Well it's going to start in a minute, I'm predicting a 2 -1 win for Argentina.
Either that or Germany takes the game after penalties.
:balloon2:
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Well it's going to start in a minute, I'm predicting a 2 -1 win for Argentina.
Either that or Germany takes the game after penalties.
:balloon2:
1 minute until kickoff! I'm predicting 2 - 1 for Germany, but I'm not sure after the volley that made Argentina defeat Mexico...
Not a very attractive first half :blank2:
Argentina has been clearly the better team so far - many errors by the German team in midfield.
If it continues like that it will only a matter of time until an Argentinian player gets through and scores a goal...
Welll ... let's see...
But oh so tactically beautiful :grin:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ser Clegane
Germans had the best scoring chance so far, Argentina had some situations close to a lethal breakaway but they were stopped. I'd say the teams have been equal in scoring opportunities despite the superior ball possession percentage of Argentina. The weak German midfield and lack of offensive pressure surprised me. Are they using deception tactics or are Argentina so much superior? I suppose Germany will strenghten the midfield and offense in the next half, and Argentina to bring forth their killer instincts to get some shots towards the German goal. I don't know who would benefit from 0-0 going to shootout. All in all it seems like a close game where tactics, or individual mistakes, will determine the outcome. But I also expect huge changes in many aspects by next half so it's difficult to make any predictions because it'll probably not look like this for much longer - or?
Second half was much more interesting ... overall a lucky 1 - 1 for us...
Now I'm gonna bite my nails...
yup, argentina was the better team for most of this game, but they faded fast towards the end. the german fitness may be the difference since this went to OT.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ser Clegane
if argentina loses, the coach will take the blame.. neither messi nor saviola were subbed in?? :inquisitive:
Yeah I did expect Pekerman to substitute Messi for Tévez, he didn't however. Maybe the unfortunate accident which the goaly had in the second half is the cause of it never happening ?
Oh well, if it comes to penalties, then I predict a German win - as said before.
:balloon2:
well, he took out crespo.. but he puts in cruz instead of messi? wha?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch_guy
and cambiaso is a good player and has been in this WC. but why not put in saviola for tevez? i guess they were going deffensive since they were up 1-0. even so, saviola can play the defensive midfield role.
if messi and saviola were in this game, i think argentina would have scored again by now.
EDIT: ugh. PKs. lame. these teams are too good to let this be decided by PKs. that's really a shame. oh well.
well, you had to give germany the advantage in PKs.. lehmann vs the backup? no.
too bad, i think argentina was the better team. but this opens things up now. will have to see what happens vs france, but from the way germany looked today, i don't think they will beat brazil.
All is lost.
Can Soulforged explain the Argentinian substitutions? Can anyone?
I'm glad Saviola wasn't in, however Messi should have gone in instead of Cruz. You could see the argentinian play completely drift off course with high longballs instead of the passing they showed in the first half and beginning second half. Messi could have brought so much pressure and danger to the german team, I'm sure of it.
Now the wretched, undeserving beasts have gone through. Ugh.
We won. Nice.:2thumbsup:
I should have put money on my PK prediction...:skull:
Must say the Germans are a very effective PK kicking force, not a chance for the sub-keeper.
It's also pretty ironic that Ayala scored the very first goal, but then failed to score the penalty...
:balloon2:
Yeaaaaaaaaaa for Germany.
Well done Germany. :embarassed:
However I think the Argys won the fistfight afterwards. :sweatdrop:
What was that all about really, anyone know ?Quote:
Originally Posted by InsaneApache
:balloon2:
of every player in the WC, tevez is the one i'd least like to get in a fight with. dude is built like a fireplug.
