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.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Germany are gonna win this World Cup. Not because they are the best side, thats never why Germany win the World Cup. They'll win it because this is their kind of tournament to win

[NickisBHAFC]

Really hope Germany go out. Didn't deserve there win tonight.

[LastDamnation]

Germany's attack isn't really set up to bring the best out of them, just play schurrle LM, ozil #10, muller RM and klose up top

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Germany's attack isn't really set up to bring the best out of them, just play schurrle LM, ozil #10, muller RM and klose up top

I honestly don't understand why you would ever play Ozil out wide, just a complete misuse of his skills

[NickisBHAFC]

What Skills? lol

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

What Skills? lol

You know, the ones that make him a world class CAM...

[NickisBHAFC]

World Class?  

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

World Class?  

Yep

Despite what the press will try to tell you

[NickisBHAFC]

Never seen anything to suggest he is world class.

Yes he did well at Madrid, but he had 10 world class players around him and Spain is a lot easier to play in than the Premiership. 

Hardly bossed the Prem last season. May of had a good game against a few minor teams, but in the big games, he did nothing. 

Not a world class player in my eyes.

[kingraf]

Ozil has a killer final pass, always has. He shouldn't be asked to do menial tasks like tracking back, which he has to if he isn't #10, that's not his strength, never has been. Problem for Ozil, is that Kroos, Reus (speaking future), and even Muller are all equally capable of that final pass, and they have better engines.

For me, Germany have the best squad, but I don't think it's a stretch to say Jogi is yet to figure out how to properly fit the pieces. Steiger (if he's fit) and Lahm pick themselves in midfield (unless you need Lahm at the back... but anyone who saw a tired Algeria walk through Khedira knows Lahm should probably stay DM), But do you keep the false 9, or pick a bona fide striker? If the former, the current lineup has to somehow start clicking

[kingraf]

Ozil is never going to boss a game, if that's what you're looking for you're never going to rate him. If you're looking for a difference maker...

[mystiroakey]

The germans keeper was one hell of a sweeper tonight. He saved his team a lot of blushes.

But the germans did look very confident when they had the ball and there passing and final ball was a higher class than the Algerians.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Ozil was Germany's top goal scorer in qualifying

[CFCNick]

Ozil was Germany's top goal scorer in qualifying

Lampard was in England's top two goal scorers in our last four successful qualifying campaigns, top scorer for the 2006 World Cup, 2nd top scorer for the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012 and 2014. Look at the love he got from English fans and media.

[GSC]

If you play Ozil out wide, you get exactly what you'd expect.

[Nachos Jones]

I am really happy Germany got through and as they were my pre tournament picks, I hope they go along way. Missed the game but it sounds like they were pushed.

[J.Benson II]

World Class?  

Of course Ozil is world class. Most players who are considered world class don't have the credentials he has.
Then again, you thought Giggs was better than Henry soooo..........  

[Duty281]

World Class?  

Of course Ozil is world class. Most players who are considered world class don't have the credentials he has.
Then again, you thought Giggs was better than Henry soooo..........  

And Bale, apparently, was better than Henry!

[compelling and rich]

it does depend how you define world class, would he be near a current world 11, not a chance for me on current form. but he's up minimum top 20 in his position probably higher

[Hammersmith harrier]

He's not really shown any world class ability this calendar year so it's natural that he gets questioned, he's not what I would call a big game player, tends to go missing when his team needs him the most.

[Guest]

the only players who are world class are ronaldo & messi. end of. you then get the next level down, which is probably robben. ozil is in a group below, which is quality group but never the consistency to command a 'world class' tag. ozil turns up on occassions, world class players turn up every week.

[GSC]

This is pretty much my reaction to a Nick opinion

[compelling and rich]

also not sure why people are complaining about him playing wide, he's played there large majority of his career

[Hammersmith harrier]

also not sure why people are complaining about him playing wide, he's played there large majority of his career

It's the same people who wouldn't give Rooney any leeway because he's played wide left a few times in his career, one rule for one and one for the other.

[GSC]

I said Rooney wasn't very good out wide, and I'm saying Ozil isn't very good out wide. Stop with the United persecution complex.

[J.Benson II]

I'm not even that big a fan of Ozil. I think he dwindles on the ball too much and therefore gets caught in possession sometimes. He also doesn't shoot enough despite being able to strike a ball very cleanly.
He's had a disappointing season at Arsenal but his past achievements put him in a world class category. Agree that he’s no Robben or Suarez though. I'd put him on par with the likes of Silva which is still the world class bracket.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I don't think past achievements come into it or the likes of Ferdinand and Terry would still be world class defenders which they no longer are. He looked world class in a star studded team where he could drift through games but in a more physical league he's not looked half the player.

