I hope you were watching the Women’s World Cup just now. The U.S. team put on one of the most amazing, determined, come-from-behind performances you’ll ever see in sports, playing a man down and tying Brazil at literally the very last moment possible then winning on penalty kicks — all in the wake of an awful referee’s call in regulation time that nearly threw the game to Brazil by letting them re-try a missed penalty kick. The call was so bad that the German crowd swung wildly in favor of the Americans, with chants of USA!USA! throughout the extra time. This was Rocky on the soccer field. Unforgettable.
Hyperbole much? Down 1 goal, down 1 goal for crying out loud. Nice win after you *natch victory from defeat, but only in soccer could overcoming a 1 goal deficit be considered amazing. Good win though.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou must not watch professional soccer very often.
Clawing back a goal, against a tremendously talented team, after playing short-handed for almost an hour? That's epic.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, indeed Mr. Miller it was a gutsy performance. Congrats to them. A few Family members are very relieved being big fans - so am I.
But you missed some honest aspects. The USA was VERY fortunate Brazil played so poorly, including scoring on themselves after 74 seconds of play. The 'awful' call you reference, reveals a big contraction - as Our Team - the USA profited from the same exact call in the final penalty kick competition in the end. Letting the USA retake a failed penalty. The Ref actually called the game equal, not unfairly as you suggest. Not only did Solo come off her line, a US player clearly entered the box early, forcing a retake.
The USA deserves great credit in never giving up. They are also fortunate the Brazilian squad lacked discipline, fitness, team concepts, and a competent Keeper. Playing against 10, the Brazilian Side simply walked the game away, failing to play with much energy or effort - a major mistake.
The hype is always overt, and the USA is very fortunate today. The game was regretfully a let down after some pretty impressive play from the Japanese/Germans and the French/Brits the day before (some of the better play we have seen from the Woman's side for a long time).
The USA profited long ago, playing very weak competition in the Women's game. Now it is much harder. It would be nice to see them rise above, play a stellar game which they have yet failed to do, against a Team which provides a good game as well. As someone who would like to see the Woman's game play up to the hype in some manner, it would be great to see the USA actually play like a Champion, which they are more than capable of.
So far, the Japanese are really selling the game, sincerely an ethical Team effort with grace and skill - a far greater story so far, especially after the tragedy in Japan.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseActually, you are wrong about the call the referree made on the first Brazil penalty kick. It was not for Solo moving off her line but for one of our players encroaching into the penalty area prior to the kick. The yellow card given Solo was for complaining. The first penalty kick we scored was a do-over because the Brazilian goalie actually moved off her line before the kick unlike Solo who moved laterally which is allowded by the laws of football.
I disagree with you about the American team. It is very fit unlike Brazil (which should be better fit for hot humid conditions). But Brazil is trying to bank on their reputation of their men's team. Look who has the better record in the head to head matchups. If America can renew its adrenaline it should meet Sweden in the finals.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt was only "the same exact call" in that Solo may have moved slightly off her line, while the Brazilian keeper was egregiously flouting the rule through the entire shootout.
In soccer, as in most other sports, players are given some leeway here or there. If that weren't the case, football teams would be called for holding every play, basketball players would all foul out in the first 3 minutes, and so forth.
The "foul" that drew the red card, and the infraction (whether it was Solo or her teammate) that gave Brazil a re-kick, were both well within the bounds of what referees universally allow, and it is right for American fans to be outraged at the heavy advantage given the Brazilians by the officiating in this game. Whether that is more the result of incompetence or corruption remains to be seen.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSorry, although I enjoyed your insight, I believe you are clearly biased in judging the play. It is understandable pulling for the USA as well.
But the outrage just doesn't add up - it was more than ironic to see the US Announcers who once rebuked the early call giving Brazil a reshoot - suddenly changing their tone about the US getting a second chance later. They set themselves up for revealing their bias.
Your wrong about what "REFs" universally allow. FIFA is quite clear, if a defender pulls-trips the offensive player when they are only confronting the Keeper - ending a goal scoring opportunity, it is an automatic Red Card. Sure, some Refs may not have gotten enough evidence to make the call, and we can question whether this was wise, but the game was clearly fair, not biased as the ending proved with the USA getting the SAME exact re-kick attempt that saved their chances as well in the Penalty round.
Your wrong, the USA was not heavily disadvantaged in any manner in the game. In fact, the player named Lloyd probably should have been given a second Yellow Card, which would have totaled a Red and removed her from the game. In fact, a number of times the US Players flopped in the first half, Wambach especially, drawing questionable Yellow cards on the Brazilian squad. In fact, the US got several calls to go their way throughout the first half.
You are just seeing it through the same fan supported prism, which sees Our Team as the victim. In fact, they got lucky, the Officiating had little to do with the outcome. The USA could not produce a goal during the regular time period against a very weak defense from Brazil. And it was the Brazilian poor play which mostly gave the USA a chance - they even scored mindlessly on themselves in the first 74 Seconds (another example of the weak Keeper play). It wasn't WORLD CUP level play offered by Brazil at all - nor from the USA.
