Utterly disgraceful. Slovenia played superbly in the first half, and the US battled back valiantly in the second. This game deserved to be decided on the pitch for both teams’ sake. The ref could not even articulate why the call was made. After the morning’s debacle (with Germany getting extremely unlucky with a punitive Spanish ref), one would think FIFA and the other referees would be seeking more quality in their own activities.
It’s like the soccer world can’t make up it’s mind about USA soccer. One one hand they want America to become as soccer mad as the rest of the world… but at the same time they relish the fact that it is one thing that we reliably lose at. Today it seems as though the fact that we weren’t reliably losing had to be ‘fixed’.
There is no mysterious “they” who don’t like you (apart from Canadians and the French). If there is any fixing it’s done by enormously wealthy betting syndicates in Asia, often working through eastern European fixers, who are doing it to make money. It just happens that teams from “smaller” soccer nations (i.e. less high profile games) and refs from obscure parts of the world are easier to “manipulate”. Of course I have no evidence that the result in this game was affected by corruption – but similar games at past World Cups have been.
FWLIW FIFA are hugely keen to see soccer continue to grow in the US.
Well, when I read the comments after articles on the World Cup sites, there are so many disparaging comments from Americans about how “boring” soccer is, how it’s not a real sport, and how the “real” football is the American version. It’s difficult to see how the game will ever thrive or even matter much in America.
Well it’s played by tens of millions of American kids. The US has a small but growing top flight men’s league, the best women players in the world, US players in the best leagues in the world, and an increasingly successful men’s national team. All are positive signs for the future of the sport in the US. It’s not the NFL or even NHL but it’s not where football (soccer) was in US in the 1980s either.
I think it’s possible that within 15-20 years the US will have one of the top 4 or 5 national men’s teams in the world.
Brazil’s coach Dunga, after narrowly defeating the US in the 1994 World Cup, observed that he was amazed by the advances in US football (soccer) and that he fully expected Brazil would be meeting the US in a World Cup final within a generation.
At last year’s Confederations Cup final the US lead Brazil 2-0 at the half, only to lose 2-3. After the match Dunga (once again the coach), said “The Americans are right on track for my original prediction. It is now half a generation. We beat them today because of our depth, but each time we see them, their side is deeper and more talented. If not 2022, then 2026.”
American kids have been playing soccer for 30 years. I played soccer in high school and as a young adult. People have been predicting that US teams would grow and predominate for decades, including during the World Cup held in the US 16 years ago. It is indeed possible that the US men’s team will get better, but also possible that interest in the sport will continue to peter out among kids after they get to jr high or so and are introduced to other sports.
Also, playing at an elite level, at least in the Dallas area, requires major expenditures by parents to get their sons on elite teams that travel. While the truly committed will pay that freight, it discourages play by other kids, and doesn’t encourage growth as a specatator sport.
Soccer is much more fun to play than it is to watch, also.
I didn’t mean that there was any particular cabal of ‘they’ I was using ‘they’ in the most general of senses. Including my European friends who absolutely do relish our failure at soccer.
It is true that FIFA would love for America to get onboard with the soccer craze and have worked to make that happen… but I maintain that situations like today’s ridiculous officiating ruin all that good work.
My nieces and nephews all played soccer and then grew out of it. My nephew who was quite good is going into HS and derides it as a ‘toddler sport’ – he has a toddler sister and compares it to her skill set of randomly running around and kicking things while occasionally succeeding at making a goal.
That family also has season tickets to the Chicago Fire. It’s a nice family evening out that is located very close to their home and way less expensive than other sports in Chicago. I went with them to watch the Milan AC game a few weeks ago and the kids could explain the game well to me – but they still mercilessly mocked the dramatics of soccer with the falling to the ground clutching a leg.
Will soccer grow here? sure. But I am guessing it will be like Hockey – with a relatively small but VERY devoted following.
I am pleased to say that the ESPN coverage of the World Cup has been first class, incorporating some of my favorite (U.K.) announcers from the English Premiere League.
I like the game. For two or three years, I was a season ticket holder for the St. Louis Stars, our late and very lamented North American Soccer League team, in the mid 70’s.
In terms of fan excitement and passion, soccer will not approach the level of baseball or football in this country any time soon. But as long as it realizes what it is, a second-tier sport here, a nice change of pace now and then, it will do quite well.
This horrible refereeing is only matched by the failure to reward the USA with a penalty kick in the quarterfinal game against Germany in 2002. This bad call could cost the US an advancement. It is a shame. I’m sure Ireland sympathizes.
I’m surprised no one here has mentioned FIFA’s stated policy of cracking down on fouls in the penalty area. I read last night a perfect comparison. In the NBA and other US sports, referees are taught that in the closing minutes of a major game, it is better to let the teams play it out, fouls and all, rather than stopping play and deciding the game on a foul call. In FIFA, it is the exact opposite mentality.
You know, it’s really sad to say, but my first thought was “bribery”. It’s just the sort of game that a betting syndicate might focus on influencing – two relatively smaller teams with a ref. from an impoverished and isolated country. http://www.amazon.com/Fix-Soccer-Organized-Crime/dp/077104139X/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1
Whatever the cause it was a terrible decision.
