The FIFA World Cup 2014 Thread
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There's very little you can do to rig penalties, so I'm going to chalk Brazil's victory over Chile on extended penalty time on dumb luck. Chile played infinitely better during the 2nd half, shot more balls at the goal than Brazil, had better possession of the football in general. Tight match even during penalty time. Brazil just lucked out.
That penalty shoot out was tense, geez.
I can say for sure, however, that Julio Cézar was Brazil's hero. If it wasn't for his 2 defences, we wouldn't have gone through.
Chile fought bravely. The match was way harder than I expected. Brazil will have to improve a bunch if he wishes to win this competition. Anyway, I believe the final outcome was just. Now on toooooo... Colombia as they have just won Uruguay. Another intersting match.
I can say for sure, however, that Julio Cézar was Brazil's hero. If it wasn't for his 2 defences, we wouldn't have gone through.
Chile fought bravely. The match was way harder than I expected. Brazil will have to improve a bunch if he wishes to win this competition. Anyway, I believe the final outcome was just. Now on toooooo... Colombia as they have just won Uruguay. Another intersting match.
Brazil vs. Colombia in quarter finals... the rest I predict will be France (beats Nigeria) vs. Germany (beats Argelia), Netherlands (beats Mexico) vs. Costa Rica (beats Greece) and either Argentina or Switzerland vs. Belgium (beats USA).
Argentina vs. Switzerland I may be biased against... besides Netherlands and Colombia, Argentina is the only team to have won every group phase match so far. But scores aside I feel most of if not all success is owed to Messi, the team's strongest and weakest link. None of the other forwards have his skill or precision, fast and competent as they can be. The entire strategy is built around Messi. Take him out like they did during the 2nd half vs. Nigeria and you get a rather mediocre team. Not that I fear he may get carded or hospitalized, but his excellence unbalances the team. Expecting a miracle from one guy is not a good strategy. And Argentina's defense is famously awful, though I think probably everybody thinks the same of their national team.
In any case even if Argentina goes against Belgium, and somehow wins that, it would pit us against Netherlands in the semi-finals. Beating Switzerland, Belgium and Netherlands in a row and still having to duke out the final match seems practically impossible with such a flawed team. I just hope they don't lose next Tuesday though, it's my birthday
Argentina vs. Switzerland I may be biased against... besides Netherlands and Colombia, Argentina is the only team to have won every group phase match so far. But scores aside I feel most of if not all success is owed to Messi, the team's strongest and weakest link. None of the other forwards have his skill or precision, fast and competent as they can be. The entire strategy is built around Messi. Take him out like they did during the 2nd half vs. Nigeria and you get a rather mediocre team. Not that I fear he may get carded or hospitalized, but his excellence unbalances the team. Expecting a miracle from one guy is not a good strategy. And Argentina's defense is famously awful, though I think probably everybody thinks the same of their national team.
In any case even if Argentina goes against Belgium, and somehow wins that, it would pit us against Netherlands in the semi-finals. Beating Switzerland, Belgium and Netherlands in a row and still having to duke out the final match seems practically impossible with such a flawed team. I just hope they don't lose next Tuesday though, it's my birthday
Poor Mexico, they were just 6 mins away from winning the whole thing... And then there was that rather timely penalty.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28082629
The dutch player friggin admits to diving vs Mexico, and mentions it wasn't just once either.
Well the dutch team have just lost a lot of respect from me there.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28082629
The dutch player friggin admits to diving vs Mexico, and mentions it wasn't just once either.
Well the dutch team have just lost a lot of respect from me there.
The Netherlands got two doubtful penalties against them in the group phase, now they give one back. ^^Frankster said:
Also, there is a distinction between diving when there's no foul (cheating) and diving when there actually is one (done very often to highlight a foul which the referee wouldn't otherwise notice). Robben admitted to doing the former in the first half, but that last dive was a by-the-book penalty, whichever way you look at it.
Personally, I'd be more inclined to blame the ref for just being plain inconsistent, not giving clear penalties to both the Netherlands and Mexico in the first half.
