The unofficial World Cup Thread,

[Louis VI the Fat]

They said Villa had been offside. But after a dozen replays, I still didn't quite see it. Apparantly he was a little bit. Ten or twenty centimeters offside or not is entirely academic.


I was shocked at the way Portugal started! Three shots by Spain in the first five minutes. Pfff...

Portugal recovered in the first half, but was lacklustre in the second. Ronaldo was useless throughout. Ah well, Spain is a strong team. It was always going to take something special to beat them. Portugal has not been a well-oiled machine this tournament, the mauling of North Korea's Glorious Heroes of the Fatherland was not representative.

Maybe Portugal's lacklustre performance doesn't mean they are that poor, maybe it was all more a matter of the opposition being simply that strong and decisive. You always look rubbish when outplayed.



WHAT AM I GOING TO DO UNTIL FRIDAY I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY DAILY WORLD CUP

[Joooray]

BTW, Joooray, your profile location gave me inspiration for my pun...that and an inept attempt at burning a German flag. Sorry if any offense was taken.

Don't worry, no offence taken at all. Only after Louis and Secura started did I understand you did it on purpose, before I was just a bit confused about the sudden capital letter in an English sentence.

[naut]

I'd play Silva - Xavi - Cesc - Iniesta in midfield, personally.

I think Fabregas is miles better than Xabi Alonso, and Busquets doesn't come into the equation whatsoever for me. :3

Personally, I'd do something similar:

------Silva
--Cesc---Xavi--
-----Alonso

Alonso as a deep playmaker, Cesc and Xavi in the middle creating chances and Silva in a free-role allowed to make runs down the left/right and through the centre. Cesc assisted, scored and tackled an almost equal amount* to that of Spain's starting midfielders combined last season.... and yet he still doesn't get in the side. Crazy. Up against a tougher side Silva or Torres can be replaced with an anchorman like Biscuits, but otherwise he's useless compared to Cesc who scored or set up a goal in every game he played in last season^.

*Cesc assists or goals in 09/10 = 42
Spain (Alonso+Xavi+Iniesta+Biscuits) assists or goals in 09/10 = 49

The majority for Spain come from Xavi assists (19), and 09/10 is regarded as his best season ever at age 30. Cesc however had the same number of assists (19) at age 23, 4 years from his peak. And that is playing in a squad, although talented, not as talented as Barca's. Also, Cesc achieved that total playing 10 less games than Xavi.

Cesc tackles won 09/10 = ~180 (4/game)
Spain (Alonso+Xavi+Iniesta+Biscuits) tackles won 09/10 = ~300 (2/game)

The majority of Spain's tackles won come from Alonso (~100) and the so called "defensive midfielder" Biscuits racking up a paltry total (~125). Xavi and Iniesta both have low tackles per game (just over 1/game). So not only does Cesc offer more in attack than each Spanish starter, but he offers something defensively as well. He's not a defensive specialist, but he puts in a shift and will fight for his team. Also worth noting is that his tackles won/game is impressive against quality opposition (~7/game).

^Cesc played 43 games and had 42 assists and goals in 09/10.

[Marshal Murat]

Nike World Cup stars are history

Portugal's Ronaldo and England's Rooney both crashed out of the 2010 tournament in the first knockout phase, while Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast, Frenchman Franck Ribery and Italy's Fabio Cannavaro didn't even get past the group stage.

And as for Ronaldinho, he failed to even win selection into the Brazil squad.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Nike World Cup stars are history

Individual players can't really crash out of a tournament though...these guys weren't red carded a bunch.

[naut]

Nike World Cup stars are history

The only one left? Cesc.... And all he does is throw a newspaper in the ad.

[Jolt]

A pity. Offside or not, Spain played better and deserved to go through. Time for the Euro.

[Apázlinemjó]

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO UNTIL FRIDAY I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY DAILY WORLD CUP

Same,

by the way - Swéboz, Swéboz über alles! :p

[Ferret]

The only one left? Cesc.... And all he does is throw a newspaper in the ad.

While he's sitting next to Pique and Iniesta? Hardly the only one left
I saw a new one with Robinho in too, looks like they had a back up plan

On an unrelated note I can't wait to see Silva at city, hopefully he can carry on his form for valencia.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

My predictions for the quarter finals:

2 - 2

2 - 1

0 - 2

0 - 2

Brazil and Netherlands will decide in extra time. Or maybe in penalties ... I love penalties.

[naut]

While he's sitting next to Pique and Iniesta? Hardly the only one left

Really? Thinking back I recall Pique is there, but I never noticed Iniesta was there.

On an unrelated note I can't wait to see Silva at city, hopefully he can carry on his form for valencia.

Hopefully he flops.

[Marshal Murat]

1 - 3
2 - 0
1 - 2
0 - 3

[Ser Clegane]

Netherlands - Brasil 1:1
Uruguay - Ghana 2:0
Argentina - Germany 1:2
Paraguay - Spain 0:1

[Fragony]

1 - 3 :brasil:

You got that all wrong ;)

Just glad Portugal is out, they always beat us

[Ferret]

Hopefully he flops.

