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World Soccer XV: Diver Down

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Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

Yakubu atones with a well taken penalty and then is immediately subbed off.

Nigeria tries to give the goal right back on set pieces.
 
Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

that should just about do it

Argentina vs. Mexico
Uruguay vs. South Korea
 
Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

Didn't see it mentioned, but Irmatov of Uzbekistan was the referee for Argentina-Greece. That's 3 matches he's been assigned to already. Seems to be a rising star.
 
Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

Amazing how close Nigeria came to moving on and yet they finish in last with one point.
 
Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

So if I have this figured correctly, go on/go home decisions between US/England (not likely)and Italy/New Zealand (quite possible) could be decided by drawing lots. I'd love to see New Zealand beat Italy in a coin flip or rock-paper-scissors or however they decide it.
 
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Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

pirate said:
They could have a play-in game, like the NCAA, for agrieved teams.

Leave the 32nd spot open for the play-in between the two teams that got screwed or the 1 team that got screwed vs. the highest FIFA ranked team not in the first 31. Let them play for the last spot.

FIFA can say they don't want to institute replays and they can lie and say the refs haven't made any serious gaffes but this is 1x in 4 years and for some players and countries, this may be the only chance they get.

With the WC now even larger due to cable/satellite, increased viewership in countries that weren't big players in the past (US, Australia etc.) and the spectre of past corruption in the sport there is reason to investigate methods to ensure the teams playing are deserving.

Most of us hated wild-cards and increased divisions and conferences in domestic sports but it does increase interest, make money and eventually win most people over.

I'd have no problem with a 2 week play in tournament for a few countries to battle for a few remaining seeds. I suspect Ireland would have put every ounce of blood, sweat and tears into something like that and would have done themselves proud.
Click to expand...

Why not just expand the tournement to 40 teams?? Keep the pools and just have them be 5 teams in the pools instead of just four teams. Top 2 in each pool advances. This year alone you would have gotten in Ireland, and a few other good traveling countries and their fanbases as well. Columbia perhaps, another African team like Egypt, and I'm sure the collective could rattle off a more squads who just missed out on getting to the big dance. Given the availabilty of great venues in the USA, it might be worth throwing that idea out with the upcoming USA bid for the World Cup. FIFA did pretty good for itself when they were here in 94, with 48 pool games played. Imagine how they would do with 80 pool games played. Yeah, would likely add about another week to the tournament, but the USA is the one place where you could have a matches starting at say 9am EDT, and have the last one finishing up at say around Midnight at PDT. Lots of venues over a lot of time zones.
 
Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

SBI's lineup prediction for tomorrow's game.

Personally, I'd like to see the second to get some speed in the midfield. In the second half substitute Gomez or Buddle in for Holden and move back Dempsey. This lineup would give the US ability to move things around a little bit depending on the halftime score.

USA Projected lineup vs. Algeria

--------------Altidore---------Buddle---------------

Dempsey------------------------------------Donovan

----------------Bradley--------Edu--------------------

Bocanegra----Onyewu----DeMerit-------Cherundolo

----------------------Howard----------------------------

The other variation I could see used today is:

--------------Altidore---------Dempsey---------------

Donovan---------------------------------------Holden

----------------Bradley--------Edu--------------------

Bocanegra----Onyewu----DeMerit-------Cherundolo

----------------------Howard----------------------------
Click to expand...

Let's say the US is up 2-0 or 3-0 at half, does Bradley even think about replacing Howard to protect him and his ribs to get to the round of 16?
 
Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

collegehcky2 said:
SBI's lineup prediction for tomorrow's game.

Personally, I'd like to see the second to get some speed in the midfield. In the second half substitute Gomez or Buddle in for Holden and move back Dempsey. This lineup would give the US ability to move things around a little bit depending on the halftime score.



Let's say the US is up 2-0 or 3-0 at half, does Bradley even think about replacing Howard to protect him and his ribs to get to the round of 16?
Click to expand...

Up at 3 at the half and the look of defeat in the eyes of Algeria? eh, wouldn't hurt to have him sit and give the backup a little WC experiance. Long as pretty clear that he's sitting because Algeria is all but beat, and hasn't figured out how to get past the USA Defense.
 
Re: World Soccer XV: Diver Down

blockski said:
Um, they kind of already have play-in games.

The last spot in Asia had a play-off with Oceania for a WC spot.

Ireland lost to France in a UEFA playoff for their last 4 spots. Slovenia got in the same way - by beating Russia.

CONCACAF's 4th place team had a playoff with CONMEBOL's 5th place team - Uruguay won over Costa Rica.
Click to expand...

Um, that is where Ireland got screwed. So the play-in for agrieved teams would consist of teams screwed in the process you just described. Right now, you get screwed, you are out.
 
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