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?

[CFCNick]

Just seen this, not sure if it's been mentioned already, Mascherano said he tore his bumhole in the game.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Had a smile on my face most of the day that this Van Gaal Dutch side were out. Must hope he gets a good start at United or he will revert to dull, results only football

[Ent]

3rd place play off tonight.
Does anyone care?

[Lowlandbrit]

Van Gaal's already said he thinks it's pointless, and I can't imagine Scolari's looking forward to it much. Must make someone money though.

[mystiroakey]

Non event- waste of time. extra game that club managers fans dont want. and the players wont to be as far away from football as they can for a week. 

LVG will probally not play RVP at all so he isnt injured for the coming season.

The players wont tackle hard and will pull out quickly. If anyone does get injured there will be some very annoyed people

[Nakatomi Plaza]

I don't care who wins, but disagree it's a non event. The 3rd/4th play off is usually a more entertaining game than the final.

[mystiroakey]

I will admit to never watching one.

I watch 90% of games but can never remember watching a 3rd 4th play off.

[Guest]

Yeah, it's meaningless but actually the games are far more exciting than the tight, tense final. In 2010, wasn't it the Uruguay/Germany game which ended 3-2 & even 2006 wasn't bad, from what I remember. Some of the players in reserve just want some action & are eager to impress. I'd go Holland to just edge this with the youth they have.

[kingraf]

This could be a decent match, no inhibitions. Brazil may be on the road to another beatdown

[Pal Joey]

Yeah, thinking it might be a 5-1 or a 4-2 win for the Netherlands. Both teams have nothing to lose really. Holland have more options in attack whilst that Brazil defence looks terrible!

They should go hell for leather. Hope it's an up-tempo, end-to-end kind of tussle with plenty of shots on goal and a screamer or two in the mix.

Agree John. That Uruguay-Germany match was a cracker. Also remember Belgium-France in '86 was a superb game. Even Turkey-Korea in '02 had plenty of attack/counter attacking phases and was an exciting game to watch.

[Knowsit17]

Had a smile on my face most of the day that this Van Gaal Dutch side were out. Must hope he gets a good start at United or he will revert to dull, results only football

I was severely disappointed, after a flaming start the Dutch needlessly went off the boil.

It should probably be noted though that the World Cup and the Prem are two entirely different entities which generally elicit different responses. The latter is win all you can and the former is do all in your power to not lose. This could hardly have been more apparent this year in particular. It's the reason I have a lot of respect for players and coaches who are brave enough to throw caution to the wind and play with flair and fluidity at this level (Germany). It can, however, be slightly misguided to judge a Prem coach based on his World Cup record or vice versa.

[westisbest]

Yeah, was gutted Holland are out.

[Fernando]

Brazil: Cesar, Maicon, Silva, Luiz, Maxwell, Gustavo, Paulinho, Ramires, Oscar, Willian, Jo
Holland: Cillessen, Kuyt, De Vrij, Vlaar, Martins Indi, Blind, Clasie, Wijnaldum, Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie

[Guest]

Surprised Vorm has not been selected & RVP is playing. LVG clearly couldn't bear having a side managed by him, lose to this woeful Brazil side. Still a shocking Brazil side, even with changes.

[Nachos Jones]

Well as a Dutch fan, I really hope they win and the sure as hell will give it a good go.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Had a smile on my face most of the day that this Van Gaal Dutch side were out. Must hope he gets a good start at United or he will revert to dull, results only football

You are aware that isn't his usual style of play don't you?

Injuries to Strootman and Van Der Vaart meant he had to employ a drastic change in tactics to accomodate the players he did have, no central creativity is a fairly big problem. You seem as is expected to want to run him down purely because of where he's going rather than what he's done and he isn't renowned for playing for all intents and purposes a back five. You make do with what you have and Netherlands had two world class players that's it.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

I'm looking forward to seeing Clasie in action. He's been hyped by a few, and I thought he looked decent on Wednesday in his cameo.

[kingraf]

James Rodriguez is hovering at about 5/1 to win the golden ball.

Muller around 3/1 for golden boot. Put some money on both...

[Nachos Jones]

James Rodriguez, for me, was the player of the World Cup. I really admired how he didn't over react or kick out at the Brazilians when they tried to kick him off the park in the quarters, just got on with the game. Massive respect for that.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

J-Rod should win the golden ball. Mate of mine backed him at 100/1 pre tournament for the hat Golden Boot, so he's praying that Raf is wrong!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Had a smile on my face most of the day that this Van Gaal Dutch side were out. Must hope he gets a good start at United or he will revert to dull, results only football

You are aware that isn't his usual style of play don't you?

Injuries to Strootman and Van Der Vaart meant he had to employ a drastic change in tactics to accomodate the players he did have, no central creativity is a fairly big problem. You seem as is expected to want to run him down purely because of where he's going rather than what he's done and he isn't renowned for playing for all intents and purposes a back five. You make do with what you have and Netherlands had two world class players that's it.

"You make do with what you have" ahhh the defence of the biased. If he can't play better football with a side like that I despair. It was a choice.

I actually like Manchester United, although not the majority of their fans on this site, so I have nothing against him for going to United. But I was severely disappointed with his pig-headed approach. A severe lack of belief in his defenders, ugly approach and defensive football. Some lovely players benched in that side because he was results only. A man scarred by his results as Dutch manager before, a man who thought nothing of Total Football. I would place them in my top five most disappointing teams. Spain first by a distance.

England have about 0 world class players and would have been crucified for playing the way the Dutch did.

More importantly, I said I hope he starts well because IF NOT he'll go dire and dull results football.

[kingraf]

I very well may be wrong, but if I am, good chance my 8/1 on Argentina comes off.

Do worry about Rodriguez with the Golden ball though, Messi is the big name, and he is in the final (journo-types love a story about an athlete fulfilling his "destiny"... and they're the ones voting!!), more importantly, FIFA seems to have a genuine love-in with the lad, still not sure how he won the 2010 ballon d'or.

[The Special Juan]

It's going to Neymar, KR

[GSC]

Out of the area

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Should be a red, shouldnt be a pen. Swings n roundabouts

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Should have been a free kick and a red card.

[Dave.]

RTE do something great with their coverage of this match - they hand the punditry to the impressionists! And the commentators as well this time!

[GSC]

So, 8-1?

[Ent]

Well that just sums up brazil.

Although the refs got that wrong, red and a freekick not a pen.

[Pal Joey]

Van Perrrrrrsieeeeeee!!! converts the penalty.

[The Special Juan]

lol It's gonna happen again.

[GSC]

ITV had a quality start, all the microphones fail and Glen Hoddle unaware Arsenal have signed Sanchez

[Ent]

ITV had a quality start, all the microphones fail and Glen Hoddle unaware Arsenal have signed Sanchez

They are an awful channel and awful sports broadcaster.

[SimonofSurrey]

Not a red????? 'Worst home team decision of the tournament, among many, so far? Discuss...

[kingraf]

What's the difference (financially) between 3rd and 4th?

[Dave.]

I've actually liked UTV presenting from the beach.

And ITV I feel give a better contribution to everyday stuff through ITV4. But the big stuff is generally done better by BBC. ITV couldn't pull off an Olympics nowadays.

[Nachos Jones]

Some very poor decisions by the ref here already. Never a penalty but very much a red card for Silva and then a yellow for Robben...

[mystiroakey]

What's the difference (financially) between 3rd and 4th?

all the top players give there money to charity- but not sure

[Fernando]

2-0 Holland - Blind 

Luiz is just   Thought he'd have learnt after the other day. Head it over the fking bar man!

[mystiroakey]

That Brazilian defense. Seriously..

[Dolphin Ziggler]

David Luiz hates defending

[GSC]

50m for a defender that can't defend.

[Knowsit17]

How did Brazil make it this far again?

Have they ever been in a worse state?

[kingraf]

Luiz.... That is all

[GSC]

Gary Neville said it best.

He plays like a 10 year old on FIFA

[GSC]

Regardless of the criticisms of style, Brazil winning in Brazil would've been something special. Now this is just sad.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Holland are 200/1 to win 7-1 at the minute   

[Knowsit17]

On the bright side, I couldn't be happier PSG coughed up 40-50m for Luiz.

Evidently they have money where their brains ought to be.

[Lowlandbrit]

Do you think Brazil are more happy that they're not being thumped by Argentina, or afraid that they're going to have to watch Argentina lift the trophy in their house?

[Fernando]

I suspect more happy that their not be trounced by the Argies in the final.

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