Disappointing Cup for me...

[mette72]

Sure, the USA is out, not happy about that, but I have moved on. However, there are a number of other factors that make this Cup a very large disappointment for me:

1. The amazing number of yellow and red cards, I really can't believe it. And many of the officials seem to really get excited when handing out cards. Thanks, FIFA. And the number of really blown calls that drastically affect the outcome of a game (PK to Ghana against the US for example) seems to have increased to a new level. And no, I don't blame the US exiting the first round on the refs....three yellow cards to one player, wow! And these guys are the best? COME ON!
2. The more and more frequent diving/faking injury that occurs. How do these players feel good about themselves after faking all the time. I really don't know how someone like C.Ronaldo sleeps at night, that guy flops more than a fish and cries and complains more than any other player I have seen in a long time. The Italians are a close second, constant diving and whining. Be a man and play the game, force your way through the tackle. Look at Ronaldihno. He rarely goes down, and virtually never dives. Class act.
3. The numerous blown offside calls. It seems like the side officials get it wrong about 70% of the time, which to me is amazing.
4. Once again, FIFA. They just don't really get it, on so many levels. Why do they feel the need to emphasize something to the officials every four years? The players play a certain way for a number of years, then come to a World Cup and the officials are told by FIFA to change the way they enforce the rules to a more drastic level?


Anyone else have any other points? I would love to hear them....

p.s. Could England win a PK shootout if the opposing keeper wasn't allowed to move? I would still bet England would find a way to screw that up....

[Metros Striker10]

I'm disappointed in how France went from being a team that barely made it out to group stages (0 goals in the first two games), to a team that got a lucky call against Spain, and a half-asleep Brazilian team.

[ForeverRed]

I'm disappointed in how France went from being a team that barely made it out to group stages (0 goals in the first two games), to a team that got a lucky call against Spain, and a half-asleep Brazilian team.

lucky call?

Oh dear....

[Excape Goat]

I'm disappointed in how France went from being a team that barely made it out to group stages (0 goals in the first two games), to a team that got a lucky call against Spain, and a half-asleep Brazilian team.

It happened in every WC Finals. A team wake up in the knockout stage. Italy in 1982, 1990.... etc.

[dogface]

I'm disappointed in how France went from being a team that barely made it out to group stages (0 goals in the first two games), to a team that got a lucky call against Spain, and a half-asleep Brazilian team.
First, you're crazy. And second, it's awesome how France has really turned it on during this stage of the cup. They played beautifully today.

[I-Got-The-BLUES]

I'm disappointed in how France went from being a team that barely made it out to group stages (0 goals in the first two games), to a team that got a lucky call against Spain, and a half-asleep Brazilian team.

Lucky Call http://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gifhttp://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gifhttp://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gif

Half-Asleep Brazilhttp://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gifhttp://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gifhttp://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gif

It is severely disappointing to see a team improve over timehttp://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gifhttp://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gifhttp://www.dancehallreggae.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl1.gif

[clevelandstoker]

The Cup has been extremely disappointing to me. There has been very little entertaining football on display. Ugly, defensive and mechanical in these late stages. I look for football to inspire, but truthfully in this tournament I've turned off or looked away from several matches.

The quarterfinal games all felt hollow. I received no joy from them. What made Korea/Japan so exciting was the new blood in the hunt, but what made that tournament great has made this tournament ugly.

[ctruppi]

The Cup has been extremely disappointing to me. There has been very little entertaining football on display. Ugly, defensive and mechanical in these late stages. I look for football to inspire, but truthfully in this tournament I've turned off or looked away from several matches.

The quarterfinal games all felt hollow. I received no joy from them. What made Korea/Japan so exciting was the new blood in the hunt, but what made that tournament great has made this tournament ugly.

Yeah, that Turkey-Senegal QF match from 2002 sure was a classic:rolleyes:

Brazil-England in 2002 also was a terrific match with England constantly on the attack:eek:

That Spain-S Korea QF from 2002 also shows that refs didn't have a bad match until this WC started!

[Maruti]

Yeah, that Turkey-Senegal QF match from 2002 sure was a classic:rolleyes:

That one was a bore. But Senegal - Sweden was a classic. Lets face it. England - Portugal 2006 was just as forgetable.

Brazil-England in 2002 also was a terrific match with England constantly on the attack:eek:

I prefer the Senegal - Sweden match.

[gazzsamurai]

p.s. Could England win a PK shootout if the opposing keeper wasn't allowed to move? I would still bet England would find a way to screw that up....

don't be so silly man, ofcourse england will still lose

[DonVitazzo]

not Disappointing for me :)

[Pakalolo]

I'm disappointed in how France went from being a team that barely made it out to group stages (0 goals in the first two games), to a team that got a lucky call against Spain, and a half-asleep Brazilian team.
:eek:
How can you not like Zidane showing the world, that he is one of the greatest players ever??

