The Official Football/Soccer Thread: 2017-2018 Season
-
I watched the first half of Brazil-Netherlands and I thought Brazil would win. Though I didn't like Brazil playing like Inter, only counterattack and don't even trying to play the ball sometimes. But as the Netherlands defense seemed not very good... every Brazil attack was half of a goal. Though Robben wasn't yet able to play cause simply they didn't let him till the referee showed cards... So I don't know how the 2nd half was... I watched the end of Ghana-Uruguay I really liked Ghana, sometimes I thought it was Brazil playing... 1-1 Penalty shootout and Uruguay won. Last penalty was shooted by "El Loco" ("the madman", "crazy" Abreu).... and he showed why they call him so . Panenka penalty in the fifth penalty and Uruguay won. Spain doesn't reach semifinals till..... 1950, 60 years ago!. I believe they'll win the world cup. If they won tomorrow I must start recording We Are The Champions (as promised), just in case. Fantastic play by Brazil in that one Robinho to Fabiano to Kaka shooting to the top corner. But my fav play this World Cup was Spain's goal to Portugal. Alonso, Iniesta and Xavi passed the ball without looking at any player!
-
-
My heart goes out to Africa United over the excruciating end to their semi-final. To those that missed it. 1 - 1 after full time, 1 - 1 right up to injury time in extra time. Final goal skirmish - Ghana attacking Uraguay, goal prevented by an Uraguayan hand-ball on thegoal-line - leading to that player being sent off and a penalty goal-kick. So before the penalty shoot-out is due, literally one shot for glory. Ghanayan goal-kicker steps up to seal their country's passage to the semi-finals.... and hits the crossbar Sadly Ghana losses the penalty shoot-out. And then has to watch the Uraguayan "handballer" feted as their county's hero by his colleagues - he misses the semi-final but Uraguay progress due to his goal line hand-ball. Dramatic ending indeed. Martin
-
For me the real sad thing would have been if that handball would have not been given... but it seems that's over.... Germany 4 - Argentina 0 Germany played very very well. Kind of mixing Germany's classic style with a little bit of Spain's playing. I hope now Spain mix his playing with a little of Germany's crossings and heading and long shots cause Paraguay is gonna be very very very defensive. They already have said that their goal is to end 0-0 and shoot penalties. Paraguay is the team his players has run the most, shooted the less, and commited more fouls... Kind of like against Portugal, I hope a 1-0. I don't have a clue of how they're going to score... If the goal comes soon there'll be more. If not, 0-0 and I guess Spain will win because the shooters and keeper are better... This is the last match Spain won at World Cup's quarterfinals Spain-England 1950
-
21st Century Paul:
I hope a 1-0. I don't have a clue of how they're going to score...
That's it. I didn't but they did it in another magical attack and after hitting the post three times. Very very defensive Paraguay, as expected, silly but true Pique penalty but Casillas stopped it (That's not "luck", Casillas always waits for the player to shoot...). And some seconds after... penalty favouring Spain, scored but the referee decided to repeat the penalty. This is the "Referees Mistakes" part, not gone, it seems. When Casillas stopped the penalty the referee should have repeated the penalty cause some Spanish defenders entered the area before they should. Nothing strange happened in the penalty Alonso scored but I guess the ref wanted to "countermistake" or whatever the word, so it was repeated and stopped... And then yet another penalty happened in the rebound of Alonso's shot but it was not given (like the red cars the goalkeeper should have received). The thing is Paraguay won Brazil and Argentina lately, it wasn't easy but Spain has come trough. Next one is Germany, I don't know if Germany is gonna wait defending too. "I've had my share of sand kicked in my face But I've come through (on and on and on...)" "Spain suffers to change his fate" is the headline of some newspaper here. Or maybe finally faces his fate...
-
Germany deserved to win but.... they (the Germans) are surprised for the second time of the results.... just like what happened to England England dont deserve 4-1 lose, although I am sure their second goal which was killed would have changed things in that game. Argentine dont deserve 4-0 lose, yes their defense is very weak from the beginning of the world cup, but....they played open and gave the most interesting and enjoyment for this year, I feel so sad for Maradona, the greatest player and inspiration an soccer for the last 30 years....
-
by the way I think Mick Jagger brought bad luck to England he did the same to U.S and Argentine.
-
Ammar:
by the way I think Mick Jagger brought bad luck to England he did the same to U.S and Argentine.
then if he's on the Germany-Spain match.... who'll be the unlucky team?
-
In case there was still doubt, yesterday it was proven that the romance between the TV sports Journalist and Casillas doesn't distracts him at all. (Maybe she is the distracted one , he seems to be thinking about the match). The thing is that they meet each other just after the end of every match and still "act professional". Maybe they won't after the final... Maradona almost had a fight yesterday with German supporters, her daughter stepped in. Also he spent most of the match insulting the referees, and there was not even any controversy... mmm.... well I think Maradona wanted Messi to become really 21st Century Maradona or so... kind of his exact impersonation and tried to play just like in Mexico 86, with Messi doing just the same role as he did. But Messi is not Diego, Messi can even be better than Maradona in some things but it's not him and it hasn't worked out at all.
-
21st Century Paul:
Ammar:
by the way I think Mick Jagger brought bad luck to England he did the same to U.S and Argentine.
then if he's on the Germany-Spain match.... who'll be the unlucky team?
