Rio de Janiero - 2014 Fifa World Cup Thread

[J.Benson II]

First topic message reminder :

Maybe Toure just never saw Mexico's game against Cameroon or Bosnia's game against Nigeria?

[J.Benson II]

No team is playing well in this knockout phase of the tournament. Whoever wins, will crawl over the line. The expansive attacking games are over, now it's the business end & it's getting scrappy. When games start to turn into wars, the referee becomes centre of attention & the majority just aren't upto the job & have massive impacts upon the outcome of the game.

That's always the case for the WC winners though. Remember 2006 when Italy came up against Australia and only won on a late dodgy penalty. Or 2010 when Spain where second best against Paraguay yet churned the 1-0 wins out.
As you said though, I think Silva is a bigger loss for Brazil then Neymar who hasn't really been too impressive in the knockout stages.
Anyway, Brazil can't moan about injuries. Look at Germany: Gundogan, Bender, Gomez and for me their best player in Reus have missed the whole tournament yet they've still got the job done against strong opposition.

[GSC]

Don't know if Germany were particularly good yesterday or France poor. Still think they're beatable.

3 set piece goals from Brazil in the knockout rounds.

[J.Benson II]

Don't know if Germany were particularly good yesterday or France poor. Still think they're beatable.

3 set piece goals from Brazil in the knockout rounds.

Neither were great but good teams don't always play out good games. WC winners don't usually look too impressive in all but one or two games.

[GSC]

Yes, but Germany have exhibited fragility many times in previous tournaments when it comes to crunch time. Not sure I can take yesterdays game as proof theyve overcome that

[J.Benson II]

Yes, but Germany have exhibited fragility many times in previous tournaments when it comes to crunch time. Not sure I can take yesterdays game as proof theyve overcome that

Yeah, even in Germany, optimism surrounding WC's have been replaced by doubt. Germany have become the "nearly" team of international football since the turn of the millennium.

[Nachos Jones]

Does everybody really buy the 'Neymar is out of the World Cup' Story? I don't really buy it myself, I think that its all games and Neymar will be back for the Semi Finals but Brazil will force upon the referee to provide extra protection for Neymar which will end up in him winning free kicks or penalty's for the slightest touch from a german player.

I think that its all mind games myself.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Does everybody really buy the 'Neymar is out of the World Cup' Story? I don't really buy it myself, I think that its all games and Neymar will be back for the Semi Finals but Brazil will force upon the referee to provide extra protection for Neymar which will end up in him winning free kicks or penalty's for the slightest touch from a german player.

I think that its all mind games myself.

Not entirely sure how you can fake fractured vertebrae, but that's quite the conspiracy theory!!

[Nachos Jones]

Does everybody really buy the 'Neymar is out of the World Cup' Story? I don't really buy it myself, I think that its all games and Neymar will be back for the Semi Finals but Brazil will force upon the referee to provide extra protection for Neymar which will end up in him winning free kicks or penalty's for the slightest touch from a german player.

I think that its all mind games myself.

Not entirely sure how you can fake fractured vertebrae, but that's quite the conspiracy theory!!

Is it really a fractured vertebrae or is that just what we are all hearing? I predict some magical cure is found for him to return in the semi finals. Mark my words.

[Guest]

Magical cure from the Amazon?

Fred plays with fractured vertebrae all the time, doesn't effect him or his movement.

[Mad for Chelsea]

well I'm glad to find some rationality on here. Was watching the game on ESPN I think and while the commentators did mention they were surprised by the lack of cards, they didn't comment on the refereeing anymore than that. I mean, Rodriguez was basically kicked out of the game!! how on earth did Fernandinho stay on the pitch? not even a booking?!?! Dreadful, utterly shocking.

While I would feel sympathy for even a d!ckhead like Neymar in normal circumstances, given what happened yesterday, I'm really not feeling sorry for him at all. And Scolari has the cheek to suggest Brazil were hard-done by with the refereeing (on the Neymar incident)?!?! Scolari has really annoyed me this world cup actually, with all his arm-waving, imaginary card pointint whenever a Brazillian has gone down, gestures of annoyance the second Brazil are judged to have kicked an opponent hard enough to concede a free-kick, etc.

