2014 FIFA World Cup

[kingfc22]

Very nice finish on that volley.

[miami_fan]

Really Belgium? Complaining about that foul call?

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

How come every team I've been rooting for has allowed a goal in teh first ten minutes this round?

You're rooting for the wrong teams?

[Abe Sargent]

What's funny is that the last team I'm rooting for, Costa Rica, would be the one most likely to allow an early goal against their opponent.

[rowech]

And with that I couldn't care less who wins this. Same old teams.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by rowech

And with that I couldn't care less who wins this. Same old teams.

I understand what you are saying and agree with it to a large degree, but you should really keep in mind the final 5 teams have been responsible for 1 WC win in the past twenty years. (Italy x2, Spain, Brazil and France with the last five titles)

I think there are some fairly interesting story lines in this tourney. Can Messi get a WC to solidify his legacy? Does Brazil keep getting every call from the refs because FIFA is terrified the country would end up in a war zone if they lost? Can Germany snag a unified title?

I was really hoping Columbia and Belgium would get through, but I still think we have some entertaining soccer left.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by rowech

And with that I couldn't care less who wins this. Same old teams.

How is Costa Rica in anyway a "same old team?"

[Critch]

I've seen that Adidas advert with Zidane/Bale/Beckham about a billion times this World Cup and I've just found out the other guy is a player too, Lucas Moura of PSG. I thought he was just some nobody.

Could Adidas not get somebody good for the fourth person? The Zlatan isnt doing anything.

[ISiddiqui]

Argentina was quite impressive defensively! The number of times they pulled the offsides trap in perfect sync was fantastically done. That is quite a well organized team

Add Higuain now playing well, and they are a scary squad. And the team I'll be rooting for (well, I'm rooting for South America, and with Neymar gone, Brazil is going to have a hard road).

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I understand what you are saying and agree with it to a large degree, but you should really keep in mind the final 5 teams have been responsible for 1 WC win in the past twenty years. (Italy x2, Spain, Brazil and France with the last five titles)

Exactly. And think of this way, Argentina has won 2 WCs, Netherlands has NEVER won one (and of course neither has Costa Rica).

Brazil and Germany are big time winners, but Brazil hasn't won since 2002 and Germany hasn't won since 1990.

[rowech]

Even though Spain won their first last time, it had been a long time coming and was enjoyable to see new winners. If the Dutch win it all, I would enjoy that so long as Robben somehow didn't enjoy it.

I guess I would like to see a finals where the two teams were just absolute shocks.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Exactly. And think of this way, Argentina has won 2 WCs, Netherlands has NEVER won one (and of course neither has Costa Rica).

Brazil and Germany are big time winners, but Brazil hasn't won since 2002 and Germany hasn't won since 1990.

The problem with the since 2002 argument is that's only 2 World Cups. Big deal. It's not like they've gone 5-6 without winning.


Now Germany on the other hand, that is a reasonable drought. As for me, Go Ticos!

[kingfc22]

This game is being played at a much slower place than the other 3 quarterfinals.

[Critch]

Costa Rica have looked like they'd be happy with penalties since the beginning.

The first three quarter finals werent classics, but this is just about the worst of the four.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by rowech

I guess I would like to see a finals where the two teams were just absolute shocks.

So basically, you don't want to see a showdown of the two best teams in the world? You want to see some shocking matchup like Croatia vs Paraguay? If so, then may I re-introduce you to the group stage, tons of improbable matchups were played there.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

The problem with the since 2002 argument is that's only 2 World Cups.

12 years is still 12 years. And Brazil wasn't all that impressive in the last two WC's (both years losing in the Quarterfinals after having easy First Round Groups).

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

The problem with the since 2002 argument is that's only 2 World Cups. Big deal. It's not like they've gone 5-6 without winning.

It's been 4 years since anyone won a World Cup!

SI

[whomario]

No player from the round of 16 onwards had ever won a world cup btw, do you see this in any other sport ? The 4 year cycle as well as the 11/23 roster makeup truly is a reason why this is such a hard to get title. (Heck, even Italy had only 3 players from 2006)

[Katon]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I understand what you are saying and agree with it to a large degree, but you should really keep in mind the final 5 teams have been responsible for 1 WC win in the past twenty years. (Italy x2, Spain, Brazil and France with the last five titles)

Minor correction - Brazil have two of the last five.

