OT World Cup 2010 South Africa

[Jaroen]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

And by the way, since no one mentioned it... Paul The Octopus has striked again! [:D]

Jaroen, this Dutch influence was TODAY on the pitch. Xavi and Iniesta are Barcelona players. They learned this "Dutch" football since they were kids (in Barça academy).

Well, I did write about respecting the octopus some messages before . . . , that's Paul of course. [8D]

But that Dutch influence in the Spanish team is more interesting.
From reading the messages it's almost as if Barcelona is Spain. And like almost all Catalonians will tell you, that certainly isn't so. And the other way around as well. Neither is it true for the football mentality and position play. Barcelona stands on its own. Nevertheless there is a strong influence but nothing more than that. Individual players play within their national team and don't have the luxury of playing their (favorite) club system. But I'd be curious about possible Xavi and Iniesta tricks from their Barcelona system . . . , if any.

@BShaftoe; Yes, I agree about Robben being the most dangerous. So imagine the shock felt with all the Dutch when he got injured the day before departure to South Africa. We're very fortunate he made it in time. Another matter to consider is the Dutch team fitness. They seem to be running untill the last minute. I've seen it differently and it gives me hope!

[BShaftoe]

I suppose that this link can be interesting. They usually have good analysis of tactics, post-match (and, of course, of many more matches).

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/07/07/ ... p-tactics/

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

And by the way, since no one mentioned it... Paul The Octopus has striked again! [:D]

Did Germany loose to Spain because the Spaniards were better or did they loose (and played not so good) because they heard that Paul the Octopus predicted that they will loose? [:D]


Leo "Apollo11"

[traskott]

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

And by the way, since no one mentioned it... Paul The Octopus has striked again! [:D]

Did Germany loose to Spain because the Spaniards were better or did they loose (and played not so good) because they heard that Paul the Octopus predicted that they will loose? [:D]


Leo "Apollo11"

At war, psicology is to material as 3 to 1. They knew they were doomed !! [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

And by the way, since no one mentioned it... Paul The Octopus has striked again! [:D]

Did Germany loose to Spain because the Spaniards were better or did they loose (and played not so good) because they heard that Paul the Octopus predicted that they will loose? [:D]


Leo "Apollo11"

Who knows! [:D] Funny coincidence. He guessed all the German matches of this WC + all German matches (except the final) in the 2008 Euro Cup. That makes perhaps 9 out of 10? Psychic Paul, indeed [&o] He's got many enemies now [:D] And for sure the Oberhausen aquarium and town will see crowds of curious people (just let's hope the assassins stay away for good!).

[Jaroen]

ORIGINAL: BShaftoe

I suppose that this link can be interesting. They usually have good analysis of tactics, post-match (and, of course, of many more matches).

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/07/07/ ... p-tactics/

Thanks BShaftoe, that really is an excellent site with some very insightful analysis. Was looking for a site like that but couldn't find it. Their analysis makes me fear the Spanish more than I did before . . . [8|]

You know, all Dutch analysts are yet looking for that more stable and solid game they think possible for the team. What Spain has shown against the Germans is very much what the Dutch are hoping for. Lacking it in the final means needing luck.

Prooves to be an exciting match . . .

[Adnan Meshuggi]

Spain was good, germany was bad
But spain wasn´t "ueber"...
if the netherlands could play agressiv and fast they will defeat spain.

Personally i think, the dutch people deserve the cup more as the spanish
From the german pov, the dutch are forgiven rijkaard the "lama".

At last, the dutch showed some good soccer, the spanish team played to "german"... very ugly  looking soccer, some bad behaviour (if the ref has brain, a certain spanish goalgetter is banned for 4-5 games)
 
Sure, their techniques are great, they are technically the best player (even the brasils look like "germans" against em)

I hope netherland beats em with 3:0.... 3 goals from Robben (to show his old "friends" from real how stupid they are )

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Adnan Meshuggi

Spain was good, germany was bad
But spain wasn´t "ueber"...
if the netherlands could play agressiv and fast they will defeat spain.

