The Inevitable Football Topic

[Paullus Scipio]

Doc/Paolo wrote:

Paul,

You can see what you like but a good dive is part of the game and if it works, well..........Italy is good at the dive no question but if you can use it to win, why not? Anyone who cries about it will just have to play soccer and find out why it is necessary at times.

Yes it is part of the game these days,... the fact that a piece of 'play acting', which is deliberate cheating if it succeeds, is considered "ok" or "necessary" is one good reason why the game of soccer has become farcical

As far as the Australian situation in the last world cup, that was a penalty not a dive.

Yes, a penalty awarded for a blatant 'dive' as the replays, played endlessly over and over, showed. Indeed the player concerned (Fabio Grosso) did not even deny it, but simply shrugged, and stated, like you, that it was 'all part of the game' i.e. that it's O.K. to cheat !! For those interested, it is still current on You-tube here:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr2oTmQ0GwM

Both the Australian players and the New Zealenders are strong athletes with great stamina and endurance, I will grant that. However, they do not really have any technical quality relative to the top European teams.

With populations of around 25 million and 4 million, and considering soccer is not the main football code in either country, both are 'punching above their weight' and most of the top players play in Europe anyway, so not true, I think. The more so when the only way the current 'World Champions' can beat them is by blatant cheating ! (
In the light of all this and with websites like "Dive of the Day", perhaps your signature should be altered to read:
"You have to laugh at soccer or what else are you going to laugh at?" :wink: D lol: