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?

[Ent]

So so stupid as plenty of the argies were bricking it.

[CFCNick]

Garay taking the David Luiz root.

[kingraf]

Picked Argentina at 8/1 beginning of the tournament. If they can come through this Im covering my a.ss with a German in play bet

[Ent]

Now you see why krul went on last time this goal keeper ain't up to it.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Christ it's a penalty shoot out Ent, stop being such a negative old git.

[whocares]

Up your bikes Dutch boys!

[The Special Juan]

Argentina will be the worst team to ever win the trophy if it happens.

[kingraf]

This commentator is an idiot. Hyperbole much?

[Ent]

He should have saved 2 of the penalties. He isn't imposing- you can see why lvg sent krul on last time.

I will never know what he was thinking letting vlaar go take a penalty.

[Pal Joey]

Yes!!! So glad the biscuit bashers are out.

[Nachos Jones]

Well done to Argentina. They were, in my eyes, the better team tonight and deserved winners.

Oh well, on to the 3rd 4th play off for us Dutch.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Argentina will be the worst team to ever win the trophy if it happens.

Got to be between them and the 86 Argie team but they had the genius of Maradona which raises Messi and then some.

[Duty281]

My blood will be turned if Argentina, who cheated to win both of their cups, win this one.

Not that I think they will... Germany all the way.

[whocares]

Argentina will be the worst team to ever win the trophy if it happens.

Italy 82 and 06 were pretty average

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Thank the lord we don't have to see Kuyt turn inside and play the ball back to the centre halves every goddamn time anymore

Dutch luck finally ran out

[Ent]

Common sense ran out.

Ron vlaar, what were they all thinking.

[Guest]

Lvg 0/10.

Negative marks.

Never, ever let a limbering centre half take a penalty.

This is done and dusted.

  

Bout time LVG had some negative press, glad they're out because the media bumming sessions were unbearable.

As for the final, Germany will rip Argentina's non-existent midfield to shreds. Mascherano will have so many fires to put out, it will be embarrassing.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Well done to Argentina. They were, in my eyes, the better team tonight and deserved winners.

Oh well, on to the 3rd 4th play off for us Dutch.

I apologise for my happiness in your side's demise. Very magnanimous first reaction from yourself. However...

[The Special Juan]

Argentina will be the worst team to ever win the trophy if it happens.

Italy 82 and 06 were pretty average

82's before my time but 06 weren't that bad. Cannavaro, Maldini, Pirlo, that Juve striker who's name has totally escaped me. He played in Australia the past 2 seasons.

[westisbest]

Frak Holland dammit.

Don't let a Villa player take a pen.

Southgate missed for england in euro 96.
Vassell, now Ronny boy.

We don't do pens.

Oh well.

Hard luck my dutch friends.

Good luck next time.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Always always always have your best takers go first in a shootout. Get ahead

[Nachos Jones]

I am a Dutch fan but fairness to Argentina, they really did look the better team today. It doesn't matter though as my pre tournament favourites should really win this now. Germany are the most complete team in the tournament.

[kingraf]

This Argentina team isn't bad. a team with Higuain, Messi, Lavezzi, di Maria, and Agüero isn't bad. And Mascherano has shown his class when he plays his actual position. It's a decent team.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Dull, boring, one dimensional football side, more functional than the 2010 lot, set up not to concede and see what Robben can do. And LVG can't drag miracles out of RVP either. Good riddance to the side that ignored the fun of this world cup more than any other.

[Ent]

Lvg 0/10.

Negative marks.

Never, ever let a limbering centre half take a penalty.

This is done and dusted.

  

Bout time LVG had some negative press, glad they're out because the media bumming sessions were unbearable.

As for the final, Germany will rip Argentina's non-existent midfield to shreds. Mascherano will have so many fires to put out, it will be embarrassing.

He needs psychological assessment.

The goalkeeper showed why he was replaced last time.

But for the love of god do not let a cumbersome centre half who ain't great on the ball take a penalty.

[Pal Joey]

About bloody time.
Would have felt sick if Robben got to the Final with his approach to football and smug comments to the media on his deliberate diving. Good riddance!

It should be a much more interesting final anyway. Europe v South America. Hope Germany wins.

[Nachos Jones]

Well done to Argentina. They were, in my eyes, the better team tonight and deserved winners.

Oh well, on to the 3rd 4th play off for us Dutch.

I apologise for my happiness in your side's demise. Very magnanimous first reaction from yourself. However...

Be happy Dolphin, that's what its about .

[sportform]

So that's it Germany vs Argentina in the final. The best team vs the best player. The big question though is will Messi turn up?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Dull, boring, one dimensional football side, more functional than the 2010 lot, set up not to concede and see what Robben can do. And LVG can't drag miracles out of RVP either. Good riddance to the side that ignored the fun of this world cup more than any other.

   

[westisbest]

There is another game to win Holland.
Take 3rd place.

[Pal Joey]

There is another game to win Holland.
Take 3rd place.

Yeah, I'm rooting for the Dutch in that one.   

[Duty281]

So that's it Germany vs Argentina in the final. The best team vs the best player. The big question though is will Messi turn up?

He might, but the best player in the world certainly won't!

[Nachos Jones]

About bloody time.
Would have felt sick if Robben got to the Final with his approach to football and smug comments to the media on his deliberate diving. Good riddance!

It should be a much more interesting final anyway. Europe v South America. Hope Germany wins.

I tell you something, the Dutch media crucified him after the Mexico game. The great Johann Cruijff said that he was upset by Holland's progress due to his antics. When Cruijff speaks, Holland listen so he was really ripped to shreds. Like Neymar, I am glad that Robben isn't in the final. Sad for the Dutch team but not for Robben.

[Pal Joey]

About bloody time.
Would have felt sick if Robben got to the Final with his approach to football and smug comments to the media on his deliberate diving. Good riddance!

It should be a much more interesting final anyway. Europe v South America. Hope Germany wins.

I tell you something, the Dutch media crucified him after the Mexico game. The great Johann Cruijff said that he was upset by Holland's progress due to his antics. When Cruijff speaks, Holland listen so he was really ripped to shreds. Like Neymar, I am glad that Robben isn't in the final. Sad for the Dutch team but not for Robben.

Yeah, I know. Cruijff must be feeling a little like Pele... it's almost a blight on their football histories. Much worse for Brazil though.

Although this match wasn't awe inspiring and both teams seemed to lack that flash of brilliance in attack and were more defensively minded - it was still a decent arm wrestle to watch.

Argentina, unlike Brazil these days, do not have a tendency to play that soft kind of football nor show any contempt to their opposition. It was lazy work from Brazil yesterday and they were brutally exposed by Germany. It's like expecting the reward without having to put in the tough grind.

Argentina, on the other hand, have their proud football history too but have a bit of mongrel and determination in their style. They don't lie back and expect the spoils - they work very hard and possess those innate skills other nations wish they had. They are still very hungry to achieve glory whereas Brazil seemed to expect the desert to be handed to them on a plate... and they didn't even finish all of their main courses!   

[kingraf]

Gonna be a bittersweet 3/4, you'd think it's the last time you'll see Robben, RvP, Sneijder in a world cup game, same with Julio Cesar, Silva...

Onto the final, Germany start out as favourites, but it's all about the first goal. If Germany score first and Argentina start chasing the game, Messi is going to have a distinct feeling of deja vu. If Argentina score first, Germany can still come back.

[socal1976]

I would like Messi to win the world cup so he takes his rightful place among the pantheon of all time greats. Considering that there is no Tevez, Di Maria has been hurt and below par, as has Higuain, and Aguero the same; this finals appearance is an accomplishment in and of itself. Not to mention a defense that is anchored by Demichelis. He didn't have a great game against the dutch but he has basically carried a pretty average Argie side to the final.

The problem is that I can't see them getting passed Die Mannschaft. Considering that Germany are missing Reus, Gundogan, and both Benders this is quite a genneration for German football.
If they win this world cup will they be the best German team of all time? When I look at the players they are missing and their level of performance so far this tournament it is hard to argue. But at the end they have to win it all to put their stamp on it and maybe go on to do what recent great teams from Spain and France did and pull the Euro/World cup double.

[westisbest]

Would love to watch the final sunday, but re runs of Hawaii 5-0 sound more appealing. 

[westisbest]

Just hope Holland smoke Brazil on saturday.

Least leave with a win.

[Roller_Coaster]

Does anyone genuinely care about 3rd/4th game?

I remember when (it was all fields round here!!!) England lost the semi to Germany in 90 and that was it, tourrnament over for us. Cared about the final even though it was Ger/Arg because it was the final. Couldn't give two hoots about the 3/4 even though England were in it.

Pointless to me as a fan. Although can see $$$.

[SecretFly]

Well, the World Cup is..................... stagnating towards its final bow.  The best games are well behind us.  The rest will be matematical moves of obsessive defending and caution-caution attack patterns.
Germany attacked simply because Brazil crumbled.  Loew admitted that his team faced an open goal mouth in that Brazilian meltdown phase.  The Germans had the coolness to take advantage of it but it wasn't them doing anything that would make them dead certs in a final.  Favourites, yes... but the final could very well be another game of 'safe' play that drags inevitably out to penalties.

Felt sorry for Robben (the Rascal) when I saw him go over to his wife and child, and the kid was in floods of tears.  I have a lot of respect for his skills and intensity (perhaps even more my kind of player than the mentally in-out style of Messi - Robben is always on)  But I still didn't feel sorry enough to be sad Holland lost.  Nope, between his antics during the month and that bloody mouthy goalkeeper, who kept being filmed even though he had absolutely nothing to do with the game last night, I was happy Argentina got through.

[Ent]

Apparently two dutch players refused the first penalty, so LVG sent Vlaar up as he had been the best player on the pitch.

I've heard this type of logic before, sending players up who are in good knick and playing the ball well but I'd still never send a lumbering centre half up.

[Nachos Jones]

Vlaar was not sent up, he volunteered. Blame Robben and Sneiider who didn't want to take the first penalty. Vlaar is not a penalty taker but took it upon himself to lead the way, it failed. That happens sometimes.

[SecretFly]

Apparently two dutch players refused the first penalty, so LVG sent Vlaar up as he had been the best player on the pitch.

I've heard this type of logic before, sending players up who are in good knick and playing the ball well but I'd still never send a lumbering centre half up.

Yeah, heard that and the first thought I had was............... is this the alleged autocratic dictator who rules his teams with an iron fist? Even in a WC semi-final, his players choose for themselves not to cooperate with his plan?
Maybe Van Gaal will prove himself to be just another Moyes Mark2??

[Ent]

No matter how much of a tyrant lvg may be he hasn't gotten where he has by sending up players who don't fancy a penalty.

Shame for vlaar that no one else stepped up, he would have been one of the last guys I'd have let take one.

[SecretFly]

No matter how much of a tyrant lvg may be he hasn't gotten where he has by sending up players who don't fancy a penalty.

Shame for vlaar that no one else stepped up, he would have been one of the last guys I'd have let take one.

They fancied a penalty but they simply didn't want the 'first up' pressure.  Given that fact, you might then deduce that Gaal "hasn't gotten where he has" by thinking wrongly about a penalty shoot out when he asked the two players to go up first.  
There is a slight hint of course that he's dropping a degree of implied guilt onto the two refusers for the loss, but it still seems strange that he didn't tell the players he knew best, that his instincts were better than theirs and that with reputations comes responsibility - for being up first.  He allowed dissention to change his instincts at a crucial moment. He's just not the guy I thought he was from the publicity material that precedes him to Manchester.

[westisbest]

Hats off to Vlaar.
 
Had the stones to step up.
Sadly for him it didn't work out.
Will give him a good reception on his return to VP.
 
Least with the 3/4 place play off, they have a chance to leave with some pride and get the win.
 
Will LVG stick with the same side?
Am sure they will all want to play, and at least restore some pride.
 
The same with Brazil.
Am actually looking forward to this game.

[mystiroakey]

Any brazilian that wants to play in this 3rd 4th is a better man than me.

[Ent]

No matter how much of a tyrant lvg may be he hasn't gotten where he has by sending up players who don't fancy a penalty.

Shame for vlaar that no one else stepped up, he would have been one of the last guys I'd have let take one.

They fancied a penalty but they simply didn't want the 'first up' pressure.  Given that fact, you might then deduce that Gaal "hasn't gotten where he has" by thinking wrongly about a penalty shoot out when he asked the two players to go up first.  
There is a slight hint of course that he's dropping a degree of implied guilt onto the two refusers for the loss, but it still seems strange that he didn't tell the players he knew best, that his instincts were better than theirs and that with reputations comes responsibility - for being up first.  He allowed dissention to change his instincts at a crucial moment.  He's just not the guy I thought he was from the publicity material that precedes him to Manchester.

Bit of a hatchet job that, if a guy doesn't want to take a penalty there is no point in sending him up- he will likely bottle it.

Very happy with lvg coming to united, that Dutch squad is pretty poor all in all and overall he and they did very well to get to the semi finals.

[SecretFly]

Bit of a hatchet job that, if a guy doesn't want to take a penalty there is no point in sending him up- he will likely bottle it.

Very happy with lvg coming to united, that Dutch squad is pretty poor all in all and overall he and they did very well to get to the semi finals.

I've never bought that player 'bottling it if forced' stuff, especially about the players that are mainstay players.  That's kinda their duty...as much as playing in the actual games are.  If everybody had a right to say 'No' then the theory is that no player could be forced and that would be embarrassing - and funny - to look at


Oh...the highlight means I now get it

We'll say no more.

[Ent]

Bit of a hatchet job that, if a guy doesn't want to take a penalty there is no point in sending him up- he will likely bottle it.

Very happy with lvg coming to united, that Dutch squad is pretty poor all in all and overall he and they did very well to get to the semi finals.

I've never bought that player 'bottling it if forced' stuff, especially about the players that are mainstay players.  That's kinda their duty...as much as playing in the actual games are.  If everybody had a right to say 'No' then the theory is that no player could be forced and that would be embarrassing - and funny - to look at


Oh...the highlight means I now get it

We'll say no more.

Players are only human, otherwise no pro would ever miss - striking a ball into a corner from 12 yards doesn't take much ability.

Messi missed in a CL semi, Ronaldo missed in 2 semi's and a final - yet he's scored in 3 international shoot outs and a CL semi. It happens. Sneijder scored in the previous round. If players don't want to take them you can't force them, have to be confident in stepping up.

I think his mistake was letting Vlaar go up, even if he was confident he is a lumbering centre half who ain't much use on the ball - some common sense needed to be used.

[Sponsored content]