World Cup 2006

Washington Post soccer writer Camille Powell was online Monday, June 26, at noon ET to chat about this year's World Cup. Powell was live from Germany to take your questions.

Post Coverage: World Cup 2006

Blog: World Cup Journal

The transcript follows.

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Camille Powell: Greetings from the press center in Cologne, where I'm trying to keep an eye on the Italy-Australia game, write a story about Brazil, and do this chat all at the same time. Sadly, I have left Nuremberg for good, which means no more of those tasty little sausages.

Let's get started...

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Washington, D.C.: Hi-Yesterday the TV commentators were killing the Ref in the POR v NETH game for losing control of the game...but what could he do other than give yellow and red cards to the players. There wasn't a single card in the second half that seemed undeserved. If anything he should have send more players off. What can Refs do when players are clearly committing fouls left and right. Is there a need for an additional ref?

Camille Powell: Lots of questions about the Portugal-Netherlands game and the officiating. FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized the ref today, saying that he should receive a yellow card for his performance. But under FIFA's new emphasis on hard tackles and time wasting, etc., most of the cards could be justified.

And you could've made the argument that Boulahrouz should've been red carded much earlier, for the cleats up, karate kick challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo. And Figo could've gotten a red for his head-butt of van Bommel instead of a yellow.

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Arlington, Va.: Why in the world did Deco get that second yellow card? Was it just a complete blunder by the ref or did I miss something?

Camille Powell: Deco grabbed the ball before the Dutch were about to take a free kick, and was booked for wasting time.

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Sao Paulo, Brazil: I thought that on the play in the Portugal-Holland game when Deco received his first yellow card, it was tremendously unsporting of the Dutch to not return the ball after the game was stopped for an injury. Scolari says that he is going to appeal that yellow card because both teams had signed a "fair play" agreement and the Dutch had not abided by it. Is there any chance that FIFA will rescind the card (incidentally, I thought that Deco's second yellow was also unjust - it seems terrible to keep him out of the next decisive game because of two unfair yellows).

Thanks!

Camille Powell: Marco van Basten was specifically asked about that sequence in the post-game press conference, and his answer was interesting -- he basically blamed the Portuguese, saying, "They wasted so much time that if you talk about fair play you should watch yourself first."

I thought it was unsporting of the Dutch to not return the ball, but I also don't think you can excuse what Deco did -- his challenge was so obvious that of course Ivanov was going to give him a card. I thought the second card was a little more unjust.

As for the appeal, I would be surprised if it succeeds. I think that Ghana had a stronger case when it appealed Gyan's second yellow card (taking a PK early because he thought he heard a whistle from the stands).

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Bethesda, Md.: After the Portugal Holland Showdown, can we expect some sort of investigation regarding these refs? 16 yellow cards and four red cards! This was like watching a train wreck.. in the making! Your thoughts Camille??

Camille Powell: It was really an absurd game, but oddly compelling -- you wanted to see what would happen next, and it was actually pretty funny when van Bronckhorst was shown off in extra time to set the record.

A FIFA panel is supposed to meet this week to determine which refs will be used in the latter stages of the tournament. I can't imagine Mr. Ivanov will be part of it.

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Washington, D.C.: Did you catch that moment late in the POR-NED match when Deco, Van Bommel, and Gio were in a remote corner on the sidelines looking amiable, if a little perplexed and dazed from the battle on the field? Is there an interesting story here about how players (two after ejections) from two countries that are in an all-out war on the pitch can come together peacefully through the uniting force of their club (Barca)?

Also, aren't players required to go directly to the locker rooms after an ejection?

Camille Powell: That was one of my favorite moments of the game, when those three, sitting side by side, flashed across the TV screen. It was like seeing three boys sent to the corner for a time out.

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Arlington, Va.: BAD OFFICIATING ALERT: A dubious straight red card has Italy down to 10 men against Australia.

