2014 World Cup

[Stuttgart88]

Very impressed with Algeria so far. Men behind the ball but one player always pressing the man on the ball or the man receiving the ball. The recipient is really struggling to do anything with it. Then, when Algeria win the ball they get forward with pace.

[Charlie Darwin]

He's great at it. So effective in defence, possession retention and kick-starting attack, rather than drilling it up the field like a more conventional keeper might do. It's surprising more keepers aren't encouraged to perform similar roles for their teams. He's quite a rarity. They probably lack the ability/confidence in their footwork. For some reason, poor David James springs to mind. I vividly recall once seeing footage of the master of blunder himself attempting some footwork under pressure and well outside the box for Portsmouth a few years ago. He was like a deer in the headlights.

Algeria looking dangerous this evening. Upset on the cards?
There was an interesting interview with Buffon pre-WC where he had a contrasting view. He reckons the emphasis on footwork and distribution means there are fewer proper shot-stoppers out there, which he considers proper goalkeeping.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Germany with 65% so far, and doing next to nothing with it.

[DannyInvincible]

Germany are coming into it more now. Might they have weathered the desert storm?

[pineapple stu]

It's surprisingly like watching UCD when we're playing well actually.

Even down to the fact that Algeria haven't scored yet.

[Eminence Grise]

Anyone else think Suarez is a bit of a Michael Jackson character?

So shielded from the real world that he can barely function in it as an adult.

Well, one lives in a bubble, but there's no proof the other was ever in Bubbles.

[DannyInvincible]

The general lack of caution during this tournament, for want of a better description, has made for some great entertainment. The games have been so open. Who'd have thought Algeria would have approached this game so audaciously?

And why so many goals? I mentioned it earlier, but there are more goals already in this tournament - and we're not even thorugh the second round - than there were during the whole of the 2010 World Cup. Is it a broader emphasis on attacking styles of play, the rules possibly favouring attackers, the ball perhaps?...

[Charlie Darwin]

It's surprisingly like watching UCD when we're playing well actually.

Even down to the fact that Algeria haven't scored yet.
Right down to having an Algerian striker who can't score.

[pineapple stu]

Brad Friedel is real!

[pineapple stu]

Right down to having an Algerian striker who can't score.
Great spot! :p

[ArdeeBhoy]

I don't agree at all AB (your post 1341).

The rules are absolutely bang on and cover it perfectly. Lots of refs penalise correctly on the basis of the "impediment". It's the pundits who confuse everyone with their "there was contact" or "there was no contact" red herrings.
Your perogative and know you're a student of the game. However, there are lots of refs who don't, so consistency again an issue. Though don't agree the rules are 'bang on';too ambiguous...


The more this world cup is going on the more its p1ssing me off that Trapattoni had managed to convince the players and lot of the fans that its ok to accept that we cant compete with the big teams.

I hope every Irish player is glued to this world cup and thinks that they are every bit as good if not better than most of the players for Costa Rica, Greece, Chile, Mexico, Nigeria, USA, Switzerland,Algeria etc.

Its early on it this game but look at how the Algerians are having a go at the Germans already. Yes, they might get beaten but they are not afraid to try to win.

When the draw was made for the qualifiers for the next Euros some of the Irish players were already talking about how Germany will definitely top the group and that we are playing for 2nd place. If they do nothing else I hope O'Neill and Keane manage to get that attitude out of them.
You are joking. Currently we could have given Cameroon & S.Korea a game from teams in the Finals;most of the rest we're still way second best to.
Apart from anything else, we don't have the appropriate team ethic, in the main.

Expect MO'N & even RMK to improve matters slightly, but still pretty unconvincing to date and hindered by the fact currently that far too many Irish players are half-hearted when it actually comes to showing up for matches.

[BonnieShels]

A great experience. Never been anywhere so organised and efficient with such friendly people where everything worked.
Even Singapore was a kip by comparison afterwards.

One of my favourite things I had ever seen was travelling through Changi airport during renovations in 2005 and there were signs everywhere apologising "for the inconvenience caused". I saw nowt. Unreal.


Oh look at that, Brad in the studio.

[ArdeeBhoy]

The general lack of caution during this tournament, for want of a better description, has made for some great entertainment. The games have been so open. Who'd have thought Algeria would have approached this game so audaciously?

