EN World World Cup blog

[Klaus]

This match was a snapshot of the entire World Cup, with a really low skill level and the second-lowest score average since Italy 1990 (and boy, what a drag *that* Cup was).

Nearly all teams, as soon as they managed to get 1-0 on the socre, retreated to defend that meager advantage. Too much defensiveness, not enough seeking of the goal (which is, shockingly, the whole goal of the game). No wonder FIFA wil be holding a forum to alter some football rules (like the offside and possibly even the goal size) to increase the offensiveness of the game.




Now that the Cup has come to a close, I'd like to thanks everyone who contributed to this thread. It was great sharing ideas with you all for the past month, and hopefully we will do this again in 4 years.

Cheers!

 

[Ruavel]

Now that the Cup has come to a close, I'd like to thanks everyone who contributed to this thread.

Likewise...

Hope I didn't annoy anyone by being OVERLY opinionated...

now I just wish they'd hurry up and name the Golden Ball recipient...

 

[Jdvn1]

now I just wish they'd hurry up and name the Golden Ball recipient...

I thought it just automatically goes to the top scorer--Klose.

 

[Jdvn1]

This match was a snapshot of the entire World Cup...

Nearly all teams, as soon as they managed to get 1-0 on the socre, retreated to defend that meager advantage. Too much defensiveness, not enough seeking of the goal

Maybe I'm missing your point, but France only had a lead for... what, ten minutes? Most of the game, both sides were seeking scores.

Now that the Cup has come to a close, I'd like to thanks everyone who contributed to this thread. It was great sharing ideas with you all for the past month, and hopefully we will do this again in 4 years.

Seconded. I certainly learned a lot!

 

[Ruavel]

I thought it just automatically goes to the top scorer--Klose.

That's the Golden Shoe.

The Golden Ball is basically the Most Valuable Player of the entire tournament.

 

[OakwoodDM]

That's something that's puzzled me over the last week. It always used to be the golden boot, since, well, the players wear football boots. When did they change it to shoe? Or was it always shoe in FIFA parlance and the british press/commentators/whoever else have only just recently decided to take up the same wording?

As for the idea of a replay, the problem with that is that we're now getting perilously close to the start of the next season, with qualifying rounds for the Champion's League presumably only a week or two away from starting, and the first Premiership match no more than 6 weeks away (I don't know the schedule of other countries, so I'm just talking about what I know). The players will want a rest, especially people like Steven Gerrard, who started with Liverpool in the first qualifying round of the Champion's League last July and only finished his season on the 1st of July this year...

 

[MonsterMash]

Well once again the World Cup Final was not what we'd hope it'd be. I had Italy in my office sweepstakes so I didn't miss out by them winning, but I would have liked to see a bit moreaction, though there was some excellent defending by both teams. Zidane has just left me amazed as football players have always gone in for goading opposing players and by the end of your career you should be able to hurt them by beating them not by fighting them.

 

[Heathen72]

Zidane's final farewell...

 

[drothgery]

Nearly all teams, as soon as they managed to get 1-0 on the socre, retreated to defend that meager advantage. Too much defensiveness, not enough seeking of the goal (which is, shockingly, the whole goal of the game). No wonder FIFA wil be holding a forum to alter some football rules (like the offside and possibly even the goal size) to increase the offensiveness of the game.

How about allowing more substitutions? In other run-up-and down the field and try and put something in a goal games (like basketball and hockey), subs are essentially unlimitted. Italy might have been able to score once they got the man advantage in OT if they weren't totally worn out.

 

[johnsemlak]

Now that the Cup has come to a close, I'd like to thanks everyone who contributed to this thread. It was great sharing ideas with you all for the past month, and hopefully we will do this again in 4 years.

Cheers!

What's this past tense stuff? I ain't even close to finished discussing this!