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***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter NewlyRetired
- Start date
Oh I thought shurrle was not good today and had lacked class all tournament. And don't get me wrong messi was always dangerous and good all tournament long. I just didn't think he deserved the golden ball. Then again, of late it has been given to guys who didn't win the wc I guess as a consolation prize or something.
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
sporthenry
Footballguy
Messi carried his team through the group stage. How is that for shying away from the biggest stage? If Higuain scores that gift or one of Messi's runs ends in a goal, would we be talking about Messi choking or Messi carrying them through? Funny how narratives change.
As far as the Golden Ball, it is always skewed towards offensive players and teams who make it to the final 4. Only 2 people have won any type of balls without making the semis so that would have made James a historical selection. Beyond that, the 3 they picked, were the best offensive players in the last 4. Messi, Muller, and Robben. I could have seen Muller getting it.
Speaking of Muller, who didn't disappear by this standard. Muller was nonexistent today. Messi at least had several dangerous runs. Robben didn't do much versus Argentina. Brazil/Colombia was ugly but James disappeared. But that is the point when you play these great teams, they aren't exactly going to let you run loose. Hence, Messi opens up a ton for his teammates but they disappeared a lot more than he did.
As far as the Golden Ball, it is always skewed towards offensive players and teams who make it to the final 4. Only 2 people have won any type of balls without making the semis so that would have made James a historical selection. Beyond that, the 3 they picked, were the best offensive players in the last 4. Messi, Muller, and Robben. I could have seen Muller getting it.
Speaking of Muller, who didn't disappear by this standard. Muller was nonexistent today. Messi at least had several dangerous runs. Robben didn't do much versus Argentina. Brazil/Colombia was ugly but James disappeared. But that is the point when you play these great teams, they aren't exactly going to let you run loose. Hence, Messi opens up a ton for his teammates but they disappeared a lot more than he did.
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DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
I got Germany and Nigeria
Man it was funny watching people open their picks only to see Iran or Australia or some other #### team. The guy that got England/USA is all happy. He knows nothing about soccer.
So I guess a small part of me will be rooting for the krauts
That's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
Most valuable trophy in the worldThat's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
msommer
Footballguy
Being made of gold will do thatThat's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
The General
Footballguy
Gold Plated...not impressed.Being made of gold will do thatThat's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Almost 400 pages - suck it soccer haters!
The trophy you saw today is solid gold. The copy that goes back to the winning country is plated.Gold Plated...not impressed.Being made of gold will do thatThat's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
msommer
Footballguy
5 kgs of 18 karat gold. Suck it, until you find some factsGold Plated...not impressed.Being made of gold will do thatThat's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
THE trophy is 18K gold - teams are given a gold plated version to display. What they held up today was the real trophy...Gold Plated...not impressed.Being made of gold will do thatThat's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
The General
Footballguy
Whoa, sorry buddy. I was kidding.5 kgs of 18 karat gold. Suck it, until you find some factsGold Plated...not impressed.Being made of gold will do thatThat's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
As far as I know it's made of aluminum foil.
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
My dad has a similar opinion of him as well, having seen him numerous times play in Argentina. His inclusion in the squad, and the decision to play him, were among the calls I thought Sabella got wrong. Taking out Lavezzi for Aguero was a mistake. Argentina was doing business through Lavezzi and Messi down the right side in the first half and then Aguero came in and it vanished. You could tell Kun was not fit when he played in the semi-final, so why play him in the final? Don't know what the rationale was there. Of course, if Higuain doesn't completely blow what would have been the greatest gift in the history of the final, it might not have mattered.
that was a great way to win the WC. Soooo glad it didn't go into PKs.
And Palacios had the much easier version of that for Argentina... but flubbed. I've watched that guy play since his days pre Boca... never thought much of him then, and he lived up to my expectations today. What's sad, I think Higuain would've buried that. Even Higuain's brother who plays for Columbus in MLS would've buried that. Wondo... not so much.
I'm disappointed in the result because I was hoping to see Argentina win, but Germany is a proper champion, as they had the most consistent form throughout the tournament and certainly had two of the most impressive performances in the tournament (the semi vs. Brazil, obviously, and their opening evisceration of Portugal). And they are not a cynical bunch, generally speaking. They have players who exaggerate fouls (yes, Mueller, I'm looking at you), but no more than any other team out there, and fewer than most. If any European team were going to be the first to win in the Americas, it would have to be Germany. Boateng was excellent today, Schweinsteiger was consistent throughout the tournament, and Neuer is just amazing. He is so technically good, never cheating, always in position, and always aware of the situation. That's what made Higuain's miss even more painful, because even he was so stunned by the awful header that led to the chance that he hadn't come off his line much to cut down the angle or limit the time the striker had.
For those disappointed in Messi or saying he choked in a big moment, I would say look at the chances his teammates had and absolutely botched. I don't know if I'll ever see a better, gifted chance in a knockout round match than the one Higuain got, and he couldn't even put it on frame. Palacio also had an unbelievable chance and couldn't properly execute a chest trap and put a shot on goal. Messi was not at his best today, certainly. The shot he pulled wide would be one he normally puts on net (of course, that is why every keeper is always taught to cover the near post - even the greatest players are more likely to pull a shot to the far post wide), and he held on to the ball a touch too long when he nearly played Higuain through on goal in the first half (of course, I'm guessing if the pass had connected, Higuain would have tripped over the ball or skied it into the upper deck). But Messi was constantly triple-teamed throughout this match, as well as the semi-final as well. His mere presence created space and opportunities for his teammates that they were unable to take advantage of in the tournament. Argentina's defensive players were consistently good to outstanding in the tournament, with Mascherano being simply awesome, but the attackers were awful, which is very unusual to say about an Argentinean team that once could boast of players such as Mario Kempes and (perhaps my favorite Argentinean player) Gabriel Batistuta. Messi needed someone to help him in attack and honestly, nobody on the Albiceleste was up to the job, especially when Di Maria went down.
