Comments on: Uruguay’s Sanchez needs further punishment? Hogwash.

by: Cliffy

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:43:33 +0000

To carry this point a bit further, I noticed that a couple of players (from different teams) utilized a bit of a “hesitation” move and then calmly tapped the ball right up the middle. Seems like a sound strategy. As Gonzo notes, the goalie almost *has* to pick one side - and at that level, has to do so before (or at worst, as) the ball is kicked. So throw the goalie’s timing off, make sure he does actually commit to one side or the other, and then calmly take the easy goal up the middle.

Now, I’m not pretending I could do any of these things, as I’d be shaking like Dan Gilbert’s middle finger at the site of a Lebron Fathead… but for these guys? It should be a sure thing… sorry.

by: Gonzo

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:49:57 +0000

As the biggest/most knowledgeable soccer fan on this board (ok, that’s the equivalent of being the tallest midget), I agree - no need to change the rules. There is absolutely ZERO excuse for missing a penalty kick. And I say that as an active goalkeeper; the keeper has no chance in the world to save a good, well placed kick. And it’s VERY easy to have a well placed kick. Especially at that level. At my level (recreational, co-ed 30 and over league), there is no reason I need to “guess” which way the kicker is going to kick, becuase I have plenty of time to react, as there are no superstars in my league. But even then, the odds of me saving a good kick are basically (to use a soccer team) nil. In fact, I feel no pressure when faced with a penalty kick; the odds so overwhelmly favor the kicker it’s ridiculous. If they score, they were supposed to anyway, and if I manage to make a save (ie, they fuck up the kick by hiting it right to me, or not placed close enough to either post, etc), I’m a hero.

But at THAT level, the ONLY chance a keeper has is to pick a way to dive at the outset of the kick, and hope to get lucky and get a piece of the ball.

The Ghana player choked, as simple as that. For a professional to not to score 12 yards away on a free kick with nothing between him and the keeper is simply inxcuseable.

by: Cliffy

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:49:42 +0000

Clearly no need to retroactively adjust the rule - but I’d also submit no need to adjust it going forward. A penalty kick, and a red card for the “offending” player that puts him out of the current game *and* the next game? Seems pretty stiff to me. This was an extraordinary set of circumstances, Ghana the only African team remaining in an event played in Africa, having never even made it this far as well, and the play occurred at the very end of the game…. and they missed the subsequent penalty kick, and they ended up losing the game.

Not to be rude here, but can’t we suggest that the Ghana guy coulda/shoulda/woulda kicked it *away* from where the Uruguyan players were? Or kicked it hard enough to go through their hands? If not, then he “allowed” for the possibility that it would be blocked - legally or not.

If an opposing player takes off his jersey, and hurls it into the path of the ball to prevent a goal? Okay, that’s extraordinary and arguably very poor sportsmanship, and merits extreme consequences. However, in this case, there was a handball in the crease and the rules/consequences seem eminently fair to address that transgression to me.

In hockey, if you pull down a guy on a breakaway - even at the end of Game 7 of Stanley Cup when the goalie is without his stick and behind the net (for whatever reason) - it’s still “just” a penalty shot (and a penalty, but no ensuing power play, as the penalty shot is in lieu of the power play - though IIRC, the player still gets sent off for two minutes… presumably to feel shame). In other words, the ruling body of the sport has decided *that* is the rule/consequence - and it’s therefore part of the game if you want to accept the consequence.

Deal with it.

by: Tank

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:49:09 +0000

I agree. The rules is the rules. Change ‘em for the future if you like, but not retroactively. Otherwise, are we going to nullify Argentina’s 1986 victory because of Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal? It’s just not a constructive road to go down.