Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

No one could have predicted…

Everybody saw this coming.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

We still have time to mess this up!

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

People are complicated. Love is not.

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Ghana v Uruguay Open Thread

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264Comments

  4. 4.

    J.W. Hamner

    I’m rooting for the Black Stars, but Uruguay is too good I think. They’re lock down capable defensively, and surprisingly creative offensively. I think they’re the most underrated team left right now, and it honestly wouldn’t surprise me to see them in the final match.

    Now watch them lose 3-0… which would be cool too, I guess.

  5. 5.

    DanF

    Ghana has the talent – my question is their conditioning. The were really flagging at the end of the US game and I felt they were fortunate that the US looked even flatter. I like their chances, and I’m rooting for them!

  7. 7.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    @You Don’t Say: I lost it, but it’s back. Of course, I’m having trouble hearing it over the Golden Earring I’m blasting.

  10. 10.

    Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne

    Whatever else might happen, please observe that the final syllable in Uruguay is pronounced “Gweye”, not “Gway.” And furthermore, it’s the only country left in this WC whose name ends with a tripthong.

    Top that, mono-voweled Ghana.

    ETA: and by “Gweye” I mean that it should rhyme with “why,” not with “whey.”

    Oh bother. Just get on with the match please.

  14. 14.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    I expect the South American Lone Ranger to show up any time now.

  17. 17.

    Alex S.

    Uruguay’s hymn is beautifully baroque, I root for Ghana, though. It’s time for an african team in the semis.

  18. 18.

    NameRequired

    Uruguayans love to play with the public against them, it’s in their blood, see 1950 World Cup final Maracaná Stadium, Brazil….

  20. 20.

    Mark S.

    Dunga’s already gone, but Fabio is staying. This reminds me of something that didn’t come up in last night’s thread about UEFA qualifying: in Europe, the Euro Cup is a prestigious enough tournament that you can make two year commitments to coaches. For the rest of the world, the World Cup is the only game in town, so it’s a four year tour of duty.

    (Apologies if this doesn’t make any sense. Waking up in the middle of the night with a leg cramp has left me feeling like Brazil after Melo scored for the other team.)

  21. 21.

    Corner Stone

    @Mark S.:

    Waking up in the middle of the night with a leg cramp has left me feeling like Brazil after Melo scored for the other team.)

    I HATE that shit. Waking up hopping on one leg somewhere between your bed and the bathroom door and not knowing why for a split second really sucks.

  23. 23.

    Martin

    I’ve got my support behind Ghana. Would like nothing better than to see an African team in the final on their home continent. (Though they aren’t looking like a winning team so far.)

  24. 24.

    Paula

    @J.W. Hamner:

    They can probably tell that although Ghana can get the ball to the goal they take a lot of long, wide shots that have little hope of making it in.

    Even if Uruguay let in a goal, they’re banking on being more accurate in shooting. Of course, that’s for naught if they can’t make it past Ghana’s midfielders.

  27. 27.

    J.W. Hamner

    As an Ignorant American, this really confuse me: the entire tournament we are watching is “The World Cup Finals” right? So what do you can the actual final match? The World Cup Finals Final?

  29. 29.

    Mark S.

    @Corner Stone:

    And it wakes all the cats up who are soon all up and agitating for food, fresh water, and to go out. At least that’s how it works at my house.

  31. 31.

    ColeDBiers

    I love my family.

    My daughter thinks this is all rigged because the team listed first keeps winning. (cept for usa)

    Plus she and I just got in a great shouting match about Uruguay…

    Uruguay!
    No! You’re a guay!
    NO! Uruguay!!

    etc.

  32. 32.

    NameRequired

    Hey! there are some black Uruguayan players!, why not pull for them too?

  35. 35.

    Paula

    ESPN’s stats say that Uruguay don’t care about being the bad guys right now. In all honesty, I thought they’d be cowed by the home-team crowd.

  40. 40.

    Bill Murray

    @Martin: we did think about invading them though. Well actually that was the tri-border region of Paraguay-Argentina-Brazil. So Uruguay was OK

  43. 43.

    Corner Stone

    @Mark S.:

    At least that’s how it works at my house.

    I always end up wondering where I’m going to bury *this* hooker.

  44. 44.

    Ann B. Nonymous

    Is this the swan song for the African octopus? or will the clock strike midnight for the Uruguayan orchestra?

