World Cup Prediction game

[saltysam]

I Have Holland in the works sweep...so guaranteed £20 at least now.

[grim_tales]

Uruguay through to the semis. Ghana should have won, however it was a penalty but not sure if the free kick leading to it should have been given.

[Yi-Long]

Sad about Ghana going out. Relieved that Suarez won't be playing against Holland. Nice win today over Brazil. Bad first half by Holland, but nice 2nd half where we were much better, and Brazil just collapsed completely and were a mess after half-time. Lucky first goal, great 2nd goal. Van Persie absolutely worthless this tournament.

[Shingster]

I know the dutch haven't exactly set this tournament on fire, but if ever a nation have ever deserved to win the World Cup time and time again it's them, so I'm hoping this year they can do it!

[Yi-Long]

I know the dutch haven't exactly set this tournament on fire, but if ever a nation have ever deserved to win the World Cup time and time again it's them, so I'm hoping this year they can do it!

That's kinda the thing: there were times when we were really really good, and went out...

... and now we are shite, apart from the 2nd half against Brazil (which still wasn't great, but at least it showed some spirit), and we're in the semi's.

I'm not really sure if we should win. I still think Germany, Spain and Argentina are in much better form than us, so it will be very very difficult to win anyway, but unless we really REALLY show some great football in our last 2 matches, this isn't really a torunament to be 'proud' off, football-wise.

I would rather see us play gorgeous football for 5 matches orso, and then crash out and be remembered positively for having shown the world fantastic football, instead of winning it with these mediocre displays, and everything jst shrugging their shoulders and going 'it's about time'.

Sadly though, since the first option isn't available any longer, I'll settle for the 2nd one (obviously).

[degeneration]

From the dutch perspective, at least if Arg, Germany and Spain are all in better form, only 1 of them can be an eventual problem for them.

To be honest, I think they will beat Uruguay. Yeah Holland have not played well, but at the end of the day what they will be remembered for is winning. 4 years time, if holland win this world cup, that is what will be remembered, not how mediocre they were playing. I do like holland, and of all the teams left, they are actually the ones I want to win, even though they knocked out my sweepstake team, who I thought I was odds on to win with.

[Markgway]

I thought the Dutch were going to go thru this tournament without a good performance. Four for four mediocre performances... and then yesterday they finally stepped up a gear and beat Brazil. For the first time they looked like potential champions. About fucking time. I hope they crush U-r-gay. What a fucking disgrace. Ghana were CHEATED out of a last minute victory. Punching the ball off the line is about as low as you can get. No amount of penalty opportunities can make up for that. Suarez should be sent home in disgrace.

[grim_tales]

Suarez cheated and was rightly sent off (Ghana should have had the penalty too, thats fine) but I'm not sure it should have been a free kick.
Shame Ghana didnt score from it

[saltysam]

Mark & Grim,what would you have done in Suarez' shoes?Stood aside and let the ball go in.?i doubt it.Correct outcome would've been to give the goal and send him off.unfortunately football's archaic rules don't allow for sensible options like that.

[grim_tales]

No not stand aside, but, ya know, maybe use a part of my body like my head to block the ball, he knowingly used his fist/hand which as you say, sending him off was right. Since the ball didnt cross the line a penalty kick was the only option.
Sadly it was a bad penalty.

[saltysam]

No not stand aside, but, ya know, maybe use a part of my body like my head to block the ball.

Well if he'd have that option he'd have done it.what utter bollocks.he took one for the team. A cheat-yes but show me a player who'd have done anything different in that situation.

[Yi-Long]

Grim wouldn't have needed to use his hands to keep that ball out: his huge so-called 'mullet' (as Brad calls it) would have stopped any ball from going past him!

Anyway, it was an understandable action by Suarez, and many players would have done the same in that situation. 'Unfair'!? Sure. But hey, that's the rules I guess. Ball has to cross the line (and even then, you aren't sure it will count)

Germany ass-raped Argentina today!!! 4-0

[degeneration]

As much as it was unfair and unfortunate for Ghana, I don't really blame Suarez. In a moment of desperation I doubt there would be many other players who wouldn't have done the same for their team.

If Scotland were in Uruguay's situation and a scotsman did that and got the team through, then all of scotland would be ecstatic, not saying "we shouldn't have done that. The other team should've gone through".

[saltysam]

Joe Jordan's handball against Wales in a world cup qualifier in the late 70's was the "Maradona incident" of it's day. That was true,bona fide world class cheating at it's best.

http://sports.xin.msn.com/football-chan ... 599&page=9

it's here,watch it,the level of cheating displayed here is absolutely gobsmacking,especially what Jordan does after winning the penalty. it's around the 2:45 mark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDWcuH5jacI

[Markgway]

Mark & Grim,what would you have done in Suarez' shoes?Stood aside and let the ball go in.?i doubt it.Correct outcome would've been to give the goal and send him off.unfortunately football's archaic rules don't allow for sensible options like that.

