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Post by dem on Jun 21, 2014 8:47:21 GMT
England played well last night and got a good result. I am, of course, referring to our ladies' team, who beat Ukraine, have a 100% qualification record and will need just 1 more point to reach the World Cup next year. To be fair, qualification was always going to be a cakewalk for the ladies (Played 8, won 8, goal difference 37) and the real test will begin at the tournament proper when they meet the big girls. They didn't exactly sparkle in Sweden last year ..... It appears that Roy's job is safe according to the FA. I liked his deadpan remark after the game: "For long periods of the game, we kept Suárez quiet." Roy's copped a bit of flak even in the Australian press. How have the Aus press reacted to your lads' going out, James? I'd be very surprised - and disappointed - if there were calls to sack the manager after two displays like that. Perhaps the England players would perform better if they were paid more to do so. Just a thought... They're on mad money with their clubs, its true, but didn't the squad make a collective decision several tournaments ago to donate their England wages to the Bobby Moore cancer charity? I stand to be corrected if that is no longer the case. Fact is, Italy and Uruguay were favourites to qualify from Group D, with England providing their toughest test and nobody but the Costa Ricans themselves even considered an alternative. Now one of those favourites will be sharing our gloomy premature return home. Personally, I was more depressed by England's performances in South Africa, where an experienced and much-hyped squad scraped through a relatively undemanding group (the cave-in against the Americans, the pitiful draw with Algeria) before Germany played them off the park in the last sixteen. A youthful, attack-minded, occasionally even inspired England coming up short against two gifted sides with a far greater tournament pedigree than our own doesn't strike me as a "disaster," though I accept the defence needs an overhaul (who doesn't). But to these eyes, this is actually an improvement on the nadir that was the soul-destroying excuse for a campaign in South Africa. Group DCosta Rica 1 Italy 0. As sharp as they were against Ingerland, the Azzuri were woeful in the Recife heat. Swampland clearly took its toll and even Andrea Pirlo showed signs of sweat. A second thoroughly deserved victory for a side dismissed as also-rans before a ball had been kicked. One point from the clash with Roy's boys is all they need so maybe they will rest a few. Mario won't be getting a snog from the Queen after all. Forget Suarez and Pirlo. Please God deliver me from any more of that self-serving bore R*bb*e Savage's whining. - dem "the voice of football" bones. |
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Post by ripper on Jun 21, 2014 11:04:28 GMT
Agreed with you about the ladies team needing to perform better in the finals next year than they did last time, but it's nice to have a straightforward qualification campaign, rather than the worry and nail-biting and endless media hype whenever the men's team try to qualify.
Hahahahahahaha...Roy's comments on keeping Suarez quiet was pure comedy gold! Was he being ironic?
I think we have decent players; certainly not world-beaters, but capable of playing better than they have done recently. The problem is making those individuals into a strong, disciplined unit, which is not a new problem, but perhaps has been more pronounced over the last few years. I am not sure about them being paid when playing for England. My feeling is that they still donate their fee. The line-up on tuesday will be very interesting. Possibly it will be an indication of how Roy wants to take the team over the next couple of years...not sure if his contract covers Euro 2016 or just the qualifiers.
