Non è cambiata di molto la situazione nella parte alta della classifica. Savona, Entella e Casale sono sempre le prime tre, con la prima stabilmente al comando, con undici vittorie su dodici incontri. La squadra di Chiavari è però imbattuta (una delle ultime in Italia, a quanto risulta dai giornali), avendo vinto lo scontro diretto con la attuale prima in classifica. Quanto al Casale, penalizzato di un punto per una vicenda risalente alla scorsa gestione e battuto nello scontro diretto di Savona, è scivolato a dieci punti dalla vetta e la sua posizione non sembra particolarmente tranquilla neppure per ciò che riguarda i play off.

Il vantaggio, infatti, sulla terza e sulla quarta s’è andato progressivamente diminuendo: ora sono solo due i punti di vantaggio su Albese e Rivoli e sulle due seste a parimerito, la Sarzanese e l’interessante Acqui, dalla difesa molto registrata (ha solo subito nove reti, tre in più rispetto a Entella e Savona, che guidano la classifica delle migliori retroguardie).

Tra tutte, dunque, si conferma la sorpresa del Rivoli: sconfitto solo a Casale, per ora è stata favorita dal calendario, ma ultimamente ha superato alcuni incontri difficili senza apparentemente perdere terreno dalla testa, nonostante abbia pareggiato gli ultimi tre match e l’ultima vittoria risalga allo scontro con il Borgorosso Arenzano.

Nella retroguardia, con le tredicesime a undici punti, qualche segno positivo è dato dalle ultime: il Cuneo è imbattuto dalla partita interna con la Pro Settimo (25 ottobre), ma segna pochissimo, anche se subisce altrettanto poco. L’ultimo incontro vinto è stato di misura sul Derthona, che, debole dal punto di vista societario, sta falsando il campionato, perdendo ora partite che all’inizio del campionato avrebbe sicuramente pareggiato o vinto (tornando indietro nel suo calendario, sconfitta a Settimo, sconfitta interna con il Valle d’Aosta, sconfitta a Cuneo). Poco importerebbe se d’ora in avanti la squadra tortonese le perdesse tutte, ma, se ad un certo punto dovesse risolvere i propri problemi e i leoncelli tornassero ad essere una mina vagante, non sarebbe particolarmente corretto per chi li affronterebbe in versione rinnovata e corretta.

Anche il Chieri sembra in caduta libera, ma solo perché nel frattempo le altre si sono mosse: in realtà, l’esonero dell’allenatore, avvenuto proprio ieri, non sembra motivato, visto che la squadra non perde dal 18 ottobre, quando l’Aquanera passa sul suo campo per 2-1. Nel frattempo, tanti pareggi e la sconfitta, preventivabile, a Chiavari.

In crisi, invece, è il Borgorosso Arenzano, che, attestatosi su posizioni molto al di sopra delle aspettative, è poi incorso in quattro sconfitte consecutive (Rivoli, Casale, Albese, Acqui): l’ultima vittoria è datata (ancora una volta) 18 ottobre. Un po’ poco per la squadra ligure, che, ora come ora, si ritrova al sestultimo posto e sembra candidata, vista la attuale forma, ad un posto nei play out.

Quanto alla Pro Settimo, la partita vinta a Cuneo è stata evidentemente episodica: dopo, prestazioni magari più convincenti sul piano del gioco, ma pochi punti guadagnati (in casa, pareggi pirotecnici con il Valle d’Aosta e il Rivoli; sconfitta nel derby col Settimo e a Casale, seppure di misura). La situazione continua ad essere deficitaria.

Discorso analogo per la Lavagnese, illusa dalla vittoria contro la forte Sarzanese (sempre il 25 ottobre scorso): dopo, al massimo solo pareggi (in trasferta, pareggio a Tortona e sconfitta a Basaluzzo; in casa, sconfitta con il Savona e pareggio con l’altra candidata ai play out, il Chieri).

