by I've only paid attention to football during the last three world cups
(I'm from the US). I think it's an incredibly cool sport, and that the
world cup is truely THE sporting event of the world, more so than the
Olympics.
I hardly understand the sport, nothing like many of the folks here, but
have a comment about attitudes and one of the elements that makes
football such a fine sport. I like games like England-Nigeria, where the
players rarely touched each other, not games like Italy-Korea, where
the Italians seemed to be grabbing a lot, and using their arms to batter
players. Later in the game the Koreans put in a few good***s too, but
they sure didn't start it. There are sports like rugby, ice hockey, and
US football that promote battering your opponent, but it's a shame to
see football going this way. I also thought the Portuguese were way too
physical, in any case I'm glad the Koreans didn't get intimidated.
Also, about referees determining games, I hate to tell the complainers,
but refs just make mistakes. It has to be so, and it is so in all
dynamic sports. So, occasionally, your team will lose a game it might
have won if the ref had done x instead of y. That being the case, the
only way to ensure a win is to capitalize on your opportunities, which
Italy certainly did not.
And the Italian diving was just pathetic. Guys holding heads, crotches,
completely out of the blue. Do they really want to win based on that
sort of rubbish?
Now Perugia doesn't want to see Ahn back... now that is really
embarassing. I mean, how low class can you get? Ahn played fair ball,
Italy lost after playing not so great, and Korea played not their best
but never gave up. I've never heard of such childishness, by management,
in any sport. Creepy.
I'm a bit worried that I'm gaining interest in football at at time when
it's about to descend into a pit of cheap shots, staged falls, immature,
even child-like plays for pity, and generally stinko attitudes.
I want the beautiful game.