OT: A nod to us hockey fans

[DawgDad]

FINALLY! A "simulation" call in the World Cup! Everyone, literally, EVERYONE I've spoken with about the WC is SICK and TIRED of all the diving and fake injuries!

A player and team finally paid a price. A price that effectively ended their World Cup aspirations. Soon after Switzerland tied the game with Argentina 1-1 an Argentine player was yellow carded for illegal contact with Swiss striker Breel Embolo. Well, the video review team interrupted the game to check on "mistaken player identity". On review it was clear that the SWISS player initiated the contact and took a dive, a blatant attempt to "simulate" [draw] a foul by the Argentine player. Yellow card for Embolo, no foul by Argentina. Being his second yellow card of the game . . . RED CARD! EJECTION! With Switzerland forced to play remainder of game a man short the Argentines put them away in extra time.

Karma. True justice in the eyes of this American hockey fan. Embolo breaks down crying as he's ushered off the field, I was LOL! His ingrained cheating, diving instinct cost his team any real chance of winning or getting to penalty kicks. Karma.

I could become more than a World Cup soccer fan IF they sent players off the field for two minutes for embellishment. The Hockey Mom in the house thinks the sport is stupid.

[Sunneez Teef]

FINALLY! A "simulation" call in the World Cup! Everyone, literally, EVERYONE I've spoken with about the WC is SICK and TIRED of all the diving and fake injuries!

A player and team finally paid a price. A price that effectively ended their World Cup aspirations. Soon after Switzerland tied the game with Argentina 1-1 an Argentine player was yellow carded for illegal contact with Swiss striker Breel Embolo. Well, the video review team interrupted the game to check on "mistaken player identity". On review it was clear that the SWISS player initiated the contact and took a dive, a blatant attempt to "simulate" [draw] a foul by the Argentine player. Yellow card for Embolo, no foul by Argentina. Being his second yellow card of the game . . . RED CARD! EJECTION! With Switzerland forced to play remainder of game a man short the Argentines put them away in extra time.

Karma. True justice in the eyes of this American hockey fan. Embolo breaks down crying as he's ushered off the field, I was LOL! His ingrained cheating, diving instinct cost his team any real chance of winning or getting to penalty kicks. Karma.

I could become more than a World Cup soccer fan IF they sent players off the field for two minutes for embellishment. The Hockey Mom in the house thinks the sport is stupid.

It’s been pretty gross how FIFA has done everything they could to get Argentina through. We know they’re corrupt, but lord …

[bluetunehead]

FINALLY! A "simulation" call in the World Cup! Everyone, literally, EVERYONE I've spoken with about the WC is SICK and TIRED of all the diving and fake injuries!

A player and team finally paid a price. A price that effectively ended their World Cup aspirations. Soon after Switzerland tied the game with Argentina 1-1 an Argentine player was yellow carded for illegal contact with Swiss striker Breel Embolo. Well, the video review team interrupted the game to check on "mistaken player identity". On review it was clear that the SWISS player initiated the contact and took a dive, a blatant attempt to "simulate" [draw] a foul by the Argentine player. Yellow card for Embolo, no foul by Argentina. Being his second yellow card of the game . . . RED CARD! EJECTION! With Switzerland forced to play remainder of game a man short the Argentines put them away in extra time.

Karma. True justice in the eyes of this American hockey fan. Embolo breaks down crying as he's ushered off the field, I was LOL! His ingrained cheating, diving instinct cost his team any real chance of winning or getting to penalty kicks. Karma.

I could become more than a World Cup soccer fan IF they sent players off the field for two minutes for embellishment. The Hockey Mom in the house thinks the sport is stupid.

It’s been pretty gross how FIFA has done everything they could to get Argentina through. We know they’re corrupt, but lord …

Incredibly transparent. Sigh. Probably won't beat France tho.

