"Schweizer Käse" and Belgian Prálines fightes very masterly. Schwitzerland had excellent chance to penalty-shoot in the last minutes to win, but they shows me as an sad clown (First headed to the crossbar then shoots outside *facepalm*) and the US good in penalty-shoot tactical... but Keeper blocked it. Mr. Klinsmann said Howard is the one of the five best keepers (Bullshit, why fail the US this game?!)
i'm in mourning today so i'm glad there are no picks to do until friday.
we were dominated yet had 3 golden opportunities in Extra time, only converting 1. Daralon, i think you are saying Howard is not one the best 5 keepers in the world? i find that surprising considering the game he had, where he set a world cup record for saves and almost singlehandedly kept the US in the game. having said that, the second goal is one that i think he will relive quite often in his daydreams. he shouldn't have been beaten on the near post.
congrats to belgium, now i'll have to figure out a new team to root for the rest of the tournament.
Daralon, i think you are saying Howard is not one the best 5 keepers in the world? i find that surprising considering the game he had, where he set a world cup record for saves and almost singlehandedly kept the US in the game. having said that, the second goal is one that i think he will relive quite often in his daydreams. he shouldn't have been beaten on the near post.
congrats to belgium, now i'll have to figure out a new team to root for the rest of the tournament.
I said. he´s incredible to keep this game but not the best of 5!
@Qbert - I'm sad the US lost too. I would say we should root for Canada, but they're out too, and they were rooting for the US team to win. lol
That being said, congrats Belgium, they were the better team.
Now, as for Howard. He's poured his heart into that game against Belgium, and tried to keep the US team alive. Howard blocked 16 of 27 shots made to the goal, this is including the shots that went over, and out right missed, and that, in itself, is impressive. Even the commentators were saying that Howard was one of the best keepers of the WC. So, arguably, Howard could be one of the top five, and if he's not in the top five, then he's definitely in the top ten.
So, the winner of our prediction game is still hard to predict, and in the end it can very much come down to the right predictions regarding the WC-champion
My predictions for the Quarterfinals:
Brazil - Columbia 2:1 Netherlands - Costa Rica 2:0 Germany - France 1:0 Argentina - Belgium 2:1
Brazil - Colombia: 2-1 (1). Brazil wins if they play up to their best. If not - well, Colombia could upset them.
France - Germany: 2-1 (1). Maybe the most difficult match to predict because it's two very strong teams. Germany had to play overtime against Algeria while France defeated Nigeria in ordinary time, so the Germans will be more tired. Also, France impressed me more.
Netherlands - Costa Rica: 2-0 (1). I have predicted defeats for Costa Rica for their first four matches, and so far they have won three times and played one draw. So this probably spells doom for the Dutch. Still, I think the Netherlands will prove too much of a handful for the Costa Ricans.
Argentina - Belgium: 2-1 (1). For Argentina too much depends on Lionel Messi and sooner or later that will bite them. If it does in this match, my prediction won't come true.
Gutted, obviously, but proud of this team. If Spain, Italy or England had half the heart of this USA team they'd still be playing. Sometimes desire, sound tactics and an amazingly gutsy keeper are what you need to compete with the best. For predictions:
Brazil 2 Colombia 1 Not confident here at all. I'm trusting the Brazil defense to do its job and for Yepes to finally show his age. Netherlands 2 Costa Rica 0 Are they *finally* going to come down to Earth? It has to happen eventually, why not here. However, Navas is going to Atletico so I'm pumped Germany 2 France 1 France was the most disrespected side prior to this tournament... and that was *with* Ribery. They should be proud, but the Germans are the best side (even though the Algerians really took it to them). Lahm needs to start at rightback... too many good midfielders to play him there and Algeria game should show everyone the limitations of Howedes and Boateng when they are out of their natural positions. Belgium 2 Argentina 1 Belgium's defense is so solid, and they have a complete team. The Messi show will have to really impress to beat them. Yet for all we know Higuain will finally show up. Like Colombia vs Brazil this is a really tough one to pick.
i'm in mourning today so i'm glad there are no picks to do until friday.
we were dominated yet had 3 golden opportunities in Extra time, only converting 1. Daralon, i think you are saying Howard is not one the best 5 keepers in the world? i find that surprising considering the game he had, where he set a world cup record for saves and almost singlehandedly kept the US in the game. having said that, the second goal is one that i think he will relive quite often in his daydreams. he shouldn't have been beaten on the near post.
congrats to belgium, now i'll have to figure out a new team to root for the rest of the tournament.
I am in the same boat. I am supporting Belgium simply because they have the most Atletico/Chelsea players and are a small nation with some very talented footballers. Would not mind seeing CONCACAF buddies Costa Rica continue to surprise, but that's highly unlikely. I kinda just don't want Argentina or Brazil, everyone else I'm cool with.
