OT World Cup 2010 South Africa

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

You hope for Germany? That's too kind!

Yep.

1) We lost to a better team.
2) I've got nothing against the Germans. Apart from your leather shorts that is [;)]
3) The Dutch aren't going to do it [:D].

EDIT: If Germany can go into half time ahead (or even level) I just don't think Diego has the tactical nous to make changes for the better.

[Blind Sniper]

But I think it's ridiculous that there's still no video referees...

I guess nothing will change as long as Seth Bladder is the president of FIFA...

Ditto!

Let's see how Argentina-Germany will look. I'd bet on Argentina, though I hope the other way.

+2, simply because is the team that playing the best soccer so far.

For us Italians is enough the last WC [:D]...[:)]...[:(]...

[tocaff]

That well oiled German machine is getting better as things go deeper into the tournament.  Germany played well as a team and England played like a bunch of talented individuals who are out of form.

If Argentina wins today, as everyone expects I believe that the Germans will expose the back line and their counters will carry the day.  I still don't believe in Diego as a tactical manager capable of adjustments that will be needed to win it all.

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

ORIGINAL: Historiker

You hope for Germany? That's too kind!

Yep.

1) We lost to a better team.
2) I've got nothing against the Germans. Apart from your leather shorts that is [;)]
3) The Dutch aren't going to do it [:D].

EDIT: If Germany can go into half time ahead (or even level) I just don't think Diego has the tactical nous to make changes for the better.

I was happy when Croatia became 3rd in France. At least, the 3rd best team in the world kicked us out [;)]

And yes, I also doubt Maradonna can make it there - but Messi might...

[Blind Sniper]

I still don't believe in Diego as a tactical manager capable of adjustments that will be needed to win it all.

Yes but he has personality, he was the best player in the world and he can teach a lesson to everyone...and...yes...how to snort cocaine as well [:D]

Seriosly, my bet is for Germany but never understimate the psichology side.

[moose1999]

My God, where were the English defense...!
For a moment I though I was seeing a match between Denmark and Germany.
(We haven't been too impressed with the defensive qualities of our team this year... To say it kindly.)
And who was that clown the had dressed up as Wayne Rooney today?
Are they keeping the real Rooney locked in a cellar somewhere...?

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: briny_norman
And who was that clown the had dressed up as Wayne Rooney today?
Are they keeping the real Rooney locked in a cellar somewhere...?

er, Rooney perhaps? In his defense, a striker can do little IF the midfielders don't provide decent balls. That's their job. If they fail... Remember the poor Weah playing with er Liberia [:D]

Both German and Argentinian defense lines are not the state of art so we should see plenty of goals! [8D]

[frank1970]

Too bad, the ref didn´t give the second goal for England, it was a nice one. The English would have lost anyway, they were very bad organized and a lot of English players were not having their best day. In the German team the defence was quite good, the goalkeeper desasterous. We have three better ones sitting there near the field (Wiese, Butt and Köpke [;)]).
Müller was superb today and Schweinsteiger was really good, too.

Now I have to support Mexico tonight as Argentina is much better than them and I´d like to see a match Germany - Mexico. [:D]

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Frank

Too bad, the ref didn´t give the second goal for England, it was a nice one. The English would have lost anyway, they were very bad organized and a lot of English players were not having their best day. In the German team the defence was quite good, the goalkeeper desasterous. We have three better ones sitting there near the field (Wiese, Butt and Köpke [;)]).
Müller was superb today and Schweinsteiger was really good, too.

Now I have to support Mexico tonight as Argentina is much better than them and I´d like to see a match Germany - Mexico. [:D]

The difference is that your keeper tonight was 24(?), plenty of time for him to learn and gain confidence (his biggest issue tonight) compared to the others who iirc are in their 30's. It's a good young side you've got there, one for the future certainly.

C'mon Holland (who will shortly implode because [1]they're the Netherlands, it's what they do and [2] because I want them to well).

[Rainer]

Finale Germany against The Netherlands is quite possible in my opinion - IF the Dutch can beat the Samba Players [;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

ORIGINAL: briny_norman
And who was that clown the had dressed up as Wayne Rooney today?
Are they keeping the real Rooney locked in a cellar somewhere...?

er, Rooney perhaps? In his defense, a striker can do little IF the midfielders don't provide decent balls. That's their job. If they fail... Remember the poor Weah playing with er Liberia [:D]

Warspite1

Tullius - one problem with that comment, Rooney came into this tournament as an heir apparent to Pele, Maradona, Zidane etc i.e. a player who wins matches, someone who conjeures something from nothing, someone who makes the difference. He was mentioned alongside players such as Messi as one of the players most likely to make this tournament his.....

What was so mind boggling difficult to fathom about Rooney (given the season he has just had) at this World Cup is just how badly he played, regardless of what was going wrong around him. There was not one flash of brilliance, no spark of genius to galvanise his team, nothing. His control was non existent, his passing woeful and his whole manner was perplexing.

One of the criticisms directed at Sven Goran Erickson was that he was in awe of the big name players - he would not drop or even substitute Beckham no matter how badly he was playing (witness World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004). Capello was supposed to be different. If so, then just what did the big time charlies - Rooney, Gerard and Lampard need to do to get dropped or substituted??

May be of course this was simply that Capello, like Erickson before him, felt England's strength in depth was so woeful there was no alternative - this is a sad but most likely true explanation.

