"Official" 2014 World Cup thread and poll, now with 100% more vuvuzelas

[yuchai]

I do think the Germans will attempt to shut down Messi, but I don't think they won't be attacking. At least, that is what I hope, as it would be much more exciting. =) I think the Germans want to avoid taking it into penalty kicks. They might play a lot more defensively if they go up early, but if they don't, I expect to see a lot of attacking and counter attacking.

I am predicting a 4-3 Germany win. It will be a high scoring game.

Agreed that going to penalties would be considered a poor outcome for the Germans. I think they'll come out strong in the beginning to see if they can get an early goal. If they're successful in doing that, then I think they've won.

If that doesn't happen, I see them toning down quite a bit and become more cautious as time goes on, which tends to happen with any final because the last thing you want is to concede a goal in the 2nd half, especially late.

I would be extremely surprised to see a high scoring but even game like a 4-3. Would love to be proven wrong on that one though!!

 

[Jodell88]

Yes, but Argentina's no-name defense managed to make world star trio van Persie/Robben/Snijder just disappear into uselessness. I don't think Müller/Klose/Kroos can be expected to fare much better.

Umm Argentina's defense is far from no name. Hell, Zabaleta is the best right back in world according to who you ask.

 

[squarecut1]

The last time Germany and Argentina met in WC, the 2010 quarter finals. Germany 4, Argentina 0.

History aside, the German team is too good for Argentina who have a significant passing weakness in the midfield. Plus Messi looks exhausted. His dad has said so too

 

[Fire&Blood]

I said it a while ago in this thread, Germany has always held high fitness and mental standards. Their players are equal and replacable cogs, not reliant on super stars to bail them out. South American football has been lacking for a couple decades now but the never ending star production with the likes of Romario/Batistuta hid and continues to hide weaknesses with Messi/Neymar.
More than a few teams got intimidated into losing games when they faced "a staying power" but otherwise could have squeezed a point out of.

This quote from Lineker is still relevant:

Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.

 

[smackababy]

To use a basketball reference, I think the Germans are the Spurs and Argentina are the 2007 Cavs. One has a complete team that plays together and one has a superstar with a lackluster decent cast around him. Messi can only do so much. Argentina has played good enough to make it to the final, but can they beat a very "complete" team? I don't think so.

 

[GasX]

I am predicting a 4-3 Germany win. It will be a high scoring game.

You have obviously never seen a World Cup final...

 

[Jodell88]

You have obviously never seen a World Cup final...

2006 had a head butt
2010 had a karate kick to the chest
2014? TBD

 

[smackababy]

You have obviously never seen a World Cup final...

On the contrary, I've seen quite a few. This will be a scoring world cup, even if the last "high" scoring final was France's 3-0 in 1998.

2006 had a head butt
2010 had a karate kick to the chest
2014? TBD

I would say a bite, but that isn't happening. =(

 

[GasX]

I would say a bite, but that isn't happening. =(

TRue, and the snapped spine is out of the way already. Perhaps a compound femoral fracture in open play...

 

[smackababy]

I just wish someone would do the flying V! That can't be stopped, the Might Ducks proved it!

 

[yuchai]

I said it a while ago in this thread, Germany has always held high fitness and mental standards. Their players are equal and replacable cogs, not reliant on super stars to bail them out. South American football has been lacking for a couple decades now but the never ending star production with the likes of Romario/Batistuta hid and continues to hide weaknesses with Messi/Neymar.
More than a few teams got intimidated into losing games when they faced "a staying power" but otherwise could have squeezed a point out of.

This quote from Lineker is still relevant:

A couple of decades seems harsh. I mean if you look at the Brazil squad around 2002 they have superstars in a lot of positions, i.e. Cafu, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Lucio. That's a super team right there both offensively and defensively.

 

[smackababy]

A couple of decades seems harsh. I mean if you look at the Brazil squad around 2002 they have superstars in a lot of positions, i.e. Cafu, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Lucio. That's a super team right there both offensively and defensively.

And they won, with Ronaldo scoring 8 goals. That was also the year South Korea somehow got 4th. Went from never won a WC game to 4th place...

 

[Fire&Blood]

And they won, with Ronaldo scoring 8 goals. That was also the year South Korea somehow got 4th. Went from never won a WC game to 4th place...

2nd biggest surprise in the history of soccer IMO. Almost as extreme as Denmark winning Euro 92, with a ~week notice to report to the Cup, failed to qualify but got in due to Yugoslavia embargo/sanctions.

A couple of decades seems harsh. I mean if you look at the Brazil squad around 2002 they have superstars in a lot of positions, i.e. Cafu, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Lucio. That's a super team right there both offensively and defensively.

You are right, it hasn't been that long. That list you made there was their best team in recent history. I watched them play in the spanish, italian and the champion league, they were all exceptional players.

Since I'm reminiscing about old times, I can't help but wonder how many cards would Pierluigi Collina have shown for diving if he was given free reign.

 

[Cappuccino]

9-1 to Argentina. Messi will score all 9 goals!

 

[GasX]

That was also the year South Korea somehow got 4th. Went from never won a WC game to 4th place...

That was a combo of mass home field hysteria and a lot of bad refereeing in their favor

 

[Fire&Blood]

My football manager sim keeps saying 2-1 for Germany.

 

[squarecut1]

My football manager sim keeps saying 2-1 for Germany.

I think 1-0 or 2-0

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Tomorrow. Let the judgement day begin.

 

[Lepton87]

No one wonders about Brasil vs the Netherlands? I think Brasil is in for a beating. They played so bad against Germany that I couldn't believe it was a pro team. It looked like a match against one of those amateur teams like San Marino or Luxembourg. It's obvious that they rely on Neymar too much, kind of like Argentina reliance on Messi except that even more so and their best player doesn't quite match Messi yet.

 

[Jodell88]

No one wonders about Brasil vs the Netherlands? I think Brasil is in for a beating. They played so bad against Germany that I couldn't believe it was a pro team. It looked like a match against one of those amateur teams like San Marino or Luxembourg. It's obvious that they rely on Neymar too much, kind of like Argentina reliance on Messi except that even more so and their best player doesn't quite match Messi yet.

Neymar is an offensive player, not a defensive one. Brazil's problems last game were all defensive. The loss of Thiago Silva because of suspension is what hurt them, not the loss of Neymar.

 

[Lepton87]

Neymar is an offensive player, not a defensive one. Brazil's problems last game were all defensive. The loss of Thiago Silva because of suspension is what hurt them, not the loss of Neymar.

Are you saying that Brasil was an effective team in the offence? Defense was certainly a bigger problem but offence didn't shine either as evidenced by the score. Anyway, I somewhat agree. I think that Thiago Silva is as crucial to Brasil's defense as Neymar is to the offence.

 

[Jodell88]

Correct call for a foul but it wasn't a penalty.

 

[velillen]

Bad start for Brazil

Should have been a red. Also should have been a yellow for Robben for the asking of a card to. Wonder what would have happened if Robben hadnt run straight to the ref asking for a card.......

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Good start for Netherlands.

 

[dr150]

Bad start for Brazil

Should have been a red. Also should have been a yellow for Robben for the asking of a card to. Wonder what would have happened if Robben hadnt run straight to the ref asking for a card.......

Robben is quite a slick douche in his manipulation of the game (dives, etc), but he's a damn amazing player!