Tuesday 8th July 2014:
Germany v Brazil (9pm, BBC 1/HD)
Wednesday 9th July 2014:
Argentina v Holland (9pm, ITV 1/HD)
Germany v Brazil (9pm, BBC 1/HD)
Wednesday 9th July 2014:
Argentina v Holland (9pm, ITV 1/HD)
And then there were 4
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Although I seem to be the only who's reduced to saying this but I thought all 4 Quarter finals were pretty crap.
Hopefully the semi-finals will give us some real good games with lot of goals in at least one of them.
Hopefully the semi-finals will give us some real good games with lot of goals in at least one of them.
Originally Posted by BigFoot87:
“I think were looking at a Germany vs Argentina final myself.”
“I think were looking at a Germany vs Argentina final myself.”
Best two sides overall for me
Brazil vs Argentina or Germany vs Holland would have a pretty special derby feel.
Guaranteed it'll be Argentina/Germany now then.
Guaranteed it'll be Argentina/Germany now then.
I think Germany will get to the final now. Without Neymar Brazil look so weak offensively. Dante will be very good for this match but overall it won't be enough.
I also think Argentina will certainly make it to the final too. The Dutch have wasted a lot of energy tonight and it'll be their downfall.
I also think Argentina will certainly make it to the final too. The Dutch have wasted a lot of energy tonight and it'll be their downfall.
How I long for Brazil to come out and play 'total football' (I'm dreaming I know) and get to the final- it seems wrong that they won't play one match in the Maracana. It's not going to happen though, but I can't bring myself to get behind the Germans. Think the other semi is too close to call- I'm really not sure who's going to win it.
I think Germany and Argentina deserve it as they they are the two teams who haven't come close to looking like they are going out
Germany have been the most professional team this tournament and should have the beating of a Brazil side without Neymar and Thiago Silva. And Argentina look more likely than Holland. However, Brazil do have this hugely motivating home advantage that they seem to be thriving on and they do have Big Phil, who hasn't been tactically outstanding so far, but has been here before. Argentina will miss Di Maria if he isn't fit and perhaps LVG is the best placed manager to work out a way to keep Messi quiet. And I think the bump the Oranje will get from that penalty win may compensate for the energy they've spent.
I'm going a Brazil V Holland final. So it'll be Germany V Argentina then.
I'm going a Brazil V Holland final. So it'll be Germany V Argentina then.
Originally Posted by Makosi's pants:
“Germany have been the most professional team this tournament and should have the beating of a Brazil side without Neymar and Thiago Silva. And Argentina look more likely than Holland. However, Brazil do have this hugely motivating home advantage that they seem to be thriving on and they do have Big Phil, who hasn't been tactically outstanding so far, but has been here before. Argentina will miss Di Maria if he isn't fit and perhaps LVG is the best placed manager to work out a way to keep Messi quiet. And I think the bump the Oranje will get from that penalty win may compensate for the energy they've spent.
I'm going a Brazil V Holland final. So it'll be Germany V Argentina then.”
“Germany have been the most professional team this tournament and should have the beating of a Brazil side without Neymar and Thiago Silva. And Argentina look more likely than Holland. However, Brazil do have this hugely motivating home advantage that they seem to be thriving on and they do have Big Phil, who hasn't been tactically outstanding so far, but has been here before. Argentina will miss Di Maria if he isn't fit and perhaps LVG is the best placed manager to work out a way to keep Messi quiet. And I think the bump the Oranje will get from that penalty win may compensate for the energy they've spent.
I'm going a Brazil V Holland final. So it'll be Germany V Argentina then.
”
Brazil also have the 'let's win this for Neymar' factor as well now- the entire squad seem more determined than ever to win. I'd actually prefer a Brazil v Holland final- I feel like it will be more of a spectacle. Or a car crash! Germany v Argentina would be efficient and professional- but I don't know that it would get the heart racing- for me anyway. We've seen both those teams this weekend get an early lead and then sit on it- not the most rivetting of matches.
Germany (they're the least crap of a poor bunch) & (flips a coin) Argentina.
Germany to win the final.
Germany to win the final.
Holland have deserved as much as Argentina have from their half. Lets not forget Argentina were only 2 minutes away from a penalty shootout against Swtzerland, after it was looking like it was heading for 0-0 also.
At least Holland have looked good as an attacking unit and provided us with a lot of entertainment. Argentina have been incredibly lethargic relying mostly on occassional Messi magic.
This is going to cause some controversy, but I would argue Argentina are nearly as poor as they were in 1990 so far.
Germany and Holland have been the most attacking sides for me in this WC and I hope thats the final.
At least Holland have looked good as an attacking unit and provided us with a lot of entertainment. Argentina have been incredibly lethargic relying mostly on occassional Messi magic.
