[Schfourteenteen]

If they decided to do expand(which they wont) they wouldn't come after an MLS team. There are plenty of better leagues(South America) that would bring in more $$$. The U.S. wouldn't make the investment worthwhile. Not to mention, the travel costs could kill a U.S. club.

As for the flopping, watch Basketball.

And Jon's right about Altidore. He wasn't completely healthy, and more importantly he REALLY needed to play next to a legit speed forward with experience. Hull City has also really messed with his development by playing with him as the lone striker in a counter based offense....not to mention they were bad. I'm convinced Altidore is the reason BB started Findley - but that never really panned out either. Jozy's also very young...alot of pressure comes with that.

[Sly Fox]

Actually I believe the Dynamo nearly played in the Copa Libertadores by winning InterLiga a year or so ago. But I believe the qualification process changed and I'm not sure that is a path for an MLS club anymore.

[Schfourteenteen]

It's in the very early stages, but there is talk of a developmental club forming in Lynchburg.

[Hold My Own]

Kind of off topic but to touch on what you were saying 14...there is a girl in Forest that is LEGIT....she travels to Europe every summer to play for a dev team. I asked a LU coach if she was just good for the area or as good as everyone says she is....he said she could play on the national team one day if she stays healthy. The soccer talent locally is really good.

[Maximus]

I hate mexico; SupaLiga is a joke.

[4everfsu]

I like watching Japan and how they play, I think their player Honda is good.

[blwall1416]

I think their player Honda is good.

Although slightly over weight, his speed is amazing.

[Sly Fox]

So yeah, I guess nobody cares about the World Cup anymore. Otherwise Brazil getting dumped by the Dutch would have generated a little reaction.

[olldflame]

And the equalizer was an own goal. A couple of those guys will need to have bodyguards and lie low for at least a few months. Brazil right now has a lot of the elements which were present in Columbia when their star player cost them a chance at the cup with an own goal. He was dead a few days later. If you haven't seen the ESPN 30-30 production "The 2 Escobars", I would recommend it.

[SuperJon]

I heard about it from my brother this morning. We're busy setting up a big event tonight for July 4th so I haven't even seen the highlights.

[LUconn]

I think the Dutch beating Brazil is not as much of a shocker as ESPN keeps telling us it is. The Netherlands has been ranked #1 at a few different times these past few years.

[NG33]

I think the Dutch beating Brazil is not as much of a shocker as ESPN keeps telling us it is. The Netherlands has been ranked #1 at a few different times these past few years.

the highest they've ever been ranked by FIFA is #2 and that's only been for one month in the past 5 years...

http://www.fifa.com/associations/associ ... index.html

[01LUGrad]

What, nothing about Ghana? Man, what a horrible way to lose a match. If the US had been in a game like that, I likely would have needed medical attention.

[olldflame]

Really an amazing play by the Uriguayan (Suarez I believe) who got the red card for the hand ball which led to the missed penalty kick as time expired. It goes against every impulse a soccer player learns from the time they start playing, to not use your hands, but the ball was going into the goal, and there was no way he was getting a head or a foot on it to clear the line, so he turned keeper and made the save. If the Ghanian makes the PK he probably takes a huge amount of abuse, when in fact he did the right thing, no matter what the outcome.

[TDDance234]

Really an amazing play by the Uriguayan (Suarez I believe) who got the red card for the hand ball which led to the missed penalty kick as time expired. It goes against every impulse a soccer player learns from the time they start playing, to not use your hands, but the ball was going into the goal, and there was no way he was getting a head or a foot on it to clear the line, so he turned keeper and made the save. If the Ghanian makes the PK he probably takes a huge amount of abuse, when in fact he did the right thing, no matter what the outcome.

...except now FIFA is going to ban him for the rest of the Cup.

[Th3rd]

Really an amazing play by the Uriguayan (Suarez I believe) who got the red card for the hand ball which led to the missed penalty kick as time expired. It goes against every impulse a soccer player learns from the time they start playing, to not use your hands, but the ball was going into the goal, and there was no way he was getting a head or a foot on it to clear the line, so he turned keeper and made the save. If the Ghanian makes the PK he probably takes a huge amount of abuse, when in fact he did the right thing, no matter what the outcome.

...except now FIFA is going to ban him for the rest of the Cup.

in the end it was the right move... it will come back to bite him if he has to sit and watch them lose in the next round or in the Final... but without that handball we would be talking about Ghana winning so Suarez at least is giving his country a chance at the World Cup (even if he isn't going to be able to play and affect the outcome)

[01LUGrad]

He only got a one-game ban.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/ ... 901?ver=us

I know he did the "right" thing, but this is still tough to swallow for Ghana, I'm sure.

Liken the play to a cornerback taking off his helmet and throwing it at a tailback as he sprints toward the goal line. Or a short stop tackling a runner rounding second as the ball is bouncing around along the wall in right field.

The price will be paid for the offense, but not to Ghana.

[SuperJon]

I hate not being able to watch these games but I don't have cable where I am yet. I have yet to really see what the guy did.

[olldflame]

He batted the ball out with both hands just as if he were a keeper Jon. It was as blatent as can be, but if he doesn't do it, it's a goal for Ghana and game over.

[Schfourteenteen]

I really don't know why people are making a big deal about this. There was a foul. He got the punishment. That's it.

This stuff about getting more than a 1 game suspension is ridiculous. FIFA wouldn't do that, especially with their track record of sitting on their hands.

[flamesfilmguy]

I have no sympathy for Ghana. They had the opportunity to put it away and they didn't. Suarez reacted and did what he knew would get him banned but gave his country a chance. And it paid off. Good for him. Sucks to be the dude that missed the PK.

[BJWilliams]

Meanwhile...Brazil's coach was fired...

[olldflame]

Meanwhile...Brazil's coach was fired...

Wow! Now there's a shock!

Brazil is possibly the one country where anything short of winning the cup is always, always, always considered a failure. Fact is they might have fired Dunga even if they had won it all, because a lot of Brazilians don't like the change he made away from their "beautiful" style of play. They want to win, but they don't want to win ugly. Going out early (for them) made it inevitable, and I think you can bet that they will hire someone who will go back to their traditional passing syle.

[Sly Fox]

So the final is set ... Holland vs. España. Based on the past month, who will win?

[TDDance234]

So the final is set ... Holland vs. España. Based on the past month, who will win?

Should be a good game -- I'll take the Orange here.