World Cup 2014

DDcorvus said:
I m surprised you say the Argentinians have the attaching edge. They have been playing on the counter all the tournament and without Di Maria they are even more dependent on Messi, while the Germans can field Muller, Khedira, Klose, Schurrle, Gotze among others.
Click to expand...

I say this because, Argentina have Messi, Lavezzi, Higuain, Palacio and did have Di Maria (!), however Khedira is a more defence minded player, Klose probably won't start even though he should due to Mueller. Gotze is one of my favourite players in the tournament.
 
cleusk said:
That's a long grudge.
Click to expand...

Not at all. Why is every Brazilian so passionate about Brazil winning this tournament? Because Brazil lost the last final played at the Maracana, 2-1 to Uruguay, in 1950.
The 1974 Dutch team with Cruyff, Neeskens et al with their 'total football' style was the best I have ever seen, in my humble opinion.

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
Why is every Brazilian so passionate about Brazil winning this tournament?
Click to expand...

I happen to know quite a bunch of Brazilians who are not interested in football (not even today) and couldn't care less about the match of 1950, but are genuinely peeved at their government for spending so much money on football rather than on more important projects (like education, poverty reduction, social projects, fighting corruption etc.)...

If it comes to great teams "deserving" the title for overall great skill, also the already mentioned "Magical Magyars" or the Austrian "Wunderteam" (both primary stages of the Dutch "Total Football" system) should have achieved more. Fate just hadn't it in for them.
 
Last edited:
Brazil, Argentina and Germany all already had the title, the Netherlands "only" had 3 second places ( 1974. 1978 and 2010 ) so I realy hope they will make it this time ( with Germany being on the second place, Brazil 3th and Argentina 4 th).
 
nanoboy said:
I had a last second change of mind, and these are my submissions for the office pool:

Brazil 1 - 0 Germany
Netherlands 2 - 1 Argentina

Brazil-Netherlands for the final!
Click to expand...

As I write this, it's Germany 4 - Brazil 0!!! Did anyone see that coming after just 28mins?
 
A fantastic win for the Germans, it does prove however that Brazil struggle without Neymar and Thiago Silva who are fantastic players.
 
Arguably the most incredible score in the history of the World Cup, and having seen almost every match at the last 8 tournaments (stretching back to 1986) I'm blown away at how poor the Brazilians defended during the first half an hour. Brazil were missing their 2 best players but this was a weak Brazilian side in comparison to other years and I think that the crowd willed them onwards throughout the past few weeks. The Germans, as efficient as ever, waltzed through the defense like a knife through butter.
 
snowleopard said:
The Germans, as efficient as ever, waltzed through the defense like a knife through butter.
Click to expand...

The last time Germany defeated a nation so soundly was when Hitler decided he wanted a holiday in Paris.
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
A fantastic win for the Germans, it does prove however that Brazil struggle without Neymar and Thiago Silva who are fantastic players.
Click to expand...

It would not have made the slightest difference. Brazil was formed around Neymar and was no team to begin with. Its defence from the start was lackluster (I mean the entire tournament). It was only a question of time before they met a real team effort in the Tournament. They have had extreme luck - ... another dirty FIFA trick ... (sarcasm, allthough looking at the qualifing round, the knock out stages ... there is a tinge of conspiracy theory possible) - both in what teams they met in the qualifying round and all through the knock out stages. Colombia was the first real test ..., and again proved how non decisive refereering could somehow benefit a home-side. Now the Brazil defence was a leaking hole to begin with, big large but ineffective pillars of salt unable to make a decisive run to prevent an opposing team coming in.

I must say Germany once more look the real WC favorite. They were a team and operated as one spirit, extremely fit and tactically deadly efficient. The deserving winners.

Part of my erstwhile prediction is out. Sadly, tonight Argentina will make it ... (allthough a tiny piece of me would rather against all hope wish for a Germany - Holland final with us - the Dutch ... (yes, not chauvinist, just partial ...) finally winning a World Cup at the fourth try.
 
Still reeling from last night as snowleopard said the most significant scoreline in world cup history.
I'm with you KB, i hope Holland can do it, for everything they have given to world cups past, most notably handing Archie Gemmil THAT goal.
 
My prediction for The Netherlands v Argentina.
The Netherlands 2-1 Argentina Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Lionel Messi
 
I just submitted these predictions to the office pool. If I'm right, I should win $100. :D

Brazil 3 - 1 Netherlands
Germany 3 - 2 Argentina
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top