What? Coming here expecting "ALL HAIL THE KING LOUIS!" posts and not finding any except the one by @FinneousPJ ?
Well, let me fix that.
ALL HAIL THE KING LOUIS! ALL HAIL THE KING LOUIS! ALL HAIL THE KING LOUIS!
I was just left speechless when I saw that substitution. Oh my, that was the first time when I saw a deliberate change of a goalie right before the penalties. And it has paid off brilliantly! What a masterstroke!
Brazil and Germany will inevitably meet each other in the semifinal game. This will be the match to watch, that's for sure. I have a feeling this match will be better than final. And this is when, I think, the burden of the task to win the WC at home will become too much for Brazil. This pressure combined with the fact they don't have a solid goalie (his good years are behind) will mean that in a battle of two even sides Germany will win.
In the other part of the tournament we'll have Argentina that no doubt about it will do everything to win at the area of their neighbour. Messi should play like he can, Di Maria will dribble, Aguero will pass and deliver. Their attacking threat is overwhelming. From the list of their potent rivals (Belgium, Portugal) Argentina looks more promising. This will bring Argentina into a semifinal game as well. I'm somewhat sure that they win their semifinal, at least because Messi will want to play in the final more than anyone, probably: he's tired of constant comparisons with Pele and Maradona.
So, we'll have a Germany vs Argentina final. The Germans will feel themselves exhausted after the Brazil game, they will feel themselves already having done a huge major thing of overcoming a favourite and the home nation. This will lead to the Argentina win in the final.
And finally we really have Brazil, Germany and Argentina in the semifinals. I stand by my prediction regarding Germany - now when Brazil won't have Silva and Neimar it's nearly evident to me that Germany will win its game.
But Argentina ... They are without Di Maria and Aguero now. That's a significant blow. They maybe didn't play as a world champion. "Ordinary" they were called by the Belgium coach.
But more than that - a tactical geniuos Van Gaal is so good I can't even find the right words. To tell you I'm on the 7th heaven is not to anything. I've believed in this Dutch side right from the start but they are even better than in my dreams. Although Argentina is still a powerful force and Messi is unique, I now think that Netherlands will win. Even if it means I lose a prediction regarding the champion.
They should. To dethrone Spain. To win all their matches. To be the only (!) team that has came from behind in the play-offs. Yeah, no other team has won in these play-offs after conceding the goal first. To make such tactical changes.
So, my predictions:
Brazil - Germany 0:1
Netherlands - Argentina 1:0
P.S. It turns out Sneijder is not **ite. A goal against Mexico, 2 nearly goals against Costa Rica. And a pass. Have you seen that glorios pass to the left in the Costa Rica match? Unfortutately I can't find a gif of that pass.
This is indeed a great world cup. Even the less spectacular games are worth watching.
My two cents on the quarter finals:
France - Germany It was a balanced game, but the early Hummels goal changed everything, and Germany is, as always, a very tough team. The lack of Ribery showed us the deficiencies of France. Germany is always there, if you want to win a world cup you have to defeat Germany, and when Germany doesn't find Italy between them and the final (1970 Italy won the sem-ifinal, 1982 Italy won the final, 2006 Italy won the semi-final), the have an easier job. With the injury of Neymar and the ban of Thiago Silva, Germany now is my favorite for the final.
Brasil - Columbia I think Columbia was already satisfied. I haven't seen the usual Columbia. I still believe Brasil isn't a very good team, They only have some very good players, but as a team they aren't what Brasil is supposed to be. They will miss a lot Neymar and Thiago Silva.
Argentina - Belgium The worst match af all. Belgium had a lot of champions, but I haven't seen any of them. Argentina have 3 real champions, Messi, Higuain and Di Maria. Every match one of them made them win the game. To win the title they need all of them to show their talent in the same game.
Netherlands - Costa Rica. My heart is still beating too fast!!! Van Gaal is a Genuis. Robben is playing his best. But the orange could do more than that. They have to do more than that to beat Argentina. Costa Rica did what they could, and they were veeeery close to the miracle.
P.S. It turns out Sneijder is not **ite. A goal against Mexico, 2 nearly goals against Costa Rica. And a pass. Have you seen that glorios pass to the left in the Costa Rica match? Unfortutately I can't find a gif of that pass.
