Ah yes. I remember a discussion with your good self about solving our LB problem by going with a 3.Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
3-5-2 has always been my favourite formation.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Presume they're Chilean firecrackers rather than FIFA ones?
Amazed they managed to sneak them in. Or are they from the official firecracker partner of FIFA?
Australia ran out of puff the last 20 or so, and the game drifted off. Third goal for Chile capped the game nicely though. Deserved to win.
Last 20 minutes was super dull, but the goal livened up the very end at least. Australia poor in most respects. Chile not great in defence. I'd say they'll both lose their remaining games.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
World Cup was excellent yesterday. First game was dull but the last two matches were brilliant.
Mexico deserved to win the first game. Makes you wonder why teams go to the bother of qualifying to park 6 players in defence, Cameroon were brutal.
Holland were amazing, Robben and Persie are some strike force, and Spain looked clueless.
Chile and Australia was a real end to end game, loved it. Pity the Aussies are in such a tough group, as they always perform well enough, and Cahill was brilliant.
Chile are great going forward but they have a very leaky defence. Their match with Spain will be some game, Spain that doesnt play with forwards and Chile who cant defend.
I'm still not too sure about this. I've been seeing some comments(not on here, thankfully) about 'the end of an era', or worse, 'the passing of the torch' and stuff like that.
I think it was a case of a Spanish implosion (and Casillas mostly) with the Dutch having the ability to take advantage.
Spain were the better side for most of the first half I thought, and even when they went 2-1 down there was no sign of an era ending or alarm bells ringing. Then Casillas missed the flight of the ball for the 3rd, completely messed up for the 4th, and the 5th was a result of desperation.
The Dutch were good, and clinical at the end, but I can't read too much into it yet.
I think it's far too early to be calling it the end of an era, and after watching the Chile game, I still expect the Spanish to get out of the group.
Last edited by osarusan; 14/06/2014 at 6:59 AM.
I wonder if somewhere in Spanish cyberspace there's a poster on foot.es called Pablo who has been predicting a 5-1 thrashing for years and has been warning that Casillas would cost them a big game.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 14/06/2014 at 8:06 AM.
Quality analysis. I was struggling to draw a conclusion from Tim Cahill's headed goal until I read that.
Chile are a bit lightweight, still look like a bunch of kids having a good time out there.
Mexico are the closest to us, sneaked qualification, high workrate, average ability, aged look, defenders one paced, dodgy decisions,, strikers can miss sitters, wild fans, enthusiasm and support surpasses the team's ability by a factor of 10.
Last edited by geysir; 14/06/2014 at 10:05 AM.
Im not so sure, Australia exposed a Chilean weakness out wide and dealing with crosses into the box, can Spain exploit this? Possibly if they use Navas, Pedro and Costa (Llorente would have been ideal too), but if they field the same outfield players that started against Holland I dont think so. It will require a major change from Del Bosque and possibly dropping one (or more) of the Xavi and Iniesta duo. Currently the only genuine player with an attacking ability in wide areas (that they started with) is Alba and him going forward could let Chile in. Also there is the issue that Spain, especially the defensive players (Pique, Ramos) looked flakey when quick players ran at them directly (Robben and even to an extent Schneijder) or made sudden runs in behind them, this could be a problem with Alexis Sanchez, Vidal (if fit), Isla or Vargas playing. Bravo is also an excellent keeper, as we saw with his double save from Bresciano, so Spain will need to be very clincial to beat him.
I think it will be a draw, but there is a slight chance that a narrow win for Spain might not be enough, if they win 1-0 then they will be level with Chile after two games but 3 goals behind (-3 vs 0) going into the last game. Sticking with this scenario of a 1-0 Spain win, assuming Holland beat Australia by 3 or 4 goals they will be in an almost uncatchable position - no one can exceed 6 points and they will be on +7 or +8 goals, Holland could lose to Chile say 1-0 and both of those teams could make it through if Spain dont beat Australia by a big margin. I think Spain will need to beat Chile by a clear margin to take things back into their hands in terms of making the knock outs. Either way that last pair of matches should be very exciting.
What do you guys think about a parlay of the 2 late games?
I was thinking england and italy 1-1 draw, and Japan over Ivory 3-1. What would you all bet if u were betting? You have to call the score to make the big bucks.
What a start in the Columbia v Greece game! Not something I thought I'd be saying. Greece playing ok too in fairness.
Some Colombian support in the ground. And a quality goal celebration to boot.
Great start to the epic Saturday all told!
Almost every Greek player has a beard too. Add that the defensive naivety of the only African side we've seen so far and national stereotype bingo is going well.
Commentator wikipedia blunder added to the bingo. Holebas a waiter before he became a footballer? His dad was a waiter, not him. (I'll allow that the wiki article is fairly badly written, presumably by someone for whom English isn't a first language)
The Spaniards proved they don't like it up 'em too. Good show everybody.
This game needs to stay this way for the pool,thank you very much.
Last edited by BonnieShels; 14/06/2014 at 5:29 PM.
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Colombia haven't looked at all impressive. Japan to do a job on Ivory Coast tonight and top the pool.
Enjoyable enough game overall. Some super defending from Greece in the first half. Colombia did very little after going ahead until they got their second, but did better from there in. Greece died away after hitting the bar.
Osarusan - are Japan likely to be up to anything? Or is it looking like Colombia and Ivory Coast in the second round?
Bit of additional googling on my earlier question of worst defeats for reigning champions in the World Cup; last night's game was joint for the worst result ever by a reigning champion (any tournament). Ties with Italy 0-4 England in 1948 (bit harsh as it was a completely different team to the one that won in 1938), Belgium 5-1 Brazil in 1963 and Portugal 4-0 Spain in 2010.
Anyways, on to the next one.
Thousands of empty seats for this Uruguay match.
Yeah nothing like the comfort zone of having to perform for the biggest club in the world to create the illusion that you're world class. The Bernabeu crowd are a forgiving bunch
Uruguay v Costa Rica must be how Ireland games in 94 seemed to the neutral. An ageing squad badly missing their main forward who are largely devoid of ideas other than to hoof long balls.
Ivory Coast or Colombia to beat England in the second round?
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