World Cup Forum

[alfieconn]

should have put dirk kuyt on the first peno. the man has balls of concrete.

Yeh....but (Alfietalkshite) has him down as favourite for bottling it! What a dipshit

It was a process of elimination and being as Kuyt was no4 against Costa so obviously would have been taking one last night, why didn't he go at no1 as Van Gaal was obviously looking for volunteers.

Anyway your doing a lot of talking but I havn't actually seen your 2 candidates who bottled it !!!

[rijit]

Got to say I agree with him

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28243020

cant say i've ever watched one or cant even recall taking note of whose won?

[BangrakBob]

What sort of nancy doesn't take the penalty when asked? They are the ones who potentially lost the shoot out and the boss should have made them in a friendly, persuasive, believe type manner.

What did VG say, "ok no problem, will anyone take a pen for us please?"

balls

Really, I wouldn't want someone to take a penalty if they were frightened of it.

But I wouldn't have put a CB on first either. Get Robben up and put one on the board.

I think LvG made a rick.

Yeah I wouldn't want someone playing for me if they were frightened, they shouldn't be frightened. Take the pen or go home to Mumma

It does seem odd that there was no plan for penalties, actually ludicrous.

[P45Mustang]

Got to say I agree with him

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28243020

cant say i've ever watched one or cant even recall taking note of whose won?

Agree.

Brazil have got nothing to gain from this match.

Unless they can beat Holland 7-1.

But that won't happen.

[Sparkles]

The play off for 3rd and 4th place is a nonsense but I guess it brings in more revenue and that's why we have it.

The last place a Brazillian player would want to be right now is on a football pitch.

[P45Mustang]

I'm going for Argentina in the final.

( Brazil might salvage some pride in the play off. I hope they do. )

[carmine]

I'm going for Argentina in the final.

( Brazil might salvage some pride in the play off. I hope they do. )

I'm sticking with Argentina too but after that semi final i'm afraid theres nothing to be salvaged for Brazil.

The world sees this as a fantastic tournament but to the Brazillians its a disaster

[P45Mustang]

I'm going for Argentina in the final.

( Brazil might salvage some pride in the play off. I hope they do. )

I'm sticking with Argentina too but after that semi final i'm afraid theres nothing to be salvaged for Brazil.

The world sees this as a fantastic tournament but to the Brazillians its a disaster

Only thing Brazil can do now is begin the first step again.

[carmine]

I'm going for Argentina in the final.

( Brazil might salvage some pride in the play off. I hope they do. )

I'm sticking with Argentina too but after that semi final i'm afraid theres nothing to be salvaged for Brazil.

The world sees this as a fantastic tournament but to the Brazillians its a disaster

Only thing Brazil can do now is begin the first step again.

I think that since their 5th win in 2002 theres been a false air of entitlement thats been clouding their football. Aside of Thiago Silva and i suppose Neymar how many players in their side are even guaranteed starters domestically? Hardly any. Neymar's had far from an easy first season in La Liga too. The first top team they come up against they get ripped apart. They didn't have the ability to beat Columbia either playing football so either.

[jellydog]

I'm going for Argentina in the final.

( Brazil might salvage some pride in the play off. I hope they do. )

I'm sticking with Argentina too but after that semi final i'm afraid theres nothing to be salvaged for Brazil.

The world sees this as a fantastic tournament but to the Brazillians its a disaster

Only thing Brazil can do now is begin the first step again.

I think that since their 5th win in 2002 theres been a false air of entitlement thats been clouding their football. Aside of Thiago Silva and i suppose Neymar how many players in their side are even guaranteed starters domestically? Hardly any. Neymar's had far from an easy first season in La Liga too. The first top team they come up against they get ripped apart. They didn't have the ability to beat Columbia either playing football so either.

As somebody somewhere pointed out, Brazil seems to lack an identity. Many of the tough old guard have moved on and the ones that are left are older and slower (Alves and Maicon and that lot), or younger and lacking grit. There doesn't seem to be any real leaders on the squad, save maybe Thiago Silva, and I really don't see Luiz as a leader. Add in a strange lack of big time strikers after years of having a surplus.

Still they have plenty of talent overall and will be better with time. But the Brazil fear factor is likely non existent at this point. When your main cog is a kid who wears his cap sideways....