1) Well then according to the law of karma, netherlands owes mexico a massive whupping in a decisive tournament from now on then.GundamSentinel said:
Mexico didn't cheat or dive and played their hearts out, that the dutch had to resort to underhanded measures to win it is rotten, plain and simple. I have despised Italy in the past for less then this, dutch team now has ALL my hate.
2) I don't understand the argument. So if you dive to highlight a penalty it makes it ok? Yeh no not in my book it does. Either way the result is the same, you have a player going down all dramatic like and mewling in pain as if he broke something only to hop like a gazelle with a big grin
on his face 2 secs later.Fuck me, the dutch players were actually congratulating each other when the guy dived, that is 2 shades of fucked up and I can't believe anyone can defend such behavior.
3) I'd rather not feed into the europeans vs south american narrative, but this is one time I really do wonder wtf the referee was doing. Yeh I'd be inclined to blame him as well and I do, but the dutch are equally culpable for performing their "theatrics" in the first place, there is no excuse for that.
1. Na the Mexicans were done imo, manager had a bad game. At this level if you get 1 - 0 up at the break and try to sit back and hold the Dutch for 45 minutes, you're going to have a bad time. Especially when you're notoriously bad at defending corners, which the Dutch knew, so they played for them and got at least 10 in the game, and ultimately the Dutch first goal came from a corner. Mexico just feel 'robbed' because they conceded two in the last ten minutes, but imo, they got themselves rattled after conceding late and the defender had a moment of panic and fouled Robben in the box, he didn't even have to put a foot in because Robben was running into green shirts.Frankster said:1) Well then according to the law of karma, netherlands owes mexico a massive whupping in a decisive tournament from now on then.GundamSentinel said:
Mexico didn't cheat or dive and played their hearts out, that the dutch had to resort to underhanded measures to win it is rotten, plain and simple. I have despised Italy in the past for less then this, dutch team now has ALL my hate.
2) I don't understand the argument. So if you dive to highlight a penalty it makes it ok? Yeh no not in my book it does. Either way the result is the same, you have a player going down all dramatic like and mewling in pain as if he broke something only to hop like a gazelle with a big grin
Fuck me, the dutch players were actually congratulating each other when the guy dived, that is 2 shades of fucked up and I can't believe anyone can defend such behavior.
3) I'd rather not feed into the europeans vs south american narrative, but this is one time I really do wonder wtf the referee was doing. Yeh I'd be inclined to blame him as well and I do, but the dutch are equally culpable for performing their "theatrics" in the first place, there is no excuse for that.
2. Penalties are a really difficult situation at the moment, and yes diving is a huge problem. What do you do if you are fouled in the box but still have possession and realise you don't have a good shot on goal? Clearly the best option is to go down and win your team the penatly, you have been fouled in the box, your team is owed a penalty, that is the rules of the game. But on the other hand, you have dived, which is a bookable offence, and have broken the rules to get a penalty. It is a case by case basis and we have to put trust in the referees.
3. I'd be interested if the South Americans in this thread considered Mexican football South American. But regarding this whole South America vs Europe thing, my two cents (highly european bias, i'll admit) are how CONMEBOL's nations are accusing Fifa of being pro UEFA is beyond me. UEFA and European FAs are having a very public spat with Fifa currently over a number of things. Uruguary should be ashamed of how they have behaved, and I don't even mean Suarez. They turned up against Colombia already defeated with their press and POLITICAL OFFICIALS lashing out at the world. To be fair, Croatia have also misbehaved, blaming the ref in the Brazil game, and it seems Mexico are joining them in the sore losers corner. If you want to go far in this tournament, you put bigger numbers on your score sheet than the opposition.
I do feel a bit sorry for the Mexicans, it's never pleasant to lose let alone if you were leading 10 minutes before the end of the game. But it really is their own fault for leaning back after they scored the 1-0. Holland was able to push them back and to create chances. About the penalty, it's just a foul from the defender. Very naive from Marquez, with his experience he should know better. Let's not forget the clear penalty that wasn't given to the dutch in the first half. Two players fouled Robben in the same action. One of the Mexican defenders even broke his leg on Robben's leg.
