Football 2014 FIFA World Cup

[Pat]

I think it's way more to do with their lack of a real striker. They have Fred. Fred is terrible, and hasn't played for a decent club in ages. People love to bash Fred but it's honestly true. Brazil isn't dominant enough in the rest of their play to make up for a very underwhelming striker.

In addition Brazil is also lacking diversity and quickness in their play. They either spend too many touches passing the ball, or they hold the ball too long. If you watched their past two matches it looks like Neymar really is the only one capable of winning 1v1 duels. He's the only one really being creative and able to bring the extra spark. Oscar is superb as well in the mid-field but he simply has no one to play with besides Neymar honestly. So far though I think Neymar has easily showed his worth in the WC. If the rest of the team, mostly in the attacking side can start performing they can easily do very well. They need to be faster and more decisive in front of the opponent's goal. To their defense Ochoa did play amazingly vs them, so I think some of the flack from Brazilian and World press is kind of harsh, although you saw the same tendencies in that game. Their situation can SORT OF be compared to Spain's in terms of movement in front of the goal being too slow/too many passes/not enough decisiveness/lack of a good striker.

Yeah, they don't have a striker in the traditional sense, they also have Jo but his performance was no better against Mexico. That said, Germany has a similar problem, only Klose fits the bill in their squad and he's a veteran who most likely won't play much unless Löw is desperate, that system didn't cause any problems in their first match against Portugal though. In that regard IMHO the second part of your post is even more relevant to Brazil's mediocre performance, they need to think on their feet in/near opponents' penalty areas and take risks when warranted. Brazil wants to keep the game under control but they also allow the opponents to take countermeasures with that style of play. Of course bad performances of high-profile players such as Hulk don't help either, this is partly due to careful preparations of the opponents and partly due to the aforementioned stress I guess.

 

[Zasz]

Hmm, Uruguay is winning and England seems to be in shambles.
So far things seem to be pointing to the first one winning, but you never know...

 

[xi0]

Uruguay should be playing with 10 men, and England is having any luck with their chances

 

[Hardy]

El que no salta, es un inglés ♫

I told Imp they wouldn't leave group phase, he said they could be champions. So silly

Uruguay should be playing with 10 men

Typical

---------- Post added at 05:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:24 PM ----------

Lallana in for Welbeck... doesn't sound like the smartest move if you're down and there's 20 minutes left.

---------- Post added at 05:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:27 PM ----------

He needed to have the ball under the goal, otw Rooney would had missed it

---------- Post added at 05:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:31 PM ----------

England loves Suárez ^^

 

[zelllogan]

It's a shame to have a group with Italy - Uruguay and England when there are groups with Honduras - Equator and Switzerland or Russia - Algeria - South Korea.

 

[FrostyMouse]

I am thoroughly unimpressed by England. The entire Liverpool contingent was awful. In fact, everyone was awful (Cahill got burned again). Rooney missed two golden chances and then scored a tap in, so he only had a halfway decent match.

 

[zelllogan]

I am thoroughly unimpressed by England. The entire Liverpool contingent was awful. In fact, everyone was awful (Cahill got burned again). Rooney missed two golden chances and then scored a tap in, so he only had a halfway decent match.

The liverpool contingent was great ... well the one from Uruguay.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Woy plays too many Liverpool players too often. Surely there has to be a better English RB than Glen Johnson. I would've liked to see Milner on the pitch a bit. Jagielka and Cahill have zero chemistry, so bench one of them. Henderson and Gerrard did virtually nothing right in the two matches combined. Baines looked good offensively in this match, comparatively speaking, but then offered nothing defensively. I think that perhaps Baines should just play as an LM/LAM and put it a better defensive LB.

Technically, though, if Italy defeats both Costa Rica and Uruguay, England goes through with a win over Costa Rica.

 

[Hardy]

Technically, though, if Italy defeats both Costa Rica and Uruguay, England goes through with a win over Costa Rica.

Yeah, this group is still completely open. In fact, England is still kinda in a better position than Uruguay, lol.

 

[FrostyMouse]

The liverpool contingent was great ... well the one from Uruguay.

Indeed, the member from Uruguay was MOTM.

---------- Post added at 05:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:00 PM ----------

Yeah, this group is still completely open. In fact, England is still kinda in a better position than Uruguay, lol.

Depends on how Suarez is feeling. It's true that England has less to do than Uruguay, however. You'd have to think that Uruguay would've beaten Costa Rica with Suarez on the pitch, but without him, Uruguay doesn't have enough (other than Cavani) offensively, and Costa Rica was just emboldened. Of course, Costa Rica's players didn't shoot directly at Muslera like Rooney did, but... :P

 

[zelllogan]

What i would like to see now is costa rica winning against italy, it would be fun

 

[Hardy]

It's a shame to have a group with Italy - Uruguay and England when there are groups with Honduras - Equator and Switzerland or Russia - Algeria - South Korea.