I am sad about the result, but I'm sadder that it's over. Good God, I love the World Cup. The Copa America next summer will be fun and Euro 2016 will be good to watch as well, but there's no sporting event that makes me lose sleep due to sheer anticipation like the World Cup. And the timing of these matches here in the U.S. were just about perfect for viewing, they tied the record for most goals at the World Cup, and the atmosphere was outstanding. The only ones I've enjoyed more were '94 and '86. I shall miss this tournament. Oh, and I'll miss the Kia commercials with Adriana Lima as well.
msommer
Footballguy
They have smileys for conveying that sort of message...Whoa, sorry buddy. I was kidding.5 kgs of 18 karat gold. Suck it, until you find some factsGold Plated...not impressed.Being made of gold will do thatThat's kinda small. Figured the "World Cup" would be a lot bigger.
As far as I know it's made of aluminum foil.
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Steve Tasker
Footballguy
I know I have a soft spot for the tough, rugged, ball-winning midfielders, but ### ####, was Schweinsteiger incredible today or what? You won't see it on the scoresheet, but he put on the ultimate world-class performance today in the biggest game of his career. In the zone all day, totally balls out, picked up a decent gash and you could tell it wasn't going to do a damn thing to him. What a performance.
The Gator
Footballguy
Exactly what I want to see happen.Someone ought to pull down Palacio by his braid, if it happens to break on the way, too bad...
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
The 2016 Copa America (not the 2015 one, the 2016 one) is going to huge in the US. The games will be almost entirely in prime time here in the US during the week days.
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msommer
Footballguy
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
Weird that I noticed this at the very end but that cartoon sequence that begins and ends all of the broadcasts (i.e. the one produced by FIFA) showed every country's flag precisely once (aside from the bunch of Brazil flags at the very beginning). It's that sort of precise political sensibility that is always such a fascinating sideline to the World Cup and qualifiers.
-QG
-QG
Premier
Footballguy
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
Messi's obviously making a concerted effort to save himself for offense and pressing less, both with Barca over the past year or so and Argentina. I wonder if he kind of loses something though when he has to turn up the motor immediately instead of buzzing around harassing defenders (and occasionally creating a turnover that leads to a goal-scoring chance). Probably dumb to second-guess the best player in the world. I'm excited to see how Enrique uses him with Neymar and Suarez.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
gump
Footballguy
Norman Paperman
Footballguy
Norman Paperman
Footballguy
There were 4 drunk Brits in the air....and James shot them down...
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Love that the English fans skip straight over football and go to WWII for their football songs. Play to your strengths I guess.
Premier
Footballguy
=Smackdown=
Footballguy
B Maverick
Footballguy
Congrats to Germany, well deserved. Great game with some huge misses and 1 big moment for Goetz.
I agree with those saying Messi was not deserving of the golden ball, so many better players over the whole tournament. Not a knock on Messi to me, just how good others played.
I really wish people would watch history being made instead of forcing it to be history making and just enjoy the brilliance that is Messi. Let his story play out before you write the ending, then review what you saw compared to the others.
I agree with those saying Messi was not deserving of the golden ball, so many better players over the whole tournament. Not a knock on Messi to me, just how good others played.
I really wish people would watch history being made instead of forcing it to be history making and just enjoy the brilliance that is Messi. Let his story play out before you write the ending, then review what you saw compared to the others.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
The Argentinian song about Brazil is pretty good. They were singing it yesterday, probably most all of the past month.gump said:CletiusMaximus said:
Premier
Footballguy
In Orlando last week. 10000 Argentines singing it at Disney and espn zone. Says something about "Brazil - how does it feel to have daddy in your house" and about how Maradona is better than Pele.The Argentinian song about Brazil is pretty good. They were singing it yesterday, probably most all of the past month.gump said:CletiusMaximus said:
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Yes - somewhat more clever lyrics than the English one about RAF pilots shooting down one German bomber after another, and has the benefit of being a much shorter song.In Orlando last week. 10000 Argentines singing it at Disney and espn zone. Says something about "Brazil - how does it feel to have daddy in your house" and about how Maradona is better than Pele.The Argentinian song about Brazil is pretty good. They were singing it yesterday, probably most all of the past month.gump said:CletiusMaximus said:
Premier
Footballguy
Really catchy too. I was clapping along.Yes - somewhat more clever lyrics than the English one about RAF pilots shooting down one German bomber after another, and has the benefit of being a much shorter song.In Orlando last week. 10000 Argentines singing it at Disney and espn zone. Says something about "Brazil - how does it feel to have daddy in your house" and about how Maradona is better than Pele.The Argentinian song about Brazil is pretty good. They were singing it yesterday, probably most all of the past month.gump said:CletiusMaximus said:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
After watching every World Cup from 1990 on in depth, I can safely say the 2014 group stage games were by far the best of any tournament I saw. They had everything a fan could want.
But the knock out stage games in 2014 played out very similar to other tournaments (except for the crazy Germany Brazil game). While 2014 was not worse in the knock out stage, I can't say it was better either for me tastes.
But the knock out stage games in 2014 played out very similar to other tournaments (except for the crazy Germany Brazil game). While 2014 was not worse in the knock out stage, I can't say it was better either for me tastes.
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The group stage had far more interesting results and more drama. The knock out stage pretty much went as planned and the games for the most part were low scoring and lacked excitment. Brazil winning on goal kicks was probably the most dramatic moment of the knock out stage, but I am glad the final was not decided that way. Games should be decided by real goals.