Utterly disgraceful. Slovenia played superbly in the first half, and the US battled back valiantly in the second. This game deserved to be decided on the pitch for both teams’ sake. The ref could not even articulate why the call was made. After the morning’s debacle (with Germany getting extremely unlucky with a punitive Spanish ref), one would think FIFA and the other referees would be seeking more quality in their own activities.
It’s like the soccer world can’t make up it’s mind about USA soccer. One one hand they want America to become as soccer mad as the rest of the world… but at the same time they relish the fact that it is one thing that we reliably lose at. Today it seems as though the fact that we weren’t reliably losing had to be ‘fixed’.
There is no mysterious “they” who don’t like you (apart from Canadians and the French). If there is any fixing it’s done by enormously wealthy betting syndicates in Asia, often working through eastern European fixers, who are doing it to make money. It just happens that teams from “smaller” soccer nations (i.e. less high profile games) and refs from obscure parts of the world are easier to “manipulate”. Of course I have no evidence that the result in this game was affected by corruption – but similar games at past World Cups have been.
FWLIW FIFA are hugely keen to see soccer continue to grow in the US.
Well, when I read the comments after articles on the World Cup sites, there are so many disparaging comments from Americans about how “boring” soccer is, how it’s not a real sport, and how the “real” football is the American version. It’s difficult to see how the game will ever thrive or even matter much in America.
Well it’s played by tens of millions of American kids. The US has a small but growing top flight men’s league, the best women players in the world, US players in the best leagues in the world, and an increasingly successful men’s national team. All are positive signs for the future of the sport in the US. It’s not the NFL or even NHL but it’s not where football (soccer) was in US in the 1980s either.
I think it’s possible that within 15-20 years the US will have one of the top 4 or 5 national men’s teams in the world.
Brazil’s coach Dunga, after narrowly defeating the US in the 1994 World Cup, observed that he was amazed by the advances in US football (soccer) and that he fully expected Brazil would be meeting the US in a World Cup final within a generation.
At last year’s Confederations Cup final the US lead Brazil 2-0 at the half, only to lose 2-3. After the match Dunga (once again the coach), said “The Americans are right on track for my original prediction. It is now half a generation. We beat them today because of our depth, but each time we see them, their side is deeper and more talented. If not 2022, then 2026.”
American kids have been playing soccer for 30 years. I played soccer in high school and as a young adult. People have been predicting that US teams would grow and predominate for decades, including during the World Cup held in the US 16 years ago. It is indeed possible that the US men’s team will get better, but also possible that interest in the sport will continue to peter out among kids after they get to jr high or so and are introduced to other sports.
Also, playing at an elite level, at least in the Dallas area, requires major expenditures by parents to get their sons on elite teams that travel. While the truly committed will pay that freight, it discourages play by other kids, and doesn’t encourage growth as a specatator sport.
Soccer is much more fun to play than it is to watch, also.
I didn’t mean that there was any particular cabal of ‘they’ I was using ‘they’ in the most general of senses. Including my European friends who absolutely do relish our failure at soccer.
It is true that FIFA would love for America to get onboard with the soccer craze and have worked to make that happen… but I maintain that situations like today’s ridiculous officiating ruin all that good work.
My nieces and nephews all played soccer and then grew out of it. My nephew who was quite good is going into HS and derides it as a ‘toddler sport’ – he has a toddler sister and compares it to her skill set of randomly running around and kicking things while occasionally succeeding at making a goal.
That family also has season tickets to the Chicago Fire. It’s a nice family evening out that is located very close to their home and way less expensive than other sports in Chicago. I went with them to watch the Milan AC game a few weeks ago and the kids could explain the game well to me – but they still mercilessly mocked the dramatics of soccer with the falling to the ground clutching a leg.
Will soccer grow here? sure. But I am guessing it will be like Hockey – with a relatively small but VERY devoted following.
I am pleased to say that the ESPN coverage of the World Cup has been first class, incorporating some of my favorite (U.K.) announcers from the English Premiere League.
Completely agree – ESPN coverage been fantastic.
I like the game. For two or three years, I was a season ticket holder for the St. Louis Stars, our late and very lamented North American Soccer League team, in the mid 70’s.
In terms of fan excitement and passion, soccer will not approach the level of baseball or football in this country any time soon. But as long as it realizes what it is, a second-tier sport here, a nice change of pace now and then, it will do quite well.
Instant Replay in the World Cup, anyone?
This horrible refereeing is only matched by the failure to reward the USA with a penalty kick in the quarterfinal game against Germany in 2002. This bad call could cost the US an advancement. It is a shame. I’m sure Ireland sympathizes.
I’m surprised no one here has mentioned FIFA’s stated policy of cracking down on fouls in the penalty area. I read last night a perfect comparison. In the NBA and other US sports, referees are taught that in the closing minutes of a major game, it is better to let the teams play it out, fouls and all, rather than stopping play and deciding the game on a foul call. In FIFA, it is the exact opposite mentality.