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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 25, 2010 12:17:15 GMT
It's certainly been a World Cup where teams are underperforming. So far only Argentina have really been consistently good.
Andy
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Post by jameso on Jun 25, 2010 12:53:47 GMT
On the other hand though, if we take Holland, winning all three games and not playing that well is actually perfect in an international tournament. Holland have really suffered before with being amazing in the group stage, playing one bad game in the knockouts and getting eliminated. Brazil are performing in much the same way.
Bit disappointed England are playing Germany, as I don't want either side out so early. It should be a cracking game though.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 27, 2010 7:23:20 GMT
EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! Cant' wait for the game later!!!!! I too am disapointed it's only the last 16, this type of game should be semis, or quarters at least! I think, if England up their game for the occasion, and Germany are a little off as they were against Serbia, England can beat Germany. However, the Germans, in their other two games, looked darn good, and in loosing to Serbia, it's given them a scare, and I think that makes good teams better, more focussed. England are on the rise in terms of form, but have they risen enough?
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 27, 2010 13:38:04 GMT
Here we go.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 27, 2010 16:12:38 GMT
Dear God. What an utterly humiliating disapointment. England were truely aweful. The better team won, and Germany deserved to win. They were very good, not brilliant, but very good- certainly capable of opening up the sunday league team England brought out. Lampard's disallowed goal was unbelievable, it might have well have been a mile over the line it was so obvious it was in. Now, before then, Germany had opened us up so badly that they could well have been 4 up by that point, but one player, David James, kept us in it, and if Lampard's goal had been counted, 2-2 would have been a completely different game. However, Germany had the measure of our defensive weaknesses so efficiently that one would have to say they would have won eventually anyway. But what a terrible performance by England. Truely awefull.
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Post by blueshift on Jun 27, 2010 16:45:04 GMT
Bloody hell England, what a dire performance.
I wonder what excuse they'll wheel out this time!
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Stomski
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Post by Stomski on Jun 27, 2010 19:51:04 GMT
Is now the right time to tell you guys I'm half German???
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Post by blueshift on Jun 27, 2010 20:16:39 GMT
Is now the right time to tell you guys I'm half German??? Don't worry, I'm quarter German!
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Post by grahamthomson on Jun 28, 2010 8:51:57 GMT
I was born in Germany.
The German team did deserve to win yesterday, no doubt about that.
So... any thoughts for a winner next month?
There was a distinct lack of England flags on cars this morning. Fans can be so fickle!
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Post by Stomski on Jun 28, 2010 12:07:58 GMT
Yup, so much for it being a sign of patriotism!
Capello should not step down, clearly the players underperformed (ok, so Gerrard on the left and Terry out of position may have some contributing factor) but his qualifying record was immense. But when we were up against weaker teams they probably should have used that time to experiment with different formations.
No one seems to have mentioned the impact that missing Rio Ferdinand has had on the defence.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 28, 2010 17:11:39 GMT
Yeah, I think Capello should get another shot. God knows what was wrong though, and he ain't telling. Utter disaster, frankly.
I'm supporting the Netherlands now, top team, and I've a Dutch mate. Think Argentina possibly, maybe Germany (what a quarter that'll be!), maybe Spain, and naturally Brazil have a shout at it. Be great if Ghana won!
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 30, 2010 8:32:57 GMT
So, now we're well into the knock out stage, what do we all think about Penalty Shootouts?
Personally, I love 'em! The drama! I don't think there is a fairer way to end a tied match. Penalty Shootouts not only test a player's skill (in hitting the ball correctly and not missing, and the keepers skill to save it), but also, and more importantly I think, they test the sportsman's mental strength, his concentration and courage. I think there is an element of luck as well, but I think penalties can be practiced, muscle memory being trained to a high degree, so that the technique is of a very high quality, and then it's just up to the player's mental strength to take it. That preasure I don't think you can practice, but that just makes it more of a test for the player.
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Post by Stomski on Jun 30, 2010 15:57:46 GMT
If two teams can't be separated by goals scored after 120 minutes of play, then they're pretty much as good as each other anyway.
And let's face it, penalties are a lot better than simply flipping a coin!
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 30, 2010 16:25:22 GMT
Darn tootin'!
I think pens are the only way to separate two locked teams, 'cos, in the end, it comes down do the individual sportsman's metal strength!
Really enjoyed the other last 16 games. Spain just wouldn't give up against that water tight Portugal defence, and got the win. Good game. Can't wait for the quarters, inbetween nights for the Argentina/Germany game, just gunna get up early and watch it anyway! I'll sleep next week!
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Post by jameso on Jun 30, 2010 16:39:26 GMT
You used to get penalty shoot outs where one team would have 11 behind the ball against a much better team, get to penalties and eliminate the better team. When that happens penalty shoot outs seem a bit inappropriate. Nowadays it's more like it was in the Japan/Paraguay game where two teams don't want to lose and it just ends in stalemate, and then the shootout is the only interesting thing about the match. I don't like shootouts in finals either, Manchester United winning the Champion's League because John Terry slipped over for instance.
