World cup

[O-beer-wan-kenobi]

My tip is Brazil playing Netherlands
I think Robin and RVP are the key for Netherlands. They just need to stop the the goals at the other end. If they can do that in the potential game with Argentina they could be in the finals.

To be honest I could see others getting there too, some sides are definitely capable and they only need to put in some good performances and maybe a bit of luck. Who would have predicted some of the upsets in the group stages?

 

[kalbarluke]

For me the surprise packet has been Mexico. They have had a lot of poor decisions go against them but have still done very well. Their goal keeper is excellent.
Don't know if they will beat NED but it isn't out of the question.

 

[Donske]

Watching the Korea v Belgium match, the Koreans look pretty good, getting into very good positions.

January is going to be interesting, I've been focused on the Japanese team as our main roadblock to winning the Asian Cup, somehow managed to forget about Korea.

 

[Donske]

And Belgium are down to 10 in the first half.

It was a bad challenge but if the ref wasn't Ben Williams I would have said yellow 9 times out of 10.

Good to see he's consistent at least, he's a bit trigger happy with cards in the A League too.

 

[davedoran]

This comp is going to a south american team i think.
Netherlands are the best of the europeans. If anyone can shut down robben and van persie thats them done (obviously easier said than done).
Probably Brazil would be my bet, That squad seem tight knit and will work hard for each other without egos pulling them apart.

 

[Tahoose]

hmmm disagree, I think that this is probably the most understrength Brazilian team in the last 4 world cups. They are just lucky this time that they are at home. Germany might have a crack. I don't think they have found their form as of yet though.

 

[Donske]

hmmm disagree, I think that this is probably the most understrength Brazilian team in the last 4 world cups. They are just lucky this time that they are at home. Germany might have a crack. I don't think they have found their form as of yet though.

The basically seeded run is going to give Brazil a pretty big chance of lifting the cup.

I don't see it though, I see it being Germany, that team is brutally efficient in front of goal and very solid at the back. My dark horse would be France.

 

[manticle]

Looking forward to brazil/chile.
In other news, why is Jamoein?

 

[shaunous]

NED v GER people.

GER to win.

 

[manticle]

Brazil = luck + Cesar.

 

[kalbarluke]

Columbia looked good today. That first goal from James Rodriguez was amaze-balls, possibly even goal of the tournament so far. They will give Brazil a run for their money in the next round.

 

[shaunous]

I would like your post, but you used amaze-balls.

God help us.

 

[kalbarluke]

I would like your post, but you used amaze-balls.
God help us.

I may or may not have been drunk when I wrote that.

 

[shaunous]

Hahahaha, right-o, I'll let it slide

 

[manticle]

Loving the 6am kickoff. Much easier than trying to get to bed at 11 and wake up at 10 to 2.
One hour earlier than normal, leave for work pretty much at full time (although every game seems to hit ET at the moment).
Poor ET.

 

[manticle]

Navas for keeper of the tournament. I think the Dutch keeper made about 1 save in 120 minutes (all that was needed) and without Navas, Costa Rica would have gone down 4-0 in the first 90.

Shame to see them bow out after such a sterling effort from him.

 

[wide eyed and legless]

I hope Nederland don't use their fanny boy tactics which they employed against Costa Rica, I was so hoping that they would loose in that penalty shoot out, they are good enough to play aggressive attacking football as they showed during the second half and it was Navas who saved Costa Rica. As for Krul someone should have a quiet word with him about sportsmanship or hasn't he got enough confidence in his ability in goal.

 

[manticle]

His saves were good but he didn't need those antics and they didn't do much to make me admire him (Krul).

 

[sponge]

Krul was one of my favourite keepers during the EPL season. Really kept Newcastle higher up the table than they would have without him.

As much as I wasn't a big fan of his actions prior to each penalty, anything that can put a penalty taker (within reason) off is fair game IMO. Hell, in one penalty shootout in my local comp the keeper on the other team started off by standing on the penalty spot for each kicker and slowly walked backwards towards his goals. Thankfully for me my shot still hit the back of the net but made it a lot more difficult to be confident walking up to the spot and two of my teammates blamed their misses on his actions.

In games as big as the world cup and with keepers having a much smaller chance of saving a penalty compared to the kicker scoring a penalty, anything to put as much pressure on the kicker as possible just helps even things out a bit.

Just my 2c.

 

[manticle]

Being a keeper (hockey previously, futsal now) I completely understand the motivation but I've never been a fan of attempted psychological intimidation, not even when boxers do it.

I'm also not a fan of strikers taunting keepers after they've scored. Unnecessary.