JadedWolf

I always find the beginning bit where all the players fold their arms a bit funny. It's like you've done something bad and they all want to show their disapproval. From 0-0 to 0-2 in what feels like less than two minutes. Well, that was fast.

Costa Rica absolutely deserved it, well done to them. Italy looked really uninspired.

You're a die-hard watching that match. I'll watch anything, but I am sooo skipping that.

I would rate Suarez higher than van Persie to be honest, and even though Ronaldo didn't show much this tournament he would still certainly deserve a spot in the top 5 based on his performance the rest of the year. Remember that he has been playing while less than fit during the Portugal games. Although Robben technically is not a striker, in his current form is up there with the greats. What a beast. Excuse me while I do include him in my best 5. Based on today's performance, actually, I give Suarez the top spot. My list would be: 1) Suarez 2) Ronaldo 3) Robben 4) Messi 5) van Persie* * To be honest, based on chauvinism and his showing this tournament. If based on the rest of this year, he'd come nowhere near the top 5. I would probably place one of the German chaps here if I were more impartial, but being Dutch I can't bring myself to do that.

The way the English think of Suarez, I could see that happening. They would roll out the red carpet and escort the Costa Rican striker to their own goal while cheering him on, and applaud him after scoring.

Interesting, England is almost certainly out, and yet Uruguay's fate may depend on England winning against Costa Rica.

Such a difference he makes, Uruguay looked awful without him against Costa Rica.

Say what you want about Suarez, but he manages to consistently look dangerous. Edit: aaaaand he scores again.

The grass must be very wet today, people are constantly slipping and falling...

To be honest, I always feel England fans are too harsh on Rooney. First, they ascribe a level of talent to him that he simply does not possess. Then, they get angry at him for not living up to their fantasy.

Fee, fi, fo, fum, are you chance an Englishman?

I am pretty sure there will be a few very livid people in England cursing Suarez at this moment.

Which hand do you want him to score with, his right or his left?

Not really, players go off after taking a bump to the head or something that can be numbed or stretched, that takes a minute maybe in addition to on pitch treatment. Making his side go down for 5 minutes seems unfair. Works fine as is, referees just need to make sure the game starts back and he's off the pitch as soon as he can. Shame they can't have someone assess the guy while play continues and then let the referee stop it (he can't really do that and follow the play), that way they can be gauge it better. Also, although of course there are people feigning cramps, it does actually happen. Even players who are on the losing side and who would really have no interest in delaying the game have been observed suffering from cramps. The thing to do is for the ref to keep time and to add extra time, even 10 minutes if need be.

Duck stampede: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxlg5unYTyU

That IS unexpected.

True, but often if there is a foul -let's say a player is held and can't reach the ball- and they stay upright, the referee ignores it, while if in the same situation the player falls over and flops around on the ground like a freshly caught salmon the ref does take action. A lot of what we've seen over the years of people headbutting or slapping people they never did look like they would cause all that damage, yet the people hit by them looked as if they were just sucker punched. So my question is, if players didn't react in such an exaggerated manner, would the ref still take action (even though according to the rules they still should)? Because I am doubtful about that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVEb2-SByPs from the replay, it looks like he barely touched the guy. yeah, the fact that strong didn't successfully do anything more than graze the croatian is a "weak" defense... pun intended. nevertheless, am thinking this clip is more a recognition o' yet another brilliant soccer flop than anything else. HA! Good Fun! ps apologies for "flop" language-- is possibly idiomatic and misleading. a "flop" is the term most frequent used in american basketball when a defending player pretends as if he were charged or run-over so as to be drawing a foul. Acting lessons are part of the curriculum for a football player. Wonder if Song would still have been sent off if instead the Croatian guy had just turned round and started laughing at Song instead?

As is Cameroon's. Not that there was much hope left. It's a shame really. I would really love to see an African team do well again.

Well, Song, that was definitely a bit too physical.

Spain, even though they have created more chances now still looks powerless. At this point I am wondering if they might end this tournament with 0 points. Today's Australia could have them, I reckon.

That would have been a beauty. Spain looking somewhat better now.

Oh my, Casillas. Spain better cancel their hotel reservations.

I can stomach a push and a shove, as long as no one is playing is such a way that they risk permanently injuring someone. Where I draw the line is where a striker is physically held into place by a defender bear hugging them. You see it a lot these days, and I think refs should deal with it. It's football, not wrestling.

You can certainly give the penalty. You have to wonder though, what is the guy supposed to do with his arm, cut it off? Tie it to his torso? My beef with the ref is that when it came to the physical part of the game he seemed to accept a lot less of the Dutch than he did of the Australians. In other news, apparently it wasn't Indi's arm that was hurt, he fell on his head and now has a concussion.