Yes, exactly. Though the problem is that one of the central tenets of soccer is that the clock never stops. That would have to change if you introduced the idea of video replays.
Yeah, but given how long a video replay takes, that'd mean we'd often have like 8-10 minutes of stoppage time, which is getting silly. In other news: TAE~~~~ HAN MIN GUK!!! Crazy, heart-stopping game, but we're through! Beating Uruguay will be "non-trivial," however, given how they've been playing.
US sports have been going through the video replay stuff for a decade now. Some sports vehemently refused any form of replay, others embraced it whenever possible. There are die-hard purist fans in every sport who claim it will ruin the game to introduce it. But for my money, getting the call right is better than getting the call wrong, every time.
Don't get me wrong. I'm open for other opinions. For example I like the idea that the coach (or whoever) can request to consult the video let's say 5 times a game or so. Question is: what would you do in certain situations? The player is alone, just the keeper between him and the goal. The lines man says it's offside. The coach then goes and requests the video replay. The ref is checking and sees no offside. What then? Penalty or what? Doesn't really make sense, does it?
Well they're discussing several things like even abolish offside or modify it. In reality, it won't change anything. However one thing I would like is effective time: we see TOO OFTEN players that seems about to die, just because their team is winning (to waste time). With and effective time, all of this would disappear (would be enough to reduce the matches length by 1 hour of effective time).
Go Uruguay! The fact that Uruguay advanced to the next stage is amazing, but advance as first in the group is unheard of, at least during my lifetime The last time, in Italy 90, we barely qualified as "second best third", and in 2002 not even that. We're pretty much used to suffer to the last minute, so this campaign is incredible so far. No goals against, either! Now let's go for Korea
Another nerve-racking game from England, we stumble on into the next round. Much better performance, but Slovenia are a tiny country, I am worried when we play a top 10 side. Watched the USA highlights, they looked good, lots of crazy chances. Now a Ghana supporter for tonights match... finishing 2nd could be v costly.
yup, sorry, I was looking through my England-bias spectacles. It would make a change not to play Germany though... A Ghana/Germany draw is no good for Aus I see. My guess is Ghana will either totally dominate or totally fall apart, no inbetween.
Regarding the video replay things, a compromise might be to do what they do in Tennis - they get 3 challenges they can use whenever, but when they're gone they're gone. Regarding England. ok, I'm surprised. Don't mock Ghana though, they're better than Algeria and we couldn't beat them either. Sure, it would be a better chance than vs Germany, but it does kinda put the rest of the battle into perspective.
All rules/laws are useless if unenforceable, so I say do away with anything that often causes questions like off-side. Off-side abuse wouldn't be such a problem now that Gary Linecker has retired!
The 3 challenges thing wouldn't work unless you really limit when they can be used. For example, the opposing side win the ball and are through on goal. I ask the ref to stop the game because I think he handled it. I know he didn't but it stops a possible goal from being scored.
Yeah, might need some work on that. Maybe you can only do it when the ball is out of play like when medics can come on. If a goal was scored in the interim it can be disallowed easy enough. If not, then no harm no foul. The limit of 3 would stop people abjectly taking the piss in case they need them for later. Or maybe 2 is a better number for the brains of footballers EDIT: Or maybe just the one challenge, but if upheld you get a carry over.
Yes but by that logic then bigger countries the likes of Germany, USA, Brazil and Argentina should beat us every time... oh wait...
Oh well, Germany had to play like this so that Ghana as last African country could remain in the championship . Feel sorry for Englang though, we used up our altruism and will now have to kick them out, in penalty shooting like always (..and of course Roony is wrong ^^) And I liked the referee - of course when the players stay away from the opponents with a radius of 2m, he doesn't have much work
Good, looks like Italy is rightfully out of this world cup. I believe this year was the weakest Italy ever seen in this tournament
Crikey, exciting end to the Italy game. If they put in that work-rate earlier they wouldve had a much better chance. No easy games in WC2010...