    Only one thing is certain.

  45. 45.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Ghana has now missed wide right, wide left, and wide high.

  58. 58.

    wengler

    He’s fine. Footballers need to learn how to fall so they aren’t hitting arm or head first.

    There’s always that one English goalkeeper that broke his neck but played out the match.

  61. 61.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Well that’s an effective way to end the half.

  62. 62.

    handy

    Comment on twitter:

    At one point Fucile was legally dead! It’s amazing what a bottle of water can do to these players. Resurrection.

    Lolz.

  66. 66.

    valdivia

    from the Guardian Blog:

    GOAL! Ludicrous goal for Ghana! Uruguay 0 The entire continent of Africa and perhaps the whole world 1 (Muntarey, 45+2 min)

  68. 68.

    valdivia

    because I am already on the record about my hatred of maradona let me rant: with Brazil being out and if Uruguay loses (hope not) I have little hope for Paraguay. That would mean the only latin team left would be argentina: I am telling you now, fuck hemispheric latin solidarity if it means Argentina wins. That is all.

  69. 69.

    Onkel Fritze

    @wengler: That was Bert Trautmann, a German playing for Manchester City, in the FA cup final in 1956. They won 3-1, also, too.

  71. 71.

    Alex S.

    Uh, dramatic first half. It had everything. Very clever shot that resulted in a goal. I’m SO glad that uruguayan player is allright. That looked horrible at first. Ghana will now play on a wave of enthusiasm.

  72. 72.

    Violet

    @valdivia:
    Knowing how much you hate Maradona, that would indeed be cruel.

    I am really pulling for Ghana. I’d love to see an African country do well.

  74. 74.

    Irritable Liberal

    Loved when Inkoom did an imitation dive in front of Suarez who already has a couple to his credit. Second time he went to ground holding his head when nothing touched it.

  75. 75.

    Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne

    @valdivia: I pledge full solidarity to your position on Dieguito Armando Maradona.

    Now if only someone can shake this here game by the neck.

  76. 76.

    Violet

    Was ESPN late getting back to the match because of a Shake Weight for Men commercial? That’s seriously bad. It’s the World Cup quarter finals, not a friendly.

  78. 78.

    Montysano

    Ghana has now scored two of the most spectacular goals of the World Cup: today’s bender, and Gyan’s incredible goal against the USA. The bicycle kick attempt was nice, also too.

  80. 80.

    Paula

    Well, the Uruguayans can take heart: if the USA can tie these guys up and take it into extra time, so can they.

    EDIT: CALLED IT.

  81. 81.

    Violet

    My theory of whoever is wearing white losing the match doesn’t work on this one. They’re both in non-white, with some white on their uniforms. Uruguay probably has more white that isn’t just the number, but I’m not sure that really works for my theory.

  83. 83.

    Leeds man

    As the one Commonwealth nation left in the Cup, Ghana owes it to the Queen to give it their all. For the Empire, chaps!

  85. 85.

    Violet

    The Ghanaian goalkeeper’s uniform looks like it’s got tiger stripes on one arm. Very fashionable.

  88. 88.

    Eric S.

    Just back from lunch and watching the 1st half. Can anyone tell me why Fucile attempting to kill himself was a foul on Ghana. From my perspective all contact was initiated by Fucile.

  89. 89.

    Andy K

    What must it be like to be Diego Forlan? He’s as talented as anyone in the tournament, and is better looking than the entire Spanish team put together. Tough life.

    That said: Go, Ghana!

  92. 92.

    KG

    unfortunately, I can’t get the video on my computer at work. Just checked the ESPN gamecast and I see that they have highlight videos for yellow cards, but not for goals. um, wtf?

    Guess it’s on to the radio.

  98. 98.

    Andy K

    @valdivia:

    I’m with you, but only because I work closely with an Argentinian woman and I told her I would- unless they run into Spain or Holland. In the past, they were my least favorite squad, along with Italy.

  99. 99.

    valdivia

    @NameRequired:

    ha ha ha. :D I promise not to out your comments to Breitbart!

    @Leeds man: I hope so.

    @Andy K: my problem is with Maradona. I really wish the players would get the credit for their wins. They haven’t because he has taken over center stage. I really like Messi.

  100. 100.

    J.W. Hamner

    @valdivia:

    OK… I have trouble dealing cognitively with a German team that is enjoyable to watch, but you’ve got a deal… I’ll root for the Germans tomorrow, since I’d say their offensive prowess puts Maradona’s team to shame.

