Quarterfinals (Win or Go Home)


VS

Location : Johannesburg - Ellis Park Stadium

Paraguay was robbed of a goal. Ruled offside but in REPLAY the goal should have stood.

Love them underdogs..... ;)

Some of the best drama in the World Cup!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable. :P

Cardozo doesn't have to touch the ball to trigger the offside. He was in an offside position and by going for that header, he becomes active and is offside, even though he doesn't touch it. Harsh on Paraguay but the linesman's intepretation is valid, in my opinion.

I thought the referee disallowing Xabi Alonzo's first penalty was severe. Almost every penalty ever taken would be disallowed by that standard, but it was probably a reaction to how much the Spanish encroached on the Cardozo penalty, and that wasn't called.

Great fight from Paraguay. They were brave and worked tremendously hard against the possession kings. Good tactical switch by Del Bosque, bringing off the ineffective Torres (again) and flooding the midfield with Fabregas. Amazing skill from Iniesta that led to the goal.

Great game, full and eventful, had it all.

Fair points Gary.

In regards to the Penalties, it's unfortunate that Paraguay did not get a retake due to the obviousness of the encroachment and ya, you may be right about why it was called against Spain.

I will say that Spain probably deserved an additional penalty after the goalie took down their penalty taker as he went for the loose ball.

As it were and with the Penalty misses being a wash, thing probably ended as they should have.


BTW, myself, Tom, SoccerOnly and Tuscan of the Voyageurs watched the games at the Real Sports Bar and Grill. Yes, the drink and food was a bit more expensive than the Duke but the quality and quantity of their HD screens was breath-taking .... plus their air conditioning worked.
The main screen, a two storey projected image was magnificent.


db

Thanks Gary, I wish they'd teach the announcers the rules.

+1

As a former ref, nothing annoys me more than people who don't actually understand the offside rule and get in an uproar when it's applied correctly.

holy shit the announcer today pissed me off due to lack of knowledge on the offside rule. I understand a "punter" getting a call wrong, but a professional commentator...

As Gary points out, the ruling was valid because Cardozo is an active part of the play, he doesn't need to touch it unlike what the announcer said.
On the Spanish penalty, the one WITH the encroachment, he said it's half a step, yes from the 18-yard line. but it was a few feet inside that circle part.

Good to hear Seixero on The Score's highlights package correctly call that one, although granted with the benefit of a few hours, as well as the encroachments and the missed penalty call for Fabregas right after the 2nd spanish penalty save.

I'm really considering forcing my dad to watch the TLN Español commentaries soon.
*heavy inhalation through the mic*

Does spain have what it takes to take on germans ?

that made your post epic!

uh, and I may be Peterborough drunk!