Still kinda disagree, though obviously he has played better than expected. Generally speaking though, with the Dutch, they have gotten two very easy knockout opponents and struggled with both. Argentina kinda had a similar path. The other side of the bracket seemed like a gauntlet of doom by comparison. In order to get to the semis Brazil had Chile and Colombia while Germany had the impressive Algerians and France. Now they play eachother. Argentina had a Belgian team that for some reason decided not to show up and the Swiss (both the dark horses) while the Dutch had Mexico (who almost didn't qualify for the tournament at all) and the Cinderella story, hardly world class opposition (though the Costa Ricans do know how to park a bus in a way that would make Otto Rehhagel very proud)
I think missing Di Maria is horrible for Argentina, but that should still be a close match. I'm taking the Dutch, but Messi could change things and my boy Kun is back. I'll take the Germans as well (as I picked them to win the entire tournament). I'd have taken them regardless, but with Brazil missing their two best players I think is even more likely that Zee Germans readh the final.
The coolest part is that you have the chance for two great rivalries in the final (and by extension the third place match). They can both get ugly. Even if it is Germany vs Argentina, it would still be intriguing since the Germans eliminated the Argies from the past two Mundials in convincing fashion!
Interesting WC since I don't really have a team I dislike, and wouldn't mind it if anyone won. I kinda would prefer an European side, but don't care too much either way.
Also if Messi wins can everyone finally accept that he is the greatest footballer to walk the earth?
Let's briefly discuss the players of the tournament:
I think James is an easy one for sure. Robben has been outstanding. Messi has gotten results, even if he hasn't been his usual demigod self. Alexis Sanchez played excellently against big opposition. Cuadrado and Benzema also had good tournaments. Some defenders stood out as well, notably Hummels, David Luiz, Vertonghen and pretty much the entire Costa Rican back line.
Ronaldo disappointed, though people perhaps overstate their case against him. Vidal and Diego Costa were both injured and didn't really do their best. Hazard had some very influential moments in the group stages, but that was against easy opposition. Against his first real great opponent, he disappeared. Di Maria was terrible until his goal against Belgium. Casillas was absolutely horrendous when he played, and really embarrassed himself as far as I am concerned.
Others played very well in bursts. Van Persie is probably the most noticeable, and he will need to step it up if they hope to beat Argentina. Muller started brightly, and looked poised to smash goalscoring records, but has tapered off. Germany don't really have a superstar, just a star in every position. Other players had some great matches here and there as well, like Shaqiri and Lukaku, but didn't really have the consistency. De Bruyne and Oscar were both inconsistent, having a great match and then just playing averagely for awhile. As you can see most of the players on this list are young.
Honestly the best performers have probably been keepers! Neuer played four positions against Algeria! Navas was a wall against everyone he faced, saving 20 of 22 shots against the Dutch, Greeks, English, Italians and Uruguay. (plus he's going to Atletico) Enyeama was actually really good against France. Tim Howard was a saint against Portugal and Belgium, and is a hero in the States nowadays. Ochoa saved Mexico on numerous occasions. Hell, Tim Krul played ten minutes and won a match by himself!
Also if Messi wins can everyone finally accept that he is the greatest footballer to walk the earth?
Not yet. Messi is the best now, but to be the "best ever" he needs something more. He scored 4 goals in the WC. One was a penalty, and the other 3 was beautiful and important goals. But in all the matches, he played badly, except for the goals and an assist. I'm not saying he's not a major star in this WC, I'm saying that to be greater than Maradona, he needs to take the hand of Argentina and lead the team for 90° each match. If he can do that in the last 2 matches, he can be considered the best ever.
I don't remember Maradona ever scoring 73 goals in a season!
In my opinion, one's career and individual greatness is not determined by the results of a quadrennial team ("team" being a key word) sporting competition. I'd say even if Messi never wins the World Cup he has still accomplished individually what other footballers never could. Keep in mind he did win 6 trophies in one season as the best individual player on a legendary squad.
Keep in mind a lot of other legends have not won a World Cup... or even an international competition of any sort. Are we going to say that Cruyff, di Stefano, Platini, Puskas, Maldini and Zico are not top players because they never won a World Cup? I'd take every one of those players over Busquets!