[Pakalolo]

The Cup has been extremely disappointing to me. There has been very little entertaining football on display. Ugly, defensive and mechanical in these late stages. I look for football to inspire, but truthfully in this tournament I've turned off or looked away from several matches.

The quarterfinal games all felt hollow. I received no joy from them. What made Korea/Japan so exciting was the new blood in the hunt, but what made that tournament great has made this tournament ugly.
Why don't people understand that it wasn't the 'new blood' being good, but the 'old blood' playing well below expectations? South Korea, Turkey, USA, Senegal... they aren't, and never were better than teams like Argentina, France, Italy... '02 was a fluke, nothing more, nothing less.

[Battlecruiser]

Even though the U.S. has lost, this is the first World Cup I have watched, and I am enjoying it so far. France versus Brazil was just a spectacular game. Match of the tournament in my opinion. Also watching Germany was fun. So while I can't really compare it to any other World Cups, I will say that this one was very interesting, and there is still more to come.

[Maruti]

Why don't people understand that it wasn't the 'new blood' being good, but the 'old blood' playing well below expectations? South Korea, Turkey, USA, Senegal... they aren't, and never were better than teams like Argentina, France, Italy... '02 was a fluke, nothing more, nothing less.

Facts are they were better in 2002... New blood was being good.

Its ************ that you are downgrading the accomplishments of the 2002 teams. I find it quite despicable. Italy was worse than Korea. Argentina was worse than Sweden. France was worse than Senegal. Portugal was worse than USA. NO FLUKE. JUST PLAIN FACTS.

That was then. This is now. Senegal has decomposed, Sweden is past its prime, Korea has no Hiddink, USA doesn't resemble the quick and intense 2002 squad. Don't downgrade their achievements. Its below the belt.

[Pakalolo]

Even though the U.S. has lost, this is the first World Cup I have watched, and I am enjoying it so far. France versus Brazil was just a spectacular game. Match of the tournament in my opinion. Also watching Germany was fun. So while I can't really compare it to any other World Cups, I will say that this one was very interesting, and there is still more to come.
Exactly. Germany-Italy, France-Portugal, two games which feature players like Totti, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Ballack, Klose, Deco, Figo, Henry and last but not least Zidane. How can you not like it. Compare that to Germany-South Korea, Turkey-Brazil you will realize that these games pale in comparision.

[Pakalolo]

Facts are they were better in 2002... New blood was being good.

Its ************ that you are downgrading the accomplishments of the 2002 teams. I find it quite despicable. Italy was worse than Korea. Argentina was worse than Sweden. France was worse than Senegal. Portugal was worse than USA. NO FLUKE. JUST PLAIN FACTS.

That was then. This is now. Senegal has decomposed, Sweden is past its prime, Korea has no Hiddink, USA doesn't resemble the quick and intense 2002 squad. Don't downgrade their achievements. Its below the belt.
But I can't rate a tournament highly when so many teams didn't reach their potential, like in '02. There is a difference between winning, because of being better than your opponent, and winning, because of the fact that your opponent was faaaaar way from being in top form. And the latter was the case in Japorea!

[Maruti]

Exactly. Germany-Italy, France-Portugal, two games which feature players like Totti, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Ballack, Klose, Deco, Figo, Henry and last but not least Zidane. How can you not like it. Compare that to Germany-South Korea, Turkey-Brazil you will realize that these games pale in comparision.

I find this cup enjoyable. I also found the 2002 enjoyable. I admit the 1/2 and final in 2002 were rather weak (but it was the same story in 1998). Nonetheless up until the 1/4 final the tournament was really good.

I would still prefer to see some new young forces... i.e. Ivory Coast or Australia. I think if they won they would make the Cup THAT much more interesting.

[Maruti]

But I can't rate a tournament highly when so many teams didn't reach their potential, like in '02. There is a difference between winning, because of being better than your opponent, and winning, because of the fact that your opponent was faaaaar way from being in top form. And the latter was the case in Japorea!

I agree to disagree.

All the teams that progressed progressed becaus they played exceptional football.

In 2002 the 'weak teams' won because they were on top form and the 'strong teams' being on TOP FORM just didn't seem to be able to cope.

THOSE ARE THE FACTS. No more excuses. The 'weak teams' won because they were so good. Not the other way around.

I can't stand all the excuses that 'the big teams' weren't on top form. It is so crap. Argentina played great football in the group phase, but hell... England and Sweden were better.

[Pakalolo]

I find this cup enjoyable. I also found the 2002 enjoyable. I admit the 1/2 and final in 2002 were rather weak. Nonetheless up until the 1/4 final the tournament was really good.

I would still prefer to see some new young forces... i.e. Ivory Coast or Australia. I think if they won they would make the Cup THAT much more interesting.
Don't get me wrong because of my previous post. I, too, pull for the underdog in most cases, and would've loved to see teams like the Ivory Coast or Ghana advance. But considering '02 (again), there was the overall level of play just too weak to enjoy all the upsets.
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