2014 World Cup

[gastric]

Ah now lad. You know what I mean by wow.

Brazil's cynicism could have been stamped out very early by a real referee. And we would not be talking about them.

As I said, 'wow' for me was Luiz's goal and who are you referring to in the last sentence of your post?

With Thiago out of the semi final and Neymar hospitalised, Germany must feel confident.

[osarusan]

Neymar out for the tournament with a fractured vertebrae.

[Crosby87]

For once a player stretchered off was really hurt.

[OwlsFan]

Ah now lad. You know what I mean by wow.

Brazil's cynicism could have been stamped out very early by a real referee. And we would not be talking about them.

The ref, cards aside, got just about every decision correct. There seems to be the misapprehension that if he gave cards early that would have been the end of it. Tell that to the Spanish in the last WC Final when the Dutch kicked lumps out of them for the whole game and there were 9 cards I think. Throughout the tournament there has been an obvious policy of avoid cards. Tell that to the RTE Panel please.

[Closed Account 2]

The ref, cards aside, got just about every decision correct. There seems to be the misapprehension that if he gave cards early that would have been the end of it. Tell that to the Spanish in the last WC Final when the Dutch kicked lumps out of them for the whole game and there were 9 cards I think. Throughout the tournament there has been an obvious policy of avoid cards. Tell that to the RTE Panel please.

Im not so sure though. In the final Webb booked the players fairly regularly from the start (15, 22, 28, 54, 57, 84, 109*, 111, 117) the Dutch's tactics meant they were always at a risk of getting a player sent off (*happened with the 2nd yellow for Heitinga) and it probably had an impact on Van Marwijk's subs (he took of Van Bronkhorst and De Jong both of whom were booked). In the end the Dutch knew they were walking a tightrope and in the end they went down to 10 men and ended up conceeding after that. Brazil had a carte blanche tonight with none of their players being booked for persistent fouling, only Thiago Silva got a yellow for blocking the keeper and then Julio Cesar for a cast iron yellow (possibly a red) on the penalty.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Thiago Silva's yellow is one of the stupidest thing I have ever seen a player get a card for. Absolutely bonkers. I'd have stripped him of the captaincy in the dressing room after.

Officials were very poor, there was an offside call after the second goal where Columbia were in a very promising position going down the left that was a massive error IMO, never mind the lack of cards for some of Brazil's cynically disruptive "tactics". But, all that being said, I was very underwhelmed by Columbia, especially between Cuadrado's shot just after the first goal and the second. They just couldn't get into the game at all.

With Silva and Neymar (broken vertebrae says numerous news sources) out for Germany game (and beyond) I think Brazil's chances are looking very shaky.

[ArdeeBhoy]

As Tim Vickery, or similar said, they 'got stage fright' and were overawed by Brazil. One of their players, portentously perhaps, wanted to exchange shirts with Neyamr at half-time FFS...

[BonnieShels]

The ref, cards aside, got just about every decision correct. There seems to be the misapprehension that if he gave cards early that would have been the end of it. Tell that to the Spanish in the last WC Final when the Dutch kicked lumps out of them for the whole game and there were 9 cards I think. Throughout the tournament there has been an obvious policy of avoid cards. Tell that to the RTE Panel please.

The referee, aside from all the stuff he did wrong got everything right...

Ah... Come off it.

Also setting up the 2010 clusterfupp as justification is unbelievable. Spain won that WC. The seeming injustices on the pitch were overruled by the result on the pitch.

How about you tell that to the Colombians who were clearly put off whatever rhythm was possible by absolute scandalous refereeing.

[bennocelt]

As Tim Vickery, or similar said, they 'got stage fright' and were overawed by Brazil. One of their players, portentously perhaps, wanted to exchange shirts with Neyamr at half-time FFS...

I seen it at half time mentioned on twitter, with a photo, that a few of the Colombian team exchanged shirts at half time!!! FFS

I always hated Brazil, but this is the first tournament I actually like them. They have a rubbish team but with sheer will and determination they have got to a semi finals of a world cup. Good on them. D Luiz and Marcello epitomise their desire, bombing forward with every opportunity. Still though if a player as bad as Fred wins a world cup medal, then the last three weeks of football was a waste of time!

[gastric]

The referee, aside from all the stuff he did wrong got everything right...

Ah... Come off it.

Also setting up the 2010 clusterfupp as justification is unbelievable. Spain won that WC. The seeming injustices on the pitch were overruled by the result on the pitch.

How about you tell that to the Colombians who were clearly put off whatever rhythm was possible by absolute scandalous refereeing.

