Ndamokung Suh thinks he's innocent, too.
It's the Ticos versus the Divers on Saturday afternoon:
A1 BRA MEX A2 -----------+ BRA 1:1 NED +----------- B2 CHI +-----------+ +-----------+ NED B1 -----------+ (3:2 PK) | | 2:1 +----------- C1 COL +-----------+ +-----------+ GRE C2 -----------+ COL | | | | CRC 1:1 +----------- D2 URU +-----------+ +----------- | +-----------+ CRC D1 -----------+ 2:0 | | (5:3 PK) +----------- E1 FRA | | SUI E2 -----------+ | | +----------- F2 NGA +-----------+ | -----------+ +-----------+ ARG F1 -----------+ | | | | +----------- G1 GER +-----------+ +-----------+ USA G2 -----------+ | | +----------- H2 ALG +-----------+ +-----------+ BEL H1 -----------+ +-----------
Experience and callowness vs. youth and bravery. Divers should win, but Ticos will give them a run. Same with Brazil v. Columbia. That Rodriquez for Columbia just puts the ball into the net! Crazy good scorer.
I'm rooting for the underdogs in each match, but realistic about their chances!
We'll all be rooting for the undergod Americans against Argentina on Saturday, too.
Fedya with a misspelled word? The apocalypse is upon us.
Originally Posted by Fandame:
Ya gotta wonder about their coach, if he encourages it or just doesn't ask his team to stop diving. It makes Netherlands look like jackarses out there and leaves a poor impression on those who only tune in once every four years. And you're right, Goal, they certainly don't have to do that crap to gain an edge -- they're good in their own right and deserve to be there.
Van Gaal got it right the second time. They really went got after Spain in their first game and spanked them. If he had tried that in the last WC Final? Van Gaal is part of a really infuriating movement among coaches to win with negative football. If you are coaching Iran, I get it. But he has a ton of offensive talent. Brazil's Felipe Scolari has even more talent and they are defending the hell out of the ball. Frustrating.
And you thought x4 wasn't for pussies:
Dutch airline KLM trolls Mexican fans
Dutch airline KLM trolls Mexican fans
quote:KLM, the Royal Dutch Airlines, took to Twitter Sunday afternoon to take a parting shot at Mexico after the Netherlands made a stunning comeback against El Tri in a World Cup Round of 16 game in Brazil.
"Adios Amigos! #NEDMEX" read the tweet posted on KLM's official account that included a picture of a departures sign featuring a sombrero-wearing caricature.
quote:Fedya with a misspelled word? The apocalypse is upon us.
I caught the typo and thought I'd corrected it.
Originally Posted by Fandame:
Nothing yet about de Jong's "some time a groin pain"! 
Likely out for the rest of the tournament
And it's nice to see Google Translate isn't that much better than my lousy high school French.
I'm not so sure the National airline for a country known for diving should tug on Karmas cape. Still a puss move after the fact.
Brazilian newspapers posted all departing flights to Chile BEFORE their knock out match Saturday morning. Only a post and crossbar saved them.
Ill follow the U.S. up until they're out. Then I'm out. I can't take the diving anymore. It's impossible to watch.
Ya, you might check out on Clint Dempsey's next dive. He is a known diver.
It used to be English players were to proud to dive. Now even they dive. The sport is going to hell.
Is it a coincidence that the sport starts going to hell when Americans show a growing interest in it?
too true, Dr. Bob! Interesting point!
quote:It used to be English players were to proud to dive.
It wasn't that they were too proud to dive; it's that they knew they'd miss the resulting penalty.
Originally Posted by Dr._Bob:
Is it a coincidence that the sport starts going to hell when Americans show a growing interest in it?
Naah. You guys are blameless. That's been coming for years. Actually, I think the US team ids the most honest one in the world. The test of the world is diving like Greg effing Louganis.
Originally Posted by Fedya:
quote:It used to be English players were to proud to dive.
It wasn't that they were too proud to dive; it's that they knew they'd miss the resulting penalty.
