World Cup Soccer

[mrbiggs]

Stoppage time is an arbitrary amount of time added by the referee to each half to make up for the stoppage of play due to injury, substitution and fouls. He just decides how much he thinks went by and adds it on. In the old days it was even more mysterious because He Didn't Tell Anyone how much he was adding and since he has the official time piece he blows the whistle when his watch says the game is over. So you can imagine sometimes some of the teams felt not enough time was added on and some felt things went on too long (like usually another goal too long...). Some refs will allow the last phrase to be finished and some follow the clock more exactly... a subjectivity of officiating most ROW fencers would doubtless find familiar.

Okay, thanks. I suspected it might be something like that.

[Mr Epee]

I'm familiar with most of soccer, but what's this "stoppage time" business? I thought the game ended after 90 minutes. And why is it sometimes 2 minutes and sometimes 3?

If you are not familiar with stoppage time, then you are not familiar with most of soccer... what parts do you understand? Players shouldn't use their hands? Good lord!

Czechs 3 : 1 USA

Sad but true...

[downunder]

c'mon australia!!!

I so will not be working this afternoon...

[Teme]

Czechs 3 : 1 USA

Sad but true...

You're psychic? The match is some 8 hours away yet...

[ReverseLunge]

World Cup Soccer is for the international rednecks to unite.

[Gav]

The final for the day:

Portugal 1, Angola nil

I don't like Football and have been so ... annoyed ... by the coverage I had resigned my self to wishing it would all go away.

But I found myself watching this game.

I have to say that Angola suprised me. They looked alrigh - really surprising me. I wish they had played more adventurously but then [I imagine] the coach's objective was to limit the potential harm a massive goal difference could've inflicted. It's a pity as I thought that, at times, they looked quite effective.

[seak]

USA 1: CR 1

I can't wait for the game to start. Sadly I will be trying to watch it on ESPN gamecast as opposed to a proper tv (damm work!)

[chefencer]

I don't like Football and have been so ... annoyed ... by the coverage I had resigned my self to wishing it would all go away.

But I found myself watching this game.

I have to say that Angola suprised me. They looked alrigh - really surprising me. I wish they had played more adventurously but then [I imagine] the coach's objective was to limit the potential harm a massive goal difference could've inflicted. It's a pity as I thought that, at times, they looked quite effective.

That was an interesting game with both sides being essentially Portugese. In the first 10 minutes I thought it was going to be 5-0 with Portugal playing beautiful football, but by the second half I was sick of that diva Ronaldo and really pulling for Angola and their pluck versus the suddenly Italianate Portugal (sitting on their lead).

[Goofy]

...I wish they (Angola) had played more adventurously but then [I imagine] the coach's objective was to limit the potential harm a massive goal difference could've inflicted. It's a pity as I thought that, at times, they looked quite effective.

A spot-on assessment. The manager also appeared to have newbie jitters for most of the match, resulting in cautious play. With the first match out of the way they will hopefully open up, which should make for great entertainment.

[chefencer]

c'mon australia!!!

I so will not be working this afternoon...

Good luck! I'm enjoying the game so far. I was wondering if the Socceroos style would be similar to Australian Rules, but quite a bit of skill so far. I'm a sucker for backheels...

Uh, oh - Japan just got a gift from the ref... 1-0 Now we'll see if it gets physical...

[mrbiggs]

If you are not familiar with stoppage time, then you are not familiar with most of soccer... what parts do you understand? Players shouldn't use their hands? Good lord!

Czechs 3 : 1 USA

Sad but true...

So stoppage time is most of soccer? If it's that important, I guess I certainly am missing out on something.

[sabreur]

So stoppage time is most of soccer? If it's that important, I guess I certainly am missing out on something.

No. Let me try to explain. Play in soccer is supposed to be continuous--45 minutes without stop. However, there are inevitably some pauses in the game, generally when a player gets tackled hard and has to be treated (or, cynically, when everyone needs a break, so someone falls down and rolls around a bit to allow everyone else to get a drink and catch their breath).

Stoppage time represents these lost minutes--usually 1-3 minutes tacked on to the end of regulation.

The referee, and only the referee, keeps the official clock in soccer--used to be that he'd carry a stopwatch, and no one knew how long stoppage time was going to be. Now, they announce an estimate at the end of each half, but it is still the referee's call as to when the half ends.

By the way, I really like the way Japan plays--very disciplined, nice, but not flashy ballwork, and they run like Energizer bunnies.

MR

[Goofy]

And a flurry of three goals in the final ten minutes of the match make today's first result:

Australia 3, Japan 1

[chefencer]

And a flurry of three goals in the final ten minutes of the match make today's first result:

Australia 3, Japan 1

That Was Crazy! Congrats to the Australians on a gutsy finish!

[sabreur]

By the way, I really like the way Japan plays--very disciplined, nice, but not flashy ballwork, and they run like Energizer bunnies.

Whups...

[Gav]

By the way, I really like the way Japan plays--very disciplined, nice, but not flashy ballwork, and they run like Energizer bunnies.

I really like the way that they and South Korea play.

Both teams play like they have a plan and they run - as you note - around the park ALL the time. It's a real pleasure to watch - completely different from the way most other teams play.

[Katman]

And a flurry of three goals in the final ten minutes of the match make today's first result:

Australia 3, Japan 1

That ought to make downunder happy.

Let's go USA.

[downunder]

just unbelievable.

Japan's goal was really dodgy, fairly clear foul on the goalkeeper.... but Cahill at the end arr so good.

[seak]

congrats to downunder great late scoring run for australia

[Mr Epee]

congrats to downunder great late scoring run for australia

Yes, without DownUnder on the team... the Aussies would have been sunk!