Camille Powell: And a huge cheer went up in the press center when the card was issued. I think it was an ironic round of applause.

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Washington D.C.: I'm not a ref nor do I pretend to have any special knowledge about how refs "lose control" of a game, but by and large I think that a ref who calls a consistent game - whether lenient or strict - will be more successful in keeping a game under control. The problem I think comes about when a ref cards for one thing at one end of the field, and not at the other - or cards for minor infractions while letting grosser things slide. I think that when that begins to happen, the players begin to feel that, if they're going to get carded for something -anyhow-, they might as well push the limits, and things get ugly fast.

"Consistency" has got to be the hardest thing to achieve, though - not only do you have to assess similar offenses similarly in the blink of an eye, you also have to -see- them.

Camille Powell: Consistency is certainly one of the trickiest things for a ref. A common complaint at the World Cup -- particularly from the smaller countries or lesser regarded teams, ie Ivory Coast, the US -- is that the bigger powers are not penalized in the same way as others. (But that's not necessarily something that's unique to soccer, is it?)

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Drying out in NoVA: Camille - what's the word on C Ronaldo's condition. Is he good to go for Portugal's next game? Have to say I was impressed that he continued to play yesterday, as I previously took him as a the Cup's official cry-baby. Though he cried yesterday - it seemed out of true disappointment that he couldn't keep playing.

Camille Powell: Scolari seemed hopeful in the post-game presser that C Ronaldo will be able to play against England; after all, the game's not til Saturday. A scan revealed that he had "muscular swelling" in his thigh, according to the BBC site.

I thought C Ronaldo seemed a little petulant in the first game I covered (Angola) but I was impressed with the way he tried to battle and play last night. I also think that his injury may have helped him at times, like when he started the sequence that led to Portugal's goal -- it forced him to play much more simply, without all the stepovers.

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Arlington, Va.: I know different coaches have different styles, but I couldn't believe how indifferent Marco van Basten came across yesterday, especially given the wild nature of the game. He always looked like he was posing for a shirt ad in the Hecht's' catalog.

Camille Powell: I was struck by the exact same thing! It was especially obvious since Scolari was on the other half of the field, ranting like a maniac for much of the game.

Both coaches were asked about their demeanor after the game, and Scolari said something like "maybe I can give them the extra yard that helps them win the game. That's the spirit I have." Van Basten said that he was very alert and attentive, and that he doesn't need to shout constantly.

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Arlington, Va.: "I can't imagine Mr. Ivanov will be part of it." Why, for enforcing FIFA's instructions to crack down on rough play?

Camille Powell: Because Blatter was so pointed in his criticism of Ivanov's performance.

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Arlington, Va.: jeez. wah!wah!wah! All these teams and commentators do is complain about the referees. Maybe they should all just play without referees and see how many are left standing at the end. Between all the diving, hacking, and complaining the tournament is losing its luster, and the players and coaches are the ones to blame for that, not the referees.

Camille Powell: The officiating is becoming the dominant story of the tournament, isn't it?

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Falls Church, Va.: The Holland-Portugal game was shocking, and the ref was handing out yellow cards as if it were a Pokemon convention and not the World Cup!. That said, what is your take on the Portugal- Holland game? What's the next upset?

Camille Powell: At least there was no controversy surrounding Maniche's goal. And it was a pretty nice goal, too.

Would you consider Portugal over England to be an upset?

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Baltimore, Md.: Hi, Camille ... In my mind, I've been through a million reasons for the US's lackluster performance. So, I though I'd turn to something brighter. I thought Bocanegra and Dempsey played really well for their two games. Where do you think the latter will be playing come Fall, 2006 ?

Camille Powell: I thought Dempsey was one of the most impressive Americans (in spite of the ridiculous hip-swiveling dance he did after he scored). He's fearless, and he made (positive) things happen when he had the ball. I don't know where he'll be playing next, but I hope it's abroad -- that's one lesson the US certainly can take away from this WC.

