19 Jul 11
Originally posted by shortcircuitNo offense to you ,but using that termology to address a football match sounds funny to me .
It is soccer....NOT football.
If the terms were not sensible to you, I can explain them on a first grade level.
If you need to hear side posts and crossbar, fine. I saved words and combine all.
The grandstands are where the people sit....and they were located behind the goal, where the ball landed.
The term "hang with" is a sports term very ...[text shortened]... o explain it I will.
Please, please, please try to understand that you are a joke.
It's a bit like a crusty upper class english toff sat at an American football game and saying " i say old boy ,has that man in tights just thrown the ball to that chap with an iron mask on ?"..
19 Jul 11
Originally posted by scacchipazzoI do applaud the USA womens football team ,they were unlucky to lose and credited them-selfs very well . As for England (mens game ) we are a joke and dont i know it !:'(:'(
What does England know about football,women's anyway? We have won two WC's and were minutes away from a third. England has won one men's WC(1966). We placed third in the first WC(1930). USA women have made every WC semifinal. How many teams can boast that? Pretty dang good for a country where soccer is not even fifth favorite. Hwever, soccer is the #1 ...[text shortened]... ategy worked for them and ours failed for us. At least this time we got a well refereed game.
20 Jul 11
Originally posted by phil3000No way to go but up. It perplexes me that England does not do better given the amount of talent. Perhaps limiting the number of foreigners playing in EPL might do the trick. I was watching a training show in Italy on Fox Soccer Channel. some of the English kids were impressive indeed. Need a chance in EPL. Nice bringing in overseas talent, but crowds out the English talent. IDK, it's a mystery indeed!
I do applaud the USA womens football team ,they were unlucky to lose and credited them-selfs very well . As for England (mens game ) we are a joke and dont i know it !:'(:'(
20 Jul 11
Originally posted by SaviellyThe better team doesn't always win in sports, especially in sports where one or two goals is usually enough to win.
I really don't get the people that say Japan was outplayed. If Japan had been outplayed, then they would have lost. It's that simple.
While it is true that the US had plenty of chances that could have meant something if they had converted, the fact that they didn't convert shows that one that day, against that team, they were not the better team. Period.
In sports with few scores like soccer and to a slightly lesser extent, hockey, luck plays a huge part in the outcome of any given game. I'd put it as high as 50%. This is not about this particular game. I didn't watch it and had little interest in the outcome.
Face it, a random slip of a random player on a random slick spot in the grass can mean the difference in an otherwise 0-0 game where one team gets a million chances but can't score.
FWIW, baseball also has an enormous amount of luck involved in the outcome (which is why playoff teams with better records don't have an appreciable advantage over teams with worse records). The luck factor is a little less in the NBA, where there's so much scoring that luck tends to even out and in the NFL where, if you physically dominate on the lines you're going to win the game 99 times out of 100.
20 Jul 11
Originally posted by sh76I agree with you on this one particular game. It was as if the Japanese goal was covered in repellent material preventing things from going in. Japan converted two half baked chances and USA converted on two of about ten real chances. Luck plays a role in most sports, hence the saying of "rather be lucky than good". However, teams seem to feed off of lack of luck on opponent's part as well as capitalizing on their own. This game was the perfect storm. Japan indeed was not the better team except for PKSO score, plain and simple. A few inches difference here or there and USA wins handilly 4-0 over a team which by then would have been dispsireted and beaten down. But USA did not and all congrats go to the winner. Perhaps the gods felst Japan really needed this for it was a rather wird game unlike I've ever seen in a final.
The better team doesn't always win in sports, especially in sports where one or two goals is usually enough to win.
In sports with few scores like soccer and to a slightly lesser extent, hockey, luck plays a huge part in the outcome of any given game. I'd put it as high as 50%. This is not about this particular game. I didn't watch it and had little interest ...[text shortened]... if you physically dominate on the lines you're going to win the game 99 times out of 100.
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21 Jul 11
Originally posted by scacchipazzoThen again, a goal attempt which hits the crossbar is rather like a bishop sac on h7 which almost mates. It may feel good, but when all is said and done, if you want to win the game on your own merit rather than by relying on your opponent to defend badly, you'd better be able to get it in reliably.
I agree with you on this one particular game. It was as if the Japanese goal was covered in repellent material preventing things from going in. Japan converted two half baked chances and USA converted on two of about ten real chances. Luck plays a role in most sports, hence the saying of "rather be lucky than good". However, teams seem to feed off of la ...[text shortened]... lst Japan really needed this for it was a rather wird game unlike I've ever seen in a final.
Richard
21 Jul 11
Originally posted by Shallow BlueNo doubt and no argument. However, if you look at the Wambach shot it inexplicably goes up when it was clearly on a goal path. Perhaps USA women felt needlessly confident when so many chances were happening. Indeed some foe underestimation was afoot and Japan was not creating opportunities. Where luck does play a role is in that Japan converted their two half baked chances at the most opportune moment. Also, the fould leading to the red card against Japan was a brilliant foul and probably the play of the tournament. Without that fould Alex Morgan surely scores and game over! Where USA clearly lost was in two moments of exceptionally sloppy defense rather than relying on opponents's poor defense.
