Semi finals

Why get to a World Cup Semi Final and not try to win the game? Argentina were as usual, abysmal and yet the Dutch didnt attack??

Dreadful team through to the final but dont care who wins.

I despise both countries.
 
I saw last night's game being described as 'drab' somewhere earlier this morning (BBC?).

I thought it was a decent enough game. People's expectations will have been raised beyond credibility after the other semi and that game itself might have influenced the tactics for last night. Open up against top opposition and you could be inviting disaster.

I thought Argentina were quite impressive defensively. Germany might struggle to break down that defence. Argentina also found different ways past the Dutch defence but the Germans will be even tighter.

I'm still hoping the wee man can score a couple and end up at least joint top scorer.
 
Would be ncie to see a team let Messi play, rather than put 3 around him every time he receives the ball. (Purely from a selfish point of view!)
 
tiggers1972 said:
Would be ncie to see a team let Messi play, rather than put 3 around him every time he receives the ball. (Purely from a selfish point of view!)
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to be fair..if he's as good as people believe..it shouldn't matter...at least its not Tommy Smith..Norman Hunter or Chopper marking him. Good players have it easier today than in the past with the protection they get....he would have spent most time up in the air if he'd played in the 60's & 70's.
 
Euronymous said:
I don't honestly consider myself one of these anymore but you can only play with what you have and Robben aside Gaal had dick yesterday. And Dirk.
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who told kuyt to keep doing that silly nonsense though Euro?..as Colin said..he just received the ball...turned towards his own goal..then went in field..did it at least 30/40 times..was really annoying..Townsend only spotted late in 2nd half..it pissed me off all night. He must have been told to do that..it was so mechanical

i don't like the tactics of the Dutch team at all..every time a midfield player received the ball it was with a mind to looking back not forwards..even the first touch knocked the ball back towards their own goal.

If he uses those tactics at Old Trafford he will be more unpopular than Moyes...mechanical football..looks sh*te and is ineffective...kuyt was like a wind up player just doing the same move all night..ineffective move as well.

That goalkeeper nonsense in the penalty shoot out also wants stamping out..another ugly tedious tactic...its cheating.. and imo if a keeper goes anywhere near the player coming to take the penalty they should deem it that the player has scored without having to take the shot..that would put a stop to it.
 
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I was disappointed with Messi last night, he was walking around for the second half and most of extra time having no affect on the game, I read an article last week highlighting that he does the least amount of running of any player in la liga because he watches the game and only comes to life when he sees an opportunity to run into space, that's fine but as captain of his country in a WC semi final there has to be periods in the game where he puts in a shift and leads by example.

Argentina wont roll over in the final but I cannot see anything but a German win, Mascherano cannot do it all on his own against their midfield and honestly the Germans deserve to be World champions.
 
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archie said:
As a Brazil backer, I'm happy to retain Fred. Dante may not be Silva but he holds down a place at Bayern so he should know how to handle the German forwards. I'm hoping that the only other change in personnel from the Colombia match will be the return of Gustavo in place of Neymar, allowing Oscar to stay up field and giving more cover when the fullbacks bomb on. Willian can come on after an hour or so, either for Oscar or Paulinho depending on the match situation. Germany have had an easy run through and, while I was confident that they would take care of France, I'm not convinced that they're up to beating the hosts.
2/10. Had Scolari used more defensive tactics early on they might have been able to grow into the game. As it was, the second goal was rather like Ali's (?) bolo punch which completely scrambled whatever brains they had.
If they had a fully fit Aguero and Di Maria, Argentina would be a confident selection. As it is, Di Maria is out and it looks like they may be tempted to play a half fit Aguero in his place. I've said all along that Higuain and Aguero like to occupy the same space and I much prefer Aguero but after his goal against Belgium, Higuain's confidence will be high and I'd be inclined to start with Aguero on the bench to come on later if necessary. Argentina's defence has improved as the competition has gone on, protecting what looks to be a slightly dodgy goalie, and that has been mainly due to my player of the tournament so far, Mascherano, who has been superb sweeping up across the front of the back four. The Netherlands are dangerous on the break but it seems unlikely that Argentina will over-commit and a low scoring match looks inevitable unless there's an early goal. Argentina to shade it for me.
8/10. At least Sabella was paying attention. As Bar said, Mascherano ran the game, and the dodgy goalie came good.
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I mentioned to Mrs O last night that I thought he was Argentina's Craig Brown (under whom Scotland became very difficult to beat*).

(*By much - let's keep it in perspective.)
 
Wow!

"I asked two players to take the first penalty [they refused] before ending up with Vlaar." - Louis Van Gaal
 
Jakers said:
Wow!

"I asked two players to take the first penalty [they refused] before ending up with Vlaar." - Louis Van Gaal
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unreal isn't it?

there is something seriously wrong with the commitment of many modern day players..they should be volunteering..not having to be asked anyway...refusing isn't even an option ...wrong attitude and they deserved to go out then.
 
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Shameful EC really is, you miss a pen you miss a pen, most fans understand, he should name & shame.
 
