June 2008 Archive (II of IV)   I was watching the Euro Cup 2008
qualifier between Italy and The Netherlands. The first goal
generated some controversy.  During a free kick, the keeper
pushed a defender beyond the goal line. The Dutch recovered the
deflected ball and put it back into the box to where Van
Nistlerooy directs the ball into the goal. Based on the players
on the field, he was clearly in an offside position but the flag
was not raised.  My question is whether or not the defensive
player that was on the ground beyond the goal line should have
been counted as the last defender, meaning the attacking player
was not offside, even though he was not within the boundaries of
the field? Or is the fact that he did not come back into play
prior to the goal means that he is not an active player and the
call should have been that the attacking player was offside?
Answer (June 10, 2008): You seem to have a grasp on the problem,
which is actually not a problem at all -- no matter what the TV
announcers may have