I think he supported Argentine cause Germany won England... if he goes on supporting every team against Germany then Germany will be world Champion
21st Century Paul:
mmm.... well I think Maradona wanted Messi to become really 21st Century Maradona or so... kind of his exact impersonation and tried to play just like in Mexico 86, with Messi doing just the same role as he did. But Messi is not Diego, Messi can even be better than Maradona in some things but it's not him and it hasn't worked out at all.
yes Maradona sees himself in Messi and loves him so much, but I dont think Messi will ever be better than him, they might have the same talent... but Maradona knew how to beat teams all by himself... his brain worked in a very effective way in bad times... Argentine had a very weak team in 1990, he managed to lead them to the final, beating the most strong team Brazil by doing one pass... one pass only in the whole match made the difference, the Brazilians was attacking the whole 90 minutes, they cut Maradona from his team but he did it . Messi may gain more experience and learn more for the next few years, be more mature... and can lead the team to get the world cup in 2014.
-
Congratulations Holland hope They will get the Cup this time
-
Congratulations to our Dutch team. Yes...the Orange Lions where thirsty and just eat the Urugay team
-
FINALS here we come!!! WEEEEEEEEEHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
-
1974 germany-holland 2-1 1974 argentina - holland 3-1 2010 spain/germany - holland ???? come on guys, do it please!
-
http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/dutch-paint-the-town-orange--fbintl_dw-orange070610.html Dutch paint the town orange
-
Ammar:
21st Century Paul:
Ammar:
by the way I think Mick Jagger brought bad luck to England he did the same to U.S and Argentine.
then if he's on the Germany-Spain match.... who'll be the unlucky team?
I think he supported Argentine cause Germany won England... if he goes on supporting every team against Germany then Germany will be world Champion
21st Century Paul:
mmm.... well I think Maradona wanted Messi to become really 21st Century Maradona or so... kind of his exact impersonation and tried to play just like in Mexico 86, with Messi doing just the same role as he did. But Messi is not Diego, Messi can even be better than Maradona in some things but it's not him and it hasn't worked out at all.
yes Maradona sees himself in Messi and loves him so much, but I dont think Messi will ever be better than him, they might have the same talent... but Maradona knew how to beat teams all by himself... his brain worked in a very effective way in bad times... Argentine had a very weak team in 1990, he managed to lead them to the final, beating the most strong team Brazil by doing one pass... one pass only in the whole match made the difference, the Brazilians was attacking the whole 90 minutes, they cut Maradona from his team but he did it . Messi may gain more experience and learn more for the next few years, be more mature... and can lead the team to get the world cup in 2014.
Well there's an octopus who seems to predict World Cup results... and it has nothing to do with Mick Jagger... actually the octopus name is PAUL. here is Paul the Octopus predicting Germany losing with Spain today
here predicting the rest of Germany matches I'd like to be... under the sea... in a octopus garden... The thing is I don't know if Messi is better than Maradona or not cause I haven't seen Diego play much. But I see they were different, Messi can't drible straight to goal through the center of the field like Maradona, Messi needs more space so he goes to the wing... -
Congratulations Holland. I think the top 3 teams of the tournament are the one that now remain... Some think this is a strange World Cup because of the teams on semifinals... Well Holland is #3 in Fifa's ranking. Spain is #1 and I think Germany is #2... so the only surprise is Uruguay. And I think also Germany and Spain are the best teams and today is the virtual final match. Low said they are not going to play defensive against team... I'm not so sure, everyone does that... and I think they're right... Well, if they play a face to face thing, lots of goals expected... I'm with Paul the octopus.
-
Standings of the Macca Board Fantasy Football World Cup with 2 rounds left 1 me 437 2 daniel 418 3 unclesox 358 Daniel trusted in Germany's players and it has payed off. It seems it's gonna be between Daniel and me. The final round can be very tricky because of the 3rd and 4th place match, that can have any XIs...
-
Finally someone else proved that Germany was not a Giant like it appeared to be... Serbia did that earlier. Bad luck and play from England made Germany win...in another day they wont. Bad luck and play and Defense from Argentine made Germany win...in another day they wont... Germany was lost in front of Spain...I am not sure if they can get the 3rd place.
-
"But it's been no bed of roses no pleasure cruise I consider it a challenge before the whole human race and I ain't gonna lose" well, I really think that Germany in the 2nd best team in the World Cup... and yes, in the end, they played very very defensive, pure catenaccio... but one of the differences between this Spain and the old Spain is patience. All those lots of crossings had no chance cause Villa had no chance against Mertesacker... this is the international press http://www.as.com/futbol/fotogaleria/ve-prensa-internacional-pase-espana/dasftb/20100708dasdasftb_1/Zes La Gazzetta dello Sport Spain you're Beautiful! The most beautiful one beats the boredom. http://www.as.com/recorte/20100708dasdasftb_9/LCO/Ies/ve_prensa_internacional_pase_Espana.jpg A Bola Spanish perfection and so on, I can't translate the German ones... L'Equipe The Winds of Change http://www.as.com/recorte/20100708dasdasftb_14/LCO/Ies/ve_prensa_internacional_pase_Espana.jpg http://www.as.com/recorte/20100707dasdasftb_80/LCO/Ies/Alemania-Espana_imagenes.jpg http://www.as.com/recorte/20100707dasdasftb_82/LCO/Ies/Alemania-Espana_imagenes.jpg http://www.as.com/recorte/20100707dasdasftb_78/LCO/Ies/Alemania-Espana_imagenes.jpg http://www.as.com/recorte/20100707dasdasftb_73/LCO/Ies/Alemania-Espana_imagenes.jpg