After Greece's elimination there are no more Roma players in the World Cup (though Nainggolan should be there and I consider Bradley to be Roma)
As far as Howard is concerned, top 5 isn't too much of a stretch, but top 10-15 seems appropriate. goal.com actually made a "Team of the Round of 16" and put... Julio Cesar as the keeper.
wtf... he wasn't even TOP THREE keepers of the round, never mind starting. Howard, Navas, Neuer and Ochoa all played better than he did. The crossbar saved Brazil from embarrassment.
and besides... Neuer played like 5 different positions the other day
Mr. Klinsmann said Howard is the one of the five best keepers (Bullshit, why fail the US this game?!)
If that is a fail I hope he fails a lot in the future.
Can't wait for the Copa America Centenario in 2016 in the USA. It will be fun to see some competitive fixtures live (just can't get excited when we play Panama or Canada in qualifiers). Plus this team is looking good.
What the US notably lacks: a centerback and a striker. Well, we could have had Subotic and that Jersey Shore wannabe, but what can you do? Notice what two players did *not* play in this World Cup? Now if only we can find a young German kid who could score so I could be a complete hypocrite...
Finneous: Cheating is part of the job Boo: So Suarez cheated, poor fella has been wronged, huh? Finneous: WHY YOU SO STUPID, DEFEND SUAREZ Boo: facepalm
EU SOU BRASILEIRO (not really), COM MUITO ORGULHO, COM MUITO AMOR.
I want my Brazil vs. Argentina final badly, but I can't see this ending up as anything but a European affair. Especially now that Neymar's out. =/
If there's not as much international outcry about Zúñiga breaking Neymar's *back* as there was about the Suárez bite, I'll be very disappointed. Disappointed, but not surprised. Damn referee barely carding anyone.
And Thiago disabled this Match versus Germans. Neymar get-well wishes from germany and the Bundesliga too. (Bones broken his back and can't play again for the World Cup.)
Boring round really. Horrendous performances by all 8 teams pretty much.
I'll take Germany over Brazil 2-0 and the Dutch over the Argentinians 2-1
Also, Zuniga should be ashamed of himself. All he does is dirty tackles. He tried to do the same thing to Neymar that he attempted against De Rossi last season and against Lichtsteiner two years ago. What he did might be worse than what Suarez did.
Might be? Broken back trumps minor risk of tetanus in my book. Didnt see the knee, but sounds intentional, and would be a dirty move in any sport, including mma.
Might be? Broken back trumps minor risk of tetanus in my book. Didnt see the knee, but sounds intentional, and would be a dirty move in any sport, including mma.
It honestly didn't look intentional to me. Or all that unusual, it was a really brutal game that got out of control. I wasn't surprised someone got an injury at some point. Anyway:
Germany - Brazil 3-1. Both Silva and Neymar out for this game, and Brazil frankly hasn't looked great in this WC as is.
Netherlands - Argentina 2-1. Argentina showed promise and didn't just look like the 'Fighting Messi's' as I've been calling them in the last game. Tough to call.
The spirit of Uruguay shall live on in Argentina and Brazil (two countries that border it) and both countries will go on to be in the finals. This I have foreseen
Comments
Mr. Klinsmann said Howard is the one of the five best keepers (Bullshit, why fail the US this game?!)
we were dominated yet had 3 golden opportunities in Extra time, only converting 1. Daralon, i think you are saying Howard is not one the best 5 keepers in the world? i find that surprising considering the game he had, where he set a world cup record for saves and almost singlehandedly kept the US in the game. having said that, the second goal is one that i think he will relive quite often in his daydreams. he shouldn't have been beaten on the near post.
congrats to belgium, now i'll have to figure out a new team to root for the rest of the tournament.
That being said, congrats Belgium, they were the better team.
Now, as for Howard. He's poured his heart into that game against Belgium, and tried to keep the US team alive. Howard blocked 16 of 27 shots made to the goal, this is including the shots that went over, and out right missed, and that, in itself, is impressive. Even the commentators were saying that Howard was one of the best keepers of the WC. So, arguably, Howard could be one of the top five, and if he's not in the top five, then he's definitely in the top ten.
Pibaro 39 points
bengoshi 37 points
Montresor_SP 32 points
booinyoureyes 31 points
Qbert 27 points
elminster 9 points
Messi 9 points
FinneousPJ 8 points
Anduin 5 points
Blackraven 2 points
theElf 2 points
Pibaro - 31 right predictions, including 8 with right score
bengoshi - 34 right predictions, including 2 with right score.
Montresor_SP - 26 right predictions, including 6 with right score
booinyoureyes - 24 right predictions, including 7 with right score.
Qbert - 21 right predictions, including 5 with right score.
Montresor_SP 77 points
Pibaro 74 points
bengoshi 72 points
booinyoureyes 71 points
Anduin 55 points
FinneousPJ 53 points
Dungeonnoob 50 points
Blackraven 47 points
Mhamza 45 points
Qbert 27 points
elminster 9 points
Messi 9 points
theElf 2 points
So, the winner of our prediction game is still hard to predict, and in the end it can very much come down to the right predictions regarding the WC-champion
My predictions for the Quarterfinals:
Brazil - Columbia 2:1
Netherlands - Costa Rica 2:0
Germany - France 1:0
Argentina - Belgium 2:1
Brazil - Colombia: 2-1 (1). Brazil wins if they play up to their best. If not - well, Colombia could upset them.