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Post by Shrink Proof on Jun 21, 2014 11:13:55 GMT
Perhaps the England players would perform better if they were paid more to do so. Just a thought... They're on mad money with their clubs, its true, but didn't the squad make a collective decision several tournaments ago to donate their England wages to the Bobby Moore cancer charity? I stand to be corrected if that is no longer the case. - dem "the voice of football" bones. Point taken. The thing I was trying to get at (badly!) was that, as well as how the team played on the night(s), when examining decades of under-achievement, The State of The Game needs to be under the microscope too. Stuff like the pernicious influence of the Premier League, the TOTAL failure to invest in and develop grass roots football and the effect that Serious Money has on all this. When they hold the post mortem, TPTB should be looking at those things as well. But I'm pretty damn sure they won't.... Anyway, enough of this, back to Brazil! |
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Post by dem on Jun 21, 2014 15:26:43 GMT
Point taken. The thing I was trying to get at (badly!) was that, as well as how the team played on the night(s), when examining decades of under-achievement, The State of The Game needs to be under the microscope too. Stuff like the pernicious influence of the Premier League, the TOTAL failure to invest in and develop grass roots football and the effect that Serious Money has on all this. When they hold the post mortem, TPTB should be looking at those things as well. But I'm pretty damn sure they won't.... I agree, especially with the "But I'm pretty damn sure they won't...." sentiment. Greg Dyke has already made clear his disdain for those who do not earn Elton John/ Lottery win salaries , regardless that the majority of pro & semi pro players ply their trade in the once natural breeding ground, i'e. those nuisance lower/ non-league (see pulphack for definition) clubs. Further down the chain, the breeding ground of the breeding ground - the parks - disappear, sold off to supermarket chains and property developers a la school playing fields and cemeteries. In that respect, an already written off England not quite cutting it is a blessing. At least we've been spared all the party political "we're committed to sport!" post-Olympics bullshit. Also no slimy photo opportunities for C*m*reon, Cl*gg, Tony 'The 'Red Tory' Moribund, Nigel "He's everyone's mate. No, seriously, he's the kind of shitbag you'd want to share a pint with" Farage, etc. It's also rather lovely that Tesco's & Co. have been forced into a fire sale of tatty England merchandise. That limited edition, £75 deluxe, death resistant replica shirt doesn't seem such a great "investment" now. But back to Brazil and .... France 5 Switzerland 2 was far more exciting than any walkover has a right to be. Some fantastic goals (from both sides), the most dramatic and exciting penalty miss, and the ref blowing his whistle micro-seconds before what was well up there with the Tim Cahill and RVP goal-of-tournament contenders. The group stages have been one weird trip. Ecuador 2 Honduras 1. It was rough, but failed to live up to 22 red card expectations. |
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Post by jamesdoig on Jun 22, 2014 1:23:55 GMT
How have the Aus press reacted to your lads' going out, James? I'd be very surprised - and disappointed - if there were calls to sack the manager after two displays like that. It's all been positive really. The inclination is always to get some expensive overseas coach for the national team, but Ange Postecoglou has had great success in the Aus league and it's good they've given him a go - good foundation to build on. He made one stupid error - leaving Luke Wilkshire out of the squad - he could have prevented some of those defensive frailties. It's funny in Australia - more kids play soccer than any other sport, but by the time they're fifteen or sixteen they peel off into Aussie rules, or rugby, or league, or basketball or whatever. [/quote] |
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Post by dem on Jun 22, 2014 10:50:17 GMT