This is going to cause some controversy, but I would argue Argentina are nearly as poor as they were in 1990 so far.
Germany and Holland have been the most attacking sides for me in this WC and I hope thats the final.
I hope that Holland get to the final, playing the way Van Gaal has got them. It will wash away the nasty taste that the last coach left with his Van Bommell orientated team.
And I'd like to see them beat Brazil in the final. I don't think Germany-Brazil will be that great. Two efficient teams, relying on muscle, set-pieces and defensive systems, a bit like tennis between Murray and Djokovic. It's such a shame that one of Colombia or France couldn't have made it, for a match of greater contrasts.
But Brazil need to be beaten by a side playing thrilling attacking football, which will maybe get them to rethink their whole approach. I thought it might happen when Dunga's 'rugby team' (read that phrase at the time and loved it) got knocked out, but when I saw Scolari would be the coach this time, I knew we wouldn't get anything special. Colombia showed a South American side can still entertain in the old style, Brazil need to be taught a lesson and Holland are the ones who could do it.
To be honest, I don't even consider supporting Argentina, ever. They hate us, and they're obsessed with those f***** islands. The people, I mean, not the footballers. We were at war with Germany but German people today are generally positive and friendly to Britain and don't give us constant grief like the Argies. They'll never let it go, so I don't want them to have any football success ever, even though Sabella was once a popular player at my club.
And I'd like to see them beat Brazil in the final. I don't think Germany-Brazil will be that great. Two efficient teams, relying on muscle, set-pieces and defensive systems, a bit like tennis between Murray and Djokovic. It's such a shame that one of Colombia or France couldn't have made it, for a match of greater contrasts.
But Brazil need to be beaten by a side playing thrilling attacking football, which will maybe get them to rethink their whole approach. I thought it might happen when Dunga's 'rugby team' (read that phrase at the time and loved it) got knocked out, but when I saw Scolari would be the coach this time, I knew we wouldn't get anything special. Colombia showed a South American side can still entertain in the old style, Brazil need to be taught a lesson and Holland are the ones who could do it.
To be honest, I don't even consider supporting Argentina, ever. They hate us, and they're obsessed with those f***** islands. The people, I mean, not the footballers. We were at war with Germany but German people today are generally positive and friendly to Britain and don't give us constant grief like the Argies. They'll never let it go, so I don't want them to have any football success ever, even though Sabella was once a popular player at my club.
Originally Posted by Thomas007:
“Although I seem to be the only who's reduced to saying this but I thought all 4 Quarter finals were pretty crap.
Hopefully the semi-finals will give us some real good games with lot of goals in at least one of them.”
“Although I seem to be the only who's reduced to saying this but I thought all 4 Quarter finals were pretty crap.
Hopefully the semi-finals will give us some real good games with lot of goals in at least one of them.”
I think defensive football is always going to be in abundance in big matches like these. 5 goals in 4 quarter-finals, an average of 1.25 per game is roughly what would have been expected. I don't think the average of the three remaining (significant) games will be much higher.
Originally Posted by doe_a_deer:
“I think defensive football is always going to be in abundance in big matches like these. 5 goals in 4 quarter-finals, an average of 1.25 per game is roughly what would have been expected. I don't think the average of the three remaining (significant) games will be much higher.”
“I think defensive football is always going to be in abundance in big matches like these. 5 goals in 4 quarter-finals, an average of 1.25 per game is roughly what would have been expected. I don't think the average of the three remaining (significant) games will be much higher.”
The third place playoff tends to have a lot of goals, so the 1998 record of 171 goals is still in sight.
However with this tournament being on 159, with 4 games to go, its going to be tight. 12 goals are needed to match it, 13 are needed to break it.
The QF's in 1998 incidently were pretty good, Brazil 3-2 Denmark (great game), Holland 2-1 Argentina (great finish), Croatia 3-0 Germany (great performance), France 0-0 Italy giving us 11 goals. So we do get knockouts with lots of goals and we still might here but I think a lot goals in the group stages were defensive mistakes as much as it was superb attacking play. Defences have got better with better teams, but the attacking quality has been lacking.
Originally Posted by Thomas007:
“The third place playoff tends to have a lot of goals, so the 1998 record of 171 goals is still in sight.
However with this tournament being on 159, with 4 games to go, its going to be tight. 12 goals are needed to match it, 13 are needed to break it.
The QF's in 1998 incidently were pretty good, Brazil 3-2 Denmark (great game), Holland 2-1 Argentina (great finish), Croatia 3-0 Germany (great performance), France 0-0 Italy giving us 11 goals. So we do get knockouts with lots of goals and we still might here but I think a lot goals in the group stages were defensive mistakes as much as it was superb attacking play. Defences have got better with better teams, but the attacking quality has been lacking.”
