We were talking about how there's been one big story every day. I wonder what the story will be for tomorrow?
Gotta say that Italy-Uruguay match makes me want to take a day or two off from this WC ... What a disgrace. A lazy petulant Balotelli. Scandalous red card tackle by Marchisio. A game full of fouls and dives and whining and time wasting etc ... And to top it off that disgusting moment from Suarez bringing shame to the sport. Send both these teams home please.
They're making a comeback. After the 2008 Euro- where they were offensive but got trounced by Russia- they turned to the dark side and almost hacked their way to a World Cup win. But so far this time around, it really looks like they're on their way back to being all about the attack. I mean, yeah, they're scoring most of their goals on counterattacks now, but it's not like they hang back Mourinho-style. They're clearly more open now than in 2010 or 2012.
What a World Cup.. not a single boring day: Day 1 - Nishimura's controversial calls in the opening match / Neymar debuts in WC with 2 goals Day 2 - Spain 1 - 5 Holland / Van Persie diving header Day 3 - Costa Rica upset (3-1 v. Uruguay) Day 4 - Messi last min goal v. Bosnia in Argentina's 2-1 win Day 5 - Brooks late goal to break USA's Ghana curse / Germany 4 - 0 Portugal Day 6 - Memo Ochoa MOTM performance v. Brazil Day 7 - Spain eliminated with one game left in group stage / Cahill volley v. Holland Day 8 - Luis Suarez returning from injury to score 2 in Uruguay's 2-1 victory v. England Day 9 - Costa Rica upset part II (1-0 v. Italy) / France 5 - 2 Switzerland Day 10 - Messi 90 min brilliance v. Iran for Argentina's qualification to R16 / Germany 2 - 2 Ghana Day 11 - Portugal 94th minute goal to tie USA 2-2 and keep qualification hopes alive Day 12 - Mexico qualification / Brazil's first "big" win / 14 goals in 4 games that day Day 13 - Luis Suarez bite / Italy and England eliminated in group stage / Costa Rica advances to Round of 16 for second time in history Day 14 - 2 Messi goals v. Nigeria, for a tally of 4 goals in 3 games Day 15 - USA makes it out of "Group of Death" / Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo go home early Day 16 - Chile's last PK in dramatic shootout hitting the post for their elimination and Brazil's advancement to QFs / Colombia advancing to QFs for first time in history Day 17 - Holland late goals (88', 94') in 2 - 1 victory v. Mexico / Late Greece goal v. Costa Rica to take game to extra time / Costa Rica advancing to QFs for first time in history Day 18 - Algeria surprisingly taking Germany to extra time, nearing another upset
This is the greatest cup ever, right? Seriously, 50 matches in, and how many have been stinkers? How many have been terrific?
Maybe 2 or 3 stinkers at most. Even Germany-Algeria, which was pretty boring for the first 90, really picked up in extra time and was amazing.
Just fantastic! The round of 16 games were so intense, especially towards the end. I'll take struggles advancing over breezing through boring games any day
Well since the round of 16 happened this WC has been just as crappy as any other. Teams hacking and diving ... Teams clinging on to 1-0 or 1-1 results. No surprises. All the big teams just doing enough to barely advance. Oh well ... only 4 more years 'til 2018.
Round of 16 was fine (although referees messed up several outcomes, most notably Mexico - Netherlands and Nigeria - France), but the 1/4 finals so far have sucked. Unfortunately unless Costa Rica play the game of a lifetime I don't expect any change with the final game.
Through the round of 16, this WC was the best ever (I've seen everyone since 78). The 1/4 finals have been disappointing. The end of CR-Neth was good and Colombia-Brazil could have been a 3-2 or 4-3 Classic had the ref pulled some yellow cards out in the 1st half. But really not as good as the '10 1/4 finals: Neth comes back from 1-0 down to win 3-1 & Melo is sent off. The amazing Ghana-Uruguay match with Suarez handball on the line and Gyan missing the PK. Germany trouncing Argentina 4-0. Only Spain-Port was a sleeper (thanks tiki taka). In fact, I would say that this has been the worst set of 1/4 finals I can remember. Really too bad, because it's these later stage classic matches that are remembered in the long run. Think Italy-Brazil from '82, France-Brazil or Spain-Belgium from '86, England-Cameroon from '90, Brazil-Neth, Bulgaria-Germany or Italy-Spain from '94. These were amazing matches from 1/4 finals. The SF's still have a chance, but I honestly see another cagey match from Arg-Neth and Brazil-Germany will deteriorate quickly of ref allows Brazil to persistently foul deep in Germany end to prevent them from starting attacks.
I know, Spain was just terrible can't remember them in 2002 but they must have had a better Cup than this one...
lol, yeah. beacause there were so many changes in the roster from the 2010 to the 2014 team right? Especially because in 2010, Spain just completely destroyed every opponent they faced. lol. get a freaking grip.
They didn't need to score. They could keep 75% of possession if they wanted to. Nobody could stop their passing. The key component to their style was to press the ball in packs whenever they lost it. That was the difference between '10 and '14. They were too old and just didn't have the legs to chase people down like in '10.
yes, and? Still made for boring, ultra defensive football. Which is exactly why Tiki Taka is boring. Because it´s DEFENSIVE football to the extreme. It´s totally defensive, with the difference that the defense here is not letting the opponent have the ball.
imho, one of the best things of this World Cup has been the big invasions from S.American fans, which created a World Cup atmosphere in many games that was lacking in S.Africa or in Japan/Korea argentine song provoking Brazil... I don´t understand the entire lyrics, but it starts with "Brazil, tell me how you feel" and ends with "... Maradona being greater than Pelé"