There were good arguments made today for the introduction of better technology or more linesmen into the game of football. Personally, I don't trust the technology of having a ball that 'beeps' when it goes over the goal line. They tried it in hockey some time ago and found that it didn't work. Technological failures could always be blamed.
What did work was the introduction of specialty linesmen whose only job was to watch the goal line. They were positioned directly over the goal so they would have a "bird's-eye view". This stopped a good deal of the controversy and helped the game flow. I think FIFA should give this idea a try.
Let's see what they decide after England and Mexico yell at them for a few days. In my opinion, there is no excuse to stop playing the game and that is what England did for sure. Mexico, not so much. They tried to play well. Of course the loss of a goal was a blow to the English game, but is that new to them? NO. They should have "manned-up" and continued with their normal game plan.
I know if I was the coach in that locker room at halftime, I would have shown them the footage and "lit a fire under them" that would have set them in the right direction. We know that Capello's influence on the team was to calm the wildness of the team and "dampen" the outbursts that caused England to qualify for extreme-yellow card treatment in the past. He did an excellent job. The players were so calm and relaxed out on the pitch that they looked asleep half the time. Oh well, "out with the old and in with the new" must be the current England chant.
Speaking of "the old"...Maradona"s team really put on a show. One bad call "notwithstanding". Onward ho, Argentina!
1) "bird's-eye view" - If you take this expression literally, it suggests you are flying or at least in the sky so you have a complete perspective of the situation below. We use this expression to describe anyone with clear sight of something. For example: "The boy who climbed onto the roof, had a bird's-eye view of the neighbourhood." In business you could use the expression to describe anything you saw with your own eyes. For example: "Did you hear about the CEO's fight with the Marketing Manager?" "Yes. I was in the conference room when it happened. I had a bird's-eye view."
2) to "man-up" - A sexist expression that is used for women as well. To "man-up" is to gather your strength of body and/or mind so you can perform at your best. This expression is usually used after you have sustained a physical or emotional blow. For example: "After the player twisted his ankle, he chose to man-up and continue playing until the end of the match." An emotional example is: "His cousins were so cruel to him in childhood that he considered not attending a family wedding because they would be there. But, instead, he manned-up and went to the wedding with a smile on his face."
3) to "light a fire under someone" - This means to excite or strongly encourage someone who could benefit from this assistance. For example: "The team was sad after they heard they could not qualify for the finals. But their coach lit a fire under them and their next game was their highest-scoring game ever." In business you could say: "My new intern hasn't been very efficient but I think the prospect of a real job offer after this internship might light a fire under her. I'll see if her performance improves next week."
4) "dampen" - To "dampen" something is literally to wet it. A rain shower can dampen the grass but it can also dampen your spirits. We use dampen literally and figuratively often. Figuratively dampening someone is to decrease their excitement or excitability (quickness to become emotional). "Capello has dampened the wildness of Rooney. He plays a more controlled game and doesn't get overly upset anymore."
5) "out with the old and in with the new" - This expression can be used when anything or anyone is changed for a newer or younger version. If you replace you fax machine with a new model that has more features, like scanning, you can say "out with the old and in with the new". Although not a very polite thing to say, you can use this expression when people are replaced in their jobs or even (really not nice to say) in their marriage.
6) "notwithstanding" - This strange-looking word combination is real. We can use it in the same places we use "regardless of", "in spite of", or "although". You usually use this word to suggest that one thing is not relevant to the final decision or outcome. For example: "Notwithstanding the snow, our mail was delivered on time." In business you could say: "The sales from last month notwithstanding, our company continues to grow." This last example suggests that last month's sales were not very good but they had no lasting effect on the company's growth.
Netherlands or Slovakia? Chile or Brazil? Who will be the victors tomorrow? I have a guess, but I have been proven wrong before. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.
No comments:
Post a Comment