Addendum-Neymar has publicly stated he is supporting Argentina to win the WC due to his friendship with Messi. This shows how things have changed with the mentality in Brazil. NO player from Brazil would have even contemplated saying such a thing in the past. If Neymar wasn't Neymar many football fans in Brazil would string a player up for that comment.

[P45Mustang]

Similar issues with Spain and Brazil.

Germany grinds on, pretty much without losing traction.

Argentina? Seem to have exceptionally gifted players at their disposal.

[uptheos]

After Nigeria were eliminated from the world cup the Nigerian captain personally offered to refund all the expenses of

fans that travelled to Brazil. He said he just needs their bank details and pin numbers to complete the transaction.

[uptheos]

[P45Mustang]

I'm hoping it's

Argentina 7-1 Germany

[carmine]

O love all this media talk of Germany just having to stop Messi!! The fact they don't see or recognize the strength in depth of talent in that side really is quite baffling to me. Messi has had a very good tournament, agreed, Mascherano has been the outstanding holding midfielder, the rest of the defense solid as usual. di Maria and Aguero my well be back but still Higuain to cover. Yet the press think they are a one man team. Cobblers.

Argentina to win one nil.

[P45Mustang]

O love all this media talk of Germany just having to stop Messi!! The fact they don't see or recognize the strength in depth of talent in that side really is quite baffling to me. Messi has had a very good tournament, agreed, Mascherano has been the outstanding holding midfielder, the rest of the defense solid as usual. di Maria and Aguero my well be back but still Higuain to cover. Yet the press think they are a one man team. Cobblers.

Argentina to win one nil.

Agree. Never mind the media, Loew knows the truth.

This is interesting/worrying.

Germany's bright future:

Manuel Neuer (Goalkeeper) 28 years old, 51 international caps

Mats Hummels (Defender) 25 years old, 35 international caps, four goals

Mesut Ozil (Midfielder) 25 years old, 61 international caps, 18 goals

Mario Gotze (Midfielder) 22 years old, 38 international caps, 10 goals

Toni Kroos (Midfielder) 24 years old, 50 international caps, seven goals

Andre Schurrle (Forward) 23 years old, 38 international caps, 16 goals

Thomas Muller (Forward) 24 years old, 55 international caps, 22 goals

[jellydog]

O love all this media talk of Germany just having to stop Messi!! The fact they don't see or recognize the strength in depth of talent in that side really is quite baffling to me. Messi has had a very good tournament, agreed, Mascherano has been the outstanding holding midfielder, the rest of the defense solid as usual. di Maria and Aguero my well be back but still Higuain to cover. Yet the press think they are a one man team. Cobblers.

Argentina to win one nil.

A talented and organized squad Germany have no doubt, but it seems the general public and experts have been swayed by the demolition of a very poor Brazil. Add in the consistent ignorant ramblings about Argentina being a one man team in the face of wonderful defensive displays.

I expect a close match that could go either way. My concern as an Argentina fan is that they have had one day less rest after the grueling win over Holland, while Germany had a walkover against Brazil. You have to figure Germany will be the fresher of the two. Also, it looks like Di Maria will be lucky to make the bench and maybe not that, though Enzo Perez filled in well in his absence against the Tulip Sniffers.

If Higuain shows up again, and Aguero can salvage a poor and injured WC showing, they could make the difference.

[P45Mustang]

Head says German efficiency will do it.

[wilai]

O love all this media talk of Germany just having to stop Messi!! The fact they don't see or recognize the strength in depth of talent in that side really is quite baffling to me. Messi has had a very good tournament, agreed, Mascherano has been the outstanding holding midfielder, the rest of the defense solid as usual. di Maria and Aguero my well be back but still Higuain to cover. Yet the press think they are a one man team. Cobblers.

Argentina to win one nil.

A talented and organized squad Germany have no doubt, but it seems the general public and experts have been swayed by the demolition of a very poor Brazil. Add in the consistent ignorant ramblings about Argentina being a one man team in the face of wonderful defensive displays.

I expect a close match that could go either way. My concern as an Argentina fan is that they have had one day less rest after the grueling win over Holland, while Germany had a walkover against Brazil. You have to figure Germany will be the fresher of the two. Also, it looks like Di Maria will be lucky to make the bench and maybe not that, though Enzo Perez filled in well in his absence against the Tulip Sniffers.

If Higuain shows up again, and Aguero can salvage a poor and injured WC showing, they could make the difference.

Glad you agree with my early assertions regarding Argentina defensive qualities JD

Still think the Germans will be too strong though.

