EN World World Cup blog

[hong]

Zidane's final farewell...

Ytmnd sure is having a ball (haw haw) with Zidane.

http://zidanedeathstar.ytmnd.com/
http://zidaneowned.ytmnd.com/
http://zidanewantscandy.ytmnd.com/
http://francefighter.ytmnd.com/ (above)
http://zidanegetsowned.ytmnd.com/
http://endofzidane.ytmnd.com/
http://zidanesavesmaterazzi.ytmnd.com/
http://emca.ytmnd.com/
http://oulalazidane.ytmnd.com/
http://neszidane.ytmnd.com/
http://medievalzidane.ytmnd.com/

 

[delericho]

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

You're not going to believe this...

It's Zidane!

 

[Klaus]

Despite the out-of-character finale, Zidane was indeed the best player in the whole Cup.

 

[GlassJaw]

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.

I'm all for rules changes. It's not just the lack of scoring that I don't like, it's the rules system that doesn't allow the better team to excel. If I'm a coach and I get a lead or if I realize the other team is better than me, I'm going to play a "prevent" defense and take my chances with the stupid penalty kicks.

Because it's so difficult to score to begin with, defensive play is further rewarded.

They just get rid of offsides completely.

 

[johnsemlak]

Despite the out-of-character finale, Zidane was indeed the best player in the whole Cup.

He's my sentimental favorite, but...

He missed one game in the 1st round due to suspension. His play up until the Spain match was relatively unremarkable. he committed one of the WC's worst fouls (OK the vote was held before that incident) He let his team down at a crucial stage (again, and incident not considered by the panel))

For a full WC performance that made a consistant difference to his team's results, I vote for Fabio Cannavaro

(Fabio is a very interesing name for a defensive player... I wonder if he employs Fabian tactics...)

 

[johnsemlak]

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.

Cheers!

Hey Klaus

What do people generally say in Brazil about the need to improve scoring, and reduce matches decided by PKs, in soccer and what suggestions to people make? I read a lot of British press and I generally find people there conservative about any rules changes in matches. I certainly think changes should be weighed considerably but I'd like to see perhaps some more substitutions allowed (maybe 1-2 in extra time), and perhaps increase the goal size slightly. THe best argument I've read in favor of that is that Goalkeepers are now a lot bigger at the top level than in the 1800s.

I'm not sure exactly how the offsides rule could be altered, though it's worht looking at. My feeling is that whatever changes are made, defences will adapt and continue to play conservatively, even more so if necessary.

That's the key, I think. They main issue is that teams in the big, high-pressure WC matchs have an extremely defensive and conservative mindset. They're always very wary of conceding, and if they get a lead they become even more cautious. I'm not sure rules tinkering with offsides or even the goal size will alter that.

 

[Keith Robinson]

I vote for Fabio Cannavaro

Me too I thought he was the most outstanding player of this world cup. And given how defensive it was in general, I think it would have been a more apt result.

I don't think it was the best world cup, if I'm honest. I thought the group stages were good, but that it dropped off significantly after that - though there were still one or two good games.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to South Africa 2010.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their thoughts and maybe we'll meet up again in 4 years time!

 

[Spud]

Pretty poor world cup, off the top of my head can only think of 3 good games.

Trouble with tinkering with the rules, i wouldnt trust the idiots at FIFA (and im looking at you in particular Sepp Blater) to get it right. Apart from that I cant see anything in particular that would work, the offside rule has had so many changes I lose track off what its upto. Bigger goals is usually mentioned, cant say i like the idea think the goalkeepers have enough problems with those stupid lightweight balls as it is.

Still the new season is upon us, not sure how im going to cope for the whole 10 days before our first preseason match..

 

[Klaus]

Hey Klaus

What do people generally say in Brazil about the need to improve scoring, and reduce matches decided by PKs, in soccer and what suggestions to people make? I read a lot of British press and I generally find people there conservative about any rules changes in matches. I certainly think changes should be weighed considerably but I'd like to see perhaps some more substitutions allowed (maybe 1-2 in extra time), and perhaps increase the goal size slightly. THe best argument I've read in favor of that is that Goalkeepers are now a lot bigger at the top level than in the 1800s.

I'm not sure exactly how the offsides rule could be altered, though it's worht looking at. My feeling is that whatever changes are made, defences will adapt and continue to play conservatively, even more so if necessary.

That's the key, I think. They main issue is that teams in the big, high-pressure WC matchs have an extremely defensive and conservative mindset. They're always very wary of conceding, and if they get a lead they become even more cautious. I'm not sure rules tinkering with offsides or even the goal size will alter that.

No opinions are being voiced yet, but the sports press is very critical of FIFA for not instituting changes faster in the game.

I'd vote for no offside if the attacking player is less tha halfway into the defending team's side, four substitutions in a match (plus a goalie substitution) and a referee in the TV central to be consulted in more serious instances (as in, consult before assigning a PK). Just off the top of my head.

I'd also vote for a Cup with fewer teams, where every team plays against every other, and the 8 teams with more points move on to the eliminating match quarterfinals.

 

[delericho]

I think they should do the following:

1) Put offside back the way it was - a player is offside if, at the moment the ball is played, there are fewer than two opposing players between him and the goal. You cannot be offside in your own half of the pitch, and cannot be offside if the ball is played backwards.

Anything else just makes the rule far to complex - it's the Attack of Opportunity rule of football.

2) Allow five substitutions in the game.

3) Adopt the use of TV evidence, probably in the hands of the 4th, 5th and 6th officials, who should be in direct communication with the referee.

4) Go back to using a proper ball. This new lightweight thing did not prove to be the wonder-ball it was touted as.

5) Don't try to institute lots of disciplinary rulings for the World Cup only - all applicable leagues need to use the same disciplinary rules as the World Cup for the full year before the cup, so players can get used to them, and we don't have so many cards handed out.

6) Diving should see the player involved banned for the remainer of the tournament.

7) I'm wondering whether a Red Card should see a player removed from the game for 10 minutes or so, rather than for the rest of the game, or perhaps requires that that player immediately be substituted. As it is, a red card can destroy a game as the team affected switches to a 9-0-0 formation and plays for penalties.

And that's about it.

I, too, am looking forward to 2010. With a lot of luck, Scotland might even qualify. I suspect we won't for Euro 2008 - our qualifying group has both Italy and France in it!