It's specially designed with millions of tiny grooves on the surface. As on a golf-ball, these mean that turbulence caused by drag of air against the surface is reduced. A reduction in the number of seams, from?

Someone needs to plot a graph of "french national team football" from a head butt four years ago to today. Is a consistent decline, ups and downs, is this as low as it has ever?

As I've said elsewhere, I'm sure the atmosphere at the game?

And yes, apparently World Cup class football is a cynical game of professional diving, as practiced by nearly everybody.

I liked it the other day when the Chilean striker (I forget his name) dived in the penalty box, was booked by the ref and proceeded to congratulate him. As if?

Diving is, in my opinion, the reason why football will struggle to be taken seriously here and in to an extent in the US

It could mean a change in the rules and it would be odd if the ref blew for a foul and then checked with a video?

What, no gloating about the (cursed) luck of the Irish causing the French to self-destruct?

Hmmm, some consolation for that awful qualifier.

I think my vision of the game is very much shaped by the fact that video-replays, and video-refereeing are part and parcel of my sport watching experience, and?

But Sep Blatter doesnt like that new fangled technology. So figuring out a solution wont happen till he F's off.

I'd have thought a good compromise solution would be:

* the referee calls it as he sees it;
* anyone caught out on the TV goes before the football judiciary?

Example: Tassotti elbowed a Spanish player in the quarter final of the 1994 WC, the ref didn't see it, but the TV did. Tassotti was suspended for eight matches and that meant the end of?

Did anyone else see DPR Korea v Portugal? It was almost tragic to watch the Koreans be so thoroughly battered, but the beauty of Portugese play well and truly made up for it

I wonder how much FIFA profits from the on-field theatrics?

Huh? How?

Diving is, in my opinion, the reason why football will struggle to be taken seriously here and in to an extent in the US

Diving throws into stark relief a cultural faultline between two definitions of masculinity and confirms some the most deeply held assumptions of Anglo-Saxon superiority over the?

In other news, the race for the MP who could suck up to the All Whites the slurpiest has a supreme winner. Kick it in the guts, Trev.

(Too easy, unsporting even)

Too easy? We haven't even touched the 'shield walls are an Anglo-Saxon thing Italians wouldn't understand' thing. I have to assume this is some kind of performance art.

"picked up speed after you kicked it"

The actual quote was "the ball picks up speed as it hits the air" and it was at the half, not full time

The actual quote was "the ball picks up speed as it hits the air" and it was at the half, not full time

You left an 'n' out of pendant :)

Kiwis on the coaching bench. Wonderful.

See, we can do "worldwide sports" without the benefit of carpet baggers.

Re the Ball. The Uraguyan goal the other day?

The Uraguyan goal the other day from outside the box that went over the players and dipped into the goal. Amazing curve downwards. All because the kick imparted topspin to it.

No, it's because it took a deflection on the edge of the box.

I thought we bred pretty widely and enthusiastically.

Now that's a great country motto

I swear the last couple of days have been like living in a Stephen Jones column. Somebody make it stop!

Let me generalise about generalisations.

If you live in Football-Media-World (either physically or online), then the old stereotypes are spouted, challenged, mocked and sooner or later have turned into cliches?

take Andy Haden – he dived ... Won the game, sure, but ever since he's been scorned as unmanly.

I don't believe it did win the game. The penalty the ref awarded was for an unrelated matter elsewhere on the field.

The saving grace is that we're getting commentary from people like John Helm who do know their stuff, and are (mostly) not patronising us or the players. I'm enjoying that.

I like him, he's old school. He's however also responsible for the following, highly groan-inducing joke:

"Denmark's formation has been?

I am also confused about the inbreeding thing. I thought we bred pretty widely and enthusiastically.

Just keep your fancy Latinesque ways away from our women, and we're all good, okay?

No, it's because it took a deflection on the edge of the box.

Yes, deflection but have a look at the spin of the ball after the deflection. Top spin and it helped it curl down.

Played ping pong??

I'd have thought a good compromise solution would be:

* the referee calls it as he sees it;
* anyone caught out on the TV goes before the football judiciary facing fines, or match bans, or whatever it is that people face in football.

Yep, exactly.

"4am hook-ups"! Who the hell is getting those?

I'm reminded of a certain joke for which the punchline is 'are you awake'? Or in the real world 'fawck orf, I'm 'leeping'.

Do you ever see a referee award a free kick or penalty when the player stays on his feet?

One example that comes to mind is Zico's effort in I think the 86 world cup. He dribbles through a?

I'd have thought a good compromise solution would be:
* the referee calls it as he sees it;
* anyone caught out on the TV goes before the football judiciary facing fines, or match bans, or whatever it is that people face in football.
Yep, exactly.

That's kind of a?

Sure a fine/match ban for persistent diving, but most of it is spur of the moment stuff.

As are most punches thrown in rugby, I'd imagine...

"4am hook-ups"! Who the hell is getting those?

Giovanni, apparently

Giovanni, apparently

Ahh the Latin luvver extraordinaire..
Lock up your wimmin folk, for they are not to be trusted, when he is aroused. Oh sorry if its too early n'all. mental images etc...

3D TV definitely needs a dedicated AV room.

Or they could automate the uniform and boots with impact sensors and a visible infringement alarm – kind of like laser strike

That's why nude soccer should be played, like the nude rugby. Much more enjoyable and watchable. No more shirt pulling and much fun in the shower afterwards scrubbing?

Giovanni, apparently

Okay, now I'm worried that what I wrote about breeding widely might have been construed as "yay, he philanders!" I just meant, you know, from a geographical standpoint. In that I couldn't go any further to breed without leaving the planet.

I'm making it worse, aren't I?

"4am hook-ups"! Who the hell is getting those?

The FIFA Hearts?

I'm making it worse, aren't I?

And better, all at the same time.

Asleep Style.

That's even better than the Aussie joke I remember. Mind you, looking at events overnight, we may need a punchline for this.

Q: What does Kevin Rudd say when he wants to screw the country?

USA were a minute from going home.

Now they?re got as good a chance as anyone of making the semis