World Cup Day 8: A Sad Day for Footy

Starting with the disastrous red card given to Miroslav Klose in the Germany vs Serbia match, today has been a disgraceful day for international referees.  When they brandish their yellows and reds they should understand that those bookings have serious ramifications for the players.  If a player tackles from behind with malice, then I'm all for a red card and would think it's well-deserved.  But to give a yellow as if it's a note going home to a parent is unfair.  A yellow in one game and then the next equals a red.
The US were also victims of an incompetent referee.  Disallowing a goal for NO APPARENT REASON and then not giving a reason for it was inexcusable.  The African commentators said that most of the referees from Africa are "third-rate."  So why is he a referee in the world's biggest sporting event?
The poor play by the Americans in the first half didn't do anything for the cause, but that has nothing to do with their brilliant second-half play.  In this case the referee made himself the story instead of the footy, which should never happen.
Germany lost to Serbia after going down a man in the 35'.  The sending off was unwarranted and now the Germans, who blasted to a 4-0 win in their first match against Australia (who ironically were down a man), find themselves with only 3 points instead of 6.  Die Mannschaft had a chance to score when they were awarded a penalty.  Lukas Podolski, who was the first goalscorer in their first match punted a lazy ball to the keeper, who guessed the right direction.  Podolski took full credit for it by saying, "It's my fault.  I missed, but I don't want to dwell on it."

from dirtytackle
US vs SLOVENIA
After a devastating start that included yet another early goal allowed by the U.S. - and a second goal before half - the U.S. battled back for a draw with a tenacious rally and was only denied a victory by a mind-boggling referee decision.

Landon Donovan fueled the U.S. comeback, first by blasting in a goal just after halftime from a seemingly impossible angle. Then, as Slovenia tired and collected yellow cards like candy on Halloween, the Americans finally equalized in the 82nd minute thanks to the coach's son, Michael Bradley. With momentum so firmly in their grasp that it seemed only a matter of time before the team scored a winner.
As full time drew near, that winner came off the toe of Maurice Edu after a free kick, but it was astonishingly disallowed by Malian referee Koman Coulibaly. He appeared to call Michael Bradley offside even though Bradley was being bear-hugged from behind by a Slovenian defender. (UPDATE: The official FIFA match report claims a foul on Edu.)
The baffling call sparked confused outrage from the U.S. team as it had no idea why the goal was disallowed. In Bob Bradley's first post-match interview, he said he still didn't know what the call was and why the goal didn't count. But even with a detailed explanation written in 500-point font on the largest billboard in Times Square accompanied by graphs and a 3-D re-enactment, I don't think the U.S. team or its fans could accept that it was anything but a horrible call.
Thankfully, the U.S. still has a good chance at advancing out of the group after this confidence-pumping comeback if it can beat Algeria in their final group match. But until then, the urge for U.S. fans to break household items probably will remain impossibly strong. [end story]

Former US player Eric Wynalda thinks that FIFA should investigate the Malian referee and not just for his boneheaded mistake in the freekick goal for the United States.

HAHAHAHA!!  YOU'RE A KEEPER AND AFRAID OF THE BALL?

US Starting XI

Another angle of Landon Donovan's goal

Michael Bradley (a doppelganger for his father) celebrates his impressive strike

Then includes his teammates, fans, and country!

Then this moron makes a disgraceful call, which still hasn't been explained.  All of the footy pundits in the world, in every country have looked at this goal from every angle and wonder why it didn't stand.  It means the US dropped two points.

Steve McManaman from ESPN said that "he isn't required by FIFA to explain himself...he's like the Queen of England."  Then Alexei Lalas replied, "she would have been a better ref today!" :)

Sitting on the bench is killing this guy. 

I would give highlights of the England game but there were none.  The only word I can think to say about England is:

FLAT

They played like they didn't care.  It looked more like a charity footy match.  When your own fans are booing you in the stadium that's not good.

I watched ESPN's post-match commentary and I think that Steve and Alexei were dead-on with their assessment of England.  McManaman said "when they put on their club kits, Manchester United and Chelsea, they are brilliant, but when they put on the white of England they are terrible."  Lalas added, "they're just not that good."  I'm thinking he may be right, that England was a product of media hype with nothing behind it.

You can't take anything from Algeria...they looked like they wanted to win it.