They need to spend a little time listening to their foreign counterparts. Try some enthusiasm and humor rather than pissing, moaning, and nit picking about everything. The many cards in the Portugal/Netherlands could have inspired the following comments rather than: “Too many cards. Yah, too many cards, is it like a record? Almost.” Here goes:
1. The ref thinks its Christmas as he sends another card to the Dutch....
2. We've seen more yellow today than the WC of your local pub...
3. In 1964 Italian Bobsleder Eugenio Monti lent the British team a bolt to fix their sled and the the Brits went on to win the gold, one of the greatest moments in sportsmanship - which is nothing like what we are seeing on the pitch here today.
4. The ref must think he's the bell of the ball as he adds another name to his dance card...
5. I see the fourth official is bringing out a new pencil as the man in charge has worn his out…
6. Perhaps, yes, I have to do it! I'm reaching in my pocket and pulling out a yellow for the man in charge... he’s lost control!
And today’s match of Switzerland and Ukraine was - SURPRIZE! - a 0-0 draw. I heard nothing but complaints about the lack of scoring and nothing positive about the superb defense both teams were playing. When the ball neared the box, two to four defenders merged to the spot, blocked the play or took possession - many crosses and shots were blocked. Note that the goal was struck on two set pieces, not many real chances from play. Did they not realize the Swiss had not allowed a goal, and with the exception of the pummeling they received from Spain neither had the Ukraine? For the final hour of the match all I heard from the booth succinctly was: “Hey - why doesn't someone just walk down there and score?” It wasn't 0-0 due to lack of effort from the offensive side, it was 0-0 due to spectacular defense. Give them some credit. I never hear during a basketball game “Oh no! Another blocked shot! What a horrible game! Can’t these players just shoot around the defender?” So please, no more whining in the booth. Try to make it interesting, try to be clever, and try to be funny.
3 comments:
Whoa... whoa... whoa... The Switzerland vs. Ukraine game had very little to do with great defense. It had a lot to do with piss poor offense, but little do with great defense. Neither of those two teams could have strung two passes together if they had crap cards playing euchre.
That was boring. Compare that to the essentially goalless draw that the Socceroos played Italy to. One of those games was exciting, and one of them was like watching the Cubs play the Cubs... a bad example of the sport.
Need more proof of shite offense? How many PKs did the Swiss convert? They couldn't even score from the spot! I understand that we like footie here, but that game blew goats.
Well in mcSey, well in. But on some level you do have to respect a team that allowed zero goals in four games at the world cup, which they obviously needed to do since they can't score from the spot when the goalie does a little dance during the approach. I remember that worked in high school but I didn't think it would prove effective at the world cup level.
Monti reference: brilliant!
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