Assessing a Ref

The Ref asked me to watch his co-ed rec game and report on the refereeing in that contest. As noted in his post below, he has been, oh, a bit dissatisfied with the refereeing and, in particular, doesn't think the refs take the game seriously enough. After watching the game, I would agree that the level of refereeing is not great and that neither ref working the 2-man system is working all that hard.

There were few challenging plays during the game, no really significant blown calls, a few questionable whistles. On one play, the ref called for a corner kick, thinking the ball went off the GK. When the Gk said he didn't touch the ball, the ref changed the call. I don't think the other team was pleased. (It looked from where I was that the ball did hit the GK, but I was down the field on the other side of the halfway line.) The ref on the far side from where I was standing did little running (yes, it's really, really hot here and they were working several games, but still . . . ). He was in position to make a couple of offside calls, but only by happenstance did he saunter down there in time. Generally, he wasn't close to the 2d to last defender, especially when the ball got down low towards the goal line. His partner on my side also rarely ventured close to the halfway line, and neither ever pinched in towards the middle of the field when the ball was on the far side away from them. For example, on corner kicks, neither moved up to watch the action at the top of the 18. In their defense, the one time action called for a card, the near side ref was right on it.

The game was fun to watch, with some positive play by members of both teams. Many players had a good feel for the game and demonstrated solid skills. As for the Ref, he got himself fouled in the PA, the near side ref called it, and he easily placed the ball to the left side of the net as the keeper dove right. (Making up for a miss on a semi-break away from the right side, his shot hitting side netting.)

one last (?) word on WC referees

this was originally posted as a comment on the last topic on the site but i feel that the topic is important enough to merit it's own headline

i couldn't disagree with the AR more on the qualiity of WC refereeing. the incompetence was shocking and meanspirited. the inconsistentcy we saw from play to play(think about the calls and non calls in the Spain/Tunisia game as an example). the constant talk throughout germany was about how bad the officiating was- i have watched the cup religiously since we began to be able to see all of the games live (was that first in 94?) and this was far and away the most dismal performance i have seen by the officials. as i have posted bfore, the favoritism shown towards the big teams (with Italy being peerhaps the biggest beneficiary. the penalty against the aussies and the calls in the US game were absurd- i watched the US game on tv, in an unbiased French bar with italian fans, and everyone there thought the calls against the US were too severe- and don't get me started on the call against Gooch in the Ghana game).

the diving calls, or lack of them, were an embarassment to the game and it is clear that it has to be taken out of the refs hands and be subject to post game video review. i would also endorse the idea of a 2nd ref on the field to catch these cheats more effectively (and for lots of other reasons). guys like cristiano ronaldo need to be severely disciplined- expelled from the game if necessary.

On the other side of the Whistle

This past World Cup saw plenty of Referees get their decisions questioned. Everyone is able to make their opinion known and make comment as well. However no one could ever saw that a referee was not taking the game seriously. Each referee was putting their all into every game whether it was the first or the last game of the tournament. Even the referee took the Coasta Rica v Poland game seriously even if the outcome didnt matter at all.

Now getting to my problem at the moment. When I referee, I take games seriously, sure some might be more light-hearted and other more serious but that does not mean I do not give the same amount of effort to each game. No matter what game I referee, I know I am getting paid and there is a standard for that. A referee accepts an assignment and fee to referee a game so he or she should referee at the best of their ability and give all their effort.

I say this because during this summer I have been playing in a saturday/sunday coed recreational league. I have been going as a pick up player, I just ask the teams there if they might need another player and most of the time they allow me to jump in. Each team however pays dues over $1200 worth for 8 games at least. And that doesnt include uniforms and getting to and from the games. The league seems willing to only pay 2 referees and one of them is there for games on saturday and sunday and other one seems to rotate between the main referee's son and friend. All three of these people bring a bad name to referees. I know its only a sunday league but that doesnt mean you can be texting on your cellphone during the game or sitting in the middle of the field waiting for the next game to start. Worst of all is the positioning. Neither referee is with the 2nd to last defender on the touch line or even on the goal line when the ball calls for it. Sometimes the main referee is talking to the players on the bench and then sees someone fall over and calls it from the opposite half of the field.

These referees do not take their job seriously nor do they realize the money being spent on the other side by the players themselves. I am not condoning referee abuse by yelling at the referee but I will say I have had to talk to the referees about how can they call a foul when they arent even in a position to see the foul.

