The official World Cup 2010 thread...

[Ragnar]

I would still have to see it.

A black man dressed as a warrior? That is racist?

[ukhotstove]

Puyols goal reminded me of Tommy Smiths goal against another german team in 1977.

[Ragnar]

Now as predictions go.....both rudel dietrich and the octopus are correct. It is Spain and Holland.

I was surprised by that game. I thought Germany would look better throughout that game. Even so, I was starting to worry it would go to PKs.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I would still have to see it.

A black man dressed as a warrior? That is racist?

An actor of African descent playing an African warrior: not racist

A bunch of Mexican actors in blackface, wigs, carrying spears and making fun of South African culture: racist.

[mikev]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Now as predictions go.....both rudel dietrich and the octopus are correct. It is Spain and Holland.

I was surprised by that game. I thought Germany would look better throughout that game. Even so, I was starting to worry it would go to PKs.

Maybe it's just me, but Spain's style of play is VERY boring.

Credit them with keeping Germany from mounting any sort of counter attack though. It seemed that the Spaniards were getting (visibly) tired as the second half carried on and it was a matter of time until the Germans knocked in a counter like they did against England and Argentina.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by mikev

Credit them with keeping Germany from mounting any sort of counter attack though. It seemed that the Spaniards were getting (visibly) tired as the second half carried on and it was a matter of time until the Germans knocked in a counter like they did against England and Argentina.

I thought exactly the opposite. Germany looked far more tired to me. It takes a lot more energy to defend than to retain possession, and the Germans spent the entire second half chasing the ball.

[ukhotstove]

Germany didn't seem to have a plan B, could be interesting in future games to see if they are a one man team in Mueller. Also makes for a fresh winner which I'm glad of, throw in Holland going for perfection of winning every game both qualifying and in the finals can't be that many teams who have done that if any.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by mlyons

I thought exactly the opposite. Germany looked far more tired to me. It takes a lot more energy to defend than to retain possession, and the Germans spent the entire second half chasing the ball.

I think what he meant was after Spain scored. Because Spain had control of the ball most of the match. And they were lax about it as well. That seemed to tire out the Germans as things started to open up for Spain as the half wore on.

I don't find their play boring in the least. I wish the US could control the ball like that. So far the only team that took Spain out of their game so far was Paraguay.

I think I heard that no team that lost their first match ever won a World Cup. I hope Spain does it but I think the Dutch will be more than capable of winning.

[mikev]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I wish the US could control the ball like that.

Not until Bob Bradley is gone, I'm afraid.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

So far the only team that took Spain out of their game so far was Paraguay.

Switzerland which beat them??

[Skipaway]

Originally Posted by mlyons

I thought exactly the opposite. Germany looked far more tired to me. It takes a lot more energy to defend than to retain possession, and the Germans spent the entire second half chasing the ball.

Yeah, Germany looked tired pretty early on, and was spent in the end. The only fighting they had was after the goal and the few subs.

[Skipaway]

Originally Posted by bababui

Switzerland which beat them??

Spain played that game the same way they played most other games. The stats actually looked great.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by bababui

Switzerland which beat them??

Did you watch that game? No? Spain had the ball all game. Switzerland kicked a hail mary that took a funny bounce and the guy got a foot on it and it went in. Probably one of the 3 times the Swiss even crossed mid field. Other than that Spain looked like they did in every game accept against Paraguay.

Even against Germany there was a point where Koose? is that his name? Almost gave Germany the 1-0 lead. That still would not have changed the fact Spain dominated the game up until that point.

[rudel.dietrich]

Germany deserved to lose that game. They had no interest at all in attacking and seemed content to give Spain 2/3 of the pitch to set up. I am not sure what their game plan was but it was terrible.
And Spain are a pretty boring team. They can string passes together but not where it counts for all their technical skill never seemed to want to take a man on one on one.
I suppose 1-0 was better than the game going to penalties which is where I saw it going. The match as a whole was a let down since Germany game in the game with no intention of wanting to win in regular time and Spain had to grind out a win and did not look all that great doing it. If Germany had not been playing for a tie I think they could have won it.

I really hope the Dutch go out there and just smash the stuffing out of Spain in the final. If they go out there from minute one attacking and throwing men forward I think they will give up some goals but overwhelm the Spanish and win.
However I fear that they will take the German approach and fear the Spanish for no reason at all and take a more conservative approach and give away the game.