  105. 105.

    Violet

    @valdivia:
    Any idea what colors tomorrow’s teams are wearing? Whoever is wearing white will lose, according to my non-scientific, completely ridiculously observation of a handful of matches in this World Cup. Does Argentina ever wear white?

  107. 107.

    valdivia

    @Violet:

    you know I thought of you when I was at the gym and noticed the Brazilians were wearing their version of white. I think Argentina does? Have no idea. I am still hoping JW Hamner’s cheering for them will be enough to undo whatever curse white wearer’s have.

    So is Uruguay now out of replacements in case they go extra time?

  109. 109.

    Alex S.

    Hmm, Uruguay played pretty lazily for the last 30 minutes. They were just testing the keeper. I’d say that Ghana looks physically stronger.

  110. 110.

    Violet

    @NameRequired:
    I don’t think the Argentinian striped blue and white uniform counts for the curse because Argentina has worn it several times and they’ve won. If they’re wearing that, Germany is probably wearing something darker or brighter so they’ll be clearly differentiated on the pitch.

  113. 113.

    Svensker

    Eeek. Come on Ghana, you can do it! I think they are too tired going into the overtime, tho. We’ll see.

  115. 115.

    Violet

    Sorry, can someone remind me…it’s two 15 minute halves with no golden goal, right?

  117. 117.

    HumboldtBlue

    I just find the whole Argentina-Germany too easy a target for snark. I mean, really? I can see the goose-stepping from my house!

  118. 118.

    HumboldtBlue

    Sheesh, one minute Ghana looks like world-beaters and then they go on 5-minute brain fart expeditions.

  129. 129.

    HumboldtBlue

    Boateng is so annoying and not because he displayed some truly atrocious sportsmanship against the U.S. He reminds me of that asshole tight end for the browns, Winslow Jr.

    Ghana has really put the pressure on.

  140. 140.

    Violet

    WOW! Now that was an ending. And there’s still the shootout to go. Loved that shot of Suarez heading to the tunnel. So relieved.

  144. 144.

    HumboldtBlue

    Awww man, fuck fuck fuckity fuck … three separate times uruguay kept that ball outta the net including the hand ball

  145. 145.

    otmar

    Suarez did the right thing. Letting the ball pass meant a certain loss. Using the hand gave them a 20% chance of getting into the shoot-out.

  157. 157.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    What happens if it stays tied all the way through the lineup? Does it matter that Uruguay is a man down and would get there first?

  166. 166.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Looks my question is going to be moot, but I’d still be interested in the answer.

  178. 178.

    Mark S.

    Damn it, Ghana missed three fricking penalties out of five. What a horrible way to lose.

  180. 180.

    Head Like An Orange

    Ho-Lee Shit, what a finish from the last guy… Gotta feel bad for Ghana, though…

  185. 185.

    wengler

    Suarez has got to be suspended for 2+ games at least. Becoming the second goalkeeper is cheating on a massive scale.

  188. 188.

    dmd76

    Ha Ha. It’s going to be Uruguay – Argentina in the finals, and the Albicelestes will avenge their 1930 loss.

    Vamos, vamos Argentina,
    vamos, vamos a ganar,
    que esta barra quilombera,
    no te deja, no te deja de alentar.

  191. 191.

    valdivia

    I do feel bad for Ghana but I have to say Viva Uruguay! I am happy for them and their goalkeeper really did his job in the penalties.

  192. 192.

    Violet

    Love the Guardian liveblog:

    Final thoughts: The Ghanaians are gutted, predictably. Gyan, who missed that penalty in extra-time, is distrought. I quite wanted Uruguay to win, to be honest, but in these circumstances? They have cheated their way to victory. Within the rules of the game we all love, but cheating all the same.

    Even more final thought: Boooooooooooooo!

    Absolutely final thought: But, at the same time, grudging respect to the cheating little sods. It takes a real streak of evil to win like this.

    Cheating little sods. Streak of evil. Heh.

  193. 193.

    HumboldtBlue

    Actually, give Suarez credit he made a play that saved his team when for all the world it appeared he had just tossed them out. Anything in desperation.

  194. 194.

    Violet

    After watching Forlan play, I’m glad he gets to go forward. He’s an absolutely amazing player.

  195. 195.

    valdivia

    I have to say though, Suarez is not playing in the semis, he got punished. There have been times when the whole cup has been won by cheating no? Maradona anyone? And he never got the hang head in shame treatment eh?

  197. 197.

    Martin

    @wengler: I agree. That was a guarantee goal that was taken away by an intentional hand ball on the goal line. The current rules shows that there is no downside to in a free kick situation at the end of a sudden-death game to just putting a few extra guys on goal line and letting anyone catch the ball.

  200. 200.

    Dr. Squid

    Suarez’ handball is like a beaten cornerback tackling the receiver in the end zone during a pass, only to see the offense fail to punch it in from the 1.

    Seems like cheating, but thems the rules.

  201. 201.

    Martin

    @Violet: Make the guy walk unattended back to his hotel room. I’ll be surprised if there aren’t some ugly repercussions to this.

  203. 203.

    Violet

    @Martin:
    They should get him bodyguards. He has to be one of the least popular guys on the continent at this point.

  204. 204.

    wengler

    The big winners of this game? Netherlands.

    They go from having a hostile crowd rooting against them to playing a weakened Uruguay with the stadium painted orange.

  206. 206.

    HumboldtBlue

    Good analogy Doc. In that split second he did whatever he could to keep the ball out. Not only is it hard to call that “cheating” I think it’s absurd to call it cheating.

    cheating is flopping on the ground and drawing a red card for your opponent even though he never touched you. Cheating is deceiving the referee into thinking you have just suffered a compound fracture of the femur when an opposing player batted his eyes at you.

    What Suarez did was instinctive.

  207. 207.

    Violet

    @wengler:
    True enough. And they had an easier game today, so the recovery will be easier, even though they have several days to recover.

  209. 209.

    Dr. Squid

    @Martin:

    So? How do you propose to change that? Award the goal automatically along with the red card? Is that only good in extra time or throughout the match? Add a draw and quarter punishment if done then?

    He did the handball. He took his punishment. And he saved his team’s bacon. No whining, “No FAAAAIIIIR,” afterwards when the rules get applied and the outcome isn’t what you personally want.

  210. 210.

    Violet

    I think the ESPN announcers just said that Dunga has already resigned. No surprise there.

  211. 211.

    stuckinred

    @Dr. Squid: It’s like fouling someone on a breakaway to make them shoot freethrows to win. It was the only chance they had. You commit the foul, take the penalty and have A chance when you would have had none.

  212. 212.

    HumboldtBlue

    @You Don’t Say: I’ve played and watched too many sporting events … that was an instinctual play on Suarez’s part and he should have been rightly penalized by Gyan making the penalty.

    Gyan, bless his hard-working heart, could have made all of this moot and by the skin of the ball, Uruguay got lucky.

  213. 213.

    wengler

    @Dr. Squid

    I’m all for changing the rules to make it an automatic goal for handball on the line in extra time. The incentive for stopping a handball(getting sent off, suspension, PK) doesn’t matter much in the situation Uruguay was in. If Suarez follows the rules Uruguay loses. If he becomes the second goalkeeper, Uruguay has a small percentage of winning. This is just another thing that Sepp Blatter and the FIFA office are going to have to pretend to care about.

  215. 215.

    wengler

    @Humboldt Blue

    That is the most obvious handball on the line by a defender that I have ever seen. Usually they will stick out an arm or a hand directly to the side. Suarez damn near caught that ball.

  216. 216.

    Paula

    Uruguay got lucky as fuckkkkkk.

    I can’t really feel sorry about the handball, because that PK was Gyan’s to miss — and he did. Unlucky as fuck.

    I have to say, if an embittered USA fan were to write the cruelest way for Ghana to exit the WC, he would have a hard time topping this.

    Those two kickers who missed for Ghana were practically giving the goalie the ball. Extra dumb points for the 2nd kicker who placed it IN THE SAME DAMN SPOT. What did you think was gonna happen, man??

    I began neutral, and by the end of the extra time I was rooting for pain, pain, pain for everyone in the form of penalty kicks. And I got it. Can watch Germany/Argentina cleansed of all ill will.

  218. 218.

    Dr. Squid

    @stuckinred:

    I’m sorry the sport I chose wasn’t approved ahead of time. I’ll have to go to the Fucking Crybaby Panel to find out what sports are acceptable to talk about at this time of year.

    You agree with me and call me silly simultaneously? Honestly. Just throw a shoe next time.

