2014 World Cup thread

Casillas hasn't exactly had a lack of top games though. Was their number one for the biggest club competition in the world and the competition Madrid craved the most

And he made a horrendous mistake in the finals which gave Atletico an unlikely lead before he was bailed out by the rest of his team. But of course everyone is a hero if their team wins
 
It's the same rhetoric, almost.

A big European nation is eliminated at the group stage, Asian and African nations underachieve, and South Americans are perennially downplayed. Mostly because no one cares enough to do research into them until it's too late.

Then obviously Germany cruising up until the semis, only to be eliminated by Argentina. Don't know about Brazil just yet.
 
Was working tonight but listened to the game and i wasn't that surprised actually. Spain's "tiki-taka" style has been dying all season i have been saying as much. Chelsea have always knew how to beat it and now everyone else has found their ways of dealing with it, everything comes to an end sometime. I personally am delighted, i absolutely despised the passing for passing sake game and how much everyone sucked the **** ov it! I'm going to back 2 Chelsea legends here because all of the **** Mourinho got for dropping Casillas and all the excuses people used for it, the funniest one was that Jose hated the Spaniards yet Casillas's replacement was Lopez who yes was Spanish!!! Ancelotti also dropped him last season, yes he was their Champions League keeper but you have to ask why just that competition? If he's #1 you play him in the league too surely? So this was on the cards and honestly i'm absolutely delighted he has had a mare in this tournament and in the CL final. On Spain why didn't they play with a false 9 in Fabregas? It kind of worked in the Euro's its working with Germany and the Spain #9 is basically a false player anyway as he has very little to do.
 
Was working tonight but listened to the game and i wasn't that surprised actually. Spain's "tiki-taka" style has been dying all season i have been saying as much. Chelsea have always knew how to beat it and now everyone else has found their ways of dealing with it, everything comes to an end sometime. I personally am delighted, i absolutely despised the passing for passing sake game and how much everyone sucked the **** ov it! I'm going to back 2 Chelsea legends here because all of the **** Mourinho got for dropping Casillas and all the excuses people used for it, the funniest one was that Jose hated the Spaniards yet Casillas's replacement was Lopez who yes was Spanish!!! Ancelotti also dropped him last season, yes he was their Champions League keeper but you have to ask why just that competition? If he's #1 you play him in the league too surely? So this was on the cards and honestly i'm absolutely delighted he has had a mare in this tournament and in the CL final. On Spain why didn't they play with a false 9 in Fabregas? It kind of worked in the Euro's its working with Germany and the Spain #9 is basically a false player anyway as he has very little to do.

Completely agree. This has been a long time coming and you could sense it after what Bayern did in last seasons UCL semi followed by last year's confederation cup final. Mourinho though he gets shat on all the time for his anti-taka anti-christ anti-football by the so called football purists knew how to stop them, he didn't always succeed and was outplayed more than a couple of times but his idea's were adopted and experimented on until teams got it right. Complimenting Mourinho being a Liverpool fan isn't easy but credit where credit is due.

As for Casillas, what a fall it has been for a man who at the 2010 world cup final kept the Spanish in it although Robben's profligacy can be equally blamed for it. I think a lot of these players have probably had too much success if thats even a thing. VdB should have brooded atleast some of the youngsters into the national squad with the Spanish U-21s winning the last 2 Euro's. They would have played with lesser fear, more determination and would have kept the others on their toes. It would have also given the young players a chance to travel with these experienced championship winning players and reduce the pressure on them. It will be unfair and hard on these younger players now, when they will be instantly required to fill the boots of their predecessors by a nation who has been literally spoilt by success.

There is still a lot of talent coming through in Spain and I don't believe this is the end for them. Though they require a drastic overall and evolution of their style to keep up. It's a lot like FM I guess, you need to make changes when the 'AI' adapts to your 'tactics.'

But what a World Cup! I know Brazil has had issues etc etc but this has been one of the most attacking World Cups I have ever seen and barring that Iran Nigeria game, every game has been a joy to watch. I still don't have the remotest idea of who might actually win the thing or has a good chance with so many teams impressing!
 
