Rio de Janiero - 2014 Fifa World Cup Thread

[Nachos Jones]

First topic message reminder :

Pretty much the same as you Nachos but I'll come out of the cellar and pick Belgium over USA.

Belgium have not impressed me at all, lack cohesion. I think that under Klinsmann, the USA are tactically superior and will pick Belgium on a counter attack.

[Hammersmith harrier]

What uncertainty, it was a definite handball, Keown is starting to talk right crap.

[kingraf]

Come on, it's not as if Webb is Fifas resident disciplinarian. He's the same guy who gave de Jong a yellow for a flying kick to the chest.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Think Webb is having a great game, and is probably the best man to have on this game. He uses common sense and discretion, whilst not scared of making big decisions

[mystiroakey]

I agree dolph he deserves some credit so far.

[whocares]

would have been the ugliest goal in WC history.

No need to make it look worst than what it is! It was a marginal hand ball but no way as bad as the hand of god !

[Hammersmith harrier]

Come on, it's not as if Webb is Fifas resident disciplinarian. He's the same guy who gave de Jong a yellow for a flying kick to the chest.

The Spanish had been diving around all tournament so the Dutch gave them a reason to dive around, well deserved if you ask me.

[Duty281]

Brazil feeling the tension visibly more, and the game is approaching that next-goal-wins area.

[Nachos Jones]

Sorry but as said before how Fernandinho has not seen a yellow is beyond me. Three Brazilian players have received repeated final warnings with no cards. I like Webb but the aura of the stars in Brazil are allowing them to get away with so much.

[Duty281]

I think Webb's done very well thus far, but he's been too lax on the cards to the Brazilians, especially Fernandinho.

[Pal Joey]

would have been the ugliest goal in WC history.

No need to make it look worst than what it is! It was a marginal hand ball but no way as bad as the hand of god !

Looked as though it also came off the side of the knee. At least in the Hand of God goal, Maradona had more "work" to do in the air.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Vidal and Fernandinho both should have been booked, but not criminally so.

[mystiroakey]

those tackles by fernandinho weren't that bad- yes he probably deserved a yellow for them collectively but not individually, so its one of those things. He certainly did not favour Brazil when it really mattered and many refs would have given that goal

[kingraf]

My point is that he's always lax with the cards whenever I see him ref a big game.

[Nachos Jones]

those tackles by fernandinho weren't that bad- yes he probably deserved a yellow for them collectively but not individually, so its one of those things. He certainly did not favour Brazil when it really mattered and many refs would have given that goal

His first tackle was defo a yellow card. It was poor and he made 2 or 3 after which Webb kept telling him 'No more' and yet no punishment.

[Pal Joey]

Who do you reckon would have more stamina if it went to extra time?
To me - Chile could prove to have more petrol and zip in the legs.

[Nachos Jones]

Who do you reckon would have more stamina if it went to extra time?
To me - Chile could prove to have more petrol and zip in the legs.

To me, it will be Brazil. That home crowd support will give them that extra energy.

[kingraf]

Neymar having a choke... I know one when I see one.

[Duty281]

Chile look to have exhausted their attacking options. Brazil right back in it.

[Pal Joey]

Who do you reckon would have more stamina if it went to extra time?
To me - Chile could prove to have more petrol and zip in the legs.

To me, it will be Brazil. That home crowd support will give them that extra energy.

Fair point. Also, they will have the greater pressure to deliver the knockout blow. Penalties would be interesting.

[Duty281]

Well done to the Chilean keeper there, wonderful save, after Hulk nearly danced through.

[mystiroakey]

those tackles by fernandinho weren't that bad- yes he probably deserved a yellow for them collectively but not individually, so its one of those things. He certainly did not favour Brazil when it really mattered and many refs would have given that goal

His first tackle was defo a yellow card. It was poor and he made 2 or 3 after which Webb kept telling him 'No more' and yet no punishment.

was that the one after 2 mins.

ok i know it shouldn't matter when a tackle is made but it does seem to with all refs. And we all know Webb has alzheimer's so he probally thought it was someone else

[kingraf]

Chilean bodies beginning to pay the price for their high octane styles

[Nachos Jones]

Well done to the Chilean keeper there, wonderful save, after Hulk nearly danced through.