先日18日に行われた2010年ワールドカップ（Ｗ杯）の欧州予選プレーオフ、フランス対アイルランドの第2戦で、フランスが延長戦の末、ティエリ・アンリのハンドで得たゴールで1−1の引き分け、ワールドカップ行きのチケットを手に入れた件で、「正義感の強い」イギリスメディアは連日大騒ぎだ。スポーツ欄だけではなく、ニュース欄でも大きく取り上げている。このハンドはビデオで見ても明らかにハンドなのに、レフェリーが見逃した。アイルランドサッカー協会（IFA）は国際サッカー連盟（FIFA）に抗議、再試合を申請したが、FIFAは却下、フランスサッカー連盟（FFF）も拒否した。全て予想された結果だ。アイルランドも勝ち目なしと、早々に諦めたようだ。試合の後、インタビューを受けたフランス人ジャーナリストは、ワールドカップでは大きなお金が動くし経済効果も大きいので、FFFは絶対再試合を受け入れないと断言していた。その通りだった。これが逆の立場だったら、どうなっていただろうと思う。

当のアンリはハンドは認めてるけど、審判の責任だからと謝ってないし、「再試合がフェア」と言ってるけど、それもFIFAが再試合拒否の裁定を出してからだ。代表辞退も考えたらしいけど、結局辞めないし。自分のイメージ挽回のために、口先だけで適当に言い逃れて、ほとぼりが冷めるのを待ってるんだろう。

八百長とまでは言わないけれど、都合のいい結果を正そうとしないその後のFIFAの対応が、やはりスポーツも所詮ビジネス、影響力のあるサッカー強国に有利な世界なのねと思わせる一件だ。The Sunday TImesで、興味深い「陰謀説」記事を見つけた。元フランス代表のミシェル・プラティニ欧州サッカー連盟の会長の手引きによって、今回のプレーオフは、強国に有利になるように、くじ引きではなく、世界ランキングの高い国と弱い国が当たるシード方式を採用したと言われている。強国に有利になるようにしているのには、高額のテレビ契約料やスポンサーの思惑も絡んでいるのかもしれない。また、プラティニ会長もFIFAのジョセフ・ゼップ・ブラッター会長も、ビデオ判定導入には何故か消極的だ。確かに、偶然にしては、なんだかうさんくさい。

フランスとイギリスのメディアの論調の違いも面白い。フランスは自国チームのふがいなさを酷評しつつも、FIFAやFFFの決定には異議はないようだ。かたやイギリスメディアは、「Cheat（いかさま）」「Fallen Idol（堕ちたアイドル）」等と手厳しい。これはアングロサクソンとラテンの価値観の違いか。ルールや公正さを重視するアングロサクソンに比べ、ラテン人は自分が良ければ全て良し、「運も実力のうち」「神様の思し召し」「ラッキー♪」って感じだろう。

またイングランド人には、この1件が、1986年ワールドカップ準々決勝で、マラドーナの「神の手」ゴールで、イングランドがアルゼンチンに敗れた悪夢を思い起こさせる。自国のことでないのに今回の大騒ぎは、このことも多いに関係してるのだと思う。

フランスは、対戦相手が多少なりとも自制心のあるアイルランドで良かったと胸を撫で下ろしてるだろう。これがエジプトやアルジェリアが相手だと大変なことになっていたかもしれない。サッカーの世界での権力のなさでワールドカップ行きを逃した、アイルランドチームが本当に気の毒だ。

There has been a huge media frenzy in UK about the Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand Of God’ during Ireland vs France World Cup 2010 play-off on November 18th and it’s aftermath: since France won a ticket to South Africa with 1-1, thanks to Henry’s ‘cheating’ act. UK media with “strong sense of mission to pursue justice” have been putting up big articles about  this incident, not only in sports sections but also in general sections, everyday since then. You can see clearly that it was handball, but the referee missed to see this crucial foul or chance to correct the mistake. Irish Football Association (IFA) demanded a rematch, but FIFA and the French Football Federation (FFF) said ‘NO’ – but it is all expected. IFA seems to give up already because they know that it is a fight they will never win. After the game, a French journalist who was interviewed by BBC said that FFF would never accept a replay, because big money and industries involved and economic effect would be enormous. He was right. But what it would happen, if France lost with Irish footballer’s  handball – would FIFA give the same judgement?

