Saturday, September 30, 2006

Other sports


I just came back from watching american football in Argentina.

And it was in the occassion for the 2nd. Silver Bowl, between the national teams of Argentina and Uruguay.

Last time around the Uruguayans won 24-0 playing at home. And today they were the winners again. Only this time it was by the minimum difference 7-6.

It was a great day out and a good experience, seen some friends involved in the national team of a sport which is not very popular in this latitudes.

You can visit the following website for more information:

http://www.silverbowl.info

Here are some more pictures from the SilverBowl II

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heh! Sorry to be bringing it back to soccer but Heinze was injured today against Newcastle. Hamstring injury. Doesn't look like he is going to make the friendly :(

argentinafan

Anonymous said...

Hi Seba,

Good to hear from you. Silverbowl sounds very interesting. I'll definitely check on that.

By the way, on Saturday morning I was watching the AFL Grand Final between West Coast Eagle beating the Sydney Swans. It was my first Aussie Rules game and I must say it was pretty interesting. Is there a following for such game in Argentina?

Yes, our women's hockey team result against South Africa was bad news. From what I've realized from the first three games, despite dominating and leading the game. We still conceded goals easily as wells. Hopefully we're not having some defensive crisis.

Speaking of defensive crisis, Heinze injury is a real blow considering the fact that he just came back from injury. I really hope its not a long term problem. Even though we have lost him for the friendly against Spain but my concern is his availability for our future matches.

John
Malaysia

Anonymous said...

It's just a hamstring strain. On the Manchester United website it says that he will be out for 2-3 weeks. It's horrible for him, but it could have been much much worse.
Any news on Crespo who was also injured today?

-argentinafan

Anonymous said...

Hi Argentinafan,

Great to know you. Where you're from?

Crespo is injured as well!!! That could be another blow as we were missing him from the Brazil. Clearly at this present moment, no one is better finisher than him for Argentina.

John
Malaysia

Anonymous said...

Hi Seba,

Our womens hockey team made it into the semi-finals after defeating South Korea 2-0.

Since our football team made into the 1/4 finals and the basketball team made into the 1/2 finals, lets hope the ladies can do one step better and do us proud.

Oh yes, and finally there is a cause for celebration as Saviola makes his return into the Barca team with a goal. Lets hope he keeps up this good form.

VAMOS ARGENTINA

John
Malaysia

Anonymous said...

Hi John,

I'm originally from Argentina, Santa Fe to be exact. Lots of players come out of that province, Mascherano and Messi are two examples :). I'm currently living in the United States though and have been feeling rather deprived of futbol/soccer, sigh. This blog helps a little with that.

Horrible about Crespo, though he (Crespo), the team and us fans should all feel lucky that he is injured at the moment rather than just before Copa America. I agree that he is one of our best finishers though I would also include Saviola in that group. He isn't tall and I know that many don't consider him to he in the same league as Messi, Tevez or Aguero but at the moment he is a much better finisher.
Regardless I'm not too concerned about the attack. Aimar, Maxi, Tevez, Saviola, Insua, Messi and Aguero seem like more than enough to tide us over for a friendly. The defense is more troublesome, particularly since the friendly against Brazil exposed it's weakness. While I love that Argentina plays attacking soccer, it would great if the defense was reasonably airtight. I know that Basile said it was coincidence that they (Brazil) scored all of their goals from the left side but I still think that it's a position of weakness for us. We will have to see how Arruabarrena does.

-argentinafan

Anonymous said...

One more post (a short one). Found this funny article on the Guardian Unlimited website (English newspaper) about diving. They mention a couple of incidents where Argentina was wronged (1990 World Cup final and Owen's offences in 1998 and 2002). Doesn't really have all that much to do with Argentinian sports but I thought you would all enjoy it...
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/10/02/legends_of_the_fall.html

-argentinafan

Anonymous said...

Hi There Everyone,

Thanks for the reply and info Argentinafan. Its a pretty interesting topic that you've just brought up, DIVING.

From my opinion, I guess it is already part of the game. Whether some people may like it or not, it is happening everywhere. Yes I do agree if this thing does damage the profesionalism image of the game but in the end this is not up to us. Afterall the people who made this innovative (or idiotic to some) move are PROFESIONAL themselves. Even top coaches do allow their players to commit such act.

Having said all this, does anyone else would likr to share their opinion of this subject matter. I would like to hear from you all to. Lets have a positive discussion on this topic.

John
Malaysia

Anonymous said...

Hi Argtowin,

Yes! I do agree with you that its about time technology is incorporated into football. Of course the referee is there to handle the situations but lets not forget that the referee is an human being afterall that is also capable of making mistakes. If there is going to be an error in certain decision's made than blaming the referee is going to be a never-ending story.

