SPLASH!

I'm reminded of this almost every time I watch a soccer game. The diving on the pitch really needs to stop for the credibility of the game to truly remain strong.

Are penalty kicks the way to end it?

As a typical North American "once every four years" soccer fan, I found myself drawn in to the action of the recent World Cup in Germany. It certainly was an exciting tournament, marked by fierce play and stellar athleticism. So after a month of action, 147 goals, and unparalleled moments of drama, why does it have to come down to ten spot kicks?

Think about it. You play through the Round Robin, the Round of 16, the Quarters, the Semis, play 120 minutes in the Final and you stop to decide the winner by something completely unrepresentative of the rest of the tournament. Heck, why make the players take penalty kicks at all? Why not decide it over a nice game of checkers or Parcheesi instead?

There are those that say with out penalty kicks the game would go on forever, with neither team scoring. I disagree. If you leave players out on the field long enough, one of them will either make a mistake, or a dramatic play, that will lead to a winner being chosen.

Having such a well played tournament decided by penalty kicks is a travesty, and I have to believe the majority of fans would agree.

Oh yes, and congratulations to all the Italians out there. You were the best team in the tournament and were full value for your victory.

World Cup Final Prediction

I went 1 for 2 in the World Cup semi-finals, so now I have credibility. Okay, maybe that's a stretch, but I'm making my pick for the finals anyway.

As much as I am not a fan of the Italian squad, I have to admit they have looked more than solid in their recent games. Their defense first play has worked like a charm, and timely goals have led to well earned victories.

France is a team of elders, filled with experience and a number of 30-somethings. They have shown that they can use their heads to win games, although their bodies might not be able to provide a flashy run-and-gun offense of years ago.

My prediction:



Italy will be too much to handle for the French - they'll win it 2-0.

Trying again to predict the World Cup

As all my readers know, I had an abysmal record predicting the World Cup quarter-finals. 0 for 4 to be exact. It's time I either avenge or embarrass myself once more. My hope is for the former.

Germany vs. Italy: The home nation Germans have looked like a team of destiny though out the tournament. They've had dramatic goals, a bit of luck, and a lot of support from the fans in the stands. Italy has played their typical brand of soccer, living by the creed of defense first - and it's working. Italy is looking better and better. This time though, I believe Germany will edge them out. Speed will defeat stellar defense.

Prediction: Germany (Score: 2-1)


Portugal vs. France: Portugal is coming off a win over England, edging them out in penalty kicks. France are themselves coming off of a high, beating a favoured Brazilian team as they had done eight years ago. This will be a back and forth game, but in the end, experience will edge out a Portuguese team that always falls short.

Prediction: France (Score: 1-0)

0-4 - A blind monkey could do better...

Okay, so I was 0-4 in my picks for the World Cup quarter-finals. And admittedly, a blind monkey randomly picking would have invariably done better. And yes, I have watched a lot of the games so far and should have known better. Wait...what's my point??

I will endeavor to do better in the my predictions for the semi-finals. I couldn't do any worse!