A note about Spain and the ball.

Dark Horse · 06-16-10, 12:42 AM

That, plus the ball was introduced in the Bundesliga in February. So the Germans have had a few months to get used to it. Compare it to driving a new car. Adidas is German.

RevolverOcelot · 06-16-10, 12:44 AM

That's something to watch for, for sure. Interesting note.

Slainte · 06-16-10, 12:45 AM

Very valid point of view

The over is lock today

hedgejob · 06-16-10, 01:12 AM

One thing else - Spain play passing game not shooting at goal from anywhere like 30 other teams.

fuglyboy86hi · 06-16-10, 01:15 AM

hmm, interesting ! should need to watch this game carefully !

sweethook · 06-16-10, 01:31 AM

very nice info, ty gl

Squirrel · 06-16-10, 04:42 AM

Originally posted by hedgejob

One thing else - Spain play passing game not shooting at goal from anywhere like 30 other teams.

Good shout - Spain very rarely shoot from outside of the box at all, they'd rather string 30 passes together and knock it in from six yards.

Some of the shooting in this world cup has been borderline stupid, people trying to score from 40 yards routinely and just hitting row Z, the Dutch (Wesley Sneijder in particular) were a good example of this. Thats probably why the goals are down if players are suddenly thinking they can score from that far out when, clearly, they cant.

TeamTT · 06-16-10, 04:45 AM

Interesting info.. Notice all the unders so far...

fedtpels · 06-16-10, 05:15 AM

It's a good point. I'm afraid to bet the over still, but it should be interesting to see if a trend presents itself. good luck with your bets. what ball do they use in La Liga?

Gokhan · 06-16-10, 05:21 AM

Originally posted by Dark Horse

That, plus the ball was introduced in the Bundesliga in February. So the Germans have had a few months to get used to it. Compare it to driving a new car. Adidas is German.

woow i didn't know that. that should make a big difference.

mihaita666 · 06-16-10, 09:17 AM

good point here, congrats

pavyracer · 06-16-10, 09:32 AM

I may be naive here but what does the ball have to do with playing against a non-existent defense? Germany would have score 4 goals vs Australia even if they used volleyballs.

TheAntidote · 06-16-10, 10:33 AM

Great point Gator, and thanks for sharing the info about the ball being used in the Bundesliga, Dark Horse. Watching this game has only made me feel it's really the ball and not the altitude. Even Spain can't seem to keep the ball under the post. Seems like there were times for both Iniesta and Torres where they took a shot they would normally put on frame and it went way far of the frame.

TheAntidote · 06-16-10, 10:45 AM

Turns out this ball is the official ball of MLS this season as well.

nchi · 06-16-10, 11:01 AM

The missed shots are flying high and wide by a mile. The jabulani moves like a ping pong ball and is very unpredictable. For the players as well as the goalies. If what dark horse said is true that is an unbelievable advantage for the Germans. I am not a fan of this new ball, it is obviously affecting teams' abilities to pass and put the ball on target. Fifa wants more goals? Make the goals bigger...take offsides away...replace all goalies with English keepers. Leave the ball alone.

phenomenon · 06-16-10, 11:01 AM

Originally posted by GatorTD

Goal scoring isnt exactly a big thing in the world cup right now with all the ball complaints and all.

If the big theory holds true that its not actually the ball, but the altitude, pay close attention to the Spain match today. Spain is playing in Durban, which stadium is almost sea level and is the lowest venue altitude wise.

The only team to play here was GERMANY, who seemed to have no ball issues. Interesting huh?

now ball is ok ?

TheAntidote · 06-16-10, 11:08 AM

This ball has clearly taken away all the fun of the WC. We've all seen by now the world's greatest players take shots that they would normally bury 9 out of 10 times go way wide of the target. This shitty beach ball is ****ing us from seeing some true screamers, and quite honestly it pisses me off. Bring back the Teamgeist ball.

Josu · 06-16-10, 11:19 AM

That ball is a beach ball. It's a joke. Look at Christiano Ronaldos shot yesterday against Ivory Coast. The ball just went with the wind, there was no curl applied to the ball by Ronaldo. Look at the free kicks, they either go after the ground or go way over the goal. Every game, like no or very few exceptions. Look at all the balls the goalies are dropping.

They don't have any giant beehives, I'm sorry, vuvuzelas in europa either. First and hopefully, last World Cup to be held in Africa.

jayc88 · 06-16-10, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by Dark Horse

That, plus the ball was introduced in the Bundesliga in February. So the Germans have had a few months to get used to it. Compare it to driving a new car. Adidas is German.

do you know how many players from bundesliga are playing at the world cup?
the ball is just used as an excuse and is not the reason why there haven't been many goals scored yet.
only 8 % of all scoring chances were converted so far and it is too easy to blame the ball for that.
wouldn't surprise me if goal scoring picks up tremendously from now on as teams have to open up.

phenomenon · 06-16-10, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by jayc88

do you know how many players from bundesliga are playing at the world cup?
the ball is just used as an excuse and is not the reason why there haven't been many goals scored yet.
only 8 % of all scoring chances were converted so far and it is too easy to blame the ball for that.
wouldn't surprise me if goal scoring picks up tremendously from now on as teams have to open up.

yes u may be right brother, but Germany Altitude isn t the same as Africa^s altitude, ball may be normal ok, but with this altitude it is disaster, some stadiums are located 2000 meter high, does it give u any sense?