As I said, Messi is the best football player in the world now (I'm sorry for CR7, but Messi in his best is better), and indeed he will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time. I can't say if Messi is better than Maradon or Pele', and I couldn't say if Maradona was better than Pele' or Di Stefano (RIP). Maradona was a leader, and his talent was incredible. Messi is more efficient, he is a better athlete and he scores more than anyone else. I could say that Maradona has never played in a team like Barcellona (with Iniesta and Xavi), and I think that Messi has many other years to win titles and score goals. Pele' is different. Almost no one (except brasilian-not-so-young-people) has ever seen him playing live. And we only can see what he did in few highlights of the world cup. In the end I can't say which is the greatest. But (there's always a but) if Messi will make Argentina win a world cup in the same way Maradon did in 1986, I would not have any more doubts. Messi would be the best ever.
Well put @Pibaro Personally I would not even place Pele in the discussion. When he played players smoked before games, were far inferior as athletes and the entire idea of tactics was just a twinkle in Helenio Herrera's eyes!
Wait wait wait... Smoking before excercise is BAD?!
Very valid point though that our understanding of the science behind athleticism has grown by steroid enhanced leaps and bounds. To say nothing of the chemistry advances! But mainly, sports are taken very, very seriously now, and the 'average' WC calibre player would have been a top tier player 50 years ago.
Nice idea, @booinyoureyes , let's discuss the player of the tournament.
To me it's very close between Robben and James.
James has become a revelation. He's still a top-scorer. His talent, ability on the ball are outstanding. Even if it's a pass, just moving a ball - everything he does, he does very gently and classy. And his goal against Uruguay... I can look it again and again.
And Robben. His speed is unbelievable. It seems no defender in the world can stop him when he's on his run. And to those who calls him a diver - take a look at the Costa Rica match. No dive at all. Very professional. No matter how many games of Bayern and Holland I have watched, Robben seems to perform in ANY of them. The goal against Spain will always stay in my memory. What he did to Ramos and Pique will always make me go nuts. And I still remember that goal against Man Utd in the Champions League several years ago.
On this tournament Robben has shown himself a true leader on the field. A new trait.
Among other stars of this tournament I would pick Toni Kroos and Angel Di Maria.
Robben is the better player, but James had the better tournament and was probably the most influential player.
Di Maria isn't even the most important player on his team, so I can't put him in the discussion. Plus he had a few mediocre games anyway.
Kroos played well last match, but he hasn't been the best player for Germany and hasn't even started every match. I'd actually say Hummels has been the best German and has been consistently impressive... even scoring twice!
Again... a lot of good performances between the sticks to choose from as well. Navas was unbeatable.
You know who else has been very solid? David Luiz
I'd say James then Messi then Robben or Navas for my 3
"if Argentina get to the final, they’ll win it – especially if they play Brazil."
Man, I wish Argentina would hire him when he inevitably leaves Atletico (though I hope not soon)
btw, Ranieri is the new Greek national team coach. I love that guy. He's much maligned for often coming up second best, but he almost always does it with a side that played above their weight and that improved under his guidance. On top of that he is a real gentleman, and his former players love him. Interesting fact: he's managed the club I support in each of the three major competitions (Roma, Chelsea and Atletico). Now he manages Greece- cool! Though he did get Atleti relegated his one year there...
"I liked the ball short and to my feet" "No one player is as good as the sum of a team" "What would I have liked to be if I weren't a footballer? A footballer all over again" "Before it was forty thousand times harder to win the European Cup" "Nobody at Real Madrid is interested in winning without playing good football" "Football has been my life, it has given me everything, with more good times than bad and I've built my career and my closest friends around it" "Maradona really was the best ever" "If I'd been Zidane, I'd have smashed Materazzi's head in" "Messi is number one because he plays and makes others play. Shame he doesn't play for Real Madrid" "I was a footballer who played for the team. I wasn't its out-and-out star. I wasn't into that. I did what I could, but I was no superhero"
And some words from Sir Alex:
"The great question which always comes up is ‘who are the greatest players?’ There is a phalanx of great ones – Cruyff, Maradona, Pele, Puskas and Di Stefano. Di Stefano was one of the greatest in my mind.
