What a rubbish World Cup so far
- Thread starter Rotty
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Caporegime
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Ordinarily I'd agree, but it's not just the odd team. Nearly everyone is skying freekicks/overhitting crosses. Just look at how few headers/long shots/free kicks converted we've seen.
In the end surely the purpose of the ball is to provide entertainment, not hinder the players the way this one clearly is.
Just look at how well some of the sides have passed, crossed and shot with the ball.
Doesn't wash.
They've had 6 months to use the ball, It's lighter then previous World Cup footballs (some science people tested it iirc).
It's just down to a lack of ability / poor passing.
Doesn't wash.
They've had 6 months to use the ball, It's lighter then previous World Cup footballs (some science people tested it iirc).
It's just down to a lack of ability / poor passing.
Yep have to agree with Shami on this one...ive seen some terrible free kicks and crosses being made with this new ball even by the likes of Argentina and Brazil who are pretty damn good at making the ball do wonderful things in the air. Ive yet to see a really stunning out of the world strike...Forlan and Maicon goals were pretty good altho Forlans goal was deflected i think and Maicons was probably a cross. Other than that i think BBC and ITV if they are going to have the goal of the WC competition at some point...they are going to struggle to find stunning goals to make a compilation of.
Even Germany struggled today even though they have had 6mths with the ball.
But i dont purely blame the ball...i think the altitude has a lot to do with it as well.
Soldato
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I actually think the tournament is starting to improve in terms of entertainment. If you forget about the England game today, the two earlier games were really entertaining, and all the other round two games I have watched have been a vast improvement on the first round matches.
Considering there were only 25 goals from the opening round of 16 games, we have already had 18 goals from 7 games of round 2. It shows it is starting to improve.
Considering there were only 25 goals from the opening round of 16 games, we have already had 18 goals from 7 games of round 2. It shows it is starting to improve.
Can't argue with that, things are getting better
Caporegime
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Teams were afraid to lose their first game. Now, they're having to actually attack if they want to progress.
Caporegime
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Lets face it the World Cup should never have gone to Africa but the hand wringers seemed to think it was a wonderful idea
How on earth can they justfy building £400m stadia while places like Soweto exist ?
T
You do realise that what costs £400m to build in north London like the Emirates, costs next to nothing in South Africa. Likewise the UK are spending billions getting ready for the Olympics, but we're planning to recoup that much and more with the tourism associated with it and the ongoing profit afterwards from many of the facilities afterwards. Of course thats the plan but the UK normally suck and screw these things up(millenium dome, etc, etc).
I'm sure South Africa are making a mint off tickets, tv money, tourism, and it also in the future makes them a much more viable location for bands to tour as there are now massive stadiums they can sell out, and lots of other sporting events over the next several decades.
These events cost a lot to get going but generally the whole point is to generate more money than you spend and in a place where construction is incredibly cheap and a place desparate to increase their tourism and improve the overall world view of the country to encourage more people to visit and richer people to visit.
its these kinds of things that can bring in billions over years and years that help to fix other problems in the country.
The old addage of, you've got to spend money to make money, has basically ALWAYS been true and is so here.
Yeah but now the quality of football has gone up the quality of reffing has plummeted.
Caporegime
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It has certainly made me want to visit South Africa.
Soldato
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I think the ball is a big problem from what I've seen. It is too light and doesn't move naturally.
Did anyone see the Seedorf segment on ITV earlier? When he hoofed the ball..well, it had a very odd movement to it. Much like when you whack a balloon - whack it softly and it'll go in the general direction. Whack it hard and it goes all over the place.
Did anyone see the Seedorf segment on ITV earlier? When he hoofed the ball..well, it had a very odd movement to it. Much like when you whack a balloon - whack it softly and it'll go in the general direction. Whack it hard and it goes all over the place.
World Cup 1990 was the best i've seen and this one is probably the worst in my life time.
Players are just constantly over-hitting the ball and we rarely seeing any long range goals.Also the red cards are very harsh some of them and ruining some games.
Players are just constantly over-hitting the ball and we rarely seeing any long range goals.Also the red cards are very harsh some of them and ruining some games.
Soldato
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While I agree with all that to an extent, I think it's almost more important purely that the eyes of the world are on South Africa for a month. It highlights the horrific social problems that exist there at the moment and I know the BBC at least are showing shorts on the problems in the townships etc.
That would all be left ignored if the World Cup wasn't in town. As Seedorf said the other night, the hope now is that football with it's ridiculous amount of money (and airtime) can help build on that and start some meaningful work to help the South Africans change things over there.
I have watched every single match this world cup & for me its the worst since 1974.
I am beginning to wonder what the world cup means now as most of thoese players arnt the ones we see week in week out. Does this mean does you think that the champs league is now bigger then the world cup?? I think you would agree you will see more effort & determination in the league matches, champs league & europa league.
So does a league winner, or champs winner mean more then a world cup winner??
I am beginning to wonder what the world cup means now as most of thoese players arnt the ones we see week in week out. Does this mean does you think that the champs league is now bigger then the world cup?? I think you would agree you will see more effort & determination in the league matches, champs league & europa league.
So does a league winner, or champs winner mean more then a world cup winner??
Soldato
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I expect it to only get better once the group stages are over.
Champions League doesn't get good until the knock out stages either, give it time.
There's been very few decent games on and after another dreadful England game last night I've lost all interest and enthusiasm in continuing to watch the world cup. If England can't be bothered to play in the biggest football tournament the sport has to offer they may as well step down and hand their place to a team that would appreciate being there.
MW
MW
Have to agree with you there...slowly but surely its getting better.