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.
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...
To be fair, MON was unleashing spot kick shoot out specific sub keepers way back in '96albeit an injury time in extra time shinner from Claridge rendered Kalac unnecessary that day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Fo...play-off_Final
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.
Thank goodness CR is out. They are like watching paint dry.
Brazil appeal against Thiago Silva yellow.
Either they've really got some neck, or they're desperate. Or possibly both.
One of the most blatant yellows you'll see.
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.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Yeah, it's a fine line isn't it. Some keepers make a point of handing the ball to the penalty-taker, or even go so far as to shake hands/fist bump them. Some referees seem to be more lenient that others on it too.
Did anybody notice that for the last penalty (and maybe others) Krul stood noticeably off-centre, to psyche the taker out some more?
Yes, I saw that.
If Krul had said to me he knows what way I'm going to kick it I'd have said, that's funny, cos I don't yet.
Anyway, this blog piece by Paul Wilson which was published in Sunday's Observer (the first of two mini articles in the link) absolutely nails what I think about this World Cup, and international football vs club football in general. I also fully agree with his easy acceptance of football's flaws and why they are normal, which is important to me given all the guff and attention directed towards Robben and Suarez and pretty much every indiscretion that ever happens on a football pitch.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ns-league-fifa
Houghton to return home due to ill health
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...ancels-3822554
Jesus, can't people stop feeding the Ann Coulter troll? It's amazing how many people latched on to her clickbait.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
If Van Gaal rated Krul a better penalty-saver, I'd imagine Cillessen would already have had an idea from practicing penalties in training that he'd be substituted if a shoot-out ever looked likely. There was much made about how insulting it might have been for Cillessen, but he's a professional and should know his strengths and limitations. If the swap was done purely to psyche out the Costa Ricans, that's fair enough; I don't see any reason to make such a hoo-ha about it. Nor was it in any way revolutionary. Plenty of managers, including Martin O'Neill, have employed the tactic in the past.
Just on Costa Rica's Bolanos, I knew I'd seen him before somewhere; he stood out as a pretty slick midfielder when Shamrock Rovers played Copenhagan in the third qualifying round of the Champions League three years ago.
Krul saved 2 of 20 penalties in his Newcastle days apparently, do I don't think he is a great penalty saver by nature. But his training regime with the Dutch could have been 90% penalties, and studying potential kickers habits. He saved two and picked the right side for every other one. That can't be coincidence.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
I have a notion that our old nr 2 Dean Kiely was better at saving penalties than Shay.
But I have no idea what Dean's penalty record was.
Shay saved 9/62 in the epl.
Anecdotal evidence tells us that in training Niall Quinn was best of all of the Irish at the time. I think he used to bet that he'd save one out of 3 pens from any teammate. Years back I think it was Owls Fan who posited here that Shay was poor at penalties, always diving early and usually the wrong way. I agreed.
EPL or other league stats might be misleading. In league football the keeper faces the team's best penalty taker. In a shoutout it's unlikely that more than a couple of a team's 5+ takers are regular penalty takers.
Bookmarks