The AR is going to see one of the games in the league I am talking about this upcoming weekend, maybe he will disagree and tell me that as being a player my vision is blinded, but for right now I feel disgusted.

And the champions will be wearing...

With Adidas their new clothing provider English Champions Chelsea just revealed their new shirt.

And a new look to the Man U Shirt as well.

Not much change overall with Chelsea but this is the first look with the AIG sponsor on the Man U shirt. Also their crest is on a patch that is then put on the shirt, nice touch nike.

2010: Where in the world?

Hold up with all this South Africa business. Great country and would love to go back but the question is finally being asked can they do it in 3 years. Get this there is a contingency plan and guess where? USA or Australia. Click here for more info.

Betrayed yet looking forward

As we all know what happened in the final the only word that comes to mind is Betrayal. I was rooting for France because of Zizou. Of course I had also been drawn in by Ribery and Henry's cutting runs. But when I saw what had happened the next 20 minutes of my life didnt really matter. Seeing Italy celebrate didnt bring goosebumps because of that partial glory feeling one gets by seeing such a celebration. I just sat there, looking at the screen, getting even more upset about Balboa. All the commentators kept score of who the best referees were and how the coaches were doing but all along ESPN needed to keep track on their man, their color guy, Balboa. Everyone I have talked to since the World Cup has agreed, HE WAS HORRIBLE. Even his wikipedia profile talks about him alienating true soccer fans. John Harkes did a great job and, like referees, should have been given the final.

As we turn towards the upcoming European season we actually start here in the states. The USA being the choice destination for teams to get some warm up before the demanding day in and day out grind starts back overseas. Just last week we saw Celtic come over to DC and get a lashing from DC United 4-nil. Lack of fitness clearly showed and temper as well, as celtic were out run and given one red card during the next match. Within the next week we will see the MLS Allstars playing Chelsea FC in Chicago. The MLS team will be coached by the DC Unite Coach Peter Nowak and anchored by 7 DC United players on the 18 player roster.

This just in: Bruce Arena will become the new head coach of Red Bull NY. Which gives him the chance to bring the last place team in the east for the 4th spot in the playoffs and then make a run for the championship, which will most likely happen. He is also replacing the lovable, hugable, and small Richie Williams that was the interim coach and one-time player for Arena at DC United. All the best to the former metrostars. However this brings up the DC v NY feud: How could Bruce ever go against his former club, oh wait, this is the MLS. Nevermind.

Please let the english season start so that I can see some good soccer and get this lingering feeling that nothing good in soccer is happening right now. Of course Chelsea is the team to beat, with signings of Sheva and Ballack, but with Man U's finicial dealings and lack of a strike force and Arsenal dealing with too many stikers and not enough in the back, I am looking at Tottenham to creep up the table. They just brought in Zokora and are linked with bringing in demoted-juve star Pavel Nedved.

Thats all for now but there will be more to come...

Didn't take long

for the Zidane meltdown to become available on YouTube.

Italy Survives

Hoisting its fourth World Cup, Italy survives France 5-3 in penalties after a 120-minute 1-1 draw. And I mean survives. France dominated play the final 45 minutes of regular time and for the first 20 of overtime. Even having Thierry Henry subbed off three minutes into the second OT period and then losing Zidane to the most bizarre red card (and most clearly deserved) three minutes later, France remained more of a threat than Italy. In fact, Italy rarely challenged the French defense, keeping 7-8 players back no more than 20-25 yards from their defensive goal for much of the OT period. It seemed less about playing for penalties than simply being completely drained: Italy was playing its second 120 minute game in four days.

What to day about this picture? Look at yesterday's post. The saying is that a picture is worth a thousand words. This picture and the ones posted yesterday bring stunned silence. Today's papers offer no explanation. Zidane hasn't spoken to the press since the Cup began. What could he say? What could Marco Materazzi have said or done to have warranted such a reaction? I once had a 16-year-old boy tell me he pushed his opponent because the other guy said something that required him to defend his honor. You expect overreaction and dumb behavior from a 16-year-old. Zidane doesn't have that excuse.

But nothing should be allowed to tarnish Italy's overall performance. The team's defense lived up to its reputation: no goals scored against it in the run of play, one on an own goal and one on a PK. But it was more of a bend, not break defense: Buffon led the tournament with 27 saves (by contrast, Barthez made only 14 saves in 7 games). But he rose to every occasion, here nudging Zidane's late header over the cross-bar.

