Reviews

World Cup Thrill: Ministry of Silly PKs

7/7/2014

Right! That Should Leave the Keeper Gobsmacked

Is it my imagination, or are penalty kicks getting funkier?

My general impression is that some of the PKs during the knockout round have had some style elements of John Cleese from the Ministry of Silly Walks.

Or maybe Monty Python is on my mind because of their farewell performances this month.

On Saturday, I watched James Rodriguez of Colombia take the penalty kick against Brazil. He advanced a few steps, stopped, dipped his knee like a page in court, and flicked the ball into the net. (His reward was a visit from a giant grasshopper that alighted on his right arm, looking like it could carry him off.)

The Rodriguez dip was not as brazen as the full Panenka performed by Andrea Pirlo in the 2012 Euros against Joe Hart of England. The Panenka is named after the Czechoslovak player, Antonin Panenka, who in 1976 slowed down and nudged the ball airbound for a slow-motion goal that must have taken a second a yard to reach the net.

Panenka thereby gained the rare sporting fame of having a technique named after him, something usually reserved for the innovators of figure skating, for goodness’ sakes.

But others have been dipping and dodging their way toward the disk where the ball rests. Kostas Mitroglou of Greece did a nice little Grambling Marching Band stutter step before deftly kicking a PK in the first round of the shootout, which Greece lost to Costa Rica, eventually.

And Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo have added a little funky-chicken elbow and knee action to their goal routine.

Technically, says my goalkeeping guru Alan Rubin, a player is supposed to progress toward the disk without diversion. Then again, keepers are supposed to stay behind the line, rather than advance on the kicker (remember Brianna Scurry in the 1999 Women’s World Cup?)

And Tim Krul of the Netherlands seemed to be imitating Muhammad Ali’s nostril-flaring showboat visit to Joe Frazier’s gym back in the day when he came into the match for the shootout against Costa Rica the other.

“I think goalie antics are nothing new,” Duncan Irving, the long-time soccer writer, said in an email message to me. “I saw Holland’s Hans Van Breukelen get up in the grilles, as the kids say, of Danish players at Euro 1992 (the Dutch lost the shootout in the semifinal.) England’s Joe Hart was shouting during Euro 2012 — Pirlo took a Panenka on him “to teach [Hart] a lesson” — and Bruce Grobbelaar (Liverpool) famously performed a jelly-leg goal-line dance against Roma in the 1984 European Cup final.”

I am watching the two semifinals to see if anybody tries a backheel PK after doing the Michael Jackson moon walk. Lifetime fame – or infamy -- awaits.

Is That an Insect -- or Somebody's Drone?

Gene Palumbo

7/7/2014 03:17:54 pm

Column alert: George has a piece in the Times today:

Semifinals Remain an Inner Sanctum until Further Notice: Soccer's Elite Sends the Party Crashers Home

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/07/sports/worldcup/world-cup-2014-soccers-elite-sends-the-party-crashers-home.html

Andy Tansey

7/7/2014 11:59:53 pm

George:

Your work inspires so many ideas, and it is a privilege to be able to rave here!

From my perspective as a former referee, with the arrogance of discriminating the finer points, James Rodriguez's was a true penalty kick. Penalties and those which always leads to so much righteous and self-righteous controversy at the World Cup - Kicks from the Mark to determine the winner of the match after it is drawn following full time and two complete periods of extra time (not "penalty kicks," as Ian Darke would say, and never a "shootout") * - are the most formal of ceremonious free kicks (as opposed to the simpler form of free kick commonly known as a quick restart back into open play - most employed by the high priests (well, as of a relatively short while ago) in Barca and Spain and enjoyed by the high purists. Among other elements of the Law, the keeper must stay on his line and not unduly distract the kicker. Likewise, the kicker may not unduly distract the keeper or delay the kick. It is the matter of degrees that gives rise to debate among the learned and learning referees. A full stop by the kicker can be considered excessive delay, but an instantaneous full stop? Proceeding past the ball without kicking it is not allowed, thus rendering a back-heeled PK or KFTM almost impossible. I am aware of no guidance addressing Tim's Krul psychological behavior. Had it been excessive, as with any violations prior to the actual taking of the kick, the sanction would be a caution (unless the talk was so trashy as to amount to insulting or offensive language - straight send off). All this having been said, as with any formal ceremony (e.g., when things go wrong at a wedding or at Mass), this process could be great fodder for ludicrous comedy, and the Monty Python metaphor is perfect!

