I don't blame Robben for going down easily. If the opportunity presents itself to win the game, then take it.

That attitude is what's wrong with football. I know I might appear naive, but I just hate that attitude.

was that fergie time for the new man U boss

Who is this Van Huntelaar fella?

Trouble is, we've seen a lot of clear penalties not given at this World Cup and clearly the school of thought which exists in world football is that two wrongs make a right and penalties won by diving will even up penalties you don't get from the referee missing legitimate fouls in the area.

Net result is that diving is and will continue to become a more prominent and frequent part of the game.

Mexico paid the price for sheer stupidity, its a shame because they've been great to watch. But, after they scored, you'd expect them to push on and the Dutch to wilt in the heat. Instead Holland took total control from that point onwards.

In the end, I think both teams got what they deserved, even if its harsh on Mexico and their fantastic keeper.

Beware the shadow....as a Dutchman lurks. I didn't want them to win, but thought they might.

Agree with this view, making the most of the situation is part of football, he was fouled.

Fair enough. Looks like the semis will both be South America vs Europe now.

In a way, Robben's antics are similar to what many say we lack in Europe and exists in South America following Suarez's disgrace - and that's guile, cunning, doing what it takes to win. Is it not a good sign that the Dutch seem to be bucking the trend? It's clear we don't have such a policy in England (or maybe it's more we choose to play the game by the rules).

Mexico gave Robben far too many opportunities to attack them in the second half; everyone knows he falls over easily in the penalty area. No sympathy for them in the end, wrong tactics.

I can only assume the people moaning about the pen are focussed on Robben's exaggerated swallow dive. Ignore that and it's a clear pen, Robben beats Marquez then Marquez dives in and steps on Robben's foot.

Yep, the defender should never had been making such a reckless challenge in the first place.

Do I think it was a pen? Yes. Did Robben make the most of it? Yes. As someone said earlier in the thread probably the only example of a pen and a dive at the same time. Although 6 minutes was played 3 of that was for the cooling break so 3 minites added time is pretty normal.

Strange game, football. 4 months' ban (which I agree with) for repeated biting, but blatant diving or cheating, which directly affects the result in a big game, is "part of the game". How entirely predictable - and had the ref booked Robben after his first dive, he'd have thought twice about doing it again.
Mexico though just gave away far too much possession and lacked intelligence in the second half.
Just hope that Robben doesn't win the World Cup for Holland.

As a game, it had its moments, including some dodgy ones. One day dodgy moments will come back to haunt the players.

That's a fair point but when you're not accustomed to these conditions, it can affect you for ages

(The lowest ranked team doesn't seem to mean a lot at this World Cup)

Mexico got exactly what they deserved from that game - in almost complete control and take the lead only to camp at the edge of their box for the next 35 minutes.

Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but they virtually handed the momentum to Holland when they had absolutely none and that is a massive mistake that deserved to be punished.

You can only take your hat off to a very average Dutch team to win in that sort of heat I suppose ...

Robben is the dirtiest player in the game and the standard by which all professional football bad guys are measured...What a legend you are Robben.

I agree. I notice how the pundits in the studio seemed to just accept diving as okay.
Yet if it was against England it would be wrong.
Diving is cheating as far as I'm concerned and should be treated in the same way that a foul is so that players will think twice about it.

They should give Robben a Golden Snorkel

Damn right. I certainly can't think of anyone else who's done anything worse recently.

...or on the other hand Holland played it perfectly, let the mexicans spend 70 minutes burnig themselves out then give the ball to Robben! I knew an equaliser was coming because of the amount of space they left, and we still had the legs to utilise it.

To be fair to Robben he was fouled twice in the box in the first half and didn't get a penalty. Marquez was making too many rash challenges in the box and it was fairly obvious he was going to hand the chance for Robben to go down eventually ... you could blame Robben but the main culprit was Marquez continually lunging in imho.

I cannot have that.

England players did more than their fair share of diving at this tournament.