Henry admitted his handball but never say sorry. He said that replay would be fair for Ireland but AFTER FIFA and FFF refused a rematch. It was reported that he considered quitting “Les Bleus” but he decided to stay anyway – all talks doesn’t convince me if he is truly remorseful, but I believe he is saying whatever to repair his image and just waiting for everyone to forget about his ‘mistake’

I don’t call it setup, but FIFA and FFF’s reluctance  to correct their convenient result is truly disappointing, and now I strengthen my belief that soccer is just another business, and always a stronger with bigger political power wins – fair play is a mere myth for important games like this. I read an interesting article by the Sunday Times “Conspiracy or coque up?” The play-offs were seeded on the basis of world rankings in favour of the bigger nations, and it was reported that the proposal to introduce seeding had come from UEFA (president is former French player Michel Platini). Why? Could it be related to the advance long-term television contracts, or the influence by one of a big sponsor which will possibly gain huge profit if France win? For some reason, Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter are said to be reluctant to introduce video technology, which can bring fairer judgement – why? Maybe a coincidence, but all these things sound pretty dubious.

Also it is very interesting to see the different stances between British and French media. Though French media criticizes their team done terrible in the game but they don’t attack the FIFA and the FFF of their judgement. On the other hand, British media is harsh on Henry as ‘cheat’ or “fallen idol,’ as well as on the FIFA. Probably this is due to the difference in Anglo-Saxons and Latins mentality: in compare to Anglo-Saxons’ values in fairness and justice, Latins would just think, “luck is also a part of his ability” “miracle” “godsend” – they would never criticize someone who give them a jackpot, even though from a devil.

In addition, for English, this incident reminds them of the nightmarish Hand of God goal, scored by footballer Diego Maradona during the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter final Argentina vs England – probably it explains why British media is so obsessed with this incident which is not related to their own team.

French must be happy that the opponent was Ireland – if it was Egypt or Algeria, it would be a huge riot!

I am extremely sorry for Ireland who lost a chance to go to World Cup, due to a lack of political power in football world, rather than their lack of ability. Shame on Henry, shame on France, and shame on FIFA!

Fifa calls for an extraordinary general meeting in December to discuss incidents at the World Cup play-offs…. From BBC News. Full story

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El 'play off' los espera

 El próximo año Tacna no tendrá fútbol profesional. San Martín le dio la estocada final al descendido Coronel Bolognesi al vencerlo 2 a 1.

 Resultados y tabla de posiciones

 Grupo “A”

 CNI 3 – 1 Sporting Cristal

 Goles: Zamora 15′, Flores 35′, Celis 78′; Maestri 81′

 Sport Áncash 1 -  0 Juan Aurich

 Goles: Serrano 25′

 Alianza Lima 3 -  1 Inti Gas

 Goles: Aguirre 46′, 50′, Sánchez 52′; Benavides 62′

U. César Vallejo 2 – 0 José Gálvez

Goles: Zúñiga 60′, 63′

Próxima fecha
José Gálvez vs Alianza Lima
César Vallejo vs Inti Gas
Sporting Cristal vs Juan Aurich
CNI vs Sport Áncash 

Grupo “B”

Alianza Atlético 2 – 0 Cienciano  

Goles: Maraude 71′, 73′  

FBC Melgar 3 – 1 Sport Huancayo

Goles: Gárate 70′, Zúñiga 75′, Salas 90′; Paredes 3′

U. San Martín 2- 1 Bolognesi

Goles: Ludueña 37′, García 90 (+4); Herrera 51′

Total Chalaco 3 – 0 Universitario

Goles: Alva 51′, Ruidíaz 55′, Calheira 72′

Próxima fecha

Universitario vs Sport Huancayo
Total Chalaco vs Melgar
Cienciano vs San Martín
Alianza Atlético vs Bolognesi 

TABLA DEL PUNTAJE ACUMULADO DEL CAMPEONATO DESCENTRALIZADO 2009

El partido entre San Martín y Universitario se jugará el 25 de noviembre.

