World Cup and European leagues

[Mr. Ypsi]

After seeing more replays of the Dutch goals, some modification of my earlier post.  Melo did indeed have a genuine own goal - it he was not there, the keeper had a fairly easy save, but Melo didn't just get in his way, he did deflect the ball past Cesar.  And the second goal was even flukier than I thought: the first Dutch player simply didn't get high enough on his attempted header, the ball glanced off the top of his head just enough to float over the Brazilian defenders and come down right to Sneijder!  Full credit to Sneijder though - that's some good reflexes!

Or, the deflection centered the ball onto Sneijder's head perfectly for him to connect on the header.

Maybe, but I'm not sure ANYONE is THAT good!  Serendipity seems more plausible to me.

[dlippiel]

Stunning defeat for the Brazilians...the Orange are not nearly as flashy as the guys from South America, but they are very solid. I'm not surprised they took this one.

dlip was very happy to see the Dutch come away victorious! dlip has a ton of respect for Brazil but like MUC he enjoys when they are defeated by an underdog (granted #4 defeating #1 isn't a world shake-up but still beating Brazil is an accomplishment)!

By the way, an amazing conclusion to the Ghana/Ura game! dlip was never much of a soccer/futbol fan before he watched his first World CUp years ago. There is definitely something to say for this tournament and the level of play we are seeing! dlip loves every minute of it!

[dlippiel]

+k Ypsi for the invite 

[Ralph Turner]

After seeing more replays of the Dutch goals, some modification of my earlier post.  Melo did indeed have a genuine own goal - it he was not there, the keeper had a fairly easy save, but Melo didn't just get in his way, he did deflect the ball past Cesar.  And the second goal was even flukier than I thought: the first Dutch player simply didn't get high enough on his attempted header, the ball glanced off the top of his head just enough to float over the Brazilian defenders and come down right to Sneijder!  Full credit to Sneijder though - that's some good reflexes!

Or, the deflection centered the ball onto Sneijder's head perfectly for him to connect on the header.

Maybe, but I'm not sure ANYONE is THAT good!  Serendipity seems more plausible to me.

Yes, the soccer gods must have favored the Orange today.

[Mr. Ypsi]

After seeing more replays of the Dutch goals, some modification of my earlier post.  Melo did indeed have a genuine own goal - it he was not there, the keeper had a fairly easy save, but Melo didn't just get in his way, he did deflect the ball past Cesar.  And the second goal was even flukier than I thought: the first Dutch player simply didn't get high enough on his attempted header, the ball glanced off the top of his head just enough to float over the Brazilian defenders and come down right to Sneijder!  Full credit to Sneijder though - that's some good reflexes!

Or, the deflection centered the ball onto Sneijder's head perfectly for him to connect on the header.

Maybe, but I'm not sure ANYONE is THAT good!  Serendipity seems more plausible to me.

Yes, the soccer gods must have favored the Orange today.

Now I'm no longer sure which interpretation is correct.  I've seen a couple of soccer writers saying teams practice a set piece of a near-post attacker 'black-flicking' the ball to a teammate who's away from the keeper (though one also said he had never seen it actually work in a big game).  I'll keep looking for a replay from a better angle than I've seen (where you really can't see anything but the top of Huyk's head).  At this point it could be either a gift from the soccer gods, or arguably the best assist of the WC (or maybe both)!

[Ralph Turner]

After seeing more replays of the Dutch goals, some modification of my earlier post.  Melo did indeed have a genuine own goal - it he was not there, the keeper had a fairly easy save, but Melo didn't just get in his way, he did deflect the ball past Cesar.  And the second goal was even flukier than I thought: the first Dutch player simply didn't get high enough on his attempted header, the ball glanced off the top of his head just enough to float over the Brazilian defenders and come down right to Sneijder!  Full credit to Sneijder though - that's some good reflexes!

Or, the deflection centered the ball onto Sneijder's head perfectly for him to connect on the header.

