Yeah you're right. It's not an opinion, it's fact, right? Smh Scolari brought the country together in a way Bento never came close to doing. While yesterday's loss was bad, he completely remade the team into a much better looking side than the one he took over 2 years ago after that disaster of a Copa America. I also really want a Brazilian coach. We need a confidence and foreign attitude brought in. As Gooddead said, and he's right, the biggest enemy Portugal has is their own mania. Scolari can change that.
Yes, he underachieved by losing twice to Greece, once in the final. This is common knowledge. Thankfully he now feels as embarrassed as he should have felt in 2004.
Actually, that is only partly right. The man who evoked patriotic feelings across the nation was Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa when he appealed people to hang their flags at the window. For some reason that was the trigger that instilled an entire nation to leave their clubismo aside and support the nt. Scolari was surely stubborn at bringing his own players, but what good is that when he doesn't even bring or field the right ones? How many years have we faced stupid choices of placing wrong players in the wrong roles? Paulo Ferreira as a LB marking Ballack aka André Almeida playing LB. How many times do we have to face the idiotic idea that calling the same players, regardless of their form, is a good thing for the squad? And that mania was present in the attitude of some players in the Scolari era. He nurtured their egos, he didn't contained them. Of course I question people's intelligence when they say something like that. It doesn't make any sense.
It's not under achieving. They beat Russia, Spain, England, and the Dutch to reach the final. It was a great tournament. It ended in one of the saddest days of my young life, but they did not under achieve.
You think that Portugal reaching a final was good enough. I would agree with you if it wasn't against Greece. Let that sink in. Greece. That we lost twice. As a host nation. That's called underachievement.
The Argentina board is hilarious, they are making fun of Brazil so much when they are only now going to play a actual contender team (Holland) in the semi finals. Cant believe the audacity. they are angry at me over there for pointing that out.
Man, I would so LOVE to see Argentina eat crow today. Not to mention it would be delicious to see Brazil and Argentina play ... for 3rd place... eheheh.
Reaching the final isn't underachieving. Losing in the final isn't underachieving. Losing in the final to Greece, the same team that beat Portugal a couple weeks prior, using the same exact tactics, is underachieving. It was Greece! A team that had qualified to only one euro previously, way back in 1980. A team that couldn't qualify to the 2002 or 2006 World Cup, the tournaments that sandwiched the euro. A team that had odds of 150-1 to win the tournament.
Both teams deserve nothing. Kuyt was horrible all game the only player on the field who was way worse was Messi. Messi is the great joke of this tournament. Gifted easy opponents and is made to look like a scrub by every single defence he has faced save for Nigeria. He did NOTHING all game. At least vs Bosnia, Iran, and a pass vs the Swiss he had a late game play to win and save face for his Dreadful performances but vs Belgium and Netherlands and the vast majority of the other games he has been a total joke. Germany deserves a place in the final Argentina deserved to have had a moderately strong group and be eliminated early.
Messi's best game was against Belgium but whatever. Argentina as a whole didn't play good except for Mascherano. It's just that Holland played worst, especially Robben, Van Persie and Sneidjer
Agreed the benefits of Argentina's favourable draw really showed Netherlands were out of gas , they had a gruelling tournament.
The only upside to the final is that it's not a dream of a match for the Angry White Men. Netherlands vs Germany = Angry White Men's galore.
lol like I said, ppl who said Argentina couldn't defend are moronic. guess cause Garay and Rojo don't play in the EPL lol Germany is favs, but it may work against them. everyone will expect them to win especially after their 7-1 mauling of Brazil. Argentina look compact, organized and stifling. Messi has not even played his best football yet. If it comes Sunday Germany may be in trouble.
he play makes a lot, he still scored 4 goals and has provided some vital assists. It hasn't been super mind blowing but he has been good overall. Today, as captain he took and scored Argentina's first PK. Remember two years ago? Euro 2012 Semi PK Portugal vs Spain? Captain Ronaldo did not even shoot.
When i say nothing I mean it....play make? Surely you jest. you have to touch the ball, or run into space or create space, or make a probing/advancing pass to "play make" Ronaldo was not that good in the semi but WAY more involved then Messi vs Bosnia, Iran, Switzerland, Belgium, and Netherlands. He got a second half goal vs Bosnia (where the rest of the time he did NOTHING)that went off a defender, 2 vs Nigeria in a his only good game, a late one vs Iran where he did NOTHING, An assist vs the Swiss (thank you Lichsteiner for falling asleep) in a game where he did NOTHING, He did Nothing vs Belgium and did nothing but the turn the ball over the few times he touched the ball today vs Netherlands. Anyone who says Messi is having a decent tournament (never mind good) is doing one of two things: 1. Not watching any of Argentina's games 2. Lying.
Keep working your anus off for Real Madrid, CR7. On Sunday you may receive the ultimate troll and once Barcelona gets Suarez you may never beat them again.
Barcelona is done. Xavi and Iniesta won't last, Neymar is showing how fragile he is. Suarez will not fit into the system. Tiki taka is all but dead. Atletico and Madrid will fight for top spot.
You're letting your hatred blind you. Only James Rodriguez and Mueller has definitely had a better tournament than him. He's done everything offensively for Argentina. And you keep saying he's did shit vs Belgium. Why,because he didn't score? He was great vs them. It's not all about scoring
Tiki Taka is an artistic masterpiece and only the naive believe it's dead. People judge Tiki Taka solely based on Spain's world cup performance, let them. Hopefully managers start doing that as well. I see Atletico and Barcelona being the top two, i think Real is in severe trouble for next season and CR7 is in for el nightmare.
Goals vs Nigeria, Bosnia and Iran while being stripped every time he touches the ball is doing everything offensively? He's pulled some miracles (for himself) in the group stage but please do not tell me a guy that cannot hold on to a ball and in cases like today cannot touch it is playing well. Listen, I understand all you did was watch the highlight packs and listen to whatever the ESPN commentators filled you in on but Messi has been a joke. Higuain was doing everything for him today and Perez was also lively and those two got subbed while Messi stayed on and after that there was no more attack from Argentina and they played for penalties. I laughed and thought surely anyone who watches cannot possibly make an excuse for Messi after today....but much like Ronaldo the marks will always be marks.