Who's ready for the World Cup?

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by ade06

Might help if you put down the booze.

No booze for me YET! Have to drive, alcohol & traffic don't go hand & hand.

[ade06]

Wow!!! Bye bye Brazil

[landhoney]

How about a Germany vs. Netherlands final?

[Don Fernando]

I think it will be Spain vs Netherlands.

[Superbad]

Wahoo! Go Netherlands! I am so glad they beat Brazil!

Got the booze ready for you ferdinand

[MiamiE]

I am hoping for a Germany v. Netherlands!

[Pass]

Originally Posted by landhoney

How about a Germany vs. Netherlands final?

I'm hoping for it! Go Deutschland!!!!

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

I think it will be Spain vs Netherlands.

...How 'bout no. LOL. The odds favor Spain v Netherlands... but my heart desires (and we all know the universe revolves around my desires) a GER V NED

Originally Posted by MiamiE

I am hoping for a Germany v. Netherlands!

^^What he said.

[md4958]

Holy crap! Congrats Ferdinand!

[TheRiddick]

I was talking with someone about the Dutch, this past Monday, and told the guy how impressed I am with their midfield, to me the best (by far) midfield in WC, everyone is fast and working non-stop. I am still not that impressed with their defense, but if mids hold up in the final this will be interesting.

Hopefully, Germans will follow suit and knock Argentina out (against my prediction). All euro final is more than fine with me...

[fhrblig]

I'm hoping for Uruguay v. Paraguay in the final.


2 Guays enter, only one Guay leaves.

2 Guays, one (World) Cup.

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by fhrblig

I'm hoping for Uruguay v. Paraguay in the final.


2 Guays enter, only one Guay leaves.

2 Guays, one (World) Cup.

[Smokin Gator]

I was dying to open this thread but couldn't until I finished watching the recorded match... Congrats the Netherlands!!! I didn't hold a lot of hope for them but they overcame a lot. They had Brazil so rattled it was funny!!! Congrats to Simon and Ferdie!!!

[TheRiddick]

Ghana got what it deserved with all the acting and faking BS. Suarez, who could have and should have finished the game on at least 2 occasions in second half (how the hell do you miss from 8 feet out on an empty net?) at least redeemed himself with the hand ball. I predict at least 3-0 when Dutch take on Uruguay, have no idea how such a mediocre team makes it to semis of WC.

[Pass]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Ghana got what it deserved with all the acting and faking BS. Suarez, who could have and should have finished the game on at least 2 occasions in second half (how the hell do you miss from 8 feet out on an empty net?) at least redeemed himself with the hand ball. I predict at least 3-0 when Dutch take on Uruguay, have no idea how such a mediocre team makes it to semis of WC.

Actually it's easier to do than you think lol. But yes... Missing that goal was terrible. The Uruguay keeper is a national hero today for those 2 saves during penalty shots.

As for how did they make it? Well, they typically play a lock down defense and rely on Forlan and Suarez to counter attack and score... While they certainly aren't the best, they're far from bad. They also got lucky with the group and bin draws... bin 1 was basically a cake walk with the exception of Brazil and Netherlands (it was a real cake for them lol). Whereas bin 2 is a nightmare.

As for the score between Uruguay and Netherlands. I won't go 3-0. But I foresee something closer to 2-1.

[St. Lou Stu]

Originally Posted by Pass

As for the score between Uruguay and Netherlands. I won't go 3-0. But I foresee something closer to 2-1.

Maybe, Maybe not.... I woulda never guessed Brazil lost 2-1

[Pass]

Originally Posted by St. Lou Stu

Maybe, Maybe not.... I woulda never guessed Brazil lost 2-1

I did... Won me $5 at work .

Brazil just hasn't been playing that well. They also get rattled too easily, and Netherlands is pretty good at rattling the cage. It was over the minute NED scored their goal to tie it up.

Statistically speaking, Brazil "should" have won the game. But the funny thing about statistics in soccer. They're only good until kick off. There's so many mental aspects to the game

Tomorrow's game - GER v ARG I predict overtime. Statistically, ARG should win. However, it's hard to say how well they will play from behind if GER scores first. Germany has the discipline to pick ARG apart... provided that Germany continues to do well behind the ball and maintain possession.

[Pass]

Originally Posted by St. Lou Stu

Maybe, Maybe not.... I woulda never guessed Brazil lost 2-1

Also, we're talking about the Semi's here... You can look for most teams to score, and then secure their lead with one more goal. Once they have it, they'll typically go into a conservative lock-down mode and try to maintain possession. Taking shots leaves you vulnerable to counter attacks. But if you keep possession of the ball and control the midfield while only taking carefully set up shots you can diminish your opponents chances on counter.

This is why you see so many teams this late in the stages with 2-1, 2-0 victories... or going to over time and penalty kicks.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by Pass

Actually it's easier to do than you think lol. But yes... Missing that goal was terrible. The Uruguay keeper is a national hero today for those 2 saves during penalty shots.

As for how did they make it? Well, they typically play a lock down defense and rely on Forlan and Suarez to counter attack and score... While they certainly aren't the best, they're far from bad. They also got lucky with the group and bin draws... bin 1 was basically a cake walk with the exception of Brazil and Netherlands (it was a real cake for them lol). Whereas bin 2 is a nightmare.

As for the score between Uruguay and Netherlands. I won't go 3-0. But I foresee something closer to 2-1.

Don't want to argue, but if you think Uruguay play lock down defense I have news for you. They will be taken apart by a decent team (I consider Ghana "4th best" of the African teams in WC), they are lucky they played Ghana.

As for missing from 8 feet out, well, I play and even I, at my old age would consider it a shame, for a professional to do so is ridiculous IMO. Not that Suarez is alone in this, Forlan was doing this crap to ManU before being shipped out (I was ripping my hair out every time he played for us). Yes, I know misses happen, but they are still inexcusable.

[Pass]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Don't want to argue, but if you think Uruguay play lock down defense I have news for you. They will be taken apart by a decent team (I consider Ghana "4th best" of the African teams in WC), they are lucky they played Ghana.

As for missing from 8 feet out, well, I play and even I, at my old age would consider it a shame, for a professional to do so is ridiculous IMO. Not that Suarez is alone in this, Forlan was doing this crap to ManU before being shipped out (I was ripping my hair out every time he played for us). Yes, I know misses happen, but they are still inexcusable.

Actually... they typically do. At least tactically speaking. Their line up, formation, and initial strategy all indicate lock-down (I'm not talking Switzerland lockdown here lol). Lack of communication or individual error behind the ball is their real defensive problem as I see it.

Ghana is a good team. They have a plethora of talent... and luck, apparently. Their problem is that most of their team are real young bucks with no experience. Takes time to develop a finishing touch.

Most strikers have plenty of misses that shouldn't be misses. Not every striker is David Villa. Putting that solid finishing touch on a ball (especially off of a cross) while running isn't easy. Hell, Ronaldo, Robinho, Fabiano, Messi, Higuain, Ozil, Klose chip shots all the time... and they're considered some of the best strikers in the world.

I also played, granted, I was a midfielder / stopper / and sometimes fullback, so I can't speak from a striker perspective... but I did have plenty of shots on goal and a couple of goals from 30+yrds out... but I when I got up into that 18yrd box, I had plenty of trouble with finishes.

As for Uruguay... I have no doubt that Netherlands will pick their defense apart. But I honestly don't foresee a 3-0 trouncing. I doubt that Forlan will go quietly into that good night. Plus the Dutch have discipline... I think they'll secure their victory and happily hold onto the ball while draining the clock. Why give Suarez and Forlan more shots on their goal?