Think Thiago Silva's absence will really hurt Brazil, more than Neymar who frankly has been largely anonymous so far (I'll admit to not watching the Cameroon game where he was apparently very good) - and whose absence will at least let Oscar get into the game a bit more rather than being shunted out wide on the right as a peripheral figure.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Brazil got more than they deserved with the Neymar injury, he's not been overly impressive anyway but Karma at it's best.

[lorus59]

Fred Flintstone would be a better center forward than this Fred. Amazing that he is the best alternative a football nation like Brazil can come up with.

[GSC]

Brazil got more than they deserved with the Neymar injury, he's not been overly impressive anyway but Karma at it's best.

Classy

[Duty281]

Nice to see the foreign media recognising that England have the best referee in the world.

Much better than this foreign tripe we have at this World Cup.

[Guest]

Can Webb do the final or is it a one occasion thing?

[lorus59]

Nice to see the foreign media recognising that England have the best referee in the world.

Much better than this foreign tripe we have at this World Cup.

That's an idea, no foreigners allowed at the World Cup, then maybe England will have a chance.

[Pal Joey]

Can Webb do the final or is it a one occasion thing?

Not sure. Would be good if he got it. Have a feeling it will be Alireza Faghani... the Iranian chap. We owe him one.   

[kingraf]

Silva is 100% a bigger loss than Neymar. Oscar is a very capable playmaker, when he isn't told to do the donkey work, while that Jo fella must be at least decent right?

I don't know if all this criticism about the German squad is warranted, if I'm honest. With players out and seven or eight guys sick, and Khedira in midfield, was there any doubt in how they'd react to an early goal? I thought it was a very assured, very efficient knockout performance, the French never got a real sniff, and that's a job well done.

[Fernando]

Argentina starting XI: Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Biglia, Di Maria, Higuain, Messi (c), Mascherano, Demichelis, Lavezzi, Basanta.

Belgium starting XI: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany (c), Vertonghen, Witsel, De Bruyne, Fellaini, Hazard, Mirallas, Van Buyten, Origi.

[Duty281]

I'll say a 2-2 draw with the game being decided on penalties.

That's more in hope, actually; I fear a 0-0 draw,with Belgium being overly cautious against Argentina's attack.

[Crimey]

What a disappointing tournament Aguero has had, you get the feeling his career is going to be tarnished by injuries.

[Kurt N. Jurqa]

Messi is quite the cynical little tackler when he wants.

[jbeadlesbigrighthand]

Belgium have been ridiculously poor going forwards. No pace, no movement. They're making it so easy for Argentina. Can't see them winning the way they're playing.

[Ent]

Belgium have been poor at everything.

They aren't even engaging the argentines when they attack.

Another dreadful game.

[Ent]

Yet again Argentina just waltz in with no opposition and kompany lucky not to give away a very dangerous free kick.

[Kurt N. Jurqa]

Hazard had a shocking world cup.

[J.Benson II]

Yeah, Hazard's been poor. Belgium just never really got it together although they were always going to be underdogs against Argentina in SA.
Fellaini proved again he has little use outside of being a human toilet brush.  

[Guest]

Belgium were always a team of individuals & the individuals didn't even turn up. Hazard.....just a nothing tournament for him.

Shocking game. Just want the final now & it to be all over really. It's just dribbling to a conclusion now. Can see Holland just edging past CR tonight, with Robben central to everything.

[J.Benson II]

Belgium were always a team of individuals & the individuals didn't even turn up. Hazard.....just a nothing tournament for him.

Shocking game. Just want the final now & it to be all over really. It's just dribbling to a conclusion now. Can see Holland just edging past CR tonight, with Robben central to everything.

  
WC's are always the same. Great action in the beginning but by the end, you're just waiting for it to finish. By the QF's, the games start becoming increasingly insipid.
Teams are fearful of conceding and the stress of playing several high profile games in the space of a month under humid conditions takes its toll.

