The unofficial World Cup Thread,

**Sasaki Kojiro** · 07-06-2010, 22:44

Fantastic game.

**Rhyfelwyr** · 07-06-2010, 22:49

Unlucky Uruguay, would have been nice to see the folks from the other side of the River Plate in a final.

What a goal from van Bronckhorst though, you won't see a better strike than that.

Oddly, the Jabulani didn't seem to float around like a beach-ball tonight.

**Moros** · 07-07-2010, 01:02

Close call it became. Though the dutch dominated most part of the match. Though I'm a big fan of Van Persie I think it's clear he is of no use atm. I'd put Huntelaar up front as he can be much more of a threat on the crosses Robben and Kuyt can put in. Now the main headers and threat have to come from the wingers and Sneijder. Though I don't understand why Van Nistelrooy isn't in the selection. Okay he might not be that young anymore, but he still can score from anywhere without needing much space and no striker plays the game as clever as him. Not even Forlan or Villa. Plus that would have given van Marwijk much more tactical freedom, for when things go wrong. I'd have played an attcking 4-4-2 as well. But then again the guy reached the finals, so I guess Van Marwijk is right in what he does.

Personally I see Spain winning from Germany even though the latter is the better team well... when we look at the WC games. But if Spain makes a goal, try getting chances or even the ball when they don't need to move forward. Germany will have to take the lead first and hunt the ball very high on the pitch. Disruopting the Spaniards possesion football on their halve of the pitch isn't easy, it's risky but it's the only possible way. That and a having a good organisation, but that shouldn't be a problem. I think this game will go to the one who scores first. If Germany, spain will have to come and time and space will be in the advantage of the Germans. If Spain they can just play their possesion passing game which they do best, without having much problems. Either way I think it'll be a close match both with few chances, little roomand few goals. I hope Germany goes trough, it'd make a great final with beautifull football, they deserve it as well. I don't want to be bored to death again by the spaniards. Either way good looking forward to the finals. Congrats to the dutch, though not the prettiest or most ofensive football and with some, they got to the finals, won all their group matches and beated brasil. If you do that, you prove to be a rightfull contender for the WC title.

**Myrddraal** · 07-07-2010, 02:50

Good riddance Uruguay, they didn't deserve to be there in the first place.

**Louis VI the Fat** · 07-07-2010, 03:39

Great game. Surely the goal of the tournament - what a belter!

The Netherlands - Germany would be an absolute cracker of a final.
Still, Holland does not look like true world champion material. There weaknesses at back, a certain fluidity up front is missing, and Van Persie's main contribution today was to get in the way of the others again. Quite literally so, with his blocking a Sneijder shot. It is not working, put Huntelaar up front.

I am soooo looking forward to Spain - Germany tomorrow. Will Spain solve the Torres riddle?

Torres, Van Persie, Tevez, what is with coaches clinging on to strikers that don't perform well? Yes, each player is worldclass in his own right, but they don't function at this WC, in these teams. Just put a Klose up there - the least talented of them all, on the bench the entire season, but the most succesful of the lot.

Spain should be warned - replace Torres for Fabregas or face the fate that befell an Argentina that refused to replace Tevez for Veron against the Germans, and got ripped apart:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

In Maradona's case, he allowed himself to get carried away by euphoria. As he will surely be reflecting on the plane home, back in March his side won away to Germany with a cautious 4-4-2 formation. In South Africa he went with something more expansive and refused to change back, even when the warning lights were flashing.

After 20 minutes of the second round match against Mexico it was obvious the team was not right. The Mexicans could have been two goals up and Maradona was in earnest conversation with his assistants. There was, as German coach Joachim Loew said after the quarter-final, no balance between attack and defence.

Against Mexico two mistakes got Argentina out of jail - one by the linesman, allowing Carlos Tevez's offside goal to stand, the other from Mexico's Ricardo Osorio, who gifted Gonzalo Higuain the second - but they were not going to get away with it twice.

This is not hindsight - it was clear as day before the game against Germany began. With the same starting line-up that played against Mexico, they were inviting a rout.
The big change that Maradona had made since March was to include Tevez in place of Juan Sebastian Veron, a switch made largely on emotional grounds.

Tevez is key to the soul of Argentine football, even more so than Lionel Messi. His upbringing in the poor outskirts of Buenos Aires, his time with Boca Juniors, his never say die spirit - it is reminiscent of Maradona himself. The two of them have a bond.

But despite the glorious finish Tevez came up with for his second goal against Mexico, his inclusion in the team was a huge mistake.
Messi's best football in the tournament came while Veron was on the pitch. They formed a partnership which looked like being the central axis of the team. No Veron meant that Messi had to drop deeper in search of the ball, but Messi setting up play for Tevez made little sense, especially in the light of the latter's poor international scoring record.

No Veron also meant no raking diagonal passes to bring Angel Di Maria into the game and left Javier Mascherano desperately overworked with the defensive midfield duties.
All this was apparent before the Germany game. But to act on it, Maradona had to first recognise it - and with Argentina's campaign riding on a wave of optimism, there was no place for a dose of realism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvicker...ickery_17.html

Originally Posted by Rhyfelwyr

Oddly, the Jabulani didn't seem to float around like a beach-ball tonight.

I think I've noticed the players getting more used to the ball as the tournament progressed.

There was an odd curve in Forlan's equaliser, but that could've been intentional.

~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~

**Fragony** · 07-07-2010, 05:27

What a thriller, Germany don't let us down

**naut** · 07-07-2010, 09:38

Ah Gio, was a real pity you were only a Gooner for a season, but as an invincible we still love you.

**Ser Clegane** · 07-07-2010, 21:27

GAH! Congrats to Spain - clearly the better team today - always in control of the match.

Would have been too nice to see a Final between Germany and the Netherlands ... but I am looking forward to two more nice matches on the weekend.