The third place game the last few cups has been a good game to watch and I think Germany will go back to a care free attacking game and run up the score a bit. Uruguay could come into the game playing for pride or come into the game not caring a bit about the game. It's hard to say.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Did you watch that game? No? Spain had the ball all game. Switzerland kicked a hail mary that took a funny bounce and the guy got a foot on it and it went in. Probably one of the 3 times the Swiss even crossed mid field. Other than that Spain looked like they did in every game accept against Paraguay.

Even against Germany there was a point where Koose? is that his name? Almost gave Germany the 1-0 lead. That still would not have changed the fact Spain dominated the game up until that point.

Spain changed their tactics after that match so I would say the Swiss were very effective in disrupting the Spanish. Possession really doesnt mean that much when you dont score any goals,

[bababui]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Germany deserved to lose that game. They had no interest at all in attacking and seemed content to give Spain 2/3 of the pitch to set up. I am not sure what their game plan was but it was terrible.
And Spain are a pretty boring team. They can string passes together but not where it counts for all their technical skill never seemed to want to take a man on one on one.
I suppose 1-0 was better than the game going to penalties which is where I saw it going. The match as a whole was a let down since Germany game in the game with no intention of wanting to win in regular time and Spain had to grind out a win and did not look all that great doing it. If Germany had not been playing for a tie I think they could have won it.

I really hope the Dutch go out there and just smash the stuffing out of Spain in the final. If they go out there from minute one attacking and throwing men forward I think they will give up some goals but overwhelm the Spanish and win.
However I fear that they will take the German approach and fear the Spanish for no reason at all and take a more conservative approach and give away the game.

The third place game the last few cups has been a good game to watch and I think Germany will go back to a care free attacking game and run up the score a bit. Uruguay could come into the game playing for pride or come into the game not caring a bit about the game. It's hard to say.

Ill be rooting for the Dutch too. I think Schneijder will be the difference. He plays with such passion.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by bababui

Spain changed their tactics after that match so I would say the Swiss were very effective in disrupting the Spanish. Possession really doesnt mean that much when you dont score any goals,

It is still better to have the possession than not. Especially when it is overwhelming. Plus I did not see the Swiss do anything let alone disrupt. All they did was stick everyone on defense and kick it wildy down the field. The hit the lottery on one of them. Spain has played the exact same way every game except for against Paraguay where at one point I thought they were going to lose.

What bothered me about Spain in this recent game was when after stringing 50 passes together and finally getting a guy down the flank, they would only send one guy in front of the goal. One guy? No way he could cross it and expect one guy to score.

I'm thinking maybe they were worried about the German counter.

But all of that lazy passing and control does have it's affect near the end.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

They can string passes together but not where it counts for all their technical skill never seemed to want to take a man on one on one.

Yeah, except against Germany when they had a chance to put the game away. Was it Pedro? He tries to pull a Maradona when he easily could have centered it to a wide open man just above the penalty dot. He is lucky Germany did not get the equalizer.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Yeah, except against Germany when they had a chance to put the game away. Was it Pedro? He tries to pull a Maradona when he easily could have centered it to a wide open man just above the penalty dot. He is lucky Germany did not get the equalizer.

That was a weird play. Pedro was the most active and best looking player out on the pitch today but when it came time to assist Torres he acted like he never even same him. It was really odd in that Torres was onside and flapping his arms like a mad man and was open for I counted 7 full seconds. I don't think I have ever seen a player that wide open and that close to another player not receive the ball at that level of play.
And for all his holding onto the ball he didn't even attempt a shot. He was eventually stopped by a plain tackle. That was a really odd play all the way around.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

It is still better to have the possession than not. Especially when it is overwhelming. Plus I did not see the Swiss do anything let alone disrupt. All they did was stick everyone on defense and kick it wildy down the field. The hit the lottery on one of them. Spain has played the exact same way every game except for against Paraguay where at one point I thought they were going to lose.

What bothered me about Spain in this recent game was when after stringing 50 passes together and finally getting a guy down the flank, they would only send one guy in front of the goal. One guy? No way he could cross it and expect one guy to score.

I'm thinking maybe they were worried about the German counter.

But all of that lazy passing and control does have it's affect near the end.

They played a 4-1-4-1 against the Swiss and then switched to a 4-5-1 or a 4-3-3. They cant put too many players forward because their Achilles heal are their central defenders. They arent too strong and they arent tall. It will be a chess match Sunday that could go either way. It will be the teamwork of the Spanish against the individual brilliance of Robbin, RvP and Schneijder.