Umschlag bitte... (The Final!)
France. Italy. Few probably predicted these two in the final game when the tournament started a month ago. Both teams have chalked up impressive wins in getting here, France having knocked off Spain, Brazil and Portugal and Italy downing Australia, Ukraine and Germany. Admittedly, the Italians had an easier road up until the Germans and still only barely managed to squeak by the Australians. The Italians have little to worry about on a backline that hasn't given up a single goal yet. Les Bleus is no slouch, with Thuram at the core of a very solid line. In goalkeeper, a slight edge has to go to Buffon for Italy, though, once again, Barthez certainly has been at this level before (in 1998) and has performed well throughout the tournament. So scoring will be difficult for both sides. Can Zidane pull more magic out of his hat? That will perhaps be the true test. If Zidane can keep up the pace in this game, his swan song, that could very well prove to be the difference. Ribery and Henry will have to dial it up a couple if France wants to win this game. The Italians haven't given up a goal yet ...but France appears to be a team of destiny and they won't be denied. The French win their second World Cup title with a tough 2-1 win!
posted by STB at
9:54 AM
2 Comments:
Enjoyed reading your blog Steve...didn't read it all but correct me if I'm wrong in saying you should not go to Vegas and bet on games? :)
It was a great World Cup from the games I did see, and the final was exciting. What the heck was Zidane thinking pulling that garbage in OT of the Final..and in his last int'l game! I don't know much about the guy, but it could be the dumbest thing any athlete has done in an important game.
Anyway, I have four rules change ideas I wanted to throw out there that I think would make the games even better...mostly designed as a dumb American of course to increase scoring and scoring chances. Here they are:
1) Increase the size of the penalty box 5 feet in every direction. By increasing the penalty area relatively modestly (god forbid the lines change in the "beautiful game"), you have a larger area where the defending team needs to be careful in fouling players. It would thus lead to more opportunities as well as more penalty kicks...hopefully more of the former than the latter.
2) Increase the distance awarded on a free kick from 10 yards to 15. By moving the wall back (as well as any opposing players) you would open it up for teams to go over or around the wall, or create a passing play before the defense can encroach on the ball. I'm guessing this leads to a good 1 goal per game increase itself.
3) You cannot be offsides on your side of the field today. Let's move that up a good 20-30 yards, say halfway between penalty box and midfield. Create a small dash marker on each side and have the linesman use that line as a new guide. The traditionalists would have a field day with this one I'm sure.
4) Create a disciplinary committee that reviews each international game (say 5-10 members). Their key area of focus would be to evaluate unsportsmanlike conduct related to players diving and faking injuries in order to influence the on field officials. If the committee deems a player's behavior to be egregious, they would then have a series of penalties that would could be awarded (increasing with each subsequent instance), from fines to suspensions. This is similar to what MLB has when there are brawls and pitchers throwing at hitters. It would inevitably be an imperfect system, but the mere presence of this would undoubtedly decrease the amount of garbage that goes on during these games...as well as make it easier for the officials to call the game correctly (see today's mistaken penalty kick call).
The game of hockey polices itself with this stuff...players who dive and fake injuries lose the respect of their opponents AND teammates. Soccer doesn't have this built into it's culture, but creating real penalties would help change what's acceptable and what's not.
Interested in your thoughts.
By
Anonymous, at 2:59 PM
Enjoyed reading your blog Steve...didn't read it all but correct me if I'm wrong in saying you should not go to Vegas and bet on games? :)
It was a great World Cup from the games I did see, and the final was exciting. What the heck was Zidane thinking pulling that garbage in OT of the Final..and in his last int'l game! I don't know much about the guy, but it could be the dumbest thing any athlete has done in an important game.
Anyway, I have four rules change ideas I wanted to throw out there that I think would make the games even better...mostly designed as a dumb American of course to increase scoring and scoring chances. Here they are:
1) Increase the size of the penalty box 5 feet in every direction. By increasing the penalty area relatively modestly (god forbid the lines change in the "beautiful game"), you have a larger area where the defending team needs to be careful in fouling players. It would thus lead to more opportunities as well as more penalty kicks...hopefully more of the former than the latter.
2) Increase the distance awarded on a free kick from 10 yards to 15. By moving the wall back (as well as any opposing players) you would open it up for teams to go over or around the wall, or create a passing play before the defense can encroach on the ball. I'm guessing this leads to a good 1 goal per game increase itself.
3) You cannot be offsides on your side of the field today. Let's move that up a good 20-30 yards, say halfway between penalty box and midfield. Create a small dash marker on each side and have the linesman use that line as a new guide. The traditionalists would have a field day with this one I'm sure.
4) Create a disciplinary committee that reviews each international game (say 5-10 members). Their key area of focus would be to evaluate unsportsmanlike conduct related to players diving and faking injuries in order to influence the on field officials. If the committee deems a player's behavior to be egregious, they would then have a series of penalties that would could be awarded (increasing with each subsequent instance), from fines to suspensions. This is similar to what MLB has when there are brawls and pitchers throwing at hitters. It would inevitably be an imperfect system, but the mere presence of this would undoubtedly decrease the amount of garbage that goes on during these games...as well as make it easier for the officials to call the game correctly (see today's mistaken penalty kick call).
The game of hockey polices itself with this stuff...players who dive and fake injuries lose the respect of their opponents AND teammates. Soccer doesn't have this built into it's culture, but creating real penalties would help change what's acceptable and what's not.
Interested in your thoughts.
By
Anonymous, at 3:01 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home