[J.Benson II]

World Class?  

Of course Ozil is world class. Most players who are considered world class don't have the credentials he has.
Then again, you thought Giggs was better than Henry soooo..........  

And Bale, apparently, was better than Henry!

I think Nick only started watching Henry when he was playing for the NY Red Bulls. 

[Nachos Jones]

the only players who are world class are ronaldo & messi. end of. you then get the next level down, which is probably robben. ozil is in a group below, which is quality group but never the consistency to command a 'world class' tag. ozil turns up  on occassions, world class players turn up every week.

Although I cant stand the cheating little shoite but surely Neymar has to be seen as world class?

[Hammersmith harrier]

Neymar definitely isn't world class, he's class for Brazil but only very good for Barcelona.

[J.Benson II]

I don't think past achievements come into it or the likes of Ferdinand and Terry would still be world class defenders which they no longer are. He looked world class in a star studded team where he could drift through games but in a more physical league he's not looked half the player.

Terry and Ferdinand I consider post-world class. Ozil is still fairly young so should still be able to recapture his past form. I think next year is a big year for him.

[Nachos Jones]

Ok, fair enough on Neymar. Just thought that he was pretty good myself and could easily have been seen as world class.

[Guest]

neymar isnt world class, he's 22, still learning & developing. he was average in a top league for barcelona. scoring 30 goals for brazil, with hatricks against south africa & goals in confederation 'pointless' cups, to enhance the stats is not how i rate neymar.

it's ronaldo/messi - world class. next level down is robben/suarez. then its a whole bunch of quality players who dont have the ability to differentiate themselves into a higher level

[SecretFly]

World Class is the wrong term then.

Just call the two guys World's Best. Because as sure is day is day and night is night, those guys still need a bunch of world class players around them to operate at their best - as Ronaldo certainly proves during this WC and as Messi might yet prove too.

[westisbest]

Argentina 1 Switzerland 1 (Arg to win 3-1 after et)
 
Belgium 1 USA USA USA 2.
(would be different if Belgium had Tekkers  ).

[Stella]

Argentina 2 Switzerland 1

Belgium 1 USA 1 (USA on pens)

[Nachos Jones]

I cant see Suisse getting the win against Argentina, they may not have set the tournament alight so far but they are a team that know how to get the job done and in Messi, have a real match winner. 3-1(or 0) to Argentina.

USA I think will beat this limited Belgium team. Belgium have some excellent players but do not gel. I will go for 2-1 USA

[SecretFly]

Switzers 3 - Argentina 0 Why? Messi off injured in the first five minutes of course!

[SecretFly]

PS, actually in rugby.......... ahem............... certain centrally influencial players do get.....treatment....legally speaking of course.

But of course that's not proper football, is it? Carry on.

[Duty281]

I think we'll get our first upset of the tournament today: USA to defeat Belgium after a gruelling battle. Argentina should be having a very happy day if the Switzerland that turned up against France turns up today.

Argentina 3-1 Switzerland
Belgium 1-2 USA AET

And I'm gloriously tempted by the 12/5 that Ladbrokes are offering on Argentina and USA to qualify....worth a bullseye!

[lorus59]

My definition of world class is a player who every club would want if he came on the market. So I would include Kompany.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

As much as I like that definition, I think age makes it hard to quantify. I also dont get the feeling Barca or Real would be interested in Zabaleta, but they would probably be better for his presence

[Hammersmith harrier]

First time i've watched Argentina, christ do they have an old squad.

[Duty281]

Switzerland being heavy-handed and the referee isn't giving out adequate punishment.

Other than that.....yawnnnnnnnnn

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I think we need Argentina to score, cos the Swiss can open up the Argies but seem reluctant to commit

[Duty281]

Horrific finish by Drmic, after the keeper, who's no Neuer, was caught in two minds.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

A goal could make this a very good game, but theres no risk involved for either team at the moment

[Duty281]

Switzerland are so intent on stopping Di Maria that they're giving Messi some space which he may just exploit in the second half.

It will be game on if the Swiss score first, game over if the Argentines score first.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I dont think so, I think the game will be better for Argentina scoring. The Swiss will have to attack, whereas the moment they are just waiting for scraps to counter.

[compelling and rich]

had few games on to have more than 1.5 goals, this being one of them!! still time but looking unlikely already!! although i did have draw in 90mins in this and usa to qualify at a juicy 12/1

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