I am surprised that Costa Rica has not alleged some contrivance or conspiracy about the grasshopper having been programmed to distract Rodriguez. Perhaps if it hadn't malfunctioned and arrived late.

As to the Times column, Bravo (or, perhaps, Ole, Olah!). I met a former player from a youth team I managed and was pleased to learn that she is now training kids. I told her the key. These kids must play in the sandlots from the time they can walk, barefoot, if we are to produce the next Zizou. Yes, right here on suburban Long Island. Chances? In any event, the rest of the tournament is beautifully poised with the Elite Four!

* Letters to the Sports Editor this past Sunday decried KFTM. Beautiful as Costa Rica's defensive organization was vs. the Dutch, the notion of playing an entire match plus extra time, ALMOST without making a legitimate attempt on goal, with the hope of winning on KFTM can hardly be considered positive football. Having lost a lot of credit with their cynicism vs. Spain in the 2010 Final, the Dutch - yes Robben, Robin and the DUTCH! - have regained the higher moral ground with their positive play.

Andy Tansey

7/8/2014 12:21:41 am

P.S. I meant to share!

Undue delay? What NOT to do:
http://en.video.canoe.tv/video/comedy/tv-bloopers/88729112001/worst-penalty-kick-ever/1148018733001

The opposite of undue delay?
http://www.footytube.com/video/neymar-jr-vs-lassi-hurskainen-penalty-kick-278871?ref=hp_mustwatch

Here's a compilation for the history books:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=penalty+kick+bloopers&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=962F563E84A167A03C65962F563E84A167A03C65

Josh

7/8/2014 04:37:21 am

It's not just penalty kicks and its not just Monty Python. Free kicks have their own absurd bit of fancy footwork and tie-in to British television comedy.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/2014/06/30/germany_vs_algeria_that_wacky_free_kick_moment_in_benny_hill_form.html

That said, it is a shame soccer does not have something more akin to a tennis tie-breaker, something that resembles more of the actual game. Maybe take turns with a 2 on 1 plus goalie, with offense starting at midfield. I'll leave it to the journalists and goalie gurus to advise as to whether there is any statistically-measured advantage gained from either kicker or goalie (or insect!) shenanigans. I would think, however, that the odds at baseline are so sufficiently in the kicker's favor tha thte kicker should just power up and nail the shot, and that there is little room for all uncertaintly that the extra business introduces to push the odds further in the kicker's favor.

I have no real rooting interest in the final four, except for games decided without PKs.

George Vecsey

7/8/2014 05:17:59 am

Thanks to Andy and Josh.
Two highly knowledgeable friends, rboth Brits, come down on opposite sides.
Rob Hughes wrote in the NYT that he abhors PKs.
Duncan Irving says he has no problem with PKs as a way of solving the problem.
I defend PKs because (1) players cannot run any more after 120 minutes -- in my book I cite the 1994 final in mid-day heat in the Rose Bowl, and (2) PKs beat any other proposal I ever heard. I understand people hating the tie-breaker, but who told either team not to manufacture an extra goal while they were ambulatory? GV

Alan Rubin link

7/8/2014 09:16:05 am

Andy-it’s nice to have a knowledgeable referee with a sense of humor in the family.

The PK’s shown in your links were hit from the spot after a quick direct run, which the way I always remember them being taken. Also, the keepers reacted at the last instant with very little forward movement, just enough to have their body in motion.

The referees have been very lenient on both the keepers and kickers alike.

