Poor old Canada in a bit of a group of death for them really but well done Morocco for progressing in top place.
I'm curious to see which Costa Rica shows up today - the one that came on strong at the end of CONCACAF WC qualifying and then beat Japan recently, or the one that got obliterated by Spain. Pretty much the same with Germany. This is going to be a match between two schizophrenic teams - ordinarily I would take Germany without thinking about it, but I don't know. Personally, I'm kinda torn on this one - I'd like to see another CONCACAF team get through, but I'd also like to see Hansi Flick turn Germany around after his success at Bayern Munich...
It would seem that the need to actually have a defensive posture would negate this "hanging around the goal thing. What I see is this rule allows the defense to be an active part of the offense leaving the whole of the defended goal unguarded (expect for the goalie) and allows the defensemen to be as actively part of the offense then. It doesn't seem like a useful strategy if you eliminated actual offsides, requiring the defense to actually defend... I bet it would significantly improve scoring and pace.... Like US Basketball... or Football.. (You know, the real one we started here in the US).... LOL. What you get now are these scoreless draws where no one actually wins. What's the point of that? And frankly, doesn't the whole "penalty kick" method produce the same conditions as an offsides? Just wondering. And gosh, if soccer could actually improve.....
Got it. So, essentially, the game is intentionally designed to be tedious.... I am not a watcher, We have gone to our local club games for my city... they aren't MLS, but the feeder league. Went to the semi's that they won, and damn, it was more boring that women's basketball if you ask me.... But I am trying, really, to appreciate the games. I'm watching the Germany game at present. Shouldn't the refs have to prove that they can keep up with the transitions? How can you possibly officiate when you're half the field away from the action?
Costa Rica looks content to play this game in their own end of the field. That's not likely to end well for them. Hey, it's The Wave!
Germany wasting a lot of chances though. Hope it doesn't come back and bite them on the arse later. Costa Rica only need one goal to spoil the party.
More good news for USA fans - Just saw an interview with Christian Pulisic and he looks great. He'll be good to go Saturday....
Boy o boy, the defensive mistakes, again and again. Germany got away lucky. Flick needs to bring Fuellkrug
Ha!... Ok I laughed. I am unaware of there being rugby in any parts of the US where football developed. Do you consider rugby to be a bastardization of soccer then? Given its historic origination?
Yes. Thats why its full name is Rugby Football Union. The only truly North American games are Lacrosse and Basketball and both of them are more Canadian than American.
Coming up for air, gnoib? Costa Rica is lucky to be down 1-0. They were one of the last teams who qualified for the WC and they look like it. The dam is gonna blow at some point....
