What matchup would make for the best Final? Brazil/Canada? Brazil/Germany? Sweden/Canada? Sweden/Germany?
Well, I think Brazil is playing the most interesting, fluid, attacking soccer. They have players with flair, even if Marta isn't as spectacular as she was 5 years or so ago. Germany's play has been somewhat lackluster so far at the Olympics but I still think they have the most dangerous talent of the other remaining teams and can give Brazil a fight in the Gold Medal game. However, Canada's been getting the job done and the semifinal between Germany and Canada will show us who deserves to be in the final.
I want to see a team win it, which hasn't won any other major tournaments before. Brazil vs. Canada would be ideal IMO.
Doesn't Germany "have Sweden's number"? It depends which versions of these teams show up - the Sweden-Brazil Sweden, or the Sweden-US Sweden. Sweden/Canada might be the most competitive. Either Brazil possibility would be good, I bet. So hard to pick just one, lol.
In early polling (as of midnight last night): Brazil/Canada 41.7% Brazil/Germany 50.0% Sweden/Canada 0% Sweden/Germany 8.3% Between Canada and Germany, it's fairly closely split, with Germany being mentioned 58.3% and Canada 41.7% But when it comes to Brazil vs Sweden, it's a wipeout with Brazil getting 91.7% of the mentions and Sweden only 8.3%. Poor Sweden! But even though I've liked and respected Sweden's team for years - and thought they would prove very troublesome to the US - they've been somewhat lackluster and lacking spark for some time.
Germany definitely seems to have Sweden's number, in a similar way that Sweden has had the USWNT's number over the past six years. I distinctly remember both EURO 2013 when Sweden was dominating and Germany suffered in first EURO loss in years (more than a decade?) and yet Germany scrapped together a string of unconvincing 1-0 wins to their title defense; there's also the 4-1 smashing at last year's WWC, but that was more expected based on current form. A perverse part of me would have to respect if Sweden's bunker strategy works for a third time in a row, (you know they certainly aren't going to try anything else against Germany of all teams,) as it'd be somewhat of a middle finger to the soccer gods for a team with just one win in six games (and no knockout wins) ends up with the gold... But much more of me wants Germany to destroy them and embarrass them for using the bunker strategy. Aside: hoping for Brazil to beat Canada for the bronze.
Someone else woke up and smelled the lingonberries. It's now two people. Brazil/Canada 38.9% Brazil/Germany 50.0% Sweden/Canada 0% Sweden/Germany 11.1%
I'm hoping for a sophisticated bunker vs. bunker style were both teams are beautiful organized for 120 minutes while the ball sits in the middle of the pitch for 120 minutes.
When I had posted yesterday, it had been 7-7-0-1. I'm less surprised that someone voted for Sweden/Germany after the gold medal match was known (to guarantee they "were right"), and more surprised that people voted for Brazil/Germany after Brazil had already been eliminated.
Well for a Swede it is. (I was the first that voted for that game). Sweden have one WC and three Euro silvers, the first of those finals was lost to Norway guess who beat us in the last three? It would be nice to see if this generation can go one better than the last three times we played in a final.
Yes, which reminds me of this classic : the Greek Philosophers vs the German Philosophers Not sure how well Sweden would match up in this one. Sweden might have to field their team entirely with characters from Ingmar Bergman films
As a guy who loves Philoosphy I was delighted and exilarated! I had watched a lot of Monty Python's sketches, but I had missed this one... I love the fact that Socrates would have turned out being a real player, for Brazil, in the '80s.
One of the most entertaining things i've seen this football tournament. I highly doubt Marx would have so much energy though.
I'm curious about this matchup, because of the fact that Pia hasn't been able to crack Sylvia. For all that nonsense about "cowards", I do believe that Pia was fearful of playing Germany in quarters, hence the draw in the final group stages. What's preferable playing a team that beats you when it's count? Or meeting the team that you know like the back of your hand? No contest! I've never cared for this woman but that was some master class strategy from Pia. Kudos to her! I ain't mad at her or Sweden at all!
JgsawWill (twitter @wosocomps) also took a poll Brazil/Canada 41% Brazil/Germany 39% Sweden/Canada 11% Sweden / Germany 9% 765300821294710788 is not a valid tweet id
Ain't nobody wanna see Sweden play Germany. LMAO. Oh well, y'all. It is what it is. I'm curious to see what the attendance will be like for the final. At least the bronze medal match will be well attended.