[BangrakBob]

Who is watching North Korea and Brazil in the final tonight?

[jellydog]

O love all this media talk of Germany just having to stop Messi!! The fact they don't see or recognize the strength in depth of talent in that side really is quite baffling to me. Messi has had a very good tournament, agreed, Mascherano has been the outstanding holding midfielder, the rest of the defense solid as usual. di Maria and Aguero my well be back but still Higuain to cover. Yet the press think they are a one man team. Cobblers.

Argentina to win one nil.

A talented and organized squad Germany have no doubt, but it seems the general public and experts have been swayed by the demolition of a very poor Brazil. Add in the consistent ignorant ramblings about Argentina being a one man team in the face of wonderful defensive displays.

I expect a close match that could go either way. My concern as an Argentina fan is that they have had one day less rest after the grueling win over Holland, while Germany had a walkover against Brazil. You have to figure Germany will be the fresher of the two. Also, it looks like Di Maria will be lucky to make the bench and maybe not that, though Enzo Perez filled in well in his absence against the Tulip Sniffers.

If Higuain shows up again, and Aguero can salvage a poor and injured WC showing, they could make the difference.

Glad you agree with my early assertions regarding Argentina defensive qualities JD

Still think the Germans will be too strong though.

Kudos Wilai ! I knew the defense was better organized under Sabella but they have been way better than I (and everybody else on the planet save you ! ) expected. In particular, Rojo is a different player from a year ago during most of the qualifiers. He was a liability then but has really turned it around. Mascherano, Zabaleta and Garay have been top notch. Little known Biglia has done a lot of dirty work in front of Masche allowing Masche to drop deeper and protect Romero when needed. His work as a CB at Barca has come in handy. Romero possibly the biggest surprise given he rode the bench all season with Monaco.

Great work from Sabella in putting it all together.

[rijit]

on a.lighter note.

metro.co.uk/2014/07/12/check-out-this-awesome-rock-shaped-liked-the-world-cup-trophy-in-thailand-4795928/

[rijit]

O love all this media talk of Germany just having to stop Messi!! The fact they don't see or recognize the strength in depth of talent in that side really is quite baffling to me. Messi has had a very good tournament, agreed, Mascherano has been the outstanding holding midfielder, the rest of the defense solid as usual. di Maria and Aguero my well be back but still Higuain to cover. Yet the press think they are a one man team. Cobblers.

Argentina to win one nil.

A talented and organized squad Germany have no doubt, but it seems the general public and experts have been swayed by the demolition of a very poor Brazil. Add in the consistent ignorant ramblings about Argentina being a one man team in the face of wonderful defensive displays.

I expect a close match that could go either way. My concern as an Argentina fan is that they have had one day less rest after the grueling win over Holland, while Germany had a walkover against Brazil. You have to figure Germany will be the fresher of the two. Also, it looks like Di Maria will be lucky to make the bench and maybe not that, though Enzo Perez filled in well in his absence against the Tulip Sniffers.

If Higuain shows up again, and Aguero can salvage a poor and injured WC showing, they could make the difference.

Glad you agree with my early assertions regarding Argentina defensive qualities JD

Still think the Germans will be too strong though.

yep unless messi can come up with a master class and thought he looked poor in the last couple of.games fully expect the germans to beat argentine ,, convincingly ,, unfortunatly.

[wilai]

Who is watching North Korea and Brazil in the final tonight?

Think it's Portugal in the final Bob

On a more serious note....wonder if the goalscorers in the vid have been "eliminated" to avoid them spilling the beans? Nothing would surprise me

[wilai]

Rodgers has apparently popped off to Brazil for the final. Rojo maybe?

[P45Mustang]

Blimey.

Everybody's talking about defensive qualities.

I thought the idea was you just have to make sure you score more than they do.

[wilai]

David Luiz after German game. Doesn't rate the Spuds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D1Tted-R0g

[P45Mustang]

Yep. He'll press 'like' quicker than he takes it up the @rse.

[smokie36]

Yep. He'll press 'like' quicker than he takes it up the @rse.

Maybe your last two posts will be the propulsion your engines need for a holiday....or a P45 even....

[P45Mustang]

Maybe.

Fact is I'd like Argentina to win.

If they don't, at least I have the consolation that somebody put that pompous, sanctimonious, expert on South American football git in his place.

Same in the Prem.