Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
ORIGINAL: moonraker
Oh dear did the Germans turn up ?? . Mwahahahahahahahaha [:D]
Warspite1ORIGINAL: moonraker
Oh dear did the Germans turn up ?? . Mwahahahahahahahaha [:D]
Warspite1ORIGINAL: Frank
ORIGINAL: moonraker
Oh dear did the Germans turn up ?? . Mwahahahahahahahaha [:D]
Hm, just imagine how really bad England must have been, when they lost against this German team. [:'(]
You know, Germany is fighting for the third place in this WM and England is fighting for the best seats in the plane home, that´s the difference![:D]
Warspite1ORIGINAL: Frank
As I see it Germany should be the most successfull team in worldchampionships in the last 40 or so years. Germany seldom won, but was most time in the semifinals.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_F ... mannschaft : Germany
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englische_ ... mannschaft : England
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasiliani ... mannschaft : Brasil
ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus
Since I have been rather contundent ("Spain or Germany to win the final": now that you have seen the Spanish midfield performance I guess you can understand why I said so [8D]) a curious anecdote (but TRUE).
Even if Holland loses, the Spanish victory is sort of a Dutch victory. Why? Because the football played by this Spanish team owes A LOT to Holland. Why (again)? Because a guy called Cruyff played for Barcelona many moons ago. Then he became coach of this team on the 90s. That team played an amazing football (DUTCH offensive football that is: 3-4-3). Cruyff was fired BUT the club decided that they should be keeping this football philosophy [8D] And that's where the two short midfield geniuses (Xavi & Iniesta) and many other excellent players come from!
What I have said, the current Spanish squad owes a lot to Dutch football. In case most of you didn't know this [:)]
Well, the truth is that there will be at least one player who is NOT going to lose: Van der Vaart. Since his father is Dutch and his mother Spanish [:D]
ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus
Since I have been rather contundent ("Spain or Germany to win the final": now that you have seen the Spanish midfield performance I guess you can understand why I said so [8D]) a curious anecdote (but TRUE).
Even if Holland loses, the Spanish victory is sort of a Dutch victory. Why? Because the football played by this Spanish team owes A LOT to Holland. Why (again)? Because a guy called Cruyff played for Barcelona many moons ago. Then he became coach of this team on the 90s. That team played an amazing football (DUTCH offensive football that is: 3-4-3). Cruyff was fired BUT the club decided that they should be keeping this football philosophy [8D] And that's where the two short midfield geniuses (Xavi & Iniesta) and many other excellent players come from!
What I have said, the current Spanish squad owes a lot to Dutch football. In case most of you didn't know this [:)]
Well, the truth is that there will be at least one player who is NOT going to lose: Van der Vaart. Since his father is Dutch and his mother Spanish [:D]
ORIGINAL: Jaroen
Respect the octopus!!! [;)]
Commentators are praising Spain for denying Germany good play. Which I think is certainly true for the 2nd half but the first half was showing two hesitant, testing teams. Didn't this match show a former point regarding the importance of a good midfield? The Spanish ruled! Spain deservingly won and it promises to be a great final with two teams both playing offensively and having strong midfields.
@Tullius: Regarding Kuyt I don't think I missed your point. He isn't the great striker and everybody agrees on that. We all know Kuyt isn't the great scorer, even the manager. But in the eyes of the manager Kuyt is offering something else to the team which I tried explaining. So why is the manager maintaining him in the team and not replacing him with Huntelaar for example? Any answer is pure speculation since no manager has offered a straight answer.
Van Persie disappointing is also discussed verily at the Dutch tables. Which also shows how hard the job for a manager can be. What is wisdom? Breaking a winning team because a player is struggling or maintaining confidence while you're winning and hoping for his potential to come true??? What would you do?
What issues do the Spanish have, if any? The same disappointing strikers? Villa is the one feared in Holland, not Torres!
ORIGINAL: Jaroen
Heh, it looks like you were a bit quicker than me regarding that midfield point.
Cannot agree more on that Dutch influence on Spanish football! But that was some years ago really, with a very winning Barcelona only. Don't know how the Spanish think about it now?
One other reason that final could be interesting!
ORIGINAL: Offworlder
Though I have no octopus to comfort my prediction, I think the Netherlands (not Holland please!) have a good cance of winning. Why? Simple. Every team who met the Spanish simply conceded the field by going over to the defensive and leaving the initiative in Spanish hands. The Dutch don't have that option. Their defence is weak and their only strongpoint is in the attack. Guess what they'll do???[:D] Though once again I think that on paper the Spanish are the better team man for man, my guess is that the Dutch will prevail. It should be a good final I must say.
The Germans have felt the lack of Muller (another one in their history...). Ozil was lost, Podolski was only working part-time and Khedira, where the heck was he? Cross would have been of more use if he had come on at the begining at the second half. In a way, I think that Lowe screwed up this one by putting his team on a complete defence. Let's face it, all teams tried the tactic but only 1 team managed to pull it off and it was quite a fluke. Frankly losing 1-0 and 4-0 is still losing, so why defend a l'outrance???? I say go for the jugular and put them under pressure. The Spanish defence is nothing extraordinary and once the Germans attacked (and not only), they seemed ready to buckle. To put it bluntly, a team with a quick striker and a decent playmaker can go through the centre without too much effort. It is in the midfield and on the wings that the Spanish win their games, rather than in defence.
ORIGINAL: Fletcher
ORIGINAL: Offworlder
Though I have no octopus to comfort my prediction, I think the Netherlands (not Holland please!) have a good cance of winning. Why? Simple. Every team who met the Spanish simply conceded the field by going over to the defensive and leaving the initiative in Spanish hands. The Dutch don't have that option. Their defence is weak and their only strongpoint is in the attack. Guess what they'll do???[:D] Though once again I think that on paper the Spanish are the better team man for man, my guess is that the Dutch will prevail. It should be a good final I must say.
The Germans have felt the lack of Muller (another one in their history...). Ozil was lost, Podolski was only working part-time and Khedira, where the heck was he? Cross would have been of more use if he had come on at the begining at the second half. In a way, I think that Lowe screwed up this one by putting his team on a complete defence. Let's face it, all teams tried the tactic but only 1 team managed to pull it off and it was quite a fluke. Frankly losing 1-0 and 4-0 is still losing, so why defend a l'outrance???? I say go for the jugular and put them under pressure. The Spanish defence is nothing extraordinary and once the Germans attacked (and not only), they seemed ready to buckle. To put it bluntly, a team with a quick striker and a decent playmaker can go through the centre without too much effort. It is in the midfield and on the wings that the Spanish win their games, rather than in defence.
Hi Offworrlder,
I am not agree with your comment about spanish defense is nothing extraordinary... Pujol and Piqué are greats!, And Casillas is a excellent goalkeeper !... German have eliminated England and Argentina, excellent football teams but they were defeated by spanish with none goal..
Best wishes
ramón
ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus
ORIGINAL: Bliztk
Germany offensive power is overrated IMHO, only played weak teams with offensive aspirations.
HAHAHA, 8 goals scored in the last 2 matches [:)]
Congatulations, Holland... *but... I stick to my prediction*
