FIFA World Cup discussion

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Originally Posted by Gypsy

Yep. Lack of a striker and not playing Lahm as a wing defender will be the undoing of this team.

And yes...way less German-taka please. :wacko:

Going forward Basti needs to start in midfield and Lahm needs to be moved back in defense.

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Very much my thoughts exactly. I can understand that Löw is trying to imitate Spain/Barca/Bayern's tiki-taka because he has the players for it, but they became much more dangerous after starting to play more straight-forward. And if you lose every second ball in midfield like yesterday and have no decent wing defenders, you are just mercilessly struck by counterattacks. Ghana did pretty well and deserved the point, so no real complaints here.
Although I really adore the short pass and ball possession driven football, it is tiring to watch if it reduced to merely passing the ball horizontally to the player 3m beside you, I want to see it combined with genius passes that lead to great scoring opprtunities, like the style Barca praticed under Guardiola 2008-2012. Now it has gradually developed into the wrong direction with the balance between ball possession and creating chances shifting towards the former while ignoring the fact that more and more teams have adjusted to the style.

Yeah Lahm contributes both ways there. He's not a midfielder and he would be a better wing defender.

Lahm for Boateng. Basti into Lahm's vacated spot. Simple fix. I'd also like to see Podolski in for Ozil (Reus instead of Podolski if he were healthy but he's not) and change the formation but that seems very unlikely at this point. Hell this team could probably use Mario Gomez.

Yeah tiki-taka for now is dead. The king (Spain) was killed and soon the subjects will follow.

Edit: Spicy Algeria! Shame they didn't take this approach against Belgium! They might have won. I hope they advance from this group.

FFFUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK.

We should have won that game -_- That's ok, we'll win against Germany! :wacko:

Play like crap against Ghana and win. Have 10 men play well against Portugal (Geoff Cameron..... :harold: ) and draw. SOCCER.

In our defense, https://www.google.com/webhp?#q=Portugal+FIFA+rank

Yeah that's bs though, Portugal is heavily overrated. They will probably go out of this WC w/o winning a game and a negative gd.

If we can make it out of group play I'd call this WC a success for us, especially after avenging our loss to Ghana 4 years ago :wacko:

They aren't playing any good in this WC (too slow, too dense..), but it's also true that Portugal is severely ballasted by injuries.

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So long, Spain. That was a match without history.

If only, it only served to show that a more direct style of playing always yields more benefits and that bringing Costa with the team wasn't the brightest of ideas.

Also, I find it funny that despite being in Group A, Brazil gets to play later, after knowing the final outcome of Group B. GO Brazil, the final is almost there! :wacko:

FIFA really wants Brazil to show well of course. :wacko:

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Originally Posted by Cookie Monster

They aren't playing any good in this WC (too slow, too dense..), but it's also true that Portugal is severely ballasted by injuries.

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So long, Spain. That was a match without history.

If only, it only served to show that a more direct style of playing always yields more benefits and that bringing Costa with the team wasn't the brightest of ideas.

Also, I find it funny that despite being in Group A, Brazil gets to play later, after knowing the final outcome of Group B. GO Brazil, the final is almost there! :wacko:

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With Spain out, you should root for the US now! :wacko:

Here, have this comfort gif: http://gfycat.com/AcrobaticLastIndusriverdolphin

Sorry Marin, your guys got CONCACAFFED! Lol but really CONCACAF is showing well at this tournament aside from Honduras.

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Originally Posted by Panda Man

With Spain out, you should root for the US now! :wacko:

Here, have this comfort gif: http://gfycat.com/AcrobaticLastIndusriverdolphin

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Eh, sorry, I like Klinsmann a lot but I'd rather see Ger-Ita-Hol-Fra winning it :lol

We'd have needed 8 of those, at least :wacko:

I'm pulling for an Argentina - Brazil final just to see the epic shitstorm that will surely ensue afterwards :wacko:

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Originally Posted by Panda Man

I'm pulling for an Argentina - Brazil final just to see the epic shitstorm that will surely ensue afterwards :wacko:

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But even if that sounds fun :wacko: it would mean one of them would have to win. Definitely, no fun :unhappy:

Lol Cookie.