“The third place playoff tends to have a lot of goals, so the 1998 record of 171 goals is still in sight.
However with this tournament being on 159, with 4 games to go, its going to be tight. 12 goals are needed to match it, 13 are needed to break it.
The QF's in 1998 incidently were pretty good, Brazil 3-2 Denmark (great game), Holland 2-1 Argentina (great finish), Croatia 3-0 Germany (great performance), France 0-0 Italy giving us 11 goals. So we do get knockouts with lots of goals and we still might here but I think a lot goals in the group stages were defensive mistakes as much as it was superb attacking play. Defences have got better with better teams, but the attacking quality has been lacking.”
I don't agree at all that it's going to be tight, there won't be anywhere near 12 goals in the rest of the tournament. Somewhere around half of that.
I really hope the Germans can put this dire Brazil team out and save the tournament.
It would be awful if a team as shit as this Brazil side won the World Cup purely because they have home advantage. Anyone but them.
It would be awful if a team as shit as this Brazil side won the World Cup purely because they have home advantage. Anyone but them.
Argentina have a great defence and obviously Messi, but they won't play as tight at the back as Costa Rica and even in this game Holland were incredibly unlucky not to have scored at least 3, so I'm predicting Holland to just edge it over Argentina if they find a way to stop Messi like the Swiss did.
Argentina v Germany for me..and hopefully it will be a better final than 1990!
Too young to remember 86 but guess given the 3-2 score line that was a decent game.
Germany will get past Brazil who are losing 2 key players whilst think Argentina will just outscore the Netherlands.
Too young to remember 86 but guess given the 3-2 score line that was a decent game.
Germany will get past Brazil who are losing 2 key players whilst think Argentina will just outscore the Netherlands.
Germany vs Argentina final I reckon. I'd prefer Germany to win it but Argentina are my team in the work Sweepstake.
Originally Posted by Xela M:
“Argentina have a great defence and obviously Messi, but they won't play as tight at the back as Costa Rica and even in this game Holland were incredibly unlucky not to have scored at least 3, so I'm predicting Holland to just edge it over Argentina if they find a way to stop Messi like the Swiss did.”
“Argentina have a great defence and obviously Messi, but they won't play as tight at the back as Costa Rica and even in this game Holland were incredibly unlucky not to have scored at least 3, so I'm predicting Holland to just edge it over Argentina if they find a way to stop Messi like the Swiss did.”
You have saved me having to post an almost identical message
Just to add Holland have played Argentina four times in the world cup, have won twice and drawn once. Argentina's sole victory is back in the final in 1978 at home with the military rulers strongly suspected of fixing things for Argentina (v Peru) prior to that final. Nice little audio clip 'Fix' claims over 1978 World Cup <3 minutes here http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today...00/9697819.stm
Argentina/Germany final will take me back to my childhood. I would love it to be the final again.
I remember the '86 final. Argentina two up then Germany make this incredible comeback and level it at 2-2. Then Maradona sets up the third goal and Argentina win 3-2. Great match.
The '90 final was a hot-tempered game but the Urguayan referee was clearly bias towards Germany. Codesal screwed up the game six ways from Sunday with bad decisions, penalties not given, penalty given when it shouldn't have been and dishing out red cards like he was giving out candy.
Argentinan manager put it best when he said "Codesal should take
his hands to where he knows." (Codesal was also a gynaecologist).
I remember the '86 final. Argentina two up then Germany make this incredible comeback and level it at 2-2. Then Maradona sets up the third goal and Argentina win 3-2. Great match.
The '90 final was a hot-tempered game but the Urguayan referee was clearly bias towards Germany. Codesal screwed up the game six ways from Sunday with bad decisions, penalties not given, penalty given when it shouldn't have been and dishing out red cards like he was giving out candy.
Argentinan manager put it best when he said "Codesal should take
his hands to where he knows." (Codesal was also a gynaecologist).
Very much agree about the 1990 final, a scandalously refereed game. Sympathy for Argentina was tempered by, as I recall, the appalling way they had fouled and dived their way to the final throughout the tournament. But in the final it was Germany who disgraced themselves and were rewarded with victory.
Ah, will this world cup give us such a low or, much more preferable, a high. Still waiting.
Ah, will this world cup give us such a low or, much more preferable, a high. Still waiting.
Originally Posted by Thomas007:
“Although I seem to be the only who's reduced to saying this but I thought all 4 Quarter finals were pretty crap.
Hopefully the semi-finals will give us some real good games with lot of goals in at least one of them.”
“Although I seem to be the only who's reduced to saying this but I thought all 4 Quarter finals were pretty crap.
Hopefully the semi-finals will give us some real good games with lot of goals in at least one of them.”
Are you Mark Lawrenson? You've always had something to moan about throughout this tournament.
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