It's difficult to have a plan B when you've no plan A
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It's difficult to have a plan B when you've no plan A
Bit of a disappointing second half compared to the first half. The rain was biblical though.
Spain v Holland next. Better be a crap game cos I'm in Thomond :-)
Hon holland!
Am I the only one who thought that was a dive? It looked a pen at first (and not many complaints either) but the slo-mo suggested that Costa manufactured the contact?
I'd agree. He looked for the contact. His left leg had a second movement towards Vrie.
World-class header.
Incredible.
Unsurprisingly the best 45min so far of the tournament.
Yeah these are 2 fun teams.
I'm still not sure, but would err towards simulation. At best its a slight little clip, not enough to justify the fall. But, I think that's a terribly hard decision for the Ref to make. I don't like it, but I can completely understand why he gave it at that exact moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
Unbelievable header, you couldnt place it better if you tried to volley it. Not sure it was a penalty either, Costa's foot was in the air and it seemed to land on the Dutchman's leg, at the original speed it did look like a trip, so you can understand why he gave it. Hope it ends in a draw as that will keep things going to the wire but i think Spain might squeak it, the guy in the middleof the back five for holland, bruno martins indi looks very dodgy...
Stonewall penalty.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
A sliding tackle that makes contact with a forward's standing leg and drags that leg to a point where he's brought to ground, is a penalty 100/100.
He didn't have to look for it. he didn't have time to look for anything, he turned then the defender wallops straight into him. A sliding tackle in the box is an act of desperation.
Spain falling apart!
Whoops!Quote:
Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo
No shame in losing 5-1 :)
At least half of our back 4 were from Reading.
I didn't realise until the BBC commentator said it, but we were the last team to beat the Dutch in qualifying.
I love how football ebbs and flows. Is tika taka history?
Would it have been all different but for a super save by the Dutch keeper?
I hope this starts restoring credibility to 3 at the back. I've always loved it.
Casillas had a big part in the 3rd and 4th, and didn't do well for the 5th either.
Tremendous performance by Robben.
It will be interesting to see how Spain respond - they'll probably end up against Brazil in the 2nd round now.
That was some game by Holland, though they failed to make it 6 does ask a few questions about their mettle.
I think pointless possession and ball rotation on its own, pressuring opponents and waiting for mistakes has had its day. They had Pedro on the bench and when he came on the looked a tiny bit more of a threat, did they have Jesus Navas too? Imagine him and Pedro with Costa as a striker, a little bit more direct and they would be better.
I picked Chile and Netherlands to go through in this group. Now that Biesla is not with Chile, they are less prone to suicidal tactics.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
I suspect the game between them and Netherlands, will be the group winner game. I'd have some hope for a Netherland Brazil last 16 game.
A glorious night.
Spain v Chile will be a big one. Spain will have to know that Netherlands won't do Spain any favours in their last game against Chile, so they'll need to win, and Chile will know that.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I still think they're good enough, although the way the fell apart tonight was terrible. If they go behind against Chile, or even if they feel they need to really attack because of tonight's result, the could be caught on the counter again.
Just looking at the highlights, a high back line and slow centre-halves was a recipe for disaster against players like Robben.
I welcome anything that shatters the illusion of Casillas as a great goalkeeper.
That's fair enough,Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
it definitely adds the unexpected question to the equation, just how do Spain respond to such a hammering? and respond positively inside a few days.
That's very new territory for Spain. Football excellence has been their hallmark over the past 6 or 8 years, a type of football when played well was unsurpassable by the best of the rest.
Brazil folk will be very happy though, they were a bit aghast that Spain had taken their mantle of playing the beautiful game.
I was just thinking before the game that Casillas would be my nr 1 goalkeeper of all time. Most consistent, versatile all rounder and ...... very good with penalties.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Fly
I still think so, just he should have retired before tonight :)
I thought he was a very good goalkeeper at his peak, but never a truly great one. I think his career with Madrid and the Spanish national team has flattered him to a significant degree. Off the top of my head, in the 20 years I've been watching the game I would rank Schmeichel, Khan and Buffon as truly great goalkeepers. I never put Casillas in that category despite him having a comparable or better career.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I view him in a similar light to Raul; both club legends at Madrid but transfer them to another club and I think neither would've risen to the level that their club careers suggest they belong.
1-0 Chile after ten minutes.
Might reckon they have Spain in their sights.
2-0 after 12 minutes.
Spain v Chile is suddenly a very, very interesting game.
Is 5-1 the worst defeat a world champion has suffered in the World Cup?
Australian defence is all over the shop; with Holland and Spain to come, they could be looking at a performance to rival ours at Euro 2012.
2-0 now, poor Australia they could be on the end of the wrong sort of records at this world cup.
According to Twitter, yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Worst cross of the tournament just now from Leckie. Blasted it out for a throw from inside the box.
2-1! Cahill
Didn't see that coming.
Kerr was talking about Chile resting players in the second half ahead of the other two games. Spoke too soon.
Tim Cahill still has that ability to score headers.
Almost 2-2 there.
After two quiet enough games to start, this World Cup is really coming to life now.
Chile have to win this comfortably enough. The amount of space they're being given on the wings is criminal.
Bit of ad break googling - France 3-0 Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final was the biggest win over a reigning champion before.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
There's been two goal wins lots of times, though Brazil's two two goal defeats in 1966 are unique.
Cahill seems to be taking on Chile on his own.
2-1's a respectable score in that regard.
Another disallowed goal, but its a great shout this time.
This is what the World Cup is all about. Great game.