The 2013-2014 Football Thread

[oscillatewildly]

Credit to Germany closing down at the start to upset France's rhythm, still, France's passing :eeek:. Also, how long did they think they had?

No PM and Hummels back, Low didn't play fair.

Cheers,
OW

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Low didn't look too thrilled at the end of the match. Once again the Germans don't really sparkle but get the job done. France chased the game after the early goal but didn't really create too many clear chances. Germany should have scored at least one more.

Valbuena vs Schweinsteiger was a terrible physical mismatch.

 

[takao]

Credit to Germany closing down at the start to upset France's rhythm, still, France's passing :eeek:. Also, how long did they think they had?

i thought similar around the 60th minute "France better step up the game soon, they are running out of time"

20 minutes later still nothing ... until that last second strike in the 94th minute there was little danger up front... (Except the comical scene of Boateng heading the ball into hummels face)

Subbing out Cabaye was a mistake IMHO .. it opened up the french back for the counterattacks starting through the center and gave Germany a lot of time in the opposite half and thus could run the clock even more

Schürrle walks away from the game relieved missing those 2 absolute sitters . He should have buried at least one.

Müller pressing LLoris with a 30 meter sprint in the 93th minute was perhaps the scene which describes the second half best.

 

[Kariya]

You know something is wrong when someone who rarely watches football wonders whether Pogba and Griezmann are even on the pitch. Due to their anonymous performance.

Also, subbing out Cabaye and Valbuena?

No arguments. The better team won today.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Stop the Presses! Neymar suffers a broken back during the match against Colombia and is out of the tournament. Thiago Silva will miss the semifinals due to yellow card accumulation...

A fatal blow for Brazil. Surely they can't make it to the final (let alone win the tournament) without Neymar?

Germany mounted some great counterattacks but Schurrle and Muller missed big chances...the early goal certainly make France work harder and they just couldn't get through.

Giroud once again looked a bit forlorn up top.

At the end of the day, USA came just as close to beating Germany as France...

 

[oscillatewildly]

The referee . Luiz wasn't the only one, but Germany, re football, please put him in the ground.

takao - Cabaye - has a good shot and free kick; he and Pogba can be used to add to the attack. Maybe they thought his energy had gone?

Cheers,
OW

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The referee . Luiz wasn't the only one, but Germany, re football, please put him in the ground.

I've never liked Luiz. He's too wild and dirty.

 

[oscillatewildly]

And that hair.

 

[Tilpots]

Great effort CR!

 

[cambookpro]

Felt sorry for Costa Rica, perhaps should've had a penalty in extra time and it's such a cruel way to go.

Nonetheless, they played excellently and should be extremely proud.

 

[oscillatewildly]

Yeah, thanks for shutting out the Netherlands.

Van Gaal

 

[Happybunny]

Well the the Netherlands is through, it should have been over in the 90 minutes seeing how many chances that they created, but it's only goals that count, not chances.

Penalties is always a gamble, but setting Krul in was a master stroke.

 

[balamw]

Penalties is always a gamble, but setting Krul in was a master stroke.

A gutsy move no doubt! I'm certainly reminded that my tall genes come from the Dutch side of the family when I see a giant like that in net.

Navas deserved at least one save, but there was no doubt that Holland dominated the game and ultimately deserved the win.

B

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The Dutch were the better team in the end but it was an exciting game and Costa Rica could have stolen a win. CONCACAF had a good showing at this World Cup.

I think we finally have a favorite for the cup now - Germany. They are the most complete, consistent team and unlike the other contenders they don't rely on one player.

Penalties is always a gamble, but setting Krul in was a master stroke.

Louis van Gaal has not been shy about his own incredible genius. I wonder if they were able to squeeze his massive, swollen head out of the stadium doors after the match? I can't wait to see what happens when he deals with the English media on a daily basis...

 

[Happybunny]

Louis van Gaal has not been shy about his own incredible genius. I wonder if they were able to squeeze his massive, swollen head out of the stadium doors after the match? I can't wait to see what happens when he deals with the English media on a daily basis...