One final note on the officiating over the past several games. Hector Elizondo, yesterday's ref, did a superb job, as did the refs in most of the knock-out games. He had great field presence, was remarkably fit -- covering as much ground as any of the players (without the option that field players have of conserving energy when necessary). While some will dispute the PK in the 7th minute and question whether he should have awarded a second to France in the 53rd, I think both were strong decisions, easily defended. (The difference between the penalty called and the noncall, it seems to me -- and I'll need to review the second incident -- is that in the first incident, Malouda took the ball and was splitting two defenders, moving towards the goal with ball still within playing distance, when the trailing defender clipped his heels. In the second incident, Malouda was running to the left of the goal, pretty deep, and the ball was going away from him and into touch. I don't think he would have had a chance to play the ball before it went out of play had he stayed upright. Elizondo also seemed to have a pretty strict standard when it came to player falls, being particularly wary of flopping.)

So that's all from me for now. What do you think??

Complete Lunacy

Going with heart

One game left.

Not the final I expected, nor one that most thought would take place. That Italy is in the final perhaps is not a huge surprise, given that they have been pretty highly ranked for ever and have been playing pretty solid soccer for a long time. France clearly is the bigger surprise: an aging team that returned a lot of the players from the 2002 team that failed to make it out of group play or even score a goal.

So the head says Italy: it has been the most consistent team in the tournament, the most organized, the most dangerous. With 11 goals from 10 players, opponents can't key on one or two. The defense has been magnificent, with no goals surrendered from the play of opponents. And unlike the stereotype of Italian soccer, that of playing only defense with an occasional foray into the attacking half, this team has played aggressive soccer, looking to score as well as defend.

But! France has been playing with heart, especially over the past three games. After the French beat Togo to get into the first knock-out game against Spain, a French fan I met at the bar where I was watching the game said, Spain would be hard to beat: "Too strong, too hard." But win France did, with a splendid effort from Frank Ribery and two late goals from a couple of the old men, Patrick Viera and Zinedine Zidane. Of course, this just won France a date with Brazil. You know, BRAZIL. Of course, all France did was dominate the game, the 1-0 score not indicative of how much France controlled the game. And Zizou was magnifique! His cross to Theirry Henry was perfect and the resulting goal as pretty as any scored in the tournament. Against Portugal, France wasn't as dominant and the game not as pretty, but to my mind that's as much because of the way Portugal played in this WC. Even here, Zidane showed his cool talent, taking three steps to the ball on the PK and blasting the ball past Ricardo.

It comes down to this: I'd really like to see Zidane win this, his final soccer game. He has been such a pleasure to watch this tournament -- not flashy, just brilliantly consistent. I'd be great for his final game to end with him accepting the WC trophy as France's captain.


Of course, if the game comes down to a question of goal keeping, all bets are off. I've been very impressed with Buffon and, though he's not been challenged all that often, whenever he's faced the attack from an opponent, he's been up to the challenge. With Barthez, you hold your breath and pray that he'll make the right decision (come out, stay back??), hold onto the ball (Figo missed a lot of net the other day after a Barthez bobble), and not make that one (or two or three) mistakes that can cost a team. History is a bit comforting here: Barthez has had something on the order of 9 clean sheets in WC play and the last time he played in a WC final, he didn't allow a goal against Brazil. And the French defense is not too shabby, either.

My guess: France 2-1 over Italy.

See you after the game.

Germany's strong finish

Three goals during the run of play! The second half of the consolation game was fun to watch as four goals were scored, three of them during the run of play.

The first goal, by Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger was a thing of beauty. From one angle, the ball seemed to change directions twice. Portugal's keeper was helpless. A few minutes later, Schweinsteiger's free kick was deflected into goal by Portugal's Petit, and at the 78 minute mark, Schweinsteiger completed his evening with a second rocket, a shot that kept curving away from Ricardo, who was helpless on all three goals. At the other end of the pitch, Oliver Kahn made several great saves, was beaten on a great cross from Figo to Nuno Gomes, and was a bit lucky just before the goal when a ball was headed at his leg while he seemed to be looking elsewhere upfield.

For Germany, a great way to end WC 2006; but for Portugal, not so good. And, in particular, for Cristiano Ronaldo, I hope a learning experience. He's got too much talent to squander with flops and dives. He got no breaks from the referee today, and deserved none, as he continued to fall with the slightest of touches. The crowd, partisan to be sure, jeered his every touch. Between now and Euro 2008, I hope he's able to redeem himself by playing smarter and by avoiding the drama. Apparently, as reported here, Germany's Lukas Poldolski won the FIFA young player award over Ronaldo in large measure because of "fair play" issues.

another link worth checking out

i seemto be into links at the moment- check out this one from an op-ed in today's NY Times. when the nba went to three refs, everyone thought it would ruin the flow of the game- and that hasnt happened. two refs in soccer seems so obvious to me (combined with some sort of post game video policing to combat cheats like C. Ronaldo and anyone else from Portugal or Argentina).

