World Cup Thread
- Thread starter djchewie
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LagunaBeachCA
New Member
fatphilb said:
I had a chance to watch the entire game. What an awesome game? Hats off to Australia. Both sides played very aggressively, which was great to watch. The Aussies were like the Tasmanian devils, and the Croats seemed that they were in a war zone in the Balkans. If only the US fought like these two teams did. Did anyone else think that the referee was very close to getting punched by the Croats?
I would not be surprised if in the next few years, the Aussies turn into a powerhouse. Heck, I saw how they went from zero to hero in cricket (I'am talking about mordern era, not Bradman days but Allan Border days) and field hockey. So, it would not be a surprise if they become a major force in football over the next few years. What a great sports nation.
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fatphilb
Well-Known Member
BBC Sport said:Poll set for early World Cup exit
Poll booked Simunic three times before finally sending him off
Graham Poll looks like he has refereed his last World Cup game after a series of high-profile errors during Croatia's turbulent game against Australia.
The English official booked Croatia's Josip Simunic three times before sending him off and also twice waved away strong Australian penalty claims.
Fifa has warned referees they face being sent home if they underperform.
Poll himself said before the tournament: "If you make a big mistake it will be your last game."
And former Premiership referee Jeff Winter told BBC Radio Five Live: "If Graham Poll has booked the same player three times, then he'll certainly be on his way back to England on a plane before long."
Poll, 42, had been tipped by many to be in the running for the final but he will now be expecting the worst.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter made it clear that it would not tolerate the sort of mistakes that plagued the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.
I asked Graham how many cards had Simunic received. Graham said only one. It looks like he got it wrong
Mark Viduka
And Poll, from Tring, was never far away from controversy during Thursday night's Group F showdown.
He awarded the Socceroos a first-half penalty for handball by Stjepan Tomas but failed to spot an even more blatant handball by the same player after the break.
Mark Viduka also seemed to be bundled to the ground in the box during the first half while Australia's crucial second equaliser by Harry Kewell appeared to be offside.
Poll, who also sent off Australia's Brett Emerton and Croatia's Dario Simic for two bookable offences, then failed to dismiss Simunic despite booking him twice.
It was only after the final whistle when he brandished a third yellow card at the centre-half that Simunic finally got his marching orders.
Australia striker Mark Viduka said: "I was sure it was his second yellow card.
"I asked Graham how many cards had Simunic received. Graham said only one. It looks like he got it wrong."
Despite the errors, Viduka said he hoped Poll would not be axed.
"Everybody makes mistakes," said the Middlesbrough forward. "Graham Poll is a top quality referee. I will not say anything against him." Poll took charge of the Togo against South Korea game and was also the man in the middle for the Saudi Arabia versus Ukraine match.
Disgraceful.
fatphilb said:
fatphilb, youre my hero 8) Common spain (B team)!!
Still laughing after the Australia game last night. Graham Poll had the worst game I've seen a ref have in years.. he got EVERYTHING wrong!!!
I was pissing myself laughing when he forgot to send off the croatian bloke, and then at the end it simply turned into mayhem when he shouldve given a penalty to australia.. but gave up and ended the game early..
Thank you for that Graham.. please please put him in the World Cup Final, it will be hilarious!!
Ferd said:fatphilb, youre my hero 8) Common spain (B team)!!
Still laughing after the Australia game last night. Graham Poll had the worst game I've seen a ref have in years.. he got EVERYTHING wrong!!!
I was pissing myself laughing when he forgot to send off the croatian bloke, and then at the end it simply turned into mayhem when he shouldve given a penalty to australia.. but gave up and ended the game early..
Thank you for that Graham.. please please put him in the World Cup Final, it will be hilarious!!
We love fatphill, don't we?
Ferd said:fatphilb, youre my hero 8) Common spain (B team)!!
Still laughing after the Australia game last night. Graham Poll had the worst game I've seen a ref have in years.. he got EVERYTHING wrong!!!
I was pissing myself laughing when he forgot to send off the croatian bloke, and then at the end it simply turned into mayhem when he shouldve given a penalty to australia.. but gave up and ended the game early..
Thank you for that Graham.. please please put him in the World Cup Final, it will be hilarious!!
You forgot him blowing the final whistle mid-strike as we slotted home our 3rd!
stivi
Well-Known Member
back to the world cup!
our swiss team blew south corea away and tonight they have the chance to qualify for the quarter final...if they win against ukraine!
yesterday's games: england - ecuador: nice goal from beckham, but the english team didn't convince me really...
portugal - the netherlands: what a fight...nice for portugal to advance! too many yellow (and red) cards though!
so...go switzerland, go tonight!
our swiss team blew south corea away and tonight they have the chance to qualify for the quarter final...if they win against ukraine!
yesterday's games: england - ecuador: nice goal from beckham, but the english team didn't convince me really...
portugal - the netherlands: what a fight...nice for portugal to advance! too many yellow (and red) cards though!
so...go switzerland, go tonight!
fatphilb
Well-Known Member
last night was ugly, but funny. the dutch set the tone for the night i thought. moment of the night was gio and deco sitting bewildered side by side on the step.
all those yellow cards can only be a good thing for england
()
if it comes down to it folks, im going to have to choose brasil over spain (awaits a backlash)
all those yellow cards can only be a good thing for england
()if it comes down to it folks, im going to have to choose brasil over spain (awaits a backlash)
matt collins
Active Member
I think the ref had a spread bet on England going all the way and thought he'd help out for the next round...
Absolute joke....
Absolute joke....
stivi
Well-Known Member
oh the shame yesterday 
first, the italians won with a penalty they got in overtime (which IMO absolutely wasn't a penalty...and i am half-italian!) - bad luck for the aussies.
and then our beloved swiss team had so much bad luck in the penalty shootout against ukraine
everyone's gutted here today. only good thing for me is that ibiza is just 10 more days away now! 8)
first, the italians won with a penalty they got in overtime (which IMO absolutely wasn't a penalty...and i am half-italian!) - bad luck for the aussies.
and then our beloved swiss team had so much bad luck in the penalty shootout against ukraine
everyone's gutted here today. only good thing for me is that ibiza is just 10 more days away now! 8)
nostrum said:
dont worry about it, it could be worse - you could be about to sign Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for the start of the new season
Does anybody think Dirk Kuyt is worth purchasing from his performances through the world cup?
Im english and i personally havent been impressed with the England performances, although i think thats down to Sven...hes really bad decisively. I have been saying the Italians looked to be the dark horses of the cup and i dont think Brazil will win it this year. Argentina are looking awesome though...