Olympics have started!

[Middleground]

I don't know much about soccer, but happened to actually watch today's game between Canada and USA. I expected Canada to win, because they were the favorites and up until the 3-3 tie, they always had the lead. When the USA won in overtime, I was happy and excited. Then I came here and see that everyone is mad and wants us to lose the gold. Now my feathers are drooping, and I'm not excited any more.

Not sure where you got that Canada was the favourite, because they have not beaten the US in over 10 years. Americans are #1 in the world, while the Canadians are ranked #7.

 

[soccerboy22]

And MG don't worry, we both know when it comes to the winter Olympics we will be LOL'ing at the American vs. Canadian hockey games.

 

[DiAnna]

Not sure where you got that Canada was the favourite, because they have not beaten the US in over 10 years. Americans are #1 in the world, while the Canadians are ranked #7.

From what the announcers were saying I got the gist that the Canadians were favored. The announcers were always so shocked when the US team scored! I also got the idea that Japan had beaten the USA and were world champs. As I've said, I don't know much about soccer. :lol:

 

[soccerboy22]

From what the announcers were saying I got the gist that the Canadians were favored. The announcers were always so shocked when the US team scored! I also got the idea that Japan had beaten the USA and were world champs. As I've said, I don't know much about soccer. :lol:

The USA women's team is very good, but lost last year to the Japanese in the Finals of the World Cup.

 

[PeteEU]

Sometime in the first half, an American player committed a handball in the goal area right in front of the ref. She didn't call for a penalty kick to the dismay of the Canadian players. Funny enough, it was the same type of handball... where a player was protecting herself and it happened to hit her hand. If there was some consistency in how the ref called the game, the final result might have been different. Unfortunately, the ****ing stupid excuse of a referee decided that she'd dictate play rather than the players. Sad and pathetic.

And the clutching, grabbing, shoving and shirt pulling is what happens in high level soccer. My "career" ended when they had to ply me from the ground after doing a 360 over my goalie. The girls on the other team made sure I got hurt more by breaking a few ribs and kicking me in the head when I was down. That was my final division 1 game, and it took many more years afterwards before I wanted to play--ever at a recreational level--again.

The refs have been shockingly bad during the Olympics sadly. There has been bias en-mass plus wrong calls that would not be made in the 4th division. I am still shocked over the Mexico vs Sengal game..At least in that game the team that deserved to win, actually won.. but it was without the refs help that is for sure lol.

 

[PeteEU]

She's Norwegian, and probably too drunk to care.

Or giving payback for the times Canada has beaten Norway in the Winter Olympics Had she been a Swede then I would have agreed with the drunk comment.. Norwegians are not as big drinkers as the Swedes

 

[Andalublue]

YEah the delay of game call was super BS. And I will agree that the PK should have never happened because there shouldn't have been a delay of game penalty should have never been called. However, the more I watched the handball play itself, the more I think that was the right call from a bad call. Saying that though, let's not act like Canada did not get away with a lot that game too. They had been hitting and pulling Morgan all game.

"Delay of game penalty"?? What's that? I didn't see the game but I know enough of the rules of football to know that you cannot give a penalty for time-wasting.

 

[EagleAye]

"Delay of game penalty"?? What's that? I didn't see the game but I know enough of the rules of football to know that you cannot give a penalty for time-wasting.

I recall the announcer said she took too many steps before kicking the ball away (?), and that's why the delay call. Still, I've never seen anything like that. I'm no Soccer expert though.

 

[PeteEU]

"Delay of game penalty"?? What's that? I didn't see the game but I know enough of the rules of football to know that you cannot give a penalty for time-wasting.

I think he means a yellow/red card for time wasting.

 

[PeteEU]

I recall the announcer said she took too many steps before kicking the ball away (?), and that's why the delay call. Still, I've never seen anything like that. I'm no Soccer expert though.

She can take as many steps as she wants, but she has to release the ball within 6 seconds of picking it up. It is a rule that is rarely enforced though since bouncing the ball technically means the ball is in play and a new 6 seconds starts.

 

[Andalublue]

I think he means a yellow/red card for time wasting.

Okay, so that must have been for taking too long over a dead ball (goal kick, free kick) because you can't be guilty of time-wasting if the ball is in play.

 

[PeteEU]

Okay, so that must have been for taking too long over a dead ball (goal kick, free kick) because you can't be guilty of time-wasting if the ball is in play.

You can be guilty of time wasting while the ball is in play!... you just cant get punished for it

 

[EagleAye]

Okay, so that must have been for taking too long over a dead ball (goal kick, free kick) because you can't be guilty of time-wasting if the ball is in play.

