2014 FIFA World Cup™ Semi-Finals: Netherlands vs Argentina| Wednesday, Jul 9, 4:00 PMET

Just watched the game (steered clear of results). Pretty rubbish match. Teams were way too cagey (especially Netherlands). I think there were probably 2 decent chances (in a game of very few) in the whole 90 mins. Messi and Robben were totally nullified, and the rest of the players were distinctly average.

Netherlands should have stuck to the players who won them their previous penalty shoot out (as it always looked like it would go to penalties). Apparently, that Dutch keeper has never saved a penalty.

Anyway, Germany will be favourites, and I expect them to have most of the play, with Argentina trying to keep a strong defence and do well on the counter.

 

"Passion" won't do anything. All the passionate teams are gone, it was two much for them to bear. Particularly Brazil which in fact went totally overboard with passion. Look at the pressure they put on themselves. Like for instance holding up that Neymar shirt...one would have thought he had died.

No, you need the opposite, you need to stay clam and focus on your strengths, otherwise you'll only produce mistakes and cards.

Germany didn't hold up a Reus shirt or France a Ribery shirt. Instead of getting emotionally pumped up, they focused on the team they had and played to its strengths.

 

A one-man show already won the WC before

But this Argentina is not a one-man show, it plays like a team. Yesterday, the team carried an invisible Messi.

Argentines and Brazucas are cool with one another, don't let the memes and malicious postings here make you think otherwise. Germany represents discipline and structure, Argentina genius and passion. Go with Argentina

 

Genius? Granted, Argentina didn't pick and choose its route to the final, but it hasn't beat a WC giant yet. Crazy what fanaticism can do to a people

 

Perhaps you missed FIFA assigning a Brazilian and Argentine ref to two of Germany's knock out round games recently. There is no such "rule" in FIFA. They assign who they believe to be the best neutral referees.

 

I am talking in tradition. Diego Maradona in WC86 remains the greatest performance in WC history. Mario Kempes in WC78 undoubtedly top ten, likely top five.

 

Don't forget the referees in 78 who helped.

 

Didn't know Codesal was in '78

 

What really was amazing about those performances was that in 1978, not only did Kempes & Co. get all the refs on their side, they also got the entire Peruvian team to roll over for them.
And whoda thunk that a guy as tiny as Madonna (....) would be so good at volleyball?

 

Perhaps argies feel differently, but if messi gets on the score sheet, and Argentina win this will be a huge upset, and one of the greatest victories she'd ever have. I'd be shocked if it happened, but this world cup has been a mindf**k, and it is possible.

 

No....there was a team helping.

 

Yep...there was that too.

 

Congrats to Argentina, but Holland messed up the penalty kicks royally. I knew they would lose them the moment I saw the team. No confidence whatsoever.

 

Aren't you the maudlin bitch?



Argentina is BETTER than you are!!!!

 

But let's not talk about the doping by the Germans in WC54, only reason they could possibly beat Hungary too.

 

If you want to make snide comments and bring up these issues I could refer back to 1954 when the best team in the tournament Hungary were 'cheated'. 1990 ? A dive against Czechoslovakia and then in the final.

Not to mention the antics of Schumacher against Battiston. I love the way you as an individual portray it as a clear cut black and white issue.

You make these posts supposedly in a light hearted manner with what seems the intention to provoke a response. Perhaps years of being a TSV Munich fan in the shadow of Bayern does that to a person.

 

LMAO, complete ownage right there!

 

Lets just look at both teams atm. Germany is better with better clearer goals or goal chances. Argentina plays more like a team than they did before but to be honest it doesnt really help them. It doesnt look that good quality wise. But if we look at all the matches from this WC then Germany played shit too. That said it is sth. like 50:50 but at the moment after the last 2 matches Germany should win.
Argentina playing defensively is just wrong. Could be the right decision to win the WC anyway?! Not sure

 

I wouldn't know about that

 

I would like to commiserate with the Dutch. No sense of patronizing the Oranje followers. It is heartbreaking to get so close and yet be so far.

There is little doubt playing in the heat of the north played some part. van Gaal for all his proclaimed mastery of tactics ? He has been in many matches over his career and hindsight is a wonderful thing in judging a managers actions.

If Romero had flapped as expected Sabella would be the one criticized for leaving Caballero at home. But now van Gaal gets it in the neck for picking Cillesen. Why not Vorm ?

For those people saying it was a boring game. I can understand it was not an end to end game. Some of the set piece delivery was abysmal. But for those with an appreciation of tactics it was very interesting in how both teams managed to stifle the main threats in each side.

It showed and it is no surprise to those who have watched Sabella teams that he prefers the pragmatic over the flair. Estudiantes v Barcelona for example. And that reinforces his own tactical astuteness as a coach. Although one has like his counterpart to doubt his substitutions.

Taking off Perez allowed the Dutch more play down their left and started to leave the front three more isolated. It may have led to a Dutch goal in which case he would be getting crucified. On the other hand Palacio almost fed Aguero, and then perhaps should have buried his chance. If he had then Sabella would be hailed as a genius.

These are the fine margins at this stage of a tournament. And unfortunately for neutrals both teams have an objective that is to get to the semifinal. If you can do it with style and panache and few sides have done it, all well and good but just getting to a final for the followers of the team is a pretty good feeling, as I can testify right now.

Holland should not be too downcast. This side is not a patch on those between 1970-79 1988-91 and still lacks a real creative genius in midfield like a Hullit to direct the play. Nonetheless there are several young talents in the age group sides and those youngsters like de Vrij who have played in this tournament will benefit greatly in the long run.

On a side note there has been this downgrading of Argentina and the players outside of Messi. Certainly Kun is not match fit/sharp, Higuain has only recent regained fitness/sharpness against Belgium but the team is well organized.

It is not so easy to score many goals when most teams stick ten behind the ball although Nigeria, Belgium (sort of) and Holland tried to play on an even footing. We have entertained plenty of times in the past. 1998 and 2006 comes to mind and ended up with nothing.

Twenty one years without a major trophy at senior level (Olympic wins were nice in their way but......) is a pretty barren run for a country that produces an immense amount of talent.

To beat Germany will be difficult but not impossible but it will require a huge effort physically and mentally. However they will certainly not defend suicidally or be mentally weak.

Brazil just imploded with all the weight of expectation particularly after conceding what was a relatively soft goal and having suffered a morale blow in the loss of Neymar and Silva.

I hope that we do it.

 

Rofl. Snide? Read your own post. Mine was light hearted. But since you brought it up...

1954: The players were given injections they were told were vitamins (see the report). They did not know what they were getting. Sadly, many teams and clubs were doing this back then and for the next 30+ years.

1982: Don't think you would fine a reasonable fan anywhere that supports what Schumacher did against Battiston. You bring it up like I support that and you're wrong.

There has been corruption in football for a long time. Many teams and countries have benefited from it. Yours, mine, England, etc. You can be light-hearted about it without being a douche.

I will admit Germany has been lucky at times. Will you admit your country has been lucky?

 

Childish. See my reply. Had we been talking about those two incident I would have admitted it. Sadly you won't admit your own team's luck. That's "ownage".

 

Oh my God Diego Armando Maradona....are we really going to bring up doping when your all time greatest of the universe was on so many drugs he could have written the script for "Blow"?

Wasn't he actually booted DURING the World Cup after the match vs Greece back in 1994?

Please...let's stay on topic. 'Nough of this Pwnage shit...

 

Dutch were warriors. They died an honourable death. You will be remembered.