France - Germany: 2-1 (1). Maybe the most difficult match to predict because it's two very strong teams. Germany had to play overtime against Algeria while France defeated Nigeria in ordinary time, so the Germans will be more tired. Also, France impressed me more.
Netherlands - Costa Rica: 2-0 (1). I have predicted defeats for Costa Rica for their first four matches, and so far they have won three times and played one draw. So this probably spells doom for the Dutch. Still, I think the Netherlands will prove too much of a handful for the Costa Ricans.
Argentina - Belgium: 2-1 (1). For Argentina too much depends on Lionel Messi and sooner or later that will bite them. If it does in this match, my prediction won't come true.
Brazil - Columbia = 2 - 0
Germany - France = 2 - 1
Netherlands - Costa Rica = 1 - 0
2-1 Columbia (pks)
Brasil - Columbia 1 - 2 (Columbia)
This is not a real prediction, i think Brasil will win, but I really hope Columbia will beat them
Germany - France 0 - 1 (France)
a performance that speaks for itself
Gutted, obviously, but proud of this team. If Spain, Italy or England had half the heart of this USA team they'd still be playing. Sometimes desire, sound tactics and an amazingly gutsy keeper are what you need to compete with the best.
For predictions:
Brazil 2 Colombia 1 Not confident here at all. I'm trusting the Brazil defense to do its job and for Yepes to finally show his age.
Netherlands 2 Costa Rica 0 Are they *finally* going to come down to Earth? It has to happen eventually, why not here. However, Navas is going to Atletico so I'm pumped
Germany 2 France 1 France was the most disrespected side prior to this tournament... and that was *with* Ribery. They should be proud, but the Germans are the best side (even though the Algerians really took it to them). Lahm needs to start at rightback... too many good midfielders to play him there and Algeria game should show everyone the limitations of Howedes and Boateng when they are out of their natural positions.
Belgium 2 Argentina 1 Belgium's defense is so solid, and they have a complete team. The Messi show will have to really impress to beat them. Yet for all we know Higuain will finally show up. Like Colombia vs Brazil this is a really tough one to pick.
Obvious sarcasm is so obvious people are ridiculous enough to miss it sometimes! Also, perhaps a language barrier
After Greece's elimination there are no more Roma players in the World Cup (though Nainggolan should be there and I consider Bradley to be Roma)
As far as Howard is concerned, top 5 isn't too much of a stretch, but top 10-15 seems appropriate. goal.com actually made a "Team of the Round of 16" and put... Julio Cesar as the keeper.
wtf... he wasn't even TOP THREE keepers of the round, never mind starting. Howard, Navas, Neuer and Ochoa all played better than he did. The crossbar saved Brazil from embarrassment.
and besides... Neuer played like 5 different positions the other day
If that is a fail I hope he fails a lot in the future.
Can't wait for the Copa America Centenario in 2016 in the USA. It will be fun to see some competitive fixtures live (just can't get excited when we play Panama or Canada in qualifiers). Plus this team is looking good.
What the US notably lacks: a centerback and a striker.
Well, we could have had Subotic and that Jersey Shore wannabe, but what can you do? Notice what two players did *not* play in this World Cup?
Now if only we can find a young German kid who could score so I could be a complete hypocrite...
Boo: So Suarez cheated, poor fella has been wronged, huh?
Finneous: WHY YOU SO STUPID, DEFEND SUAREZ
Boo: facepalm
BRA - COL 1-3 (COL)
Allez mania!!!!!!!!!!
I want my Brazil vs. Argentina final badly, but I can't see this ending up as anything but a European affair. Especially now that Neymar's out. =/
If there's not as much international outcry about Zúñiga breaking Neymar's *back* as there was about the Suárez bite, I'll be very disappointed. Disappointed, but not surprised. Damn referee barely carding anyone.
Argentina - Belgiym 2 - 0 (Argentina)
Netherlands - Costa Rica 3 - 1 (Netherlands)
For Concacaf!
I'll take Germany over Brazil 2-0 and the Dutch over the Argentinians 2-1
Also, Zuniga should be ashamed of himself. All he does is dirty tackles. He tried to do the same thing to Neymar that he attempted against De Rossi last season and against Lichtsteiner two years ago. What he did might be worse than what Suarez did.
Brazil - Germany: 1-2 (2). I don't think the loss of Neymar will prove disastrous for Brazil, but the German effectiveness will.
Netherlands - Argentina: 0-1 (2). Much depends on who scores the first goal. Ultimately it may come down to whether Messi or Robben has the best day.
Germany - Brazil 3-1. Both Silva and Neymar out for this game, and Brazil frankly hasn't looked great in this WC as is.
Netherlands - Argentina 2-1. Argentina showed promise and didn't just look like the 'Fighting Messi's' as I've been calling them in the last game. Tough to call.