He had fantastic balance and poise – if you look at one of the goals he scored against Eintracht Frankfurt it was completely what we were talking about – the balance he had. Unbelievable, he was. The amazing thing about that was that Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers in the semi-finals, 6-3 and 6-1. They came to Hampden Park as gods. They were then annihilated by Real Madrid in the final 7-3."
...Argentina had a Belgian team that for some reason decided not to show up ...
maybe i'm too much of a homer but to me they still looked shell shocked from barely surviving the furious last 10 minutes of the US game. An Argentinian early goal further rattled them and they struggled to recover, create, and finish the rest of the game.
I loved reading all the interesting comments regarding players, but i don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said, probably better than i could have.
...Oh my, that was the first time when I saw a deliberate change of a goalie right before the penalties. And it has paid off brilliantly! What a masterstroke!...
that's the first time i've seen that also. SOOO risky! the line between madness and genius is very fine, and sometimes depends on the outcome.
2-0 Germany Brazil w/o neymar and silva can't compete with the frontal assault of the german panzers.
2-1 Netherlands Argentina is depleted, which doesn't help, but it just looks like the Dutch are a team of destiny. Van Persie has to step up more than in the last game to win it all, though.
Comments
I'm just glad Thay isnt competing this year...
Well, let me fix that.
ALL HAIL THE KING LOUIS!
ALL HAIL THE KING LOUIS!
ALL HAIL THE KING LOUIS!
I was just left speechless when I saw that substitution. Oh my, that was the first time when I saw a deliberate change of a goalie right before the penalties. And it has paid off brilliantly! What a masterstroke!
ALL HAIL THE GENIOUS LOUIS!
Before the tournament started, I wrote: And finally we really have Brazil, Germany and Argentina in the semifinals. I stand by my prediction regarding Germany - now when Brazil won't have Silva and Neimar it's nearly evident to me that Germany will win its game.
But Argentina ... They are without Di Maria and Aguero now. That's a significant blow. They maybe didn't play as a world champion. "Ordinary" they were called by the Belgium coach.
But more than that - a tactical geniuos Van Gaal is so good I can't even find the right words. To tell you I'm on the 7th heaven is not to anything. I've believed in this Dutch side right from the start but they are even better than in my dreams. Although Argentina is still a powerful force and Messi is unique, I now think that Netherlands will win. Even if it means I lose a prediction regarding the champion.
They should. To dethrone Spain. To win all their matches. To be the only (!) team that has came from behind in the play-offs. Yeah, no other team has won in these play-offs after conceding the goal first. To make such tactical changes.
So, my predictions:
Brazil - Germany 0:1
Netherlands - Argentina 1:0
P.S. It turns out Sneijder is not **ite. A goal against Mexico, 2 nearly goals against Costa Rica. And a pass. Have you seen that glorios pass to the left in the Costa Rica match? Unfortutately I can't find a gif of that pass.
Even the less spectacular games are worth watching.
My two cents on the quarter finals:
France - Germany
It was a balanced game, but the early Hummels goal changed everything, and Germany is, as always, a very tough team. The lack of Ribery showed us the deficiencies of France.
Germany is always there, if you want to win a world cup you have to defeat Germany, and when Germany doesn't find Italy between them and the final (1970 Italy won the sem-ifinal, 1982 Italy won the final, 2006 Italy won the semi-final), the have an easier job.
With the injury of Neymar and the ban of Thiago Silva, Germany now is my favorite for the final.
Brasil - Columbia
I think Columbia was already satisfied. I haven't seen the usual Columbia.
I still believe Brasil isn't a very good team, They only have some very good players, but as a team they aren't what Brasil is supposed to be.
They will miss a lot Neymar and Thiago Silva.
Argentina - Belgium
The worst match af all.
Belgium had a lot of champions, but I haven't seen any of them.
Argentina have 3 real champions, Messi, Higuain and Di Maria. Every match one of them made them win the game. To win the title they need all of them to show their talent in the same game.
Netherlands - Costa Rica.
My heart is still beating too fast!!!
Van Gaal is a Genuis.
Robben is playing his best.
But the orange could do more than that. They have to do more than that to beat Argentina.
Costa Rica did what they could, and they were veeeery close to the miracle.
