QuoteJapan had a few problems too, to be fair. They skied a couple of shots when it didn't really look like the player had got under the ball all that much.
Same excuses every 4 years from keepers & players with poor technique, zero sympathyOriginally Posted by irishfan86
Japan don't seem to have a problem with it....
"Your guilty conscience may move you to vote Democratic, but deep down you long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king"
Sideshow Bob
Japan had a few problems too, to be fair. They skied a couple of shots when it didn't really look like the player had got under the ball all that much.
Bring back the footballs with either 32 or 24 "panels" on them.
It was the stitching around the panels of the ball that allowed players to bend, curve and back spin the ball.
The stitched panels also allowed some aero-dynamic "drag" as the ball travelled in the air which reduced the ball becoming effectively a torpedo.
Anyone who has played the game from schoolyard football updwards should recognise all of this.
Quoting years at random since 1975
Okay, so two Japanese players scored two free kicks in quick succession in one match. Who else scored from an intentional free kick from distance in this tournament? There have been 48 games played, you should be able to find a few, right?
I would argue that Euro 2008 was one of the best tournaments in a long time. Germany 2006 wasnt bad either. This WC so far has largely failed to ignite, alot is riding on the knock out section.
Although France will be perfect hosts for this I really would've liked to give Turkey a shot.
Oh and, Ireland to win the whole thing
I think there is no question the ball (Jubelani sp?) has played a factor, to what degree is obviously up for debate.
For me though, the bigger issue is....
How can you have WC Qualifiers over a 2 year period in order to get the best international teams from across the globe in to the biggest tournament in world sport. Then when you get them there, you throw them a new ball and say play with this, its nothing like the ball you've been using to get here but adidas (or whoever) have made it and we need to make a big deal about it.....................
Its fcuking ludicrous really - Blatter doesnt want technology to play a part in football but what is this if it isnt 'technology' changing the game? The only difference is it isnt improving the quality of performances or decisions.
I thought you were off the drink Ronnie?
"No, I drink to help me mind my own business....can I get you one? (c) Ronnie Drew
Interesting reading this thread from 5 years ago with people worrying about the tournament being devalued because of the size of it and one person suggesting that we should give up football if we can't qualify for it. Don't hear too many of those voices now as we struggle for third place...
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
There was no tricking the trickster though!
My opinions have changed from 5 years ago. I think the expansion has been a good thing. It has noticeably coincided with an improvement of the competitiveness of small countries. In nearly every group there is one major story with a small team punching significantly above its weight, be that Wales, NI, Albania, Iceland, etc. Even the 'minnows' have had some great results.
The achievement, assuming Wales do make it, doesn't feel as devalued as I thought. At the end of the day, we look set to qualify by finishing either first or a close second in a group containing Belgium, who are as good as any European team right now, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, who qualified for the last World Cup. In the case of the Republic, you would have to come out of a group containing the World Champions, a top Polish team with world class talent, and a decent Scottish team. Iceland will qualify from a group in which the Netherlands are contesting 3rd place with Turkey. Alright, so there are a couple of easier-looking groups, but every team that will be at the finals deserves it and will have had to beat decent teams to get there.
"Life is like a hair on a toilet seat. Sooner or later you are bound to get pi$$ed off."
"In this league, a draw is sometimes as good as a win" - Steve Morison
Yeah, I don't have any posts on this thread to look back upon but I think I was happy enough that we'd have a better chance of qualifying, while also seeing the quality of the tournament being jeopardised. The bottom line from our point of view is who cares though, I'd prefer to be present at a rubbish tournament than absent from a great one, if it does transpire that way. With the WC being so difficult for middle ranked European teams to qualify for it's no harm that they're afforded a more reasonable opportunity to take part in their own continent's major tournament.
The World Cup also features many sides who would struggle to make third place in European Groups and that tournament has never been devalued as a result of their presence. However, there is no doubt that the Euro Championships of old are a far cry from the present tournament (e.g. Euro 88 had 8 teams with Germany, Italy, Holland, England, The Soviet Union, Spain, Denmark and little old us) but Europe was a much exclusive club in those days before the break-up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Absolutely agreed.
How many years has the "no easy games in international football these days" cliché been doing the rounds for, sure?
As someone else mentioned elsewhere, the expansion to 24 and the spreading out of matches has been a huge success, imo.
(My Ireland v Germany ticket dropped on the mat this morning. I absolutely can't wait. )
Why? We wont win.
Agreed, I only anticipate games when the result is guaranteed to go our way.
Dundalk fans just anticipate games, the guarantee goes without saying.
It's the only thing they have to anticipate in Dundalk, to be fair.
What about the Cooley Whiskey Visitor Centre
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Talking about spirits in Dundalk, there's also a very interesting place in Dundalk called the Spirit Store, a place for the ages.
But generally speaking, the only dubs that make it this far north are not so interested in culture and education but rather out to rob you blind.
On the Euro format, it's premature to claim that the finals format is a step backwards. The qual format has been a resounding success. And as Patrick Kavanangh might opine in poetic fashion, football is not just about the elite teams, but is equally (if not more) alive in more humble environments. The sight of a a half full stadium at the finals wouldn't be of concern to me, more important are the fans and players of each team having their day out. If a discerning tv viewer wants to wait until the last 16 or the last 8, then so be it. The euro finals format are a great boost to football in the backwaters.
Then there is the important matter of income distribution to the lesser countries and this is probably just as important as a more humble team getting to the finals. Eur12m just for turning up and that's coming after a more rational distribution of the qualifier tv income.
Small countries just can't compete against the big countries, just on the basis of sheer weight of player numbers alone, never mind all the other disadvantages but where they can compete is to have similar academy facilities for the young players that do exist in their own country and similar facilities for their senior squad, as the bigger countries have.
Last edited by geysir; 27/09/2015 at 1:04 PM.
So the spirit store Is full of ghosts?
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
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