You shouldn`t attack soccer because of a coupple of player`s actions.
You dont see the rest of us attacking american football just because most of the players are on steroids.
Problem is a lot of players start their professional careers very early.16 years old and they are already professionals.
They dont have street soccer in their blood.
On the streets , if you go down , you get back up again , because there wont be a referee to call a foul.
Soccer has rules , and sometimes players take advantage of those rules , specially players who were professionals their hole career.
But i guess you gotta look at soccer like poker...sometimes players call a bluff , to see if the referee falls for it.
I`m used to street soccer and getting back up when i go down , that`s why i was so ashamed at Portugal last night...i think they took the bluff calling a little too far.

your not watching the right games.

its not all countries/ teams/ players that dive.

i agree, that in some cases the diving and cheating has got completely out of hand. There's also a worrying lack of respect for the ref's too. but don't judge the entire game by what you've seen in the world cups.

plus... i think sumo wrestling beats football on the non-sportsman ship front... big bunch of cheaters.

i think you;ve hit the nail on the head there.... players have been brought up to embelish their falls and things- and thats really annoying.

thats why i thought the ref was great in the first semi- coz he wasn't having any nonsense from the italians, and both teams figured that out very early on, so there was far less.- and people got up and played on- because if they didn't they would be letting their team down.

if i'm playing- whether that be hockey or football, i always get up straight away if i can, and i'd never fake a fall... .because 1) it annoys me when other people do, its cheating. and 2) theres always a chance the call won't go your way anyway.

(in fact i can only remember one time where i've stayed down after a challenge and that was coz i was winded and managed to get my helmet knocked off in one nasty challenge... ouch. )

You don't see F1 guys crashing just so the other guy can get black flagged.

, that`s why i was so ashamed at Portugal last night...i think they took the bluff calling a little too far.[/quote]

I keep hearing you guys say that, but that was a direct correlation to the penalty kick that was rewarded to France. The only goal France could muster was a penalty call that was a fabricated call. France flopped and wined just as much as Portugal did as well.

I keep hearing you guys say that, but that was a direct correlation to the penalty kick that was rewarded to France. The only goal France could muster was a penalty call that was a fabricated call. France flopped and wined just as much as Portugal did as well.[/quote]

sorry, but that was a penalty. The portuguese player tried to kick the ball, missed it, lost his balance and while falling down tripped Henry. Yes, it was not intentional, but it would have been a goal opportunity for France so it was a fair call

sorry, but that was a penalty. The portuguese player tried to kick the ball, missed it, lost his balance and while falling down tripped Henry. Yes, it was not intentional, but it would have been a goal opportunity for France so it was a fair call[/quote]

He didn't kick him Levy, his foot happened to be in a place that the French players leg was. That is not a kick, it is two pieces of matter that happened to be in the same place at the same time. Zidane should have been charged for kicking as his leg made contact first with the Portuguese players foot.

no

I'd actually say it was intentional.

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sWRNsIPCP3w" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWRNsIPCP3w

In any case, intentional or not, clear penalty. But baumer's rediculous thoughts about it are quite amusing.

Sorry to read that. Objectivity is flushed down the toilet when talking about your favs...nothing surprising.

Put back Episode III sig!

Adidas Golden Ball shortlist revealed

FIFA unveiled on Thursday the ten candidates for the 2006 adidas Golden Ball, the prestigious award presented at each FIFA World Cup™ to the tournament’s outstanding player.

The shortlist has been drawn up by the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) and, with only players who reached the last four considered eligible for selection, representatives of the media will now pick from a field comprising three Frenchmen, two Germans, four Italians and a solitary Portuguese.

Past winners of adidas Golden Ball – arguably the most sought-after individual trophy in football – include the likes of Oliver Kahn (2002), Romario (1994) and Diego Maradona (1986), and though there can be only one winner, Silver and Bronze Balls will be awarded to the two runners-up.




France provide a trio of aspirants, led by their lithe, graceful and lightning-quick striker, Thierry Henry. There had been question marks about the Arsenal captain’s performances for Les Bleus leading into the tournament, but Henry has answered his critics emphatically with a series of excellent and often-selfless performances in the lone striker role, performances that have thus far yielded three precious goals.

Also in contention from Raymond Domenech’s camp is the powerful Patrick Vieira, another player who has emerged from a hail of criticism to prove that, at his best, there are few midfielders in the world capable of dominating and dictating a game so expertly.

The last but certainly not the least of the French candidates is Zinedine Zidane. Already a legend in his own time, this most elegant of footballers continues to amaze with his near-balletic brilliance, and there can have been few individual performances at Germany 2006 to match that produced by the 34-year-old in France’s quarter-final win over Brazil.

The hosts, meanwhile, may have bowed out at the semi-final stage, but their refreshingly adventurous approach won many friends outside German borders, and two players in particular caught the eye of the FIFA TSG members. One was Michael Ballack, the captain and a player whose workrate and driving influence in midfield earned him the apt tag of Germany’s lokomotive by coach Jurgen Klinsmann.