Still, while it might be the same old countries, none of the players left in the tournament have won much at international level. The most recent major trophy out of the five remaining teams was the 2007 Copa America, won by Brazil with Robinho as their leading scorer; the only returning players are Fred, Maicon, and Dani Alves. Set Brazil aside and the most recent was Euro 96.

[kingfc22]

Give that jackass a yellow for diving already.

[Abe Sargent]

Close set piece

[AlexB]

On first viewing I thought he was fouled. Outside the box though as given

[whomario]

Madness ! Pandemonium !

[kingfc22]

Wow. That was insane.

[Ajaxab]

Ticos with not a single shot on goal. Parking the bus and getting some luck...

[Critch]

I know that Costa Rica is the underdog story, but 1 shot on target in 2 games combined with time wasting and the offside trap is deadly dull football. It's like when Greece fluked their way to the Euros with the same borefest.

Normally I like seeing the Dutch lose, but I'm hoping they finish this off.

[ISiddiqui]

Jedi mind tricks over Costa Rica's goal line... seriously.

[Abe Sargent]

There is no question teh Dutchwill win this now - they are too up for uit

[whomario]

I see no way to blame Costa Rica for it, though. I mean, look at the clubs these guys play at. They are probably way over their normal limit here physically as well, they just don´t play at this level week after week (or often twice a week) like their dutch opponents.

And none of their players will ever be in this situation again, playing for a spot in a WC semi final, of course they take their chances in a Penalty shootout. Especially considering how well they did in that against Greece.

[whomario]

That´s a flop, but i see his point here: That was not a play anywhere near the ball. Let´s just say that i would want the Ref to recognize that as well ...

And that was no hand ball, not even close ...

[Abe Sargent]

I don't have any more of an issue with a football club playing defensive football to park a semi truck in font of goal and keep another team from scoring any more than I take umbrage with NFL teams playing massive defensively and keeping the score as low as possible so they can win with a weak offense.

[kingfc22]

Good to know you can run into another player and it turns into a card for the defender. Ridiculous.

[PilotMan]

Pretty sure Robben initiated that.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Dutch

So basically, you don't want to see a showdown of the two best teams in the world? You want to see some shocking matchup like Croatia vs Paraguay? If so, then may I re-introduce you to the group stage, tons of improbable matchups were played there.

Not that. I would have liked say Belgium or Columbia making it through somehow. Teams that are good but not the traditional.

[AlexB]

Not sure you can blame Robben for anything in that incident though?

[General Mike]

Originally Posted by Ajaxab

Ticos with not a single shot on goal. Parking the bus and getting some luck...

Magnets in the ball.

[Abe Sargent]

WHOA COSTA RICA

[whomario]

Oh, sooo close for Costa Rica !

[AlexB]

Great end to the game! Few of the games have been like this as players get tired, so maybe there ought to be a new rule that all players should have to do a 10 mile run before the start of each game to get them so tired there's no shape to the sides from the start

[kingfc22]

Interesting sub there.

[Abe Sargent]

PENALITES!!!

[whomario]

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED ?

[ISiddiqui]

Fantastic stuff!! 2nd ET was great back and forth!

[Critch]

Krul has saved 2 penalties out of 20 he's faced with Newcastle, doesnt seem the penalty stopping specialist you bring on in the last minute.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Interesting sub there.

My team Leicester did something similar in the championship play off in the 90s. We subbed off our 5'10" keeper for our 6'10" sub keeper just before the end of extra time. And we won, admittedly with a last second volley by Super Stevie Claridge before it got to pens, but i'm sure subbing the keeper was the reason!

[ISiddiqui]

I guess the results will determine if it's a great strategy .

[bhlloy]

The legendary Zelkjo Kalac, right?

It is notable that Costa Rica out all their PKs high vs Greece. That's probably the reason for bringing the taller guy on. Van Gaal will get second guessed if they lose though

[PilotMan]

So much pressure coming off the bench to save penalties. Just seems like asking for trouble.

[Abe Sargent]

1-0 Costa Rica and now Dutch move up and..........




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Van Persie.......


Hits!!!


1-1

[AlexB]

That was him: 'Spider' Kalac. F'n useless! And Costa Rica go low to prove a point