The unofficial World Cup Thread,

[naut]

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

[Ser Clegane]

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.

[TinCow]

Ug... Spain clearly deserved to win that one. What happened to the German team that dominated the tournament before today?

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Gah. BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD German game.

The Spaniards continued their suffocation style that proved so successful two years ago, but seemingly the Germans were unable to react to that. I say you got to play more aggressive against such teams. It's no good tactics wanting to beat them with their own style, at least if you don't dominate that style yourself. Spaniards ought to get "tanked down" american football style if necessary, and not keep a polite distance to allow them their infamous short-pass game.

I sincerely hope that Holland will become Champion.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Germany and Spain have been by far the most solid looking teams throughout the tournament. Sure, others have produced moments of flair, but none have been able to consistently grind out results quite like these two have. OK, they each lost a game in the group stage, but ultimately, they get the job done. And that's been the difference between themselves and the likes of Argentina, or Brazil.

A big factor in this is I suspect the fact that the starting eleven of Germany and Spain are each all but the squads of a single club side, put into a national jersey. Tonight, IIRC, the commentators said 7 of those starting for Spain play for Barcelona. And after a quick check myself, it turns out half the Germany squad play for either Bayern Munich or Werder Bremen, and just one player (Boateng) plays outside Germany. The core players, like Lahm, Schweinsteiger, and Klose, all play for Bayern Munich.

Now, compare and contrast this to the other extreme, with many of the African sides. Look at how the Ivory Coast stuck Drogba up front and hoped he would somehow win every game for the team. Adebayor pointed out that as a strength-based player based in England, Drogba was not well suited to the rest of his national side, and indeed, he looked out of place in many of the games in the same way van Persie and Torres have.

The solidity in the German and Spanish sides is most likely due to the fact that they are based on players who play together week in week out, and that helps them to become the solid, efficient sides that are able to grind results out as they have done. So many star players in this tournament simply having been able to shine due to the fact they can't function in their national side. As well as van Persie and Drogba, the likes of Lampard, Gerard, Ronaldo etc come into this category.

Maybe Dunga recognised that he needs a functioning team rather than a collection of individuals when he chose to leave those big names out the Brazil squad. And instead he built what was a very solid looking Brazil side, with samba football being replaced by the big centre back Juan smacking in headers from the edge of the box. Although he hasn't proven as successful as Low (can't get the dots over the 'o', the Germany manager) in particular in getting a well oiled machine running.

Germany and Spain are therefore for me the two teams of the tournament, even though only one will make it to the final. It is their ability to combine the stability of a club side with the quality of the international scene that has allowed them to go as far as they have. In Germany' case, this has meant overachieving for their quality on paper. For the Spanish, it's finally allowed them to realise their potential in the tournament finals.

[johnhughthom]

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

van Bronckhorst left before that, surely?

[Fragony]

Oh why oh why, now we have to play Spain, if their women would go down on their backs that fast my holidays would be more fun gahgahgah

[Husar]

Well, I hope the oranjes tear big holes into the spanish midfield and make it a 5:0.

If this will be another "spain passes ball around for 90mins" 1:0 victory for Spain, I'll probably be disappointed.
It may be effective but somehow I don't like it a lot.

[Myrddraal]

The Spaniards continued their suffocation style

Well, I hope the oranjes tear big holes into the spanish midfield and make it a 5:0.

If this will be another "spain passes ball around for 90mins" 1:0 victory for Spain, I'll probably be disappointed.
It may be effective but somehow I don't like it a lot.

I couldn't agree more. Come on Holland! It would be quite interesting to see how many orgahs have chosen their camp for the final. Hmm. Perhaps a poll would be appropriate.