[Cahokanut]

FINALLY! A "simulation" call in the World Cup! Everyone, literally, EVERYONE I've spoken with about the WC is SICK and TIRED of all the diving and fake injuries!

A player and team finally paid a price. A price that effectively ended their World Cup aspirations. Soon after Switzerland tied the game with Argentina 1-1 an Argentine player was yellow carded for illegal contact with Swiss striker Breel Embolo. Well, the video review team interrupted the game to check on "mistaken player identity". On review it was clear that the SWISS player initiated the contact and took a dive, a blatant attempt to "simulate" [draw] a foul by the Argentine player. Yellow card for Embolo, no foul by Argentina. Being his second yellow card of the game . . . RED CARD! EJECTION! With Switzerland forced to play remainder of game a man short the Argentines put them away in extra time.

Karma. True justice in the eyes of this American hockey fan. Embolo breaks down crying as he's ushered off the field, I was LOL! His ingrained cheating, diving instinct cost his team any real chance of winning or getting to penalty kicks. Karma.

I could become more than a World Cup soccer fan IF they sent players off the field for two minutes for embellishment. The Hockey Mom in the house thinks the sport is stupid.

It’s been pretty gross how FIFA has done everything they could to get Argentina through. We know they’re corrupt, but lord …

This is what I've seen as well.
Unlike the Egypt game. There was no looks back for the foul that created the goal.
What bugs about the red card. Is how many other gunshot victims that got away with it. Even when a card was issued.
I would call it a bad look. But no one cares about looks or even facts anymore. It's all about who has it and if they are on their own team. I'll finish watching. But I'll probably never see another after this tournament

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Unfortunately, the “simulation” call, or unsportsmanlike conduct-diving call for hockey isn’t used nearly enough. In this game, it was used, it was costly, and whether it felt rigged or not, it’s done. The thing I liked the most, unlike the rampant diving taking hold in the NHL, is that when it was reviewed and reversed, the original call was eliminated. Not like the NHL where you get two for hooking AND two for diving. It’s one or the other in my book, so the soccer format has it right in that regard.

Diving has become more and more prevalent in the NHL. I would hope that the powers that be see the game last night and try to get it out of the game. Wishful thinking on my part. They probably can’t fine/suspend at will without CBA changes, but they can make rule changes. Make it reviewable. Make it a 2-minute minor to hurt the team AND a 10 minute misconduct to hurt the player, as many times, it’s the star players who are the worst offenders. The league should make it a priority to get rid of the garbage dives, head whips, etc… that are seen every single game. Wishful thinking on my part, as nothing will happen. Hockey has become soccer on skates.

[Old_Goat]

Unfortunately, the “simulation” call, or unsportsmanlike conduct-diving call for hockey isn’t used nearly enough. In this game, it was used, it was costly, and whether it felt rigged or not, it’s done. The thing I liked the most, unlike the rampant diving taking hold in the NHL, is that when it was reviewed and reversed, the original call was eliminated. Not like the NHL where you get two for hooking AND two for diving. It’s one or the other in my book, so the soccer format has it right in that regard.

Diving has become more and more prevalent in the NHL. I would hope that the powers that be see the game last night and try to get it out of the game. Wishful thinking on my part. They probably can’t fine/suspend at will without CBA changes, but they can make rule changes. Make it reviewable. Make it a 2-minute minor to hurt the team AND a 10 minute misconduct to hurt the player, as many times, it’s the star players who are the worst offenders. The league should make it a priority to get rid of the garbage dives, head whips, etc… that are seen every single game. Wishful thinking on my part, as nothing will happen. Hockey has become soccer on skates.

You are on the right track. But maybe just automatically assess an additional 2-minute Unsportsmanlike Penalty that requires an additional player to be selected by & for the penalized team to sit in the box. This forces a 4-on-3 power play, opening the ice with theoretically a greater chance for a Power Play goal.

[jwstlsan]

I grew up playing soccer, I’m old but clearly remember you couldn’t grab, hold or push anyone without drawing a foul.