Then again, a goal attempt which hits the crossbar is rather like a bishop sac on h7 which almost mates. It may feel good, but when all is said and done, if you want to win the game on your own merit rather than by relying on your opponent to defend badly, you'd better be able to get it in reliably.
Richard
27 Jul 11
I had hoped for the U.S. team as well. I don't buy into the notion that winning a sporting event will do anything for a disaster ridden nation/state what have you. With or without the Super Bowl, New Orleans was still the same. The same goes for Japan and its mess(with all due respect to their situation).
The foul on Alex Morgan when extra time was set to expire was a feeble and dirty attempt to get the game in to penalty shots. I have zero respect for the Japanese team for resorting to such things at the end of what was a very sportsmanlike contest.
27 Jul 11
Originally posted by zakkwylderYou evidently don't know the Japanese very well. The nation may remain the same yet national pride is a compelling thing and it gives them a lift New Orleans did not need as much.
I had hoped for the U.S. team as well. I don't buy into the notion that winning a sporting event will do anything for a disaster ridden nation/state what have you. With or without the Super Bowl, New Orleans was still the same. The same goes for Japan and its mess(with all due respect to their situation).
The foul on Alex Morgan when extra time was set ...[text shortened]... Japanese team for resorting to such things at the end of what was a very sportsmanlike contest.
I think the Japanese foul was brilliant and timed right. Time was expiring and Morgan would have scored easily. They were lucky it was not within the 18 yard area!
28 Jul 11
Originally posted by scacchipazzoBrilliant? Aren't you the one who harps on the rules of the game?
You evidently don't know the Japanese very well. The nation may remain the same yet national pride is a compelling thing and it gives them a lift New Orleans did not need as much.
I think the Japanese foul was brilliant and timed right. Time was expiring and Morgan would have scored easily. They were lucky it was not within the 18 yard area!
It was the only thing they could do to save the game.
Sportsmanship was tossed totally out of the window there.
The rules of the game are screwed up to allow something like that TBH.
That being said, if you allow a team to hang around, you can get screwed
by a bad call or a fluke play. The US had many chances and failed to convert.
Also, I seriously doubt that that victory in the world cup caused a huge boost
to morale in Japan. They are going to be digging out for years.
28 Jul 11
Originally posted by shortcircuitNo argument on anything you say. It happened within the screwed up rules of the game. You have to admit it was smart football. Rules need to change, yet on the other hand it makes soccer sorta unique and different and great water cooler material. Reality is the USA let Japan hang around and never closed the deal! USA was begging for a loss.
Brilliant? Aren't you the one who harps on the rules of the game?
It was the only thing they could do to save the game.
Sportsmanship was tossed totally out of the window there.
The rules of the game are screwed up to allow something like that TBH.
That being said, if you allow a team to hang around, you can get screwed
by a bad call or a fluke p ...[text shortened]... world cup caused a huge boost
to morale in Japan. They are going to be digging out for years.
As for morale, I disagree. Japan really needed this and indeed this is their first major international sports championship of a global nature. They are a proud people and will push harder to resovel their issues. They are a hard working people, very focused and smart.
28 Jul 11
Originally posted by scacchipazzoDo you really believe the Japanese people would not have worked as hard to get themselves
No argument on anything you say. It happened within the screwed up rules of the game. You have to admit it was smart football. Rules need to change, yet on the other hand it makes soccer sorta unique and different and great water cooler material. Reality is the USA let Japan hang around and never closed the deal! USA was begging for a loss.
As for m ...[text shortened]... ill push harder to resovel their issues. They are a hard working people, very focused and smart.
back together from this catastrophe, had japan lost the World Cup?
Absolutely no possibility there my friend.
I am sure it made those who cared feel good, but how many really cared
about a soccer match when their homes and businesses are a wreck, family members
and friends are dead, lost or injured badly?
Sorry, I don't buy into any sporting match being that therapeutic for any tragedy loss.
28 Jul 11
Originally posted by shortcircuitWe can agree to disagree then. I think it gave the beleaguered nation a huge boost. While it won't solve the catastrophe it certainly helps them assuage the pain temporarily. Sports are always a welcome distraction when in times of great strife. I agree that had Japan lost it might have made no big difference, but since they won the boost from winning is greater than the temporary bad feelings about a loss. It makes them no better off, but a proud nation like theirs is enjoying their moment greatly nonetheless.
Do you really believe the Japanese people would not have worked as hard to get themselves
back together from this catastrophe, had japan lost the World Cup?
Absolutely no possibility there my friend.
I am sure it made those who cared feel good, but how many really cared
about a soccer match when their homes and businesses are a wreck, family member ...[text shortened]... badly?
Sorry, I don't buy into any sporting match being that therapeutic for any tragedy loss.