You're a hard man to debate things with when you get the bit between your teeth Bonnie! God bless your passion.

[BonnieShels]

You're a hard man to debate things with when you get the bit between your teeth Bonnie! God bless your passion.

More anger and frustration that passion this time. Owlsfan's straw-man is unacceptable based on what we all saw tonight. 2010's final has nothing to do with tonight. To equate them is farcical.

[BonnieShels]

I seen it at half time mentioned on twitter, with a photo, that a few of the Colombian team exchanged shirts at half time!!! FFS

I always hated Brazil, but this is the first tournament I actually like them. They have a rubbish team but with sheer will and determination they have got to a semi finals of a world cup. Good on them. D Luiz and Marcello epitomise their desire, bombing forward with every opportunity. Still though if a player as bad as Fred wins a world cup medal, then the last three weeks of football was a waste of time!

Djimi Traore has a EC medal. Never forget just how unjust football can be sometimes.

[OwlsFan]

The referee, aside from all the stuff he did wrong got everything right...

Ah... Come off it.

Also setting up the 2010 clusterfupp as justification is unbelievable. Spain won that WC. The seeming injustices on the pitch were overruled by the result on the pitch.

How about you tell that to the Colombians who were clearly put off whatever rhythm was possible by absolute scandalous refereeing.

He got the penalty correct. The free kick for the goal. The linesmen got the offsides correct. The point I was making is that you seem to think that if he started booking people, that would be the end of the fouls. It wouldn't have been as witness by the 2010 Final. Incidentally I have a Dutch friend who thought Howard was a disgrace giving those yellows to the Dutch players. It is clear right from the start of the tournament that the refs were under instructions to reduce the yellows for whatever reason. They are paying the price now. I have never heard a referee's performance described as scandalous before he didn't hand out yellow cards early on. I don't think it changed the result.

[pineapple stu]

I agree with Bonnie on this. If nothing else, a couple of early yellows - and God knows they were justified; we're talking some blatantly cynical stuff - would have made the Brazilians think twice about continuing. Yes, the Dutch kept at it by swapping foulers, but they paid the price by going down to ten men and losing. Thiago Silva would have been off the pitch for starters.

If that refereeing performance was acceptable, then Brazil's tactics in the game will take over football. That can't be right.

[geysir]

Hulk and Fred seem to have contributed little if nothing in this World Cup, surely Brazil have more options than them? Or has all the coaching of kids gone into rolling on the ground and booting other players up the hole?
When you think, in the 1970's Brazil had players called Marco Antonio, Socrates, Tostao, Rivelino, Everaldo. PELE, etc
Now they have players called Fred, Bill, Hulk, Bernie and Joe.

[A N Mouse]

Neymar out for the tournament with a fractured vertebrae.

It would seem karma may have driven over the prevailing (Brazilian beautiful game bs) dogma

[pineapple stu]

Giant insect lands on James' arm (http://www.buzzfeed.com/lukelewis/a-giant-insect-landed-on-james-rodriguezs-arm-when-he-scored)

[The Donie Forde]

A lot of the Dutch bookings came, obviously, in the last game of the 2010 tournament so several players wouldn't have been too pushed about getting a yellow. However, a booking, or several bookings, at the QF stage could have had a really serious knock-on effect for Brazil - players could have missed the semi or the final itself. Clearly, it has cost them Silva. But an early (deserved) card or two may indeed have had a heavier warning value to Brazil last night than to the Dutch when it was simply a matter of **** or bust.

[geysir]

He got the penalty correct. The free kick for the goal. The linesmen got the offsides correct. The point I was making is that you seem to think that if he started booking people, that would be the end of the fouls. It wouldn't have been as witness by the 2010 Final. Incidentally I have a Dutch friend who thought Howard was a disgrace giving those yellows to the Dutch players. It is clear right from the start of the tournament that the refs were under instructions to reduce the yellows for whatever reason. They are paying the price now. I have never heard a referee's performance described as scandalous before he didn't hand out yellow cards early on. I don't think it changed the result.
Interesting to compare Holland's successful, aggressive, in your face, bite your legs, style of play against Brazil in 2010, with Brazil's style yesterday. I always thought for that game, the Dutch got it spot on.
I think Brazil won't have an earthly, playing like that against Germany.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Tim Vickery was saying Brazil/Scolari reverted to this 'style, simply because their more expansive game revolving around 'flow', has failed so often in the past.
The pressure on them now to 'perform' is so enormous, they changed their game to one centred around 'moments', based around set-pieces and counter attacks.