How a man of that size can dance I will never know

Superb save indeed.

[Pal Joey]

Chilean bodies beginning to pay the price for their high octane styles

So you think Brazil have the Castrol Edge on them?

[GSC]

Ramires really is crap

[GSC]

Sanchez is a bit like Neymar, shines when hes the focal point.

[kingraf]

I'd just sub Neymar... He isn't going to score today, and he'll probably only manage to get himself booked for the quarters.

[mystiroakey]

I really have to wonder why courtinhio didnt get a call up.

This brazilian team is just full of lumps.. with no major ability to hold it up and play it about against good opposition.

[Nachos Jones]

So extra time it is. I feel that Chile had to score there to win the match, I cant see Brazil loosing from here.

[Duty281]

Chile actually finished the stronger; Brazil look laden with nerves and tension.

And to Alan Shearer, Webb didn't see the handball, the linesman did.

[Nachos Jones]

It hasn't been the high quality match that the 'pundits' are refeering to but it certainly has been end to end and entertaining.

I really hope for Chile but I cant see Brazil loosing from here.

[kingraf]

The squad isn't bad, but they probably aren't Brazilian enough, especially at midfield. I love Oscar, and his engine and industry is a marvel to behold, but he isn't Kaka. In the same vein, for all of Neymar's talents (and I have become a believer, the kid is on a another plane), he simply doesn't have the goalscorer's instinct of El Fenômeno.

[GSC]

Coutinho didn't have a brilliant season either tbf

[mystiroakey]

but a good player as a plan b GSC.

someone who has the greater centre of gravity and can slow the game down a bit - the rest just bustle through and end up losing the ball. basically all ross barkleys!

[Hammersmith harrier]

It is a distinctly average Brazil team, Alves and Marcelo want to be like Cafu and Carlos but neither can defend nor is Silva the defender Lucio was. I don't think a single one of these players starts for the side that won in 2002.

[GSC]

Eh, when Marcelo and Alves are your FBs the CMs need to be mobile and defensive minded

[Nachos Jones]

I am not sure that is a yellow card for Jo there. Was a fair attempt I feel.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Dare I say it none of Gustavo, Paulinho or Fernandinho are as good as Gilberto in the anchor role.

[GSC]

Thiago Silva is a very good player, lumbered with 3 fellow "defenders".

[mystiroakey]

"defenders" = wanna be neymars

[kingraf]

The 2002 side was no great shakes either though. Admittedly a better squad, but hardly worlds apart - they just had that element of genius, Ronaldinho's goal vs England, Ronaldo's goal vs Turkey... Needed a bit of luck to get past a Ballack-less Germany... headlined by Torsten Firings and the mighty Neuville.

[Nachos Jones]

Brazil looking that bit stronger now.

I still firmly believe that its not allowed to book Neymar because he will miss the next match (should Brazil win). He has done more than enough repeated fouls to deserve one but is being let off.

[mystiroakey]

prediction

neymar to miss the first pen shoot out attempt and chile go through with side show bob missing last

[Duty281]

Brazil mentally tense, but Chile physically tired.

One more moment of magic, or one horrific mistake?

[Nachos Jones]

So Brazil's pass completion rate is the lowest since the 60's but yet they are amazing?   

[GSC]

Is Martin Keown employed by the Chile FA?

[mystiroakey]

well the stats back up the ones saying that brazil had not been brazil and littered with mistakes rather than the crazy pundits- there passing accuracy has been the lowest in a wc game for over 40 years!

[mystiroakey]

Is Martin Keown employed by the Chile FA?

Are the rest employed by Brazils FA??

[Hammersmith harrier]

The 2002 side was no great shakes either though. Admittedly a better squad, but hardly worlds apart - they just had that element of genius, Ronaldinho's goal vs England, Ronaldo's goal vs Turkey... Needed a bit of luck to get past a Ballack-less Germany... headlined by Torsten Firings and the mighty Neuville.

That side were miles better than this one; Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho as well as a far better defence (conceded four goals all tournament), that element of genius came around all the time so it's hardly luck, it was because the team had the ability.

[Guest]

Willian.....finally. Shocking this Brazil side.

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