2014 World Cup

Bit of a damp squib of a final alright. First half very good; second half on not so.

Though really, the tournament dipped from the quarters on. It probably couldn't keep up the quality of the earlier rounds, and Brazil v Germany was enjoyable, but it's interesting that the bigger teams were generally all able to stifle wins out of their game but maybe naive opponents. After the group stages, I don't think there was a single upset. Club level has been similar (thinking Mourinho in particular, and many CL finals have been dull, cagey affairs). Really hope this isn't the way football is going, but maybe it's too late. In the first 13 World Cup Finals (up to 1986), every single team scored. 1990 was the first time a team failed to score in the final; since then, only once have both teams scored. 1994 was the first 0-0 draw; the last two finals have been 0-0s (after 90 minutes anyway)

Is there any rule changes that could change this trend? Is there a need to change it?

I dunno. Argentina should have scored a few times after all, they weren't parking the bus entirely. I'm not sure what kind of acceptable rule changes would result in attacking football becoming the standard.

Argentina didn't score because Higuain had a stinker. Germany took 110 minutes to score because they only brought one striker to the competition and he's not anywhere near as athletic as he used to be. If either side had their shooting boots on it could have been 3, 4+.

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Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

I dunno. Argentina should have scored a few times after all, they weren't parking the bus entirely.

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It's not that Argentina parked the bus necessarily; it's more that there's maybe more focus on an organised defence, which is becoming increasingly difficult to break down.

Interesting too that a lot of the top players had bad tournaments. Higuain as Charlie says. Messi vanished from the quarters (having done very well up to then). David Luiz and Gerrard obviously were wojus (maybe they're not top top players, but the extent to which they underperformed gets them an inclusion anyway). Ronaldo. Van Persie didn't do much after the Spain game. Xavi and Casillas stand out for Spain. Dzeko for Bosnia? Hazard. Maybe Lahm until he went to full back.

Neuer should have won the Golden Ball I think.

Finally, a couple of my favourite images from recent games. This is Fred's heat map against Germany. Spent most of the time tipping off again -

http://www.independent.co.uk/incomin...d-heat-map.jpg

And I'm sure we all spotted this last night -
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...01265884_n.png

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Originally Posted by Crosby87

Anyone looking forward to this or has this tourney taken such a boring path that its sucked out all of your enthusiasm?
And how are fans of the game who happen to be Jewish rooting? Where the nazis lived and worked, then where they retired to.

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Strange question. Pal of mine claimed much the same about the Germans. Told him to take his head out of his anal orifice...

If it was anyone Israel would object to, probably Russia/Polska and Iran/Egypt? Though their pariah status means we're stuck with them in Europe which is a joke.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I thought that was a really good game. Lots of mistakes by both sides but lots of quality too and lots of heart and commitment. The big players all played well.

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The players generally tried hard, but in terms of attacking quality Argentina barely turned up as their forwards were largely anonymous.

I didn't think it was that bad a final. It was tense, fairly open with both teams having chances and was decided by a terrific goal. It wasn't as if both teams shut up shop completely. Neuer was great once again and maybe should have won the Golden Ball on second thoughts. I certainly don't think Messi did enough throughout the tournament to deserve it.

It was great to see Schweinsteiger emotional (not in the way portrayed above ;)) at the end of the game. You'd imagine he would be the last to shed a tear as I always think he is quite similar to Roy Keane, on the field in particular. I had tipped Germany at the start of the campaign but then thought perhaps it is Messi's destiny to win the Cup - I pay more heed to such things compared to whether one team is better than the other.

I was delighted to see the Cup won by a goal rather than a penalty shoot-out. Messi seemed a spent force (by his standards) and so lethargic on occasions. On form he was such a live wire for Barca chasing back but when he lost the ball in Brazil, more often than not he did a Ronaldo.

Enjoyable game which Argentina might have won but which Germany probably deservedly came out on top. If you beat Brazil and Argentina in the knock out stages, you'll usually end up champion.

Now, time to get back talking to the wife again. I wonder how has she been the last month or so.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Bit of a damp squib of a final alright. First half very good; second half on not so.

Though really, the tournament dipped from the quarters on. It probably couldn't keep up the quality of the earlier rounds, and Brazil v Germany was enjoyable, but it's interesting that the bigger teams were generally all able to stifle wins out of their game but maybe naive opponents. After the group stages, I don't think there was a single upset. Club level has been similar (thinking Mourinho in particular, and many CL finals have been dull, cagey affairs). Really hope this isn't the way football is going, but maybe it's too late. In the first 13 World Cup Finals (up to 1986), every single team scored. 1990 was the first time a team failed to score in the final; since then, only once have both teams scored. 1994 was the first 0-0 draw; the last two finals have been 0-0s (after 90 minutes anyway)

Is there any rule changes that could change this trend? Is there a need to change it?

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Obviously, offering more points for a win enhances the value of scoring more goals than your opponent in a league or group-stage scenario, but I'm not sure how you could add extra value to winning in a knock-out scenario so as to encourage more goal-scoring as you can't really offer anything further than simple progression to the next round.

In saying that, I don't think last night's final was played in an overly conservative manner by either team. The lack of goals was primarily down to a mix of good goalkeeping and the inability of talented players who would have done better had they been more composed to take some great chances.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

It was great to see Schweinsteiger emotional (not in the way portrayed above ;))

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Himself and Klose shared an emotional embrace before it was disrupted by Boateng pulling at their shoulders. I think they've both been around that squad for so long now and knew this was their last chance to win a World Cup, so they could finally say, "At last! We've done it." Nice to see such team spirit, as you say.

I've got it. Automatic qualification for the next World Cup to whichever team scores the most goals. One for knock-outs, one for group stages. That would be the Netherlands and Croatia respectively this time around.

Anyone else think Neuer should have been penalised for his Schumacher on Higuain?

Anyone else catch this?


https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/CB6...8szjDOtzLHjc7w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0_B6PLnA-w

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Anyone else think Neuer should have been penalised for his Schumacher on Higuain?

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Absolutely. And both Aguero and Mascherano should have gotten second yellows before the end as well.

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Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Absolutely. And both Aguero and Mascherano should have gotten second yellows before the end as well.

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Aguero definitely. Don't remember Mascherano's second yellow-able offence.

Have to say Neuer had eyes only for (and got) the ball for me. Good keeping. Though at least one person I was watching with did mention Toni Schumacher.

SI - the Vlaar penalty is covered a couple of pages back

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Have to say Neuer had eyes only for (and got) the ball for me. Good keeping. Though at least one person I was watching with did mention Toni Schumacher.

SI - the Vlaar penalty is covered a couple of pages back

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if an outfield player had gone up to head the ball with his knee up like Neuer had it would be a foul. very reckless and a foul all day long for me

Anyone got the video of this, don't recall the incident...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqPLMH26Fz4

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

if an outfield player had gone up to head the ball with his knee up like Neuer had it would be a foul. very reckless and a foul all day long for me

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Yeah, I agree with this. Keepers aren't exempt from thr rules, and not seeing the player isn't an excuse either.

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Originally Posted by osarusan

Yeah, I agree with this. Keepers aren't exempt from thr rules, and not seeing the player isn't an excuse either.

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oh, he knew higuain was there ok..... that's why he went in with his knee up. at minimum a yellow card