How have the Aus press reacted to your lads' going out, James? I'd be very surprised - and disappointed - if there were calls to sack the manager after two displays like that. It's all been positive really. The inclination is always to get some expensive overseas coach for the national team, but Ange Postecoglou has had great success in the Aus league and it's good they've given him a go - good foundation to build on. He made one stupid error - leaving Luke Wilkshire out of the squad - he could have prevented some of those defensive frailties. It's funny in Australia - more kids play soccer than any other sport, but by the time they're fifteen or sixteen they peel off into Aussie rules, or rugby, or league, or basketball or whatever. Hosting a world cup would soon fix that, and i'd honestly love you to get the opportunity. Rather Australia than Qatar any day. Group F Argentina 1 Iran 0. It's those "margins" that grim faced everybody keeps telling us about. In stark contrast to the drab watch they were versus Nigeria, Iran were spectacular today and scared the life out of fancied Argentina. Lionel Messi, a frustrated figure throughout, with a screamer on 90 mins. Meh. Bosnia-Hercegovina 0 Nigeria 1. Group G. The day's late show. Afraid I dozed off after P. Odemwingie's early goal, my subconscious obviously deciding that there'd be not much else to write home about, so it would be better to recharge the batteries. Haven't even caught the highlights package yet as they've got weedy rowing on instead. Group G Ghana 2 Germany 2. Another game of the tournament contender, the second half at least as both sides spent the first 45 getting to know each other. After the break, caution went out of the window in a see-saw battle of attack attack attack! Mario Gotze broke the deadlock on 51 when his downward header struck his knee and cannoned into the net. Twelve minutes later, Ghana were in front through a brilliant Andre Ayew header and a scorcher from Asamoah Gyan. With his side in trouble, Joach-Low sent on veteran Miroslav Klose, whose first contribution was to prod home the equaliser for his record-equalling 15th World Cup goal. Commendably, neither side shut up shop and went at each other hammer and tongs until final whistle. Today Group G . Portugal V USA. (BBC1, 23.00) With Australia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Cameroon, England, Honduras and Spain out, will this be the day we lose the Men of War too? That opening day mauling Vs. Germany has left Ronaldo and supporting cast hooked up to a life-support machine and USA will be on a high after dramatic late win over Ghana. Portugal don't do losing nicely. Potential fireworks. Group HBelgium V Russia (BBC1, 17.00). Belgium eventually came good versus Algeria, but it would be just like Capello to pull the fat out of the fire with his mystery man XI. Algeria V South Korea (ITV, 20.00) Might have to sacrifice this one, as bride of dem looking a bit miffed at rubbish husband's overnight transformation into a TV zombie. |
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Post by ripper on Jun 22, 2014 14:49:43 GMT
Iran were so unlucky and deserved the draw, and actually could easily have won. They made Argentina look rather average at times. An iranian win would have been even more of an upset than Costa Rica beating Italy.
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Post by dem on Jun 30, 2014 10:29:41 GMT
Am so pissed off to have fallen behind on this crap but, things happen. Will try get it up to date later, not that anyone could or should give a shit. Only caught the highlights packages for several of these, so incisive match reports even sketchier than usual. It's been dead brill, anyway. Group HBelgium 1 Russia 0. But for twenty minutes against Algeria and the last ten today, Belgium have been a very disappointing watch and if Capello's current mob could finish, they'd not be staring elimination in the face. The almost fabulously named teenage sub Divock Origi on 88 settled a deadly dull contest. Algeria 4 South Korea 2. What a FIFA ® Coca Cola Adidas McDonald Emirates Subway Bet 365 Head & Shoulders World Cup ™ ths has been! The Desert Foxes have clearly turned over a new leaf since S. Africa where they bored everybody rigid. And through an act of self-sacrifice of Captain Oates proportion, I king missed it! Group GPortugal 2 USA 2. But not to worry, because the day ended on another thriller. Nani benefited from slapstick defensive panic to give the Geezers an early lead before fading back into anomnity, but the Americans were by far the better side and the only surprise was they had to wait so long for the equalizer - an absolute screamer from Jermaine Jones. When Clint Dempsey, sporting an impressive shiner on account of his heroics versus Ghana, nudged the Yanks ahead it looked all over for their lacklustre opponents. but ... Ronaldo, modelling an impressive Zorro-slash haircut (worn in honour of an infant whose brain surgery he paid for), looked half-fit and bereft of form until the last minute of injury time when he found a sublime cross for Silvestre Varela to power past an inspired Tim Howard. Monday Group ABrazil 4 Cameroon 1. Pre-tournament, Pele was insistent that this Brazilian team was stronger defensively than they are in attack, which should serve as a warning against long-term Viagra use. To these eyes, they've been as woeful at the back as Neymar is prolific in front of goal, and far greater tests await. To their credit, the Lords of Discipline recovered from Golden boy's early opener to equalise on 26 mins, but match effectively settled when misfiring