Anyway, it was a nerve-wracking match and fortunately 'we' were able to win in the end.
Anyway, it was a nerve-wracking match and fortunately 'we' were able to win in the end.
1) Were we watching the same game? Mexico didn't just sit back in their half and try to keep the dutch off the ball but were actively seeking out a second goal even when they were in the lead. If anything they SHOULD have played defensively, though then again Robben would have gotten his penalty no matter what methinks :/Commerford said:
Your other comments also puzzle me, are we talking about England (who ARE notoriously bad at conceding at corners amongst many things) or Mexico who had the joint best defensive record at this world cup prior to playing the Dutch and had only conceded one goal?
2) Yeah about trusting the referees... No player has been booked yet in this world cup for diving even though as I understand it, there have been other "cases". Heck if it wasn't for suarez getting punished over his biting I'd say almost anything goes at this world cup.
3) Personally as a european the assumption us europeans are banding together and working to avenge each other is the most amusing stereotype of all. I only wish us europeans truly cared for each other like that.
"OMG (insert south american team here) beat (insert european team here)! The dogs! Quick my european brothers, we must conspire to avenge our fallen comrades and punish those subhumans for daring to beat their betters!" (said no one ever).
What you mean the penalty the player dove for but didn't get? Oh poor Robben, that theatrical performance didn't get a result that time :'( But he got that penalty in the end, what a trooper!Reynaert said:
And no I'm not being hyperbolic, Robben fucking admits to having dived, see link from previous post. That the mexican players got hurt more then he did only adds to the hilarity.
ps: the irony that im more passionate about Mexico then England is not lost on me.
I guess the difference is England deserved to go out and have no excuses, Mexico were cheated out of their draw/penalty shoot out.
I'm Dutch so obviously I'm highly biased, but I thought Netherlands-Mexico was the most exiting match (until now) of the tournament.
The first half Mexico was the better team, though really neither team played great. The second half was wonderful with an almost immediate beautiful Mexican goal and with the Netherlands going all out after that. Building up suspension until the equalizer in the very 88th minute. Robben's penalty after that may have been a questionable one(then again a foul is a foul), but for dramatic timing it was perfect.
And in the end athletes are nothing more than actors or performers. They are paid to entertain and in that aspect both Mexico and the Netherlands preformed brilliantly.
The first half Mexico was the better team, though really neither team played great. The second half was wonderful with an almost immediate beautiful Mexican goal and with the Netherlands going all out after that. Building up suspension until the equalizer in the very 88th minute. Robben's penalty after that may have been a questionable one(then again a foul is a foul), but for dramatic timing it was perfect.
And in the end athletes are nothing more than actors or performers. They are paid to entertain and in that aspect both Mexico and the Netherlands preformed brilliantly.
Of course it isn't, but they switched out an attacking midfielder for a defending one, because they were playing more on defense. Which makes sense too because they were ahead one-nill and the dutch were playing much more on offence than they had been before the Mexican goal.Frankster said:
Indeed it does, I don't quite get what we are disagreeing about then. My comment was a response to an accusation that Mexico just hanged back in their half and just tried to contain the dutch which I saw as being BS, Mexico were still trying to score and pass the ball down field instead of just kicking balls out to waste time.Prince Regent said:
I see - not without some boredom - that all my predictions for the quarter finals have been fulfilled so far.
Argentina vs. Switzerland is about to begin. This could be an interesting match with Argentina not showing great form yet in this tournament (although their last game was promising) and Switzerland playing very competently with the players they have. Switzerland has no real superstars in their team but no clear weak links either. I'm betting on a small victory for Argentina.
Hey Johnny I bet your real happy with today's ARG vs. SUI game. It's nice to have a taste of that clutch playing that's been rampant around this World Cup. But guess what match is next...
I'm not eating any waffles for the next week like the rest of the US of A
Indeed, you ain't eating waffles because the waffles will eat you >Brownie80 said:Hey Johnny I bet your real happy with today's ARG vs. SUI game. It's nice to have a taste of that clutch playing that's been rampant around this World Cup. But guess what match is next...
I'm not eating any waffles for the next week like the rest of the US of A