World Cup For Soccer Idiots

[HaulCitgo]

I dunno. Is it just me, or is anyone else dismayed from the fact that half the goals came from weak - though correctly called - penalties?

Yes. Penalties far too punitive in context of what it takes to score. Soccer problem not a world cup problem though. Definitely enjoyed the am entertainment. When does premier League start again? This is about when they hit you with a ton of games. NBA starts and cfp then NFL playoffs. Nice little run here.

[degenerasian]

I dunno. Is it just me, or is anyone else dismayed from the fact that half the goals came from weak - though correctly called - penalties?

Yes. Penalties far too punitive in context of what it takes to score. Soccer problem not a world cup problem though. Definitely enjoyed the am entertainment. When does premier League start again? This is about when they hit you with a ton of games. NBA starts and cfp then NFL playoffs. Nice little run here.

I guess the argument is that if penalties weren't punitive, the sport would just become a foul fest in the box. You would see some really negative tactics from some teams (cough, Uruguay) It's hard enough to score as it is.

[Steve of phpBB]

I dunno. Is it just me, or is anyone else dismayed from the fact that half the goals came from weak - though correctly called - penalties?

Yes. Penalties far too punitive in context of what it takes to score. Soccer problem not a world cup problem though. Definitely enjoyed the am entertainment. When does premier League start again? This is about when they hit you with a ton of games. NBA starts and cfp then NFL playoffs. Nice little run here.

I guess the argument is that if penalties weren't punitive, the sport would just become a foul fest in the box. You would see some really negative tactics from some teams (cough, Uruguay) It's hard enough to score as it is.

Sure, that’s the reasoning. And overall it probably makes sense, though perhaps the box could be narrower. But still, two penalties from fouls out on the side and one from an unintentional handball all happening in the same game takes something away for me.

It was still great drama, tension, and excitement. But maybe not the absolute best soccer (to me) that others are saying.

[HaulCitgo]

They have total control over the conversion rate. Every yard is 5% Anything over 50% is a sufficient deterrent to professional fouls in the box. But 70-80% way too much. Way way way too many games turn on penalty calls. Not even soccer anymore the game is officiating.

[wlu_lax6]

The PK is not as much a gimmie as people think. I mean Nick Rimando was not the long armed goal fill up type.

Interestingly, Rimando's 35.06 percent saved is not the highest percentage in MLS history. That honor belongs to Matt Jordan, a goalkeeper who spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Burn. Jordan saved seven of the 22 penalties he faced, with two more not going on frame. His 40.91 success rate is tops in MLS history among goalkeepers who faced at least 20 penalties. Jordan is currently the technical director of the Houston Dynamo.

and with VAR at least I feel good that the PK was a foul. Less dives for PKs than in the past.

[mister d]

You’d also be incenting penalties and killing chances if you made penalties less punitive.

[Steve of phpBB]

Imagine if the NFL had something like that, where a ref’s call could put you on the one-yard line. Or not.

[degenerasian]

I have three suggestions.

1. Make the box narrower. Does it have to that wide?
2. Move the spot back 1 yard.
3. Make the player that was fouled take the kick.

[Ryan]

Imagine if the NFL had something like that, where a ref’s call could put you on the one-yard line. Or not.

If half the games were 7-0 and most of the other scoring chances took 10 minutes to set up followed by the QB throwing it into the 8th row, I'd think that was really fucking lame, yes.

[Nonlinear FC]

I dunno. Is it just me, or is anyone else dismayed from the fact that half the goals came from weak - though correctly called - penalties?

They're not weak calls because you have to look at positioning. Dembele let a guy get by him then stupidly chased him from behind and clipped him. Dembele was so out of sorts he got subbed before halftime. Otamendi pulled a guy back from behind. In fact, that should be a foul even if the guy doesn't go down (like defensive holding in football) but refs never call it UNLESS the guy goes down. That's why players have to fall. And finally, the last one was a clear hand ball, you can't use your arms to make yourself bigger nd block space.

The ref had a fantastic game, especially he didn't fall for Thuram's dive late in the 2nd half.

When you consider that the result of a penalty is a near-certain goal, they were weak penalties. None of the fouls interferes with clear chances, nor were they particularly vicious or cynical. Yes, they were correctly called penalties under the rules. But none of them deserves goals being gifted to the victims.

They were not weak penalties. Period.

[Nonlinear FC]

The point on of the exercise in soccer is to increase scoring, not make it that much more difficult. Everyone is always bitching that there's not enough scoring, you guys want to take goals off the board?

Perfect example of folks trying to tinker with something over "feels" when it needs to be left alone. It's not automatic, as was shown time and again this tournament. The fact that these teams have top 3 talent in the world on their roster means the PKs are closer to a sure thing. But ask Lewandowski and Kane how easy and automatic PKs are.

I'll stand by it: that was the best Final of our lifetime and this tournament was as entertaining an affair as I can ever remember in terms of goals scored, comeback wins, and amazing team/individual performances. PKs are part of the game. It's like saying it was a good game but the field goals really took away from the victory.

Nope.

[mister d]

3. Make the player that was fouled take the kick.

This one I do like.