>>>>>>>I just watched Spain-Portugal and it again came down to PKs One of the Spanish players did a variation of Pirlo's slow looper, successfully.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I remembered Maradone tried years ago and goalkepeer cathched up... :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>BTW referee of yesterday night matchs was a turk... B-)
>>>>>
>>>>>He had a bad game Metin.
>>>>
>>>>Maybe I'm biased because of his nation, wait for observer rating... :)
>>>
>>>I would be interested in the observer rating as well. Where do you find that?
>>
>>Our newspapers publish their observer formal ratings. I just found a website about Euro 2012:
>>
>>http://worldreferee.com/
>>
>>You'll see he is best referee after first stage matches. And at this time he is best referee of the world:
>>
>>http://worldreferee.com/site/referees.php?y=2012
>>
>>I just watched Italy-Germany match and referee give a wrong penalty. Italian player didn't touched the ball...
>
>After watching it several times in slow motion replay I believe he did, although it was a lot more borderline than some hand ball calls. It struck his body first, then his arm, and then he tried to direct it away as subtly as he could with his arm. That is part of the definition of the rule. I know you know this, because you clearly know a heck of a lot about soccer, but many casual American fans do not. It's the one soccer rule they think they know, and they don't. "Hand ball!" Hand ball!" I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that.
>
>For casual fans, then: there is a reason the infraction is called handling the ball, not hand ball. It means deliberately trying to alter the course of the ball with your arm. Yes, your arm; the "hand" is defined as your fingertips to your shoulders. (In soccer, your arms are your naughty bits. You can do anything you like from your chest on down).
>
>Likewise, if the ball strikes a player's hand directly but it is accidental, for instance on a bounce, with no attempt to redirect the ball, there is no infraction. It's all about intent. "In the opinion of the referee," also from "The Laws of the Game."
>
>The game is called football for a reason. The game originated with the less nimble lower body, thus to be rewarded, and the more nimble parts to be penalized. That's just speculating.

Yo Mike - check yer private msgs....