The USA gets big kudos for not giving up, fighting with 10 players, but if they played against any other team advancing to the Semis with this level of play, they would have been defeated. They must improve or they will go home.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"You are just seeing it through the same fan supported prism, which sees Our Team as the victim."
Everyone else in the stadium (not just the American fans) besides the Brazilian team were apparently looking through the same prism.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhere does it say this is an automatic red card? P124 of the LOTG for Law 12 gives the considerations, and given that Hope Solo was in perfect position to make the save in what little room Marta had to work with, it seems pretty clear it was NOT an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The situation you are talking about is where a player stops a breakaway upfield where it would be the attacker in the open vs the keeper had the foul not been committed.
And the PK retakes were NOT the same situation. Solo was staying on the line and the encroachment was at the top of the penalty area (and seemed to be trifling), whereas the Brazilian keeper was jumping a yard off the goal line on every US attempt (though admittedly only half as far Briana Scurry vs China in 1999).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAutomatic RED!
Consideration?
Please...
It was by definition. The defender took the offense down (clearly by her hand/arm) when the offense was approaching the keeper and net in the box - in the box.
IN THE BOX!
I do agree with some consideration - interpretation, but the REF demonstrated this on a number of accounts - like Ms. Lloyd's potential 2nd Yellow. She also seem to call a number of yellows on Brazil, when the US was flopping.
But now we have to use some 'consideration' for the idea Ms. Solo would have absolutely made a save?
It doesn't work like this at all...
Sport turns far too subjective, getting to be like Gymnastics in a sense. And Our bias for Our Team is twisting the vision. If the rules exist, you have to follow them. But no Official can be allowed to determine your chance for victory in any game. The USA was given same advantage - penalization as Brazil in this game.
I agree with your fine honest admission on the infamous Scurry Jump vs. China - it was rather embarrassing back then. But I still thought the game was fairly Officiated for the most part. Our Team should have walked over that level of competition, and got lucky in that Cup.
Yes, the Penalty retakes were basically the SAME situation. The US Player not only entered the Penalty Area prior to the shot, the Keeper moved from the line. Solo made a great save later which helped the USA squeak by - but she jumped in the regular minute PK. The Penalty Shoot Out after followed the SAME exact standards. Giving the USA a chance to re-shoot after the Brazilian Keeper committed an infraction. SAME exact standard - no conspiracies or victim making, none. If the USA got the call in the opposite, I highly doubt any US fan would be telling us it was unfair - and the Brazilian fans would be crying foul.
But you miss a huge point, every time the Brazil Keeper jumped unfairly, and the US SCORED in the Penalty shoot out - the penalty was not retaken. Because the USA SCORED! You simply rule on the advantage. The point would have been mute if you retake a PK if the Keeper cheats and the Offense scores. When the US's kick was blocked and Brazil had an infraction, they did it over, just as when the US had the infraction and Brazil was given a retake.
The USA gets HUGE KUDOS for not giving up. Playing with 10. But there is little doubt this was the lowest level of play in these WC Quarters. The final Goal was exiting, so was the Penalty shoot out. But, the other games were played on such a better level. The hype on the USA has been a problem, as they haven't lived up to it again - and they are more than capable of doing far better. (Perhaps no one can live up to the US Media sell).
The USA was fortunate Brazil scored on themselves, played tired, walking the rest of the game when they could have put it away. Brazil was lacking discipline, team ethics, basic energy, worthy defense, etc. Regretfully, the US could not even score on Brazil in the regular period. This is not a healthy sign - they got a little lucky and will have to do better (or hope the French choke).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOld fan, are you perhaps using the old PK rules in your assessment that Solo was guilty of an infraction? Several years ago, the rule indeed was that the goalkeeper was not to move her feet at all prior to the striking of the ball. That rule was rarely enforced at all a the top levels. The rule now is that a goalkeeper may move laterally prior to the striking of the ball, but may not come off the line. Replays show that perhaps Solo was one inch off the line at the time the kick was struck. If this is in fact the infraction called, I think it's an egregious error by the referee. Replays also show an American player encroaching into the penalty box. Although this infraction is almost never enforced, play subsequent to the Solo save did move in the direction of this encroaching player, so this call might be more marginally understandable, although far harsher than the standard calls made at this level.
On the Buehler foul, it appeared to me that both players were pushing off. Marta then made an artful little dive, which drew the penalty. I think a no-call would probably have been appropriate there, but once the referee decides to award a penalty, the positioning of the players dictates a send-off of Buehler.
I didn't see any hypocrisy in the Boxx retake. The referee had already set a very exacting standard with her call during the first penalty. The Brazilian goalkeeper's infraction was clearly more egregious than either possible American infraction that could have been called during regular time, in that she gained a clear advantage by coming significantly off her line early. In fact, I think a case could be made for allowing the Solo save in regulation to stand, while still retaking the Boxx kick, based upon that logic.
I was less enthralled with the Japanese effort than you were. The game I watched appeared to be a classic bunker and counter strategy which frustrated a more talented German team, who themselves were not particularly inspired or energetic.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse..women's soccer.....redundancy, much?... :=/
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOld Fan: 1) Solo did NOT come off her line early, and 2) the person entering the box was doing that right as the ball was being struck. I defy you to show me ANY keeper who moves a heck of a lot more than Solo than did on that. And, you're forgetting the Brazilian player who was offsides on Marta's go-ahead goal.
