Football 2014 FIFA World Cup

[Hardy]

It was a pretty nice curler, but yeah, most of the time, that shot misses. It wasn't as lucky as Messi's goal against Bosnia, where it hit the post and luckily rolled in instead of bouncing out.

Luck doesn't exist.

Indeed, but I'm surprise you admited it.

I can be objective, unlike you.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Iran played 90 perfect minutes, made us suffer and play like shit ourselves. I spent the entire time hoping that someone would do a long shot (as that's the best way to counter a defense like this)... Messi did. Underserved victory tbh, but it's not about deserving things, lol.

Romero was the mvp btw.

You're 100% right. What counts is the 3 points, not how you do it. I don't know if you watch NBA, but if you look at the 07/08 season when the Celtics won, they weren't great, they played 7 games in every series and didn't really look like champions, but at the end of the day, they stood at the top of the pile.

Neither Brazil nor Argentina have looked too impressive, but in a knockout stage match, you're not going to be facing teams that are parking the bus in the same manner.

 

[Leoat12]

I can be objective, unlike you.

You said that you guys were playing the same game as us against Mexico.
Let's be objective about this as well. The best player of that match was OCHOA, MEXICO'S KEEPER, period.
Therefore, we didn't make the same game as you guys, it's clearly different.

---------- Post added at 03:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:03 PM ----------

You're 100% right. What counts is the 3 points, not how you do it. I don't know if you watch NBA, but if you look at the 07/08 season when the Celtics won, they weren't great, they played 7 games in every series and didn't really look like champions, but at the end of the day, they stood at the top of the pile.

Neither Brazil nor Argentina have looked too impressive, but in a knockout stage match, you're not going to be facing teams that are parking the bus in the same manner.

This rules applies to any other team, except Brazil. When Brazil wins we have whine the entire week.

 

[Hardy]

You said that you guys were playing the same game as us against Mexico.
Let's be objective about this as well. The best players of that match was OCHOA, MEXICO'S KEEPER, period.
Therefore, we didn't made the same game as you guys, it's clearly different.

It's the same kind of match. A team cornered and just defending, hoping for a counter attack. The other team having 80 % possesion of the ball but being unable to score. It's the same match. The difference is that we have the best player in the world.

You're 100% right. What counts is the 3 points, not how you do it.

Definetly a Chelsea Fan ^^

I don't know if you watch NBA, but if you look at the 07/08 season when the Celtics won, they weren't great, they played 7 games in every series and didn't really look like champions, but at the end of the day, they stood at the top of the pile.

Neither Brazil nor Argentina have looked too impressive, but in a knockout stage match, you're not going to be facing teams that are parking the bus in the same manner.

The Celtics had a good team tho, but yeah I agree.

Heh, in the top 16 we might. I mean, Ecuador for example plays exactly like that. It's kinda bad that we don't have a good team in our group to kinda test stuff (like the Netherlands in 2006) but on the other hand... thank god we don't have one, lol.

 

[jorped]

Messi and Ronaldo are in the same situation. The team around them is without imagination. They have 3-4 players on them instantly once they have the ball. In that situation, it's hard to shine.

But seeing Portugal and Argentina like this, I'm starting to target semi-finals for Belgium.

Oh come on please. Do you know what team we played against? We didn't play vs Bosnia or Iran, we played versus Germany. You can't exactly use our game vs Germany has an example for anything.

Anyway regarding the game vs Germany, i think it was an odd game. They did play better than us, and pretty much controlled us but in the first minutes the game was being well disputed and it kinda sounded like it was going to be one of the best games of the Competition till that point.
All polemic decisions were against us, even if the referee was right most of the time. I don't really crucify Pepe being i was once a player and sometimes when the game is not going as you expected and you see someone (aka Muller) doing so much theater it kinda pisses someone off. But i think the referee did well with the red card.

Before the game i was talking to my friends about our goalkeeper. He plays at Sporting for years now, and i have always finding him overrated. 31 internationalization and he has 33 goals suffered.

Beto did a good year on Sevilha, and we also have Eduardo who has the same amount of games, and only half of the goals suffered. Honestly the all team played bad, but the goalkeeper is prolly the one who pissed me off the most, specially with his ball touch which is after all these years still so ridiculous.
Anyway Germany was better than us, we didn't do as well as we did for example during the Euro 2012 vs them, but i think i am not wrong when i say that Germany is prolly the strongest team. Time might prove me wrong, but i don't really see that much flaws in any position on their team, while i can at any other national team.

I just hoped people could realize that the game was odd, and that Portugal didn't really suck as hard as they might think. The game was just so odd in many ways, and at 35 min with the red card there was no point in playing that game any more.



Well, i am not gonna keep talking about this. I know Portugal is capable of more, i know we have players like Moutinho, Ronaldo for example that are not playing as well as they could (prolly not in the best shape) but i am confident we can defeat USA and Ghana.

Anyway regarding the other National Teams, i think England had some pretty decent games. Honestly i didn't had that much expectations for them, but they actually played 2 really enjoyable games. They could had win both of them, at least draw had they had a bit more luck.

After the first disappointing match from Uruguay, it seems that Suarez brought to them the hope they needed. What a great player. Imo top 3 right now, just amazing.