My predictions:
Brasil - Germany 0 - 1 (Germany)
Netherlands - Argentina 2 - 1 (Netherlands)
And FC Bayern Munich has the terrible Pool of Players.
I think missing Di Maria is horrible for Argentina, but that should still be a close match. I'm taking the Dutch, but Messi could change things and my boy Kun is back.
I'll take the Germans as well (as I picked them to win the entire tournament). I'd have taken them regardless, but with Brazil missing their two best players I think is even more likely that Zee Germans readh the final.
The coolest part is that you have the chance for two great rivalries in the final (and by extension the third place match). They can both get ugly. Even if it is Germany vs Argentina, it would still be intriguing since the Germans eliminated the Argies from the past two Mundials in convincing fashion!
Interesting WC since I don't really have a team I dislike, and wouldn't mind it if anyone won. I kinda would prefer an European side, but don't care too much either way.
Also if Messi wins can everyone finally accept that he is the greatest footballer to walk the earth?
I think James is an easy one for sure. Robben has been outstanding. Messi has gotten results, even if he hasn't been his usual demigod self. Alexis Sanchez played excellently against big opposition. Cuadrado and Benzema also had good tournaments. Some defenders stood out as well, notably Hummels, David Luiz, Vertonghen and pretty much the entire Costa Rican back line.
Ronaldo disappointed, though people perhaps overstate their case against him. Vidal and Diego Costa were both injured and didn't really do their best. Hazard had some very influential moments in the group stages, but that was against easy opposition. Against his first real great opponent, he disappeared. Di Maria was terrible until his goal against Belgium. Casillas was absolutely horrendous when he played, and really embarrassed himself as far as I am concerned.
Others played very well in bursts. Van Persie is probably the most noticeable, and he will need to step it up if they hope to beat Argentina. Muller started brightly, and looked poised to smash goalscoring records, but has tapered off. Germany don't really have a superstar, just a star in every position. Other players had some great matches here and there as well, like Shaqiri and Lukaku, but didn't really have the consistency. De Bruyne and Oscar were both inconsistent, having a great match and then just playing averagely for awhile. As you can see most of the players on this list are young.
Honestly the best performers have probably been keepers! Neuer played four positions against Algeria! Navas was a wall against everyone he faced, saving 20 of 22 shots against the Dutch, Greeks, English, Italians and Uruguay. (plus he's going to Atletico) Enyeama was actually really good against France. Tim Howard was a saint against Portugal and Belgium, and is a hero in the States nowadays. Ochoa saved Mexico on numerous occasions. Hell, Tim Krul played ten minutes and won a match by himself!
Messi is the best now, but to be the "best ever" he needs something more.
He scored 4 goals in the WC. One was a penalty, and the other 3 was beautiful and important goals.
But in all the matches, he played badly, except for the goals and an assist.
I'm not saying he's not a major star in this WC, I'm saying that to be greater than Maradona, he needs to take the hand of Argentina and lead the team for 90° each match.
If he can do that in the last 2 matches, he can be considered the best ever.
In my opinion, one's career and individual greatness is not determined by the results of a quadrennial team ("team" being a key word) sporting competition. I'd say even if Messi never wins the World Cup he has still accomplished individually what other footballers never could. Keep in mind he did win 6 trophies in one season as the best individual player on a legendary squad.
Keep in mind a lot of other legends have not won a World Cup... or even an international competition of any sort. Are we going to say that Cruyff, di Stefano, Platini, Puskas, Maldini and Zico are not top players because they never won a World Cup? I'd take every one of those players over Busquets!
I can't say if Messi is better than Maradon or Pele', and I couldn't say if Maradona was better than Pele' or Di Stefano (RIP).
Maradona was a leader, and his talent was incredible.
Messi is more efficient, he is a better athlete and he scores more than anyone else.
I could say that Maradona has never played in a team like Barcellona (with Iniesta and Xavi), and I think that Messi has many other years to win titles and score goals.
Pele' is different. Almost no one (except brasilian-not-so-young-people) has ever seen him playing live. And we only can see what he did in few highlights of the world cup.
In the end I can't say which is the greatest.
But (there's always a but) if Messi will make Argentina win a world cup in the same way Maradon did in 1986, I would not have any more doubts. Messi would be the best ever.
