FIFA World Cup

Danny Richie · « **Reply #200 on:** 27 Jun 2010, 08:49 pm »

Quote

Went with Spain based solely on my feelings towards Ronaldo.

Yep, I am with you on that.

chadh · « **Reply #201 on:** 27 Jun 2010, 09:28 pm »

Quote from: Mariusz on 27 Jun 2010, 06:42 pm

Waiting for your brave picks!!!!

Touche!

As it happens, my picks were/are even less courageous. From my point of view, you've got the right guys - except for Japan. I don't see them beating Paraguay.

The Spain v Portugal game will be interesting, though. Nobody has scored against Portugal in about 13 games, apparently. They haven't really looked threatened through the first round - not even by Brazil (in a lackluster game). And Spain have a habit of self-destruction in big tournaments. Personally, I refuse to have my allegiance determined by my sentiments towards one player, so I'm hoping that Ronaldo has an awesome game, does some fabulous things, but that Portugal gets beaten by a creative Spanish passing game.

I still think the Germany v Argentina game will be fabulous. Argentina looked pretty good for about 3/4 of their game today. And they seem always to be looking to score goals. The same goes for Germany. Neither of these teams looks to have a rock solid defense - but neither seems all that concerned about it. Plus, we get to see Messi play (a treat, although he was a little quiet today) as well as Oesil, who I think has looked really classy every time he's touched the ball for Germany.

For what it's worth, I'm picking Argentina to play Spain and Brazil to play Uruguay in the semi-finals.

Chad

Chad

Mariusz · « **Reply #202 on:** 27 Jun 2010, 10:27 pm »

I picked Japan for one reason only - hearth and drive to win.
Sometimes it's more then world ranking or how many superstars play
on the team.

Argentina v.s Germany ..... Boy that's a tough one.
I want to say Argentina but on the good day, Germany can be deadly in execution. Since I do not have a favorite in that game, I hope it goes to overtime and then penalty shots face of.

Netherlands ..... I do not know - haven't watch all of their games.

Brazil - ohh Brazil,.... you definitely have the potential and skills
, I just hope that you won't freeze up. (I am not talking about Chile)

Spain v.s Portugal - interesting game for sure. Both very good teams (possibly two of the best) ...... we will see who wants it more.
I HOPE it ends up in penalty shots and Ronaldo's miss, WILL secured Spain's advancement.

chadh · « **Reply #203 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 12:54 am »

Quarter finals:

Uruguay v Ghana
Brazil v Netherlands

Argentina v Germany
Spain v Paraguay

My selections are emboldened.

Chad

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #204 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 01:09 am »

Uruguay has shown very little firm against Korea. Thus, I put my bets with the Ghanians.

Brazil, I have not watched their games but it is foolish to bet against them.

50/50 Argentina vs Germany.

Spain played a very good game today in contrast to Paraguay but hey, you never know.

I am rooting for Paraguay. It is a matter of the heart. Although I could also root for Spain. Many of my friends will hate me for that!

Mariusz · « **Reply #205 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 03:35 am »

Japan froze big time in today's game with Paraguay.
Both teams proved with their performance that they are not ready for prime time. At least not yet.
Penalty shots are like russian roulette, either
you get lucky or you don't. Worst way to loose the game.
However, at the end, IMO Paraguay looked a bit better then Japan and deserved to advance (based on that game).
It would be almost silly to pick Paraguay over Spain in quarterfinals match.
Spain played smart, consistent game that paid off.

I got a feeling that Brazil will destroy Netherlands
Uruguay might pull it of
and the most interesting game of quarterfinals,
Argentina v.s Germany.
Two great, young, motivated teams.
Both have the potentials to go all the way to the finals.
Both deserved it.
I am with Argentina tho. They just might have what is needed to beat Brazil.

Quote from: chadh on 30 Jun 2010, 12:54 am

Quarter finals:

Uruguay v Ghana
Brazil v Netherlands

Argentina v Germany
Spain v Paraguay

My selections are emboldened.

Chad

ted_b · « **Reply #206 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 05:55 pm »

Let me first say that I am not a huge soccer fan; was formerly but only because my niece was Olympic-hopeful and played with the Brandi Chastain's of the world. Anyway....this World Cup has renewed my faith in the American culture, as goofy and f'd up as that is.

I realize soccer is not a huge sport in this country, but there is no way we'd ever chastise, ban or threaten treasonous consequences on one of our own teams for playing badly (or even acting poorly) on the world stage. When our basketball dream teams stumbled in the 90's and early 2000's in Olympic or World competition we didn't make a huge issue of it for more than a day. But these highly nationalistic attitudes of France, Nigeria, etc make me sick. These poor guys are no longer welcome in their own country, and could likely jump off a bridge as a solution. It's crazy! I realize there is little to rally around in Nigeria other than these world stage opportunities, but c'mon! It's only a sport, and it's only a tournament. The level-headed countries need to make examples and put pressure on the governments (f you can call them that) to chill out with the hit squads and guilt-ridden diatribes.