Most of my refereeing knowledge resulted from an hour and a half session by a professional referee friend in my OLLI Understanding Soccer adult education course. I supplement it with feeds from http://soccerrefereeusa.com/; who have been surprisingly quiet with all the refereeing controversy in the 2014 World Cup.

Maybe you can help on some things that I find puzzling.

There have been several comments that the referee should not call too may fouls, or issue yellow cards, in the first half so that they have better control in the second half.

Wouldn’t be better to establish control early and put the players on notice of what will not be tolerated?

Do referees discuss prior to the game what he expects from the players and what they should expect from him?

I had seen several comments that most tackles are because players are out of position and are playing catch up, often resulting in fouls. I reviewed a significant number of tackles and have concluded that the only clean ones were quick flicks that deflected the ball without the other player falling to the ground. Most of the others were very close to or actually fouls with little immediate advantage to the challenger.

What are the referees saying to the players during the game, often while on the run?

I do not understand why refereesat this high level are taken in by dives.

Thanks!

Andy Tansey

7/9/2014 03:52:26 am

Alan:
Thanks for the welcoming comments! Roughly in the order of your comments:

I agree about referees’ leniency in the kicks from the penalty mark, particularly at the end of the Chile-Brazil match. I though Julio Cesar may have committed an infringement or two there, but hat off to him just the same. We would try to be conscious of whether an infringement (any infringement) might be trifling, and as I recall, if the ‘keeper was less than a yard off his line at the taking of the kick, it was trifling.

Referees are advised to be and are customarily very quiet in their comments about other referees. It is a matter of professional ethics. I was surprised that NBC had a former English Premier League referee commenting about calls on its telecasts last season, and that it did not seem to last very long (to my observation) may be because of this ethical consideration. There are many times that I would LOVE to be a grasshopper on the arm of a referee or evaluator in the room for the post-match evaluation! It is rare that we get candid insight into a referee’s decisions in the match.

First, I should make a disclaimer and qualify my qualifications as a referee. As a lawyer by trade, I knew the Laws of the Game pretty well, but practical experience was not especially my strong suit. Match control is much more an art than a by-the-book approach. Allowing the match to flow and avoiding unnecessary whistles for trifling infractions must be balanced with keeping things clean and fair. A referee does not want to paint himself into a corner, as I mentioned in another post, of calling a borderline foul in one situation and then, to be consistent, having to call a similar foul in a much more critical situation (e.g., in the penalty area). It is a matter of degree and a sense of feel for the dynamic. With 20-20 hindsight, we can easily question the feel of the referee in the Brazil-Colombia match.

We are strongly counseled not to express expectations to players before the match. Typically, the referee’s first verbal interaction with the players is only with the captains at the coin toss, and it should be only to conduct the toss and wish everyone a good game. Candidly, in youth matches, I would violate this counsel and explain neutral things to the kids to avoid common sources of confusion during play, but as they get older, less and less is required. At the World Cup, I cannot believe any pre-match guidance from the referees to the players is appropriate. From the opposite perspective, what we read in the papers about, e.g., Germany warning about Brazil’s rough tactics or the concerns of German coaches’ of American teams about Algerian referees, is not something ever communicated directly to the referee.

One of the best and most enjoyable aspects of the game for a referee who relishes his role is productive conversation with players during the match. It may be to manage an argument. It may be a verbal warning short of a caution, which we typically see early in the match at the first hard foul when the referee wants to keep his cards in his pockets. It may be to explain a decision, though this can be a slippery slope to inviting arguments under the wrong circumstances. As another example, if I applied advantage after a foul, I would want the miscreant to know that I was actually taking note of the foul (though this should not be necessary at a high level, as the advantage signal should be sufficient).

