All that flopping around, yellow cards, a 2-0 game called a rout and the championship decided by penalty kicks…that sport sucks and I just don’t get it.
World Cup level soccer is difficult and requires intuitive teamwork and physical fitness. The players are running for 70 to 90 minutes. There’s no sitting on the bench while the offensive and defensive teams switch, no helmets or padding, no standing around in the outfield, no DH, no corked bats, and most importantly no multiple best of seven series to decide the quarter + semi-finals and championship game.
College basketball is probably the closest we have.
And head butting, Prussian Tiger. Don’t forget the head butting. Those guys were walking when that play happened. Soccer players run in short bursts much like any other sport. You will never get me to dispute that soccer players are good athletes. They train differently than athletes in other sports and they train with their game in mind. Those athletes can probably run a lot longer than baseball players or football players but they can’t hit a 95mph fastball or tackle a 230lb running back, either. Comparing apples to oranges doesn’t work.
All that’s true, PT, but to decide it via PKs is pretty weak. Over on Volkh I think someone suggested that a better way to decide these things would be to reduce each side to, say, 5 on 5 during the overtime period, which would greatly increase the chances of scoring with fewer defenders around to clog up the box.
Viva Italia! The froggies lost!
I tried to watch the games w/ my little ray of sunshine, but my gosh they were dull. I just don’t get it.
Yeah – the French lost – and they deserved to – the Italians got the only real goal in the game…
Um, what are we talking about? Metric football? And if so, why?
I second Ken. Just what is this we’re talking about?
Forza Assurri!
All that flopping around, yellow cards, a 2-0 game called a rout and the championship decided by penalty kicks…that sport sucks and I just don’t get it.
I think you DO get it, major dad.
Italy and France were the top two teams. The jokes just seem to write themselves.
Only in a soccer match could the French go into Germany and conquer.
Sort of like an all-axis reunion tour.
“Wops Flop, Stop Shots, Cop Top Spot”
World Cup level soccer is difficult and requires intuitive teamwork and physical fitness. The players are running for 70 to 90 minutes. There’s no sitting on the bench while the offensive and defensive teams switch, no helmets or padding, no standing around in the outfield, no DH, no corked bats, and most importantly no multiple best of seven series to decide the quarter + semi-finals and championship game.
College basketball is probably the closest we have.
And head butting, Prussian Tiger. Don’t forget the head butting. Those guys were walking when that play happened. Soccer players run in short bursts much like any other sport. You will never get me to dispute that soccer players are good athletes. They train differently than athletes in other sports and they train with their game in mind. Those athletes can probably run a lot longer than baseball players or football players but they can’t hit a 95mph fastball or tackle a 230lb running back, either. Comparing apples to oranges doesn’t work.
All that’s true, PT, but to decide it via PKs is pretty weak. Over on Volkh I think someone suggested that a better way to decide these things would be to reduce each side to, say, 5 on 5 during the overtime period, which would greatly increase the chances of scoring with fewer defenders around to clog up the box.