If this is too political, please delete, although it's not aimed at any political party, philosophy or agenda....just a comment about how America sees its sports....as either fun or money-making, but nothing more.

JoshK · « **Reply #207 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 05:58 pm »

Quote from: chadh on 30 Jun 2010, 12:54 am

Quarter finals:

Uruguay v Ghana
Brazil v Netherlands

Argentina v Germany
Spain v Paraguay

My selections are emboldened.

Chad

That is who I think will win too, but I'd like Germany to win. Not sure it'll happen, but it should be THE game to watch.

Cacophonix · « **Reply #208 on:** 30 Jun 2010, 07:31 pm »

Of all the quarter final games, argentina/germany is the one i'll be watching live.

I think argentina will win, but the psychic octopus says, that germany will win in a hard fought game

Its been right about germany through out this tournament, so ....

JohnR · « **Reply #209 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 02:11 pm »

Brazil just scored it's first goal.

(I think I'm watching it live.)

Cacophonix · « **Reply #210 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 02:25 pm »

Quote from: JohnR on 2 Jul 2010, 02:11 pm

Brazil just scored it's first goal.

(I think I'm watching it live.)

Nice goal there! Poor work in the midfield by the dutch

-Huge- gap in there to enable robinho tap the ball into the net.

Cacophonix · « **Reply #211 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 03:33 pm »

Can't believe it ... dutch leading now!! And brazil playing with 10 men

JohnR · « **Reply #212 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 03:35 pm »

Crikey...

Cacophonix · « **Reply #213 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 03:52 pm »

Gone!

I still can't believe it! No more brazil

Mariusz · « **Reply #214 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 03:59 pm »

Quote from: Cacophonix on 2 Jul 2010, 03:52 pm

Gone!

I still can't believe it! No more brazil

it will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

WOW !!!!!

Congrats Holland

JoshK · « **Reply #215 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 04:03 pm »

holy cow, what just happend?

Wasn't watching, at work, but had the website up. Looked away for a while and then 2:1.
Was the own goal just a hit off the brazil guy or was it a larger error?

Cacophonix · « **Reply #216 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 04:14 pm »

Quote from: JoshK on 2 Jul 2010, 04:03 pm

holy cow, what just happend?

Wasn't watching, at work, but had the website up. Looked away for a while and then 2:1.
Was the own goal just a hit off the brazil guy or was it a larger error?

1st dutch goal:
Dutch cross from the right, brazil defender in front of the goalie tried to head it away, and missed it. But in doing so, he came in way of the goalie, and the ball went in.

2nd dutch goal:
It was a set piece. Low corner shot, curving in... dutch attacker headed it in.

Though brazil had most of the possession, and looked like a better team overall, dutch team probably had more scoring chances than the brazil. Kaka had a great chance that he missed, but apart from that, they really didn't have much.

And what to say abt mello??

Stupid stupid mistake similar to the one made by nigerian player. Both got sent out, and arguably cost their sides the game.

chadh · « **Reply #217 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 04:18 pm »

The own goal should have been credited to the Dutchman, Sneijder. It was a purely speculative cross from Sneijder that floated goalward, and should have been caught easily by the keeper. But the Brazilian defense hadn't pushed out. The keeper couldn't get to the ball easily because one of his players (Mello, the guy who was eventually sent off) was in the way. Mello and Cesar collided as they both jumped for the ball, and the ball glanced off Mello's head, into the goal.

Brazil just fell apart after that.

In the first half, the Brazilian passes were sure and on target, and their first touches were effective. After the first Dutch goal, nothing the Brazilians tried worked at all. Their passes went astray. Their first touches were sloppy. They started to panic, and put in long balls that had no chance of paying off, and their defense got porous. I don't think the Dutch even challenged them that severely. Brazil just went into self destruct mode.

On that performance, I can't see The Netherlands winning the tournament. But it's quite possible that they'll make the final.

Chad

Danny Richie · « **Reply #218 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 04:35 pm »

Wow! Congratulations to the Netherlands for a stunning come from behind win.

The dirty fouls and embellishing of slight touches was still embarrassing. I wish that some of these players would realize that the world is watching them and that they will be remembered for what they do.

Maybe they need to take a lesson from Zinedine Zadane. Here is Zadane, formally known as one of the best players in the world, now forever known as a head butter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF4iWIE77Ts&feature=related

macrojack · « **Reply #219 on:** 2 Jul 2010, 04:42 pm »

The Netherlands has a very good team but I would characterize their style more physical than finesse. They got away with it this time because they had a referee who let's the guys play. If they get somebody who is more apt to pull out the cards, they may have to match skills and they don't appear to have the tools to do that at this level.