It was awful! He was looking for the ref as he started his fall! Even the commentators called him out for it!My one criticism of the Brazil - Mexico game is this: If the referee is going to acknowledge that Marcelo dove in the box late in the game, then the yellow card HAS to come out! That's the only way to prevent the nonsense and penalize the actors. And it was clear that he was acting. Man, he made it look like someone had shot him from the stands with a sniper rifle!!!
Of course I'm biased in this case, but that one was the only stop that wasn't pure luck. Ochoa is the luckiest goalie in the tournament so far. Every other shot was directly at him- he barely had to move. He almost got hit in the face so many times I thought he was gonna lose an eye.He's made some clutch saves. The one on the goal line on the 1st half header was probably his best.
Of course I'm biased in this case, but that one was the only stop that wasn't pure luck. Ochoa is the luckiest goalie in the tournament so far. Every other shot was directly at him- he barely had to move. He almost got hit in the face so many times I thought he was gonna lose an eye.
My one criticism of the Brazil - Mexico game is this: If the referee is going to acknowledge that Marcelo dove in the box late in the game, then the yellow card HAS to come out! That's the only way to prevent the nonsense and penalize the actors. And it was clear that he was acting. Man, he made it look like someone had shot him from the stands with a sniper rifle!!!
Hey, he made the stops, which is all that matters in the end, and the stop on the Neymar's header was spectacular. If any of the other three were 12" left or right Brazil probably ends the contest with a 2 goal advantage.Agree to a point. It's all about positioning and making yourself big...just like a hockey goalie. The header off the corner late in the 2nd half was right at him. But some of the saves he made on 1 on 1s (particularly in the 1st half) were about him coming out to cut down angles and throw his limbs out to get bigger.
Hey, he made the stops, which is all that matters in the end, and the stop on the Neymar's header was spectacular. If any of the other three were 12" left or right Brazil probably ends the contest with a 2 goal advantage.
It was. Hard to believe watching the match that Mexico had to go to a playoff to qualify. Mexico-Croatia gonna be fun to watch,Agreed. The same could be said the other way too on some of Mexico's chances that were on a few inches above the bar. Either way, it was one of the better 0-0 games that I've seen.
Of course I'm biased in this case, but that one was the only stop that wasn't pure luck. Ochoa is the luckiest goalie in the tournament so far. Every other shot was directly at him- he barely had to move. He almost got hit in the face so many times I thought he was gonna lose an eye.
MOTM. That's all anyone was talking about last night.Mexico goal keeper is keeping them in this game. Very impressive!
Agreed. Had someone ask me if Mexico was any good. I told them Mexico finished behind USA, Costa Rica and Honduras. And only got into a playoff to get into the WC thanks to the USA. And now they are tearing it up. Good for CONCACAF, but I'd just as soon see them lose. (they are our arch rivals and all).It was. Hard to believe watching the match that Mexico had to go to a playoff to qualify. Mexico-Croatia gonna be fun to watch,
He almost got hit in the face so many times I thought he was gonna lose an eye.
Putin is pissed.The one time the Russian keeper faced a similar shot he let it through.
Actually, that is absolutely wrong. Lots of football matches are won on moments of individual brilliance (talent). See Maradona vs England '86, and Bergkamp vs Argentina '98 for examples.
Agreed. Had someone ask me if Mexico was any good. I told them Mexico finished behind USA, Costa Rica and Honduras. And only got into a playoff to get into the WC thanks to the USA. And now they are tearing it up. Good for CONCACAF, but I'd just as soon see them lose. (they are our arch rivals and all).
Yes, everyone has to play defense, but we're playing one of those guys Sunday. Carl's point is that you cannot win if you don't play as a team. It's easier, obviously, but Soccer is distinctly different than American football where you literally cannot score (on offense) without your teammates.
Fortunately for us, Portugal plays like they don't want Ronaldo to touch the ball. Now if only we could stop passing the ball to the other team.
Just like the American this year, I rooted for Memphis because their wins would make UConn look better. Mexico advancing in the Cup can only help CONCACAF and the US. Of course, when the US needs to choke on Panama City or when Mexico visits Columbus in December, its war. Long live Dos a Cero!
Ronaldo is the world player of the year right? Don't know who votes on that, but it seems a popularity contest I think, because in watching the Germany - Portugal game, it seems he's a pretty one dimensional player - clearly very good at attacking and goal scoring.
If you saw the way he carried Portugal into the WC in that Sweden game you wouldn't be poking him. Calling him "very good" is damning with faint praise.