I think he probably will to be honest, but I can dream!

[Ronin]

You got that all wrong ;)

Just glad Portugal is out, they always beat us

and not just at football.....kickboxing too! :P

[naut]

Netherlands 1 - 3 Brazil
Uruguay 2 - 1 Ghana
Argentina 2 - 4 Germany
Paraguay 0 - 2 Spain

[Fragony]

and not just at football.....kickboxing too! :P

Heh football is war, that was one weird match

In honour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXq7xcnkis

[G. Septimus]

Netherlands 1 - 3 Brazil
Uruguay 2 - 1 Ghana
Argentina 2 - 4 Germany
Paraguay 0 - 2 Spain

god, I just lost 1-0 to Spain using Paraguay in Pro Mode
and yeah, DFB forever

IMA THROW MY DFB JERSEY TO THE BIG SCREEN IN THE MALL YEA
and DFB (Deustcher Fussball-Bund) is Germany

In honour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXq7xcnkis

hah, lold at that match...
Cristiano Ronaldo always get's that treatment

[Ronin]

PARAGUAY MUST WIN!!!

[Louis VI the Fat]

0 - 2
1 - 0

Brazil is boring but solid, is playing with the handbrake on for mosty of the tournament .
Time for the weak Dutch defense to get mauled. I'm somewhat counting on Brazil to put three or four past them while the Dutch attacking plan will consist of 'everything to an increasingly desperate Robben'. The winner of this game Brazil has an easy path to the final. Only one real game in the entire tournament and they're in the final. The God of football is a Brazilian.



2 - 2 Germany to win 2 - 3 in extra time
0 - 2

Germany on the other hand, if it makes it to the final, will have faced a strong opponent every single game, plus England.
Any team on this will have faced incredible opposition.

Argentina - Germany could well be the most interesting game so far. Will Maradona's gamble of five attacking players come undone by the ruthlessly effective German counterattack machine? Or will the Argentinians expose the Germans as a team great at mauling an opponent in distress (Oz, England), but weak when itself put under pressure (Serbia, England too)?

The Spain machine is really ten players plus Torres getting in the way. Even while still incredibly strong, Spain is not a perfectly oiled machine. Unless there is some tactical change, Spain may find itself falling just short of winning the cup, which I think would be a shame.

[Fragony]

PARAGUAY MUST WIN!!!

ET found home..

[Intrepid Adventurer]

Hmm, looks like not many people think we're going to make it. Brazil really isn't that much better than the Netherlands, so it'll be an interesting match. I'd say it can go either way.

[Fragony]

We can take them Brazil isn't that good. We are practically neighbours by the way, but I suspect your house is somewhat bigger ;)

[Tellos Athenaios]

If you're the neighbour from accross the street, then Hax is right next door. Or depending where in Zeist he lives, in terms of distance it would be the exact opposite...

EDIT: As for some football rambling: Oranje is quite capable of winning against Brazil (assuming that Brazil plays for a marginal win), but they'll have to do old German style football in order win: one goal 90th minute or something. Reason being that when Brazil puts its mind to actually winning, Oranje's defence stands no chance. Otherwise chances are it's going to be a 4-3 style repeat, or sound defeat at the hands of Brazil.

[Fragony]

If you're the neighbour from accross the street, then Hax is right next door. Or depending where in Zeist he lives, in terms of distance it would be the exact opposite...

EDIT: As for some football rambling: Oranje is quite capable of winning against Brazil (assuming that Brazil plays for a marginal win), but they'll have to do old German style football in order win: one goal 90th minute or something. Reason being that when Brazil puts its mind to actually winning, Oranje's defence stands no chance. Otherwise chances are it's going to be a 4-3 style repeat, or sound defeat at the hands of Brazil.

Kidding me we can't play that way our defence won't hold, we must relentlessly attack and get as many goals possible. Let them take it like a gnat in hailstorm, attack attack attack.

[InsaneApache]

Here goes. All aboard the skylark.

Netherlands 0 - 2 Brazil
Uruguay 2 - 0 Ghana
Argentina 1 - 1 Germany
Paraguay 0 - 2 Spain

[naut]

I humbly disagree with all the above Dutchies that Brazil is currently equal to the Netherlands. What you lack the defensive steel that Lucio, Juan and Maicon provide. Oojier and Gio are seeing their age. Stecklenberg is half the keeper Julio Cesar is. Secondly, Brazil's high line and pressing game will make it difficult for you to find space in the mids.

Hmmm. Frags, attack, attack, attack suits this Brazil side. They are well disciplined under Dunga, with solid tactics, they can absorb pressure and then break at high speed to nick a goal in an instant. Oranje will have to be somewhat cautious. The best outcome for the game would have been the Dutch scoring first, but now Brazil has scored they will be content with a 1 - 0. Dunga style.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

2 great saves by the dutch/hollandish/netherlandian goalkeeper. Great goal too. The orange dudes seem kind of impotent on offense though.

[naut]

Dutchies doing exactly what they need to do. Not overcommitting, playing with a bit of caution, and keeping the ball. All with a bit of luck too. Good stuff.