2014 World Cup

[pioneer98]

I just don't get this at all. Do we know for sure the ump didn't put too much time on his clock? Do they really stop it on the second - or is there discretion if there is an attack? in other words let's say some guy is just running toward the net with the ball and nobody in front of him - would the ref stop play on the exact second or would he let the play finish out?

I really like your idea of putting it on a big clock so there's at least some accountability after the game. FIFA protects refs too much.

It's completely arbitrary. The US color guy for ESPN, Taylor Twellman, reported that eye witnesses saw the added time was displayed on the ref's board as 4 minutes, then when Graham Zusi took his time getting to the sideline when he was subbed out, the guy added a full minute arbitrarily. Probably took Zusi 25 seconds to get off the field. Then of course, the US concedes the latest goal in WC group stage history.

Not an excuse for giving up that goal, but an indication that they should figure out a more precise method for adding time.

I'm sure some people know this but Taylor Twellman is a St. Louis guy. He is the son of Tim Twellman who runs the Twellman Soccer Academy and coaches the soccer powerhouse Villa Duchesne High School...I know all this because he is also my Dad's half-nephew. All the soccer genes evidently came from the other half.

[JackofDiamonds]

Brad Davis is also an StL guy, he was a senior at Chaminade when I was a freshman. He was incredible back then, I remember him as a nice guy.

[mtcefc]

Late goals are what makes football what it is, adds to the drama.

I actually think the time keeping should be done by a guy in the stand, leave the referee to referee the game. The standard (I believe) is 30 seconds added time per sub. Also if the ref thinks a team is wasting time (getting a ball, taking a free kick etc) he will add more time.

It is a fine line between gamesmanship and cheating, but every team does it, I have seen Tim Howard sneakily wave away a ball boy who has been getting him a ball in added time so he can get it himself and waste a few more seconds, you have to be clever.

The time in the corner of the screen is not an official time, it is just a guide, only the time on the referees watch counts, the announcement of extra time always specifies a minimum number of minutes.

Also a referee will not stop a game if a team is attacking, this can add extra time too. Most games are stopped when the ball is in the middle of the pitch, otherwise you get something like this....

[thrill]

The standard (I believe) is 30 seconds added time per sub.

Also a referee will not stop a game if a team is attacking,

And yet we got a minute and the game stopped with Yedlin charging their box.

Not that I blame the refs for the tie. I don't.

[Vidor]

Also a referee will not stop a game if a team is attacking

Ugh. Soccer can be so dopey.

That said, it intuitively doesn't make a lot of sense that the refs would be trying to screw Team USA over. Surely the deeper we go into the tournament, the happier FIFA is, more soccer to sell to the American market.

[thrill]

@Ben_Jata: #USA - Total Distance Covered (miles) in 2 games

Bradley: 15.5
Beckerman: 13.6
Johnson: 13.3
Jones: 13.2
Dempsey: 12.6
Beasley: 12.5

[Arthur Dent]

@Ben_Jata: #USA - Total Distance Covered (miles) in 2 games

Bradley: 15.5
Beckerman: 13.6
Johnson: 13.3
Jones: 13.2
Dempsey: 12.6
Beasley: 12.5

How do they figure this?

[JackofDiamonds]

@Ben_Jata: #USA - Total Distance Covered (miles) in 2 games

Bradley: 15.5
Beckerman: 13.6
Johnson: 13.3
Jones: 13.2
Dempsey: 12.6
Beasley: 12.5

How do they figure this?

They have little sensors in their shoes, like Nike+ or marathon chips.

[stlouie_lipp]

CNN front page headline:

Americans must defeat or draw with Germany

how can a "news" agency like that be so wrong. Granted the article spells it all out, but wtf?

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

This Mexico Croatia game is awesome and chippy.

Edited to say: Super chippy.