World Cup is here

[Matt Foley]

The Reign in Spain turned out to be plain

[pstall]

and thats a wrap folks

[JakeFlake]

That month went by way to damn fast.

[Jbro]

trying to stir pot

[JakeFlake]

he was onside.

[Hawk]

most definitely onside!

when he was offside he had no part in the play and it was correctly not blown down...was a good goal for sure.

[Delhommey]

The Dutch showed that "total voetbal" now means they'll do totally anything to win.

I came into the game somewhat sympathetic to both teams and aware that Holland wanted to make it chippy, but by the second half, seeing that the Dutch midfield was manned by the Hanson brothers and Eric Cantona's temper, I was 100% for Barça - I mean, Spain.

The Spanish very much felt the Netherlands belonged in that game while the Dutch didn't. It would have been a much better game if the inverse were true.

[Scutty]

He was onside. Not one person in the bar I was in this morning thought otherwise. The Dutch changed their tactics after watching the Hermans giving the Spainish to much respect.

The irony for me was that Robben, well known diver that he is when he broke through the second time and was having his shirt ripped off him didn't go to ground. Go figure

[Darth Biscuit]

Will someone please explain to me the "sportsmanship" thing were the Dutch kicked the corner kick to the Spanish goalie?

I watched quite a bit of this world cup, and I have to say that final was about as boring of a game as anything I've ever watched.

[Carolina Husker]

Will someone please explain to me the "sportsmanship" thing were the Dutch kicked the corner kick to the Spanish goalie?

IIRC, Spain had a defender (Puyol) down on the ground after a collision with the goalkeeper, so the keeper (Casillas) deliberately threw the ball out of bounds to stop play. When that happens, the other team is obligated to give the ball back on the throw in, as it shouldn't be their ball.

What happened next is something I've never seen, as when Holland was kicking the ball back to Casillas, it took an odd hop and bounced over his head towards the goal, and he had to tip it out past the back line. When he did that, technically it was Holland's possession on a corner kick, but since they didn't earn it, Van Persie kicked it back to Casillas. He was showing good sportsmanship.

[Hawk]

that would have been the most interesting goal ever scored had that been on net!!!!

As for all the cards and poo...the Dutch had played most of the tournament right on the edge as it was. Many of the cards they got were deserved, but some were pretty damn iffy and there was opportunity to throw some the Spanish way as well. As it is, they should have tuned it down a little nearer to the start of the game. I obviously wish the Dutch would have won, but I'm glad it never went to penalty kicks...that might be an exciting way to end, but I don't think a tourny like the World Cup should ever end that way!

[JakeFlake]

that would have been the most interesting goal ever scored had that been on net!!!!

As for all the cards and poo...the Dutch had played most of the tournament right on the edge as it was. Many of the cards they got were deserved, but some were pretty damn iffy and there was opportunity to throw some the Spanish way as well. As it is, they should have tuned it down a little nearer to the start of the game. I obviously wish the Dutch would have won, but I'm glad it never went to penalty kicks...that might be an exciting way to end, but I don't think a tourny like the World Cup should ever end that way!

A media guy suggested that if he were in charge, if the game ended tied after 120 minutes that they replay it four days later.

[JakeFlake]

Casillas goes in for the kill after the win:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IejFgxW49fw

[Hawk]

A media guy suggested that if he were in charge, if the game ended tied after 120 minutes that they replay it four days later.

that would be pretty extreme!!!

I say you do the 90, play the two 15's and if still tied, you start a new 45 with a golden goal.