EDIT:

I just heard that during the Mexico/Italy game once the Croatia score was broadcast in the stadium the 2 teams just started passing the ball around so that they would both advance.

The british commentators were saying that they were disgusted, "this is terrible for the game of soccer".

This is the exact reason why games are played at the same time!!!! Unfortunately the score from the other game was broadcasted! If this is true that just sucks!!!

 

I watched the game Italy vs Mexico. Italy was playing like sh1t. I think Mexico deserved to win. But not until the last 6 minutes of the game, Mexico defensive line started passing the ball right-left-right. That's when they heard both team would advance with the score 1:1. So Italy didn't even bother to go for the ball. Referee called off the game one minute before the offical extra time was up.

 

*shakes head*

Aren't there any penalties for such behaviour though? frown

 

There is no way you can prove it... practically impossible. Yes it's clear to everybody in the stadium but if asked all you have to do is deny it!

It is widely believed in soccer as in most sports that you do not pull up lame when you are playing a team that is fighting for a playoff spot with another team.... it's that simple!

 

Anyone watch the Brazil - Costa Rica game?

Brazil was amazing. One guy bicycled it into the goal.

 

Yes I watched the Brazil game. They did play amazing but don't think they've been truely tested yet. They were lucky to be in such a weak group and it'll be interesting to see them play a better opponent.

Roberto Carlos is amazing!

 

But I mean you have all the spectators, can they testify?... I don't know, it's just that soccer was never like that before. Sure there were hooligans, sure there were politics, but I have never experienced anything like this before. At least not that obvious. frown

 

This isn't the first time this has happened in soccer. Actually there's a reason why all final games in the first round are played at the same time.

In 1982 West Germany and neighbouring Austria played almost an entire match like that. West Germany had taken an early lead and from then on both sides sat back in the assurance that the 1-0 result would eliminate Algeria, which was outraged by the tactics.

Because the result caused such an uproar, it was decided that all last games in first-round groups would be played at the same time so they couldn't influence each other.

 

USA is lucky to be alive and advanced to the second round with 1:3 losing to Poland. Portugal was given so many chances to score but...... I feel sorry for them. Korea played very well.

Portugal and Poland are out, Korea and USA advance to the next round.

 

Yap, I heard that the team would even shoot into their own goal to get losing scores because of the lines/teams they would be playing against later. It's like whoever wins will play against Brazil and whoever loses will play against China. In that match, the FIFA (international football association) put a huge fine against those 2 teams. But that's all they could do. That's what I heard.