Sebenarnya Samsuri sudah terkantuk-kantuk menonton pertandingan itu melalui layar televisi, babak play off Zona Eropa antara Perancis melawan Irlandia… Tetapi entah apa yang ada dibenaknya, tertarik melihat permainan kesebelasan antar negara Eropa ini yang bersaing mendapatkan tiket sisa untuk mengikuti ajang terakbar di dunia sepakbola – Piala Dunia Sepakbola 2010, Afrika Selatan…

Pertandingannya sendiri berlangsung menggairahkan, mengingat usaha keras Irlandia di bawah asuhan pelatih berpengalaman – Giovanni Trappatoni – yang terlihat begitu mendominasi pertandingan, dan sudah memimpin melalui goL Robbie Keane.. Sebenarnya sebagian besar penonton yakin pertandingan ini akan berakhir 1 – 0 dan akan dilanjutkan dengan tendangan penalti (pada pertandingan pertama di Stadion Hampden Park, Irlandia, Perancis yang menang 1 – 0), tetapi pada menit terakhir injury time, Perancis mendapat hadiah tendangan bebas dan sebuah tendangan ke samping kanan gawang Irlandia di sambut oleh Thierry Henry, penyerang Perancis… Disinilah malapetaka itu muncul… Henry mengontrol bola menggunakan tangan kirinya.., dan serta merta seluruh pemain bertahan (termasuk kiper Shay Givens) dari Irlandia mengangkat tangan untuk memberi tahu wasit, bahwa bola dikontrol dengan tangan, tanda terjadi handsball di kotak penalti, tampaknya wasit Martin Hansson dari Swedia tak melihat insiden itu….. Henry berlagak bodoh tetap mengoper bola ke temannya di depan gawang, William Gallas dan….. Gol…..

Berkat handsball bersejarah itu, Perancis bisa menutup laga dengan skor 1-1. Mereka pun lolos ke putaran final Piala Dunia dengan agregat 2-1…..

Samsuri merasa kesal, walau dia sendiri bukan pendukung Irlandia, Prinsip fair play seperti yang dijunjung tinggi FIFA (organisasi dunia yang menaungi seluruh masyarakat sepakbola sejagat) rupanya tidak berlaku disini. Kemarahan Samsuri hanya mewakili sekian banyak pecinta sepak bola se dunia…. Kemarahan… Barangkali apa yang diucapkan pelatih Arsenal, Arsene Wenger menilai mantan pemainnya, Thierry Henry, menjadi pecundang terbesar dalam kontroversi partai Perancis lawan Irlandia.

“Posisi Henry amat sulit. Jika saat itu dia langsung mengaku kepada wasit bahwa dia telah melakukan handsball dan gol Gallas dianulir.., maka dia akan dibenci seluruh Perancis. Sebab, dia dianggap menggagalkan negerinya ke Piala Dunia. Karena dia mengaku sengaja handsball usai pertandingan, maka dia dikecam seluruh dunia sebagai penipu. Dia akhirnya menjadi pecundang besar..,” kata Wenger.

Reaksi lebih keras dari mantan pemain tim nasional Perancis dan Manchester United, Eric Cantona, mengatakan bahwa Thierry Henry beruntung karena Cantona bukanlah pemain Irlandia… Seandainya begitu, ia akan memukuli Henry sampai pingsan…

Lebih jauh lagi kecaman dari banyak orang terkait handsball gila itu… Cantona malah begitu jengkelnya melihat sikap pemain Irlandia. Dia menilai, ketika mereka tahu bahwa protes mereka tak didengar, seharusnya mereka memukuli Henry. Kan.., hasilnya sama saja…. Sama-sama tidak lolos… Benar juga yaa… Hahaha…..

“Apa yang membuat saya sangat terkejut adalah bahwa pemain ini (Henry), di akhir laga, di depan kamera TV, duduk di sebelah seorang pemain Irlandia untuk menghiburnya. Padahal, ia baru saja mengacaukan mereka. Seandainya saya orang Irlandia, ia (Henry) tak akan bertahan lebih dari tiga detik…,” ujar Cantona.

Bagi Samsuri pernyataan Cantona belum dapat mewakili rasa amarahnya terhadap ‘pencederaan kejujuran’ dalam suatu pertandingan olah raga, khususnya sepak bola… Tetapi bila Cantona cukup sampai pingsan.., Samsuri berpandangan lain, bila dia ada di tengah lapangan, barangkali dia akan memukuli Henry sampai ‘mati’….. Itu lebih pantas buat para penipu…!!! Memang FIFA berpandangan lain, prinsip fair play, termasuk keputusan wasit – yang juga manusia biasa – yang mutlak. Kemanusiaan itu menjadikan sepak bola drama penuh gairah yang ibarat lambang drama, berwajah tangis dan tawa. Itu juga yang membuat FIFA menolak penggunaan alat-alat elektronik bagi wasit untuk mengambil keputusan – seperti tayang ulang rekaman televisi untuk memastikan si kulit bundar melewati garis gawang atau tidak.

