FIFA World Cup 2014

[theyoungest]

That ridiculous free kick stumble by Müller was symptomatic for the German game. Löw has big ideas but his players have the form nor the quality to carry them out.

These are not the new world champions. Unless they play in the "old" German way, and just rely on stamina and luck. Maybe Mertesacker will feel a little more at home then, what a limited player he is.

 

[Jagartrott]

Extra time is best I could have hoped for. Kudos to Algeria for making it. This is the most uneven game of the entire World Cup. I don't know if there is a single Algerian would make the Germany d team.

Germany now have Tuesday Wednsday and Thursday only to recover for France.

What are you talking about? Algeria had several very good chances, they played fast and technical. Your disdain for Algeria is not warranted and quite rude.

 

[thrawn]

What are you talking about? Algeria had several very good chances, they played fast and technical. Your disdain for Algeria is not warranted and quite rude.

I think he meant it was the biggest mismatch on paper, not what transpired during the game.

 

[Jagartrott]

I think he meant it was the biggest mismatch on paper, not what transpired during the game.

"I don't know if there is a single Algerian would make the Germany d team."

 

[l.Harm]

Yes, that's true. Although I would not call it the biggest mismatch of the entire tournament. Argentina-Iran, France-Honduras in theory too.

 

[gooner]

Cameroon are investigating match fixing with regards to 7 of their own players.

Cameroon officials are to investigate claims that seven of their players were involved in match-fixing at the World Cup in Brazil.
The ethics committee of the African country's football federation will look at allegations of "fraud" by "seven bad apples" in their three group games.

Very interesting it comes on the back of this. Foxxy posted the link to this up thread.

The allegations were made by convicted football match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, who was detained by police in Finland in April on an international arrest warrant.

In a discussion with Der Spiegel, the Singaporean correctly forecast the result with Croatia and that a player would be sent off.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28102841

 

[Flamin]

These are not the new world champions. Unless they play in the "old" German way, and just rely on stamina and luck. Maybe Mertesacker will feel a little more at home then, what a limited player he is.

I thought the same about Brazil after the first game, but there's just nobody who sticks out. Every team has clear weak spots. Everything is wide open.

 

[theyoungest]

I thought the same about Brazil after the first game, but there's just nobody who sticks out. Every team has clear weak spots. Everything is wide open.

Colombia have been consistently good. And they have a standout player, which seems to be the key to World Cup success.

 

[Flamin]

Colombia have been consistently good. And they have a standout player, which seems to be the key to World Cup success.

Like most South-American teams, they have been playing entertaining football, but they don't have as much quality as teams like Brazil, Germany, France.. They could do it, but so can like 5 other teams.

 

[l.Harm]

But still not really tested. Have to win three difficult matches against Brazil, Germany/France and the final (Argentina/Netherlands probably). Not gonna happen.

 

[The Hitch]

What are you talking about? Algeria had several very good chances, they played fast and technical. Your disdain for Algeria is not warranted and quite rude.

I think he meant it was the biggest mismatch on paper, not what transpired during the game.

"I don't know if there is a single Algerian would make the Germany d team."

Yes, which clearly means it's the biggest mismatch on paper. Since no Algerian could make the Germany d team. When Germany played Ghana the media reported no Ghanaian could make the Germany team. Algeria on paper was even weaker. Germany are top to bottom superstars and the best team in the world cup.

Which is why it was a pleasant surprise to see Algeria do so well. Hell without that 1 mistake by the rb they could very well have gone to penalties.

 

[Jagartrott]

Have you seen Germany's central defenders and their wing backs?

 

[The Hitch]

Have you seen Germany's central defenders and their wing backs?

And which team doesn't have weaknesses?

Some of other the favourites are comprised mostly of Europa League caliber players, and Brazil, Colombia and Argentina all have players who can't even make the European leagues anymore.

On Germany every single player in the first 11 is a starter for a Champions League team. Hell I think 8 or 9 of the starters played in a Champions League final in the last 14 months
Isn't one of their centrebacks - Hummels, considered one of the best defenders in the world? the other - Mertesacker, is still an Arsenal starter, better than what anyone else seems to have in their 2nd centre back role.

