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Beckham bends it like Beckham and absolute out-of-control soccer
June 26, 2006Things England midfielder David Beckham is good at:
1) Getting my wife to watch soccer when she hears his name on the TV.
2) Getting my wife to read a soccer magazine, in the hope of seeing Beckham shirtless.
3) Scoring goals on ridiculously-swaying free kicks.
Beckham did the third today in England’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador, causing the first to happen concurrently. It was a brilliant, swerving shot that just snuck in by the near post from 30 yards out.
Although England continues to be banged up and play with the grace of a three-legged hippopotamus, they keep winning. If they can put a game together, watch out.
But that looks like a big if.
A soccer game breaks out during a fight
If the Portugal-Netherlands game had gone into extra time, it would have finished up seven-on-seven. As it was in Portugal’s 1-0 victory, only 18 were standing in a game that featured 16 yellow cards and four reds.
I figured this game’s winner would have no trouble with England, but with two starters suspended and another — Christian Ronaldo — hurt, the Brits may have a chance after all.
This was pure pandemonium. Pushes, head-butts, scuffles, dives and other complete nonsense. While entertaining at a farce-like level, the officiating and player behavior by some teams in this World Cup has got to go.
I got so worked up, I wrote my short column on the matter. Here it is:
I could spend the next eight paragraphs describing the extraordinary amount of cards dished out in this World Cup, but it’s outlined in a story on Page 6D.
I could discuss the outlandish officiating or the repulsing behavior of players, but what’s the point?
As an avid soccer fan, I’ve tried to defend this sport for weeks to cynics who debunk the flaws of the game.
You know — diving, injury-faking, time-wasting and dreadful officiating.
Now I don’t have anything else to say.
This World Cup is quickly turning into a joke. And it’s not funny.
Sixteen yellow cards were handed out in Sunday’s Portugal-Netherlands match, and the sad thing was most of them, for once, were deserved.
Regardless of who’s at fault, kinks need to be ironed out before the next World Cup in 2010. Here are my three suggestions for FIFA:
ï?®ï€ A two-referee system: Each would be responsible for one-half of the field. Refs would improve their positioning without so much turf to cover.
ï?® Take a seat: In high school soccer, a yellow card automatically results in a brief benching. Let a team play a man down while cooler heads prevail.
Also, if you get carried off on a stretcher, you can’t come back and play for at least 15 minutes. A serious injury will be subbed out every time, while eliminating the fakers.
ï?® Stop the clock: Want to know how to prevent time-wasting. For every injury, goal and substitute, stop the clock.
Stat of the day: Those 16 cards tied the record for the most in a game — tying Germnay-Cameroon from 2002, although only two were ejected in that game. Also, the 23 red cards in this WC are more than ever, surpassing 22 from the 1998 Cup.
Next up: You can’t miss Italy-Australia in the morning. You just can’t. Don’t count out the Aussies, who have a great attack and a heck of a coach (Dutch coach Guus Hiddink led South Korea to the semifinals in 2002, beating Italy in the process).
The winner will face Monday afternoon’s Switzerland-Ukraine contest, the most unglamorous of the second round.
Isn’t it a shame the Netherlands is done and yet either one of those teams will keep playing.
My quest: I missed most of the England-Ecuador game, but I think I’ve been pretty lucky. So far, I not watched the majority of three games — (1) France vs. Swiss, which ended 0-0; (2) England- vs. Trinidad and Tobago, which I caught both late goals and (3) this one, which I tuned in just in time for David Beckham’s goal.
Not bad in picking the ones to miss, I guess.
Posted by at 1:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Comments
Surprise, surprise. Another referee who has NO clue. The Italy/Australia game was the next in line for stupid calls, and sure enough, it got them. You know who I blame? The referee assignor. It's that guys job to assign referees to these games. The refs themselves may be horrible, but they don't HAVE to call these games. I am a certified FIFA ref with no professional experience... Mr. Assignor, can I call the Final? Pretty please?