Apapun alasan FIFA, itu tidak cukup bagi Samsuri, menurut penilaiannya bila mau menjunjung fair play tentu harus konsekuen ke semua segi….. Hahaha….. Memang disitulah makna kehidupan itu sendiri, peperangan pola pikir antara para “tradisionalis” – yang menginginkan sepak bola dimainkan seperti apa adanya… dan “modernis“…dengan keinginan ‘perubahan’… yang pengejawantahannya bisa terlihat di lapangan sepak bola itu.

Sepak bola adalah demokrasi. Ia demokratis karena setiap anak (kaya-miskin, gemuk-kurus, tinggi-pendek) mampu memainkannya di mana saja dengan benda bulat terbuat dari kulit, plastik, kain, bahkan buntalan sampah. Ketegangan Perancis lawan Irlandia menegaskan bahwa sepak bola, seperti halnya politik, urusan “siapa merebut apa, kapan, dan bagaimana“.

Rasa jengkel dan amarah Samsuri tidaklah bisa hilang serta merta… Belum lagi perasaan kurang tidur, mengingat pertandingan sendiri berakhir nyaris jam 5 pagi, besoknya harus melakukan banyak kegiatan…. Bersungut-sungut karena menahan marah, tidak biasanya begitu….. Seandainya pertandingan berakhir normal, barangkali tidur bisa nyenyak dueehh…… Sepak bola… Oh…. sepak bola…

(Diolah dari berbagai sumber)

So by now everybody has had their say and two cents worth.  This article will attempt to steer clear from the usual debates about who was in the wrong/referee being biased etc.

There are clearly lessons to be learnt from this debacle though:

1 – That there is precedent for replaying matches; technical error by the referee rather than human error.

2 – The seeding system is not a crime; announcing it halfway through the qualification process is.

3 – Video evidence for objective / in-play events should not be considered. However goal-line technology could.

1) The Uzbekistan – Bahrain match was abandoned after a penalty was disallowed for encroachment and a free kick was given rather than a re-take.  This incidentally occurred in a World Cup play-off match – the first leg so potentially easier to overrule.  It also occurred in 2005 and with little ramifications for the overall make up of the tournament – thanks to Trinidad & Tobago beating Bahrain.

2) FIFA in all their wisdom and insight decided to seed the playoff system.  A decision that would have disappeared into news nothingness.  Had it NOT been two weeks before the final qualifying positions.  With France, Germany & Portugal all potentially struggling to qualify.  As it was – all three made it through.  It is hard to say whether they would have been impacted more without the seedings as two of the four teams were unseeded.

3) I said it at the time and I still believe it to be true that video evidence for objective and in-play events cannot occur realistically.  I believe goal-line technology will come in, but the problem with decisions such as the handball or Reading ‘phantom goal’ is that these are the clearest possible scenario.  Both given as a goal when shouldn’t have – both in theory could be looked at quickly and referee’s decision overruled.

What happens for the example of Anelka’s dive/penalty claim – a rough estimate puts it as 15% thought it WAS a penalty, 50% thought he dived, 35% saying “I’ve seen them given”.  This 35% / significant population – how would they go about judging this decision in say 30 seconds.  Even this example is relatively clear cut as there was a stop in play straight afterwards.

What happens when a player leads with an elbow but the referee misses it and the play carries on and the opposition score/get a corner/anything.  Does the referee ask to see a replay then discount anything that happened after the incident?  The possibilities are infinite and get more and more confusing/difficult to justify.  We would soon see managers demanding replays after every injury.  The beauty in my eyes of football is that much of it is open to interpretation – this would not disappear with video replays.  However, what happens when Howard Webb refuses a penalty at Old Trafford that the rest of the world believes IS a penalty?

FIFA and UEFA are often the butt of many jokes or conspiracy theorists for various reasons and it is a very British mentality to stick up for the underdog.  However, with regard the seeding controversy, it seems FIFA have almost become a parody of themselves.  Whatever the truth, they have made themselves out to look like money-grabbing, heartless and totally corporate.  I say they have made themselves ‘look’ as I do not believe they totally are.  However, the perception is far more important.