I'm sad that either mexico or Croatia will get knocked out off the group stage. They deserve to go through as they have been the better sides. I don't know if its pressure, but Brazil are seriously disappointing.
 
You guys are seriously overhyping Chile's perforrmance. They were good, but they were not that good. They basically took two half-chances and were extremely lucky not to concede. Spain outplayed them completely in literally all the stats except the goals.

How are we? Did you see their work-rate and the glaring chances they had? Sure Spain had some as well but Chile played very well and justified the win... I suggest you re-watch the whole game.
 
I'm sad that either mexico or Croatia will get knocked out off the group stage. They deserve to go through as they have been the better sides. I don't know if its pressure, but Brazil are seriously disappointing.

So am I. Brazil won their first game thanks to refinho and they were absolutely rubbish in the second one. Sure the Mexican keeper made a couple of great saves but on the whole Mexico deserved a point atleast. Croatia have been plain unlucky.
 
To be honest with Spain they have not really played the Tika Taka like they did in previous competitions due to Diego Costa up front. They used him like a centre forward instead of using the usual false nine up front. Costa as well looks unfit from his injury at the end of the season. If he does not improve from it then he is going to be the biggest dud signing next season for Chelsea.
 
Anyone else think the next "in" formation could be the 3-5-2?

Holland and Chile using it exceptionally well in this tournament and Mexico are yet to concede while using it too.

Think we could see it start to transfer down to club level soon, just like Barca's 4-3-3, Germany's 4-2-3-1 and Spain's False striker formation.
 
SM @stevounited

80m worth of Chelsea strikers kept quiet by a midfielder from Cardiff & a right back released by Nottingham Forest, both playing centre half
 
Was working tonight but listened to the game and i wasn't that surprised actually. Spain's "tiki-taka" style has been dying all season i have been saying as much. Chelsea have always knew how to beat it and now everyone else has found their ways of dealing with it, everything comes to an end sometime. I personally am delighted, i absolutely despised the passing for passing sake game and how much everyone sucked the **** ov it! I'm going to back 2 Chelsea legends here because all of the **** Mourinho got for dropping Casillas and all the excuses people used for it, the funniest one was that Jose hated the Spaniards yet Casillas's replacement was Lopez who yes was Spanish!!! Ancelotti also dropped him last season, yes he was their Champions League keeper but you have to ask why just that competition? If he's #1 you play him in the league too surely? So this was on the cards and honestly i'm absolutely delighted he has had a mare in this tournament and in the CL final. On Spain why didn't they play with a false 9 in Fabregas? It kind of worked in the Euro's its working with Germany and the Spain #9 is basically a false player anyway as he has very little to do.

It's funny how you work out something to relate everything back to Chelsea and their glorious methods.
 
Anyone else think the next "in" formation could be the 3-5-2?

Holland and Chile using it exceptionally well in this tournament and Mexico are yet to concede while using it too.

Think we could see it start to transfer down to club level soon, just like Barca's 4-3-3, Germany's 4-2-3-1 and Spain's False striker formation.

Inter use 3-5-2 and so does Juventus, many believe that's something that didn't work for Juve in CL and they should have played 4-3-3. At least Inter fans believe 3-5-2 is outdated **** and want Mazzarri to make use of 4 defenders but Mazzarri never used any other methods.

Also this is something that cost Mancini big time when all of a sudden he tried to play 3-5-2.
 
Everton were responsible for Cahills goal yesterday

It was Moyes and his lack of balls approach that killed Spain, RVP wouldn't have scored that header if Moyes didn't ask defenders to hoof the ball to RVP and ask him to head it and chase.
 
It was Moyes and his lack of balls approach that killed Spain, RVP wouldn't have scored that header if Moyes didn't ask defenders to hoof the ball to RVP and ask him to head it and chase.

Yup. If Holland win the World Cup it's down to DM not LVG (H) lol
 
Really not optimistic about tonight... I just have a bad feeling for England :\
 
England might edge tonight's game 1-0, and I have a feeling Colombia and Ivory Coast is going to end 1-1.
 
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