One suggestion that I would like to introduce into football, is allowing the coach or team officials to challenge the referee decisions just like how it is done in American Football.

Seba, since you have experience playing American football, perhaps you would like to brief us how this is done and what kind of effects it could have on football.

John
Malaysia

johnny said...

If you incorporated "instant replay" in football, you would have to have the NFL rule whereby each team is only allowed a limited number of challenges per game. Can you imagine the mess if not ! That said, I like it. It might eliminate some of the diving for penalties. In fact, if a player was found to be flagrantly diving, instead of a red card, he could be forced to wear panties in the next match. That could have a REAL deterrent effect !

Seba said...

Interesting discussion (though I didn't read the article that was posted here).

I think it's impossible to compare football with american football. One has continuous clock, the other hasn't.

The nature of american football is different. Each play is individual. Each one of them is a one off play.

Therefore it's impossible to think of something like the challenge rule of the NFL applied to football.

One option would be to let the referees decide when they want to check on a video replay. But then the controversy will come when a team complains about a referee double-checking one play and not the other.

I'm in favour of introducing the use of technology in football but to be honest, I didn't come out with an ideal plan for it and I haven't heard of anything like it so far.

Anonymous said...

Heh! I started something. I have to say though that I don't like the idea of instant replay because I feel it disrupts the flow of the game. One possibility would be to allow the linesmen to tell the referee anything they see which the referee doesn't. Another would be to award cards after the game, if the ref misses something that is brought to his attention earlier.
However what I think that easiest thing to do is to relax the rules somewhat for giving out cards, similar to what they used to be before the World Cup. I say this because it was during this World Cup where people have begun to complain about the abundance of diving. I think that's because the refs are so strict and 'card-happy' and professional players feel that they can manipulate the ref into booking the opposition.
Notice that in games during the WC when the referees were relaxed, ignored theatrics and would allow an ambiguous situation to play on or give a side an advantage, there was much less diving. Therefore I feel that FIFA is more to blame for the increase in diving.
That's not to say that it hasn't always been a part of the game. There are several reasons why players dive, not just to draw a foul. Some will fall down easily to rest a bit and others will fall to avoid being injured. Think about it, you have some defenders who are complete idiots and the only way to avoid breaking something is to dive to the ground. In those cases I feel diving is justified and you can usually tell when players dive for the following two reasons because they don't start rolling and moaning in pain. By relaxing these new rules and giving a side an advantage on some of the more ambiguous fouls you would cut down on the theatrical "let's get a player ejected" dive. If players don't feel they can get a defender booked by resorting to theatrics then they will stop.

-argentinafan

Anonymous said...

Hi Everybody,

The truth is diving is not the only reason that technology needs to be introduce in football.

Remember last season in the EPL, when Man Utd played Spurs? Mendez shot which was saved by Roy Carroll but the ball bounced inside the goal post? Thats was a goal indeed but not according to the linesmen.

Awarding card after the game is good idea but what about the results. In the end, the only thats concern is the result of the game.

John
Malaysia

Anonymous said...

Seba,

According to Linda from New Zealand, that Real Madrid is keen to sign Fernando Gago. This was posted on her blog. Is this true? Personally I dont really like this move as with the likes of Emerson, Diarra and Pablo Garcia, his chances there will be quite limited. Let us have your thought on this.

John
Malaysia

Seba said...

Yes John, there are rumours of Fernando GAGO moving to Real Madrid, but the most interesting bit is that FC Barcelona is interested in him aswell!

Check out: www.ole.com.ar

I think EMERSON (age reasons) and Pablo GARCIA (skills) are not a real concern for GAGO to earn a place in the squad. DIARRA is the only player I think could send GAGO to the bench but I'm confident Fernando will win the race in the long run.

Anonymous said...

I hope he doesn't go to Real Madrid. Anywhere but there...well that or Chelsea. Hope he doesn't go to Real or Chelsea.

-argentinafan

Anonymous said...

Seba,

I do agree with you on the age factor affecting EMERSON and of course GAGO is way better than PABLO GARCIA. However what I'm more concern is the pressure and the burden that he will need to carry. Lets face it, supporters at the SANTIAGO BERNABAU are not easy to pleased (just ask RONALDO).

On the other hand the move to BARCA is also not encouraging considering the fact that he will up against the likes of EDMILSON or MARQUEZ. I would prefer he stays in BOCA for another season and then see how.

Anyway, does anybody know what happen to our girls in the Women's Hockey World Cup against Australia?

John
Malaysia

Anonymous said...

I hope Gago goes to Atletico!

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