In my humble opinion, they should have commented immediately rather than let the fiasco drag out.  I do not blame them for not re-staging the match as this could lead to all manner of scenarios calling for a reply.  One final thing I learnt from Wednesday night’s match was the horrible sight of players taking a minute to take a throw on or goal kick.  Feigning injury, rolling around; anything to run the clock down.  I KNOW this happens and know i wouldn’t complain if my team did such a thing.  However – is now the time to act? Timekeepers etc…

A depressing article this I know and one which has made me question my love for the sport. As a former academic once wisely spouted to me -

“Sport is not about the game itself – that is what you call a pastime or leisure activity.  Sport involves politics, economics and culture.”

Sport is big business and as such, affects livelihoods as any other big business. Can anyone REALLY blame Henry for his act? Did FIFA merely act smart looking to protect their number one asset with a comfier ride to the World Cup for France & Portugal?  Would we even talk about the seeding issue if it had happened before the draw – despite the same issue arising.

On a lighter note…here are some things that sport in the UK misses out on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs1l_V9kaYQ

So close but so far. Republic of Ireland finished empty handed an autumn of so much hope and promise, during which time displayed spirited performances against both the current world champion and world cup finalist France. But for all Ireland’s highs in the games facing the Italians and Domenech’s side, the sense of  failure is even more acute and frustrating for Trapattoni’s men. In football and in life there is a very fine line between succeeding and not. And the devil is in the detail.

[ It happened in just 12 seconds, on the 17th of November '93... It was 1-1 in Paris, in the last minute of the qualifiers for US World Cup, with France needing just that draw. But from Ginola's boot to Kostadinov's shot the history was rewriten: 2-1 for Bulgaria, who ended up playing a World Cup semifinal against Italy in United States. Please notice that the visitors wore white shirts and green shorts, as was Ireland's choice on wednesday. So what stopped than Ireland from making it 2-1 even in the 120th minute? ] 

Against Italy, on Croke Park, Ireland was so close to a famous victory yet Gilardino cancelled in the dying moments Sean St. Ledger’s 87th minute strike. The sense of a lost opportunity beamed in the otherwise smiling Irish eyes. A few days later, in what Ireland imagined to be a final push for the first place and automatic qualification if that St. Ledger goal would have been the last in the top of the table game in Dublin, Montenegro frustrated the Croke Park faithful even further: 0-0. It was Ireland’s third consecutive home draw in World Cup qualifiers and another build up to that sense of near miss. In other words, even if Italy would have failed to beat Cyprus in the peninsula, Ireland wouldn’t have made it to South Africa due to its draw against the ex-Yugoslav minnows…

What not many envisaged at the start of the campaign, was though achieved. Ireland was still in it, with a chance to make it to the FIFA 2010 World Cup. A performance in itself, judging by the poor results in the previous qualifiers, miserably wasted on the desired way to Austria and Switzerland. 

Between Ireland and a winter trip to Africa came across the hand of destiny. France, 1998 Coupe du Monde winner and 2006 World Cup finalist, was drawn in the play-offs as a seeded team versus the Irish. And Croke Park was once again the venue of a spirited but once again short changed Irish display. St. Ledger’s body and the post have deflected Anelka’s shot into Given’s net: 0-1.

The Saturday first leg was another Irish missed opportunity to impose its authority, to take a shaky Goliath of the game by the scruff of the neck. The frustration spilled over in the media, about alleged loose words sneaked by Lassana Diarra towards Keith Andrews at the final whistle. The game was over, the talk was done in the grass with a 1-0 for the favourites and the scrumage at the end of 90 minutes just poised the return leg even further.

In Paris, it was captain’s Robbie Keane honour to put the record straight: the French were superior in Dublin but the tie wasn’t over yet… 1-1 on aggregate. Without Abidal and Escude, his substitute who was unfortunately injured by fellow defender Evra in the opening minutes, the World Cup finalist was more vulnerable by the minute.