Fred made it 3-1 on 50 by nudging home a Luiz cross with his moustache. Croatia 1 Mexico 3In terms of entertainment value, no question that the Aztec's coach Miguel Herrera - quite conceivably the world's most overwrought man - has been a star of Brasil 2014. Ante Rebic's deserved straight red for a sour grapes injury-time time lunge on Carlos Pena was the Croat's most memorable contribution to a surprisingly one-sided contest. Group BAustralia 0 Spain 3. One game too many for the Aussies, two games too late for the deposed champs. Chile 0 Netherlands 2. As delighted as the Dutch were at the final whistle, the Chileans don't seem the slightest troubled at prospect of facing Brazil in the last sixteen. Just saying. Tuesday Group CColumbia 4 Japan 1. Had England finished runners-up, they'd now face the yellow perils in the knock outs, so maybe it is just as well things panned out how they did. Greece 2 Ivory Coast 1. You have to hand it to Greece. No matter how mediocre the opening performance, they always find it in them to blunder through the group stages. A late, debatable penalty, cooly netted by Georgios Samaras settled a surprisingly open game. Once again the Elephants flatter to deceive. Yaya Touré still moaning on and on about a lack of birthday-cake from his heartless, disrespectful Man City paymasters can't have done much for morale. Group DCosta Rica 0 England 0. Los Tico's didn't look like such great shakes but then, they didn't need to be. England's poorest performance gained them a belated point. After 20 mins of yawns, I hit 'record' just in case, switched sides for ..... Italy 0 Uruguay 1. You need a dash of nasty to make it a proper world cup and while hardly on a par with the celebrated "Battles" of Berne, Santiago or Nuremberg, this was one of the uglier confrontations. Claudio Marchisio's straight red on 50 minutes for a half-hearted studs-up was the first real action of note, after which the game swiftly reverted to its previous tedium until the face-eating fiend again greedily stole all the headlines for his monster munch on Giorgio Chiellini. It came as little surprise when captain Godin - who should have walked against England - scored with nine minutes to go to progress at the Azzuri's expense. Wednesday Group EEcuador 0 France 0. French squad players gained the point they needed to be doubly-sure of topping the group. Antonio Valencia has acquired a taste for seeing red although this time it was for a mis-timed tackle as opposed to an attempt at strangulation in a friendly. Honduras 0 Switzerland 3. Following criticism of their committed approach in the opening game, Honduras have toned down the ultra-violence, not that it has improved results. Come September, England face the Swiss in the Euro's. Group FArgentina 3 Nigeria 2. The Messi show. Again. An Argentina-Brazil final would not be the worst outcome. Bosnia-Hercegovina 3 Iran 1. Iran burned themselves out in that incredibly gallant late defeat V the Messi one. Had Edin Dzeko's strike versus the Super-Eagles not been incorrectly ruled offside, the B & H débutantes would have qualified at expense of Nigeria. It's all about those margins. Thursday Group GGhana 1 Portugal 2. After their super displays versus the USA and especially Germany, how depressing that the Black Stars should implode off the field, with Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng sent home on the eve of their crunch game vs. Ronaldo and supporting cast following a punch-up with a GFA official over appearance fees. A superb slice into his own net by John Boye helped the 'Geezers on their way to the hollowest of victories. Germany 1 USA 0. As if to dispell knowing pre-match murmors that these two would contrive a mutually beneficial draw, the Germans came charging out of the blocks and went at Tim Howard's goal hammer and tongs. The American's, with their tarantula-haircuts and uniform black eyes have brought much to the party, so very pleased to see them progress as group runners up. Group HBelgium 1 South Korea 0. Didn't fancy this in the slightest and opted instead for .... Algeria 1 Russia 1. A Fabio Capello side bowing out of a world cup with naary a whimper? As if that could ever happen. Actually, there were unwanted shades of England V. USA in S. Africa about this one with the Russians grabbing an early lead and looking comfortable until, on the hour, the Algerians caused panic from a corner. Some bozo in the crowd targeted Big Igor with a laser pen probably didn't help. Try that one against Brazil and see how far it gets you! |
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Post by ripper on Jun 30, 2014 16:32:36 GMT
England v Costa Rica...yawn...both teams apparently satisfied with the draw. Mystifying as far as England were concerned, for surely those young players would want to impress Roy prior to the start of the Euro 2016 qualifiers, which are only a few months away.