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The Midwest: Hi Camille: I'm positively delighted that ABC/ESPN and Univision are still broadcasting the Cup, thought the Mexico and England matches were terrific.

Do you think U.S. futbol fans are still tuned in?

Camille Powell: I hope US futbol fans are still tuned in, because this is the time when the games really start getting good. And there are already some pretty glamorous match-ups to look forward to: France-Spain, Argentina-Germany (!!) and England-Portugal.

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Arlington, Va.: It's a shame that yesterday's "Cardfest" is dominating the discussion and NO ONE has mentioned the Argentina-Mexico classic on Saturday. That's what the WC should be about.

Camille Powell: True! And I missed the ENTIRE game because I was sitting on a train traveling from Cologne to Nuremberg. Grrr...

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Arlington, Va.: Hi Camille, What do you think of Argentina's chances against Germany? What are there chances of beating Germany?.

Camille Powell: Two weeks ago, the question would have been reversed -- what are Germany's chances of beating Argentina? It's been amazing to see how the Germans have come together over the past two weeks, and the fan support they receive here is absolutely unbelievable. It's too bad that one of those teams won't survive the weekend.

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Washington, D.C.: With all the controversy about the quality of refereeing, is there any talk in Germany among the press or members of FIFA about the using instant replay in future. Has Beckenbauer, in his criticism of the officiating, ever mentioned whether he would consider use of instant replay?

Camille Powell: I don't know how instant replay would work in soccer, because it will disrupt the flow of the game. There aren't natural breaks, like there are in the other kind of football. Can you imagine if there was instant replay on every offsides call?

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Camille Powell: Big cheers and groans in here as Italy is awarded a penalty kick against Australia. Laughter when the replays of the "foul" are shown.

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Rockville, Md.: That second goal by Argentina in their match with Mexico has to rank as one of the top five World Cup goals of all time! That was truly a great game!

Camille Powell: I did see that goal. And it was incredible.

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Wheaton, Md.: Did you know that the Ukraine coach Blokhin is working for free? Apparently, b/c he is also a member of parliament, he cannot have two official positions. It makes anyone crying about money--I'm thinking of the Togo players--look even more ridiculous.

I think the coaches should also have the nationality of the teams they coach, rather than this shopping around for the best Dutch coach that happens. In Ukraine's case, they have an international football legend and a national hero . . . working for no money, only for glory. I can't think of anything that better epitomizes what the World Cup means to the people of the nations who have teams playing. What a story! Too bad nobody has written anything about it.

Camille Powell: This is a great story. But as for your suggestion that the coach have the nationality of the team they are coaching -- I would hold off on that one, especially considering that the US may be looking for a new coach soon. And the pool of American coaches isn't very deep.

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Fairfax, Va.: GOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!

sucks that I'm at work and couldn't have seen that one.

Camille Powell: Italy wins, 1-0. And DeNunzio can breathe freely once again.

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Potomac Ave, Washington, D.C.: So the Goffster said that its you that can really pack away the sausages!! Any rebuttal?

Who is your pick to win the Cup now??

Keep up the great coverage, thanks.

Camille Powell: No rebuttal from me! My mother will cringe when she hears the sausage-to-salad ratio during my 5 weeks in Germany.

And I'm now picking Germany to win it all...

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Australia just robbed by bad refereeing: The refs in this Cup have been atrocious. Australia's "loss" to Italy just now was only due to a bad call. Awful.

Camille Powell: One last comment on the referees.

And on that note...

I've got to run and get ready for the Ukraine-Switzerland game. Thanks for all the great questions; sorry I couldn't get to all of them. Both Goff and Jason will be online later this week, so be sure to check back and bother them.

Enjoy the games!

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Arlington, Va.: well...I guess it's a good thing the diving Italians won or we'd have to hear about that red card for the next four years.

Camille Powell: Ok, one more comment...

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