World Cup predictions anyone?

[FrantzM]

No, it's not the fault of the players. Who picked them in the first place? Scolari!

As mucha as americans don't admit it, there's a lot of strategy and planning in football (ermm.. soccer). And Brazil is stuck in the 50s, with the "brute force, brute talent" mentality. No, it takes A LOT more than individual skill these days to win a World Cup, specially one where *Costa Rica* is going as far as they went.

Germany is more than an adversary, they should be an example. But, knowing how brazilians think, they'll put the blame on an individual (or two), and keep doing things the usual way. They'll find the next "saviour" (coach, highly skilled player, etc.), until we find ourselves lucky again and win another WC again (like we did in 2002).

Now, go Holland!

alexandre

Alexandre


I tend to agree with you. After the loss to France I thought that Brazil would have a hard look and change their strategy. The seemingly infinte pool of superlative talents had them (and us the fans) forget about that. Most of the past Brazilian team who won the Cup were immensely talented. The cohesion the German (or the Ditch) display has never been seen in any Brazilian team since the 70's when one pauses and thinks of it. When one looks at Scolari his philosophy is never clearly expressed or explained ... He seems to get by criticism by winning with teams so rich in talent they didn't even need a coach. he has parlayed himself to remain there .. the soccer equivalent of Jason Kidd if you will , although he won, something that can't be said about Jason as a coach ... Yesterday Brazil was exposed. The mind numbing talent of Neymar who occupies the thought of every player from the opposite team and the defensive genius of Tiago weren't present to blunt the sharpness of the German team. They got humiliated without these guys they would have merelylost with them. I fear for Argentina as they don't have a team either, although they still have Messi and an apparently healthy Messi at that. Interesting game later. I like the german team and I can see a Holland - Germany and would like the Orange crush to drink some orange juice from the cup

 

[asiufy]

I think Argentina's problem is simple: they don't have a good enough team to back Messi. I mean, both in skill and tactical preparation. The current crop of players is, frankly, horrible. Higuain? That guy shouldn't even be on their bench. The only good player on that team is Di Maria, who's out of the match today.

Just look at the silly amount of attempts they can get in a game, and how little they end up scoring. Now, I haven't seen enough of their games to know if their problem is simple lack of cohesion between the players, or lack of individual skill, but it's a fact that Messi deserved a better bunch of supporting players.

I remember the last WC, Argentina were putting their bets on Messi, and that led them nowhere. This time, they seem to be going down the same path. Fortunately, for them, their opponents were all rather on the easy side (Iran? Bosnia?), so now it's really the first proper team they're facing. Messi can score his goal, out of sheer talent, but Holland will strike back and do 2, like they did with Australia (remember Tim Cahill's skill shot?).


alexandre

 

[wisnon]

The Germans will fear playing Holland more, why? Because the pace of Robben and the young guns will expose Mertesacker and Boetang. This time Neuer can run out and play sweeper like against Algeria as Van Persie, et all will punish him mercilessly.

Messi tries to do too much and holds the ball too long. He will attact too many fouls that way and also makes the play somewhat predictable.

Scolari is a buffoon! To insist on playing Fred/Paulinho/Oscar for so long says it all. Fred makes Serginho seem like a star player. Willian was the best of the bunch last night. Marcelo was woeful.

 

[edorr]

I think Argentina's problem is simple: they don't have a good enough team to back Messi. I mean, both in skill and tactical preparation. The current crop of players is, frankly, horrible. Higuain? That guy shouldn't even be on their bench. The only good player on that team is Di Maria, who's out of the match today.

Just look at the silly amount of attempts they can get in a game, and how little they end up scoring. Now, I haven't seen enough of their games to know if their problem is simple lack of cohesion between the players, or lack of individual skill, but it's a fact that Messi deserved a better bunch of supporting players.

I remember the last WC, Argentina were putting their bets on Messi, and that led them nowhere. This time, they seem to be going down the same path. Fortunately, for them, their opponents were all rather on the easy side (Iran? Bosnia?), so now it's really the first proper team they're facing. Messi can score his goal, out of sheer talent, but Holland will strike back and do 2, like they did with Australia (remember Tim Cahill's skill shot?).


alexandre

Messi is slowing down the tempa, and very prone to losing the ball in midfield, which will be lethal against a good counter team like Holland. My prediction is he will do just that and lose the game for Argentina. I've seen him do it before with Barcelona in an important game.

 

[wisnon]

Messi is slowing down the tempa, and very prone to losing the ball in midfield, which will be lethal against a good counter team like Holland. My prediction is he will do just that and lose the game for Argentina. I've seen him do it before with Barcelona in an important game.