Yet Ireland didn’t capitalize on this advantage. Ireland didn’t sent the tie to sleep with a second goal and it’s an unwritten football law that missed chances are coming back to haunt you. O’Shea, Duff and Keane, who have passed even the brave goalkeeper Lloris but apparently wanted to majestically enter with the ball in the net, couldn’t find the target after nicely crafted attacks and the boumerang mercilessly stroke in extra-time.

It was all about an offside. As it happened many times in football, in more or less poised encounters, with a lot or less at stake, the offside rule and its interpretation complicated the affair and sparked controversy. It’s what happened on wednesday evening in Paris, after 11 o’clock. Two French players were offside in a deadball situation but the Swedish assistant referee failed to signal the irregularity and the rest became big time history.

It’s the assistant linesman and his glued flag that failed the Swedish referee in charge of the affairs. Once the offside promptly signaled, the following motion would have became irrelevant. In this light has to be perceived the human error that let Henry’s handballs and Gallas equalizer stand. Without this goal, France and Ireland would have probably gone neck in neck to the purgatory of penalty shoot outs, having to eradicate their demons and worst nightmares.

The French have lost a World Cup final on penalty shootouts, in Berlin, in 2006, while the Irish came off the stage at their last World Cup presence by being beaten from the spot by Spain, in Asia, in 2002. Who would have won? Guess what… There is a 50% chance for France to have won it from the penalty spot.

Fact of the matter is that with or without assistant referee’s error to fail to spot the offside that lead to Henry’s infamous two handball and the undeserved French equaliser, Ireland was always only one goal away from qualifying to South Africa. Let’s remember that a 1-0 for Ireland just cancelled the fine French win in Dublin and only a second goal would have insured the islanders’ passage.

And from Robbie Keane’s leisurely miss in an one on one with the goalkeeper stems all the real frustration of the night that should have been but never unfolded. Created opportunities are to be converted. Narrow misses end in bitter failure. A 2-0 for Ireland in the 76th minute would have been fully deserved for the visitors and appropriate to the balance of forces in Paris yet the captain delayed the outcome and let the qualification at the hand of destiny.

It was one Swedish’s inert hand and one Frenchman’s cheeky opportunism which decided it. The Irish were too dejected to react with a second goal which was earlier in many’s boots. But from one of many unspotted offsides which altered results to a character assasination of a well passed captain and a public outcry on the supposed injustice of the game, there’s a long way. Life is unfair and football remains just a game, at times cruel in the extreme but predicating the very essence of human imperfection.

Do we really want video evidence? Can’t we wait for the pilot scheme tested in UEFA Europa League involving penalty area assistant referees, the brain child of a… Frenchman, to see its worth, benefits and real merits? The push for some rule changes seems near yet until then there are times when graciously and dignifyingly accepting any kind of defeat will draw more plaudits than any seemingly righteous but frustrated outcry. The goal that should have not stand was for all to see and the very implacability of referee’s refusal to ask his assistant was more than enough evidence. 

There’s always another morning… France was announced today as top seed for UEFA 2012 European Championship qualifiers, while Ireland is in the third tier of nine nations, with the draw to be made on the 7th of February 2010 in Warsaw. With a bit of change of fortune, the Irish luck might send back Trapattoni to Paris and the French to Lansdowne Road. That wished replay can wait for a potential proper plotted revenge…

Am vazut prima repriza la Bosnia- Portugalia si a fost o pierdere de timp. Acum a inceput repriza a doua si ma astept ca portughezii sa marcheze vreo doua boabe desi joaca pe contraatac. Acasa cu Dzeko!
Franta e condusa acasa de niste “betivi irlandezi” care ne demonstreaza ce inseamna sa joci cu inima dar mai ales cu mintea.
Dedic este eroul Sloveniei pana acum insa ma astept ca magicianul Hiddink sa mute decisiv!
Grecia s-a calificat in dauna Ucrainei. Sheva poa’ sa aiba acum o vacanta linistita alaturi de nevasta lui la vara.