Ya,a nation of 60 million people, and no one can execute a penalty kick.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots discusses roster management
Wilmots has used 20 of the alloted 23 players, and the question of who's going to start is an open one.
Wilmots has also used his subs fairly early, often before the hour mark. This could present a problem if he's used all three subs, and the game goes into extra time:
As for that possibility of making all three subs early and then having a player get injured:
Well, it worked -- barely -- for Costa Rica.
Wilmots has used 20 of the alloted 23 players, and the question of who's going to start is an open one.
quote:"I've got 23 players", Wilmots said. "It would be stupid of me not to use them independently of the qualities of our opponents. Our starting 11 isn't the same, because our opponent isn't the same."
Wilmots has also used his subs fairly early, often before the hour mark. This could present a problem if he's used all three subs, and the game goes into extra time:
quote:Against Algeria, Wilmots had used all three substitutions by the 65th minute. Origi, the decisive player against Russia, was brought in at the hour mark. But Wilmots' constantly repeated argument for the early substitutions is plausible: "Games are often decided in the final quarter of an hour. To bring in a player so late makes no sense, as he doesn't have time to get into the rhythm of the game."
As for that possibility of making all three subs early and then having a player get injured:
quote:"I'd rather be up a goal and down to 10 men than have all 11 and not have scored."
Well, it worked -- barely -- for Costa Rica.
Tim Howard discusses playing against friends
More past the link, which for once is in English.
quote:Tim Howard insists friendship must be put to one side when the US meet Belgium in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
The Everton goalkeeper faces some current and former team-mates in tomorrow night’s second round clash in Salvador.
Belgium have Blues attacker Kevin Mirallas in their squad alongside former Everton favourite Maroune Fellaini and last season’s loanee Romelu Lukaku, who finished as the club’s top scorer.
Howard plans on speaking to the trio before the game but says once the referee blows his whistle then sentiment will be forgotten and he will ready to “rock and roll”.
More past the link, which for once is in English.
Altidore "available" tomorrow.
That could be and IMHO is likely nothing but gamesmanship. Perhaps he could also be nothing more than a last-minute, desperation sub if the US is behind.
Or,
Yup, that's how I see the Altidore announcement. I think Klinsman may be trying to force Belgium into revealing who will start so he can then counter. Notice the announcement says Altidore is "available" not "playing." I can't see him being used for anything other than a late, late, hope-for-magic substitute -- unless he has a Reggie-like healing tonight!
Belgium is likely down their top player as well...Kompany.
There is no one dominant team I've seen so far this year...thought Germany would be after their shellacking of Portugal, but they looked like $hit against Ghana, for a half vs the US and during the first half vs Algeria.
I still say Argentina will win it all. #Messi
Quiz for you old guys:
Yes, a Willis Reed moment would be nice - and you don't have to be a dust-farter like you to know that answer, as all you really need to do is be able to read or watch TV - but unfortunately you really can't risk burning a sub on Altidore if he has to come off early.
I still think it's all a smokescreen, but IF he was to be used at all it would have to be very late and only if they needed a miracle.
Now go eat your tapioca pudding, gramps.
Originally Posted by Blair Kiel:
Quiz for you old guys:
What is the most overrated story of valor in sports history? If Reed had played for anyone other than the team in NY, he would be a mere footnote in the history of sports.
Agree.
If we're down one with 10 left----who cares if he blows a tire as a sub?
I have as much a chance of starting the match as he does.
Originally Posted by JJSD:
Now go eat your tapioca pudding, gramps.
Tapioca sounds foreign-----I'll stick with vanilla---it's more comforting.
Poor Goalline. I'm sure he was rooting for Algeria to score hoping he could make fun of me mercilessly over an early German exit. Blair Kiel, on the other hand, wants to see more of Jogi Löw's hair.