If Germany go down I'll be pulling for the most troll result possible. So for instance if Costa Rica is still alive they become my first choice.

List of Shame Additions
Marchisio
Suarez
Chiellini

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Originally Posted by Gypsy

Sorry Marin, your guys got CONCACAFFED! Lol but really CONCACAF is showing well at this tournament aside from Honduras.

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Yeah, indeed, we got CONCACAFED. I don't know what to say. Decent first half-time, and then in the second we fall apart after first goal. Actually I'm not very sad, because if we would beat Mexico, then we would go on Oranje, and they are super strong. All in all, we could do much much better with all these quality players we have. And now since my country is finished with the Cup, I'm supporting COSTA RICA!

Yeah it all just kind of fell apart after the first goal. Mexico Holland should be a fun watch.

And yeah, GO TICOS!

I'm gonna have to add the hungry boy :wacko:

Hall of Shame of the WC 2014:

Spoiler warning:

- Japanese referee (Brazil-Croatia)
- Spain x2
- Uruguay
- Maxi Pereira
- Akinfeev
- Cameroon players: Song, Assou-Ekotto.
- Luis Cannibal Suarez :domokun:

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Originally Posted by Cookie Monster

Luis Cannibal Suarez :domokun:

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I'm guessing no official saw that? I'm not 100% familiar with FIFA's rules and regulations but I have to imagine that should have been a red card and possibly a PK. Maybe the ref was like me and it took a few replays before I accepted he just straight up ran up to the guy bit him. Better get a crucifix!

EDIT - Posted to reddit http://i.imgur.com/pQ5zWiA.jpg

Wouldn't be a pk as it was in the opposing box. He should have been sent off though.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...goio-chiellini :wacko:

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Originally Posted by Panda Man

Maybe the ref was like me and it took a few replays before I accepted he just straight up ran up to the guy bit him. Better get a crucifix!

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If you didn't believe it at first it's because you aren't used to his ways. It's only the 3rd time he bites someone during a game. Tyson is an amateur compared to him :wacko:

As for the ref, well, FIFA needs people buying tickets to have crowded stadiums. If you make things easier for national Southamerican teams to advance in the competition, the ones that can move masses of people to the games, the players won't be playing alone in the coming qualifying rounds :rolleyes:

If you guys really want to root for the most trollish option, Uruguay is the way to go. Everyone is looking for a re-edition of the Maracanaço :lol

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Originally Posted by Elin

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...goio-chiellini :wacko:

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They probably read this before betting. Easy money! :wacko:
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2...014-world-cup/

Man, fuck Greece national squad.

(I'll make a better analysis soon. Promise. Love you all.)

Meh, boring match between USA and Germany. The rain did add some excitement. I felt like there could have been many more cards.

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Originally Posted by Fer!

Man, fuck Greece national squad.

(I'll make a better analysis soon. Promise. Love you all.)

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I'm putting 50 £ on Man City re-signing Samaras. HE'S JUST THAT AWESOME(ly terrible).

I've missed out on making soooo many comments. Villy being subbed off and VDB being all "where are my reading glasses!? I'm super old!!!", Senderos being awesome against France, Alex Song XI being sort of awful, Rigobert being proud, the end of the Gerrampard axis etc etc etc. :( :( :( :( :(

Also: LOL ASIA LOL.

List of Shame Addition
Asia

Good call Elmdor. 3 countries 1 pt. That's kind of like an internet thing I vaguely recall. :wacko:

List updated for great justice!

Hall of Shame of the WC 2014:

Spoiler warning:

- Japanese referee (Brazil-Croatia)
- Spain x2
- Uruguay
- Maxi Pereira
- Akinfeev
- Cameroon players: Song, Assou-Ekotto.
- Luis Cannibal Suarez :domokun:
- Asia teams
- Putin :wacko:

There's a lot of Uruguay on the list. Poor lads. :wacko:

What did Putin do now?

Also I find it silly that we have a quadrant of Conmebol teams in the knock out rounds. Assures 1 will make the semis. Bit of a double edged sword. Oranje and Messi both have pretty good paths.

