Now the World Cup starts in earnest. The mini-leagues of the group stage are over, and the first knockout match takes place today between Germany and Sweden. Soccer being a famously low-scoring game, such matches often finish in a draw and must be decided by penalty shootouts—a competitive form at which my own team, England, has a particularly harrowing record. Perhaps England's players should study a little more economics.
In soccer, penalty kicks pit the goalkeeper against a lone striker in a mentally demanding contest. Once the penalty-taker strikes the ball, it takes 0.3 seconds to hit the back of the net—unless the goalkeeper can somehow get his body in the way. That is simply not enough time for the keeper to pick out the trajectory of the ball and intercept it. He must guess where the striker will shoot and move just as the ball is being struck. A keeper who does not guess correctly has no chance.
Both striker and keeper must make subtle decisions. Let's say a right-footed striker always shoots to the right. The keeper will always anticipate the shot and the striker would be better off occasionally shooting to the left—because even with a weaker shot it is best to shoot where the goalie isn't. In contrast, if the striker chooses a side by tossing a coin, the keeper will always dive to the striker's left: Since he can't guess where the ball will go, best to go where the shot will be weak if it does come. But then the striker should start favoring his stronger side again.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The robocup
RoboCupTM is an international joint project to promote AI, robotics, and related field. It is an attempt to foster AI and intelligent robotics research by providing a standard problem where wide range of technologies can be integrated and examined. RoboCup chose to use soccer game as a central topic of research, aiming at innovations to be applied for socially significant problems and industries. The ultimate goal of the RoboCup project is By 2050, develop a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots that can win against the human world champion team in soccer.
In order for a robot team to actually perform a soccer game, various technologies must be incorporated including: design principles of autonomous agents, multi-agent collaboration, strategy acquisition, real-time reasoning, robotics, and sensor-fusion. RoboCup is a task for a team of multiple fast-moving robots under a dynamic environment. RoboCup also offers a software platform for research on the software aspects of RoboCup. One of the major application of RoboCup technologies is a search and rescue in large scale disaster. RoboCup initiated RoboCupRescue project to specifically promote research in socially significant issues.
In order for a robot team to actually perform a soccer game, various technologies must be incorporated including: design principles of autonomous agents, multi-agent collaboration, strategy acquisition, real-time reasoning, robotics, and sensor-fusion. RoboCup is a task for a team of multiple fast-moving robots under a dynamic environment. RoboCup also offers a software platform for research on the software aspects of RoboCup. One of the major application of RoboCup technologies is a search and rescue in large scale disaster. RoboCup initiated RoboCupRescue project to specifically promote research in socially significant issues.
World Cup Game
The World Cup Game is a football (soccer) game that is like no other soccer game. This is the first of its kind that closely resembles the current genre of German-style boardgames that have become so popular in recent years.
It is not a quiz game and it is not a single match style soccer game, but it covers two complete tournaments - the 1930 tournament in Uruguay and the 2002 tournament in Japan and Korea. Two games in one box. The 1930 game takes around an hour to play, while the 2002 game takes around 3 hours to play.
The box is weighty, coming in at just under 2kg, so you get a lot for your money. The components are 2 large boards, 74 National flag tiles, 182 Action tiles, 87 Action cards, 36 Plastic footballs, 4 'blob'dice, 3 score sheets, a rulebook and the box!
Home Page: www.gamesfortheworld.co.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND NEWS
Robbie Keane has admitted he is desperate to showcase his talents at the World Cup again before his career draws to a close.
The 27-year-old Republic of Ireland striker was part of his country's eventful trip to the World Cup in Japan and South Korea in 2002 when he emerged as a talent in the international scene.
However, Ireland have not made the finals of a major tournament since, and the Tottenham frontman is acutely aware that, even at his age, time is ticking by.
He said: "As you get older, you can see time going past you. I'm not getting any younger and I want to progress and push on and play in the World Cup again and Euros if I can.
"I have played in them before and they were a great experience and something I totally enjoyed, and I would really love to get another World Cup under my belt.
"Every kid's dream is to play in the World Cup and growing up in Dublin you watched the World Cup, Italia 90 and USA 94, and you always want to be a part of it.
"I was very lucky to do that, and when you have done that, you just want to do it again.
"For me, it was certainly the highlight of my career and I can say I played in the World Cup."
The 2002 finals will perhaps be best remembered in Ireland for the infamous bust-up between then manager Mick McCarthy and his captain Roy Keane which resulted in the Manchester United star heading home without kicking a ball in the competition.
But for the younger Keane, the abiding memory will be the equaliser he scored against Germany which prevented an early exit and allowed him to extend an adventure which still fuels his desire to return.
