World Cup predictions anyone?

[ipadasher]

Colombia is a very good team, same level as Chile

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Uruguay is so lost without Suarez. Cavani, Maxi Perera(?) et al are trying, but it's just not there.

 

[flez007]

tomorrow is D-day for Mexico - beers are lined-up!

 

[Asamel]

I hate it when games are decided on penalty kicks!

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

tomorrow is D-day for Mexico - beers are lined-up!

Good luck to us both my friend!

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Mexico had us. They really did and I thought we deserved a loss for the first 80 minutes. They completely, and I mean completely, shut down the midfield and had us scrambling for every touch on the ball. But then they changed focus and decided to defend the lead. Big mistake. Holland kept attacking, getting corners and you knew the ball was not going to stay out forever. And it didn't when Wesley Sneijder blew a rocket into the lower left side of the net that was unstoppable. Smelling a rise in fortunes the Dutch pressed on were awarded a Penalty Kick. A decision that will be debated for some time. Dutch substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar didn't disappoint and drilled home the winner.

Call it luck, call it whatever, but I view it this way. Great teams dig deep when called upon. My Oranje dug deep today!

 

[Mike]

Mexico had us. They really did and I thought we deserved a loss for the first 80 minutes. They completely, and I mean completely, shut down the midfield and had us scrambling for every touch on the ball. But then they changed focus and decided to defend the lead. Big mistake. Holland kept attacking, getting corners and you knew the ball was not going to stay out forever. And it didn't when Wesley Sneijder blew a rocket into the lower left side of the net that was unstoppable. Smelling a rise in fortunes the Dutch pressed on were awarded a Penalty Kick. A decision that will be debated for some time. Dutch substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar didn't disappoint and drilled home the winner.

Call it luck, call it whatever, but I view it this way. Great teams dig deep when called upon. My Oranje dug deep today!

I don't think that was a penalty.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I don't think that was a penalty.

I'm following the WC conversations on several boards and it seems to be split.

 

[Mike]

I'm following the WC conversations on several boards and it seems to be split.

He has a history for diving, no? Very good player, none the less.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

He has a history for diving, no? Very good player, none the less.

Oh yes...he's an accomplished drama queen for sure! LOL!

 

[edorr]

Mexico had us. They really did and I thought we deserved a loss for the first 80 minutes. They completely, and I mean completely, shut down the midfield and had us scrambling for every touch on the ball. But then they changed focus and decided to defend the lead. Big mistake. Holland kept attacking, getting corners and you knew the ball was not going to stay out forever. And it didn't when Wesley Sneijder blew a rocket into the lower left side of the net that was unstoppable. Smelling a rise in fortunes the Dutch pressed on were awarded a Penalty Kick. A decision that will be debated for some time. Dutch substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar didn't disappoint and drilled home the winner.

Call it luck, call it whatever, but I view it this way. Great teams dig deep when called upon. My Oranje dug deep today!

Johnny, you completely misread the game. Dominating a game means nothing and in 100 degrees it is actually a disadvantage because you burn energy. What counts is creating chances (which is not a function of domination), converting chances and not giving away anything defensively. Holland played a masterful game tactically. Mexico did the work, Holland created more chances. The ONLY game they got lucky was against Australia (which should have been a draw). Against Chile and Mexico they had the same gameplan and it worked brilliantly. Holland was denied a clear penalty in the first half and was simply playing smarter. For the casual observer it may have looked like they were outplayed. They were not.

 

[Mike]

Greece and Costa Rica are woeful. I'm only watching it cuz Sammy plays for Celtic, the big Greek tradgedy that he is.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Johnny, you completely misread the game. Dominating a game means nothing and in 100 degrees it is actually a disadvantage because you burn energy. What counts is creating chances (which is not a function of domination), converting chances and not giving away anything defensively. Holland played a masterful game tactically. Mexico did the work, Holland created more chances. The ONLY game they got lucky was against Australia (which should have been a draw). Against Chile and Mexico they had the same gameplan and it worked brilliantly. Holland was denied a clear penalty in the first half and was simply playing smarter. For the casual observer it may have looked like they were outplayed. They were not.

That's an interesting look at it, but I can't agree with your spin on it. Especially this and I quote:

Holland played a masterful game tactically.

I saw nothing but incomplete passes and turnovers and a team fighting to save themselves from drowning........but I'm glad they didn't and won.

 

[ipadasher]

I think it was penalty, I agree with Johnny, on his conclusion about the game, First Half was very bad for holland, they did not show up for the game. Next game it will be very easy for holland , so they are for sure getting to the semifinals

 

[edorr]

I think it was penalty, I agree with Johnny, on his conclusion about the game, First Half was very bad for holland, they did not show up for the game. Next game it will be very easy for holland , so they are for sure getting to the semifinals

It was not a pretty first half, but Mexico burned through more energy in the sweltering heat and Holland gave away almost nothing and was denied a penalty so should have been up 1-0. I say great first half for Holland.

 

[asiufy]

Johnny, you completely misread the game. Dominating a game means nothing and in 100 degrees it is actually a disadvantage because you burn energy. What counts is creating chances (which is not a function of domination), converting chances and not giving away anything defensively. Holland played a masterful game tactically. Mexico did the work, Holland created more chances. The ONLY game they got lucky was against Australia (which should have been a draw). Against Chile and Mexico they had the same gameplan and it worked brilliantly. Holland was denied a clear penalty in the first half and was simply playing smarter. For the casual observer it may have looked like they were outplayed. They were not.

I don't even think they got lucky with Australia, they simply outplayed them. As you said yourself, possession of the ball and apparent domination doesn't win games anymore. Barcelona knows that, and the Spanish team too.

The dutch are to be congratulated. They really seem to be more "into it" than previous World Cups. I'm officially scared of them now

I think it was a penalty, and Mexico lost because the coach changed tactic after the water break on the 2nd half, around the 33 min. mark. They went too far into their defense. That NEVER works against Holland...

As for Greece, Costa Rica should've won on the normal playing time, but they should've done what Mexico did: put 11 players in the box. When Greece scored, there were like 3 or 4 Costa Rica players on the midfield, perhaps expecting a counter-attack, while the ball was being played on Costa Rica's box. With a suicidal team like the Greek, that never works...



alexandre

 

[edorr]

I don't even think they got lucky with Australia, they simply outplayed them. As you said yourself, possession of the ball and apparent domination doesn't win games anymore. Barcelona knows that, and the Spanish team too.

alexandre

You're probably right. The Aussies were chasing the ball like madman, and it was obvious they would pay the price towards the end of the game. The penalty against was not a penalty, and cahill's goal was just one of the 1 in a 1000 goals that you can't do much against, so Hollands basically gave away close to nothin, the tactics were worked and they deserved the win.

 

[ipadasher]

Totally disagree, they played such a masterful game, that they almost went home. They were lucky, which is crucial in this game, that's it. Let's hope they play well against Argentina in the semifinal.

Johnny, you completely misread the game. Dominating a game means nothing and in 100 degrees it is actually a disadvantage because you burn energy. What counts is creating chances (which is not a function of domination), converting chances and not giving away anything defensively. Holland played a masterful game tactically. Mexico did the work, Holland created more chances. The ONLY game they got lucky was against Australia (which should have been a draw). Against Chile and Mexico they had the same gameplan and it worked brilliantly. Holland was denied a clear penalty in the first half and was simply playing smarter. For the casual observer it may have looked like they were outplayed. They were not.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I think France and Germany will end up winning their matches today, but I hope Nigeria and Algeria make them work for it.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

This FRA-NGA game has great pace. Really enjoyable.