World Cup 2014 Knockout Rounds (SPOILERS, YO!)

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:55 pm

Speaking of the Brazillian greats, here's Zico's analysis of Brazil's performance

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... rmany-zico" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:45 am

I really like Lavezzi's game. And not just because he looks like Mr. D. That game really was devoid of scoring chances. I don'r recall either goalie being tested. A couple saves, but straight at them. I can't help laughing at Robben's dodgy flapper. Lot's of opportunity to laugh at it yesterday.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:47 am

Balding Mascherano looks like old Swamper BTTG.

Post by **Shirley** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:53 am

Yeah, that game was not terribly fun to watch. Great central defense by both teams, to be sure, but both also seemed too willing to just maintain possession instead of prodding at the D.

Kuyt in particular drove me crazy. That dude ALWAYS got the ball (he ran his ass off), dribbled down the wing a bit and then stopped and passed back to a defender. Every fucking time. Half the time, that defender than passed back to the goalie. Yawn.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:56 am

Shirley wrote:Kuyt in particular drove me crazy. That dude ALWAYS got the ball (he ran his ass off), dribbled down the wing a bit and then stopped and passed back to a defender. Every fucking time. Half the time, that defender than passed back to the goalie. Yawn.

Maybe instead of penalties, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the fewest backpasses or passes to the keeper.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:25 am

We should all get one of these.

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:51 am

degenerasian wrote:We should all get one of these.

That's awesome.

I keep going back and forth on who to root for, or against, Sunday. I really don't like either team but I kind of want to see Messi fail to get the Cup just so Maradona can lord it over him for greatest Argentine player of all-time.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:57 am

It struck me today how much influence Pep Guardiola has had on the last two world cup winners. Pep took over Barcelona's A team management in May 2008, after coaching the B team for the prior year. Pep took over Bayern Munich for the 2013-2014 season. Spain 2010 had Pique, Puyol, Iniesta, Busquets, Pedro, Xavi, all Barcelona players. Germany 2014 has Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Kroos and Goetze, all Bayern players. Argentina 2014 has Messi and Mascherano, who played at Barcelona while he was manager.

Post by **brian** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:08 am

Been seeing a lot of chatter in the run-up to the final that if Argentina wins, Messi goes down in history as the greatest footballer of all-time. But is a title really going to dislodge Pele in the hearts and minds of fans? I realize the spoken or unspoken qualifier is when you factor in his club and country record and it's hard to argue with his resume. But still..seems like a tall order.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:21 am

brian wrote:Been seeing a lot of chatter in the run-up to the final that if Argentina wins, Messi goes down in history as the greatest footballer of all-time. But is a title really going to dislodge Pele in the hearts and minds of fans? I realize the spoken or unspoken qualifier is when you factor in his club and country record and it's hard to argue with his resume. But still..seems like a tall order.

Yup. Messi still needs an NASL title.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:23 am

Apparently this chick got a modeling contract just from some shots of her in the stands.

Post by **brian** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:37 am

Just to echo this, I'm REALLY going to miss ESPN come 2018. I'm 99 percent certain Fox's coverage is going to be a nightmare. But ESPN's coverage has been outstanding this time around.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:38 am

brian wrote:Been seeing a lot of chatter in the run-up to the final that if Argentina wins, Messi goes down in history as the greatest footballer of all-time. But is a title really going to dislodge Pele in the hearts and minds of fans? I realize the spoken or unspoken qualifier is when you factor in his club and country record and it's hard to argue with his resume. But still..seems like a tall order.

Pele has transcended GOAT. Kind of like Muhammad Ali. Means more to people for who they have become than what they did on the field.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:46 am

brian wrote:Just to echo this, I'm REALLY going to miss ESPN come 2018. I'm 99 percent certain Fox's coverage is going to be a nightmare. But ESPN's coverage has been outstanding this time around.

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm very wary of what Fox has in store. I can't remember where (one of their social media sites), but the Men in Blazers recently hinted about being in discussions with multiple different media companies post-WC2014. I'll follow them wherever they go.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:37 pm

brian wrote:Just to echo this, I'm REALLY going to miss ESPN come 2018. I'm 99 percent certain Fox's coverage is going to be a nightmare. But ESPN's coverage has been outstanding this time around.

Yeah, it really has been way above average to great. I like just about all of the managers and former footballers they brought on, and weaving in MiB has been awesome.

I hadn't really caught on to those guys until this WC, but they are now in my podcast rotation and I've watched just about every boot room down in Brazil. I know I'm way late to this party, but "Wow!" are they entertaining.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:32 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote:
brian wrote:Just to echo this, I'm REALLY going to miss ESPN come 2018. I'm 99 percent certain Fox's coverage is going to be a nightmare. But ESPN's coverage has been outstanding this time around.