A1 BRA MEX A2 -----------+ BRA 1:1 NED +----------- B2 CHI +-----------+ +-----------+ NED B1 -----------+ (3:2 PK) | | 2:1 +----------- C1 COL +-----------+ +-----------+ GRE C2 -----------+ COL | | | | CRC 1:1 +----------- D2 URU +-----------+ +----------- | +-----------+ CRC D1 -----------+ 2:0 | | (5:3 PK) +----------- E1 FRA | | SUI E2 -----------+ FRA | | +----------- F2 NGA +-----------+ | -----------+ +-----------+ ARG F1 -----------+ 2:0 | | | | +----------- G1 GER +-----------+ +-----------+ USA G2 -----------+ GER | | +----------- H2 ALG +-----------+ +-----------+ BEL H1 -----------+ 2:1 AET +-----------
Per Mertesacker plays like ****, and then bitches when the media call him on it
Keep playing like that and you're going to lose.
quote:An irritated Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker tonight hit out at suggestions that Germany were poor in their win over Algeria, insisting that that qualification for the World Cup quarter-finals was the only aim and that it had been accomplished
Joachim Low's players struggled to defeat the Algerians 2-1 in extra-time here, to line up a last eight clash with France, and took more than 90 minutes to score. Mertesacker insisted the struggle did not mean it would be impossible to beat the French.
He said to Germany's ZDF television: "Would you rather we played beautiful football but got knocked out?" he said to, visibly frustrated by the critical line of questioning. I don't know what you want from me - do you think that just Mickey Mouse teams are involved in the last 16? All that matters is we're in the quarter-finals."
Keep playing like that and you're going to lose.
Bvan, that's pretty funny! Much as I love soccer, you've hit the player on the knee, so to speak.
Fed, I think Algeria caught Germany trying to take a game off. The Germans looked at Algeria as a tune-up, and they forgot to tell the Algerians (especially their keeper) that they were playing a friendly. When it actually dawned on them that Algeria was playing to win and had a creative way of doing it, they had to buckle down and get back to business -- almost too late. I doubt Germany takes France so lightly. And France could send Germany home...
If France and Germany both play their A games, Germany wins. Both were exceptionally lucky to escape their first round of 16 games...but France more so. Actually Germany has looked like doo-doo outside of their opener vs. Portugal. But for sure they have the most talent top to bottom of any team in the tourney...and if they can turn it on, they should win.
Argentina is playing well though, Messi is always Messi, but their GK is playing out of his mind, but so is Aguero.
Interesting listening to US talking heads talking about soccer. Colin Cowherd claims that with soccer you just need one star to dominate...like Messi.
Er, Colin, when has Messi ever played without an all-star cast around him, whether it is at the club level in Barcelona or for Argentina? At the moment they are being outplayed by the freaking Swiss.
Interesting listening to US talking heads
I have found this to not be the case. About any topic. Ever.
F Cowturd.
Shows his ignorance of soccer.
Never in the history of the World Cup has a team with 1 superstar ever won the entire thing. That's why Brazil has fallen on hard times...they've got one superstar in Neymar...when they were winning the WC, they had 4-5 guys who were elite...including their GK.
In 2010, Spain was more than just David Villa...they also had phenomenal GK play, and guys like Xavi and Xabi Alonso stepped up as well.
The US has advanced this year because they have an elite GK in Howard...to the point he's made up for some absolute bonehead defense from his teammates.
You ain't winning jack without a great keeper.
Originally Posted by Shoeless Joe:
Interesting listening to US talking heads
I have found this to not be the case. About any topic. Ever.
LOL! Call it morbid curiosity.
Yeah, Cowherd is that wonderful mix of ignorance and arrogance that seems to draw people in droves.
I've been told by some here that Cowherd is a geenyous who teaches his listeners things about life in general.
Take a step back and actually consider that statement.
The thing you need to do above all else in the knockout stage is defend. If you can do that, you can get to PKs against teams that are flat-out better than you.
I have a pretty good feeling about today. Klinsmann most likely has the guys feeling like they're playing with house money at this point, and IMHO that's going to lead to a loose team that takes it right to the Waffle Molesters. My wife is actually in Brussels right now for a conference. She's going to head out tonight (the game is on at 10 their time) and shoot some photos of the whole scene there.
The kiss of death. No world cup for you! Well for at least 106 years.
Originally Posted by PackFoo:
You ain't winning jack without a great keeper.
Agree.
