World Cup predictions

**Stuttgart88** · 28/06/2010, 12:33 PM

Wouldn't be extraordinary if the Dutch could win this WC with a perfect record, including qualifying?

**The Apostle** · 28/06/2010, 4:07 PM

I think Argentina are playing some nice football and could go on to win it. Could there be a Brazil/Argentina Final! That would be something!!

**tetsujin1979** · 28/06/2010, 10:55 PM

away from any discussion on the England team, did anyone watch the Brazil - Chile match?
Probably the best I've seen Brazil play thus far in the tournament, and I think they can still improve. Struggled to break down Chile until the first goal, which meant the Chileans had to push forward to score. Of course this left space for the counter attacking Brazilians to exploit, and score.
This is probably the most well drilled Brazilian defence I've seen. The two central midfielders drop in front of the 12 yard line while the 4 man defence fill the penalty area. The opposition can't attach through the middle, and haven't space to move in front of goal. Of course, they were all taller than the Chilean strikers, so heading was out of the question.

It'll be interesting on Friday to watch them VS Holland, two counter attacking sides, neither of which has hit its potential yet, playing each other.

**osarusan** · 29/06/2010, 12:29 AM

They're so organised defensively, Chile never really did anything apart from long shots, a sign of desperation even as early as the 10th minute. They simply had no other options. They didn't trouble the defence at all until the game was basically over. Dunga's got the whole team working so hard to fill their own penalty box when needed.

I still don't think they've faced a really top-class attack yet, and I wonder how they'd cope with Argentina's ability to play through defences.

**shakermaker1982** · 29/06/2010, 6:51 AM

Originally Posted by osarusan

They're so organised defensively, Chile never really did anything apart from long shots, a sign of desperation even as early as the 10th minute. They simply had no other options. They didn't trouble the defence at all until the game was basically over. Dunga's got the whole team working so hard to fill their own penalty box when needed.

I still don't think they've faced a really top-class attack yet, and I wonder how they'd cope with Argentina's ability to play through defences.

Did you see the Brazil-Argentina game in WC qualifying? Brazil countered the **** out of em. It was heartbreaking stuff because I was rooting on Messi but Brazil were too cute for em. Argentina might have improved since that game in Argentina but whether it's enough to see off a superb Brazil side is something we'll hopefully find out on July 11th!

**shakermaker1982** · 29/06/2010, 6:53 AM

I'm also gutted to see Chile go out. They have been my favourite team of the tournament and deserve a lot of credit for the way they try and play football. Sanchez would make my team of the tournament so far despite him being relatively quiet last night. I have high hopes for him and would expect to see one of the bigger sides sniffing around him this summer.

**Stuttgart88** · 29/06/2010, 11:51 AM

I thought Brazil's defence was generally very strong, but still Chile got through a few times where better finishing or a better final ball would have caused real trouble. Mexico did the same to Argentina. I'd love to see Brazil v Argentina as both teams are terrific with the ball and are very inventive, and both defences are vulnerable to the type of play each other specialises in.

**Ciaran W** · 29/06/2010, 3:22 PM

Bad owl game.

**culloty82** · 30/06/2010, 7:46 AM

Spain fully deserved the win, but the worry is that they lack width, and on meeting Germany/Argentina who combine a strong defence with a powerful attack, they could struggle. Paraguay-Japan must be up there with our match with Norway and the '90 Final for the worst World Cup match ever.

**endabob1** · 30/06/2010, 8:48 AM

Every time Spain got it wide they looked dangerous, Vila was attached to the left touchline and when the full backs got forward (esp Ramos) they looked like they would score. The problem is that didn't happen very often and they tried to pass it through 6/7/8/9 white shirts, and Portugal were able to defuse most of their attacking play.
That said, they keep the ball magnificently, an absolute lesson in defending a 1-0, just don't let the other team have the ball.
Spains main concern is Torres, nowhere near match fit and running out of games. Without him on form they will struggle to score a lot of goals the way they are set out, but some of their football is a joy to watch.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/06/2010, 6:06 PM

Re-Spain giving a lesson on maintaining possession to defend a lead, it helps when the opposition play a Trapattoni style wall behind the ball even when they're 1 down. Portugal were embarrassingly short on ambition last night.

**endabob1** · 01/07/2010, 6:27 AM

Portugal played as much as they were allowed I thought. They got it forward quickly and arguably had the better chances in the first half, once Spain scored it was over, they simply couldn't get the ball off them. They tried to change it but the only criticism I would have is that they didn't press the Spanish back 4 when they had the ball the way Spain pressed theirs, other than that they were just the recipients of a master-class in possession football

**osarusan** · 02/07/2010, 4:23 PM

No balls from the Brazilians today. 2-1 down with a semi-final place at stake, and they showed nothing. I'm not sure the Dutch are even that good, as they were pretty limited in the first half. Rarely has a piece of good/bad fortune changed a game so drastically.

RTE panel are criticising the referee, but I thought that apart from booking Bastos for very little, and not giving Van Bommel a yellow (which was admittedly a bad error), the team of officials got most things right. Right about the red card and the offside goal, right about the booking for diving and Ooijer's booking for kicking the ball away (where lino told refe to book him).

It seemed to boil down to the pathetic argument that as he's not from a big football nation (He is Japanese), he cannot possibly be capable of refereeing big games competently.

**pineapple stu** · 02/07/2010, 4:30 PM

Was it not a dive for the free for Holland's equaliser? Only saw a quick flash of a replay, so may well be wrong. Red card was nasty and stupid.

**Stuttgart88** · 02/07/2010, 4:39 PM

Originally Posted by osarusan

It seemed to boil down to the pathetic argument that as he's not from a big football nation (He is Japanese), he cannot possibly be capable of refereeing big games competently.

I largely agree based on the 75 mins I saw. I think Bastos could have been sent off.

That corner was one of the best executed set pieces I've ever seen, up there with the Argentina equaliser against England in '98. Perfectly delivered, Kuyt made a perfect run to get ahead of his marker and got a perfect flick on. Schneider couldn't miss.