My favorite U.S. player, Carli Lloyd, has scored the winning goal in the last two Olympic goal medal games. How to top that? people asked. Carli answered with a hat trick in the World Cup final.
So another Olympics starts this Wednesday against New Zealand, two days before the official opening ceremony. Jonathan Tannenwald of the Inquirer has a piece about Carli and Olympic prospects in today's print edition. If you go to the Philly.com site, in addition to that story, there is an expanded version of his interview with Carli, also worth reading.
Tannenwald says the game to watch is against France on August 6 at 4 p.m. The last group match will be August 9 against Colombia. The gold medal game is August 19. Look for Carli and her teammates to be there.
FIFA Women's Olympics website is here.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Instant Replay May Be On Its Way
More than six years ago, on March 7, 2010, I applauded the decision not to use instant replay om soccer. My concern was that stopping a match to look at a video replay would break up the flow of the game, one of the sport's attractions.
Now, as reported in today's New York Times, video review is back. Although I was against the concept, it appears FIFA has thought it out pretty well as it begins experiments in six countries, including Major League Soccer. The list of reviewable situations is deliberately short: clear errors on goals, penalty decisions, straight red cards and case of mistaken identity. Unlike other sports, coaches would not be able to request a replay. A video assistant referee can recommend a review but only the center referee can initiate a formal review.
The International Football Association Board, which administers the Laws of the Game, has run several days of tests in North Jersey and has been in contact with other sports about their use of replay. Experiments in actual matches will not begin until 2017.
It appears as though technology has advanced since my post six years ago and I am encouraged that the IFAB is taking its time to conduct thorough research. This might work afterall.
Now, as reported in today's New York Times, video review is back. Although I was against the concept, it appears FIFA has thought it out pretty well as it begins experiments in six countries, including Major League Soccer. The list of reviewable situations is deliberately short: clear errors on goals, penalty decisions, straight red cards and case of mistaken identity. Unlike other sports, coaches would not be able to request a replay. A video assistant referee can recommend a review but only the center referee can initiate a formal review.
The International Football Association Board, which administers the Laws of the Game, has run several days of tests in North Jersey and has been in contact with other sports about their use of replay. Experiments in actual matches will not begin until 2017.
It appears as though technology has advanced since my post six years ago and I am encouraged that the IFAB is taking its time to conduct thorough research. This might work afterall.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Look at the scoreboard: France is in the final
There seem to be some people who think the better team in yesterday's Euro 2016 semi-final between France and Germany did not go through. The scoreboard said France won, 2-0, but you'd never know if from some of the comments,
Sam Borden reported in the New York Times: "[German Manager Joachim" Löw said that the Germans were unlucky, that France was not the better team. [French manager Didier] Deschamps did not necessarily disagree, saying that the Germans made France suffer. Still, he said, it made no difference."
“The better team is starting its holidays now,” claimed the tabloid Express, which bemoaned “a lack of directness and the right finishing” and compared France to Atletico Madrid: “Not nice to watch, but effective.” Football magazine Kicker saw “the World Cup holders dominating for most of the time, but they failed to take the chances which presented themselves”.
Soccer does not award style points so all that matters is the scoreboard. Antoine Griezmann scored both goals fr France, the first on a penalty kick during added time in the first half, and the second in the 72nd minute and France won where it mattered: on the scoreboard. There would be no Euro Cup to go with the world Cup currently held by Germany.
The last two time these teams met was last November 13 at the same Stade de France venue when the terrorist attacks took place outside the stadium and at a concert hall in Paris. Thankfully this game was without incident.
France will play Portugal in the final Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Check the scoreboard about two hours later.
Sam Borden reported in the New York Times: "[German Manager Joachim" Löw said that the Germans were unlucky, that France was not the better team. [French manager Didier] Deschamps did not necessarily disagree, saying that the Germans made France suffer. Still, he said, it made no difference."
“The better team is starting its holidays now,” claimed the tabloid Express, which bemoaned “a lack of directness and the right finishing” and compared France to Atletico Madrid: “Not nice to watch, but effective.” Football magazine Kicker saw “the World Cup holders dominating for most of the time, but they failed to take the chances which presented themselves”.
Soccer does not award style points so all that matters is the scoreboard. Antoine Griezmann scored both goals fr France, the first on a penalty kick during added time in the first half, and the second in the 72nd minute and France won where it mattered: on the scoreboard. There would be no Euro Cup to go with the world Cup currently held by Germany.
