Strat and I agreeing..??!?!?  HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! Please!!! HAHAHAHAHHA!! I really doubt the US team had a planned target (the official) if they were to lose. Seems to me that they would be wasting their time actually playing this game if that were the case. I mean, just mail it in and blame others....although THAT might be more entertaining...HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!        ANYHOOO-

You know you do make sense, Ron. I have already said I like the human element as well. I guess the only thing these soccer guys can (or SHOULD) do is OWN UP to it when they blow a call. Case in point;

Recently here in the US, a baseball umpire cost a pitcher a place in history with a very bad call. Replays clearly showed he had blown the call. The next day, not only did he take ownership and apologize, there was a VERY emotional meeting prior to the next game between him and the young man that had lost due to his call. The umpire in question was actually tearful and SO very remorseful. It took a real man to admit what he did, especially given that the player lost a spot in the history books!

Seems to me that these soccer fellows think themselves "above" question. They are arrogant and, frankly, they seem to be terribly inadequate given that this is a "world" event! One would think that the FIFA people would try to get more qualified officials. Just my observation. As I readily admit, I have NO idea what is going on and I am relying solely on the comments of the so-called "professionals" on my TV. That said, they are STILL going on about the poor officiating.