While I do see problems for Louis in the future.
I for one will let him have his moment in the sun he has earned it.

The transformation that he has brought to the the team is nothing short of a miracle. The team was at rock bottom in morale and very prone to infighting. It was in short a disaster, but since he became manager, he has turned around the team, and the supporters, and even a lot of the press. He seems to have a plan for everything, not just a plan B but it seems a Plan C or D.
The team real do like him and trust his judgement, he has let the wives and children be apart of the preparations, this is a kind and fluffy bunny Louis. I still cannot quite get used to seeing him smiling at everybody and being charming. But it is working, at the start of this tournament nobody gave the team much of a chance.

There is plenty of time for it to go wrong, but you cannot take away what he has achived till now.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

When managers take risks and they pay off, they are considered to be geniuses. when they fail they are idiots. I have to give van Gaal credit for being willing to take those risks - so far they've paid off, and the Dutch are in the semis. Whatever he's done to get the team playing together, it has worked.

 

[Cox Orange]

(...)

Giroud once again looked a bit forlorn up top.(...))

I learned a new vocabulary and the interesting thing is, it looks and sounds very similar to "verloren".

The 'swalbe' that Robben mentioned in this interview happened in the first half, so it had NO influence on the outcome of that game! Foreign media have been manipulating this interview for their own hype!

HUP HOLLAND!!!

Damn media! You would think Russia (or the US) has the only propaganda (or polemic) media.

Felt sorry for Costa Rica, perhaps should've had a penalty in extra time and it's such a cruel way to go.

Nonetheless, they played excellently and should be extremely proud.

It was a Krul way to go.

Well the the Netherlands is through, it should have been over in the 90 minutes seeing how many chances that they created, but it's only goals that count, not chances.

Penalties is always a gamble, but setting Krul in was a master stroke.

Just like Greuther Fürth against Dortmund in the DFB Pokal half final (2012?). Then, when in the 120th minute the new keeper just came in, Dortmund set a shot on the aluminium and the ball bounced at the back of the arm of the new keeper and from that back and was in, no penalties...
It may work, but it needn't neccessarily.

It also reminded me of:
https://eu.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/7/A70-3816


Well, maybe better this, with right spelling
https://mikesirota.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/a-krull-1.png?w=208&h=300


PS: ok, maybe I am a nagger, but I didn't like that he bounced up and down like an ape and rattled on the bar till his "cage" was shaking (even after he had taken away his hand from the bar), shortly before the last player shot.

 

[twietee]

PS: ok, maybe I am a nagger, but I didn't like that he bounced up and down like an ape and rattled on the bar till his "cage" was shaking (even after he had taken away his hand from the bar), shortly before the last player shot.

Erm, I thought he was an absolute a**hat and abysmal sportsman. Everybody I was watching with thought the same. Always looked like a nice fella so quite a surprise for me.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Speaking of which, has the deal for Luis Suarez being transferred to FC Barcelona been pretty much completed? I believe the deal is just about completed, and Suarez will join the team in January 2015 during the January transfer window.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Speaking of which, has the deal for Luis Suarez being transferred to FC Barcelona been pretty much completed? I believe the deal is just about completed, and Suarez will join the team in January 2015 during the January transfer window.

I suspect Liverpool want to sell him immediately, so that they can bring in a new striker (or strikers) who will be available for the start of the season.

I don't think they want to wait till January - especially since the World Cup will have prompted a lot of activity.Everyone else will have strengthened their squads by August.

Interested to see how the negotiations pan out - Barca seem to be the only club calling for him so that may limit Liverpool's leverage in getting the best possible price. If it's anywhere near the quoted £70 million it's great value for Liverpool.

 

[Happybunny]

PS: ok, maybe I am a nagger, but I didn't like that he bounced up and down like an ape and rattled on the bar till his "cage" was shaking (even after he had taken away his hand from the bar), shortly before the last player shot.