Personally i think, the dutch people deserve the cup more as the spanish
From the german pov, the dutch are forgiven rijkaard the "lama".

At last, the dutch showed some good soccer, the spanish team played to "german"... very ugly  looking soccer, some bad behaviour (if the ref has brain, a certain spanish goalgetter is banned for 4-5 games)

Sure, their techniques are great, they are technically the best player (even the brasils look like "germans" against em)

I hope netherland beats em with 3:0.... 3 goals from Robben (to show his old "friends" from real how stupid they are )

The people don't deserve a WC. And if they did, who in the world are YOU to say that millions of people deserve it and other millions don't deserve it? Are you god? Do you know what the word RESPECT means? About time you open a dictionary!

The only people who deserve to win a WC are the 11 players present in a final who manage to win it. End of story [:D]

Are you that desperate? You truly think Holland will not make it and perhaps they need an extra help?

What about making them (if they lose) Honorary Champions of the WC? That would make you happy? And whilst you're at it, you can ask too a cheese burger and one million euros in your bank account. And a Rolls Royce [;)]

Your vitriol is not even funny...

And finally, Holland already had their TWO chances. But their golden generation failed (74 and 78)... Now the Spanish golden generation is coming. Let's see if they miss their opportunity [:D] You can always pray and bang your head against the wall if they succeed...

And if I haven't paid attention to the football issues you raise it's because they are not worth my attention: "idiots" "boring", "ugly". You're indeed a conaisseur [:D]

[bklooste]

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!

Kuyt does a great job , he helps in defence ( which is needed) , heads ( eg Sneiders header) and he passes the ball to someone better able to score. Van Persie did well before Robbens came in but now everyone passes Robbens the ball and Robbens does his own thing with it - he does serve an important point though as he is heavily marked tying up the defenders which have allowed the Midfield (Snieder and Robbens) more room . Teams know the threat .

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: Fletcher


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

The Dutch attack will ask a lot more questions than Germany or the Swiss did and despite Spains control im not convinced they can score well... Germany has been great scoring against teams that were playing catch up but the Dutch can score from behind like they did against Brazil. However the Dutch have been slack when up a goal ..The Uruaguay goals and the dodgy late penalty against Slovakia particularlty.

[Fletcher]

Paul have take a decission.. Spain will win [:'(]

[TulliusDetritus]

Fletcher, not necessarily [8D]

As I see it, this might mean Holland is going to win. Given that in the Euro Cup he got the final result wrong [:D]

[geiramk]

Paul was young and rash and fresh out of his egg for his Euro 2008 predictions, so he probably just went for the largest clam. Now, by Octopus standards, he's old and wise and less likely to give in to temptation and bribery.

[Fletcher]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Fletcher, not necessarily [8D]

As I see it, this might mean Holland is going to win. Given that in the Euro Cup he got the final result wrong [:D]

Really, you are right.. but Paul doesn´t fall in a mistake anytime this year ... We should wait to the next Sunday.. Good luck for both (Netherlands and Spain).
Best wishes
Ramón

[TulliusDetritus]

Anyway, is it only me or Paul is ALWAYS picking the box on the right (of viewers)? [:D]

[Fletcher]

hahaha ! could be !! [;)]

[geiramk]

England would have progressed to the quarter finals if that were so...

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Saltcreep

England would have progressed to the quarter finals if that were so...

Ah, I see, not always the box on the right [:)]

[patrickl]

Whatever it is, I amgoing to watch it at 2.30am over here.[:D]

[geiramk]

And I'll be down some suitably dingy pub here. Anyway, now that the Germans are out of the picture and happily can't win any more (sorry Germans, nothing personal- feel the same for BRA, ARG, ITA), I find I don't really care who wins between NL and ES... Since we all like underdogs, I'll go for NL, and also, as all the barmaids at the local pub have been wearing orange throughout the WC, I can't be going too wrong..