Personally I would not even place Pele in the discussion. When he played players smoked before games, were far inferior as athletes and the entire idea of tactics was just a twinkle in Helenio Herrera's eyes!
Very valid point though that our understanding of the science behind athleticism has grown by steroid enhanced leaps and bounds. To say nothing of the chemistry advances! But mainly, sports are taken very, very seriously now, and the 'average' WC calibre player would have been a top tier player 50 years ago.
To me it's very close between Robben and James.
James has become a revelation. He's still a top-scorer. His talent, ability on the ball are outstanding. Even if it's a pass, just moving a ball - everything he does, he does very gently and classy. And his goal against Uruguay... I can look it again and again.
And Robben. His speed is unbelievable. It seems no defender in the world can stop him when he's on his run. And to those who calls him a diver - take a look at the Costa Rica match. No dive at all. Very professional. No matter how many games of Bayern and Holland I have watched, Robben seems to perform in ANY of them. The goal against Spain will always stay in my memory. What he did to Ramos and Pique will always make me go nuts. And I still remember that goal against Man Utd in the Champions League several years ago.
On this tournament Robben has shown himself a true leader on the field. A new trait.
Among other stars of this tournament I would pick Toni Kroos and Angel Di Maria.
Di Maria isn't even the most important player on his team, so I can't put him in the discussion. Plus he had a few mediocre games anyway.
Kroos played well last match, but he hasn't been the best player for Germany and hasn't even started every match. I'd actually say Hummels has been the best German and has been consistently impressive... even scoring twice!
Again... a lot of good performances between the sticks to choose from as well. Navas was unbeatable.
You know who else has been very solid? David Luiz
I'd say James then Messi then Robben or Navas for my 3
OH... SNAP. Shots fired by the coolest man in football (well, at least since Gabriel Batistuta)
http://fan.football.sony.net/blog/2014/07/08/argentina-reach-final-theyll-win-especially-play-brazil/?ICID=HP_BN_5
"if Argentina get to the final, they’ll win it – especially if they play Brazil."
Man, I wish Argentina would hire him when he inevitably leaves Atletico (though I hope not soon)
btw, Ranieri is the new Greek national team coach. I love that guy. He's much maligned for often coming up second best, but he almost always does it with a side that played above their weight and that improved under his guidance. On top of that he is a real gentleman, and his former players love him.
Interesting fact: he's managed the club I support in each of the three major competitions (Roma, Chelsea and Atletico). Now he manages Greece- cool! Though he did get Atleti relegated his one year there...
"I liked the ball short and to my feet"
"No one player is as good as the sum of a team"
"What would I have liked to be if I weren't a footballer? A footballer all over again"
"Before it was forty thousand times harder to win the European Cup"
"Nobody at Real Madrid is interested in winning without playing good football"
"Football has been my life, it has given me everything, with more good times than bad and I've built my career and my closest friends around it"
"Maradona really was the best ever"
"If I'd been Zidane, I'd have smashed Materazzi's head in"
"Messi is number one because he plays and makes others play. Shame he doesn't play for Real Madrid"
"I was a footballer who played for the team. I wasn't its out-and-out star. I wasn't into that. I did what I could, but I was no superhero"
And some words from Sir Alex:
"The great question which always comes up is ‘who are the greatest players?’ There is a phalanx of great ones – Cruyff, Maradona, Pele, Puskas and Di Stefano. Di Stefano was one of the greatest in my mind.
He had fantastic balance and poise – if you look at one of the goals he scored against Eintracht Frankfurt it was completely what we were talking about – the balance he had. Unbelievable, he was. The amazing thing about that was that Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers in the semi-finals, 6-3 and 6-1. They came to Hampden Park as gods. They were then annihilated by Real Madrid in the final 7-3."
RIP Di Stéfano.
I loved reading all the interesting comments regarding players, but i don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said, probably better than i could have.
that's the first time i've seen that also. SOOO risky! the line between madness and genius is very fine, and sometimes depends on the outcome.
2-0 Germany
Brazil w/o neymar and silva can't compete with the frontal assault of the german panzers.
2-1 Netherlands
Argentina is depleted, which doesn't help, but it just looks like the Dutch are a team of destiny. Van Persie has to step up more than in the last game to win it all, though.
Deadly ashamed of Brasilia