England Vs USA

[BtEO]

Tie-breakers are usually a matter of goals scored, or goal difference. But according to Wiki the full breakdown runs thus:

For the World Cup tournament, FIFA uses the following criteria to rank teams in the Group Stage.

1. greatest number of points in all group matches;
2. goal difference in all group matches;
3. greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;
4. greatest number of points in matches between tied teams;
5. goal difference in matches between tied teams;
6. greatest number of goals scored in matches between tied teams;
7. drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

Man, I would love to see one group go all the way down to number 7.

[ampersand]

Holy fucking crap. The Kiwis score an early goal and lead Italy 1-0. How the hell did that happen?

[JermCool]

Dammit. You made me look and now I'm going to have to watch the end when I get home.

Tied at 1 right now.

[ampersand]

Okay, these vuvuzelas that are playing all the time during matches. I have two questions: how does a plastic horn that looks like it was taken from a beer funnel apparatus is considered a traditional thing South African do at their matches? And could they have named them something else that doesn't sound like a part of the female anatomy?

(Or maybe we've figured out the hell happened to the bees. They've been replaced by plastic horns.)

[Deacon]

Something like that, yes.

[The Cid]

Tie-breakers are usually a matter of goals scored, or goal difference. But according to Wiki the full breakdown runs thus:

For the World Cup tournament, FIFA uses the following criteria to rank teams in the Group Stage.

1. greatest number of points in all group matches;
2. goal difference in all group matches;
3. greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;
4. greatest number of points in matches between tied teams;
5. goal difference in matches between tied teams;
6. greatest number of goals scored in matches between tied teams;
7. drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

Man, I would love to see one group go all the way down to number 7.

So wait. If USA beats Algeria 1-0 and England beats Slovenia 3-2, Group C comes down to what is essentially a game of chance?

[BtEO]

The maths would seem to be correct. How else could you fairly tell them apart? Note that in that scenario the only thing such a draw would decide is who we each face in our respective last 16 matches — but I'm sure you could construct one that would matter more.

There's also some would argue that the penalty shoot-outs of the knockout stages amount to little better than chance too.

[FireAza]

Holy fucking crap. The Kiwis score an early goal and lead Italy 1-0. How the hell did that happen?

What gets me is the name of the team. "All Whites"? Real original, New Zealand.

[JermCool]

You have no room to complain, Roo-banger.

Seriously - you've never noticed NZ national team names? All Blacks (rugby), All Whites (soccer), Black Caps (cricket) Silver Ferns (Women's Netball), Lady Blacks (Women's rugby), etc etc etc. The only one that doesn't fit are the Warriors (rugby league) and that's because they were solely an Auckland team to start.

[The Cid]

The maths would seem to be correct.

I love when people from the UK say "maths." That's just awesome. Okay, back to the point.

How else could you fairly tell them apart?

Golden goal-style. Wouldn't be as taxing on the squads as a full game, but at least it gives both teams some kind of a chance.

Note that in that scenario the only thing such a draw would decide is who we each face in our respective last 16 matches — but I'm sure you could construct one that would matter more.

A 0-0 draw between the US and Algeria and a 2-2 draw between England and Slovenia for example. Which would mean that the eliminated team went through the World Cup both undefeated and winless. If that team turned out to be the US, it would do a great deal of harm to the sport's American growth. Especially after whatever it is that happened against Slovenia on Friday.

[jerald_parker]

A) what happened against Slovenia? and B) What is women's netball? is that volleyball? badminton? Or do they all dress up in santa claus themed bikini's, grab a giant sack made from fishnet, and try to carry the ball down the sandy beaches of the Down Under?

[ampersand]

A) Slovenia scored two goals in the first half, the United States scored two goals in the second half, and then the referees disallowed a third goal on a penalty and no one, not even God, knows why the referee called a foul that was so blatantly not there FIFA had to bar him from being the main referee in any future World Cup match from this point on. (And this discussion would have continued if England hadn't played so poorly.) B) Sand Beach Volleyball, I think.

And now we get to play double-header football where both group's games are played simulatenously so that match fixing wouldn't occur. Tomorrow, I'm watching the impending train wreck that is France v South Africa. It's a coin flip whom I'll watch in Group B play.

[JermCool]

B) What is women's netball? is that volleyball? badminton? Or do they all dress up in santa claus themed bikini's, grab a giant sack made from fishnet, and try to carry the ball down the sandy beaches of the Down Under?

Might increase the viewership, but no.

Netball is similar to basketball, except you don't dribble. One you have hold of the ball, you can take one step, and then you have to either shoot or pass. The other major difference is there is no backboard, so the only good way to make a shot is really close to the net.

[The Cid]

Netball is similar to basketball, except you don't dribble. One you have hold of the ball, you can take one step, and then you have to either shoot or pass. The other major difference is there is no backboard, so the only good way to make a shot is really close to the net.

So it's like basketball, except that most of the entertaining aspect has been removed.

the referee called a foul that was so blatantly not there FIFA had to bar him from being the main referee in any future World Cup match from this point on.

Really? I'd heard he was left off the referee roster for the next round, but that such a thing is normal in the World Cup regardless of referee performance.

[Rorschach]

Netball is similar to basketball, except you don't dribble. One you have hold of the ball, you can take one step, and then you have to either shoot or pass. The other major difference is there is no backboard, so the only good way to make a shot is really close to the net.

So it's like basketball, except that most of the entertaining aspect has been removed.

Given that it's played by girls in short skirts and not tall men, I think it's fat more entertaining.