World Cup Reivew June 25-27th
- The above Torres dived bugged me all weekend. If this was an Italian or Portuguese player everyone would be up in arms telling Fifa to enforce the rules on diving. Fernando Torres being considered a good guy merely gets a peep for what he did. In my opinion what Fernando Torres did is even worst than Herny’s handball against Ireland. While I’ll never know for sure I’ll side with the fact when Herny first touched the ball with his hand it was purely instinct. I don’t believe once the ball was crossed Herny was thinking of stopping it with his hand before crossing it over for a goal. Fernando Torres on the other hand was clearly thinking about drawing a foul and getting Marco Estrada sent off. As I said on Friday this is a case of a desperate player who hasn’t done anything in the World Cup trying to help his team in anyway he can.
- Landon Donovan was bang on when he said this United States team was naive. This was the best chance the US will have for along time to get into the Semi’s. (still think Uruguay would of beaten them in the Quarterfinals mind you.) Time and time again the United States players lost focus and that leads to goals.
The chorus from the song Just by Radiohead pretty much sums up how I feel about this United States team
- Humming you do it to yourself you do and that’s what really hurts.
- Hopefully I won’t be saying that about Portugal tomorrow.
- And no I’m not one of those people who think Radiohead is a gift from god.
- I’d have no clue what to make out of Bob Bradley but I do feel he won’t be back coaching the national team. On one hand I know the States will never reach the pinnacle of football with Bob Bradley in charge, on the other unlike the 1998, and 2006 World Cup teams you can’t say the United States lack effort and passion out there. Effort and passion is one thing, playing smart is another and starting the likes of Ricardo Clark and Robbie Findley when they have proven the World Cup is too big of a stage for them will most likely end up being Bradley’s downfall.
- Mentioned this on Twitter yesterday but unless it hurts Fifa will it counts, the pocketbook they are in no rush to introduce video replay’s. In some ways have a feeling Fifa loves the attention the missed calls this weekend has generated.
- I have a soft spot for Sven Goran Eriksson. He seems like the type to always gets himself mixed into drama yet comes out smelling like a rose. Loved how he made three million for coaching three games. Sven will bounce back and when he does I’m sure it’s going to come with a nice pay package.
- Sven’s England teams lacked a certain something which doomed them but this current England World Cup team was lacking in all areas. By no means am I saying Sven’s time as England manager was a success but his teams did bow out in the final eight in hard fought games against Brazil and Portugal. This Fabio Capello team was just awful. Capello will take some heat for this but in the end it’s on the players who promised so much and produced so little. Again hindsight is 20/20 but have a feeling Capello regrets not clearing out many of these England players. (Looking at you John Terry) Capello should of had David Beckham on the team to handle the media and take the glare away from Wayne Rooney but aside from those two every big name player should of been shown the door. The England under21′s did make the European final last summer so it’s not like there isn’t talent to work with. You already know what you are going to get with this current group of England players. One of the many problems with English football is the young players who defeated the England u21′s last year gained a lot of playing time last year for their club sides. In England there are too many young players who don’t get the playing time they need with top English clubs.
- Yes Frank Lampard got robbed of a goal and no one knows what could happen if it was 2-2 but this was the same England team which went down 2-0 so it’s just as likely Germany was would scored two more in that situation. England didn’t lose because of that blown call.
- Two World Cup, no goals by Wayne Rooney. Was trying to think of a comparison when Bill Simmons nailed it by comparing Rooney to former Chargers now New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson. When the teams are soft each can rack up the stats but when the pressure is on and a big moment is needed in a big game both come up empty.
- Granted it was a penatly offside call that went against Mexico but you got to keep your head in the game. Mexico in the end gave the game to Argentina once they went up 2-0.
- Told you these Argentina players will play for Diego Maradona. Too many of these players Maradona is their idol plus he wants to play attacking football which players love. Of course they are going to bust a lung for him and it’s showing.