2-1, pretty well predicted on my part, because prediction-wise winning in penalty shootout with plenty of goals is IMO pretty close to winning with one goal before full time... Anyway amazing how Pekerman gave away his victory. NEVER make defensive substitutions when you're leading with only 1 goal! It lost him the initiative, the offensive power (and Argentina without offensive pressure hasn't got much of a defense), and later also the penalty shootout. With Riquelme out the Germans really dominated the midfield. Odonkor was a splendid substitution - he is really one of the most important German players alongside Ballack, Klose and Podolski IMO. Even though he wasn't involved in the goal directly, his fast running, feinting and breaking up of Argentina's left flank defenses maybe was involved in opening up the middle and German left flank for the actual tying goal. The German team won by STRATEGY, even though their TACTICS were a bit lousy up till Argentina's 1-0 goal. Unfortunately Argentina gave them crucial help towards this STRATEGICAL victory by making some of the worst substitutions I've seen so far in the WC. Sad that Cambiasso would shoot the last missed penalty shot and in the eyes of less observant football watchers therefore might tend to get blamed...
Wooooooo!!!! Germany!!!!!
Good game, had to hug my dog (no one else around) when Germany won!!!
Feel a bit bad for the sub goalie, wasn't even warmed up when he went in, the Germans then score on him and he loses the PKs.
Got my money on the Ukrainians, tired of the Italians. Let's hope no ref calls decide this match.
Hm looks like I missed something, I stopped watching a minute after Cambiasso's missed penalty shot...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch_guy
Did no-one else see Lehmann off his line for the first penalty he saved?
Grrr, I just lost a bet :furious:
I agree to both points. Plus Ukraine despite not being top class play really entertaining football. It looks so unstable, yet it's not at all that inefficient. The guy who put in the second penalty shot in the shootout vs Switzerland was impressive to watch - so cool despite the stakes, just lobbing in the ball with a gentle touch.Quote:
Originally Posted by spmetla
I disagree, I didn't find him one of the most important players of the team. He was praised for his ability as a fast runner ( 100 meters in 10.8 s. :yes: ) and yes he is fast, but what else ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Legio
He didn't give the winning pass ( Ballack did ) nor did he score a winning penalty.
If he really is as good as people make him out to be, then he didn't show it today...
Well knowing the Italians, they've probably bribed the ref. already ~;)Quote:
Originally Posted by spmetla
:balloon2:
Just bad losers the Argies, always have been. Professional dummy-spitters. Compare with 1990 final. Well done Germany, but a poor game only made compelling by what was at stake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch_guy
Didn't notice that. Compared to Dudek in last year's Champion's League final he was a mannequin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Craterus
Well he did try to copy Dudek...Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Peasant
On a side note, what do you guys think, does it have any effect whatsoever on the penalty kicker ?
:balloon2:
Fun game to watch.
Shame it had to end on penalties though. Maybe I'm too much of a North American, but it just seems unfair to end it that way, to only focus on one aspect of the game. It seems to me basically to be saying, 'Defense doesn't matter'. Bring back the Golden Goal!
- assisting the 1-0 goal in Germany vs Poland with a perfect passQuote:
Originally Posted by Dutch_guy
- the only player capable of breaking through Argentina's left flank defenses during the entire game - and he did it not once but dozens of times. Notice how most other players seemed to attempt to play the ball forward instead of running up to the corner flag or line and making passes backwards-inwards? Odonkor has several alternatives - he can go towards the line, he can go backwards, he can go inwards etc.
- he runs fast even WITH the ball under own control. He has same or better control than the others when he runs quickly
- he feints better than most other players on the team, but he doesn't use that capability too much like many players with such skills tend to, so it's an asset rather and not a burden
BUT - his speed and flexibility, with the ball control (which is good but not excellent) might not be enough to breakthrough as effectively unless the opponents are tired. He's probably most effective as a substitute entering the field after 65 - 80 minutes have been played. I doubt he would do that well as player from start. So I hope Klinsmann keeps using him the same way he has used him so far - as a substitute. Certain players are a lot better as substitutes than having in from start, but still not less important even though they are substitutes. I've seen many cases where good substitute players are made starting players with the result that the team capacity is weakened.
I saw him jumping up and down and moving around but he stayed almost on his line. Lateral movement along the line is allowed, whereas Dudek last year came out almost to the six yard line .... cheat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch_guy
i agree. PKs are kind of exciting (imo, their excitment is ruined by the recognition that they're kid of a crap shoot), but going to golden goal would be a better measure of which team deserves the win.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hurin_Rules