06-20-2010, 11:41 PM
Paul,
You can see what you like but a good dive is part of the game and if it works, well..........
As far as the Australian situation in the last world cup, that was a penalty not a dive. Both the Australian players and the New Zealenders are strong athletes with great stamina and endurance, I will grant that. However, they do not really have any technical quality relative to the top European teams. Whenever they cannot win the ball because they just cannot match the skill, they resort to elbows. kicking the other players, etc. Again that was not a penalty for Italy today BUT the New Zealand team had it coming and they got beat at their own game.
How many fouls did New Zealand commit in the first half alone? At least five. Why? Every single action that required that two players jump to hit the ball with the head, the New Zealenders threw the elbow first, then used their head. Of course this makes sense. Once your opponent is knocked to the ground, even a person who is blind will get the ball.
Now, again, I am not picking on one team or another since I enjoy watching as many teams that I can. However, certain truths are evident as you say Paul. Italy is good at the dive no question but if you can use it to win, why not? Anyone who cries about it will just have to play soccer and find out why it is necessary at times.
Besides, its easy for us to see certain things with all the replay angles and replay speeds. However, the refs do not have the same advanatage and will call what is at eye level. I was a ref at a soccer match ONCE (notice the operational word) and that was enough for me.
You can see what you like but a good dive is part of the game and if it works, well..........
As far as the Australian situation in the last world cup, that was a penalty not a dive. Both the Australian players and the New Zealenders are strong athletes with great stamina and endurance, I will grant that. However, they do not really have any technical quality relative to the top European teams. Whenever they cannot win the ball because they just cannot match the skill, they resort to elbows. kicking the other players, etc. Again that was not a penalty for Italy today BUT the New Zealand team had it coming and they got beat at their own game.
How many fouls did New Zealand commit in the first half alone? At least five. Why? Every single action that required that two players jump to hit the ball with the head, the New Zealenders threw the elbow first, then used their head. Of course this makes sense. Once your opponent is knocked to the ground, even a person who is blind will get the ball.
Now, again, I am not picking on one team or another since I enjoy watching as many teams that I can. However, certain truths are evident as you say Paul. Italy is good at the dive no question but if you can use it to win, why not? Anyone who cries about it will just have to play soccer and find out why it is necessary at times.
Besides, its easy for us to see certain things with all the replay angles and replay speeds. However, the refs do not have the same advanatage and will call what is at eye level. I was a ref at a soccer match ONCE (notice the operational word) and that was enough for me.
"You have to laugh at life or else what are you going to laugh at?" (Joseph Rosen)
Paolo
Paolo
