All things sporting [2]

I suspect Americans are confused by the difference between goals and points.

You get 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and none for a loss regardless of the number of goals you score (which only come into it when teams are tied on points- then goal difference is the deciding factor)- finish up with more points than everyone else in your group and you go through- its that simple.

also explains the logic of things like 'playing for a draw' to go through- as you might not need to win to progress as a point will do.
Or by the final game in a group stage you can already, compared to the other teams in your group, have enough points to progress regardless of result in the final game.
Its all about the points at the end of the day.

Also need to bear in mind that it isn't just the top team that goes through, it is the top two out of 4 teams in each group. Technically you could not win any of the 3 games and still go through. Once through the group stages it is knockout football... no draws allowed.

The BBC report was good though. I have followed NFL and that is a league system the same as the World Cup group stages just longer. Not sure why that is hard to understand. Sounds more like people attacking things they don't want to understand because it is not an American past time. Same as when NFL comes over here and people say 'just a bunch of woosies playing rugby in armour.' They don't want to understand it and so they can only make ignorant attacks.

it is the top two out of 4 teams in each group- Lance

I was keeping it as simple as possible so as not to confuse the Americans   

Lancebloke wrote:The BBC report was good though. I have followed NFL and that is a league system the same as the World Cup group stages just longer. Not sure why that is hard to understand. Sounds more like people attacking things they don't want to understand because it is not an American past time. Same as when NFL comes over here and people say 'just a bunch of woosies playing rugby in armour.' They don't want to understand it and so they can only make ignorant attacks.

I think you're spot-on about that. The NFL comparison is a good one, too.

Brazil vs Chile.... brilliant game so far.

Yeah its been good. Hope the second half keeps it going. Its shaping up nicely.

I missed the first half but am just tuning in now. Hope it stays good.

That was never a hand ball- it played his shoulder! If Brazil go out on that call I wouldnt want to be any of the officials!   

Second replay I think it was. Trapped it between his chest and arm I think.

If you need all the ball over the line to score, you need at least more than half the ball to strike the arm I say for it to be deliberate hand ball (same thats not in the rules though! Its a refs call).
Yeah he gets the control out of it but even on the replay I thought 3/4 ball struck his shoulder.

Still, either way it was its a damned brave call in this match.

This is a great match- great save there from the Brazil keeper.

The almost goal was a thing of beauty, handball or no. Dat footwork. I've been unclear as to whether or not the ball hitting the upper arm counts as a handball or not. It definitely appeared to have hit the upper arm in this case.

NB I love the Brazilian players' names. Fred, Jo, and Hulk.

They are under the cosh a bit now Brazil, looking nervy as the clock ticks down- and they aren't getting breaks with the calls, the one chance they create gets tipped away by the defender and they never even got a corner out of it.

With hand ball Eldo- its really the refs call- you cant use your arm or hand to control or alter the course of the ball, but you can use your chest and part of the upper shoulder, how much shoulder is down to the officials to call in the moment.

And to confuse matters it can strike your arm and not be a foul, even your hand and not be a foul if the ref deems it was 'ball to hand' as opposed to 'hand to ball'- basically meaning you couldn't avoid it- such as if someone boots the ball at a hundred miles an hour from half a foot away right at your arm.

Well... extra time.

Eldo - not sure if you know this, but they are Portuguese style names. They have both parents surnames so they use their first name.

More of this game is no bad thing.   

Looks like Chile are playing for penalties now, and they might get them.

Nervracking

I'm nervous.... not sure why.

Squeaky bum and touching cloth time!

Well that was heartstopping   Need extra buckie before the next game!   

It was. Wanted Brazil to go through... world cup wouldn't have been right without.

Respect to Chile though.

Eldo - did you get to see the end?

Damn, that was amazing. This was the first time I'd seen a match go into extra time, much less a penalty shootout. I was surprised at how tense it was.

I was kind of rooting for Chile since they were underdogs and I had been impressed by their play in group stage, but it'll be nice to continue to get to watch Brazil, too. Much respect to Chile for their run in this Cup, though.

"touching cloth"   Your the 1st person Ive heard outside of my Godforsaken family of oddballs that have used it !  

Wow... great goal for Colombia.

Two great goals but they killed the game, was over from the minute the second went in.

Uruguay didn't have any.... teeth... I think Colombia vs Brazil will be a good game.