And that contact was often smashing players early. Tackles from the back with no attempt to get ball first and ref would let players have the first two free without a yellow card. Now the game is very different hardly any physical stuff and their diving all over the place like girls. It feels like the lack of contact is linked to all the diving. Dive often not so long back back players got singled out for a bit of robustness.
I would like to nominate Tim Krul the Dutch keeper as the "Complete Asshole of Brazil 2014" for his aggressive, bullying tactics during the penalty shoot out. And a dishonourable mention for the bastard in the black, who allowed him to get away with it.
I agree, he has made himself the most disliked player of the tournament around the world (which is no easy feat given the fact that Suarez but someone) and for what??? As that's the only thing he contributed and will ever contribute at a World Cup knocking out a nation with a population of less than 6 million with little hope of your team making the final let alone winning!! Congratulations?
So here is a bitter sweet possibility, albetit distant Would you not watch City in the Premier League because of the diving and cheating...? The refereeing at the start of the WC was also awful with good goals being ruled out by incompetent officials and no video replays for offside decisions.
The referee holds the answer here - but it needs FIFA need to instruct them to get the card out in certain circumstances: The first time Krul got in the face of a penalty taker - yellow card (and another if he did it again) Players/Managers waving imaginary cards - yellow card Diving - yellow card (would also like to see retrospective action taken on those the ref misses) Time wasting in extra time - add the time on (a bit too simple for FIFA)
I like impact sports. Background in martial arts. Took head strikes and dished them out. Played rugga against Welshmen ... FREE VIOLENCE. Neymar had a ickle back massage and was unlucky. Factures = Discomfort and pain. Breaks = Bad, pins, months out ... What about the French Chap on the Nigerian Cove? No rage. Bottom of the page. Tomorrows chip paper ... Nigerians just ain't important. Krul = Hero if English. Krul = Johnnny Foreigner = Bad man.
Nothing to do with nationality! Krul behaved appallingly and should have been disciplined by the referee. Perhaps one of Hollands greatest, Johann Cruyff should tell him how disgusting his behaviour is. Football is SPORT and those of many years and long memories will remember such behaviour by Nazi military toward Dutch and many other nationalities. Mental abuse is no different to physical abuse!
But was it any worse than Bruce Grobelaar putting off the opposition in the European Cup with the wobbly legs ?
Nope Krul is a badman because he is Dutch. Thought he did well myself. I would have put my shorts on my head if I thought it could help somebody shank one. I used to attempt to psyche out opponents as well. Give them the eyes. Lip, belittle, try to get into their heads, make them think sideways, never straight ... It works. Rugga its the dark arts .. Cricket sledging ... Football old pros always have the WORD. Ferguson drove Keegan into a jesus based rage ... It is all part of the same psychology. When it works all good, big back slaps. If it doesn't ... Look a tit, or in my case a tit with a broken hooter who has had to be rescued from having his head used further for blockwork.
YES ... Those Wobbly legs were in Liverpool red ... By default OUR wobbly legs. European cup win for Blighty.
Its a world cup quarter final if a bit of chat from a goalkeeper is going to upset you maybe you should play a less stressful sport. If Krul was out of line then the ref should have stopped him, other than that then you will try and take every advantage possible. I've seen City players try and put penalty takers off so I think we should take of our Red tinted spectacles and smell the coffee. If our player was doing it and it worked we will be very happy
I don't think it was all that bad, perhaps the ref should not have let him get so close, but really was it that bad. News flash for all of you calling it unsporting, sporting behaviour in football is LONG GONE, mainly due to money and global product sponsorship for players. Penalty takers regularly pause in the run up getting the keeper to commit and then putting the ball the other way, nobody claims outrage against that. Brazil can have no complaints, watching in real time the incident didn't seem that bad, and you reap what you sow, if Neymar and co didn't hit the ground like the had been hit by Tyson in his prime then the ref might have an easier time working out what is a foul and what is simulation! I even shouted at the TV for him to get up as he was wasting time and if he was really hurt he should be carried off for treatment, as usually they are instantly better when this is presented to them (feel a little bit bad about that). Still cannot work out why Colombia had a goal ruled out for a foul, several replays clearly show the Brazil player (Silva I think) pulling a Colombian player then the ball hits sideshow Bob on the arm, their keeper falls over his own player as the Colombian knocks in the loose ball and it's ruled out, haven't seen this injustice all over the papers and TV though have we?
Working in a caring profession in settings including the NHS I avoid emotive language and descriptions. Telling some unfortunate soul they have broken their back will cause distress, and conjour up all types of dark thoughts. Using the word fracture in its proper context can help to ease an individuals distress. So no, it is not a broken back unless a specalist tells me so.