Dayum Edorr, you know your football! Messi needs to speed it up and use his teammates more, even if he doesnt fully trust them. They can only win by going back to their traditional cha-cha-cha football rythym, like in the Days of Diego and before.

 

[Mike]

No, it's not the fault of the players. Who picked them in the first place? Scolari!

As mucha as americans don't admit it, there's a lot of strategy and planning in football (ermm.. soccer). And Brazil is stuck in the 50s, with the "brute force, brute talent" mentality. No, it takes A LOT more than individual skill these days to win a World Cup, specially one where *Costa Rica* is going as far as they went.

Germany is more than an adversary, they should be an example. But, knowing how brazilians think, they'll put the blame on an individual (or two), and keep doing things the usual way. They'll find the next "saviour" (coach, highly skilled player, etc.), until we find ourselves lucky again and win another WC again (like we did in 2002).

Now, go Holland!

alexandre

I'm actually Scottish, so I get the strategy and planning. Jock Stein took Celtic to the European Cup final and won as the first U.K. team to do so, using stradegy and planning. I just think that the Brazilian team looked like it wasn't really trying. Players know that they need to mark their man. I wonder if the pressure just got to them.

With regards to Argentina - and I hope I'm not derailing this thread of John's - I forgot that Alfredo Di Stéfano passed away. Maradona, Messi and he is an impressive list for 1 country.

 

[Vincent Kars]

Some more



Plan B


Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.

Gary Lineker

 

[andromedaaudio]

The dutch have four traumas:

1 spain worldcup final 4 years ago , took revenge in the first match
2 penalty series in world cups solved that against costa rica
3 argentina from who we lost a prior final ...on the menu for tonight
4 germany dont need to mention why , we gonna sovle thatin the final sunday ,... i hope

let the games begin good luck holland i think 2-1 for holland

 

[docvale]

Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.

Gary Lineker

Unless they play against Italy

Jokes apart, an impressive performance from Germany, against a totally temper inadeguate Brazil. Apparently, some dudes are posting the videos of the German goals on porn websites, as they "f*@#ed" the Brazilians so much!
I would truly like to see a European team grabbing the Cup in South America, but I will cheer for Holland

Anyway, having counted on Brazilian players to build my fantasy soccer team was not the best idea...

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Awful first half by the Dutch.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Congrats to Argentina.

I do think they wanted it more and Netherlands played awful. Fair result, although I'm major league disappointed.

 

[JackD201]

Heartbreaker Johnny

On to the Finals!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Yeah...on to the Finals.

I hope they let Brazil win for 3rd place. It don't matter anyway.

I'll be rooting for Germany. Not because I'm a fan, because I'm not....but I love the way they play football.

 

[asiufy]

What a shame...
Hope the Germans do us proud, and score at least 4 on the 'hermanos'...
I just thought Holland would've been bolder, more on the attack. They were simply too cautious. And WTF Van Gaal, why didn't you save a substitution for Krul? He would've saved a few of those penalty kicks...


alexandre

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

What a shame...
Hope the Germans do us proud, and score at least 4 on the 'hermanos'...
I just thought Holland would've been bolder, more on the attack. They were simply too cautious. And WTF Van Gaal, why didn't you save a substitution for Krul? He would've saved a few of those penalty kicks...


alexandre

That's exactly what I expected to happen at the start of the game. And as the game progressed and nothing happened I sat there in complete disbelief. I thought for sure LvG was going to change tactics at the half, but nooooooooo......

 

[Mike]

Not a great game. I didn't get the penalties. Why did the big defender go first for Holland? Schneider didn't look like he wanted to take his penalty.
Germany will destroy Argentina.

 

[asiufy]

Germany will destroy Argentina.

One can only hope!
Germany deserves the title far more than Argentina, that's for sure.


alexandre

 

[JackD201]

Germany and Argentina have heavy backers

 

[wisnon]

One can only hope!
Germany deserves the title far more than Argentina, that's for sure.


alexandre

Dont be so sure. Germany may have the better team, but the Albis are very wily and that Perez is playing better than Di Maria was.

Argentina campeon, campeon del mundo!

The Cup is not leaving South America. History tells us that.

 

[wisnon]

Not a great game. I didn't get the penalties. Why did the big defender go first for Holland? Schneider didn't look like he wanted to take his penalty.
Germany will destroy Argentina.

It was a VERY good game, just not an exciting one. 2 very competent teams keeping things tight. It was the Brazil final that was a lousy contest, even if exciting.