We have really shit luck on losing players these past 2 WC's 2010 an extremely in form Nani 2014 an extremely in form Coentrao By 2018 Nani won't be there and Coentrao probably will not be anywhere near this level. That said in 2010 We had options to replace Nani but Queiroz decided we were going to be Italy for that tourney. 2014 we left Antunes at home for Andre Almeida.....wow I still can't believe a guy who is not good enough for MLS IMO was playing for us in the World Cup.
yeah but by 2018 hopefully we have a real coach and a team who actually is humble and plays as a team and does not believe in their own hype those basic qualities can go a much longer way than some one-man team superstar Dom Sebastiao type philosophy.
Unfortunately that won't happen. The Marcos Lopes' and William Carvalho's are few and far between. Most of these kids are already full of themselves at 16 it seems. Part of it is Portuguese culture. It's arrogant, in my opinion. Not criticizing, but I think it's definitely there. Add on that it's a small country where soccer is such a religion, and the kids who make it are naturally put on a pedestal. Especially the ones who come up in Benfica and Sporting.
Now I want Netherlands to beat Argentina even more Van Gaal will know how to set up his team to not get beat down and hopefully the final will be competitive if its Argentina, they better defend for their lives and pass to Messi.
Yep, the Oranje are now my preference to win now that Brazil is out. You helped solidify me on that with the points you made about them in the other thread.
I know we've lost to them several times recently, and yes Muller is a pansy….But I really have nothing but respect for Germany. I hope they win it. They are the model Portugal should use for this new generation. TEAM play, selflessness on the field, organization above all else, one and two touch quick play, CONFIDENCE, patience, and not settling for anything but perfection for 90 minutes.
If netherlands beats germany for the cup, can't think of any better way for them to get revenge of 1974 along the way they would have gotten revenge for 2010 (5-1 v Spain) and 1978 (Argentina in semis) we will see what happens. we could be in for a wild finish.
That second goal is what killed them... They gave up. And Luiz was awful, putrid at best. But I'd be lying to say I didn't enjoy it. Germany are the best team this tourney, they keep getting better.
Brasil got found out. Pure and simple. The way Germany handled Brasil without fear and actually took the game to them when they were fragile is exactly what Queiroz should have done in 2010. We missed a huge opportunity to beat another sh8tt7 Brasilian team then and avoid Spain by playing scared to Brasil then.
It wasn't just defense (I have never rated David Luis as a great CB so it was hardly a surprise to see the horror show today). What was truly incredible was just how poor the DMs were. Luis Gustavo and Fernandinho were - there is no other word for it - an embarrassment. Poor decisions, indecisive, slow - it was like they were drugged. They made Meireles and Veloso look good.
After yesterday's match, I am almost sure that no one will dare to suggest Scolari as our next coach. 2002 was a fluke and he underachieved in 2004 and in 2008. There is no arguing this anymore.
Against the very same team we lost in the 1st game....at ********ing HOME! He learned nothing out of it. He doesn't adapt. He brings the same old dudes and relies too much on motivational speeches. He is a one game plan kind of guy and tactically clueless. We don't need another Bento. The fact that you want him back is living proof of the kind of dumb mentality that keep us from winning things.