I would have tried to head the ball off the line. Failing that I would not have used my hands. Suarez's reactions and post-match comments were outrageous.

If Scotland were in Uruguay's situation and a scotsman did that and got the team through, then all of scotland would be ecstatic, not saying "we shouldn't have done that. The other team should've gone through".

Not me. But then I never follow the crowd.

it's here,watch it,the level of cheating displayed here is absolutely gobsmacking,especially what Jordan does after winning the penalty. it's around the 2:45 mark

That was a bit before my time... but there certainly appeared to be cheating. It's hard to make out because of the poor image but it looks like the Scots player punches the ball - and gets a penalty. WTF?? Shameful reaction too.

[grim_tales]

So its Spain/Holland in the final then...

[Yi-Long]

Deserved loss for Holland. We haven't been very good in this tournament and we weren't very good in this final. It's a shame Van Persie had so much credit, cause he was easily our worst player these last 7 matches. 2nd place is actually more than we deserved, if you look at how we played and the luck we've had until the final (and even in the final we still had our fair share of luck).

[Markgway]

I think Germany was the best team of the tournament. I also think the final would have been better had they been in it.

Spain are overrated. In their last 210 mins of football they managed to score only two goals. Yawn.

True the Dutch weren't great but they weren't that much below Spain. If Robben had've taken his chances they'd be holding the trophy right now.

The ref made huge blunders by not giving key fouls to Holland and an obvious corner shortly before Spain scored.

[Yi-Long]

I think Germany was the best team of the tournament. I also think the final would have been better had they been in it.

Spain are overrated. In their last 210 mins of football they managed to score only two goals. Yawn.

True the Dutch weren't great but they weren't that much below Spain. If Robben had've taken his chances they'd be holding the trophy right now.

The ref made huge blunders by not giving key fouls to Holland and an obvious corner shortly before Spain scored.

Ow yeah, obviously the ref made mistakes. it's Howard Webb. I've been surprised for years now everytime that guy gets big games. But some dutch fans were crying about the ref, and ofcourse you should cause it's a bad ref, but he's not why we lost the game. He was bad both bways. We deserved red for the de Jong sparta-kick, and also Van Bommel could have gotten a straight red for that challenge from behind and Robben could have gotten a 2nd yellow...

It's too bad, we COULD have won it, but truth be told, we just weren't very good this tournament. Yes, we were 'good' as in performing as a team, no conflicts, and just getting the points, but 'total footbal-wise', we were quite poor. And like I said, Van Persie shouldn't have been given this much trust by the manager, cause in the end, he just has never delivered.

I agree Germany played the best football of the tournament, although the game against Spain wasn't very good, and the game against Uruguay wasn't great either. But at least they played total football.

[Markgway]

We deserved red for the de Jong sparta-kick, and also Van Bommel could have gotten a straight red for that challenge from behind and Robben could have gotten a 2nd yellow...

All true. Webb had a poor game. If he wasn't English the English media wouldn't be defending him.

I agree Germany played the best football of the tournament, although the game against Spain wasn't very good, and the game against Uruguay wasn't great either. But at least they played total football.

Germany were off when they played Spain. I was really disappointed. Disagree about the Uruguay game. I really enjoyed that. Would've made a nice final.

[Yi-Long]

We deserved red for the de Jong sparta-kick, and also Van Bommel could have gotten a straight red for that challenge from behind and Robben could have gotten a 2nd yellow...

All true. Webb had a poor game. If he wasn't English the English media wouldn't be defending him.

I agree Germany played the best football of the tournament, although the game against Spain wasn't very good, and the game against Uruguay wasn't great either. But at least they played total football.

Germany were off when they played Spain. I was really disappointed. Disagree about the Uruguay game. I really enjoyed that. Would've made a nice final.

Ow, the match between Germany and Uruguay was great to watch, but purely technically and tactically germany wasn't as impressive as they had been before... so that's what I meant. They were obviously better than they were in the semi-finals. Can't wait to see how Germany will do in 2 years.

Ah well, it was a lousy world cup overall. Very few players really stood out positively, very few good matches, and I doubt many people will think of this as a memorable event.

I loved Giovanni's great goal against uruguay though. Fantastic way to finish his career, and a great and very down-to-earth relaxed & sweet guy all those years.

[grim_tales]

The Germany-Uruguay game was good. The fouling in the final was appalling, at least 2 players should have been sent off for Holland.

[saltysam]

Spain were worthy winners for me.Germany looked good but when they met the spanish they were overrun in the 2nd half.A Poor World cup overall with very few outstanding games.

[Markgway]

Spain were worthy winners for me.Germany looked good but when they met the spanish they were overrun in the 2nd half.A Poor World cup overall with very few outstanding games.

I think the Germans had an 'off' game against Spain. Maybe they were bored to sleep by Spain's endless short passes? I honestly feel Germany were the best team and should've won the tournament. I agree this wasn't one of the better cups - though it had it's moments. Spain did not live up to the hype at all.

[grim_tales]

I agree it hasnt been one of the better World Cups this time.