what would you do to change the world cup??

[mclosin]

i made a thread like this a few days ago and got little response, so im giving it another go and another spin.

since 1998, the first cup with 32 teams, scoring has went down every time.

1998 -- 2.67 per game
2002 -- 2.52 per game
2006 -- 2.3 per game
2010 -- low as hell so far. (after 14 games only 23 goals, barely over 1.5 a game).

the talent just isnt there with a lot of these teams to "make something outta nothing." ivory and portugal in what should have been an entertaining match, was a close to the vest 0 0 game. uruguay and france looked content to take their chance in the other 2 games. you could even make the case that without a red card we would have had 2 more 0 0 games. i do think this picks up some, but honestly we are right where we started in group a and f basically.

after the lowest scoring cup ever in 1990, fifa started awarding 3 points for a win instead of 2, it worked for a while, but over the course of 3 games teams r not really hurt playing for the draw nearly as much as they would be over a period of time.

neone have any kind of suggestions?

 

[TheSaint]

you'll see, it will catch up. very tough matchups, now mayne games would be more open, more chances, more goals. im sure about it!

 

[born2gamble]

you'll see, it will catch up. very tough matchups, now mayne games would be more open, more chances, more goals. im sure about it!

I agree. Lots of teams in their 2nd games, have to go out, and try to win in order to qualify for the 2nd round.

 

[CowboyT]

Nothing. Why are there so many threads like this? If you don't like the game, don't watch. There's good sport without a 5-3 game every time. The teams play defensively for the first game. But the world cup is the most popular sporting event in the world. It doesn't need to change for Americans.

My wife loves greys anatomy. When its on, I don't tell her what they do to make me like it. I watch something in the other room.

 

[CowboyT]

Nothing. Why are there so many threads like this? If you don't like the game, don't watch. There's good sport without a 5-3 game every time. The teams play defensively for the first game. But the world cup is the most popular sporting event in the world. It doesn't need to change for Americans.

My wife loves greys anatomy. When its on, I don't tell her what they do to make me like it. I watch something in the other room.

 

[illusionzzz]

I'd give the viewers watchin on tv the option to turn off the field microphones while still being able to hear the commentators... Stupid horns ;p

 

[Well-Seasoned]

@Saint. True. Teams start to become more desperate and push players ahead too far so they either benefit from it or get burned by the counter-attack.

 

[mclosin]

im gonna watch it no matter what, but club soccer and champs league is way more interesting. if i had never seen a game, i would think this is ridiculous to be honest. dont think fifa doesnt want these games to be higher scoring either, they want soccer to grow in the united states and they know this event is heavily watched stateside moreso then anything else soccer out there. teams are playing way outta character for this event because no one wants to be eliminated in game 1. there is no way a chile over under should ever be 2 under any circumstance. i suggested letting 24 teams in the next round, giving group winners a bye yesterday. it sounds ridiculous but they used to let in 16 outta 24 so would it really be that much worse??

 

[mclosin]

there was a lotta outcry from 06 a "boring" cup, but nothing was really done, i dont think fifa will let 2 low scoring ones happen back to back without some sorta change. on a hunch i looked up the opening games from 1990 and 2006.

1990 -- 12 games (only 24 teams) 27 goals
2006 -- 16 games 39 goals
2010 -- 14 games 23 goals (2 games pending)

so no, it doesnt necessarily have to pick up a ton. 06 scoring actually decreased after game 1 and 90 it went up barely, so i think that "teams being more aggressive" after game 1 is a bad arguement.

 

[Bannedit]

Not the biggest Soccer fan here. but i would get rid of off sides, i dont get it... just defend if there is a deep guy? .... and maybe add some kind of icing, when a team is in trouble in their end a just kick the ball out of play other team should get a free kick from a bit out side the box
total nonsense? probably....

 

[Bennyshoe]

I'd make it every 2 years. I hate waiting 4 years for this great tournament!

 

[mclosin]

I'd make it every 2 years. I hate waiting 4 years for this great tournament!

to be honest, teams would play more open if it wasnt such once or twice a career thing. logistically, this would be impossible though, in a perfect world, i think it would be a great idea.

 

[tk2wndw]

to be honest, teams would play more open if it wasnt such once or twice a career thing. logistically, this would be impossible though, in a perfect world, i think it would be a great idea.

It might be the most popular sport world wide but in terms of entertainment value, in my opinion, it doesn't compare to any of our 4 major sports. Hockey had a very similar problem in the mid 90's where it was unwatchable, clutching and grabbing and defensive minded hockey. They made rule changes which opened the game up. Soccer has to do something for me personally to garner my interest. For the world, it has to do nothing, because it is still the most popular sport. Since I bet on it, I watch it, if I didn't, there is no way I would.

 

[born2gamble]

to be honest, teams would play more open if it wasnt such once or twice a career thing. logistically, this would be impossible though, in a perfect world, i think it would be a great idea.

Every 3 years is doable.

 

[mclosin]

3 is doable i agree with that, but just barely. im not talking about changing the game drastically at all, like eliminating offsides. something needs to be done though so teams dont lose their identity because they are so afraid of losing a game. one of the reasons champions league knockout games are so exciting is because of away goals. it essentially creates a half goal scenario where extra time and penalty shootout is rarely needed. i just think we are getting deprived of what should be entertaining games between uruguay france, ivory portugal, honduras chile, and probably some games after that.

 

[tk2wndw]

The flopping and whining in this world cup is way over the top too. It is bad at times in the NBA as well, but when you compare it to soccer, it's just a drop in the bucket. On literally almost every foul, guys are going down, yelling in anguish. Yesterday was the worst incident yet I saw. A guy on the Ivory Coast took a foot to what appeared to be his face. They showed a close up replay and it turned out the foot hit him in the shoulder, but the guy immediately grabbed his face, rolling around in anguish.

 

[Donnybasbl]

For the first time in my life, i'm really into the World Cup. They need to do something about guys diving on the ground when they're barely touched. Give me a break. I've never seen anything like this. They need to keep the play moving and not blow the whistle every time some candy ass takes a dive.