World cup 2014

Parent Cafe
421

<p>What a thrill to watch a World Cup match! Sitting near people from several nations and hearing their chants (not so much their screeching whistling jeers) from time to time. New stadiums and fun nightlife. Brazil looks like an interesting country. </p>

<p>If I never get to a WC match I wish my son will someday witness one. The German goalkeeper Neuer’s lively play yesterday reminded me of how my son used to play the position in high school. He gave parents near heart attacks whenever he left the box, and then would later casually move back into his normal position. I chuckled to myself whenever the other team’s parents would holler “The goalkeepers out!” as I’d seen it all happen many times before. Yet he never once cost his team a foolish goal. </p>

422

<p>We had a keeper who was a former forward and tremendous athlete. One game, down by 1 with time expiring and with nothing to lose, the coach had keeper leave the box, dribble up and take a shot from midfield. Goal. Also used to leave the box and cause palpitations from onlookers.</p>

423

<p>I saw goal keepers running past the mid field many times when I was in HS.</p>

424

<p>Junior year my son split the GK time with a giant about 6’ 3" 230 LBS and they each played a half. When they weren’t in the goal, they would play the striker position and run all around creating havoc until they ran out of gas and needed to be replaced. Senior year my son initially played MF and scored 3 goals. But the coach needed him in goal so that’s where he went. One weakness my son had was not being able to boot the ball very far.</p>

<p>His team must have looked very unusual to opponents. At one end of the field there was a tall GK running all over and trying to score cheap goals, and at the other end of the field was another tall GK running out of the box etc. trying to move the ball upfield. And the giant could kick the ball close to the other team’s box too.</p>

425

<p>Michigan soccer ref dies after being punched during game:</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/01/michigan-ref-brutally-punched-during-game-in-critical-condition/[/url]”>http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/01/michigan-ref-brutally-punched-during-game-in-critical-condition/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>We should not play soccer this way.</p>

426

<p>I don’t know how you stop senseless violence like that. The 6’ 5" referee was struck in the neck by the player. </p>

<p>There has been only one goal scored in the first half of quarterfinal matches, not counting the Brazil-Chile first match. </p>

427

<p>Amazing how fast a writhing player can get up once he realizes no foul is forthcoming.</p>

428

<p>Yesterday is repeated.</p>

429

<p>Swiss GK tried a bicycle kick shot in final minutes. Argentina left Dzemaili wide open in front of the net as two defenders covered his teammate a few feet away. </p>

430

<p>Seven of the group winners are already in final eight. Very close to the original eight first seeds - only France wasn’t ranked high enough. </p>

<p>The next game is one of 11 real stars against a … team of brothers. Should be exciting. Either way, one of my teams will qualify! </p>

431

<p>And there you go…at 93 minutes. </p>

432

<p>A valiant effort. :-S </p>

433

<p>You know…after the Thursday game ended, my friends and I stared at the screen for awhile and digested what we just watched. I jokingly commented, “Tune in next Tuesday to see USA eff it up again!”</p>

<p>And now look where we are. </p>

434

<p>Tim Howard played an amazing game.</p>

435

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<p>What’s the difference between Tim Howard and Jesus?</p>

<p>Jesus had 11 men he could trust.</p>

436

<p>Got a good laugh out of that!</p>

437

<p>Wow just wow! Tim was superb and showed such class after the game. 16 saves is simply incredible. If soccer was basketball, the game would be 130-41. </p>

<p>Proud of … both teams. </p>

438

<p>“Jesus had 11 men he could trust.”</p>

<p>How does that Bible verse go? Something about a plank in your eye. I always liked the plank/log/speck ones. </p>

439

<p>“16 saves is simply incredible. If soccer was basketball, the game would be 130-41.”</p>

<p>Which is why some of us have difficulty with the game.</p>

440

<p>Kudos to Howard. I felt Besler, Gonzalez, Dempsey, Beckerman, Zusi, Bedoya, and Jermaine Jones played very well. Bradley made some terrible passes but also played well at other times. Now its time to find another team to root for in the quarterfinals. </p>