[GuyJean]

[quote="kamome"]what a great f-ing attack they had against Germany. I mean, the US attack was relentless. Germany has a great goalkeeper and big players]

Yeah. I was REALLY impressed. They're passing, speed and quickness made the Germans look goofy.. I thought the US out-performed them.. It's just that tall f*cker.. Aaarggh.

What's your take on the hands-non-call... When do they call hands then?

GJ

[cstaylor]

Surprisingly (or maybe not), alot of Japanese are supporting Korea now. I asked a few co-workers why, and they said it was because they like to see an Asian country beating the European teams.

I'd be supporting them too (I love underdogs) if the cheating wasn't so damn blatant. Two disallowed goals? I'll be surprised if Korea is allowed to host anything after this farce.

[cstaylor]

Korea "miraculously" (yeah, right) wins against Germany, but loses to Brazil in Yokohama because they can't get the cash over to the refs in time....

...and of course this adds onto the already strained Japan/Korea relations...

[kamome]

What's your take on the hands-non-call... When do they call hands then?

Yeah, I know, that call was absolutely ridiculous. What the hell, were the refs picking their nose and looking the other way during that shot? Between falling for the flopping and all the non-calls/ridiculous calls, these must be the dumbest refs in all of professional sports.

That being said, unlike the Italians and CS, I'm not going to say they're on the take. That's a bit far-fetched and ignores the merit of the winning team. The Koreans are just a good team as are the Germans. The US and Italy just got sucker-punched by some dumb referees in very close games.

[cstaylor]

[Harvey]

Go Korea!!!

[kamome]

The Korean Kup - FIFA and the refs work overtime to make it easier for Korea to win it all. Soccer then BOOMS throughout Asia. FIFA gets a new soccer market to exploit as Americans don't want to pay to watch constant frustration and anger. No, Americans want to watch The Schack muscle his way in on the baseline, fake right, left and then SLAM IT DOWN in some chump's face and then go to the free throw line for yet another three-pointer. SWEET! High-five, fist-pumping, beer-chugging happiness! BLING BLING! 3 POINTS - all in 10 fast, phenomenal, superhuman seconds! How long does it take to score three goals in soccer? No, they want to see Ichiro bat .500+ with runners in scoring position, they want to see the 49ers and Packers go at it full-on, head-to-head, in the snow, they want to see the Detroit Red Wings dominate on ice in blazing speed and crushing body checks! Soccer? What the F*CK? "Give me that remote!"

As I see it, Korea has to win it all now in order for FIFA to get their new market to exploit and survive the post tournament ticket scam lawsuits coming right up, in their face, right after the final whistle. Japan and Korea are not at all happy about THAT TOTALLY F`CKED scandal. Stay tuned.

Leave it to Rob Pongi to write a blazing, hit-the-nail-on-the-head, awesome post. Love the Shaq reference!

However, I hope Rob isn't subscribing to the conspiracy theories being thrown around by CS and others. The funny thing about conspiracy theories is that they can't be proven true or false. Unless someone comes up with a smoking gun or a confession of bribery of all the referees in the entire World Cup, it will remain just a theory. I think it makes much more sense to say these are just low-quality referees chosen with an emphasis on eliminating charges of bias more than for their skill at officiating.

By the way, I saw the Roy Jones fight at the Seoul Olympics live on TV and that was an eternal shame. But boxing is rife with corruption--witness the first Lennox Lewis/Evander Holyfield fight. That bribery could have happened anywhere, in any country. Anyway, I think it's at least premature to draw a parallel between Roy Jones, Jr. and the 2002 Cup.

[cstaylor]

However, I hope Rob isn't subscribing to the conspiracy theories being thrown around by CS and others. The funny thing about conspiracy theories is that they can't be proven true or false

I seriously doubt that FIFA is organizing some huge conspiracy to help Korea, nor did I ever say that there was such a conspiracy. Do I think that some money changed hands to influence the officals on the field? Yes I do. That's not a conspiracy, it's run-of-the-mill influence peddling, and it works because so few people are involved (those paying and the decision makers receiving the funds).

Can they prove it? Sure they can... check the financial records of the on-the-field officials from 6 months ago to 6 months in the future for abnormalities. Will that happen? Of course not! This is a game, not some life-or-death struggle or multi-billion dollar corporate giant going belly-up. Why waste the time investigating?

FIFA has absolutely no idea what's going on down on the field, or even with the ticketing, so I doubt that they really know what has happened, or even care to find out.

The reason I'm (relatively) upset is that Korea can win without this meddling with the officials, but I'll never know if they could do it, and that hurts, because I'd love to see them win as the underdogs.

Kamome: Did you even watch the Portugal, Italy, or Spain matches?

[kamome]

Kamome: Did you even watch the Portugal, Italy, or Spain matches?

I saw parts here and there, plus the highlights of the questionable calls on the news. But a discussion of corruption of the officials doesn't require that I sit and watch every game for 90 minutes.

Anyway, when I was referring to conspiracy theories, I was not referring to a FIFA conspiracy. I was referring to a conspiracy by certain Koreans with money to buy off the referees directly.

[cstaylor]

Okay, okay, I give. I'm not a football fan, so maybe I jumped to conclusions as I was watching the game. Fortunately I have about 500,000 spaniards as company in my wrongness.

[GuyJean]

Do you realise the amount of palms you would have to grease?!

Good point, but did YOU see the Portugal, Italy, and Spanish games? Is this what soccer is usually like? No wonder Americans don't enjoy watching it (But DO enjoy playing, mind you!): Not only is it boring, unless nationalism is thrown in, but it's frustrating as hell!!!!

