US vs Brazil

[jacknicholson]

Maybe the best game in any sport I have ever seen. Against all odds, one woman short for over 50 minutes and an opponent using despicable tactics, with incompetent referees attempting to give the game to Brazil, the American Girls won a game that will be remembered for eons. I am surprised that very few watch the Woman's World Cup especially since Mia and her teammates won in 1999. Should have been watching TeleMundo to hear this guy.....

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzR_YkFhnNc&feature=related"]YouTube - ‪Soccer Announcer Goes Goal Crazy‬‏[/ame]

I still get a thrill watching the highlights on ESPN. What a game. Thinking about watching the girls on Wednesday. Wild horses couldn't drag me away.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXkblbJqwn0"]YouTube - ‪American Girl performed by Tom Petty‬‏[/ame]

 

[tweeterhawk]

I made the point in another thread that Brazil's delaying tactics, once they went ahead, in extra time likely cost them the match. Had they not been falling down (apparently) injured, requiring medical attention, walking to take corner kicks, doing everything they could to take more seconds off the clock during dead-ball situations, the referee likely would have given only two minutes of stoppage time instead of three. At this level, referees are unlikely to give more than two minutes of additional stoppage time at the conclusion of extra time. The US, of course, scored the tying goal at the end of the two minutes.

Justice was served.

 

[kicker22]

I made the point in another thread that Brazil's delaying tactics, once they went ahead, in extra time likely cost them the match. Had they not been falling down (apparently) injured, requiring medical attention, walking to take corner kicks, doing everything they could to take more seconds off the clock during dead-ball situations, the referee likely would have given only two minutes of stoppage time instead of three. At this level, referees are unlikely to give more than two minutes of additional stoppage time at the conclusion of extra time. The US, of course, scored the tying goal at the end of the two minutes.

Justice was served.

Agreed, but the thing that gets me the most is we've been playing a player down for 50 minutes, why give them a chance to catch their breath. Karma's a *****. I just hope they got some thing left in the tank for France.

 

[tweeterhawk]

Agreed, but the thing that gets me the most is we've been playing a player down for 50 minutes, why give them a chance to catch their breath. Karma's a *****. I just hope they got some thing left in the tank for France.

Certainly that put the US in a bind. Although I've done enough soccer that it's not unusual for a short-handed team to suddenly play better. Ian Darke and whoever was doing the broadcast with him also alluded to that.

Not clear why that happens. Some have speculated it is because the rest of the team gets mad or works harder to compensate for the loss of a player. I think it's a combination of that and perhaps both a necessity and an opportunity for more individual play (less passing, more running to the ball or challenging an attacker, etc.)

 

[kicker22]

Certainly that put the US in a bind. Although I've done enough soccer that it's not unusual for a short-handed team to suddenly play better. Ian Darke and whoever was doing the broadcast with him also alluded to that.

Not clear why that happens. Some have speculated it is because the rest of the team gets mad or works harder to compensate for the loss of a player. I think it's a combination of that and perhaps both a necessity and an opportunity for more individual play (less passing, more running to the ball or challenging an attacker, etc.)

Agreed completely. As someone who played growing up and currently coaches at the highschool level I think alot of it has to do with defensive assignments. When you have one less player on your side you generally pack it in a little more and play a defense first mentality where the other team focuses more on attacking. Due to the fact that the other team is pressing up a little further it leaves them more suseptable to counter attacks and the fact that there is one less man to account for can sometimes cause a defense to get out of position or lazy and lose track of their marks or defensive duties. I definitely agree that for some reason the team playing a man down may have an unwanted advantage although they are at a numbers disadvantage.

What I still can't understand is the with the fatigue of playing down a man for 50 minutes and the fact that there playing an extra 30 minutes of overtime shorthanded, why fake an injury and allow the opponents to catch their breath and get a few key minutes of rest.

 

[Hawkeye11en1]

Agreed completely. As someone who played growing up and currently coaches at the highschool level I think alot of it has to do with defensive assignments. When you have one less player on your side you generally pack it in a little more and play a defense first mentality where the other team focuses more on attacking. Due to the fact that the other team is pressing up a little further it leaves them more suseptable to counter attacks and the fact that there is one less man to account for can sometimes cause a defense to get out of position or lazy and lose track of their marks or defensive duties. I definitely agree that for some reason the team playing a man down may have an unwanted advantage although they are at a numbers disadvantage.

What I still can't understand is the with the fatigue of playing down a man for 50 minutes and the fact that there playing an extra 30 minutes of overtime shorthanded, why fake an injury and allow the opponents to catch their breath and get a few key minutes of rest.

That was one of the stranger things I've seen. She then sprints back on in clear site of the ref, who is only (well, maybe not this game, even though she did) going to put more stoppage time out there. Really pointless.

 

[kicker22]

As a US fan for whatever reason she did it, it was very appreciated.

 

[tweeterhawk]

Agreed completely. As someone who played growing up and currently coaches at the highschool level I think alot of it has to do with defensive assignments. When you have one less player on your side you generally pack it in a little more and play a defense first mentality where the other team focuses more on attacking. Due to the fact that the other team is pressing up a little further it leaves them more suseptable to counter attacks and the fact that there is one less man to account for can sometimes cause a defense to get out of position or lazy and lose track of their marks or defensive duties. I definitely agree that for some reason the team playing a man down may have an unwanted advantage although they are at a numbers disadvantage.

What I still can't understand is the with the fatigue of playing down a man for 50 minutes and the fact that there playing an extra 30 minutes of overtime shorthanded, why fake an injury and allow the opponents to catch their breath and get a few key minutes of rest.

Absolutely correct. And it gave the referee a reason to add perhaps another minute of stoppage time in the extra time period.