Italy played a good game vs England and i was also surprised (didn't expect such a cool game from both teams), but vs Costa (at least based on the second half) they could never penetrate their defense and were rather slow in all the transactions.
Well Uruguay vs Italy is definitely gonna be really enjoyable.

Disappointed overall with Brazil. After the limitations they showed vs Croatia, i thought they would do better and prove us all wrong about the complains we have been given to them after that game, specially because of the all the referee mistakes. But based on the second half, even though Mexico only managed to create danger situations with shoots from far distances, i actually thought Mexico was superior.
Honestly Brazil has to improve their play and fast, because i don't think they can ambition to win the WC playing like that.
Anyway Mexico was a good surprise though. I think we can all say that in general the underdogs are playing football and putting up with a fight vs the "top teams".

Regarding Spain, it has been obvious for a while that the defense sector was one of their biggest limitations. The problem is that this year the Barcelona motor didn't work at all (Iniesta not playing as well as he did on previous years, Xavi getting old) and somehow i think they had the same problem that we have with our goalkeeper. Casilla is not the same, and honestly i would never had used in as first option, specially after the limitations he had showed whenever he played for Real Madrid, specially on the final of the champions.

Netherlands has a really powerful attack, but i am not gonna jump on an hype train for them. Honestly, i am actually a lot more surprised and worried about this new France. Didn't expect this at all for them. They were completely out of my equation of possible winners, but i was prolly a fool for that.

Well Argentina has been disappointing, and playing like this i don't really see them as the most likely winners of the WC. I think their defense is shitty compared to most national teams, and their attack is made of great players, who just are not getting along that well, at least right now.

Belgium didn't really do a great first game(?), but they have an interesting team.
Colombia is made of great players and a bunch of them has played or still plays in my club (FC Porto), so i have a bunch of respect for that team.


Anyway on a side note, Iran deserved more out of this game. Unfair for them.

 

[Leoat12]

It's the same kind of match. A team cornered and just defending, hoping for a counter attack. The other team having 80 % possesion of the ball but being unable to score. It's the same match. The difference is that we have the best player in the world.

Mexico didn't play defensively, quite offensive IMO. 54% against 46% of possession, number of attacks almost equal, we were much more dangerous though.

 

[scav]

jorped please

 

[jorped]

jorped please

tl;dr part for you is:

France is surprising me, even if their group seems to had been individually picked by Platini himself

 

[scav]

tl;dr part for you is:

France is surprising me, even if their group seems to had been individually picked by Platini himself

would be the same everywhere, we the best

 

[MiyamotoMusashi]

It's the same kind of match. A team cornered and just defending, hoping for a counter attack. The other team having 80 % possesion of the ball but being unable to score. It's the same match. The difference is that we have the best player in the world.

You still haven´t given up, hmm?

I am unimpressed with both Brazil and Argentina, neither has managed to prepare a well working team for the WC. Brazil might have better individual players but arguing which team is better at this stage seems pointless to me. At least both have a player that can decide a match if it is required.
I think Argentina today is a nice contrast to France yesterday though of course it should also be said that Switzerland did not park the bus like Iran did but still, there was so much more movement and dynamics in France´s game while there was no real teamwork and play with Argentina, no movement without ball at all, they just stood around watching what the teammate was doing. At least Aguero was trying to create something creative but the others did not go along. In addition, the organization in the defense is more than lacking. Forget about the goal chances of Iran in the second half, there were 2-3 situations in which the defense looked pretty bad in the first half, especially when Iran had a set-play.
Now we gotta see how both Argentina and Brazil are gonna do in the second round.

 

[Netorare]

The difference is that we have the best player in the world.

argentina the new portugal haha

 

[Zehahaha]

argentina the new portugal haha

Well coming from you that's a surprise, I mean Germany is well known for always choking at some point...

 

[Hardy]

argentina the new portugal haha

I thought they were the new Argentina?

---------- Post added at 04:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 PM ----------

Respect for Iran. They play an outstanding match. They are the better team and Argentina was lucky that Iran didn't get the deserved penalty.

Btw it wasn't a penalty.

 

[Leoat12]

Even you, Germany? XD
I think it's more Ghana's credit than anything. They are playing very well.

Ghana doing what Portugal should've done.

 

[xi0]

Why are people surprised that Ghana can compete? Does no one pay attention to the talent they have on that team?

 

[MiyamotoMusashi]

Why are people surprised that Ghana can compete? Does no one pay attention to the talent they have on that team?

Knowing about Ghana would require an interest in football besides the WC, so....

 

[xi0]

Knowing about Ghana would require an interest in football besides the WC, so....

lol

Well, this is largely the same team from South Africa, who should have made it to the semifinals, if not for Suarez's handball.

---------- Post added at 04:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:12 PM ----------

...I have no idea what that goal was, but Germany will take it lol

---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:12 PM ----------

Wow, this game just got blown wide-open

 

[Hardy]

Can we shit on Germany guys

 

[Zehahaha]

Can we shit on Germany guys

Feels good man, serves them right for already thinking they're favorites because of their win against Portugal
At least the french are still being humble

 

[xi0]

LOL...THIS WORLD CUP