England were nothing short of abysmal - Johnson had a shocker, Upson and Terry were all over the place and Cole provided nothing on the left. Gerrard was reduced to firing at range, Milner at least was full of endeavour.

Well Sir Trevor Brooking has said he worries about qualification for 2014 given the lack of youngsters coming through - but I think Euro 2012 looks pretty problematic too. Lets hope these prove to be false fears, but......

Anyway, congrats Germany, you were the better side by a million miles (as usual [;)]).

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: Frank

Too bad, the ref didn´t give the second goal for England, it was a nice one. The English would have lost anyway, they were very bad organized and a lot of English players were not having their best day. In the German team the defence was quite good, the goalkeeper desasterous. We have three better ones sitting there near the field (Wiese, Butt and Köpke [;)]).
Müller was superb today and Schweinsteiger was really good, too.

Now I have to support Mexico tonight as Argentina is much better than them and I´d like to see a match Germany - Mexico. [:D]

No.
Finally, there's revenge for Wembley! Only thing left for a full revenge is the Title

[Cribtop]

I have to say, as a neutral, that I went into this match pulling for England (special relationship and I descend from Oxfordshire a loooong way back), but ended it pulling for the Germans, and will support them for the duration (which may be short given that my money's on the Argentines to win it all). Precision, youth, and quality [&o] vs... I'm not quite sure what for England.

[anarchyintheuk]

The German keeper did okay, couple of rash decisions to go for the ball but no juicy rebounds allowed. I know England was pressing forward on the last two goals but the defense was still abysmal (much less for the first one allowed).

Awesome goal by Tevez.

[anarchyintheuk]

Forgot to mention that it was nice to see a manly game of football w/ England and Germany. No players rolling around in agony or ridiculous time wasting.

[a7v]

It was a nice game with opportunities for both teams, it was also a very fair game from both sides. I do not think that the German keeper did bad, the first British goal was the result of the typical attitude of the German team. Whenever they lead with one or two goals they stop to keep the pressure because they believe that they already have won. The problem is that the German defence is the weakest part of the team and they rarely can withstand a continuous attack.
If the second goal had been given, the result might have been different because at 1:2 the English had to attack and so were vulnerable for counter attacks which led to No. 3 and 4.
I am not shure how we will fare against Argentina. If we can keep them under pressure we might have a chance but if they gain the initiative, well....

Rainer

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: warspite1
Tullius - one problem with that comment, Rooney came into this tournament as an heir apparent to Pele, Maradona, Zidane etc i.e. a player who wins matches, someone who conjeures something from nothing, someone who makes the difference. He was mentioned alongside players such as Messi as one of the players most likely to make this tournament his.....

Warspite, Rooney (or Messi or Pele, in fact I mentioned one of the best strikers in the 90s: George Weah) can do nothing if the midfielders don't do their job. It is NOT the striker's fault in such cases. I haven't seen a lot of decent balls delivered to Rooney in this WC [;)] No midfield = NO game. Unless you use the old and prehistoric game played in the Isles (= UK) in the past and in some Scandinavian states (Norway). Long passes from the defenders that is (a pure LOTTERY that is). A rustic and primitive approach if we had to mention one (but if you choose it, Crouch should be your man)... In fact the Italians use this tactic a lot too (guess why most of football fans don't like the Italian style) [:D]

You should be blaming first the midfielders. AND then Rooney, methinks. He is good, but he is not superman... In fact, having Messi in your squad would not have changed anything...

[LoBaron]

I am really for some technical gimmics to help the referees.

Two games in a row, and we will never know if the result was different without those really off decisions. (No goal for England, offside goal for Argentinia).

I´m not critizising the game, Germany was the better team and currently plays the most beautiful soccer of the tournament IMO, and Argentinia could have beaten Mexico
anyway (although I think they were better until the referee jumped in to help them score) but this is WAY off in 2010.
Personally I don´t know what the problem is. Simply watch a video replay in critical situations that lead to a goal while the game is suspended anyway.

[Misconduct]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

I am really for some technical gimmics to help the referees.

Two games in a row, and we will never know if the result was different without those really off decisions. (No goal for England, offside goal for Argentinia).

I´m not critizising the game, Germany was the better team and currently plays the most beautiful soccer of the tournament IMO, and Argentinia could have beaten Mexico
anyway (although I think they were better until the referee jumped in to help them score) but this is WAY off in 2010.
Personally I don´t know what the problem is. Simply watch a video replay in critical situations that lead to a goal while the game is suspended anyway.

You know this bothers me, FIFA already said it will not allow cameras for Goals, which strikes me to wonder, in USA Baseball is so old school it hardly ever has changes, but to keep up with the fast pace of technology they did allow cameras for homerun disputes, and I am guessing will later on allow cameras to review "bad calls" if requested by managers only if there is a valid need for it. Problem is baseball already takes over 3 hours per game, which some don't to make the fans wait, while others like me demand this to keep the game fair.

Same for football, I mean if the goal was allowed by england, there is a good chance the game could of possibly of been played differently, same for Argentina.
I say its time to either add a 2nd Referee to the game or cameras since clearly 1 referee and 2 linesmen can't make it 2 games without a blown call.

[Kubel]

[8D] Camera's I like that idea....Go Germany