The Final

The two major complaints I have heard from this year's World Cup, are the lack of goal scoring and the dramatic (and very creative, IMO) diving.

Bob McCown, the long-time afternoon personality here on the all-sports station, the FAN590, has taken the lack of goal scoring to task. This has been his shtick for the past several weeks, and it's been getting old. He is all about ratings and controversy, and so he has done his job. Bob is not a soccer fan (born in the States) and so he's been advocating changes to the game, and turn it to something he likes and can relate to. He just can't appreciate a hard fought nil-nil tie. I find most North Americans can't. It's funny though, most can relate to a 1-0 baseball game because they appreciate the little games going on within the larger game. BTW, most Europeans don't like baseball. They simply don't understand it or relate to it either. Oh well, I will not lose sleep over Bob not liking soccer - it's great the way it is, please don't change it. And, btw, so is baseball.

As for the diving - it's been pretty entertaining, I must say. Especially when they look like they've just been shot by a sniper. I don't blame the players for doing it - anything to advance your team to the next stage, right? Although, I do like the comment from a local bartender here in Toronto when she said - "Don't these guys have any pride?" Apparently not. I am amazed though, how often the refs fall for it. Are they not in good position to see the infraction? Do they require 2 refs to stay closer to the action? Some of these dives have been obvious and yet, the ref awards the free kick. I think of all the teams in the World Cup this year (and I've had the opprtunity to see most of the games) - Portugal, Italy and Argentina seem to be diving the most. The teams who dive the least, from my vantage point, are England & Germany (although they still do dive, it's just far less frequent and a lot more "strategic"). I know many of my Italian friends disagree. I wonder if these same teams who dive a lot, are the same in past World Cups? Anyways, it is quite obvious this time around and there's a quite a consensus about this, as seen in this article on frequent divers - you can read it here.

As for a prediction for today's big match - I have no idea!

I just hope the better team wins (without too many dives) and that the ref does not determine the outcome (like in the Auzzie/Italian game).

Let the teams play!