I'm sure Dem will be giving his excellent summaries for the beginning of the knockout stage in due course, but there have been some cracking games so far.
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Post by dem on Jul 3, 2014 16:29:27 GMT
Last 16 Brazil 1 Chile 1 (aet: Brazil win 3-2 on pens). Extremely harsh on Chile who, for much of the match, played the favourites off their own sacred turf. Brazil took an early lead when David Luiz got his perm on the end of a corner, but La Roja were deservedly level on the half-hour, Alexis Sánchez neatly slotting past QPR reject (but today's ultimate hero) Julio Cezar. The crowd did not enjoy that one bit, and their anxiety infected the favourites something terrible. With Neymar denied a sniff, and Fred as powder-puff as everyone says he is, it was left to a much-improved Hulk to lead the charge, but even when he eventually found a way past Claudio Bravo, Eng. ref. Howard Webb heroically risked public lynching by refusing to turn a blind eye to a blatant handball. It was all getting very hairy for the world champs elect and when Chilean sub Mauricio Pinilla unleashed a venomous rasper on 120 minutes, only the crossbar spared the Bel Horizonte riot police a punishing 48 hours. As it was, Brazil scraped through on pens after only missing two to their opponents' three, and the FIFA reps plus Brazilian govt. could finally extricate themselves from the toilet. Columbia 2 Uruguay 0. Their nickname, apparently, and very fabulously, is "the Coffee Growers", and Columbia are the only side left in the tournament who have given four convincing performances on the spin (Chile, with the prospect of facing Brazil as runners up, couldn't be arsed against Holland who reacted to victory as though they were world champ shoe-ins). Uruguay, equally improbably are "Le Celeste" which scarred veterans like self, who witnessed their on-field antics in the 70s and 80s, are inclined to find hilarious. Tim Cahill, already polishing his gong for goal-of-tournament not likely to be world's happiest man after witnessing magnificent brace from James 'Bond' Rodríguez. No surprise either in fellow contender Robin Van Persie throwing a sulky strop on being substituted after being totally useless in Holland's last gasp flukey triumph over 'Los Manitos' the following day. Incidentally, one day we will surely learn the true reasons for Gus Poyet's mysterious disappearance from the MOTD panel just as his fellow countryman had become eminently newsworthy. And on the subject of panellists, the boys in the lab have since confirmed that the increasingly hysterical Robbie Savage did indeed find it in himself to screech advice to Lionel Messi at close of normal time during instantly forgettable encounter with the Swiss. It might help if you were vaguely related to the same species, O self-serving one, something for which entire Argentinian public must thank their God each night that you are not. Costa Rica 1 Greece 1 (aet: CR win 5-3 on pens). A dire first half, the Greasers reprising the soul-sucking anti-football that has served them well-ish for a decade. Come half-time, however and some fool lost the script. Costa Rica went ahead on 52 with a Brian Ruiz miscue/ stroke of genius, only to lose Oscar Duarte to a second yellow ten minutes later. Cue Greece stirring from their slumbers to mount a series of forays past the half-way line. Much to our amazement, it all got rather thrilling and when Sokratis Papastathopoulos levelled almost on the stroke of full time we didn't mind a bit. Mexico 1 Netherlands 2. Somehow the eternal bridesmaids march on. If Chile could consider themselves desperately unfortunate versus the hosts, the Mexicans were mugged by Orange Banditi. When Holland duly evaporated in the mid-day heat, the first casualty was Honest Arjen Robben's legs and it was back to the familiar Tippy Tumbles routine, i.e., every dazzling dribble culminating in a swallow dive until the ref finally caves in and gifts him a penalty out of boredom. Mexico were brilliant for much of the game, and even if their slender lead (a Dos Santos pile driver on 48) was scant reward for their domination, it looked to be enough. That said, the Dutch are nothing if not resilient, and to come back from the dead in the 88th minute and net two past the brilliant Guillermo 'the Human Octopus ' Ochoa in rapid succession is no simple feat, even if one of 'em was a cheaply bought spot kick. France 2 Nigeria 0. A strange one. As tight a game as you'd expect at this