**Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Thread**

[EbylHusker]

This WC has been insane.

 

[hskrfan4life]

Heading to extra time! 1-1 tie between Costa Rica and Greece

 

[hskrfan4life]

Penalty kicks now between Greece and Costa Rica.

 

[hskrfan4life]

Greece's coach has just been thrown out of the game.

 

[deedsker]

Costa Rica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wiuhusker]

Netherlands got a free shot to win the game because of a sh**ty flop. This game is unwatchable.

Definitely was a flop. But the ref missed an obvious PK situation in the first half with Robben being taken down as well. Guess things have a way of working themselves out.

Two flops make a right?

It's a cowardly way to play any sport, much less one on the main world stage. The NBA has at least tried to stop these actions, while FIFA seems to celebrate and define the sport with these flops.

The one in the first half was not a flop. The guy from Mexico who actually took Robben down broke his leg on the slide tackle so there had to have been some amount of contact. With that being said there is too much flopping in soccer. Just didn't feel back for Mexico on this occasion.

 

[tschu]

Netherlands got a free shot to win the game because of a sh**ty flop. This game is unwatchable.

Definitely was a flop. But the ref missed an obvious PK situation in the first half with Robben being taken down as well. Guess things have a way of working themselves out.

It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well. As good as Mexico played for the first 40-50 minutes, the better team still won.

 

[Whistlebritches]

This is an outstanding 15 minute piece on diving/flopping/embellishing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNx5ok60U6A

 

[GSG]

U.S. becoming fan favorite of other World Cup team nations

Chile fan Edgar Miller, speaking in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, said his appreciation for American fans was as simple as a smile.

"We like Americans because you are happy," said Miller, two hours before his team was cruelly knocked out of the tournament by Brazil on penalty kicks. "Fans of Chile, we are always either nervous or sad. We expect to have our hopes taken away. We cheer for our team and we love them, but we have this history of disappointment."

"We like your mental state," said a slightly inebriated German fan called Jorg (but who insisted on being referred to as George) at Recife airport on Friday. "[Americans] are likeable and friendly and your football [team] is the same. There are no, how do you say, villains. Americans have been the most fun to hang out with. And drink with. Good luck to you."

 

[Hooked on Huskers]

Netherlands got a free shot to win the game because of a sh**ty flop. This game is unwatchable.

Definitely was a flop. But the ref missed an obvious PK situation in the first half with Robben being taken down as well. Guess things have a way of working themselves out.

It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well. As good as Mexico played for the first 40-50 minutes, the better team still won.

... and little girl dive (Robben). BTW I'm confused, "It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well".

Or maybe legit foul just before flopping scene ? (at +90 period)

 

[Bigred_inSD]

Netherlands got a free shot to win the game because of a sh**ty flop. This game is unwatchable.

Definitely was a flop. But the ref missed an obvious PK situation in the first half with Robben being taken down as well. Guess things have a way of working themselves out.

It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well. As good as Mexico played for the first 40-50 minutes, the better team still won.

... and little girl dive (Robben). BTW I'm confused, "It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well".

kenny bell definitely pushed that msu player two years ago. The msu player definitely dove

 

[Whistlebritches]

Netherlands got a free shot to win the game because of a sh**ty flop. This game is unwatchable.

Definitely was a flop. But the ref missed an obvious PK situation in the first half with Robben being taken down as well. Guess things have a way of working themselves out.

It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well. As good as Mexico played for the first 40-50 minutes, the better team still won.

... and little girl dive (Robben). BTW I'm confused, "It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well".

Or maybe legit foul before flopping act ?

In the video i linked above they talk about some of this.

The refs are very unlikely to award a foul, especially in the box, if the player doesn't go down and so now a lot of strikers will go down after contact. The defenders know this and need to be more aware of sticking their foot out like that and planting it. They'r inviting an attacker to weekly trip over it to try and draw a foul. It sucks but it's how the game has evolved.

Robben had his foot stepped on which is a foul whether or not it was intentional. Had he not gone down then no penalty would have been given. The best argument that I've seen about this specific incident and it not getting called is that it wasn't consistent with how loosely the rest of the match had been called.

 

[tschu]

Exactly. A foul certainly occurred, but Robben also sold it to ensure that it would be called.

 

[Mierin]

Netherlands got a free shot to win the game because of a sh**ty flop. This game is unwatchable.

Definitely was a flop. But the ref missed an obvious PK situation in the first half with Robben being taken down as well. Guess things have a way of working themselves out.

It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well. As good as Mexico played for the first 40-50 minutes, the better team still won.

... and little girl dive (Robben). BTW I'm confused, "It was definitely a flop, but it was definitely a foul as well".

Or maybe legit foul just before flopping scene ? (at +90 period)

His foot was tapped by the other player's foot, so it was a foul. But that foul RARELY gets called in the box. Referees usually don't call a foul in a box unless it's a bad one.

 

[tschu]

Nigeria made some incredible defensive plays but had some unbelievable breakdowns. They couldn't do enough to keep the French at bay - in the end France got a deserved 2-0 win