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/08/opinion/08hirshey.html?th&emc=th

allez les bleus! forza azzurri! i can't decide.

Swim Meet or Soccer Match?

You be the judge.

Italy-France in the Final

With humility, I refer you back to my prediction post here. As I was pouring over scouting reports making my picks, Ms. AR said that she probably could do as well using darts or picking by uniform color. No doubt about that! (Ukraine-Czech Rep in the knock-out stage? Not even close. WHAT was I thinking?? Or smoking?!?!?!)

The Italy-Germany game was great fun to watch. Good, attacking soccer. Both teams played aggressively, with the Italians clearly the better team overall. The old story-line, which gets repeated current evidence notwithstanding, that Italy only plays defense and waits for the counterattack simply does not mirror what has become a more interesting approach to the game. Italy's late subs, adding more up-front firepower, not only was intended to put better spot-kickers into the game just in case it went to penalties, but also added to the offensive pressure Italy placed on Germany. I also have to say that I was pleased to see, finally, goals scored sort of during the run of play. (While the first goal followed a corner kick, it did not come directly off the kick, so I count that as during the run of play.) I've not kept track, but it seems to me that a high percentage of goals have come from set pieces, which only underscores the importance of drawing that foul (or as meanbaldguy laments, diving) near your opponent's goal.

The France-Portugal game was less thrilling. Choppy play. As far as I am concerned, the better team won and I'm not disappointed Portugal is out. Of all the games and teams I watched over the past several weeks, Portugal, it seemed to me, spent more time diving and simulating fouls than any of its competitors. I say this with disappointment, too, because there are players on the team who I like and who are genuinely great at what they do (their day jobs as footballers and not as thespians): Figo, Deco, Maniche, Ronaldo, Ricardo, and so forth. But for whatever reason, as the WC went on, the team seemed less interested in play and more interested in attempting to draw fouls and cards. As for France, it's been improving from game to game. While this performance wasn't as compelling as its victory over Brazil (a victory foreshadowed by the way Ghana, without all of France's weapons, outplayed Brazil for all but a few brief but critical moments), this is a team on a mission: not only to reach the final but to will the WC outright and send Zizou, the best player of his generation, into retirement with a second cup.

Both Italy and France have been playing good offensive soccer. Who will win? I'll ask my wife and get back to you.

US Fans Not Happy With ESPN

The Wall St Journal published an article a couple of days ago addressing fan displeasure with the ABC/ESPN broadcast of WC2006. The main focus of the article is the No. 1 play-by-play guy Dave O'Brien who brought about zero experience with soccer broadcasting to the job. Less is said about some of the more (in my mind) egregious comments of his "color" side-kick, Marcello Balboa, or some of the other innanities mouthed during pre-game, half-time, or post-game from the studio hosts.

To read the article, click on the comment section link

check this out

see this post from soccernet for a great view on the diving problem that i have ranted about in the past. this problem must be fixed- the integrity of the game is at risk.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=373195&root=worldcup&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1

What, no soccer today?

Sixty games down and four to go in the 2006 WC. Yesterday was a day off and there's nothing to watch today (not even on GOL-TV). Yesterday, we got our soccer fix at a Washington Freedom game, played out at the Soccerplex in Germantown, Md. The Freedom, a team composed of former members of the last Freedom team from the WUSA, a couple of Australian national team players, current and former college players, members of the US U-21 women's team, and others, played a similarly composed team from New York. Freedom won 3-0, thanks to a brilliant corner from Lori Lindsey (pictured above from an earlier game) headed smartly by Joanna Lohman in the first half and two late second half goals, the first from Lohman (who almost had a third goal), and a final goal from a player whose name I didn't catch.

I was fun to be at a game and not in front of the television (though for the Ref, who also was at the game, quite a different atmosphere from his last live game in Munich; pobrecito). It also was fun to watch a game played at a different tempo, to watch careful midfield play, to watch crisp passing, and to watch team play and goals scored not off of set pieces but in the actual flow of the game (only the first goal came from a set piece).

Now, what do I do today??

More on the WC later.