Value wise im pretty sure this team would be by far the most expensive

 

[Jagartrott]

You said 'Germany are top to bottom superstars'

I wouldn't call any of their back four superstars. Mertesacker is decent when defending deep. When defending high, there are dozens of players that are better than him. Both backs are poor when it comes to attacking and technical ability. If a modest team like Algeria can expose their defensive flaws, what will a truly good team do? Hummels (their best center back) didn't play, by the way, he was ill.

 

[theyoungest]

You said 'Germany are top to bottom superstars'

I wouldn't call any of their back four superstars. Mertesacker is decent when defending deep. When defending high, there are dozens of players that are better than him. Both backs are poor when it comes to attacking and technical ability. If a modest team like Algeria can expose their defensive flaws, what will a truly good team do? Hummels (their best center back) didn't play, by the way, he was ill.

... but, on paper, The Hitch is probably right when he says they're the biggest stars in terms of net worth.

Although England, with all its traditionally overpriced players, tells us that doesn't really mean much. A country with a strong domestic league tends to have expensive players.

 

[l.Harm]

Top to bottom rockstars is a little too much though

 

[Flamin]

You said 'Germany are top to bottom superstars'

I wouldn't call any of their back four superstars. Mertesacker is decent when defending deep. When defending high, there are dozens of players that are better than him. Both backs are poor when it comes to attacking and technical ability. If a modest team like Algeria can expose their defensive flaws, what will a truly good team do? Hummels (their best center back) didn't play, by the way, he was ill.

Hard to imagine Germany will play with the same high line against France though. It's better to make a few mistakes now so can you learn from it when the real games start.

 

[The Hitch]

... but, on paper, The Hitch is probably right when he says they're the biggest stars in terms of net worth.

Although England, with all its traditionally overpriced players, tells us that doesn't really mean much. A country with a strong domestic league tends to have expensive players.

England had more superstars and was more like Germany in terms of quality in 2002- 2006 and they were very much contenders in that period, losing on penalties twice (being the better team) and once a close game to the eventual champions Brazil.

Right now England don't have any superstars really.

And I think the top England domestic squads have more foreign players. When Chelsea played Bayern in the Champions League final they had 4 English players start while Bayern had 8 German players.

Germany are more like Spain. They have 2 top domestic squads made up mostly of local players, that are performing really well in Europe, from which the majority of the team comes from, so they know how to play well together

 

[theyoungest]

England had more superstars and was more like Germany in terms of quality in 2002- 2006 and they were very much contenders in that period, losing on penalties twice (being the better team) and once a close game to the eventual champions Brazil.

Right now England don't have any superstars really.

And I think the top England domestic squads have more foreign players. When Chelsea played Bayern in the Champions League final they had 4 English players start while Bayern had 8 German players.

Germany are more like Spain. They have 2 top domestic squads made up mostly of local players, that are performing really well in Europe, from which the majority of the team comes from, so they know how to play well together

Yes, England has more foreign players, causing their home players to become more and more overpriced. That 18-year-old left back who has just become the 4th most expensive defender in history... lol. Adam Lallana being worth twice as much as Ivan Rakitic... lol.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The Swiss muscle man

will run riot and hammer two nails in Argentina's coffin.

1 - 2

 

[gustienordic]

Loew should stop using his back four of central backs and play Durm lb and Lahm rb. Then Lahm can still come forward, but instead Khedira could play in the holding midfield position with two CAMs of Schweinsteiger and Ozil. Put Goetze, Podolski, and Muller upfront with Schurrle as a sub for Goetze.

I feel like anyone could manage Germany's team with the crazy talent they have (If only Reus wasn't injured )

 

[Amsterhammer]

The Argies are utterly unconvincing so far. Time for Messi to wake up.

 

[thirteen]

The Argies are utterly unconvincing so far. Time for Messi to wake up.

neither side is particularly scintillating, pfffffft!

somebody score ffs

 

[The Hitch]

Should have brought Tevez

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Terrible match.
Complete waste of time.