Like I said before; they need 2 more refs!!

Hell, throw in 3 'challenges' for each coach for a video review; The players get a break. Sponsors get time for commercials.. And whammo Americans can run to the fridge and/or take a piss. (I try not to piss in the fridge, though)

While you're at it; Make the field smaller. Reduce the severity of yellow or red cards (misses next match!?). Instead, instate a 2 minute penalty box.. Uhhm.. allow fighting, and where'z the mutha f*ckin' cheerleaders!?

GJ

[kamome]

Okay, okay, I give. I'm not a football fan, so maybe I jumped to conclusions as I was watching the game.

Hey, CS, now that the grinning fool and I agree, you finally capitulate? I'm surprsied.

[cstaylor]

Well, I feel kind of bad for the Korean players. Let's take both angles of the story:

- Someone is paying the refs: when the dirty deed comes to light, the Korean players lose whatever credibility they had, even if none of them knew about the pay-off.
- There's no pay-off: the Korean victory is now tainted by those who mistake poor judges with bribery

It's damned if they do, damned if they don't tonight as well: Germany wins, the "world is against Korea (once again)". If Korea wins and there's any hint of favoritism, "the game is fixed". I mean, FIFA bowed to pressure from the Europeans to bring in "proper" refs for the match... and the number one ref is Italian. I wonder what the Korean press will say about that if Germany wins?

Either way, Korea doesn't get the positive attention its game may deserve.

I also have to admit bias: after watching the "skating" post-goal antics by the S. Koreans on the field during the U.S. match, and the self-serving "they're poor losers!" finger-pointing by the Korean press ( one finger points outward, the other three point back ) after the Spaniards filed their compaint turned me against the team. Let's hope it's a good clean match tonight.

[GuyJean]

I saw the highlights from all the other games too, and although some of the rulings were unlucky or harsh none of them were ridiculously unjust.

What?!

Spains first goal: I STILL haven't seen a replay that shows ANY foul.

The second goal: YOU thought that ball went out? Looks like you can work for FIFI.

I prefer to believe in the virtues of your own good luck, rather than in the misfortunes of others

Korea's 'good luck' = Spain's 'bad luck'. Depends on which side of the fence you're on.

It's half-time with the Germany/Korea game. A couple notes:

The refs are 'letting them play', to borrow a basketball term.

The Koreans are getting most of the headers!! That's funny.

I've decided I'm definitely NOT rooting for Korea. Is booing the other team proper soccer etiquette? In most sports it's unsportsmanlike. Unless there's history between the teams, or they're rivals.

Maybe there's a reason 'the world is against Korea'.

GJ

[GuyJean]

Kahn's a f*ckin' animal: Kahnimal!

But I think Germany's style of play is rather boring. The machine..

GJ

[cstaylor]

They played a pretty good game. Congratulations on making the final four, regardless of the country of origin (how many times will the commentators beat into the ground "This is the farthest any team from Asia has ever made it in the World Cup!")

It's too bad that FIFA didn't use good refs from the very beginning. Very possibly Korea could have made it this far without the questions. Maybe they'll make another go of it four years from now?

[kamome]

Yes, Germany eeked out another 1-0 victory. B-O-R-I-N-G! I had mixed feelings about this match. I know the German team is supposed to be better and should get the chance to move on, but they play like a bunch of thugs. And they beat the US with a cunning use of the hands to protect their goal.

I sort of wanted the Koreans to win just to see an Asian team in the final. But who wants to see a team get to the final on the backs of officials who made questionable calls throughout the tournament? And the ice-skating parody by the Korean player when they tied the US also put me off like it did for CS.

In the end, I guess the better team won, but I can't wait to see them melt under the pressure of Brazil's awesome forwards!

[Steve Bildermann]

[tokyojoe]

Kahn's a f*ckin' animal: Kahnimal!

But I think Germany's style of play is rather boring. The machine..

GJ

Kahn is a great goalie but does the guy ever smile? Even when they scored he had the same scowl on his face.

I agree that their style of play is a bit too `precise` but it was just the thing to shut down the korean running game. They let the koreans run themselves ragged while they used their size to keep control of the ball.

[Steve Bildermann]

[kamome]

is Kahn Wolverine, or what?

I guess we'll know if the ball suddenly explodes on his titanium claws.

[tokyojoe]

Kahn's a f*ckin' animal: Kahnimal!

I'm sure it's been said before, but...is Kahn Wolverine, or what?

LOL! Yes, he does resemble the Wolverine!

[kamome]

Titanium? I always thought they were adamantium...

You're right. My bad. It's been a while since I've read an X-Men comic.

[GuyJean]

U.S. Soccer Won't Find Gooooal

Soccer isn't the only sport suffering from this disconnect between participation and spectator interest. Millions of Americans who run regularly, including my sister-in-law who has three marathons and a triathlon under her belt, never watch track and field. That hasn't stopped U.S. runners from being among the world's best. But outside of the Olympics, track and field gets virtually no spectator attention here.

U.S. television dollars dwarf the medium's revenue in the rest of the world. If those dollars came into play in soccer, it could create pressure for changes that current fans would find sickening -- such as stops in play to show commercials.

Soccer fans hoping for huge U.S. fan interest for their sport are probably lucky that they won't get their wish.

GJ

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

Remember the world cup?
No?, why the hell not?, has your brain become infected by gibbons?

I still getting over the disappointment that the large amount of half-breed illegitimate children, the result of evil gaijin rapists, never happened.
Never mind, happy days