Originally posted by WojBhoy:[..]
Oh hell lol, I've spent the last couple of hours discussing this with various people. Just 'cause you might have done the same doesn't make it right in my opinion. In situations like that, it was clear-cut - Ghana would have scored bar for an act of cheating. The basic upshot is that it gives the message that cheating pays dividends, because Uruguay are still in it and could win the tournament, and is an opportunity that should have been granted to Ghana. To my mind, the fact is that there were three incidents where the flight of the ball was leading to a goal and could only have been prevented by an illegal offence. In this instance, two went in, whilst one was blocked by Suarez' hands - the only player who could have legally used his hands to block it was out of the equation. The Gyan penalty is not an instance I regard as similar because such as it was, he missed but even had it been on target, the 'keeper has a chance to block it, regardless of whether it's harder or easier to score or save. Like I say, there were three moments where the ball was goalbound bar an illegal block, and on one occasion an illegal block was made and such illegality should be punished accordingly.
This has nothing to do with partisanship or what have you, 'cause I like both teams and felt they've both played well in the tournament - I'd be saying this even if Gyan had scored the penalty because my basic gripe is with blatent cheating in the game. Had it been England and an English player in Suarez' place, I'd be angry and if we had gone on to win the World Cup subsequently, I'd have felt pretty hollow about it. Just because it's the norm doesn't mean we should be cynical, take it for granted and let it be - cheating will only stop if there's a concerted effort to cut it out, in all levels of the game. My feeling is the referee should have the ability to award a goal in such situations - the player can be punished at the ref's discretion, e.g. a deliberate handball, where the hand is deliberately moved towards the ball = red card. If it's unintentional, no individual punishment should be applied because the award of the penalty goal would suffice. How would the referee know if it's deliberate or not, or whether there's any doubt of handball etc.? TV replays. At the end of the day, human error will always come into play and referees won't always get decisions right, but they should have the opportunity to apply the law and fairness of the game to as high as a degree as possible, and they should have as many resources as possible available. Rugby and cricket do alright with similar rules etc, e.g. penalty tries, lbws, so why should football be held in any different a regard? Each sport recognises an opportunity to punish such cheating accordingly, which is essentially what such actions are, and football isn't on any higher a level to be left stuck in the past. The resources are available, so what's to be lost by making the most of them, and change the spirit of the game for the better.
That's my basic feeling
[..]
No you misunderstand me m'man, when I say team of the tournament I mean as in players to fit into a team, like they do at the end, e.g. Eduardo in goal, Ashley Cole at left back and whatnot. Not to say they'd be my picks, but that's the sort of thing I meant.
Originally posted by Remy:The FIFA are doubting between 1 and 2 matches suspension, but I guess it will be just 1.
South American players do everything to win, that's what their culture is all about.
Originally posted by vanquish:Ok, another 'premature' statement - Germany is going to win.
Spain is the only one who can stop them and they were very unconvincing against Paraguay, who are a second class team who had trouble beating Japan. Villa's goal was flukey too.
The Germans on the other hands just routed Argentina, if they can humiliate a side with that kind of talent they beat Spain and the Germans are nothing if not consistent.
So it'll be a Germany vs Holland final (Uruguay can barely beat Ghana).
If so, I'm afraid the Germans have won the cup - the Dutch are not exactly a bigger threat than Argentina or Spain and were rather lucky against Brazil who dominated early in the game (Melo certainly aided the Dutch)
The Dutch style of play is also quite similar to Germany's, but this German team is definitely better at it.
Originally posted by thechicken:[..]
Be careful to generalize a culture and a whole, huge and diverse subcontinent.
Originally posted by NLOTH_Victor:[..]
ur comment is very true... i believe germany will take it also... but theres one thing u forgot - soccer is not logical, it is full of surprises!
(EDIT): and that´s what makes it beautiful, there´s only a favorite until the game start! if it wasn´t like that there wouldn´t be the need to play lol
But Holland is the only team on this WC left that still can play about 30% better than they do now, while Germany and Spain are at 100%. I hope I'll be able to find a TV with the game, but I think I will. Good luck y'all 
Originally posted by Remy:[..]
Unfortunately I'll be on holiday for the next two weeks, let's hope Holland have won when I come back. Or Germany, if they played better they deserve it
I believe that Holland can beat Uruguay without problems, and if we should fail against Spain -- as you never know -- I hope Holland will win the cup. Let's see who is left after the semi finals anyway 
Originally posted by vanquish:Ok, another 'premature' statement - Germany is going to win.
Spain is the only one who can stop them......
The Dutch style of play is also quite similar to Germany's, but this German team is definitely better at it.
Originally posted by Rob1965:[..]
My prediction for the finals: The Netherlands vs. Germany
....and Germany wins.
