« The list where nobody is a wiener | Main | Bleepin golden »
June 22, 2010
Cup time
World Cup: USA v. Slovenia; bad call hypothesis., originally uploaded by Jameel Khaja.
The World Cup has been going on for close to two weeks now, and tomorrow the United States will face Algeria in an important contest: if the US wins, it will advance to the next round. If it loses, it is out. If it ties, it needs rival England to lose or possibly tie. In short, just win.
Now, in case you hadn't heard, the USA wouldn't be facing such a do-or-die situation if the referee in their last game hadn't screwed up royally. To summarize, the USA had a goal disallowed for a foul which nobody could see on the replay, and which the referee wouldn't explain to the players. Now, as a longtime soccer player and watcher, this sort of stuff happens all the time. You think you've scored a goal, but then the referee says "oh no you didn't." Or the referee calls a foul, and you have no idea what happened. Unfortunately, it's part of the game.
The alternative is instant replay, but I really have no desire to see it used in situations like that. As a matter of fact, instant replay is not used to decide if a foul occurs in any sport. In the NFL and NHL, it is used only to decide whether the ball is over the line, if it hit the ground, etc. But not for a foul. I think instant replay in soccer would be fine, if, and only if, it is used to judge whether the ball is over the line.
Now, like I said, unfortunately there's nothing that can be done about it. But that didn't stop everyone and their sister, including people who have never watched soccer before, from yammering on about it. It even made the ESPN "bottom line," right alongside whether or not Brett Favre's shoulder is better. I mean, look at that picture. Someone drew a diagram! This is getting dissected even more than that tuck rule game.
So, although I think the continuous complaining is unmerited, I'm also pleased to see the regular US sports media getting into a tizzy over this. I guess if there is one way to get everyone to care about the World Cup, it's for the USA to get screwed over. It shows the media really is starting to care. For example, at the World Cup in 2002, the USA probably should have had a penalty kick against Germany when one of their players committed a handball on the goal line, but I can't remember much reaction about it. But this - damn. They really do care!
entry no. 1477
Posted at June 22, 2010 04:46 PM