The call against the Brazilian keeper on the first PK was justifiable payback, period.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@denroy: They were playing a player short for the last hour of the game. Would it be so easy to come back from 8 points down in football in the 4th quarter, when the other team is allowed 12 players on each play?
@Old Fan: Nice comment - agree totally. The problem with those calls on penalty shots is that they're nearly NEVER enforced to the letter. It seems that every time there's a penalty, there are 7 or 8 players in the box before the ball is struck.
(It would have been a horribly egregious error to not let Boxx take a 2nd there - the Brazilian keeper was 3 steps off the line. If the first one wasn't called, then that shouldn't be, but it was...)
You know - I'd almost like to see them just get rid of penalty shots completely. Just give the direct kick from the spot of the foul - you'd still convert from very close, and maybe it'd get rid of some of the diving from the edges of the area. Tell me why that's bad?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat makes this unforgettable is that so much else of soccer is forgettable. I gave soocer a fair shot years ago when I watched our women's team take on China. About a half hour into the scoreless match, I started hoping someone would bring me a small, gray Italian pistol with a single bullet.
Would soccer be any different if instead of kicking a ball around, teams had to herd a single 2-year-old dalmation puppy with a pork rib bone in his teeth into the goals? With the stipulation the dog be trained to absolutely detest and avoid going into the goals?
It'd be about the same, I think.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo problem if it doesn't float your boat. Understandable. I remember a great early Simpsons episode which covered the 'yawn' which can be associated with Soccer (especially after encountering the enormous hype) - It was truly funny.
The Europeans have the same misguided reaction to Our Baseball - mostly out of ignorance about how the game is played. They don't get the story, and the classic rivals often create more passion amongst devoted fans.
Soccer, Football, is a game of possession - the Japanese Women just displayed one of the finest efforts in dominating the game (Youngsters should study it - US Coaches as well - it was textbook success in Football). One thing, the game is played by using your feet, which is not the natural tool human beings depend upon - the hands. It is not easy to learn how to control the ball, or create a drive going some 40 miles per hour to hit a dime thirty yards away. And the score can be more exiting when it is encountered few and far between when you grasp the strategy, vs. the easy score in other sports.
The big problem is of course, the hype. You watched a very low class of the quality game in the 1990's, when the USA lucked out against the Chinese with a weak effort. That was the Woman's play long ago, it has improved greatly. At the time, it was hyped for ratings, tickets sales, etc., with the Cup in the USA, with the USA heading for an easy victory. Ms. Hamm and Company should have easily dominated the field which was like High School playing vs. College Athletes. Indeed the play was less then worthy of the hype - and they squeaked by on a Penalty shoot out in the end. Honesty would have admitted this isn't the greatest effort. When the hype is overt, it is always hard to live up to the expectations in my humble opinion.
However, to be fair, even when the best Men play in the World Cup, which is a far greater level of play, the stress can create a very weak game. The Brit Men are a prime example of poor play in a real test. A real champion always rises. The difference in quality of play makes the game. The 70's were an amazing time. Pele/Brazil and the great "Total Football" of the Dutch were playing on an incredible level. A prime reason why the game grew in popularity around the world.
Without a doubt, the Women's game is lacking still, not reaching the hype used to sell the game. Yet, yesterday the Japanese and Germans played a game worthy of mention. It was top notch, one of the better games played in the Women's sport I can remember seeing.
All this from someone who will absolutely trade watching Soccer for Baseball, US Football (especially College these days), etc. Sadly, the game of Pro-US Football has lost it's true grit. The toss ups favoring the Pass so overtly has weakened a once incredible game - so has the endless hype. Pro-US Football has become more and more of a jump ball - speed competition, and sometimes I find myself just as bored watching these days. It is usually about the team involved - pulling for my long held favorites.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDon't let the goalie catch the ball. Make them bat it back in to play volleyball style (or out of bounds to set up a corner kick). That would make the game a little higher scoring, and make getting the ball into the penalty area more exciting. The most frustrating thing watching soccer is that every time a potential for a goal shows up, the goalie grabs the ball and it's back to bouncing the ball around midfield.
Football still has the sudden long touchdown passes or long runs that match soccer's excitement of the sudden goal. And baseball has the home run. But soccer is missing something.
Football with its goal line stands, baseball with its bases loaded - these make for an excitement that soccer lacks.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUSA's Keeper Hope Solo - that chick is a studette. She needs her own TV contract. :) Looks she'd kick most men's @ass', including all those soccer haters.
Denroy - 1 goal deficits happen all the time in hockey/baseball. If all you watch in basketball/football then I can see why you don't get one/two score games.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusewhy do we subsidize national sports endeavors? get the government off of our backs! if there was a market for a national women's soccer team, the private sector would provide it.
not to mention that soccer is a leftist sport to begin with.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUnforgettable? No. Completely forgettable. It's soccer. And women's soccer, at that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusewhatever.
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