Football World Cup 2014

Best team in the tournament win.

Argentina's 7 men behind the ball did well soaking up a lot of the German possession in their half. Mascherano was again outstanding in breaking up the play which allowed them to counter attack quickly against the exceptionally slow Hummels - it went to show how much Germany missed Khedira. Germany's short ball inside totally failed them and they probably got caught more in possession in this match than they have in the whole tournament. The lack of clinicism from both attacking lines was crazy - they couldn't finish a biscuit. Made for a pretty entertaining match - the high German defence versus the nippy Argentinians. It's a shame the German goal didn't come in normal time, because it would've opened the game up. Still, almost all of the extra time period was bloody exciting, so I suppose I didn't want it to end anyway.

Outstanding control and finish by Mario Gotze - exceptional. Felt a bit sorry for Zabaleta who did a decent job of keeping Schurrle reasonably quiet, but he got skinned in the end.

Not sure who I'd give the MoM to for definite, but if you were going to give it to a cup winning player you'd have to go for either the tireless Schweinsteiger who gave it everything and more, or Boateng who closed down Messi so very adeptly.

GoM (Gash of the Match) goes to Howedes - out of position and he looked like it - he shouldn't be allowed out of the German half.

A sparkling goal is the difference - a worthy tournament winner - and Argentina are left to rue fluffing their 3, 4 chances.

Thank God it's all over!

Best team over the tournament won it, with a goal worthy of the occasion, but on the night it could so easily have gone either way. Despite the lack of goals it certainly wasn't a dull game, Argentina proved tough opponents and had the clearest chances. If their attacking talent had clicked alongside their defensive resilience they would quite possibly have walked this tournament, but they just weren't quite fit and sharp enough.

The Germans had surprisingly waited 18 years for a major trophy and 24 for the big one, but this could start a new era of success. Most of this team will be around for the next few tournaments. If they can find a left back and a striker to replace Klose they will be very tough to beat in the next few years.

I cannot see how this German team will not emulate France and Spain by holding both the world and Euro Cup at the same time.

Beware England.

Well, there will be some decent competition, the French hosts will have had another couple of years to develop a young side, as will Belgium. Spain will surely be back and you can never write off the Dutch. They must be strong favourites though.

PeterCS wrote:Gene Hackman must be out the door.

How did I miss this?

Gold.

beamer wrote:Well, there will be some decent competition, the French hosts will have had another couple of years to develop a young side, as will Belgium. Spain will surely be back and you can never write off the Dutch. They must be strong favourites though.

The French, Dutch and Belgians all have young sides that are mainly playing the big matches throughout the season - they're all likely to improve. Spain will no doubt regroup. Should be a cracking tournament.

Must say, the last Euros and this WC have been totally outstanding viewing from start to finish.

Can Germany lay claim to being the best overall nation in world cup history.

Consistently they are always there or thereabouts.

Paul Keating wrote:Can Germany lay claim to being the best overall nation in world cup history.

Consistently they are always there or thereabouts.

Well, they are still one behind Brazil on actual wins, and level with Italy - however their eight final appearances is a record, and must be a very long time since they weren't in the last eight. Only Brazil themselves could dispute that title.

Paul Keating wrote:Can Germany lay claim to being the best overall nation in world cup history.

Consistently they are always there or thereabouts.

Not until they have 5. Brazil still have most matches won at a world cup too.

So all-in-all, I reckon the best team won the WC.

Congrats to Germany.

Messi wins the Golden Ball?

Didn't score after the group stages. That's four blanks in a row when it mattered.

The final group match against Nigeria was a dead rubber, so really he's won the GB for a goal apiece against the might of Iran and Bosnia.

Absolute bollock of an award - was it sponsored by Adidas or something?

Muller scored more goals and more assists and was actually on the winning team. How about that, for starters?

consolation prize, I reckon

Dello wrote:Messi wins the Golden Ball?

Didn't score after the group stages. That's four blanks in a row when it mattered.

The final group match against Nigeria was a dead rubber, so really he's won the GB for a goal apiece against the might of Iran and Bosnia.

Absolute bollock of an award - was it sponsored by Adidas or something?

Muller scored more goals and more assists and was actually on the winning team. How about that, for starters?

I couldn't work it out either.

It was quickly pointed out that all the award winners were Adidas men... though can't argue with Neuer, even if there were plenty of keepers putting in great performances, he was the one that showed a lot more than just reaction saves.

Aye, can't argue with Neuer. Although he never had to face a penalty shoot out to really earn his corn, unlike Navas.

It's a joke, but then Messi is treated different to every other footballer ever.