Which is how virtually all their goals have been scored...

[Stuttgart88]

I want Tim Vickety's job.

I wasn't feeling well yesterday and nodded off during most of last noght's game. I just watched the highlights again and felt that Brazil had done better than I remembered, especially in the first half.

As for their physicality, when I was a kid there was a much hyped visit of Brazil to Wembley live on TV. It must have been around 1978 or 1979. All I knew of Brazil was their reputation for artistic football but at Wembley they did nothing but kick England off the park, or when they weren't in kicking mood, body checking. It was one of the most thuggish performances I've ever seen.

[geysir]

It's okay to kick the English but the Germans won't take life easy if they're to be kicked around.

A Holland Germany final would be interesting.

[BonnieShels]

He got the penalty correct. The free kick for the goal. The linesmen got the offsides correct. The point I was making is that you seem to think that if he started booking people, that would be the end of the fouls. It wouldn't have been as witness by the 2010 Final. Incidentally I have a Dutch friend who thought Howard was a disgrace giving those yellows to the Dutch players. It is clear right from the start of the tournament that the refs were under instructions to reduce the yellows for whatever reason. They are paying the price now. I have never heard a referee's performance described as scandalous before he didn't hand out yellow cards early on. I don't think it changed the result.

And what about the frees not given? The justification for his correct decisions to outweigh his incorrect ones is just not right.

2010 is not relevant to last night.

From day one, Brazil have had it easier with refereeing decisions. Some decisions in the Mexico game were off too and the less said of the game v Croatia the better. But that was always gonna be the case. Germany should do 'em...


I agree with Bonnie on this. If nothing else, a couple of early yellows - and God knows they were justified; we're talking some blatantly cynical stuff - would have made the Brazilians think twice about continuing. Yes, the Dutch kept at it by swapping foulers, but they paid the price by going down to ten men and losing. Thiago Silva would have been off the pitch for starters.

If that refereeing performance was acceptable, then Brazil's tactics in the game will take over football. That can't be right.

And I agree with you 100% here.


It would seem karma may have driven over the prevailing (Brazilian beautiful game bs) dogma

With luck. Unless they find the Brazilian Matt Holland to get them over the loss of their star player.


A lot of the Dutch bookings came, obviously, in the last game of the 2010 tournament so several players wouldn't have been too pushed about getting a yellow. However, a booking, or several bookings, at the QF stage could have had a really serious knock-on effect for Brazil - players could have missed the semi or the final itself. Clearly, it has cost them Silva. But an early (deserved) card or two may indeed have had a heavier warning value to Brazil last night than to the Dutch when it was simply a matter of **** or bust.

On the money.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Sabella isn't far behind Maradona when it comes to rotation in this WC.

[Stuttgart88]

Higuain finally waking up. He's been pretty quiet up until this game.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Poor game. Poor Belgium side, I suppose a lot of them are a bit young so they might have a better go of it in Russia. Only against the States did they seem like the team a lot of people made them out to be, and even then they couldn't get the ball in the net.

[OwlsFan]

Certain inevitability about the 8 last 16 games and 3 quarter finals games so far. Top teams all won. Would be amazed if Costa Rica buck the trend.

[pineapple stu]

Quarters have been a bit of a let down so far tbh. Early goal in each of them seemed to set them up nicely, but after that, it was one team happy with the 1-0 and not committing much forward, and the other team not really able to make any head-roads. Granted, Messi and Higuain both had bad misses today, so maybe that's a bit harsh on Argentina. But I don't know is this plan of sitting back on 1-0 lead one of football's circular fashions, something that's here to stay or something I've kind of missed the extent of prior to this World Cup.

Over to plucky Costa Rica to rescue things and give us an exciting game. Don't let me down!

[BonnieShels]

I always thought that there was not a lot going on about Wilmots tactics. And yet again it showed. It feels like he is getting by with the players he has. He's seems to not be adding anything as a good manager should.

He gets a lot of praise for making good eubs in the last few games but I wasn't convinced.

[geysir]

I always thought that there was not a lot going on about Wilmots tactics. And yet again it showed. It feels like he is getting by with the players he has. He's seems to not be adding anything as a good manager should.

He gets a lot of praise for making good eubs in the last few games but I wasn't convinced.
Belgium totally deserved their place in the WC quarters, could have and should have scored a dozen against the USA, they have been convincing beyond most people's doubt, today a very good Argentina made them look sluggish and primitive. This defeat for Belgium doesn't render useless all what has gone on before for them (regardless of the sneers from the pundits), nor does it bring into play the paul effect, ie, finally the something bad that was always threatening to happen, has finally happened.