Today’s game is (bleep)!!! Every shove or trip is considered a life threatening injury! Get up and start playing soccer!

They need to get that contact out of the game and it might make it more appealing to us Americans.

It would make for more scoring and let the skills shine. Much like they did with hockey years ago when you couldn’t grab the player who beat you and skated by you.

[Whatashame]

Another thing that bothers me about the soccer diving and exaggerated injuries is the announcers bringing the game to us make excuses for the existence of the fake injuries. They play up the idiot rolling around on the ground, knowing he’s going to jump up and join the play OR they tell us that it’s “part of the game” to excuse it.

These are the best players in the world and we should expect more from them than the constant diving that goes on. It really does take away from the game.

[HighStick]

Nobody likes a diver. They've been dying like soap opera actors for decades now everytime they get touched or bumped and it's ruined the game of soccer just like Lebron ruined basketball. That chits unwatchable.

[Blues Dave]

I agree about the diving in soccer. That's a main reason I'm not a fan. That's sad too because my wife used to play and I loved watching at that level. I also agree that there is no penalty in the NHL if diving is called. Give the penalty to the guy who dives through a possible review or not.

[Francis Park Thug]

Nobody likes a diver. They've been dying like soap opera actors for decades now everytime they get touched or bumped and it's ruined the game of soccer just like Lebron ruined basketball. That chits unwatchable.

LeBron ruined basketball? How so?

[TruBlueFan_1970]

I agree about the diving in soccer. That's a main reason I'm not a fan. That's sad too because my wife used to play and I loved watching at that level. I also agree that there is no penalty in the NHL if diving is called. Give the penalty to the guy who dives through a possible review or not.

Yep. Call it often enough and they will start to curb it hopefully.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

I labsolutlyl loathe Argentina and the Swiss coach Murat Yakin is awesome in my book, but any fan who watched that play and then Embrolo's writhing triple roll after "contact" cannot come to the conclusion that it was not a dive/simulation.. Unfortunate and game changing especially because the Swiss were charging but them the rules.

[DawgDad]

I labsolutlyl loathe Argentina and the Swiss coach Murat Yakin is awesome in my book, but any fan who watched that play and then Embrolo's writhing triple roll after "contact" cannot come to the conclusion that it was not a dive/simulation.. Unfortunate and game changing especially because the Swiss were charging but them the rules.

Let me start by saying you obviously know a lot more about soccer than I do. To me, this is the antithesis of fighting in hockey (all physical play, really), which many people take issue with.

Embolo's play was flat out a selfish, punk play. He put himself above the team and in a [no doubt] instinctive reaction moment took his team completely out of the tournament. His instinct was to cheat and dive. Punk.

This was an extreme incident. 99% of the diving is just silly nonsense. For 90% of the game time the biggest suspense is whether the guy(s) rolling on the ground is really hurt, and 95% of the time they really aren't. It's like a really bad chick flick.

When a team decides to attack it's a compelling sport, until the diving sets in.

[LGB73]

I labsolutlyl loathe Argentina and the Swiss coach Murat Yakin is awesome in my book, but any fan who watched that play and then Embrolo's writhing triple roll after "contact" cannot come to the conclusion that it was not a dive/simulation.. Unfortunate and game changing especially because the Swiss were charging but them the rules.

Not a soccer guy so just wanted your thoughts. Do you think the US goalie was getting ready to "flop" from contact and that's why he flubbed that kick? His comments after the match was that he expected contact, to be kicked in the leg from the Belgium player behind him. Just looked like he put his body into an awkward position for a kick and might have been anticipating going to the ground first from the contact that never came.

[Harry York 37]

The fluid offside line makes for a pace that can ratchet instantaneously when an attacker finds a lazy seam and gets a step.
I never played anything other than goalie in college Hoc- soc, so my game experience is negligible.

Diving and a legit penalty happens sometimes and both should be called.

Refereeing is hard.