  219. 219.

    Lynch

    @Dr. Squid: I disagree. It’s like a defense player pushing the ball back out through the bottom of the hoop, and then making the shooter take two free throws.

    Ghana was robbed. It’s just another example of the FIFA rules being slightly slanted toward those who are wont to break the rules.

  220. 220.

    HumboldtBlue

    It can be both desperate and instinctive. Plus, the penalty against Suarez was immediate — a penalty shot. If Gyan had made it we’d be talking about the justice of it all and how Suarez and Uruguay rightfully deserved to lose because of a the hand ball.

    It is what it is. FIFA has no backup plan, their officials are unaccountable and the eschew any form of technology. They have players doing the Greg Louganis all over the field, deliberate attempts to deceitfully sway the outcome of a game. A guy with his back to the goal line as time runs out gets desperate and acts instinctively, if not according to the rules.

  221. 221.

    Dr. Squid

    @Lynch: Great. Now that you have offered a fantasy situation that can’t possibly happen because of hoops’ rules, how about joining the rest of us in real life?

  222. 222.

    Paula

    @HumboldtBlue:

    Inclined to agree. Ghana got a penalty kick. Gyan missed, which is ironic given that the two goals they got out of group stage were penalty kicks from him.

    It was just unlucky. I would place most of the blame on the 2 kickers on Ghana’s squad who missed.

  223. 223.

    Irritable Liberal

    Suarez is an inveterate diver and faker.

    He faked a bump to the head when the ball barely grazed his head. Inkoom was called for hte foul right behind Suarez but had barely touched.

    A few minutes later after a dead ball situation the two were running back and jawing at each other when Inkoom did an exaggerated dive. The ref jumped between them quickly.
    I cracked up.

    Will be grieving for some time. As a former South African I was definitely Ghanaian today.

  224. 224.

    valdivia

    @HumboldtBlue:
    I agree with you. How can the game be robbed from Ghana when they got a penalty kick out of it and missed it? If Suarez were in the game and there had been no penalty I can understand the whole they were robed meme but they had their chance and lost it. Cruel but thems the breaks.

  225. 225.

    Bill Murray

    so is illegally handling the ball in the box something that is taught in South America from a young age?

    To the person that wondered how the penalty taker order is decided — the coach chooses the order of the 11 usually based on knowledge of their ability to take a good kick and their ability/desire to do so under the pressure.

    @HumboldtBlue: which has zero to do with whether it was cheating. Instinctual or not it was a deliberate violation of the rules. The red card proves that. The applicable definition of cheating is “To violate rules deliberately, as in a game:” Cheating is cheating regardless of how congenial the final result is to the result you desire.

  226. 226.

    stormhit

    Squid’s CB in football parallel is still the most apt.

    Nobody would be whining about awarding a TD just because the team got stuffed at the one in the following play. And if they were that would be ridiculous.

  227. 227.

    Bill Murray

    @valdivia: being robbed and cheating are not equivalent. I imagine you howled pretty loudly about your boy Maradona’s Hand of God goal, assuming you were old enough to have experienced it first hand.

  228. 228.

    burnspbesq

    @wengler:

    ” That is the most obvious handball on the line by a defender that I have ever seen.”

    Short memory you’ve got there. Ever heard of Torsten Frings?

  229. 229.

    Therese

    Ugh! I missed the end of the game because I had to pick up my son from a bday party. Now I’m back, have read the comments and am dying to see footage but stupid Sportscenter is blabbing about LeBron James!

  230. 230.

    Bill Murray

    @stormhit: I think a case can be made that this may be closer to Dicky Moegle’s run in the 1954 Cotton Bowl or in Rugby when a penalty try is scored.

  232. 232.

    abdo

    what happend was fucked so a players in extra time can play goal keeper & get a way with it i hope in the next play urguay get fucked

  233. 233.

    HumboldtBlue

    a penalty shot.

    I can’t believe you pedants didn’t throw some ice hockey skates at me for that one.

    Oh, the next time someone looks at you cross-eyed for referring to the game of “soccer”, particularly if they are a Brit, remind them that the term “soccer” goes back to the very origins of the game in Britain. they invented the game and the word and up until about 40 years ago “soccer” and “football” were interchangeable in Britain and the U.S.

