2014 World Cup

[centre mid]

Can I just ask - what the fcuk are Dutch wearing - looks like bullet proof vests

[gastric]

Robben's dramatic diving is really beginning to sh#t me!

[gastric]

Dutch have never won a WC game that has gone to extra time!

[gastric]

Get up Navas, you are so badly needed!

[geysir]

I just woke up for that last 10 minutes,
that was the stuff of GUBU.

Generally I want the full deal, game +extra time + penalty shoot out. It's an act in 3 parts.

[gastric]

Fancy the Dutch in a penalty shoot out.

[Closed Account 2]

Can I just ask - what the fcuk are Dutch wearing - looks like bullet proof vests
I think they are some sort of cooling vest.

[geysir]

Those synchronised orange ties for the Dutch suits on the sidelines, are corny in the extreme

[pineapple stu]

Defender off, forward on. Costa Rica not really a threat up front, so why bother with a defender? Could be dangerous for Costa Rica, this.

[BonnieShels]

I still can't see CR winning out. Riding their luck sometimes. But the discipline is remarkable.

[gastric]

MON can learn a lot from this WC.

[pineapple stu]

Navas with a super catch while being slapped in the face.

To think most keepers would have been happy punching there.

[centre mid]

Robben has played quite well tonight but I'd hate to play alongside him, never passes it at all.

[pineapple stu]

Navas now bordering on Richie Dunne levels of **** taking. Unbelievable.

[geysir]

Costa Rica's version of rope a dope as the game enters the last part of et.

[gastric]

Noooo! He missed.

[pineapple stu]

Would have been the footballing equivalent of Homer Simpson winning a boxing fight.

This is staggering drama

[pineapple stu]

Just like watching Sligo

[BonnieShels]

Faith restored.

[centre mid]

Such a contrast to last night - great entertainment in the last 20 mins - change of keeper from the Dutch, that's taking the **** a bit no?

[osarusan]

Replacing a keeper specifically for penalties...didn't see that coming. Not exactly an endorsement of your first choice.

[gastric]

Good to hear!

[pineapple stu]

Not if he's better at penalties it's not

[Stuttgart88]

Was that substitution Van Gaal saying "it's all about me"?

It's a pity Mick wasn't thinking along the same lines in Suwon. Owls Fan would have called it. I'd have endorsed it.

[geysir]

The omens are that it's all going to bounce back on Van Gaal.

[gastric]

Not if he's better at penalties it's not

Sorry stu, was referring to Bonnie's post about faith being restored! I'm with you.

[BonnieShels]

Such a contrast to last night - great entertainment in the last 20 mins - change of keeper from the Dutch, that's taking the **** a bit no?

Only if you're not from Sligo

[pineapple stu]

Sorry stu, was referring to Bonnie's post about faith being restored! I'm with you.
I was actually replying to centre mid, but others got in the way!

Krul paying dividends already. :(

[geysir]

Masterclass by Van Gaal.

[gastric]

Ye, Krul was excellent if a little cynical!

[osarusan]

Val Gaal pulls a 'Schligo' masterstroke.

[Stuttgart88]

Boooooo.

About 2 - 3 seconds after the winning save there's a crowd shot of Dutch fans. There's a green eircom shirt in there too!

[pineapple stu]

And does it again...

Better team won. But Costa Rica are still legends for what they achieved. Toe to toe with three former World Cup winners and four former European Champions.

And we drew with them. :)

[Stuttgart88]

Ye, Krul was excellent if a little cynical!
Ref should have booked him early on.

[centre mid]

Fair play to Krul I can see the headlines now "Krul on the Ticos". It's George Hamilton I fell sorry for, going for his after match meal alone.

[gastric]

And does it again...

Better team won. But Costa Rica are still legends for what they achieved. Toe to toe with three former World Cup winners and four former European Champions.

And we drew with them. :)

And I hope MON learns lots from this WC.

[BonnieShels]

Gastric and Stu, I meant in the world cup. Great call from Van Gaal. Navas got MoM on CBC. Was the consensus in Europe the same?

[gastric]

Yes, I picked that up and it was good to hear as I said. What are we all going to do when it is all over? Germany/ Argentina final, something new then!

[OwlsFan]

The omens are that it's all going to bounce back on Van Gaal.

I think the omens were the opposite. All the favourites won the last 12 games, most stumbling across the line. Costa R had scored 5 out of 5 in their last shoot out. Most unlikely they could do that again plus Krul (since presumably that had been his job) had studied that shot out until he was blue (or orange) in the face. Had a great chance to win it in the last minute and the fates decided otherwise. So "the fallen" great powers fill the final 4 places. Couldn't be better.

[Stuttgart88]

We'd have won the 2002 WC if only Niall Quinn had gone in nets in Suwon.

[OwlsFan]

. It's George Hamilton I fell sorry for, going for his after match meal alone.

What was that about? Ray miss his flight or being treated in hospital for over negativity syndrome?

[OwlsFan]

We'd have won the 2002 WC if only Niall Quinn had gone in nets in Suwon.

Don't mention the war :(

[geysir]

We'd have won the 2002 WC if only Niall Quinn had gone in nets in Suwon.
Compare Belgium's artless efforts at repeated desperate hoofs into the box against Argentina to us with Niall Quinn.
All we had to do against Germany in 2002 was bring on Quinn, a few practice shots to find the range, then with simplicity personified, minimalism perfected, a hoof, a header, a goal.

[ArdeeBhoy]

A Krul twist of Fate.
Strange though how Holland couldn't score v. CR in 120 mins of open play mind, rather than being some tactical masterstroke...

[gastric]

Compare Belgium's artless efforts at repeated desperate hoofs into the box against Argentina to us with Niall Quinn.
All we had to do against Germany in 2002 was bring on Quinn, a few practice shots to find the range, then with simplicity personified, minimalism perfected, a hoof, a header, a goal.

And we are still trying the same thing, with little success. That sort of play doesn't work without a Tony or Niall. Maybe Devin Toner could make the switch, another tall beanpole!

[CraftyToePoke]

And I hope MON learns lots from this WC.

To be fair, MON was unleashing spot kick shoot out specific sub keepers way back in '96 :) albeit an injury time in extra time shinner from Claridge rendered Kalac unnecessary that day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Football_League_First_Division_play-off_Final

[osarusan]

Doesn't even matter if Krul is better at saving penalties really, as long as the substitution plants that idea in the Costa Rican players' minds.

[Crosby87]

Thank goodness CR is out. They are like watching paint dry.

[pineapple stu]

Brazil appeal against Thiago Silva yellow. (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/worldcup/2014/0706/628909-brazil-appeal-thiago-suspension/)

Either they've really got some neck, or they're desperate. Or possibly both.

One of the most blatant yellows you'll see.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Some are causing a stink over it, but I loved Krul's behavior during the shoot-out. Reminded me of Van Der Sar in the 2008 CPL final, telling Anelka he knew which way Chelsea had been told to put their penalties.