up they look right back at the referee.

[alldaws1]

Fifa will revise ranking system

Fifa has announced an overhaul of its world ranking system after complaints that it was too complicated.

The main change is that a national team's ranking will be based on results from the last four years, not eight.

Goals scored and home advantage will no longer have any bearing on placings and other aspects, including importance and strength of matches, have been revised.

The changes will come into effect after the World Cup ends on Sunday, with the first new rankings revealed on 12 July.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: "I am convinced that our experts have come up with a satisfactory solution for a new way of calculating the ranking.

"We have acknowledged the need for a substantial revision. We are aware that it is difficult to meet everybody's expectations but are confident that the new system will provide an accurate measure of the strength of each of our member associations."

Great, hopefully we get some realistic positioning of teams now.

Oh, and BBC has a Goal of the Tournament competition up on their website here (the link is below the black bar). I'll have to go with Maxi Rodriguez's for #1. What it meant as well as the skill it took to control the ball with his chest, turn and volley the ball without looking at the goal was magnificent. Joe Cole's against Sweden and Fernando Torres' against Ukraine come second and third, respectively, for me.

Edited July 6, 2006 by alldawson

[TheArsenal]

That system will put Portugal in the top5, if not higher. Since they were Euro 2004 runners up and World Cup semi-finalists.

Meanwhile, England will be lucky to make top 10 after losing to Northern Ireland.

[The Kraig]

Well it's about fucking time FIFA rethought it's joke ranking system.

Sepp does something applaudable? Amazing.

[Lowerdeck]

Good. Americans aren't 5th, Czechs aren't 2nd.

[alldaws1]

Good. Americans aren't 5th, Czechs aren't 2nd.

And Italy should be higher than Nigeria :pinch:

[IAceI]

Now can they please revise the rules on diving?

Or is that too much to ask?