  234. 234.

    valdivia

    @Bill Murray:
    I don’t get your point? was maradona *ever* punished in that game for what he did? No right? The germans never got a chance at a penalty because of it. So that comparison is just not very good. My whole point is that whoever is saying Ghana was robbed is missing the fact that Ghana could have won the game if they had not missed the kick.

  235. 235.

    Therese

    Ok. Saw it.

    This is the damnedest game! As a newbie, I’m so frustrated. It’s so exciting, but also seems so arbitrary sometimes. I need a drink.

  236. 236.

    ThresherK

    Actually BOTH Uruguayans on the goal-line extended BOTH their hands for that ball. Hilarious instinct, no? If it bounces off each, is that two PKs?

  237. 237.

    Martin

    @Dr. Squid: I don’t know, but penalties are only effective if the consequences are worse than not taking the penalty. In this case FIFA doesn’t have a consequence worse than taking the penalty, so it’s going to be abused.

    Much of the challenge is that the World Cup is a single elimination event, so there’s no opportunity for post-game penalties to have any meaning. As much crap as the NCAA gets for their wildly inconsistent application of the rules, that they’re willing to vacate a championship and impose major future sanctions for rules violations suggests they’re serious about trying to make sure certain behavior doesn’t repeat.

  238. 238.

    HumboldtBlue

    That’s it! The entire Urugyuan team must be shot! No replays, no take-backs not appeals. They must be lined up along that specific goal line and shot down! There is no cheating on soccer! None! Nada! Zilch!

    Unless you are Parma, then you can cheat, or Lazio, it’s OK then as well.

    Poor Gyan.

  240. 240.

    HumboldtBlue

    Apparently the Uruguayan players carried Suarez back onto the field on their shoulders. That is ugly. I hope Holland destroys them.

    Now that I can get behind. Grandma was all Irish, grandpa was Dutch.

    Go Nederlander!

    That’s a classless move for a team that should be collectively sighing in relief.

  241. 241.

    Paula

    Just think of it as a disallowed goal … except that Gyan was gifted a second opportunity on a silver platter — and missed.

    Uruguay will get their pounding in due time. That was some annoying play from them during that last half. Meanwhile, I bet jerseys for the Oranje are selling like hotcakes.

  243. 243.

    Bill Murray

    @valdivia: maybe I missed it but I have not seen much of a Ghana was robbed meme except from you. I saw you agreeing with Humboldt Blue that it wasn’t cheating, and my point was that both Suarez and Maradona cheated in more or less exactly the same way. So one was caught that is irrelevant to cheating.

    I certainly don’t think Ghana was robbed. I don’t even think th US was robbed by Frings’ hand ball in 2002. But to try and make it seem that Suarez (or Frings) did not cheat is just ridiculous

  245. 245.

    Slappy

    I think Suarez deserves man of the match

    the clock was done, the game was over

    he kept the ball out of the goal by using his hand, the only means he had to stop the shot, he knew it was a red card and penalty kick that ghana would almost surely win

    if he didn’t stop that goal by any means necessary, game over ghana wins

    he sacrificed himself and gave his team the chance they needed to win. Ghana should have made that penalty kick.

    The end of that soccer game was incredible, the best of the cup so far imho

  246. 246.

    Dr. Squid

    @Irritable Liberal: OK, that was douchey.

    I’ve got enough Dutch in me to justify pulling for them now. They got Brazil – they now should be able to take out anyone else. It would be a historic win – first one for the Oranje, first Euro win off the continent, although in a country where an official language is essentially theirs.

    Would sure beat having to see Argentina win and see Maradona yuk it up afterwards.

  247. 247.

    valdivia

    @Bill Murray:

    This quote from above-thread:

    Ghana was robbed. It’s just another example of the FIFA rules being slightly slanted toward those who are wont to break the rules.

    not from me. so i didn’t start this robbed thing, arguing against it. if you don’t think they were then we’re all good. that is all.

  248. 248.

    SLKRR

    @Violet:

    I think the ESPN announcers just said that Dunga has already resigned. No surprise there.

    Haha… “resigned” the same way McChrystal “resigned.”

  249. 249.

    valdivia

    @Dr. Squid:

    I am cheering for Uruguay for sentimental reasons but I am with you on this. For me at this point is anything but Argentina. And I know someone is going to want to take my latin american card away for that but hey. Just the thought of Maradona making himself the Caudillo of Soccer for the next 20 years is enough to make me murderous.