UPDATE:  E 1-0 pentru Portugalia… Hossu Longin a anuntat golul ca un comentator obosit si plictisit . O sa fie cum v-am zis io, acasa cu Dzeko!
A inceput repriza a doua  la francezi. Stream-ul merge ca naiba dar ce conteaza? Important e ca TRAPP sa le fi zis ce tre’  la pauza!!!
Kerzhakov a luat rosuuuuuuu!!! Osterc, unde esti sa le dai lovitura de gratie?
Ce ocazie a ratat DUFF! OFFFFF!E TOT 0-1
Intra McShane in locul lui O’Shea. Oh, nuuuuuuu…
Salihovic a luat rosu si Portugalia e calificata
ROBBIEEE KEANEEEEEE, ce ocazieeeeeee !
Hent la Henry, Franta egaleaza la 1. FIFA E O RUSINE!!! Si un copil de 3 ani ar fi vazut ca Titi si-a oprit mingea ca la handbal. La baschet s-ar fi dat dublu dribiling!!!
Inchei aici. Mi-as dori sa fiu irlandez pentru o zi!

Portekiz kendi evinde Bosna Hersek’i 1-0 yendi. Maçın özetini şuradan izleyebilirsiniz. Keşke bizde Dünya Kupasına kalmış olsak.

Eurosport zendt vanavond live de enige play-offwedstrijd voor het WK uit de Afrikaanse zone uit: Egypte-Algerije. De landen eindigden in hun poule samen bovenaan met evenveel punten en hetzelfde doelsaldo, dus moet een beslissingswedstrijd uitkomst bieden. Eurosport zendt de beladen wedstrijd zowel op televisie als op internet uit. Het Noord-Afrikaanse onderonsje begint om 18:30 uur.

Het duel wordt op neutraal terrein gespeeld, in de Soedanese hoofdstad Khartoem. Daar zijn 15.000 man politie aanwezig om beide supportersgroepen uit elkaar te houden. Zaterdag werd bij de laatste poulewedstrijd tussen beiden landen de spelersbus van Algerije bekogeld. Gevolg: 3 spelers gewond. Na de wedstrijd kwam het buiten het stadion, in Algerijnse steden en in Franse steden tot grote ongeregeldheden. Dat wil de politie vanavond voorkomen.

Vanavond worden ook de andere landen bekend die zich via play-offs alsnog weten te plaatsen voor het WK. In Zuid-Amerika verdedigt Uruguay in eigen land een 1-0 voorsprong tegen Costa Rica. In Europa proberen Bosnië-Herzegovina en Ierland beiden een lastige 0-1 achterstand ongedaan te maken tegen respectievelijk Portugal en Frankrijk. Rusland verdedigt een 2-1 voorsprong in en tegen Slovenië. Bij Oekraïne-Griekenland is nog alles mogelijk, de heenwedstrijd eindigde onbeslist: 0-0.

Das Ganze ist selbstverständlich ein Scherz. Die Dubliner Werbeagentur Chemistry wollte damit ihre Fähigkeiten im viralen Marketing unter Beweis stellen.

[via Chemistry]

Inilah daftar negara-negara yang mengikuti babak play off dan masih berkesempatan meraih tiket menuju FIFA world cup 2010 SOUTH AFRICA. Dan inilah hasil pertandingannya.

14 november

jam 21:00 wib

SELANDIA BARU vs BAHRAIN
1-0

15 november

jam 01:00 wib

COSTARICA vs URUGUAY
0-1

YUNANI vs UKRAINA
0-0

IRLANDIA vs PRANCIS
0-1

PORTUGAL vs BOSNIA
1-0

RUSIA vs SLOVENIA
2-1

19 november

jam 01:00 wib

BOSNIA vs PORTUGAL

PRANCIS vs IRLANDIA

SLOVENIA vs RUSIA

UKRAINA vs YUNANI

URUGUAY vs COSTA RICA

Yuk intip medysept 91 di
Alexa

The Republic of Ireland face an uphill task to make the World Cup finals after Nicolas Anelka’s goal helps France win 1-0 in the first leg of their play-off at Croke Park…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: english football standings. The blog is also related to: european soccer championship.

Africa’s final slot at the 2010 World Cup will be decided by a play-off in Sudan, after Egypt’s 2-0 win over Algeria leaves them level on goal difference at the top of Group C…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: world cup soccer team. The blog is also related to: soccer team.

Africa’s final slot at the 2010 World Cup will be decided by a play-off in Sudan on Wednesday, after Egypt defeat Algeria 2-0 to leave both teams tied at the top of Group C…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: soccer uniforms. The blog is also related to: world cup results.