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Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 9th, 2014, 1:48 am
by silversurfer19
Buscemi wrote:It's now 7-1 in injury time. The amazing thing: Germany has only taken 13 shots (10 on goal) the whole game. That's fewer than the number of shots Belgium had against the US (a game that was scoreless in regulation).
Clinical and ruthless to say the least. But no matter how awesome Germany were, Brazil were a complete and utter shambles. I can't say I'm entirely surprised, though to be 5-0 down in 30 minutes was much greater than I imagined, but this Brazil team is no classic. Their tactics have been poor all tournament, and for the most part they have relied on Neymar at one end and Julio Cesar at the other. But with such slack defending this game, combined with a German attack that knew exactly how to expose such weaknesses, Cesar had no chance for heroics.

I've seen on Facebook you suggest some possible conspiracy, and while match fixing has happened in the past (though it's not a prevalent as you seem to think - especially in a World Cup), I think it would be very difficult to fix a game like this, and in the manner Brazil capitulated. It was, for the most part, just a really poor structure to Brazil's team that allowed Germany to run them ragged whenever they counter attacked. Most of the 13 shots the Germans had were well worked and therefore did not rely on long distance efforts as they could get right up to Cesar's goal. Brazil had a decent amount of possession, but because of the way they play with 2 marauding full backs and a centre back who is really a central midfielder, it was quite often that Germany had 3 on 1 against the Brazilian defence.

It was still a stunning scoreline, but, like Spain, with the tactics they employed I think a result like this for Brazil was inevitable as soon as they came up against a quality opposition that had figured them out.

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 9th, 2014, 2:52 am
by Buscemi
Not so much a conspiracy but a simple "throwing the game". Whether in protest of something (Ghana, I think it was, nearly forfeited a game earlier over non-payment) or whatever, I simply feel there is no way someone can go out there in a major event and allow 70% of the opposing team's shots on goal to go past the goalkeeper. Those are percentages reserved for qualifier games between two heavily mismatched teams.

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 9th, 2014, 7:16 am
by Ron Burgundy
Stats go out the door for the recent historical match. Those minutes 20-30 were amazing. WOW 7-1!. C'mon Germany for the Win!!!!

Now Argentina V Holland.

I think Holland will be found out, they dont have the best team on paper, and i think Messi will make them pay. 3-1 for Argentina

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 9th, 2014, 7:46 am
by Chienfantome
What's funny is how on the first stages on f the tournament, European teams disappointed while American teams impressed. It felt like this would be an American tournament, but now we could face after all an all-european final.
I don't know about the Holland / Argentina game, Ron. Holland has been much more convincing than Argentina up until now. They may be good looking on the paper, but Argetina has failed to impress, so I'd put my money on Holland. They've never won it, and they're craving for it, they're gonna give everything they have.

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 9th, 2014, 11:53 am
by Ron Burgundy
Yep, true that, Argentina will give it everything, and they have that Messi guy, he seems ok

If Argentina do face Germany, ill be in an awkward seat, Germany knocked Argentina out of the world cup in the last 2 tournaments, so they will be craving revenge too. If they play the Dutch, ill be slightly more comfortable, the way they played against Australia suggested they can be beaten by anyone, even if they did win 3-2 (Aussies should have won that :x )

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 9th, 2014, 12:28 pm
by Chienfantome
Well Germany were that close to getting knocked off by Algeria, and still managed to put seven goals to Brazil ten days later, so nothing is sure ;)

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 9th, 2014, 6:56 pm
by silversurfer19
Is it wrong that I fist pumped Argentina's penalties because I want to win a possible £20 in my work sweep stake?

Very tight game that I always believed had a strong chance of going to penalties such is Argentina's defence and set up. The Dutch were not quite as good as they were earlier in the tournament, indeed I think they have been getting progressively worse since then, but the Argentine's just keep plucking away and although never hitting top gear just keep going through. Always difficult and harsh on penalties, but it makes for an entertaining finish. Seems fitting Messi will be in the World Cup Final though, a final deserving of his talent. Let's hope he can light it up.

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 9th, 2014, 10:49 pm
by undeadmonkey
wish i was more into soccer, there was a time when i was young that i wanted to grow up to be a soccer player. However i'm excited for the closing ceremony, SHAKIRA!!

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 10th, 2014, 3:17 am
by numbersix
What an awful game. Utterly dull. There were what, 6 shots on goal? And it's not about good talent, it was about weak midfield players afraid to take chances. Almost as if they both wanted to go to penalties.

Anyway, that's another World Cup win for Germany. Damn Krauts.

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 10th, 2014, 4:02 am
by Chienfantome
Yeah that was the most boring game I have seen during the whole World Cup. I can't believe this was a semi-finals between Holland and Argentina.
I think the first shot on goal by Holland was at the 85th minute or something. How can that happen ? It's not like Argentina was absolutely brilliant, but at least they attacked, they shot, they tried. Holland just stood there on the pitch, passing the ball, waiting. Van Gaal should have replaced Kuyt at some point, he was slowing down his team, never daring to make a pass forward. He probably made 3 passes forward during 120 minutes. For that alone, Argentina deserved the win.

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 10th, 2014, 12:43 pm
by Ron Burgundy
I was asleep before extra time even, thats how crappy the game was (or was it all the booze....nah)

Well, Germany V Argentina, im hoping you are right six. I dont think they has been an 'easy' grand final win, so Germany had better score, just 5 times is fine. Im weary about Messi and Aguero up front, two great strikers can nullify the great german midfield if they play well, but i guess they need the ball so its more up to Argentina's midfield, will Di Maria play?

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 13th, 2014, 6:11 pm
by numbersix
Well, I did say Germany would win, but I didn't think it would be so close. A great final considering how pedestrian both teams were for a lot of the tournament. Some great opportunities and a relatively clean match. Germany ultimately deserved and that goal was superb.

Only 4 more years until Russia (or hopefully somewhere else).

Also, the local TV presenter who has been hosting all the major football tournament (and who also happens to be the chairman of the Irish Film Board) is retiring. Sad, as he has been there since as long as I can remember. Ah, memories...

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 13th, 2014, 6:36 pm
by Chienfantome
Germany has made a solid tournament. Except against Brazil, each time short victories in matches that could have gone the other way, against Argentina tonight, or Algeria, or France, each time 1-0, twice during extra-time. It was a very open World Cup.
I was rooting for Argentina just to upset Ron B...... ;)
That was a splendid goal from Goetze indeed.

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 13th, 2014, 6:38 pm
by Chienfantome
Oh and did they really elect Messi Best Player of the tournament ? Really ? That's overrated. Rodriguez, Robben, Neuer, and a few others would have deserved it more than Messi. At least, Pogba was Best Young Player.

Re: The Sports Corner - Talking All Kinds Of Sports

Posted: July 13th, 2014, 7:10 pm
by Buscemi
They probably wanted to sell more merchandise.