The unofficial World Cup Thread,

[Fragony]

Katana -> pinkie isn't needed, Dutch team is about relentingly attacking so it makes sense to play defensively. We can't be outclassed in the attack department but we are sooo vulnerable

[Husar]

Well, what i heard was that the Dutch just dominated the Japanese and let them run, tactical victory but still a victory.
Japanese came somewhat close towards the end but nothing too dangerous from what I saw, the dutch just kept that 1:0 and that's sufficient.

I thought they were a bit passive to the end but perhaps it's correct and they just wanted to win with minimum effort, save their energy for more important games.

[Fragony]

Well, what i heard was that the Dutch just dominated the Japanese and let them run, tactical victory but still a victory.
Japanese came somewhat close towards the end but nothing too dangerous from what I saw, the dutch just kept that 1:0

Nah, japan played a good game, mucho kudos.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

heh, in several games this tournament I've watched goalies take pains to avoid picking up the ball so that they could kick it to one of the defenders instead, even when one of the other team's players was closing in. Seemed very strange to me but I guessed they had a good reason for it. But Denmark just got majorly burned...

-edit-

Good god, inches from being burned again. Maybe it's just that defender that's bad?

[Hosakawa Tito]

Both teams are playing bad defense. DEN is coughing up the ball in their own end time after time, very sloppy. Should be at least 2-2.

[Ferret]

heh, in several games this tournament I've watched goalies take pains to avoid picking up the ball so that they could kick it to one of the defenders instead, even when one of the other team's players was closing in. Seemed very strange to me but I guessed they had a good reason for it.

Were they back passes?

[Louis VI the Fat]

Come on you Pacific Gods!

Only eighty more minutes to go!

[gaelic cowboy]

Come on you Pacific Gods!

Only eighty more minutes to go!

Come on the All-Whites

[Myrddraal]

About England, it seems to me that Gerrard isn't being a particularly good captain. The team is obviously demoralised, but every time Gerrard missed a pass or failed to connect with one, he turned around with a plaintive look on his face almost as if to say "Why didn't you get that?" or "Who was that to?". A captain should be apologising for missed passes, congratulating people on spotting him and passing, always trying to lift the team. Instead he's a pure passenger, captain in name only.

Here's an example of what I mean, sorry about the poor quality:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fevsOCoKplE#t=2m16s

[Ser Clegane]

Slovakia - Paraguay 1:2
Italy - New Zealand 2:0
Brazil - Côte d'Ivoire 2:1

[Louis VI the Fat]

Slovakia 1 - 1 Paraguay
Italy 1 - 0 New Zealand

Brazil 2 - 1 Côte d'Ivoire