stage, but the French fancies never looked in any danger even if it two goalkeeping slip-ups to clinch the deal. Paul Pogba's studied indifference to finally breaking the deadlock was worthy of somebody mad. Algeria 1 Germany 2 (a.e.t.). On the strength of their 2010 and Africa Cup of Nations performances, I had the Algerians' card marked as Greece minus the excitement, but they were brilliant and pushed a far "better" team all the way. With the unusually flustered Germans leading 1-0, Mesut 'Slayer' Özil, who has taken his Arsenal form into the tournament in a terrible way, finally decided matters by slotting past goalkeeping colossus Rais M'Bolias on 119 minutes which was just as well as the never-say-die desert desperadoes immediately galloped down the pitch to pull one back. As with Chile, USA and Mexico, the Algerians have contributed much to the competition and dem sorry to see them go home. Argentina 1 Switzerland 0 (aet). as with Brazil, so with their despised arch rivals. The 2014 World Cup has spoiled us something rotten for excitement, so you can hardly complain at the very occasional drab-fest. Anyone who only tuned in for the last four minutes of extra time got the best of the deal, as it had been an incident-free zone until then, save for a few decent pot-shots from St. Lionel and a hilariously incompetent attempt at show-boating by Angel di Maria. Admittedly, the goal, when it eventually arrived was a gem, and still time for the Swiss to bomb down the other end and strike a post. Belgium 2 USA 1 (a.e.t). To wipe out the memory of the day's earlier turkey, a proper thriller . Come close of tournament, when FIFA draw up their 'Total Gods of World Cup XI', you can bet no American will make the cut, but their eleven non-superstar grafters have been an absolute joy to watch. As for the Red Devils, they showed signs that they are finally ready for blast off and had it not been for the heroics of Tim Howard, whose hands, face and beard expanded to repel attack after attack, Eden Hazard gang would have been spared a further gruelling half hour's slog. And what is this: the great American public seemingly unanimous in appreciation of sportsmen whose 2014 WC record ultimately reads P4 Won 1 Drew 1 LOST 2? Truly we live in enlightened times. Last Eight A sneak preview of the weekend fixtures from Vault's no. 1 sports correspondent, the man the international coaches read, etc.They've already been out-thought and even outplayed by fellow S. Americans Mexico and Chile, and it gets no easier for Brazil against a super-confident Columbia (who., on their performances to date are Chile ramped up to 11). The Sons of Harald Schumacher face an in-form France, but I reckon the German's will just find enough to win through. Belgium showed belated spasms of life versus the US and can pose fellow under-performers Argentinian a nightmare or two. Costa Rica have already seen off two sides as skilful as they are adept in the Black Arts, and any lessons learned will come in handy now they face the masters of gamesmanship in the Netherlands. As it is, CR are the only side left whose further progress will register as a genuine shock. |
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Post by dem on Jul 5, 2014 14:58:55 GMT
The f**k FIFA Brazil 2014 World Cup™ Quarter finals.France 0 Germany 1. Had this been an evening game, we could now be talking one of the classics, as it was, and through no fault of the teams, I've witnessed more competitive Subbuteo pre-season friendles. Quite simply, the game died in the heat. The Fatherland edged the battle of the melting men through Mats Hummels' powerful header before the French had woken up, after which - nothing much. A particularly horrible stop-start second half, liberally festooned with cynical fouls and play-acting by those players who'd not already dissolved into puddles of goo just kind of fizzled out. Les Blues contributed very little as an attacking force until Manuel Neuer's denied an angled drive from goal-greedy Benzema to prevent 30 minutes extra-torture. Not the greatest start to the last eight. Brazil 2 Columbia 1.  