That's because he is more talented than 99.x% of them.

Bear in mind also that when the ball came to Messi, he was generally crowded with a 4-5 player cover. It was like a dad on a rec surrounded by a crowd of boys. I'm not saying Jérôme Boateng didn't play a blinder - he did. But he always had 2, 3 teammates to help him blot out the only outfield superstar of the tournament. (Pirlo was close, Lahm too - though he was most effective when he had no cover at all in attack, and cover in defence.)

As to "best team won" ... I'd agree. They were remorseless, swarming and talented, even through the difficult climatic conditions they faced. Few teams were nearly that good as a unit. (Though personally I'd only pick 2, max 3 players from Germany for a team of the XXth WC - Lahm, Neuer (joint) and possibly Khedira.) I'm especially pleased Germany these days is a United Nations - not the old quasi-fascist rule of "only German if born to a German mother" that held sway until a few years ago.

There is always a bit of a question though what you mean by best in sport. And how heavily that word is thumped on the table, as an argument-closer. There are other things that lift the heart and raise the spirits in sport, apart from the ability to extract wins and exclude defeats.

Dello wrote:Aye, can't argue with Neuer. Although he never had to face a penalty shoot out to really earn his corn, unlike Navas.

True dat. Plus he generally had a decent defence - unlike say the Nigerian goalie (and others who departed earlier). So was able to strut his stuff with impunity.

There were a good few outstanding goalkeepers in the tournament. What made two or three exceptional was not only their shot-stopping, but their command of their area. Neuer took that to an almost comic degree. But I felt his opposite number (Romero) was just as good last night (and indeed, throughout the tournament). Both were defeated in the Final by just one clinical strike across their bows, from their right into the left corner. Unfortunately for the Argies, Higuain broke to soon before beating Neuer. Gutser, coming from nowhere (also in the tournament) timed his run better, as well as showing brilliant chest control.

Hart incidentally must have been about the worst goalie in the finals. A sort of Anti-Neuer. Spread terror through his own defence, whatever he did. An anti-presence in his box.

PeterCS wrote:

Dello wrote:Aye, can't argue with Neuer. Although he never had to face a penalty shoot out to really earn his corn, unlike Navas.

True dat. Plus he generally had a decent defence - unlike say the Nigerian goalie (and others who departed earlier). So was able to strut his stuff with impunity.

There were a good few outstanding goalkeepers in the tournament. What made two or three exceptional was not only their shot-stopping, but their command of their area. Neuer took that to an almost comic degree. But I felt his opposite number (Romero) was just as good last night (and indeed, throughout the tournament). Both were defeated in the Final by just one clinical strike across their bows, from their right into the left corner. Unfortunately for the Argies, Higuain broke to soon before beating Neuer. Gutser, coming from nowhere (also in the tournament) timed his run better, as well as showing brilliant chest control.

Hart incidentally must have been about the worst goalie in the finals. A sort of Anti-Neuer. Spread terror through his own defence, whatever he did. An anti-presence in his box.

On the other hand, Hart had possibly the worst defence in the tournament in front of him.

taipan wrote:

PeterCS wrote:

Dello wrote:Aye, can't argue with Neuer. Although he never had to face a penalty shoot out to really earn his corn, unlike Navas.

True dat. Plus he generally had a decent defence - unlike say the Nigerian goalie (and others who departed earlier). So was able to strut his stuff with impunity.

There were a good few outstanding goalkeepers in the tournament. What made two or three exceptional was not only their shot-stopping, but their command of their area. Neuer took that to an almost comic degree. But I felt his opposite number (Romero) was just as good last night (and indeed, throughout the tournament). Both were defeated in the Final by just one clinical strike across their bows, from their right into the left corner. Unfortunately for the Argies, Higuain broke to soon before beating Neuer. Gutser, coming from nowhere (also in the tournament) timed his run better, as well as showing brilliant chest control.

Hart incidentally must have been about the worst goalie in the finals. A sort of Anti-Neuer. Spread terror through his own defence, whatever he did. An anti-presence in his box.

On the other hand, Hart had possibly the worst defence in the tournament in front of him.

Mat Ryan.

Casillas by a distance. Howlers in both defeats.

PeterCS wrote:That's because he is more talented than 99.x% of them.

Bear in mind also that when the ball came to Messi, he was generally crowded with a 4-5 player cover.

I bore that in mind. They swamped him and an effect of that was that he was by and large neutralised and hence doesn't deserve the player of the tournament. Maybe they could've made up a special award for him - maybe the Golden Grope for the most marked man in the tournament. But he certainly wasn't the best player of the tournament.