Makes you wonder what Kamani Hill (Scored against Argentina in Korea) or Charlie Davies could have done.
Wait, you mean the same "clear" handball that had a majority of the referees who commented (and a significant number of lay posters) saying it was a correct no-call?
Since this is still mildly related to the Germany game, their U-20 Lucas Podolski scored a goal today for the senior team in a 4:3 win over Australia (no Kewell or Viduka but Schwarzer had several huge saves) and has made a couple of other good plays that could have gone in.
Yes this is the point I told. Many our U20 young players play for Confederation Cup now ..Podolski and Schweinsteiger big stars.. we won yesterday against Australia....so couple good players could not play for U20 team....otherwise would have been our team better.... we just set other priority..Confed-Cup or so called Mini-World cup is much important for us.....and Confed-Cup is in Germany... so it is our priority..it is why why not so many germans are so interested in U20 WC now...we have so much soccer in Germany... bltleo
you simply can't be serious - not only was that a flagrantly obvious penalty of the highest order, but it should have been a red card as well PERIOD
The implications are troubling for the state of college soccer. Can you deny he's looked as if he doesn't belong on the same field as the other players in this tournament? Havn't we advanced beyond the tactic of, just go out there and run around as fast as you can?
Actually it the same clear handball (Frings) that had Beckenbauer AND the manager (Voeller I think) say in the post match interview that they both thought it was a penalty. Anyone who thinks that a goal prevented by the hand of a defender STANDING INSIDE THE POST ON THE GOALINE isnt a penalty doesnt understand the laws of the game or the spirit of the game.
Bitleo- you are regressing into 'excuse mode'! Every team is dealing w/injuries and players that didn't show up. We have a defender who started games for Manchester United last year and did well during his stint. He couldn't play yesterday. He is someone who may have totally neutralized Podolski for all we know. Its fine that Germany doesn't take it seriously, but maybe that is part of the problem of German soccer right now (and why US has risen....). The young players of today are your National Team players of tomorrow, and at tournaments like the WYC, they start the journey of learning how to win/play in short tournaments. I think Germany should take both seriously- there is plenty of time to focus on both. There is no regular season going on!
yes this is what I thought. We should take it more seriously. I think we concentrate on our Senior team and forget where is the future of german soccer. I would give more attention U20, our youth team. You are definitely right. I´m not happy about the situation. But I can not change it. I´m not boss of german soccer. Thank you for your comment. I know how strong US boys are now and it is because you pay more attention support of young soccer players. Your team is super strong. I wonder what is going to happen with german soccer
Germany should have a decent period again. You have the World Cup at home- and historically the home team almost always do well. It would be a shock if you can't at least make the final 8, and probably a disappointment if you can't make the semis (the US made the final 16 in 1994 with considerably less talent, and only loss to champion Brazil 1-0 in their final match) I think a lot rests on Podolski- he is your really creative player for the future. Having said, I think its going to be hard for Germany (post-2006) to match the success of the past (especially from late 60s to 80s teams). That was a unique era I believe. There are a lot more good teams now, and I think the wealth gets shared the next 20 years. Outside Brazil- they are always a cut above..
Looking at your avatar, Feilhaber really could pass for Reyna's younger/skinnier brother....he even has that "my hair doesn't quite fit on my head" thing going on too.. His balance is extraordinary. I wish he could gain a little "I'm becoming a man weight" to help him sustain the harder challenges that our to come as he moves up the ladder.
you are defitely right. I think German did not take seriously the rising competition in the recent year. Look Greece, Czech Republic, USA Croatia and many other countries plays wonderful soccer - these "newcomer" countries did not sleep. Germany can not rely on their past only, our success in the past. This is why I follow US team. I really think we German forgot that American play not only basketball but soccer too. Look at your U20 team, how they play. So you are right. German soccer was better in 70 or 80s. It will be hard for us in WC 06. But we try to do our best.
I like Jonathan Spector as much as the next guy but he's no Podolski - who's like a bigger meaner version of Wayne Rooney - or Schweinsteiger.
Schweinsteiger was born in 84 so he wouldn't have been eligible anyway. Aaron Hunt would have been a great addition, he's more talented than Delura imo. But who knows, he was born in 86 so mabye Skibbe would not have invited him seeing how he didn't invite all the other talented players that were born after '85.
We beat it to death at the time and then again in the Hugh Dallas retirement thread in USA Men, and it's quite clearly NOT flagrantly obvious as there's a substantial group of intelligent people who root for the U.S. (myself among them) who disagree with you. I don't think there's really much point to rehashing the whole discussion, and indeed, I was making a subtle point in my argument -- not that I thought that the Frings play should have been a no-call (although I do think that), but that there is too much dispute over it for it to be properly called "obvious". Or, as you call it, "flagrantly obvious." It's very clearly a borderline call. As long as we can accept that, then we don't need to waste effort arguing about who's right or wrong.
As I noted on the Hugh Dallas thread, I believe perspective makes that picture misleading. I believe Frings's arm is actually more behind him than extended to the side at that point in the play.
No, in all honesty, he's (Spector) is better. Or at least has proven himself at a higher level more often. Spector started several games in the Premiership, and showed extremely well. He even got MOTM for one, and was highly considered for the other. That's the best league in the world at the moment. Podolski has not shown that (yet) at the highest level. Yesterday Confed Cup would be the first indication. I believe he got a little time in BL1 the year Cologne got relegated, but for the most part his pedigree has been built on his BL2 performances. Podolski is an enormous talent, and will do well. But so will Spector. I don't think we can judge these guys on ball skills alone (doesn't matter if Podolski is better)- Spector is a defender. He does his job if he stops guys. And you just can't say Spector couldn't stop Podolski when there is every indication he would do a good job.
There is no way in the world that if you replaced the US with Italy or Brazil or France (or any other country). That the fans of Italy, Brazil, France wouldn't be saying still (and in large number), "we WUZ ROBBED". Because that was simply too close to NOT call a penalty. So, I agree with you. It was like Michael Jordan not ever getting a foul called on him.