Viva Europa!
We are down to four teams at the FIFA World Cup and not only are they all European teams but they are all Western European teams - Italy, Germany, Portugal and France. In fact, only Portugal messed this up from being an all G-8 semi-final when they defeated England on penalties.
At this point, all of my sentimental favorites are out. I am probably rooting for France at this point, but I expect Germany to win it all on home soil.
While we are at it - let me add my voice to the debates about how to improve soccer:
1. Eliminate penalty kicks as a means to determine a winner. Let the players play until it is decided.
2. Have a meaningful time clock. Two fourty-five minutes half. When the ball goes out of play, stop the clock - that way we would all know how much is left in the half/game!
3. The referees have far too much influence on the outcome of the game -a foul can lead to a free kick, a yellow card or expulsion from the game - they need to have a more gradual and progressive discipline system ( I knew labour law would sneak in here somewhere) so that one infraction subjectively determined has a less dramatic outcome on the game.
I am by no means a soccer expert so take all of this with the proverbial "grain of salt"
At this point, all of my sentimental favorites are out. I am probably rooting for France at this point, but I expect Germany to win it all on home soil.
While we are at it - let me add my voice to the debates about how to improve soccer:
1. Eliminate penalty kicks as a means to determine a winner. Let the players play until it is decided.
2. Have a meaningful time clock. Two fourty-five minutes half. When the ball goes out of play, stop the clock - that way we would all know how much is left in the half/game!
3. The referees have far too much influence on the outcome of the game -a foul can lead to a free kick, a yellow card or expulsion from the game - they need to have a more gradual and progressive discipline system ( I knew labour law would sneak in here somewhere) so that one infraction subjectively determined has a less dramatic outcome on the game.
I am by no means a soccer expert so take all of this with the proverbial "grain of salt"
posted by Stephen Raymond at
6:43 p.m.
1 Comments:
Vive la France!!
re penalty kicks: agreed, but how did England miss 3???
re stoppage time: nonononono! the great thing about football is that the clock doesn't stop - these are true athletes!
re the referees: you can never get the subjectivity out of the game, although i agree it is absurd that Rooney got a red card for tapping CR, while Figo got off with nothing for that head butt of Van Bommell.\
My Prediction: France 2-0
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Anonymous, at 7:11 p.m.
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