http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=capress-soc_wcup_ball-3505292 Read that article. I don't know how to quote portions of articles so I will copy and paste in red parts of it. Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar on Saturday called the ball "terrible" and was the first to compare it to those plastic ones bought on a supermarket. Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini said the same thing, calling it a "disaster." "It's very weird," Brazil striker Luis Fabiano said Sunday. "All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you. It's like it doesn't want to be kicked. To a certain degree, what do we know? Players complained about the ball like you said in 90 and 94, but remember, we are in 2010 now. How many advances have been made to a ball. Players complained in 2006, and since then the ball got lighter, bouncier, etc? There has to be a threshold where anything else you do to a ball will affect it's true flight. This ball has divets on them to keep the flight true. Since when does a soccer ball need divets? What did they mess up to have to compensate for, if anytihng? Bottom line, superstars from every nation hate it, and guess what? I'll take their word for it since they are, and we aren't, superstars who make a living kicking a ball. Call it a conspiracy theory or an excuse, but I see it differently, and there has already been evidence of the unpredictable nature of this ball in the early stages of the tournament. /end rant.
FIFA should have a universal ball for Every tourney from Euro to Con, to Gold, to World cup. But these complaints have to happen every single WC? When do we just ignore it?
Well, I think the question is where do you draw the line? Apparently the ball passed all of FIFA's tests and criteria sets. However, I think the tests are simple bounce tests from certain height and volume retention is certain temperatures, etc and the criteria sets are physical in nature like diameter, weight, coefficient of friction, etc. But, if all that criteria is met, you still can't ensure a true flight until you try it, which is when many players publicly disapproved. At the end of the day, every team will be using the same ball, so it is what it is. I just hate seeing a goalie surprised by a sudden swerve the opposite way, like those plastic bouncy balls you give to 4 years olds bought at supermarkets like Julio Cesar mentioned.
The issues I have is that Addidas sponsered athletes have no problem with the ball from what I've seen, and players sponsered by other companies rip it. All of these players have a bias, and it's hard to get a true idea of whether the ball really is a problem, or whether Nike athletes and such are just slamming it b/c it's an Addidas ball?
that may be true but in basketball it leads to foul shots, which is a tiny portion in a team's opportunity to score in a given game. flopping in and around the box on the other hand, can skew the entire match if basketball was determined by rare foul shots, i would see your point
Addidas sponsored players have no choice but to say they like it. I don't see the others purposely disliking the ball because it isn't made by their main sponsor especially since Nike, Puma, and the rest have no chance at supplying FIFA until 2014. http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/156614/adidas-and-fifa-strike-351m-deal
Nice. I've seen Damian in concert several times. Always a blast. You understood his lyrics? The week of that album leak, I got about 15-20 different texts asking me what Damian is saying in such and such song.
Yeah I understand him. He's got a heavy accent but I understand him. His lyrics are very bright and make you think. The album is ridiculously great. The Promise Land and Patience I could listen to all day. I've had the album in my car since it leaked lol.
Exactly. They want to prove to FIFA that adidas is bad at making soccer balls, and their companies will get it the next time around.
God I need to expand my soccer viewing beyond La Liga, English Premier, German Bundesliga, & Serie A. Some of these other players are really fun to watch. Recommendations? I play soccer (couple of times per week on the average at least) much more than I watch it, but I'm starting to really get into it. That's all my dad watches really, so.... I need your help!
OT - Promise Land & Patience are also my favorite tracks, along with Leaders. I got hooked on the album as soon as it leaked too. Took a one day break when Drake leaked and got bored of that instantly. Distant Relatives & Recovery... I'll be listening to these two albums for the rest of 2010 at least! I listen to mostly dancehall reggae, but Damian, like Nas is the perfect artist when you want to get "spiritual"... dude's knowledge is really out there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distant_Relatives PM me if you want a link... I can get one easily
The Mexican league isn't bad if you can get by the commentary. I don't understand a word of spanish so it can be annoying watching the Mexican games but they are pretty interesting. If you want quality soccer that's not much aerial attack but mostly on the ground, watch the Dutch league. I enjoy it. A lot of creativity and quality footwork in there. That's about all I can think of. The SPL (Scottish PL) is not all that great IMO. The Bundesliga is hard to watch. It's so dull. EDIT: Ligue 1 has some nice young talent. I enjoy watching them, just for scouting purposes. Helps me in FIFA 10 Manager Mode too haha. Distant Relatives.