[Duty281]

When does the Premier League start again?

A thoroughly dull and uninspiring game between Argentina and Belgium, apart from Higuain's neat finish.

An upset tonight relies solely on Costa Rica being uninhibited, but that seems a trifle unlikely, so I imagine the Dutch will edge this one leaving us with two exciting semifinals...on paper. In reality, it won't be, such is the enormity of the occasion that we are now approaching.

Mind you, Europa League qualifiers have already begun, so I imagine the season has already started in Europe!

[Hammersmith harrier]

The expected final four will consist of Messi, Robben, a workmanlike Germany and a Neymarless Brazil, can't see either game being anything but dull.

[Duty281]

If only gallant England had made it this far, we might be able to delude ourselves as a nation that this is an exciting tournament; much like our country did during Italia 90 and Euro 96.

[Guest]

we should of parked the bus with terry/cole & got Roy's clean sheets. would of qualified out of group, probably runners-up. would of been tight & defensive vs Colombia & stopped Rodriguez playing like Brazil did, went through 1-0 after sterling walked around the OAP Yepes. Then would of played Brazil & they wouldnt of broken us down, sterling/strurridge would of killed that Brazil backline & Ox would of been in full swing by now.

We should be sitting here, planning our tactics for Germany in the semi.

[Duty281]

we should of parked the bus with terry/cole & got Roy's clean sheets. would of qualified out of group, probably runners-up. would of been tight & defensive vs Colombia & stopped Rodriguez playing like Brazil did, went through 1-0 after sterling walked around the OAP Yepes. Then would of played Brazil & they wouldnt of broken us down, sterling/strurridge would of killed that Brazil backline & Ox would of been in full swing by now.

We should be sitting here, planning our tactics for Germany in the semi.

But John, my dear, you didn't wish England to park the bus beforehand, and were criticising "negative Roy" well in advance.

That's the two "Hs": hypocrisy and hindsight.

If we did as you suggested, you'd still be here complaining!

[Guest]

me complaining......never. #believeinroy

[Fernando]

Costa Rica: Navas, Acosta, Gonzalez, Umana, Borges, Bolanos, Campbell, Ruiz (c), Diaz, Gamboa, Tejeda

Netherlands: Cillessen, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind, Van Persie (c), Sneijder, Robben, Kuyt, Wijnaldum, Depay

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

What a disappointing tournament Aguero has had, you get the feeling his career is going to be tarnished by injuries.

Its a shame because when fit he's up there with the Suarez's of this world, just below Messi/Ronaldo

[Duty281]

me complaining......never. #believeinroy

That's right John, you believe, just like I do, that England will win Euro 2016!

[Ent]

A step too far for Costa Rica in my opinion, don't think they'll be able to handle the class of rvp and robben.

They are harping on about robben diving so much I think they've taken their eye off the ball tbh.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Game needs more Fer

#goalevery15minutes

[Fernando]

#NotGoodEnough
#OnlyThereDueToInjuries

That could of been silly by Martins Indi that nudging him in the back and no attempt for the ball. If was Brazil 100% pen

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

#NotGoodEnough
#OnlyThereDueToInjuries

That could of been silly by Martins Indi that nudging him in the back and no attempt for the ball. If was Brazil 100% pen

Er I think you'll find LEROY has the best goals per minutes ratio in the entire world cup #worldclass #thenodge #represent #fer2k14 #howbadisthisgame

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

On a more serious note why are Holland still playing 3 CB's, one is completely redundant

[Duty281]

Not watching the game and, judging by the BBC's text commentary, I'm not missing a terrible amount.

[GSC]

This is going one way at the moment. Costa Rica need a winner in normal time.

[GSC]

I'd stick on an actual winger rather than Kuyt.

Costa Rica don't have the legs anymore to cause the Dutch problems.

[GSC]

Bit like Atletico and Hull in extra time this.

[GSC]

RVP misses a sitter

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Van Persie goes full RVW

[Fernando]

The ref being generous and not sending off the costa rica player.

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