Maybe, but I'm not sure ANYONE is THAT good!  Serendipity seems more plausible to me.

Yes, the soccer gods must have favored the Orange today.

Now I'm no longer sure which interpretation is correct.  I've seen a couple of soccer writers saying teams practice a set piece of a near-post attacker 'black-flicking' the ball to a teammate who's away from the keeper (though one also said he had never seen it actually work in a big game).  I'll keep looking for a replay from a better angle than I've seen (where you really can't see anything but the top of Huyk's head).  At this point it could be either a gift from the soccer gods, or arguably the best assist of the WC (or maybe both)!

I wonder how it will be recounted at a fortieth reunion of the 2010 team!

Yes, that corner was coming into the goal area with too low a trajectory to escape the traffic.  The header attempt by Ghana late in the game was off because the player lost his orientation relative to the near post.  When he headed the ball, he had run beyond the near post and the goal was now behind him.

[Hoosier Titan]

After seeing more replays of the Dutch goals, some modification of my earlier post.  Melo did indeed have a genuine own goal - it he was not there, the keeper had a fairly easy save, but Melo didn't just get in his way, he did deflect the ball past Cesar.  And the second goal was even flukier than I thought: the first Dutch player simply didn't get high enough on his attempted header, the ball glanced off the top of his head just enough to float over the Brazilian defenders and come down right to Sneijder!  Full credit to Sneijder though - that's some good reflexes!

I have to disagree with you, Mr. Ypsi.  I didn't see the second Dutch goal live, but I've seen Dirk Kuyt--the player who headed it in--enough to know that was entirely intentional.  It was no fluke, IMO.

[Hoosier Titan]

Just saw your later post--my vote is for best assist in the World Cup .  Kuyt is a striker by nature but he's been playing on the wing in Liverpool for the last three years now.  He does things like this, although the finish is not always there.

[Hoosier Titan]

Looks like it's "Wind up Spain" time for Maradona:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5350614/ce/us/maradona-horrible-referee-helped-spain-wcup?cc=5901&ver=us

Interesting that he doesn't mention the Tevez-was-two-yards-offside call.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Looks like it's "Wind up Spain" time for Maradona:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5350614/ce/us/maradona-horrible-referee-helped-spain-wcup?cc=5901&ver=us

Interesting that he doesn't mention the Tevez-was-two-yards-offside call.

He's Maradona - you expected that he would?!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Just saw your later post--my vote is for best assist in the World Cup .  Kuyt is a striker by nature but he's been playing on the wing in Liverpool for the last three years now.  He does things like this, although the finish is not always there.

Since I still haven't found a replay (or even still photo) that shows more than just Huyk's head (otherwise completely blocked from view by defenders), I yield to a fellow Titan (and Liverpool rooter) and accept that he did intentionally flick it on.  Can we compromise that it was still a bit of a 'fluke' that it actually worked?!   To get it up enough to clear two or three defenders, but descend exactly to where Sneijder needed it, is amazing!

[Mr. Ypsi]

OK, finally found the replay I sought.  Hoosier Titan is quite correct - from this angle I could clearly see the head flick.  Amazing assist!

[Ralph Turner]

OK, finally found the replay I sought.  Hoosier Titan is quite correct - from this angle I could clearly see the head flick.  Amazing assist!

Luck -- when preparation and hard work meet opportunity.

[Mr. Ypsi]

OK, finally found the replay I sought.  Hoosier Titan is quite correct - from this angle I could clearly see the head flick.  Amazing assist!

Luck -- when preparation and hard work meet opportunity.

AND blessing from the soccer gods - don't forget them!

If that exact situation were replayed 100 times, I'd bet on at most one more goal (at least such an 'easy' goal - maybe 6-7 rebound/chaos goals).

[Mr. Ypsi]

And this bonus report from the WC - according to a Johannesburg radio station (as reported in the Boston Globe) Paris Hilton was detained leaving the Mandela Bay Stadium (Netherlands/Brazil) for possession of marijuana.  Is Robben's Island still in operation?