[BonnieShels]

Of course it doesn't.
Thoroughly deserved of their QF place.

But what I'm actually criticising is the manager here. Wilmots was hailed for his tactical nous and he showed today that he has very little.

Also it's the Posh Test.

The Paul effect involves misplaced manbags.

[Stuttgart88]

Well said Geysir.

Did all 8 of the last 16 winners also win their groups? Now all the fancied teams have won so far. It's not a bad thing per se. 3 games each decided by one goal. Only one chance left for a shock, but there often is one.

I still think each of the teams that have won through are far from perfect which is what makes it interesting.

It's funny how people think Belgium have not done anything much despite losing a QF to Argentina by one goal. They won 3 group games and won one outright AET. In context, Ireland have only won 2 out of 13 games in World Cups, excluding the Romanoa penalties. We herald the Belgian youth set up. It just shows how damned hard it is to succeed on the world stage.

While I think we're right to demand more from our qualification efforts, beyond that it's bloody hard unless you get a lucky draw. We should stop the self flagellation sometimes. We can't all be Costa Ricas although there are lessons to be learnt too.

[Stuttgart88]

Breaking football news of massive global significance: Rovers beat Pats. Get in!

[pineapple stu]

Hamilton on his own on commentary. Strange

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

What an inch perfect pass by the much maligned Dirk Kuyt! ****e effort by Van Persie.

[centre mid]

Very one sided affair this match although Dutch finding it hard to break them down. BTW the Belgian youth policies haven't even begun to pay off yet, they will dominate European football for a few years much in the same way the Spanish did. The real dividends are being seen with their under 17-18's only now. Not sure Wilmots will be at the forefront but he has played his part.

[Stuttgart88]

Haven't Spain won everything in sight at underage level? So, isn't it more fair to say that Belgium ought to be competitive for years to come, rather than dominant?

Anyway, our European U19 semi finalists from 2011 must mean good things :)

I love that Navas dude. Still, Barcelona have been on the lookout for a new keeper since Valdes announced his plans to leave - although he failed a medical at Monaco. If Navas has been that good in Spain surely they'd have felt he was worth buying. Instead they went for a young German and the Chile keeper.

[centre mid]

You're right Stuts should have prefaced that with potentially.

Navas been top drawer again tonight. Wonder why George is on his lonesome tonight in Salvador?

[Stuttgart88]

According to BBC quote a few babies born in Costa Rica have been named after Navas and Campbell recently.

I'd love to know the circumstances under which that Costa Rican bloke Yeltsin was named. Was his dad a corrupt alcoholic who liked swimming in his local river fully clothed?

[Stuttgart88]

Bbc just naming the clubs the Costa Rican back 4 play for. None is of any great status. But I just watch them looking to develop play when they are in possession. I can't help but feel that even defenders are told to appreciate and yearn for the ball in their formative years whereas in our culture it's all about "get rid".

I remember more than 20 years ago I was playing right back in an AstroTurf office vs office game, and my mate who was playing left sided centre back had the ball. I was screaming for it because I was in space but he played a stupid hoof forward instead. I gave him a look but he said, sorry, on telly they say never to play the ball across your own goal. Nuff said.

[centre mid]

To be fair I think thats changing now, see a lot of kids games here now and the smaller numbers and pitches have started to eradicate that mentality. Pity it's about 20 years to late.

[Stuttgart88]

One factor not to be dissed in among all the talk about technical skills, tactical nous blah blah blah is athleticism. TOWK rightly pointed out that not only are the best midfielders good ball players, they're athletes too. Andrews was an athlete but a limited, albeit very game, footballer. We have decent footballers but not all are athletes. One thing these Ticos have going for them is that they all seem very athletic. Lean yet strong and quick, and very quick reactions.

[BonnieShels]

Well I for one am loving this world cup again.

Navas is a beast.

[centre mid]

Jan Molby and Ronnie Whelan both had massive arses though!

[pineapple stu]

Just unbeatable tonight. Amazing stuff.
Costa Rica can't do this, can they?

[Stuttgart88]

Just loving this game. RVP WTF.

[centre mid]

Can't believe how disciplined Costa Rica have been, Holland really struggling to break them down. Navas looking forward to another shoot out ?

[Stuttgart88]

No fcuking way!

[BonnieShels]

What a game. What a game.

[pineapple stu]

Un-freaking-believable.

It bobbled up on to his knee at the right angle to hit the bar. You could not script that.