Diving! There are many possible explanations as to why a player goes down. (Notwithstanding many youth leagues’ prohibitions against slide tackles in early years, I now believe that among the first things players should learn is how to fall safely. It is better than a head on collision!) It may be that the player is giving full exertion and even a clean, fair challenge by the opponent causes him to fall. It may be a slip. It may be a foul. Any contact may justify a foul call and, although it should be adjudged as a foul (or not) whether or not the player falls, we see that referees are more likely to call the foul if the player goes down. I think there may have been sufficient contact with Robben in the Mexico match to justify a foul, and I think Robben had the right, if not the responsibility, to sell that decision. It may be simulation, which is a cautionable offense. In order to caution a player, the referee must be pretty certain that the player intended to deceive the referee, and the judgment of intent is extremely challenging. (In fact, as much as I found the distinction ludicrous, certain pompous referee instructors would decry the notion of “intentional” handling of the ball, quick to point out that Law 12 speaks to “deliberate” handling, because we should not try to divine intent.)

Thanks for the opportunity to comment!

Ed Martin

7/8/2014 03:41:13 pm

Always fun to read these knowledgeable comments. I am looking forward to hearing you-alls (south Long Island), views on the stunning Germany-Brazil match.

George Vecsey

7/8/2014 04:20:21 pm

Ed, thanks for asking. The NYT has asked me to write early Wednesday for the web. I am churning it overnight.
GV

George Vecsey

7/9/2014 05:37:32 am

Up and Running: My NYT column on the German Plan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/sports/worldcup/world-cup-2014-germans-national-overhaul-led-to-rout-of-brazil.html?ref=worldcup

Altenir Silva

7/9/2014 06:17:06 am

Dear George,

About last game of Brazil: 1950 to 2014. 64 years for the tragedy becomes comedy.

Best - Altenir (from Brazil

George Vecsey

7/9/2014 06:19:43 am

Dear Altenir: I felt terrible for the Brazilian people. They are so nice, the joy of the sport. The images on the screen -- you as a film person know what an image of a child or a grown woman crying can do. And it was spontaneous.
But everybody who has been there this past month speaks of the kindness of the people. That matches my impression.
My best to you and Celia and Neo.
George

Altenir Silva

7/9/2014 07:51:42 am

Dear George,

Thank you very much. Muito obrigado.

Have a good summer!

Best - Altenir

Andy Tansey

7/9/2014 06:17:09 am

My compliments on the NYT column. Hope for the USA if it develops the right program and attracts more of the best athletes? I don't think dual citizens are the long-term answer. It is a matter of hard-wiring kids sports instincts with balls at their baby feet. My casual observation suggests there is great hope. I see more and more young families out for days in the parks with a football (the round kind). Spectacular tournaments and their popularity in the next generation of young parents, some of whom played or play, should also help. My elevator screen advises that NYCFC is my new football club. Maybe that will help. Thank you, Etihad and Manchester!

George Vecsey

7/9/2014 06:21:49 am

Andy, depends how one defines short-term, but definitely. For the next four years: Fabian Johnson...who was part of that wave of U-21 players. The long run -- kids who tussle in the park on their own and learn to let loose, not worrying about what Coach or parents say.

GV

Alan Rubin link

7/9/2014 08:32:37 am

George

Nice story line. I was rooting for a South American team to win the Cup, after the US loss.

My sixteen year old grandson’s best friend moved back to Brazil a year ago. Donte was full of life and a joy to be with. Brazilians deserved better after all the negatives building up to the World Cup.

I have been optimistic about USA soccer since I became actively involved about six years ago. There are so many small positive signs that collectively show a bright future.

Klinsmann’s four year contract extension was as much about continuing to build a productive soccer network that will develop home grown world class players.

MLS’s Youth Academies, along with high level college programs, is already beginning to produce promising players. Once the many inner city programs begin to bear fruit, a huge pool of talent will will join the mix.

George-how is it different watching and covering a World Cup from the comfort of your home or a neighborhood tavern. Obviously, the excitement of being there is missed, but do you get a different perspective?

How well can journalists and announcers see the game from their perch up high? Can they see the controversial plays as well as we do on TV?

The woman sitting next to me at Alta’s bar in Lenox, MA for the Germany-Brazil game commented that she was new to soccer, but the World Cup has hooked her. However, she is already savvy enough to blast the English announcers.

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World Cup Thrill: Ministry of Silly PKs

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