look at it the other way, Morecombe at home, dieing minutes, that was a stone wall pen, what happened..................
I saw a game online with English commentators at the weekend where a defender put the ball out for a corner, then vigorously claimed a goalkick and won his claim much to the disgust of the striker. That is cheating just like diving but seems not to be a heinous crime like diving according to British fans/media. A deliberately late tackle is also cheating and can injure another player, but people don't seem to regard the perpetrator as being of low moral fibre like someone diving. I just don't get what the fuss is about either - most players who go down do it after contact is made, they are just claiming a foul when they feel the defender has unfairly impeded them. Defenders need to learn when they can't slide into or across players on the ball. If players are going down with no contact they should be booked but the hysteria about it is laughable. The idea that it is the right thing to do to stay on your feet when you are being fouled immediately puts the attacker at a disadvantage - if he doesn't claim the foul he might not get the penalty/free kick. I know it looks bad when you can see players sizing up a challenge coming towards them, move the ball out the way and take the foul - Michael Owen and Gary Lineker were experts at this actually - but it is the defender who has committed an illegal challenge. There is a history of bad defending in England because players were allowed to get away with reckless challenges. Knowing when you can and can't make a tackle is a huge part of being a defender and this is what people should be making a fuss about if anything. We cannot expect the rest of the football world to adapt to our expectations.
