2014 FIFA World Cup Thread

[FarawayFairways]

Actually.... the nearer analogy might be how you relate to a team from the same conference representing the conference, as that's something you will have encountered. The chances are you can cope with that provided that the team concerned isn't from your own division?

I think one of the big differences is that a lot of the America rivalries are pretty well ring fenced within the sport. A lot of the British ones go back centuries and have roots way beyond the sport which draw on history, economics, culture, and religion. In fact a lot of them seem crazy all these centuries on, but they're handed down over generations even though the inheritting cohorts can't possibly have any connection to some of the derivations. The Yorkshire/ Lancashire one being the most obvious which traces to 1485 'war of the roses'. Newcastle and Sunderland traces to the civil war circa 1640's. Others like Liverpool and Manchester are Victorian in origin and in this case relate to the building of the Manchester ship canal to by pass Liverpool. Portsmouth and Southampton is a labour dockyard dispute when Southampton workers broke a Portsmouth strike, and as for the Glasgow teams of Rangers and Celtic, lets not go there!!!

[nevets88]

This is so funny. Mockups of Robben dives.

http://slide.2014.sina.com.cn/o/slide_69_56732_22358.html#p=1

[yrew]

I read a lot about people who are furious about Arjen Robben diving to win the penalty. But I do not see any comment about the hit he took in the first half. The hit that caused the defender to break his leg on Robbens leg.

[Golfingdad]

I read a lot about people who are furious about Arjen Robben diving to win the penalty. But I do not see any comment about the hit he took in the first half. The hit that caused the defender to break his leg on Robbens leg.

Your point is noted.  The hit in the first half probably should have been a penalty, and I don't even think that the play at the end was necessarily undeserving of a penalty.  However, the diving is unrelated.  In neither case, nor in at least one other case during the same game (I don't remember exactly except that I think it was near the end of the first half, was also Robben, and was deserving of a yellow card for flopping) was Robben's reaction CAUSED by the hit.  The whole "extend both arms out, extend both legs out, throw your head back, and don't forget to scream!!!" nonsense is what (at least I) have a problem with, when it comes to diving.

It's just plain unsportsmanlike.

[yrew]

I agree with you on that and Robben also made his apologies for that dive (which got pulled out of context by a lot of foreign media). He has build a reputation for diving but it isnt as bad as it was before nor is he the worst of this championship. I general I hate flopping and I think the whole room was laughing about him yesterday. But next time you see him dive, look at his reaction when he doesnt get the call. I rarely goes to the refs making a big fuzz about it. There are a lot of divers who first dive and then go on trying to make everyone believe the dive wasnt a dive. Those players I dislike even more. Thing is diving is part of football and as long as we don't do anything about it it will remain a part of the game.

[Golfingdad]

I agree with you on that and Robben also made his apologies for that dive (which got pulled out of context by a lot of foreign media). He has build a reputation for diving but it isnt as bad as it was before nor is he the worst of this championship. I general I hate flopping and I think the whole room was laughing about him yesterday.

But next time you see him dive, look at his reaction when he doesnt get the call. I rarely goes to the refs making a big fuzz about it. There are a lot of divers who first dive and then go on trying to make everyone believe the dive wasnt a dive. Those players I dislike even more. Thing is diving is part of football and as long as we don't do anything about it it will remain a part of the game.

Right.  Totally agree.  Here's what would have happened in my fantasy land:

Robben gets yellow carded for the really blatant dive at the end of the first half.

Because of that, he doesn't embellish the foul at the end, and it gets called anyway on its merits, because he was stepped on and tripped.

Game result is the same and all focus can be on why Mexico fell apart at the end and why Marquez tried to make that play instead of Robben's gamesmanship.

[nevets88]

Curious - how are you following the World Cup online?

Me:

NY Times
Guardian
YouTube - Grantland Men in Blazers, FIFATV, MLS, Guardian channels.
reddit
Twitter
FIFA Word Cup iOS app

[yrew]

9gag ;-)

[Zeph]

I just watch the games and discuss it on forums.

[yrew]

It's the same with me but I rarely watch any match other than the ones of the Netherlands. I watch the condensed versions and read up about it at some Dutch sites.

[FarawayFairways]

BBC = no adverts (which incidentally you can buy in the US and might want to consider for the golf in a few weeks time as you'll get 10 hours uninterupted)

ITV = adverts at half time only

In terms of wider coverage, well we pretty well live on planet football. It would be very difficult to avoid

[FarawayFairways]

There are a lot of divers who first dive and then go on trying to make everyone believe the dive wasnt a dive. Those players I dislike even more. Thing is diving is part of football and as long as we don't do anything about it it will remain a part of the game.

Ronaldo is one of the very worst offenders

Rivaldo faking injury to get the Turk sent off in Japan was one of the worst single incidents I've seen

Klinsman was another who was a bit keen on going to ground, albeit like Ravenelli when he came and played in England, he vowed to stop doing it, and credit to both of them, they weren't that bad

[Abu3baid]

Let's go Jaza'er

[Abu3baid]

That was such a close counter if it was played more towards the middle.. Opportunities like that don't happen often

[Abu3baid]

These guys are putting some major pressure on the Germans.. Man that was an awesome diving header, too bad of the offsides!

[Abu3baid]

The Algerians looked tired in the last 15 minutes of the first half.. The Germans also seem to compose them selves and had a few opportunities to score if it wasn't for some great play by the Algerian goalie. I will be interested to see if the same trend continues in the second half.. The Algerians need to score early in my opinion if they want a chance.. This is a good one so far!

[Abu3baid]

Germans are knocking on the door.. Again the Algerians looking tired in the last 10 minutes now..

[yrew]

Wow nice. Go Algeria.