the bbc reviews the year in sport, and reviews each team from the 2002 cup... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/specials/html/linekers_verdict/usa.stm the respect is slowly coming, we just have to continue to build...
Lineker is the last one to give the US respect "and he's hit it into the score zone" or whatever that stupid thing he read was
How does one post a photograph? Anyway, from a link in the article, I found this photo gallery of the USA-Germany game. I would like to frame the photo 4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/photo_galleries/newsid_2054000/2054505.stm
Yep, that wonderful pic. We already knew the ball touched Fring's hand, but other than that we don't have enough information from that pic to make any sort of judgement.
We talked about his play ad nauseum when it happened. Here's how I left the conversation: when I finally got up the courage to watch the tape, I wanted to see if Frings' arm was in a natural position. I watched the tape Thanksgiving weekend. I have to say his arm WAS in a natural position. He wasn't making himself "bigger." Yes, it's true, most refs would have given the PK, and it wouldn't have been a wrong call in this case. There's a reason that defenders run around the box with their arms behind them. But you can't say Dallas was wrong. I believe that it would be a good idea for FIFA to issue a guideline that a) emphasized that accidental or "ball to hand" contact is not a violation of the LOTG. But I also would like FIFA to state that if a defender is right on the goalline and is not marking a player, that any such contact carries a heavy, heavy, heavy presumption of intent. While I am not criticizing Dallas (not for that, anyway), I think it's safe to say that it's a violation of the intent of the rule for some guy to just be standing on the goalline, and to keep a shot out because his arm is at his side. If he wants to block shots from the line with his arm, put on a goalie shirt.
Dammit, looking at that picture still hurts. Fairly optimistic blurb from Lineker. He failed to mention, though, they were also knocked out by one of the greatest goals in soccer history
I hadn't seen it before. I'm ready to cry. Do we have any idea what beating Germany, and going to the semifinals against SoKO would've done for the game in this country? Try doubling the impact this summer had. Would that even cover it? Probably not. I hope they put up a wall-size poster of that in the Soccer Hall of Fame.
Thanks for posting it Sachin. I'm trying to figure out if I'm sorry I brought it up. It does bring up a bucketful of mixed emotions, doesn't it. Well said, Noah, elaine, cp, superdave, mario.
Star of the tournament Minor disagreement with a generally positive article, but I just don't see Brad Friedel as the star of the tournament for the MNT. Yes, he was amazing. Yes, after so much disagreement, he proved that he was worthy of the start over Keller. But for all that he did, there were a couple of players who were simply better. 1. John O'brien in my eyes was the most consistent and best performer for all 5 games. 2. Tony Sanneh was our best defender, and may have been one of the best defenders in the entire tournament. 3. Claudio Reyna played two wonderful games that led us to the QF against Mexico and Germany. I'm not knocking Friedel here, but let's just say that I am not surprised that an English article would pick the EPL's star keeper as our star, whether or not he truly was.
Re: Star of the tournament I was sort of thinking the same thing, but not that Claudio was jipped. Friedel is benefitting from the same factor that landed Claudio on the all-tournament team. "US did well, player X is the big famous player here now, therefore player X is the US MVP." Standard Lineker-level English myopia. Fog over channel, Europe isolated.
I know this all over with and done but I have to comment.... My problem with the call is not the handball (I do think it was a handball), but if the ball had </b>completely</b> crossed the goal line. I have watched the tape a painful number of times, and in my opinion, it did. That being said, the US still had many chances to equalize, and should have.
A friend of mine who refs college games and some PDL games made the following comment: "After watching it in slow motion, I can say that Dallas got the call right. If I were calling the game, and watched it at speed, I would have called a PK." I don't think the whole ball had crossed the whole line yet... but it doesn't really matter anymore. OVER THERE! Sachin
'Americans aren't supposed to like football - sorry "soccer" - let alone be able to play it, but they reached the quarter-finals playing some great stuff. ' I think you'd have to be pretty much a "douchbag" to get bent out of shape by that.
I would have been more upset with that no call if we didnt catch a major break in the Mexico game with O'Brien
It didn't bother me at first, then I saw it again and I do think he was trying to find something negative to say about the US not being like the rest of the world. But another way to look at it is, that he might of been paying respect to what we call it here in the states. I guess it depends on how defensive you are about American soccer.
No, I'm not geting bent out of shape about it, toughguy. Lienker was a smart ass about the US all through the World Cup, and he probably wrote that begrudgingly. The past couple articles I've read about the US World Cup run coming from England all had smart ass tones about them. I don't know where you get off thinking the whole world now respects us as a legit power, maybe CONCACAF and other lower level regions, but definitley not UEFA, and definitley not the English.
Makes you wonder what would have happened had the US and England both advanced to meet in the final or the 3rd place match.... Or what will happen when the US wins the world Cup for that matter...can't wait to see that.
You were talking about Lineker who said: "They bounced back from a mauling against Poland to beat Mexico with a mature performance and they dictated the last-eight meeting against Germany. Who knows where it will end if they can build on this. They've got the money to build an infrastructure for success, and now it looks as if they've got the players too. " I doubt you'd recognize respect if it punched you on the nose.
Actually I find the first part to be a common back-handed compliment to the US. "Oh they're so rich they can buy success." Euros have been sandbagging for the awful day when we can compete for quite some time now. Yeah, a lot of money is spent on infrastructure and preparing our teams. But we can't buy players. If a team like ours made a run in the Champions League, who wouldn't love us?