Erm, I thought he was an absolute a**hat and abysmal sportsman. Everybody I was watching with thought the same. Always looked like a nice fella so quite a surprise for me.

That was kinda of the reason, if you were irritated by his antics, just think how the penalty taker felt.

 

[oscillatewildly]

Nice shirt, shame about the logo - and the boots:

 

[Lord Blackadder]

EDIT: Reports are coming in that Alfredo Di Stefano has died. One of the sport's great legends may have just left us.

Nice shirt, shame about the logo - and the boots:

It's not as if you run into too many Chevys in the UK - though I see they have a range of cars on sale over there these days. Typical GM - competing against itself (Vauxhall).

 

[Silencio]

Putting the Chevy logo on the shirt simply represents how global a brand Manchester United is now. Too bad it's so @#$% big.

Can't wait to see what LVG does at Old Trafford. Well, I can wait two more matches. The Netherlands have been waiting for a World Cup champion for such a long time, would be kind of amusing for this not exactly vintage Total Football squad to be the one to do it.

Both keepers in the NED / CRC shootout were playing, or trying to play, mind games with the penalty takers. Krul was definitely pushing the envelope. When he told the takers he knew which way they would shoot, it turns out he wasn't lying about that. Maybe Navas did deserve a save, but the Dutch were too precise with their kicks. RVP's take was not the strongest and Navas guessed correctly, but the kick was too perfectly placed right inside the post to be reached.

Do have to think Germany are the clear favorites, as long as Löw keeps his back line the same as he did for the France match: Lahm at RB, Hummels at CB, Mertesacker on the bench.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Putting the Chevy logo on the shirt simply represents how global a brand Manchester United is now.

Can't wait to see what LVG does at Old Trafford.

I wonder how actual Mancunians feel about that whole 'global brand' thing...it has many pros and cons, especially from a local perspective. But that is certainly the way the whole league is focused these days (c.f. doings in Hull).

It's looking increasingly possible that Man Utd fans who have grown up massively spoiled with trophies may not have to wait too long for another one. LvG sounds like an insufferable human being but a pretty shrewd manager, and the club have plenty of cash to spend in rebuilding the squad.

By contrast, I am worried about Liverpool. The club are almost certain to lose Suarez but not replace him with an equivalent. Sanchez seems to be interested in Arsenal. Chelsea and are spending boatloads as are Man Utd. Man City already have a title-winning team as-is. I'm not convinced about Lallana and know little of Markovic (Portugal's league, like that of the Dutch, is not a relaible indicator of how a player will perform in England). Lambert is a squad player and the defense has yet to be addressed. Lovren might be a decent signing, with Agger being sold, but that alone wouldn't fix the defense. I doubt that Liverpool's next season will be as exciting to watch as this past season was, and it may prove to be less successful overall, despite all the investment. Obviously the priority will be staying in the CL - and that likely will require keeping Man Utd or possibly Arsenal out. It could be a real scrap at the top.

As for the World Cup -

I've been supporting underdogs mostly and have been let down just about every time o), but really there are no underdogs left to root for now. Germany have been solid and consistent - they would be worthy champions. I'm swept up in the emotional possibilities of an Argentina win on Brazilian soil and additional vindication for Messi, who is carrying his team on his back to a greater degree than even Robben and Neymar have done.

On the other hand, the Brazilians are too hysterical, favored by refs and foul-happy. Sorry boys, I'm not in your camp. And with sincere apologies to Happybunny, I've fallen out of love with the Dutch. Robben's diving, LvG's bombast and Krul's intimidation has pushed me over the edge against what remains an excellent team with a decent chance to win it. Not even my respect for Dirk Kuyt can bring them back to me.

I'm too inherently partisan to be neutral so go Germany/Argentina in the semis! But if either of their opponents do win, I hope they at least do it fairly and in style. Let's hope we have some great matches ahead. And I reserve the right to change my mind at any moment.