Having said that, there aren't any other legitimate options for deciding a winner for me.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 30, 2010 16:59:45 GMT
Yeah, good point about teams playing for penalties, that's crap sportsmanship. But in finals, when not even half an hour more play can separate two teams, there's only a shootout that can do it, because, I beleive, that it's the 'ultimate' form of football, ie a test of the sportsman's mental discipline. As for falling over, freaky stuff like that, Beckham's sandy penalty spot etc, it's damn unfortunate and I'm not sure what can be done about that. Best penalty spots maintained by groundsman perhaps. Falling over, maybe that's just not practicing his technique enough, I don't know, I've never been in a penalty shootout!
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Post by jameso on Jul 1, 2010 11:59:41 GMT
I don't see why we can't have replays for the final, it's not like it's going to clash with anything coming, as it does, at the end of the season.
I do agree that penalties are a skill and a mental discipline though, and if one team is so much better than the other at them they probably do deserve to win. I normally feel that in German shootouts when Germany are just so good at them you can't say 'oh, they're a lottery'.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jul 1, 2010 18:41:51 GMT
Good idea 'bout replays! Why not? For the final, and pens after the replay if that's a draw.
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Post by jameso on Jul 2, 2010 15:58:06 GMT
Well I couldn't see beyond Brazil winning it, not that I really wanted them to, so it's all up in the air now!
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Post by Shockprowl on Jul 3, 2010 8:49:34 GMT
I know! What a game! I was at work, but managed to see bits and pieces of it! I fancy Holland to beat Urugauy, which would put them in the final! Hurrrah! I was sorry Ghana lost, although I quite like Urugauy as well. Couldn't beleive whatshisname missed the penalty at the very end of extra time! Germany/Argentina this aft, gunna be an interesting game. But yeah, it's all open now! Very exciting stuff!
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Post by Shockprowl on Jul 4, 2010 11:06:30 GMT
Two incredible games yesterday! I'd never have guessed Germany would be able to beat Argentina 4 - 0! Only able to listen to the Spain/Paraguay game on the radio, but that was darn exciting game n'all! Who can stop the Germans? Spain have a chance, but they're gunna have to play a good game to get on top of a wonderfull German team. Holland should get through against Urugauy, so that's a Holland/Germany final! Wanting the Dutch to win as I do, it's looking like a tense game on Sunday!
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Post by Dave on Jul 4, 2010 17:07:09 GMT
Very good games. I was expecting Germany/Argentina to be close but I was very very wrong. Looking forward to the remaining games.
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Post by Stomski on Jul 5, 2010 12:55:31 GMT
Where do we stand on the Uruguay hand ball? On the line, injury time of extra time... If goal had gone in, Ghana win. Hand ball resulted in a penalty which they missed. Immediately goes extra time ends and it goes to penalties, which they lose.
Gutted for them.
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Post by jameso on Jul 5, 2010 14:10:16 GMT
I can certainly see why Ghana would be pissed, but it's a long standing rule in football that you can take the gamble that if you hand ball on the line to stop a certain goal then you will be sent off, you will get banned and your opponent will get a penalty - but they might miss and then it would be worthwhile. It's part of the game and I think you could argue it was somewhat clever for Suarez to do it. Adrian Chiles on ITV compared it to Maradona's handball goal against England in 1986, which is laughable and shows a complete lack of understanding about football, I felt.
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Post by Bogatan on Jul 5, 2010 14:25:46 GMT
Yeah not the nicest thing to have done but if an England player had done it and resulted in England progressing I cant say I would have felt 100% proud but I wouldn't have disowned the player either.
I do feel really bad for Ghana though.
But he chose to commit a foul and was punished. Maradonna or Henry in the qualifiers commited a foul to gain an advantage and were not punished for it so totally different issue.
Andy
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Post by Cullen on Jul 5, 2010 21:10:25 GMT
The handball is the worst kind of cheating: something bad that the rules allow. Like MPs expenses. I hope Holland thump them.
Feeling pretty good about having Germany in the office sweepstakes.
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Post by jameso on Jul 5, 2010 21:39:13 GMT
It's nothing like MPs expenses, there's no punishment attached to claiming expenses.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jul 7, 2010 17:14:23 GMT
GO HOLLAND!!!! Good game. Should be a belter tonight as well!
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Post by jameso on Jul 8, 2010 0:31:48 GMT
Germany are out. Bah!
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Post by Shockprowl on Jul 8, 2010 7:59:53 GMT
It was a fantastic game! Germany's attacking football just couldn't get the better of Spain's supperior passing style. Fascinating to watch. I'm pleased Spain are through, I like the way they play, and they're the best team consistently, but I do feel sorry for the Germans. They've given this World Cup an attacking masterclass, and shown us exactly what team spirit can do. I hope England take notes from them. That is how to do it.
In a way, it would have been fab to have had Holland v Germany in the final, huge rivals as they are, but there's tons of history between Spain and Holland (historically I mean, couldn't beleive they have NEVER played each other, in either a World or European Cup!). Two very good teams, should be a fantastic final. Just hope Holland can edge it! COME ON HOLLAND!!!!
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