  250. 250.

    zzyzx

    @Martin: the thing is though that this is a rare occurrence. Only when the ball is behind the goalie with little time left in the game is the trade of a red card and a PK for a goal worthwhile. It was here but it’s not going to be something that FIFA will have to worry about too much.

  251. 251.

    Irritable Liberal

    @Dr. Squid: Actually it was the douchiest thing I have seen in 36 years of watching the World Cup. What happens on the field stays on the field. After the game celebrate the win, shake hands, trade jerseys etc, but I have never seen a team flaunt victory like that, deserved or undeserved.

  253. 253.

    Irritable Liberal

    One more item. Paris Hilton was arrested for pot possession at the Holland – Brazil game.

    a) you have to be an idiot to get caught with pot in South Africa and
    b) didn’t anyone tell her Renaldo team wasn’t playing any longer.

  254. 254.

    Leeds man

    @Dr. Squid:

    And how he would yuk it up; The Little Man would rub it in the faces of his critics, because His Greatness would finally be proven for all to see. And of course there will be plenty of Tears Of Redemption. Or some such shit. Annoying twerp.

    It would be nice to think that losing against Germany would teach him a little humility, but it ain’t in his make-up.

  255. 255.

    Bill Murray

    @valdivia: No problem. I clearly missed that comment. and it does seem there is some clamor about Ghana being robbed. Sometimes the rules just don’t provide a proper response. I doubt there is a player in the tournament that wouldn’t have done what Suarez did. There was essentially no downside for Suarez. Missing the semifinal and likely the final or 3rd place game, and being labeled a cheater by people like me, is a small price to play. Assuming he doesn’t get Escobared.

  256. 256.

    Irritable Liberal

    In rugby union they have a penalty try (try=touchdown) but in rugby union you have to actually touch the ball down on the ground on or beyond the line.

    If an offense prevents that the ref has the option of awarding a try, not a penalty (rough equivalent of a field goal) which is worth less points.

    The one situation where an infraction prevents a 100% certainty of a goal is a deliberate handball on the line. The rules benefit the cheater so the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Institute a ‘penalty goal’ and it will eliminate the advantage gained by cheating.

  257. 257.

    The Main Gauche of Mild Reason

    @Lynch:

    I disagree. It’s like a defense player pushing the ball back out through the bottom of the hoop, and then making the shooter take two free throws.

    No, it’s like a player being in the process of dunking, and then getting knocked down with a cheap shot by the defender and having to take free-throws. AKA, the hack-a-shaq. Can’t see any difference between that and this.

    If anything, the penalty kicks are as much guaranteed goals as this one was. It’s not Uruguay’s fault that they missed, and if they hadn’t, the resolution would have seemed completely fair.

  258. 258.

    Corner Stone

    I was all set to get into this whole “football” thing. And then ESPN played a Nickelback song during the highlight montage.

    {pulls door in after himself}

  260. 260.

    Corner Stone

    @Bill Murray: I have every intention of getting hammered beyond all reasonableness tonight.
    But tomorrow I will be rooting for The Texas of South America against Germany. So expect ugliness to ensue.
    Damn you Der Blindschtiller!!

  261. 261.

    ed_finnerty

    In the NHL the referee has the option of awarding a goal if the act prevented a sure goal. This would be a good rule for FIFA

  262. 262.

    Pixie

    HumboldtBlue, sorry but I’m not buying that instinct bullsh*t. He made a calculated illegal move because he KNEW it would be the only way to keep his team in the game. He had to cheat to win. Say what you want about Ghana missing the kicks, they would NOT have missed THAT goal if Uruguay had not spontaneously generated 2-3 extra goal keepers at that point in time. That’s just a fact.

  263. 263.

    fbihop

    I’m just gonna say what I’ve been saying all day — any soccer player who DOESN’T make that play that Suarez did lets his team down. He broke the rules, was punished as the rules allow and his team ended up winning.

    I can see how people think that it is unethical or whatever — but he broke the rules and paid the consequences. I would have done the same thing as Suarez.

  264. 264.

    jomo

    What I find interesting is that the discussion when the handball occurred here was frankly muted while after the game’s outcome was clear there was indignation and howling. It is one of those outcomes that only become clear in the aftermath of everything – yet the call had to be made on the field at that time. I hate the result, it is unfair and unsatisfactory. I think it was the right call. History will record this as a win by cheating.

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