Ireland vs Italy

[I Am Legend]

After watching the Ireland vs Italy highlights on e-lacrosse im kind of in shock. The level of play reminds me of a top level high school team here in the states, and really doesnt surprise me that teams like canada and the united states were able to CRUSH these teams without much effort. Ive lived through a few world games now, but I just dont remember the competition being so poor.

[Hackstall]

Ireland and Italy weren't actually that bad....maybe the highlights don't do them justice. Most of the players for both teams were Americans who had played decent lacrosse in the past. Ireland gave Australia a decent run in the play-in day until the 4th quarter when Australia decided to kill them.

Ireland also gave Japan a good run for their money and that is saying alot. Japan very much pleasantly surprised me with their speed and skill. These players had solid fundamentals and never missed a pass. Lacrosse is a relatively new sport to Japan and they will only get better. Most of the players on Japan only started playing in their mid-teens and have really come a long way in a short time. They were really a treat to watch. Their biggest downfall is their lack of size but that should be remedied as well in the years to come.

Now if you really wanted to see bad, New Zealand, Korea, and Latvia weren't really close to world class. The Koreans missed easy passes all of the time. I saw two guys on Latvia warming up for a game and I do not exaggerate when I say that they looked like they had picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time maybe 1 week prior. They couldn't pass, they couldn't catch, and they couldn't cradle.

One guy on the Netherlands told me he had only been playing for 9 months and that wasn't really uncommon for many players in the lower pools.

Basically this is a good indication of the state of lacrosse throughout the world. The plus side is that some of these teams and players are at such a low level that they should rapidly improve and be much, much better in 2010.

[I Am Legend]

Ireland and Italy weren't actually that bad....maybe the highlights don't do them justice. Most of the players for both teams were Americans who had played decent lacrosse in the past. Ireland gave Australia a decent run in the play-in day until the 4th quarter when Australia decided to kill them.

Now if you really wanted to see bad, New Zealand, Korea, and Latvia weren't really close to world class. The Koreans missed easy passes all of the time. I saw two guys on Latvia warming up for a game and I do not exaggerate when I say that they looked like they had picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time maybe 1 week prior. They couldn't pass, they couldn't catch, and they couldn't cradle.

One guy on the Netherlands told me he had only been playing for 9 months and that wasn't really uncommon for many players in the lower pools.

Basically this is a good indication of the state of lacrosse throughout the world. The plus side is that some of these teams and players are at such a low level that they should rapidly improve and be much, much better in 2010.

Yeah I agree about Ireland, but Italy really isnt good at all. Speaking of bad throw Spain and Bermuda on that list, both teams are simply horrible! Spain doesnt even have matching team gear...isnt that a rule? I mean its a rule in my league, you think in an international tournment you would have to have matching stuff.

[I Am Legend]

If Poland gets a team for 2010, expect to see me at the tryouts!

[Hackstall]

As I recall, Spain and Bermuda are not ILF members so their participation was strictly for demonstration only. Spain also only had 16 players including 1 goalie. That being said, they stil had a couple of good players, one plays Junior Box in Toronto and he scored 25 goals, I believe. Not bad for a young lad.

These teams will come along. They don't have the depth, experience, or past that Canada or the US but in time they will truly compete. It was great just to see everyone out there giving it their best, win or lose.

[I Am Legend]

Yeah, when I saw Bermuda on the roster I laughed, but then I realized thats REALLY cool for lacrosse.

Im excited to see lacrosse grow throughout the world, and hopefully by the end of my life I will live to see it be a world sport.