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Originally Posted by Gypsy

There's a lot of Uruguay on the list. Poor lads. :wacko:

What did Putin do now?

Also I find it silly that we have a quadrant of Conmebol teams in the knock out rounds. Assures 1 will make the semis. Bit of a double edged sword. Oranje and Messi both have pretty good paths.

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I heard Capello complaining of the ref today again (I didn't watch the match). He said refs always go against Russia. FIFA is clearly making Putin's evil ways invading Crimea pay :wacko:

Good path you said. As expected.

I don't think Argentina are one of the 4 best teams though. Meh. Messi has been something though.

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Originally Posted by Gypsy

I don't think Argentina are one of the 4 best teams though. Meh. Messi has been something though.

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God I hope not, I suspect we'll be playing them if we make it past Belgium :scared:

Probably won't beat Belgium but it should be a well fought game.

How did that biter only get 9 games? You do that out here, we'd be talking years, with the s.

LIST OF SHAME
REFEREE FROM MEXICO NETHERLANDS GAME

You know. I doubted Herrera.
A loudmouth, annoying cunt that cannot accept defeat and improve. Heck, he showed it in the final against Leon, claiming a robbery from the refs against America. Then he was in the Mexico NT. What a fucking trainwreck that was gonna be.
And I doubted him because I adored him in Monterrey when he was the coach of Rayados de Monterrey, my hometown team, he put dedication, a winning mentality and a great display of football with awful defense, but that satisfied people left and right, except he wouldn't take the loss on himself and instead blame the players, which led to his downfall from Rayados.
And honestly? I adored him again. The mentality he injected in the NT, how you could actually see him being condfident of defeating the group rivals and Netherlands, he passed that mentality to the players.
We know the result, it all fell apart in the end, but Herrera wasn't there moving the players or marking Sneijder (boy, he would have destroyed the fuck out of Sneijder going "a dónde cabrón").
I wasn't supporrting Mexico because I thought it would be a horrendous WC like 2010 and everything after La Volpe, a group of meek, arrogant players with the green shirt, but he proved me wrong. And by God, I want him in Russia 2018.
Sure, many players will be gone, and there will be other competitions along the way, but he got the best of what there was to pick. This defeat hurts, and hopefully Herrera will learn from this. In short, from a complete detractor who was really expecting Mexico to crash and burn horribly, I was absolutely wrong in the end.

The problem is Mexico thought they had the game won and relaxed starting from about the 75th minute. Anyway that's freaking gut wrenching Fer. I feel for ya.

Sorry Fer :/ As Gyps said Mexico really went for it until they scored. Then they relied too much on Ochoa to defend the result. And doing that against teams with quality players like the dutchies it's almost suicidal :/ You can be proud of the good impression your guys left.

Anyway, it wasn't an easy match for Holland, the same way that it wasn't easy for Brazil yesterday... The contrary than Colombia, really good performance yesterday against Uruguay that had very little to say once they lost their mordant :wacko:

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Originally Posted by Cookie Monster

Anyway, it wasn't an easy match for Holland, the same way that it wasn't easy for Brazil yesterday... The contrary than Colombia, really good performance yesterday against Uruguay that had very little to say once they lost their mordant :wacko:

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Yeah Uruguay had nothing in it until Colombia basically let them.

James Rodriguez is the best player in this tournament so far.

HURRAY FOR TICOS! That Keylor Navas, oh my god, he's soooo good!!! I'm really hoping for big suprise against Oranje in quarter final.

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Originally Posted by Gypsy

Yeah Uruguay had nothing in it until Colombia basically let them.

James Rodriguez is the best player in this tournament so far.

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For me that's Robben. He never disappoints.
Just hope the songs of the sirens telling that James could sign for Madrid don't distract the guy. Jorge Méndez is going to make some good money this summer (James, Costa, Falcao..)! :lol

Voilà! France couldn't shine today but qualified thanks to the ref (Matuidi :harold:), the mistakes the Nigerian defense made (not really the goalie, he made a few good saves despite his error in Pogba's goal) and the good decision Deschamps made letting Griezmann in. That really changed the sign of the match.
As I predicted, France isn't really missing that overrated player who is Ribéry...