Who to stop the Brazilians?

I can only see the Germans stopping them to be honest; all the other remaining favorites like Spain, Holland and Argentina have an Achilles heal that is easily exposed by a team like Brazil.

 

Who has better players is up for debate but they've got a better coach? Huh? What's that based on then?

Also how long do you think the likes of Van der Vaart, Van Persie, Sneijder, Van Bommel have been playing with each other? These are all players in their mid to late 20s with over 50 international caps each.

Again I think it's going to be tight but if there's one thing I believe the Dutch are at an advantage it's versatility. The Dutch have a plan B and a plan C. We can change the team and style of play with just one or two subs.

 

Talking to fans is always quite difficult.
What versatility are you talking about? You are seriously not suggesting BRA lacks versatility, right?

 

When you look at the level of the Dutch team at this World Cup and that from Brazil, of course Brazil is the better team. But I hope we reach the level we had from 2008 until the beginning of this World Cup.

 

People who hate Brazil for its successes are just bitter and resentful. That’s what I tell to an Argentine friend of mine who knows nothing about soccer and pouts about Brazil having “culo” as the reason for its titles. I tell him to his face, “you’re a typical argentino amargado.”

 

I will put Uruguay like a good team for defeat Brazil. Maybe its hilarious, but usually we put the best of us on those games. The first game we play each other in Dunga era was in Morumbi. We score at 8 minute and we has our best game in quallys. Luis Fabiano tied in 44 minute (I think was a mistake of GK Carini). They win that match with another score of Luis Fabiano, but we could score several times. All that was without Forlan on field.
The other match in the Centenario was ridiculous, we lost 4-0, but the openening goal comes from a big mistake of our GK Viera early in the match. After that we found a very good Gk in Muslera.
The other game was in Copa America 2007. We tie 1-1 and they win in PK on semis, with the GK of brazil (I think was Doni) being the best player of the match and catching the penalty giving several foot steps that Ref dont want to see.
I will love match against the time, but we will have to put the best of us in the game against Ghana.

 

Argentina in the final IMO.

 

That's a kamikaze act, first he will meet van Bommel as the first axe and if he dodges that he will be met by our blade runner de Jong ...after that Kaka willnot be willing to be further up the pitch than one meter from the Brasil penalty area.........

 

Agreed. I still give Brazil most chances to regain the trophy whichever team they meet but Germans might be their hardest challenge. It would be neat to see both teams in the final.

 

Germans have to get past Argentina first...the Argies gave'em a fight in their own world cup.

 

Bad officiating will stop the brazilians

 

Bad officiating usually helps the Brazilians.

Anyway, to answer the question: HOLLAND!!

 

They're going to lose twice. In the Semi-Final match to Uruguay and in the 3rd Place Match to Argentina

 

Blade runner or leg breaking diving twat?

Ehm, excuse me.....

Brazil isn't unstoppable, but they're defending well and taking their chances like cold blooded killers. The Netherlands game is 50/50 for me, it will most likely be a total bore fest. Both teams play with 2 defensive mids so things will be really slow, really tactical, and it'll be decided by a single goal.

 

Only Argentina has the potential (and, arguably, the history) to beat Brazil, and especially since they are big rivals.

But if they are taken to penalty kicks, anything can happen.

 

Honestly? I think Brazil will win, but the only teams I can see stoping Brazil now are Germany, Argentina and Uruguay (yes, Uruguay, not by previous results, but because they have the "bad habit" of "supercharge" when playing with Brazil on decisive matches). If Spain beats Paraguay (and I don't think it's a certainty, Spain has yet to prove it can win over its own faults like overconfidence and excess of ineficient passes), I don't think it will beat the winner of Germany x Argentina.

About the theory of "Brazil wins by luck", please, let's try make it debate serious...

 

oh really? What is this potential exactly?
- no playmaker check
- bad defense with Demichelis double check
- not good realisation check
- practically no middle without grandpa Veron check

What is this Argentina potential you speak about? I think most certain match is Arg vs Ger where Ger will win.

 

nobody - brazil is rolling

 

I do have to admit, Brazil are looking rather scary. It's not that they are totally dominating possesion and play, it's the fact that they have developed a frightening efficiency, something that wasn't really typical of past Brazil squads - they're almost more ''german'' than the Germans themselves in a way. They defend really well, limiting the chances of the opposition to a minimum and still have enough flair to bite hard on counterattacks. In fact, they are probably the only team that seems to be able to conjure up a goal whenever needed, even when they don't have the initiative.

Spain, on contrast, need about a gazzillion passes before they can finally create a chance. Elaborate, nice to watch when they get fired up, but really predictable and they complicate things WAY too much.

 

The only way I see Brazil being stopped is if Holland manage to take them to penalties, and even then you would have to fancy Brazil to win the shootout.

 

Our midfield is stronger. Players like Sneijder, Robben and Elia are very important to our attack. They pretty much are 75% +5% of our offense. Now, if v Persie manages to make himself really count... I don't see how Brazil is stronger up front.

If we play our absolute best, we will beat Brazil.

But if recent history is anything to go by... Then we would indeed be somewhat lucky to beat them.

 

You people are silly. Brazil is not unbeatable. They have vulnerabilities. And even if a team wouldn't have weak spots, it's all about tactics and strategy and form of the day anyway. Out of the 8QF I expect at least 5 Teams to be able to beat Brazil. In fact, North Korea and Portugal prove that any half-decent team with good strategical approach has a good chance against them to at least suck out a draw. That doesn't mean i think Brazil has a crappy team, it is very impressive to say the least. So does Spain, and look at Switzerland, or even the chances Portugal had against them? And let's be honest the Dutch squad isn't exactly a list of misfits either.

I hear some of you completely disregarding the Dutch as a potential threat and already seem to be in lala-land and daydream about the final. May friday prove to be a very unpleasant surprise for you then. This Dutch squad seems to be more motivated than ever and they have the talent to do it. All that seems to be lacking a bit in the previous matches is focus. Of course it will be a tough venture, but it's the World Cup. Every team faces fierce competition when the knockout rounds start. Bring it on! No shame in going down fighting!

 

I can only speak for me, but any fan of any nation who disrespects your side is either stupid or deluded. I expect a brutal challenge tomorrow.

 

But against Portugal: (a) Brazil did not need to win, and (b) Brazil did not use any of its creative players (Kaka, Robinho, Elano). Against North Korea, it showed that no matter how determined and dogged your defense is, they can break you down, and besides it's normal for teams like Brazil to start out slow.

Sure Brazil have weaknesses, but the thing about this Brazil team is that it is so conservative that it hardly ever gives anyone a chance to act on them. Yeah, if you're good enough, you can grind out a draw with them, but actually beating them will take something really special.

 

I concur with Century's Best. The Netherlands are a very strong team, will probably cause us a lot of trouble.

Quite natural to see us surrounded by hype, it's always like that, but that never makes it easier for us.... I reckon that it only builds up pressure, but I know that this team can handle it.

I expect a very hard match tomorrow.