And why so many goals? I mentioned it earlier, but there are more goals already in this tournament - and we're not even thorugh the second round - than there were during the whole of the 2010 World Cup. Is it a broader emphasis on attacking styles of play, the rules possibly favouring attackers, the ball perhaps?...
Worse defending, collectively.

[DannyInvincible]

There was an interesting interview with Buffon pre-WC where he had a contrasting view. He reckons the emphasis on footwork and distribution means there are fewer proper shot-stoppers out there, which he considers proper goalkeeping.

Hmm, well, it's whatever's effective in keeping things tight at the back, isn't it? If a keeper can initiate attack, all the better. Neuer, for all his alleged impropriety, just cleans up everything and is a terrific shot-stopper to boot. I reckon Buffon's just jealous! :p

[DannyInvincible]

Worse defending, collectively.

Defenders haven't just lost their collective ability though. There's something more to it than simply that.

Glenn Hoddle seriously just referred to Algeria as "Al Jazeera"...

[ArdeeBhoy]

Defenders haven't just lost their collective ability though. There's something more to it than simply that.

Glenn Hoddle seriously just referred to Algeria as "Al Jazeera"...

Hoddle's a dick. And teams don't defend as well, collectively, as 10-15 years ago. Plus the level of 'attacking' players/skills is higher than it was then.

[geysir]

What about Duff in Suwon? He could have avoided the leg but chose to get tripped by it. Dishonest? Not really because the defender's slide missed the ball, cut across a Duff and would have cost Duff control of it. Penalty for me.

I think you are arguing against your (better) self, Duff chose not to play and went for the contact that was presented because he would have been greatly inconvenienced if he had continued. He didn't do a double somersault and the classic exaggerated dive, the ref could make up his own mind what happened.

There is little or zero comparison with Robben's theatrics making a mountain out of a molehill. There is (legal physical) contact all over the pitch and just because there is a bit of contact in the box and a player who has lost control of the situation does a salmon leap, somehow the decision to penalise the defender is justified because there is a bit of contact.

[osarusan]

A bit more composure in front of goal from Algeria and they could be winning this. They haven't capitalised on the great attacking positions they've created for themselves.

[Stuttgart88]

I think you are arguing against your (better) self, Duff chose not to play and went for the contact that was presented because he would have been greatly inconvenienced if he had continued. He didn't do a double somersault and the classic exaggerated dive, the ref could make up his own mind what happened.

There is little or zero comparison with Robben's theatrics making a mountain out of a molehill. There is (legal physical) contact all over the pitch and just because there is a bit of contact in the box and a player who has lost control of the situation does a salmon leap, somehow the decision to penalise the defender is justified because there is a bit of contact.
Except I wasn't comparing it to Robben. I was just presenting a range of superficially similar but distinctly different scenarios in response to a specific post by Danny.

[Razors left peg]

Your perogative and know you're a student of the game. However, there are lots of refs who don't, so consistency again an issue. Though don't agree the rules are 'bang on';too ambiguous...


You are joking. Currently we could have given Cameroon & S.Korea a game from teams in the Finals;most of the rest we're still way second best to.
Apart from anything else, we don't have the appropriate team ethic, in the main.

Expect MO'N & even RMK to improve matters slightly, but still pretty unconvincing to date and hindered by the fact currently that far too many Irish players are half-hearted when it actually comes to showing up for matches.

Look at the team that we had in the 2002 World Cup that were able to compete pretty damn well.

Mark Kinsella and Matt Holland in midfield, Gary Breen who didnt have a club along side an aging Steve Staunton at center half, badly out of form Ian Harte at left back, Kilbane on the wing. Players like McAteer, Carsley, Connolly, Andy O'Brien, Clinton Morrison in the squad...

I agree that the team ethic isnt there at the moment but I would argue that its up to a good manager to get that into a squad. Actually I would say that is the first necessary thing that should be in any Ireland squad

[Stuttgart88]

You are joking. Currently we could have given Cameroon & S.Korea a game from teams in the Finals;most of the rest we're still way second best to.
Apart from anything else, we don't have the appropriate team ethic, in the main.

