Football World Cup 2014

beamer wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Costa Rica really phoned that one in... they were dogshit with 11 men, let alone 10. Any team with one iota of a clue in the final third would've punished them in normal time. Luckily for them they were facing a Greek side so devoid of calibre in and around the box that they completely got away with it.

This was never going to be the quality tie of the round... there's usually a match-up like this in the last 16 due to the way the draw pans out. But there's three former World Cup winners who will be thinking about how they could have been facing a side as limited as Greece tonight instead of being already on the plane home.

Well, quite. Woy will be cursing his luck that his side met Uruguay before Suarez's tyson show v Italy, and not afterwards. England v Uruguay minus Jaws probably would have shaded it. (Mind you, would probably already have subsided to Costa Rica beforehand! )

Holland must be pissing themselves laughing that they're just a game against Costa f*cking Rica from the WC semis.

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:

Re Hamez: As Wrighty pointed out, the level of of ability it takes to take your eye off the ball while it's aerial, look over your shoulder then have the time to turn back, chest, swivel and volley is ridiculous. Better than Maxi's for Argentina.

I still prefer his last goal against South Korea. The defender was so thoroughly turned inside out he didn't know what day it was and then that Messi-esque finish.

Japan. And the defender was Saints' Yoshida, who was born inside out on a day he can never quite remember.

Can't see past Germany or France for the cup unless Messi can somehow drag an Argentina side lacking CMs, a GK and top class CBs all the way. They look better when Lavezzi plays and Higuain needs to get fit and on it sharpish.

Germany haven't looked great to me. France look the all-round team to beat. Losing the vastly overrated Ribery has made them far more team oriented, and that's for the better.

Higuain is a mystery to me. One of those players I've never seen play well. Ever. Always seems just a half yard off the pace.

Brass Monkey wrote:Well, you could feel sorry for Mexico but if you're going to stick literally 6 men at the back,  two anchoring,  hack at Robben for 35 minutes then you're asking for trouble. Still don't think the Dutch would've won without Kuyt's performance - no-one is talking about it. Absolutely tireless and brave.

It's a good shout. I think he's shit and couldn't believe he started, but he gave as selfless as performance as you'll ever see. A striker, converted to a right forward, he was playing right wing back for 60 minutes and then right back for the last 30 as Holland switched formations to push for an equaliser. Just never stopped running - the entire length of the field, up and down all game. Unlike Van Persie, who ran out of puff after an hour.

Robben's a terribly dive-y c*nt, though.

If that's what you think of Higuain, you should maybe snap him up for the Saints, pronto?

Dello wrote:Holland must be pissing themselves laughing that they're just a game against Costa f*cking Rica from the WC semis.

Not just them -my 44s on the Netherlands at the start of tournament is holding up well.

Dello wrote:Holland must be pissing themselves laughing that they're just a game against Costa f*cking Rica from the WC semis.

Aye, a dream run as it's turned out.

Anyone else getting shitty reception on SBS. Or is it just those furthest away from the transmitter.

No dramas in Spivtown.

How much more does a keeper need to advance off his line to be called? Dudek-esque save by Navas against Gekas...

Was saying the same thing in the Brazil game.

Yeah, Cesar was bad too. DOn't think Navas would've got near the penalty if he'd been on his line.

skully wrote:

Dello wrote:Holland must be pissing themselves laughing that they're just a game against Costa f*cking Rica from the WC semis.

Aye, a dream run as it's turned out.

If they take that attitude to it, they will go the same way as England, Italy, Uruguay and Greece...

Aye. But I'm sure van Gaal will have them primed for a big performance against the Ricans.

I wouldn't be so sure. If the Coasters can recover physically - their ten looked ubershattered by the end - I think they have a very decent shout.

(As long as the ref is up to his task, that is. ...)

PeterCS wrote:I wouldn't be so sure. If the Coasters can recover physically - their ten looked ubershattered by the end - I think they have a very decent shout.

(As long as the ref is up to his task, that is. ...)

Good luck with that.

Costariquist.

Pretty decent match. France weren't at their best,  the amount of distribution to the flanks that went awry was mental, Pogba gashed the place out for most of it, but they were too good for Nigeria who lacked any clue through the centre and their keeper was shaky as ever. They competed but in the end they couldn't keep the tidal wave out.

I was impressed (again) by Odemwingie. Shows the right sort of arrogance, i.e. daring, adventurous play. (What's he doing at Stoke?) And Ambrose was pretty decent too.

But not enough substance in the team to defeat The ArsenalnNewcastle Select XI.

Probably the worst France have played so far.

The day after I tipped them for the top. Probably not a coincidence.

The Algerians are playing f*cking mega ATM, the Germans are looking shaky.

5/5 group winners through thus far. Germany, Argentina, and Belgium seem likely to make it 8 of 8;in which case they should have skipped the second stage and gone straight to the quarters, allowing rabid sport fans the world over a bit more sleep ...

Well, at least Algeria are giving it a good go and are certainly holding their own. The Germans are very jittery when you attack them directly through the middle, their marking goes to shit.

Never would've picked Algeria to be the best of the African nations. Such a shame the lazy, easy style of African football has never really risen to the top. Just shows how the hard, professional football of Europe and South America continues to be the edge needed to be the best in the world.

Quality match, this...