Yeah, it really has been way above average to great. I like just about all of the managers and former footballers they brought on, and weaving in MiB has been awesome.

I hadn't really caught on to those guys until this WC, but they are now in my podcast rotation and I've watched just about every boot room down in Brazil. I know I'm way late to this party, but "Wow!" are they entertaining.

WOW! As I said somewhere else, you just have to get past the inside jokes, as they love to pepper the show with them. Speaking of, where does "Kung fu fighting, America" come from. Probably the only joke I'm missing.

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:38 pm

Did anyone post this 538 article on Messi?

The numbers are pretty incredible. Messi Is Impossible.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:09 pm

In case anyone missed the Brazil Germany debacle, the Taiwanese animators summed it up nicely.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:21 pm

Three times in WC knockout play, squads have participated in two shootouts in the same year. Costa Rica and Netherlands this year; Spain in 2002. Each squad won the first shootout (obvs) but lost their second showdown. n.b. Argentina, should Sunday's contest reach penalties.
Correction--Argentina won two shootouts in 1990. Nevermind, and thanks degen for the correct info.

ETA: almost forgot, Germany/West Germany is 4-0 ('82, '90, '96, '06). Argentina, 5-1; losing a shootout only to---Germany, in '06. All said in the spirit of just sayin'.

wiki is my source for this silliness

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:26 pm

Will the third-place game be a good one, or more of an exhibition with a lot of second-teamers on the field and limited motivation?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:28 pm

Argentina won back to back shootouts in 1990

This 3rd place match should fun. Brazil want to salvage someone and put out a strong lineup. The Dutch have matched it with the big 3 intact.

I think that with Brazil being hammered this week for no longer being Brazillian and beautiful..they may just go for it today. No more fouling and pragmatism.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:31 pm

Ah, sure yer right, degan. Damn, 45 minutes of time wasted looking that up, wasted.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:39 pm

howard wrote:Ah, sure yer right, degan. Damn, 45 minutes of time wasted looking that up, wasted.

Your sources are nowhere near as good as my brain of useless information

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:14 pm

You guys are right. Kuyt never passes forward

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:47 pm

I think I can present this without the backstory, it speaks for itself.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:51 pm

Never thought I'd see Brazil, BRAZIL with absolutely no ideas going forward.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:09 pm

When your starting right back is described as "not a good defender these days", is that a problem?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:13 pm

Rex wrote:When your starting right back is described as "not a good defender these days", is that a problem?

Yes cause he's 100 years old.

Ferdandinho brought on now just to kick people.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:56 pm

That last goal was pure defensive indifference.

How many cups in a row now has North Korea won?

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:33 pm

Brazil finished the tournament with a -3 goal differential. How did Mexico not beat these guys?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 8:58 pm

howard wrote:That last goal was pure defensive indifference.

How many cups in a row now has North Korea won?

I love that they played a World Cup match in an empty stadium.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:32 pm

Only 2-0 over China was the most implausible part of that.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:15 pm

unfortunately it's not real North Korean news

cerrano · Post by **cerrano** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 10:06 am

h/t prosoccertalk

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 11:00 am

AB_skin_test wrote:Pele has transcended GOAT. Kind of like Muhammad Ali. Means more to people for who they have become than what they did on the field.

In my opinion, Pele is nothing like Ali. I think most boxing fans would say there have been far better boxers, but Ali transcended his talent in the ring and became more than he ever could have been as a boxer (which is pretty impressive considering his ability as a boxer). This had a lot to do with his personality and his time and place in history as a black athlete.

Pele on the other hand is definitely, along side Maradona, one of the best two players to have ever played the game (Messi is very special indeed and talent wise could turn the top two into the top three by the time he is done). All the other retired guys are a footnote compared to the top two... However, Pele (like Maradona) is wheeled out every four years and talks complete shit about the sport of football and about life in general. He is a social embarrassment and I hate that he gets air time. I have all the respect in the world for his ability as a footballer, but as an ambassador of the sport and as a human being, he is a bit of a cunt.

Not the same...

Post by **brian** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 3:48 pm

Nice moment here when Klose went off. Even the Argentine fans gave him a big ovation.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:20 pm

Would be pretty disappointing if Argentina manages to win the World Cup despite not scoring for over 320 minutes.

Post by **brian** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:38 pm

Great goal by Goatse. Germany are deserving champions.

cerrano · Post by **cerrano** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:55 pm

brian wrote:Great goal by Goatse. Germany are deserving champions.

goal of the tournament, as far as i'm concerned. amazing control and composure.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 7:05 pm

cerrano wrote:
brian wrote:Great goal by Goatse. Germany are deserving champions.
goal of the tournament, as far as i'm concerned. amazing control and composure.

An absolutely amazing goal. And Argentina's back line is fantastic... but the rest of the team... not so much.

And that Palacio is garbage (and his hair is worse)