Expect MO'N & even RMK to improve matters slightly, but still pretty unconvincing to date and hindered by the fact currently that far too many Irish players are half-hearted when it actually comes to showing up for matches.
Maybe, but let's see what the effort levels are like in the autumn. I think razors point was that many of the lesser lights weren't intimidated by the opposition and were happy to engage them in a game. Some weren't good enough, some were.

[Stuttgart88]

This is becoming a properly good game now. Germany are having to dig deep.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Fair enough, Razor/Stutts, you both make reasonable points.


But strangely enthralled by the football. My prediction, Germany to lose. On penalties...

[Charlie Darwin]

Fate itself has intervened and put Lahm at right back.

[BonnieShels]

Dun dun dun... Poor Algeria... I have Germany to win in my predictions pool. But I would love Algeria to go on from here.

[pineapple stu]

They're great on the break until they get to the box, and get freeze. Such a shame. Imagine Algeria getting revenge for 82 and then going on to face the colonialist aggressors!

I'm more and more at a loss as to who's going to win this thing.

[BonnieShels]

Colombia

[Stuttgart88]

Poor header by Moller.

[Razors left peg]

They're great on the break until they get to the box, and get freeze. Such a shame. Imagine Algeria getting revenge for 82 and then going on to face the colonialist aggressors!

I'm more and more at a loss as to who's going to win this thing.

The Dutch are gonna beat the French in the final

[pineapple stu]

Both keepers having excellent games.

I enjoyed that free kick too, even if it didn't work.

Wrecked after penalties last night; really don't want extra time here!

[BonnieShels]

This world cup just keeps getting better. It's getting beyond a joke at this stage though. Unfair on every subsequent world cup.

[Razors left peg]

This world cup just keeps getting better. It's getting beyond a joke at this stage though. Unfair on every subsequent world cup.

Its great because of the heat, meaning that Qatar 2022 is going to be beyond belief.... or so I believe is the official line from FIFA anyway

[Stuttgart88]

That was brilliant stuff. The Germans found another gear but couldn't finish some good moves.

Neuer is such a good footballer.

[Charlie Darwin]

Klose coming on, just took off his jacket. He'd have murdered at least one of those free headers Germany had.

[geysir]

Massive humiliation for German football, to be taken to extra time by a bunch of modest hard working pros from the 4th world.

[DannyInvincible]

That was brilliant stuff. The Germans found another gear but couldn't finish some good moves.

Neuer is such a good footballer.

He's a striding marauder. Great game. My heart is delighted for the extra-time; my head is worried about getting up at 6AM again...

[pineapple stu]

I'll assume, given how this World Cup has gone, that Schurrle meant that goal and excellent finish.

Never write off ze Germans...

[Razors left peg]

Did Schurle mean that?

[Stuttgart88]

Did Schurle mean that?oh yeah, I reckon so.

[Charlie Darwin]

Did Schurle mean that?
Of course he did. Ridiculous finish.

[Razors left peg]

Fantastic if he did, but Im not totally convinced. Looked like he just stuck out the leg and got lucky

[Stuttgart88]

No, it looked like quality to me. Brilliant execution. What else might he have been trying to do?

[Razors left peg]

I think he was trying to get a foot on the ball but had no control of where it went

[Charlie Darwin]

I think he was trying to get a foot on the ball but had no control of where it went
Doubt it, if he controlled it somebody would have nicked it off his toe. He had to try and push it towards goal and you can see he looks straight to where the ball is going, suggesting he expected it to go in the direction of the goal.

[Razors left peg]

Maybe ... great goal if he did mean it in fairness

[DannyInvincible]

He used the trajectory of the ball and got his foot into a position that he knew would direct it towards the open side of the goal. The chance of him scoring from doing what he did was always going to be high. I don't think it just clipped off a trailing foot and he got lucky. It took tremendous ball-control and spatial awareness to execute that.

[DannyInvincible]

Bougherra is full of beans compared to his team-mates, who must be absolutely wrecked. Sadly, I'm not sure Algeria have it in them to equalise. Germany a lot more compact at the back now.

[BonnieShels]

Gutting.

[BonnieShels]

For all of this... France can take this German side.

[Stuttgart88]

Fair play to Germany. They were asked some tough questions and found the answers. They really lifted their performance late in the second half.

Wait...:)