Joining him in the reckoning is the man currently leading the race for another of the FIFA World Cup’s most illustrious honours, the adidas Golden Shoe. By anyone’s standards, Miroslav Klose has enjoyed a vintage tournament, with his strength, courage, eye for goal and link-up work with strike partner Lukas Podolski among the most impressive aspects of Germany’s play.

It says much for the quality of Italy’s performances to this point in the tournament that they provide us with a greater number of candidates than any other team, with a quartet of Marcello Lippi’s team having been shortlisted for the honour. There will be no great surprise, certainly, at the sight of Gianluigi Buffon’s name in there, and the Juventus goalkeeper will hope that his agile, commanding and reliably inspirational performances for the Azzurri have been sufficient to see him follow in the footsteps of 2002 winner Kahn.

Italy’s captain, Fabio Cannavaro has, however, been just as important in establishing Italy’s remarkably frugal defensive record – just one goal conceded, and an own goal at that – and the 32-year-old’s faultless marshalling of the Italian rearguard is sure to make him a strong contender.

The composed, creative midfield play of Andrea Pirlo has also been recognised, with the AC Milan playmaker shortlisted for his telling contribution to Italy’s attacking play from a deep-lying position.

Another player who has contributed to the Azzurri cause both defensively and offensively is Gianluca Zambrotta, a dynamic overlapping full-back who has popped up on both the right and left flanks to score and create goals in vital matches.

The final candidate comes from Wednesday night’s beaten semi-finalists, Portugal, and this player can lay claim to having scored a couple of the tournament’s most spectacular goals against Mexico and the Netherlands. Maniche’s contribution has extended far beyond those eye-catching strikes, however, with his biting tackles and forceful running in the midfield engine room a key factor in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team's march to the semi-finals.

Source

Nice for Maniche

Ballack over Frings, Lahm, even Lehmann??? Guess other choices are fine, but this one is quite glaring.

So far I fancy Cannavaro to win it.

i'm not saying Portugal deserved to win, they didnt,but neither did France, no one played well, as a matter of fact, that game should have ended in penaltis.And some French did buy time rolling on the floor....what i dont get is way ppl talk about only in the Portuguese players


oh and here you go

got this in an email today

Ronaldo apologises to Rooney

Fool. Read Senna vs Prost in Japan 1990 or Schumacher vs Hill Australia 1994. It's clear you haven't a clue what your talking about.

Italians have shut down the street for the WC party on Sunday in little Italy.

That's what I love about the World Cup. Once every 4 years the world becomes a smaller warmer place. there is no greater unifier and barrier breaker then Football. I hope win or lose they have a hell of a party.

Yep, real unifier. Fans kill the players that lose. Hooligans riot in the stands. Blood flies just as much as beer and the riot squad has to come in to patrol the fans. Real peaceful. What dream world do you live in Kyro? Because your view of soccer is a myopic one that exists in your mind only.

Last time I checked it wasn't 1984. Heysel was 21 years ago.(Of course you have no idea what that was) And for your information what i said is true. I remember what the World Cup did for the Irish pyschicy back in 1990. it was a direct contributor to the Celtic Tiger because of the sense of national pride it gave. And don't dare contradict me on this because I remember it very well.

I love how you avoided that fact I made a jackass out of your F1 arguement and you were to cowardly to reply to it.

And I challenge you to find examples of Irish fans rioting and killing. If you can't then shut up with your childish goading tactic's.

He didn't tell you about the Portuguese who are definitely not celebrating with their Italian chums.


Soccer unites those who are supporting one specific teams. It divides everyone else. Look at Emma and I. Love birds one day, fighting hawks the other. It's even worse between Chipmunky and I

You have no valid points wehn it comes to F1, that's why it wasn't dignified with a response. And if you really believe that there isn't some kind of fan brutality every game in every league, then you are unfortunately more than myopic, you are moronic. The Irish aren't the only country that fights you know.

Here's what I'm telling you. You, very apparently, live in a place where your judgement about the World Cup can be only oh so limited. I live here, in Germany, where it takes place, where 3 million tourists came to and where there are celebrations whenever some team wins and the downtown gets shut down.

It is NOTHING, nothing like you describe. Nothing. It is peaceful here. Not a single deadly incident or mass injuries. Not a single big fight. No blood, nothin' I say I am in a much better position than you to make statements about the World Cup.

Edmonton was probably more dangerous during the Oilers' run, heh. Rioting non-stop at night, the streets basically being lit on fire, dozens of arrestings, police inclusions. I don't think WC soccer creates much more frenzy than any other sport, given the circumstances. Now of course there's the smaller-circuit soccer games in poorer countries, with the trampling craziness, but that's a bit different...

I agree. Ribery from France is also missing and I would have put Riquelme in it as well

Agree. It is a really nice vibe here. If you want rowdy fans just look at the Golf Ryder Cup when it takes place in the US. Those fans are more unfair than any soccer crowd