Rio de Janiero - 2014 Fifa World Cup Thread

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

I can live with diving but when going down on purpose injures a player it's going too far really. You're trying to con the ref and injure someone.

[sportform]

They've won it four times not three.

54, 74, 90 and 14.

I meant this trophy three times. They won the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1954 which Brazil kept after winning it three times in 1970.

[GSC]

I'd worry about Hummels at PL pace in a potentially open United side. Been exposed for pace a few times now

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I'd say Rodriguez for me, but Messi had a good world cup and is sponsored by Adidas so its not surprising

[Liam]

Player of the tournament for me was Muller hands down.

[GSC]

The blueprint of their gameplan just won the WC again.

Can an English side hire Pep please?

[Liam]

I'd worry about Hummels at PL pace in a potentially open United side. Been exposed for pace a few times now

Vidic never had a problem (apart from torres). Hummels is a cracking defender, any defender will struggle against Messi 1-on-1. Evans and Jones always played better alongside vidic as he brings a more physical presence. Hopefully if we can sign hummels, he can have a similar effect.

[GSC]

Vidic wasn't exactly immobile pre injuries, and had a better CB in Rio covering him.

[kingraf]

It's a tweaked blueprint, though. Always said the German edition of tika taka was an improvement on the original.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Don't know about Hummels, Chris, Messi tore him to shreds every time they were alone together.

A couple times, but I think as a defender you don't go home upset if Messi does you once or twice. For two defenders of their pace against the front line they faced today I thought they both did very well, but Hummels had to make less dramatic tackles because I think hes just a better, smarter defender than Boateng.

Allowed 0 shots on target.

Mascherano was awful tonight, should have been sent off and have the ball away over and over - some contrast to his semi final performance.

Can't agree with that. He didn't get sent off, and he was the key man in restricting the space Germany wanted to play in. Argentina looked the better side for a fair share of that game and its because Mascherano marshalled all he surveyed

[GSC]

The original for me, when Barca moved with real pace. Gotten too focussed on possession stats as time went on.

Shame neither Ronaldo or Messi turned up fit really

[Hammersmith harrier]

Evans played better alongside Ferdinand actually Liam, he had somebody with the brain to position him properly, he and Vidic never really worked.

I wouldn't say the Germans played Tika Taka, a bit more dynamic, go to the wings a lot quicker, the build can be slow at times but they don't needlessly play it about at the back.

[GSC]

I was worried when Ent praised Germany.

Good to see we're back to everyone being crap again

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It's a tweaked blueprint, though. Always said the German edition of tika taka was an improvement on the original.

The Spanish would have played Klose wide left. In fact, Spain died once Villa wasn't a real threat any more and I think he probably showed even this World Cup that he's the best striker in that squad.

[sportform]

I'd say Rodriguez for me, but Messi had a good world cup and is sponsored by Adidas so its not surprising

Rodriguez looked good and may have been in with a chance if Colombia had got to the semi finals. That said Colombia did beat some poor teams playing on the counter attack. They done that very well but it shows in Rodriguez's stats. Six goals very good but the rest of his stats could out pretty average against some of the other top players in this tournament.

The others I would put forward include Messi, Robben, Neymar, Muller, Hummels, Mascherano, Neuer, Cuadrado and Sanchez.

Pjanic for Bosnia could be a player worth taking away from this tournament too.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Podolski is taking selfies again

Turning twitter off

[Ent]

Podolski is taking selfies again

Turning twitter off

He was doing a David May when the trophy was handed out.

[Hero]

I'd say Rodriguez for me, but Messi had a good world cup and is sponsored by Adidas so its not surprising

Rodriguez looked good and may have been in with a chance if Colombia had got to the semi finals. That said Colombia did beat some poor teams playing on the counter attack. They done that very well but it shows in Rodriguez's stats. Six goals very good but the rest of his stats could out pretty average against some of the other top players in this tournament.

The others I would put forward include Messi, Robben, Neymar, Muller, Hummels, Mascherano, Neuer, Cuadrado and Sanchez.

Pjanic for Bosnia could be a player worth taking away from this tournament too.

He's not an Aaron Ramsey though.

[kingraf]

I do like how this German team continues to mumble about not having the best individuals...
Kroos
Hummels
Lahm
Schweinsteiger
Muller
Klose
Ozil


Götze and Schürle on the bench
Really hamstrung huh?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I do like how this German team continues to mumble about not having the best individuals...
Kroos
Hummels
Lahm
Schweinsteiger
Muller
Klose
Ozil


Götze and Schürle on the bench
Really hamstrung huh?

You ain't even mentioned Neuer either!

What a GK he is, could watch him play all day

[Ent]

You left neuer out.

They've world class players all over te pitch but no single superstar.

[kingraf]

The local psychic just called the match correctly. 1-0 Götze 113'. Odds I could have gotten if I took this loon's prediction

[Strongback]

Neuer should have been sent off.

[Hammersmith harrier]

No he shouldn't have.

[invisiblecoolers]

Undoubtedly the most deserved team of the tournament Won, Argentina was clearly the better team at the start and would rue their chances pre- half time.

Well played Germany, The World Champions     

[jbeadlesbigrighthand]

Messi player of the tournament? FIFA really don't care about fixes, do they?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hope everyone realises that at the next world cup in all probability there will be a player born in the 2000's playing.

FEEL OLD

[GSC]

It could even be you Olly

[AberdeenSteve]

How did Messi win the Player of the Tournament?

[GSC]

Eh, there really wasnt a standout player.

[CFCNick]

Hope everyone realises that at the next world cup in all probability there will be a player born in the 2000's playing.

FEEL OLD

Hey, I felt old when I was 20 and players like Josh McEachran started coming through. I remember growing up, my best mates are Liverpool and United fans and one said, "Imagine how weird it would be when Gerrard and Carragher retire, when Neville, Scholes, Giggs retire, when Lampard and Terry retire." That was about 9/10 years ago.

[Guest]

reus, draxler & gundogan to come in too.

thought the whole presentation was poor post game, it was like just, we've got the awards up here, lets just give them out to the big name players, regardless of any voting that's happened. Neuer was deserved but messi was average from the last 16 onwards. for me, between rodriguez & Muller. Pogba winning young award was strange, just get the feeling he won because he's labelled the future of football by media etc, so they just gave it to him. didnt impress me too much.

as for messi, feel for him. that hamstring injury came at the wrong time last November or whenever it was, he's never been the same. he can score past nigeria & average sides but you cant expect fireworks from him vs better sides. fear we might have seen the best of messi, hope not.

[Ent]

He might give us a swan song in four years time in Russia but he has done it all and I wonder if he has the appetite for the rebuilding job at Barcelona.

Not sure why pogba got an award, the most notable thing he did in the competition was avoid a red card for booting a Honduran.

[Ent]

Hope everyone realises that at the next world cup in all probability there will be a player born in the 2000's playing.

FEEL OLD

Don't worry real life will occur soon enough and you won't even notice aging.

[GSC]

Messi needs a rest really. Suspect hes accrued a far bit of burnout over the past 5 years or so.

[Ent]

Messi needs a rest really. Suspect hes accrued a far bit of burnout over the past 5 years or so.

True. Think there is a stat somewhere that shows he and Ronaldo have played the most minutes since the last World Cup.

[Scrumpy]

How did Messi win the Player of the Tournament?

The award was sponsored by Adidas.

[Scrumpy]

Best headline so far.

German Sub sinks Argies.   

[mystiroakey]

aww the 20 year olds complaining about being old.

 

[dyrewolfe]

Best headline so far.

German Sub sinks Argies.   

I thought "Feed the Gotze and he will score" was pretty good.   

[dyrewolfe]

aww the 20 year olds complaining about being old.

 

I know. They just have no idea, do they?   

[Gerry SA]

Trivial stat:

Did you know Uruguay are recognised at four time world champions?

Recently FIFA where asked why Uruguay have 4 stars on their shirt.

As is common knowledge, only FIFA permits the use of stars on a teams shirt.

Anyway the 1924 and 1928 Olympic football was actually the precursor to the FIFA World Cup founded in 1930.

The 1924 and 1928 Olympic football was actually the ‘FIFA amateur world championships’.

Hence why Uruguay are the only nation to win the World Cup three consecutive times: 1924, 1928 and 1930.

So Uruguay are in fact the first footballing superpower.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Brazil have appointed Dunga as manager

Cos he didn't fail miserably the first tims

[Crimey]

Weird appointment. Along with poor results, he was also criticised for his style. Can't work out why this appointment makes sense.

[sportform]

Pjanic for Bosnia could be a player worth taking away from this tournament too.

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