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Morocco certainly looked a lot better than US. I finally watched the game last night. Morocco look incredible in the first half, the goal was amazing. I know the keeper was at fault but the way Youssef launched, he looked like Jordan the way he took off and seemed to get an extra boost. The Morocco just shut down Portugal the 2nd half. Great defense. I will say it looked like Ronaldo added a lift and had a couple of chances. He's best when they are running and he can use his speed but Morocco locked them down.
I'm pulling for Croatia, but it wouldn't surprise me if Argentina gets favorable treatment again.
Still an amazing showing for a country which has the same population as Connecticut, semis and finals the past 2 World Cups. I'll always wonder how great Yugoslavia would be in International basketball and soccer had they not broken up.
Yeah, but they got their asses kicked. I thought you're anti-participation trophy?
Unbelievable assist to Alvarez.
Meh. First goal was a PK. 2nd was freakish - Alvarez just barreled his way to the goal. The 3rd was all Messi doing what Messi does.
My biggest complaint with this sport has always been that routine fouls don't benefit the affected team enough, and fouls in the box (especially not on clear scoring chances) give them too much. Free kicks in the attacking 1/3 about the only fouls that feel right. Stopping a breakaway in midfield? Not nearly enough. A penalty kick for a minor foul at the edge of the side of the box (like the first yesterday)? Way too much.
I think I'm saying if it is an obvious goal scoring opportunity, that's the case for a penalty. It's more relevant than whether they are in the box or not. As for sending them off, soccer could use a Hockey style send off. Yellow card tackle from behind on a breakaway, even at midfield? 5 minute major.
Sooo, you think taking away PKs for fouls in the box (that don't DOGSO) is going to reduce the number of fouls in the box? And open up play more?
If you award free kicks at the spot of the foul? And take a player off for X minutes? It would be fine. I'm not saying not to call them. I'd like to see any player who lays on the ground long enough to cause a stoppage has to stay off the pitch for at least 3-4 minutes as well. End the flopping. You're hurt or you're not. If it's just pain then get up.
All pretty bad ideas.
Americans think they can "fix" soccer. As if anything they can think of hasn't been considered already.
I know it's not realistic.
Not sure about this one. I’ve heard arguments against penalties for fouls in the box that did not take away a clear goal scoring opportunities (i.e., when a guy is fouled with his back to the goal). There’s some logic to that argument, but giving even more discretion to officials worries me, too.