Originally Posted by archie View Post
As a Brazil backer, I'm happy to retain Fred. Dante may not be Silva but he holds down a place at Bayern so he should know how to handle the German forwards. I'm hoping that the only other change in personnel from the Colombia match will be the return of Gustavo in place of Neymar, allowing Oscar to stay up field and giving more cover when the fullbacks bomb on. Willian can come on after an hour or so, either for Oscar or Paulinho depending on the match situation. Germany have had an easy run through and, while I was confident that they would take care of France, I'm not convinced that they're up to beating the hosts.
2/10. Had Scolari used more defensive tactics early on they might have been able to grow into the game. As it was, the second goal was rather like Ali's (?) bolo punch which completely scrambled whatever brains they had.
If they had a fully fit Aguero and Di Maria, Argentina would be a confident selection. As it is, Di Maria is out and it looks like they may be tempted to play a half fit Aguero in his place. I've said all along that Higuain and Aguero like to occupy the same space and I much prefer Aguero but after his goal against Belgium, Higuain's confidence will be high and I'd be inclined to start with Aguero on the bench to come on later if necessary. Argentina's defence has improved as the competition has gone on, protecting what looks to be a slightly dodgy goalie, and that has been mainly due to my player of the tournament so far, Mascherano, who has been superb sweeping up across the front of the back four. The Netherlands are dangerous on the break but it seems unlikely that Argentina will over-commit and a low scoring match looks inevitable unless there's an early goal. Argentina to shade it for me.
8/10. At least Sabella was paying attention. As Bar said, Mascherano ran the game, and the dodgy goalie came good.
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You still can't see Brazil for what they are. Whether they held Germany at the start by being cautious or not is irrelevant, they are and have been throughout the tournament an awful football team.
 
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Jakers said:
Shameful EC really is, you miss a pen you miss a pen, most fans understand, he should name & shame.
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England players never minded missing em in the 90's..you were guaranteed a lucrative Pizza Hut ad if you did

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvZWGYkTR7U

although at the time i thought this was a real slap in the face for all the poor sods that had spent 1000's of quid travelling and supporting them

now this is what taking a penalty for your country should mean to you as a player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0OCRrvMBpA
 
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2 Centre halfs took penalties last night, both went down the middle. Vlar's was saved, not enough power in the shot.
The Argentinian fella on the other hand.......wow it was like like a bullet from a gun!
 
EC1 said:
to be fair..if he's as good as people believe..it shouldn't matter...at least its not Tommy Smith..Norman Hunter or Chopper marking him. Good players have it easier today than in the past with the protection they get....he would have spent most time up in the air if he'd played in the 60's & 70's.
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I'm always amazed at how the 60's and 70's are so romanticized. I loved that era but those players simply would not have had the fitness and pace to keep up with Messi. Also it's not like they did not have great playmakers back then and they weren't all carved up. Did you see what Brazil did to Rodriguez, a constant stream of fouls to inhibit him. Messi gets a lot of that as well it's just that his sense of balance is far superior to most every other player.

As for George Best if he lived the lifestyle today that he did back in the 60's he would have been out of the game in less than half the time it took him back then.
 
brendanr said:
I'm always amazed at how the 60's and 70's are so romanticized. I loved that era but those players simply would not have had the fitness and pace to keep up with Messi. Also it's not like they did not have great playmakers back then and they weren't all carved up. Did you see what Brazil did to Rodriguez, a constant stream of fouls to inhibit him. Messi gets a lot of that as well it's just that his sense of balance is far superior to most every other player.

As for George Best if he lived the lifestyle today that he did back in the 60's he would have been out of the game in less than half the time it took him back then.
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there was nothing romantic about the 60's 70's Brendan..it was a tough environment then.

the people who watched George Best for 10 years don't really care about his lifestyle imo..he was carved up every game he played and still achieved a level of greatness matched by very few other players
 
EC1 said:
there was nothing romantic about the 60's 70's Brendan..it was a tough environment then.

the people who watched George Best for 10 years don't really care about his lifestyle imo..he was carved up every game he played and still achieved a level of greatness matched by very few other players
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They did not care about his lifestyle for sure I'm just saying in this day and age living like that today as a professional athlete, you simply could not keep up no matter what the talent. Just my opinion.
 
brendanr said:
They did not care about his lifestyle for sure I'm just saying in this day and age living like that today as a professional athlete, you simply could not keep up no matter what the talent. Just my opinion.
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I'm sure you are right..he did say that he never drank the night before he played..but obviously without the drink at all he would have been probably even better

Obviously i'm biased..but he was pure genius..gifted is the word.

In my lifetime i've seen many very good players..but gifted is another thing..i'd say gifted would be..off top of head..

Pele..Bestie...Maradonna..Ronaldhino [for a short time]..Gascoigne?...Cantona...Ronaldo...Messi

players that you would travel miles to see would be a measure i suppose
 
Interesting list had to chuckle at the Gascoigne with a ?. In the modern era Zidane would make that list for me.
 
brendanr said:
Interesting list had to chuckle at the Gascoigne with a ?. In the modern era Zidane would make that list for me.
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i used to work with someone who thought Gascoigne was the bees knees and i got reprimanded for saying i wan't that taken:lol:

Yes Zidane..i mean there are lots of great players obviously..but some are worth travelling to see..i'm sure there will be a good few say Frank Worthington as well;)

maybe its a thread..players you would travel 200 miles to see play..sorts the wheat from the chaff would think
 
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