I'm in the same boat. Downloaded the Drizzy album, listened to a few songs and then was like "back to Distant Relatives". Haven't taken it out since and that's all I've been listening to lol. Helluva album.
Thanks. I absolutely love watching the Dutch play, so I'm definitely going to check that out. Tried to get into it a few years back actually, but never got around to it. I don't know if I can take much of the spanish networks either. Check out Recovery. Em's last two albums were horrendous and he admits to it, but Recovery is close to a classic in my opinion. Just waiting to see how long it lasts in terms of replay value...
Looks like France will see an early departure. Wow. Maybe now they will realize Domenic is an idiot. Uruguay will have 4 points with a +3 GD Mexico will have 4 points with a +2 GD France at 1 point and a goal differential of -2 will be hard pressed to see the second round since Uruguay has the GD +3 and Mexico has the head to head win.
So who does everyone think could be a NEW country to win the World Cup? The most likely is obviously the Netherlands. The ones who still seem like they could make a run are Mexico, United Stated, Japan, Switzerland, Paraguay. I guess you could add Ivory Coast and Portugal. Japan and Netherlands play soon, that will be an interesting game. You never know who will get hot in the knockout round, but the "powers" haven't looked so dominant except for Germany and Argentina. France is pretty much done, it is likely that Brazil and Spain could meet in the round of 16. IF the USA wins their next 2, it's possible England could have to face Germany in the round of 16. And who knows if Italy can last all the way to the end. I think we're very likely to have a new country in the top 3 at least.
I'll go with that! The Netherlands is always the team I root for if Italy gets knocked out. All because of Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard. My fav. dutch player now is Van der Vaart.
I'll third that. Wesley Sneijder has really grown on me. Guy just constantly makes plays without all the flash. The dutch Xavi IMO.
haha. such a pleasant atmosphere. it must be so much fun to sit in the stands, not watch the match and blow on a horn for 90 minutes
Have always been my darkhorses for the tournament. Best thing is nobody is really talking about them. Hopefully they continue to be overlooked.
I'll make that a fourth. As soon as Croatia was kabonged in qualifying I became a fan of the Dutch. It's always that way and always will be as long as Canada continues to be terrible at a game we are good at (until the kids turn 16 and have no where left to play).
Seeing France lose made my day... Full props to Mexico. I was right about them advancing over France... missed on RSA vs Uruguay though...
Yeah, the Dutch always play quality football. They have a TON of young talent in the Dutch ligue so if you watch it on a yearly basis, you'll get to grow with them and I've always liked that. I like to see the improvement of a player. It's why I'm an avid Arsenal fan because of the manager, Arsene Wenger, and the youth player development. Haha, Spanish is so damn difficult to listen to for me. No offense to spanish speakers or of the Latin origin we have here, I just find it very annoying but I'm sure you guys feel the same way about some of the other languages. Yeah, I've heard some of it and it's good but I'm just trying to take a break from rap. I just want some chill music and I've mostly been listening to reggae (again). Mostly the Marley's and 10 Ft Ganja Plant. I listen to Nas, forever will, and even though he's rap, he's not like others lol, as you know.
Nice!. BTW even though Rafa Márquez is a diva and injury prone, he has been the best Mexican player so far IMO. You're right. LOL
Here's Adolf's take on the dreaded vuvuzela. It blows, literally and figuratively: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Ln_rqPpPk&feature=popular"]YouTube- Hitler and the vuvuzela at the 2010 Fifa World Cup.[/ame]
germany facing adversity with only 10 men after a ridiculous yellow red card for klose, lets see what this young team is made of 2nd half coming up
Great game between Serbia and Germany. Germany were fantastic again, but Podoski had a poor game, not just becuase he missed the penalty, but also he lacked conviction at vital moments. But considering Klose was sent off so early, the Germans were still so dangerous and played the game in the right way. I think this tournament maybe beyond them, but they have a great future. They are still not out of this by any means though. This tournament is better with Germany in it. As for the ref, awful, just awful.
Population of the United States : 309,527,000. Population of Slovenia: 2,059,730. The biggest nation against the smallest today.
Back-tracking a bit, I just wanna say: Germany got royally screwed today. You thought the NBA Finals officiating was bad.