Ugly as it often was, this was far more like it. No team has ever won a world cup without first developing a mean streak - even the justly celebrated Brazil 70 maestro's were bruisers to a man when needs be - and, terrified that James Rodríguez would do to them what he has to everyone else, tactical genius Phil 'Big Phil' Scolari dipped into the 'Play In A Day the Honduras Way' coaching manual for a ruse to stop the wonderkid! It wasn't subtle but, with the benefit of a suspiciously lenient referee and a man-eating giant grasshopper, it worked. Columbia began like they were modelling their game on England's and duly fell behind on 7 mins when Thiago Silva pulled his invisible man routine to get on the end of Neymar's corner. Despite the bruised and battered Rodríguez pulling one back from the penalty spot on 80, David Luiz's admittedly glorious free kick ultimately proved decisive. Bored of watching Fernandinho boot his mate up in the air every tiime he even looked at the ball, Juan Zuniga dished out some retribution of his own with a spine-breaking attack on the man who would be king. Exit on a stretcher an understandably distraught Neymar with a tournament totalling fractured vertebrae. So not-a-vintage-Brazil-side have overcome Mexico, Chile and Columbia but now battle perennial skeletons at the feast in not-a-vintage-German-side for right to fight it out with either not-a-vintage-Argentinian-side or not-a-vintage-Netherlands-side in next Sunday's final. Unless ... Today Costa Rica V Netherlands
Argentina V Belgium
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Post by ripper on Jul 6, 2014 8:01:11 GMT
Costa Rica were magnificent last night. Yes, Netherlands really should have won it in normal time and CR should probably have had a player sent off, but they played with passion, and no-one could have predicted they would take the mighty dutch with their superstar players to penalties in the quarter final. Hope they get a reception appropriate to their wonderful achievement upon their return to Costa Rica.
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Post by dem on Jul 8, 2014 14:00:21 GMT
Argentina 1 Belgium 0: Argentina deservedly and relatively comfortably saw off the Belgians thanks to a swashbuckling display from Gonzalo Higuain who stabbed home a loose ball on eight minutes and made a thorough nuisance of himself throughout. "Golden generation" they may be, but the Red Devil's are not the easiest on the eye and somehow even their lightening counter attacks have a slow motion quality to them. Was pretty glad this one did not require extra time, to be honest. Costa Rica 0 Netherlands 0 (a.e.t. Netherlands win 4-2 on penalties). Costa Rica were magnificent last night. Yes, Netherlands really should have won it in normal time and CR should probably have had a player sent off, but they played with passion, and no-one could have predicted they would take the mighty dutch with their superstar players to penalties in the quarter final. Hope they get a reception appropriate to their wonderful achievement upon their return to Costa Rica. Can only agree with Rip. A marvellous backs to wall display by the last surviving likeable side in the competition. The Orange fairy tale killers dominated possession, struck the woodwork three times and generally put the CONCACAF upstarts under the cosh, but could find no way past the omnipresent Giancarlo Gonzalez and net-minder supreme Keylor Navas. When CR survived a mad 120th minute goal-mouth scramble to take it to penalties, Louis Van Gaal proved that he has bollocks of Buster Gonad proportion with tactical substitution of Tim Krul for Jasper Cillessen. It worked. The second-choice keeper spat, went boss-eyed, waggled his tongue, performed a spoons solo and generally distracted his opponents to extent that they fluffed two of their four spot kicks. Today Semi-Final 1: Brazil V Germany. (BBC1. 21.00) Would the Neymar-less hosts rather lose to Germany than risk prospect of defeat in own playground by their most despised enemies in entire universe, an Argentina who seem finally to have clicked?
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Post by jamesdoig on Jul 8, 2014 22:09:19 GMT
Today Semi-Final 1: Brazil V Germany. (BBC1. 21.00) Can't quite believe what I've just seen with that game. |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jul 9, 2014 7:34:26 GMT
Today Semi-Final 1: Brazil V Germany. (BBC1. 21.00) Can't quite believe what I've just seen with that game. Somewhat astounding. I'm very used to the German game. That driving through the central defense is a common theme. Normally though there is a defense to stop the remorseless blitzkrieg. I'm putting it down to a) massive corruption (I don't think this is really true) b) a miserable Brazilian performance coinciding with an exceptional German performance |
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