I saw a Brazilian player get yellow-carded for wasting time. His second of the game. Ouch! Time-wasting is pretty common by the team that's ahead. These refs are being pretty strict about it.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

There seem to be growing sour grapes from across the channel with our French neighbours very suspicious of the success of team GB. French racing director has gone so far as to suggest our team are using "magic wheels"

French team's director, Isabelle Gautheron, fuelled speculation here with the claim that the British have "magic wheels" which they keep hidden from the opposition and which are not those issued by their official sponsor, the French company Mavic. "We are looking a lot at the kit they use," Gautheron told the French newspaper L'Equipe. "We are asking a lot of questions: how have they gained so many tenths of seconds? Have they found a new training process based on certain energy pathways? I am not talking about any illicit product, because anti-doping tests are so strong.

Also, it seems Gregory Bauge was so upset at his 0-2 defeat to Jason Kenny that he asked for special permission at the news conference to grill his young combatant.

If it wasn't bad enough seeing a "rosbif" ride to victory in the Tour de France last month, our Gallic neighbours have spent the last week watching Team GB clean up in the Olympic velodrome. Worse, Britain's latest gold medal – the fifth for our cyclists so far – was won yesterday by the young Jason Kenny against France's great champion Gregory Bauge in the men's sprint. Bauge appeared to initially take his defeat with the graciousness one would expect from a rider of his calibre, but during the post-race press conference he launched an extraordinary interrogation of Kenny. Throughout the exchange Bauge was genial but there was no doubting he wanted answers as to why and how Britain has been so dominant in the velodrome.

 

[Andalublue]

There seem to be growing sour grapes from across the channel with our French neighbours very suspicious of the success of team GB. French racing director has gone so far as to suggest our team are using "magic wheels" Also, it seems Gregory Bauge was so upset at his 0-2 defeat to Jason Kenny that he asked for special permission at the news conference to grill his young combatant.

Perhaps they've been talking to the US swim coach.

 

[Manc Skipper]

To be fair, The US is looking good for a medal in the Women's Omnium. Canada and Australia are up there too. One of the colonies might even knock Britain off the Gold!

 

[Infinite Chaos]

And we win another Gold Medal, this time in Men's Triathlon. We've equalled our Beijing tally, we have guaranteed silver in men's sailing later and that's not counting Pendleton and Hoy going for Gold today - not forgetting Lisa Trott in the Omnium.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

Perhaps they've been talking to the US swim coach.

No need, the Teamn GB rowing coach would have been just as helpful. Strange that the French haven't suggested we have magic boats..

 

[Andalublue]

And we win another Gold Medal, this time in Men's Triathlon. We've equalled our Beijing tally, we have guaranteed silver in men's sailing later and that's not counting Pendleton and Hoy going for Gold today - not forgetting Lisa Trott in the Omnium.

Just watched the triathlon almost in its entirety, quite surprised at how compelling it is to watch. That's Yorkshire's second gold medal. The Republic of God's Own Country now is in 24th position on the medal table (G2, S1, B2), just ahead of Jamaica, just behind Poland. This is quite fun for Brits; check where all the GB medallists come from.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

Just watched the triathlon almost in its entirety, quite surprised at how compelling it is to watch. That's Yorkshire's second gold medal. The Republic of God's Own Country now is in 24th position on the medal table (G2, S1, B2), just ahead of Jamaica, just behind Poland. This is quite fun for Brits; check where all the GB medallists come from.

Did Brownlee parade around in a GB flag afterwards or a Yorkshire flag? He normally refuses anything but the flag of Yorkshire when he wins a competition.

(I ask as I missed the end of the race)

 

[Anthony Brown]

Olympics have started and running well. So far, China, United States and Great Britain have occupied the first three places with 65, 63 and 43.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

-- This is quite fun for Brits --

Can't use the "like" button on my work PC but thanks for that, did you listen to the Radio 2 article last week where Jeremy Vine revealed that less than 30% of GB athletes traditionally come from state schools - unlike football where the percentage of state vs private students who progress to professional sports careers more accurately reflects the population? Socially, that was quite revealing.

 

[Andalublue]

Did Brownlee parade around in a GB flag afterwards or a Yorkshire flag? He normally refuses anything but the flag of Yorkshire when he wins a competition.

(I ask as I missed the end of the race)

Nah, he used the Union flag. Shame. Perhaps he was warned by team management that he had to use only GB symbols. See how we are oppressed?

I haven't heard that stuff about state schools and private. It doesn't surprise me greatly as if you are supremely talented but from a poor background, why wouldn't you go into a sport where you can earn a good living? Great though these Olympics have been so far, let's not forget that footie, rugger and cricket are still the main professional sports in the country, and probably always will be.

 

[Ikari]

At least in that game the team that deserved to win, actually won.. but it was without the refs help that is for sure lol.

It's soccer, often times the team that deserves to win doesn't win.

 

[Manc Skipper]

Nah, he used the Union flag. Shame. Perhaps he was warned by team management that he had to use only GB symbols. See how we are oppressed? ...

If Andy Murray can do it so can you! :2razz: