Football World Cup 2014

Ahoy there bailers. It's been a while. My trip to Brazil has become something of a wonderful blur. I'm currently in Salvador where holland are about to play Costa Rica. All happening here. It's been a pretty bloody great World Cup, I reckon. What have I missed?

PeterCS wrote:Snap with beamer about the Harry Potter.

In terms of the GOAT debate, the World Cup was always Messi's major black mark, could he do it on the biggest stage like Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Zidane, Zico, (fat) Ronaldo etc, and outside of the Barca bubble and the Xaviesta supply line? Win or lose now I think he's ticked that box to a large extent.

Dello wrote:What a disappointment Belgium were. Another side that went out with a whimper.

Poor game, not helped by an incredibly fussy referee.

Is it just a case that in all 3 games the "better" side got an early goal and killed the contest or did the minnows just choke?

Don't think any of the underdogs really rose to the occasion, unlike those in the previous round. The early goal does help, as the pressure increases on the favourites the longer it stays 0-0. When the favourites score early they can relax a bit and make the opposition force it, and France, Colombia and Belgium all shared the same issue that they'd had a relatively easy passage to that stage and not had to do that before.

G.Wood wrote:

Dello wrote:What a disappointment Belgium were. Another side that went out with a whimper.

Poor game, not helped by an incredibly fussy referee.

Is it just a case that in all 3 games the "better" side got an early goal and killed the contest or did the minnows just choke?

A little of column A, little of column B.

Colombia, so far, the only losing q/finalists to have at least given it a good go. But even they lost their heads and played brainlessly.

Crikey, the Ricans are just, just, just holding on by the skin of their teeth. Van Persie missed an absolute sitter, and Robben working his arse off for the Dutch.

It's into 30 minutes ET.

Still 0-0 after 15 mins of ET. Ricans defending with all their big hearts can muster.

Holland to win on penalties, then.

skully wrote:Crikey, the Ricans are just, just, just holding on by the skin of their teeth. Van Persie missed an absolute sitter, and Robben working his arse off for the Dutch.

It's into 30 minutes ET.

I didn't see it. But how much of a sitter was it?

lardbucket wrote:Holland to win on penalties, then.

With their penalty record? And the fact that the Costa Rican penalties against Greece would have worried even the Germans?

Old Holland are so unpredictable. I mean, they nearly lost to New Holland.

The sub Lens has been awful, how many offsides in a short time on the pitch?

Paul Keating wrote:

skully wrote:Crikey, the Ricans are just, just, just holding on by the skin of their teeth. Van Persie missed an absolute sitter, and Robben working his arse off for the Dutch.

It's into 30 minutes ET.

I didn't see it. But how much of a sitter was it?

Schneider crossed the ball from the left to his feet 2 metres out level with the right post and he was half thinking of a diving header, but it fell at his right foot and he air swung!! He would've buried it in his sleep for Man U.

Wow, a couple of big chances for the Ricans very late, with the Dutch keeper holding strong.

Now Schneider slams one against the cross bar. Such drama!!!

And we are going to penalties. Dutch sub the keeper just before the 120 min mark.

Apparently the Dutch have never won a penalty shoot out in world cup finals.

Looking at the match record, it seems to have been a festival of yellow cards, including one for the Dutch sub Huntelaar after only 5 minutes on the field.

Paul Keating wrote:Apparently the Dutch have never won a penalty shoot out in world cup finals.

Aye, and the Rican manager knows it. He was punching the air when 120 mins was blown.

skully wrote:And we are going to penalties. Dutch sub the keeper just before the 120 min mark.

Is he a shoot out specialist?

That's some gamble. I think the Dutch are probably 3/1 underdogs in this shoot-out.

Paul Keating wrote:

skully wrote:And we are going to penalties. Dutch sub the keeper just before the 120 min mark.

Is he a shoot out specialist?

Apparently van Gaal thinks so.

Ricans 1-0

1-1

Saved by the Dutch keeper!!!!