Not long ago you said that our qualy was a joke and that we had too many slots (even though, usually, 4 out of 5 of us make it into top 16 whereas half of the Europeans leave in group phase, but that's another topic). If Brazil wasn't the host Uruguay wouldn't be in the WC... and now you're praising them like that?

Do you think we deserve more slots? :3

 

[Sky]

What i would like to see now is costa rica winning against italy, it would be fun

Then England would have to go home...

 

[Bugzee]

That was an abysmal performance by England and now the punters are complaining on why it happened!? Shame on Hodgson for not changing the play or players up earlier. He left it too late. I think it would've made more sense to at least give Luke Shaw a go at left back as Baines was very poor tonight. Moreover, putting Lallana and Shaw on would be more beneficial as they have better understanding during their time playing for Saints this season. At least it would be a good risk/chance in the dying stages of the match.

Overall, England played depressing football. Only a FEW good minor runs that can be classified as "attacking play". The way the back four were receiving and touching the ball was like it had transformed into a grenade with no pin. Even the nations in the current WC that have generally average or lack of experienced players in the major leagues show a sign of determination or "hmph" to obtain the ball or go forward but England just look as if it's a chore just to hold the ball or pass it.

Joe Hart - Poor

Back four besides Cahill - Poor (Glen only contributed well once for the goal. Did you see how long it took him to make a decision with the throw in's!? Haven't seen that before in the major competition. Only in the school playground.)

Gerard made some very good interventions earlier on but I wasn't impressed much with Henderson. Sterling as usual played with eagerness and showed promise but needed support in the right areas at the right times. It would've been interesting to see how Lallana would influence the line up if he replaced welbeck at the beginning tbh.

I find it amusing that the media always goes back to the excuse that "England is missing a world class finisher/player".... it's a cycle for England in every World Cup since 2002 from what I remember anyway.

 

[scav]

That was an abysmal performance by England and now the punters are complaining on why it happened!? Shame on Hodgson for not changing the play or players up earlier. He left it too late. I think it would've made more sense to at least give Luke Shaw a go at left back as Baines was very poor tonight. Moreover, putting Lallana and Shaw on would be more beneficial as they have better understanding during their time playing for Saints this season. At least it would be a good risk/chance in the dying stages of the match.

Overall, England played depressing football. Only a FEW good minor runs that can be classified as "attacking play". The way the back four were receiving and touching the ball was like it had transformed into a grenade with no pin. Even the nations in the current WC that have generally average or lack of experienced players in the major leagues show a sign of determination or "hmph" to obtain the ball or go forward but England just look as if it's a chore just to hold the ball or pass it.

Joe Hart - Poor

Back four besides Cahill - Poor (Glen only contributed well once for the goal. Did you see how long it took him to make a decision with the throw in's!? Haven't seen that before in the major competition. Only in the school playground.)

Gerard made some very good interventions earlier on but I wasn't impressed much with Henderson. Sterling as usual played with eagerness and showed promise but needed support in the right areas at the right times. It would've been interesting to see how Lallana would influence the line up if he replaced welbeck at the beginning tbh.

I find it amusing that the media always goes back to the excuse that "England is missing a world class finisher/player".... it's a cycle for England in every World Cup since 2002 form what I remember anyway.

td;dr
May England a good and safe trip back home

 

[Bugzee]

LOL you think I'm mad? I just find it fustrating that every WC England complain and moan about their squad without actually giving them a chance or show any positive morale towards their own team in the tournament. Tbh, tika taka football would actually aid the England squad. Not in the PL (No thank you) but the national team yes please. It may be a dying style now (after what happened to Spain) but I'm sure the England camp could learn something from it. E.g. PASSING with an objection.

 

[scav]

LOL you think I'm mad? I just find it fustrating that every WC England complain and moan about their squad without actually giving them a chance or show any positive morale towards their own team in the tournament. Tbh, tika taka football would actually aid the England squad. Not in the PL (No thank you) but the national team yes please. It may be a dying style now (after what happened to Spain) but I'm sure the England camp could learn something from it. E.g. PASSING with an objection.

here, the contradiction xD

 

[Hardy]

I just find it fustrating that every WC England complain and moan about their squad without actually giving them a chance or show any positive morale towards their own team in the tournament.

Just accept that you suck, it'll do wonders to you

 

[Bugzee]

I'm not English.

 

[Hardy]

I'm not English.

None of you are atm