England's Disgraceful Dive in WWC

[Unregistered]

and the penalty not called for germany that would have put them down a player as well, and had england not given japan their goal, it really could have been a different game.. but enough about could have should haves....

Good points! IMO, the results were correct and the better teams both won in their semis.

[Unregistered]

Okay so both finalists had the help of some bad calls to reach the finals. Let's not forget Morgan's penalty that wasn't because contact occurred outside the box and Johnston's red card that wasn't for denial of goal scoring opportunity in the box. Had that call been correctly made, the US would have been playing with 10 players, a much different game. But regardless both US and Japan are in finals and it should be a fun game.

There were two fouls in the box against the Americans in the first 15 mins of the game. The ref swallowed the whistle on both. Also, the German who was fouled by Johnston could have been called for a foul herself for barreling through Johnston to get to that ball. Popp is a "manly" player who felt a hand on her shoulder and went down like a wet noodle. Only in that situation when trying to draw a penalty does Popp go down that easily. The foul against Alex Morgan was actually a body block on the line of the 18. That could have just as easily been a red card for the German player. The Germans had their chance to change the momentum but they choked and missed the penalty.
On that night, the USA was the better team and deserved to go through.

[Unregistered]

There were two fouls in the box against the Americans in the first 15 mins of the game. The ref swallowed the whistle on both. Also, the German who was fouled by Johnston could have been called for a foul herself for barreling through Johnston to get to that ball. Popp is a "manly" player who felt a hand on her shoulder and went down like a wet noodle. Only in that situation when trying to draw a penalty does Popp go down that easily. The foul against Alex Morgan was actually a body block on the line of the 18. That could have just as easily been a red card for the German player. The Germans had their chance to change the momentum but they choked and missed the penalty.
On that night, the USA was the better team and deserved to go through.

Nope no matter how you want to spin it the Morgan contact occurred outside the box even the insufferable homers on ESPN FC and Fox Soccer concede the point, then promptly go through the list of all the wrong done to the US that you cite. So you must be watching just choose to ignore both your eyes and ears when discussing the Morgan penalty call. But it's over and done, should be good game on Sunday, go USA!

BTW--we have our own infamous "manly" flopper derided around the world--Abbey

[Unregistered]

Omigod!!! So people are finally starting to realize that soccer is one of the most subjective sports played where a few calls by referees can easily dictate the outcome? Unlike other sports where scoring is more plentiful (which lessens the impact of most individual calls), the difference between a goal or not can be life and death and as such, the sport is more susceptible to bad or missed calls.

However, this didn't just start recently, soccer has always been like this. There isn't much that can be done about it without substantially altering the game. To think that we can have perfect referees when even the players, coaches and officials (all much more compensated) are so flawed is ridiculous.

[Unregistered]

I don't recall those. Couldn't have been that bad.

Poster was right - at least about Morgan. Defender had one hand on left hip and the other on right shoulder - threw her to ground right at the end line.

[Unregistered]

Omigod!!! So people are finally starting to realize that soccer is one of the most subjective sports played where a few calls by referees can easily dictate the outcome? Unlike other sports where scoring is more plentiful (which lessens the impact of most individual calls), the difference between a goal or not can be life and death and as such, the sport is more susceptible to bad or missed calls.

However, this didn't just start recently, soccer has always been like this. There isn't much that can be done about it without substantially altering the game. To think that we can have perfect referees when even the players, coaches and officials (all much more compensated) are so flawed is ridiculous.

This is why we enjoy watching the beautiful game. They are often close games and the tide can change quickly. Although the matches are not always just, the England Japan game was exciting to watch and there were many scoring opportunities for both.

[Unregistered]

C'mon, worse than the 10,00 Celtic threads?

Celtic Troll created this thread too.

[Unregistered]

Poster was right - at least about Morgan. Defender had one hand on left hip and the other on right shoulder - threw her to ground right at the end line.

And that is the issue with televised games. Most people will only see the plays that are pointed out by commentators or that the producers actually show multiple replays of. Lots of things happen that we dont really see because of the camera angle they choose to show.

Who knows what it would have looked like if all of the possible calls were made correctly. Unfortunately sports are imperfect.

But on the topic of flopping, fortunately it doesn't seem that most teams do it on the women's side. Colombia was the worst I saw by far. It was actually difficult to watch that one. But I still wouldnt compare it to the men's game. They have gotten so out of hand, at least at the World Cup, that it has changed the game and not for the better. It gets so tiring to see someone grab their face like they were shot when there was no contact at all or maybe some contact at a lower level. In my opinion it is the same as cheating. I fully understand that there must be some great temptation to go down a little easier in the box and in fact you wont see a call in the box unless the player does go down. But the overly dramatic stuff just cheapens the game.

And in my opinion, the US stays pretty much away from that stuff on both sides. Not saying they dont go down easy sometimes but in general we play soccer. If nothing else, that makes me proud to be a fan.

[Unregistered]

I'd like to see them institute a penalty for an action called "embellishment". If you flop, the ref can cite you for embellishment. That would fix the problem.

[Unregistered]

I'd like to see them institute a penalty for an action called "embellishment". If you flop, the ref can cite you for embellishment. That would fix the problem.

Really? That already exists but it's called "simulation". Unless the match officials are permitted to review TV replays, it's impossible to catch most simulations in real time. We at home have the benefit of multiple, super slow-motion replays and yell and scream at the refs who don't catch the deceptions in real time that occur lightening quick.

[Unregistered]

It wasn't a dive jack rabbitt

hmmm....matter of opinion like most things in soccer. "The Telegraph" describes the penalty call as follows: "There was minimal contact [England code for diving, BTW] by the former Chelsea striker Yuki Ogimi on Steph Houghton when the England captain went down...."

[Unregistered]

hmmm....matter of opinion like most things in soccer. "The Telegraph" describes the penalty call as follows: "There was minimal contact [England code for diving, BTW] by the former Chelsea striker Yuki Ogimi on Steph Houghton when the England captain went down...."

foul on the Japanese winger was a yard outside to box on the PK awarded to Japan

[Unregistered]

foul on the Japanese winger was a yard outside to box on the PK awarded to Japan

neither were penalties....the second was a make up call.

[Unregistered]

foul on the Japanese winger was a yard outside to box on the PK awarded to Japan

Yep that's why the ref made the make up call on England's penalty flop, er, "minimal contact" penalty.

[Unregistered]

Anything about English soccer is disgraceful....send them all back to the islands I say !