He said: "It would be the Germany game because of the way the game went. That will stand out in my mind, and probably everyone else's mind as well."
Keane and his team-mates will begin their attempt to book a trip to South Africa in 2010 in September when they launch their qualifying campaign in Georgia.
By then, new manager Giovanni Trapattoni, 69, will have had three friendly games - the second of them tomorrow night against Colombia at Craven Cottage - in which to assess the talent he has at his disposal.
Keane has been asked to play a slightly different role by the Italian, akin to the one performed to such good effect over the years by Trapattoni's compatriot Francesco Totti.
"Totti's a fantastic player - he's probably a little bit better looking than me!" Keane added.
"He's an excellent player and to be associated with him is quite flattering. The manager wants me to play as a striker, but dropping off into the hole.
"It's the same situation we use at Tottenham with me and [Dimitar] Berbatov - we mix and match a little bit. It is little bit deeper than before, but I am in it for the team.
"It is whatever the manager at that time wants me to do. I do it for the team. The team is more important than one individual.
"I look forward to playing any role, but my favourite position, which the manager wants me to play, is up front, but dropping into the hole, which I naturally do anyway."
The 27-year-old Republic of Ireland striker was part of his country's eventful trip to the World Cup in Japan and South Korea in 2002 when he emerged as a talent in the international scene.
However, Ireland have not made the finals of a major tournament since, and the Tottenham frontman is acutely aware that, even at his age, time is ticking by.
He said: "As you get older, you can see time going past you. I'm not getting any younger and I want to progress and push on and play in the World Cup again and Euros if I can.
"I have played in them before and they were a great experience and something I totally enjoyed, and I would really love to get another World Cup under my belt.
"Every kid's dream is to play in the World Cup and growing up in Dublin you watched the World Cup, Italia 90 and USA 94, and you always want to be a part of it.
"I was very lucky to do that, and when you have done that, you just want to do it again.
"For me, it was certainly the highlight of my career and I can say I played in the World Cup."
The 2002 finals will perhaps be best remembered in Ireland for the infamous bust-up between then manager Mick McCarthy and his captain Roy Keane which resulted in the Manchester United star heading home without kicking a ball in the competition.
But for the younger Keane, the abiding memory will be the equaliser he scored against Germany which prevented an early exit and allowed him to extend an adventure which still fuels his desire to return.
He said: "It would be the Germany game because of the way the game went. That will stand out in my mind, and probably everyone else's mind as well."
Keane and his team-mates will begin their attempt to book a trip to South Africa in 2010 in September when they launch their qualifying campaign in Georgia.
By then, new manager Giovanni Trapattoni, 69, will have had three friendly games - the second of them tomorrow night against Colombia at Craven Cottage - in which to assess the talent he has at his disposal.
Keane has been asked to play a slightly different role by the Italian, akin to the one performed to such good effect over the years by Trapattoni's compatriot Francesco Totti.
"Totti's a fantastic player - he's probably a little bit better looking than me!" Keane added.
"He's an excellent player and to be associated with him is quite flattering. The manager wants me to play as a striker, but dropping off into the hole.
"It's the same situation we use at Tottenham with me and [Dimitar] Berbatov - we mix and match a little bit. It is little bit deeper than before, but I am in it for the team.
"It is whatever the manager at that time wants me to do. I do it for the team. The team is more important than one individual.
"I look forward to playing any role, but my favourite position, which the manager wants me to play, is up front, but dropping into the hole, which I naturally do anyway."
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
England Women's Matching Pairs
Memorise where the England players are and match them up to reveal a hidden picture to download for your desktop..
World Cup Warrior
The movie is 298k and should take no more than 2.5 minutes to download over a 56k modem.
It is designed to be played on computers with at least a 400Mhz processor and users with slower machines may experience performance problems.
If the game appears to be running slowly try closing down any other applications you may be running.
If the game becomes unresponsive click anywhere within the game area
It is designed to be played on computers with at least a 400Mhz processor and users with slower machines may experience performance problems.
If the game appears to be running slowly try closing down any other applications you may be running.
If the game becomes unresponsive click anywhere within the game area
Pro-Celebrity 5-A-Side Soccer
The movie is 210k and should take no more than 2 minutes to download over a 56k modem.
It is designed to be played on computers with at least a 400Mhz processor and users with slower machines may experience performance problems.
If the game appears to be running slowly try closing down any other applications you may be running.
If the game becomes unresponsive click anywhere within the game area.
It is designed to be played on computers with at least a 400Mhz processor and users with slower machines may experience performance problems.
If the game appears to be running slowly try closing down any other applications you may be running.
If the game becomes unresponsive click anywhere within the game area.
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