The last two time these teams met was last November 13 at the same Stade de France venue when the terrorist attacks took place outside the stadium and at a concert hall in Paris. Thankfully this game was without incident.
France will play Portugal in the final Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Check the scoreboard about two hours later.
Sunday, July 3, 2016
The Dream Ends For Iceland
The dream has ended for Iceland. This morning's New York Times carried an article about the unlikely advance of this nation of 330,000 to the quarterfinals of Euro 2016. The bubble burst later in the day when France scored in the 12th minute and never looked back enroute to a 5-2 win at Stade de France in Saint-Denis before 76,863. Sam Borden has the story in the Times.
France moves on to face Germany, which squeaked past Italy in a shootout, in a semifinal match Thursday in Marseille. Portugal, which got by Poland in a shootout, will face Wales, a 3-1 victor over Belgium, Wednesday in Lyon in the other semi.
The final is Saturday in Saint-Denis.
France moves on to face Germany, which squeaked past Italy in a shootout, in a semifinal match Thursday in Marseille. Portugal, which got by Poland in a shootout, will face Wales, a 3-1 victor over Belgium, Wednesday in Lyon in the other semi.
The final is Saturday in Saint-Denis.
Monday, June 13, 2016
For The Parents
Dan Shaughnessy's column in Saturday's Boston Globe should be required reading for every youth soccer parent in the country - not to mention for every youth baseball parent, youth swimming parent, every . . . you get the idea.
Shaughnessy, one of the country's best sportswriters in my book, reminds parents ". . . that it’s about the kids. It’s not about the parents." Amen. The column should be on the website of every youth team in the country and every coach should print it and give a hard copy to every parent on his or her team just in case they didn't look at the website.
Shaughnessy summarizes: "Try not to care about the game(s) more than your child cares." He then offers eight reminders that are valid in every sport, in club or school games, at every age group and in every season. And concludes: "Embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and competition. Frame these moments in your cerebral cloud and enjoy the games."
If you have a kid - or grandkid - playing on any team in any sport, click on the link at the beginning and read the column. It will make you a better fan and your kids will appreciate it.
Shaughnessy, one of the country's best sportswriters in my book, reminds parents ". . . that it’s about the kids. It’s not about the parents." Amen. The column should be on the website of every youth team in the country and every coach should print it and give a hard copy to every parent on his or her team just in case they didn't look at the website.
Shaughnessy summarizes: "Try not to care about the game(s) more than your child cares." He then offers eight reminders that are valid in every sport, in club or school games, at every age group and in every season. And concludes: "Embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and competition. Frame these moments in your cerebral cloud and enjoy the games."
If you have a kid - or grandkid - playing on any team in any sport, click on the link at the beginning and read the column. It will make you a better fan and your kids will appreciate it.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Tunnel Vision
Offbeat story in today's New York Times by soccer superwriter Sam Borden about the trend of televising and filming teams in the tunnel leading to the field before a match. More than other sports soccer has a ritual of teams parading onto the field, led by the officiating crew, and lining up to face the fans. For a number of years now, the parade includes one youth player for each pro.
Anyway, interesting piece.
Anyway, interesting piece.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Copa America: It Got Worse After the National Anthem
The Uruguayan National Team should have had a hint it wasn't going to be their night before the opening match of Copa America against Mexico in Glendale, Arizona Sunday night. As the teams lined up for the playing of the national anthems, the University of Phoenix stadium played the national anthem of Chile.
Things went downhill from there.
In the 4th minute, Uruguayan defender Alvaro Perieira started the scoring - for Mexico - by heading the ball into his own goal. Just before halftime, Matias Vecino was sent off for a second yellow card after kicking a Mexican player, leaving Uruguay with 10 players.
Despite being down a man, Uruguay rallied when Diego Godin scored off a set piece in the 74th minute. But being down a man proved too much and Mexico went up for good when Rafa Marquez scored in the 85th minute. El Tri made the final 3-1 with goal in stoppage time.
Things went downhill from there.
In the 4th minute, Uruguayan defender Alvaro Perieira started the scoring - for Mexico - by heading the ball into his own goal. Just before halftime, Matias Vecino was sent off for a second yellow card after kicking a Mexican player, leaving Uruguay with 10 players.
Despite being down a man, Uruguay rallied when Diego Godin scored off a set piece in the 74th minute. But being down a man proved too much and Mexico went up for good when Rafa Marquez scored in the 85th minute. El Tri made the final 3-1 with goal in stoppage time.
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