World Cup watch thread

[jpshocker]

I am far from knowledgeable about soccer, but one thread of consistency that seems to permeate sports in general from my perspective is that I hate prevent defenses. They only seem to prevent winning. I realize you don't want to be overly aggressive but I really dislike going 100% passive.

Consider this an uninformed observation of a soccer neophyte.

I agree completely because the bottom line is you can't score without aggressive offense. However, soccer is a different beast and since you have two groups of players with completely different responsibilities on the field at the same time (offense/defense) it makes strategy very important. Since goals are not easy to come by do you put more of your pieces into scoring and risk letting one slip by OR do you shift your players back to seal up the goal and maintain the lead? It's a very interesting quandary and a big part of what makes soccer fun to watch.

[Kung Wu]

Was hoping this clarifies how goal differentials work, in case anybody was confused:

Germany		USA		Portugal		Ghana
For	Against	For	Against	For	Against	For	Against
4	0	2	-1	0	-4	1	-2
2	-2	2	-2	2	-2	2	-2
6-2 = +4		4 - 3 = +1		2 - 6 = -4		3 - 4 = -1

From here it's easy to see the scenario where we lose to Germany by 1 point, and then Ghana wins by 2 points. In that case the _points_ (not _goals_) would be tied for the USA and Ghana (we went 1-1-1, and Ghana went 1-1-1), so it would come down to differentials:

a) Ghana's goal differential will swing from -1 to +1 (they won by 2 so you add 2).
b) Our differential will swing from +1 to 0 (we lost by one so we subtract 1).

So Ghana would advance and we'd be out because their goal differential is one better than ours.

Now let's say we lose to Germany 1-0, and then Ghana beats Portugal 1-0. Again we both have 1-1-1 records but now we both also have a goal differential of 0. Again, a tie. Then it comes down to the total goals scored. So we'd be looking at only goals _for_:

USA has 4 (they lost to Germany without scoring)
Ghana has 4 (they had 3 before the Portugal game and scored one more)

Again a tie.

We draw lots!

---

Bottom line:

It's best just to beat or draw Germany and move on. :) In the event we lose, hope that Portugal wins or draws!!

[WuDrWu]

I hate to complain about the officiating, and to be fair I even thought the US got the friendly whistle for the most part.

But there's no way they can justify adding 5 minutes at the end of the game, and if you think for 1 second that if the game was 2-1 Portugal they would have added 5 minutes, I have some stock in future Loyola league championships I'd like to sell you.

That was horrible.

[WuDrWu]

Was hoping this clarifies how goal differentials work, in case anybody was confused:

Germany		USA		Portugal		Ghana
For	Against	For	Against	For	Against	For	Against
4	0	2	-1	0	-4	1	-2
2	-2	2	-2	2	-2	2	-2
6-2 = +4		4 - 3 = +1		2 - 6 = -4		3 - 4 = -1

From here it's easy to see the scenario where we lose to Germany by 1 point, and then Ghana wins by 2 points. In that case the _points_ (not _goals_) would be tied for the USA and Ghana (we went 1-1-1, and Ghana went 1-1-1), so it would come down to differentials:

a) Ghana's goal differential will swing from -1 to +1 (they won by 2 so you add 2).
b) Our differential will swing from +1 to 0 (we lost by one so we subtract 1).

So Ghana would advance and we'd be out because their goal differential is one better than ours.

Now let's say we lose to Germany 1-0, and then Ghana beats Portugal 1-0. Again we both have 1-1-1 records but now we both also have a goal differential of 0. Again, a tie. Then it comes down to the total goals scored. So we'd be looking at only goals _for_:

USA has 4 (they lost to Germany without scoring)
Ghana has 4 (they had 3 before the Portugal game and scored one more)

Again a tie.

We draw lots!

---

Bottom line:

It's best just to beat or draw Germany and move on. :) In the event we lose, hope that Portugal wins or draws!!

I thought one of the last tiebreakers was head to head before drawing lots. Wouldn't the 2-1 result over Ghana break that tie and keep it from ever going to drawing lots?

[Kung Wu]

I thought one of the last tiebreakers was head to head before drawing lots. Wouldn't the 2-1 result over Ghana break that tie and keep it from ever going to drawing lots?

Ah yes! The "teams concerned" rulings! I'm out and about and can't analyze at the moment. Thanks for the correction.

[Shock Top]

I hate to complain about the officiating, and to be fair I even thought the US got the friendly whistle for the most part.

But there's no way they can justify adding 5 minutes at the end of the game, and if you think for 1 second that if the game was 2-1 Portugal they would have added 5 minutes, I have some stock in future Loyola league championships I'd like to sell you.

That was horrible.

Agreed.

I thought four minutes at the MOST.

[jpshocker]

I hate to complain about the officiating, and to be fair I even thought the US got the friendly whistle for the most part.

But there's no way they can justify adding 5 minutes at the end of the game, and if you think for 1 second that if the game was 2-1 Portugal they would have added 5 minutes, I have some stock in future Loyola league championships I'd like to sell you.

That was horrible.

I agree but we had controlled the game almost the entire second half. It shouldn't have come down to a play in the last 30 seconds. Great game, unfortunate ending.

[Kung Wu]

I hate to complain about the officiating, and to be fair I even thought the US got the friendly whistle for the most part.

But there's no way they can justify adding 5 minutes at the end of the game, and if you think for 1 second that if the game was 2-1 Portugal they would have added 5 minutes, I have some stock in future Loyola league championships I'd like to sell you.

That was horrible.

I am very surprised how many games have went +5 both at half and second half. The add-on times have really skyrocketed this cup so I was not surprised to see +5 yesterday. They must have emphasized more add-on time to the refs this Cup.

[MadaboutWu]

I hear the director of time keeping operations at the World Cup used to work the clock for the MVC. His excellent work circa 2009 let him rise quickly in his profession.

[jpshocker]

I am very surprised how many games have went +5 both at half and second half. The add-on times have really skyrocketed this cup so I was not surprised to see +5 yesterday. They must have emphasized more add-on time to the refs this Cup.

The clock ran through the "water break" correct? I know that was the only game with one so far but that accounts for some time anyway.

[Kung Wu]

The clock ran through the "water break" correct? I know that was the only game with one so far but that accounts for some time anyway.

Yes, the clock on your screen will never stop, and is unofficial. The official time is in total control of the referee, and that control is sitting on his wrist. With about a minute before regulation you will see someone on the sideline hold up a sign with the amount of stoppage time. It is the same sign as the substitution sign, but there's only one number. That's to communicate to both teams how much additional time there will be.

Keep in mind there can be additional stoppage time added to stoppage time (in the event there is an injury, etc). So sometimes even the additional X minutes can run over. It's totally up to the referee.

[Kung Wu]

Side note: You will see lots of players (especially defenders) jawing at the ref toward the end of the game. They aren't bitching or complaining, they are usually just asking how much time is left.

[jpshocker]

Side note: You will see lots of players (especially defenders) jawing at the ref toward the end of the game. They aren't bitching or complaining, they are usually just asking how much time is left.

Thanks. I'm familiar with the clock situation but I can honestly say I've never seen a stop in play for refreshments.

[Kung Wu]

Thanks. I'm familiar with the clock situation but I can honestly say I've never seen a stop in play for refreshments.

Ah right. Funny stuff!

[jpshocker]

Ah right. Funny stuff!

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be snarky. I'm not anti-soccer at all. We actually love the game and run a club in Butler County. I had truly never seen a game stopped like that and "refreshments" is funnier than "water".