I do not know what is so wrong about a part of Brazilians rallying behind Messi and Mascherano (both Barca teammates). Enjoy the WC. Diversity rules. This whole Brazil-Argentina hated rivalry is overrated like Parsons in the GARM. (2nd rounder paid like a superstar) I guess O Globo is trying to use propanganda but the masses do what the masses believe in.
Obviously a different scenario since they are teammates, that's normal. Who said it was wrong? What are you even talking about? The word is propaganda and it's actually Twitter conducting a survey that determines in what colors Cristo Redentor shall be lit at night most of the time. But don't let that get in the way of your little rants.
Germany got this.... <iframe width="480" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MLF6QsvBlU8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="480" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dIvXyu1N5Yw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I didn't rant man, I just mean to say we agree to disagree on this matter. You on the other side have been hostile to me, asking about my age. No tolerance policy I guess where you grew up, Sir
Come on, man. I am sensing you don't like my post but stop acting like a grammar and spelling nazi here. I mispelled ok? What is with you Germans, always being so over-correct about everything?
I am not hostile, it is just frustrating to see you continue to clutter the thread with every random thought that goes through your head.
I just said I am trying and the World Cup is about to be over. The best I can do. I have an explanation for you. It's just seeming that way because there is only so many fans of teams left here. This thread had more fans posting during the group stage and before the WC, I wasn't even here then.(I have proof- go back and before the first group stages- I wasn't posting at all) Why can't we just enjoy talking about the WC and go on vacation? Or in your case have a little patience with me? Sorry but you are not a moderator so I can respect what you post but you cannot tell me what to do or what to think. And yes I know what hostility in words sound like
Great post. I agree I would not have minded starting Krul, but van Gaal is loyal to his players, so I understand his choice. Van Persie has been getting to much rope in every big tournament by every coach. He plays terrible for the dutch team. every now and then he has a brilliant play, but most of the time he is invissible and not even a good target for long passes. Most people here have been saying this for yeas. We know Van Persie is amazing with his clubs, but just not with the national team. I prefer Huntelaar. I feel bad for Vlaar, he was amazing during the game (I believe he won 100% of his tackles), at one point i asked my friend wether it was Vlaar or Jaap Stam playing. I think very few people blame Vlaar for missing the penalty (which was different in previous WC and EC, Seedorft, De Boer, Davids, Van Basten). For me the euros are much less important, but that is mainly because we have already won the Euros, and It is sad to think we are the only team to make it to a final of a WC in the last 40 years and not win it. Agreed nobody cares for this game, just like we did not care in 1998. Why let two team that just missed the finals play for a meaningless game. (I know money) Funny, maybe... but not funny haha My guess is actually that it was that 2 did not want to shoot first. I vaguely remember him saying that in the interview. On top of that Vlaar was the person who was suppossed to shoot the 6th penalty against Costa Rica. Die Mannschaft sounds cooler.:grin: That being said the Dutch journalist do the same.
I feel better than just after the game. before this tournament nobody gave us a chance. I expected us to lose in the second round to Brazil, so overal we have had a lot more fun this tournament than I expected. Also in the past when we lost with pk i really felt we were the best team in the tournament (during the 90's). This tournament I did not feel we were the best team, yes we won but we had to much trouble with Mexico and Costa Rica. Also we could not create anything against Argentina (they also could not create against us, but still). Overal i'm proud of how well our defense played, and since most of them are quie young (Vlaar by far the oldest at 29) they can play a couple of tournaments. I like how the team played as a team. I do not like Van Gaal's personality. But you have to respect what he did with this team. I expect that team will start taking a penalty killer Goalkeeper to the next big tournament to maybe use Van Gaals tactics. To me Germany was the best team and deserve to win. Also I found this interesting. Did Ron Vlaar's penalty cross the line Not saying it was a goal because we cannot see if it crosses the line completely , or that it should count if it did, but it is interesting. It would have been brilliant if it did count, what a psychological punch that would have been for Argentina:grin:
I can understand why big nations would not want to play in a match for nothing but according to stats except for this WC in the last 4 WCs (correct me if I am wrong)dark horses emerged regularly. South Korea, Senegal, Turkey in 2002, Uruguay in 2010, Portugal(half a dark horse) in 2006, Croatia in 1998 I think for a lot of those nations that do not get to advance to the Semi finals regularly this is like a boon. 3rd place is like winning the WC for a lot of those nations. Their best result in a long time. I doubt people were arguing at that time. I understand that because there are no real dark horses this year, playing a 3rd/4th game seems to be redundant. FIFA cannot make exceptions, every WC got to have a 3rd/4th match game according to guidelines. It is unfortunate for the Netherlands. Can't change that.
I have always thought it was stupid to play this game (in 1998 you could see the entire team/nation not caring). I do not see the advantage of having this game, for those dark horse teams it was already great that they made the semi finals, and what is the advantage of having the teams play another game to determine who is third (IMHO both teams losing in the semi finals finished the same). Should we have the teams losing in the Conference finals also play a resies against each other. I understand that we have to play Saterday, I do not want them to make an exception, I want them to change the rules so that in the future we do not have these meaningless games. Oh I just saw that Vlaar did indeed touch the ball after the penalty with his shoulder, so it was not a goal even if it did pass the goal line.
The third place winner was rewarded with a Bronze medal. It is at least a souvenir. 1st and 2nd place also get medals. The rest will walk away with pride in their hearts. FIFA and Olympics are big on giving out medals. Do what you have to do to stop this game but I won't be satifisfied if they did not give out bronze medals at the Olympics.
For me there is a big difference in culture in the Olympics and the WC. Witht he olympics there are many sports were the final is between more than 2 participants, in those instances it is great to have three medals. And with the olympics there is a culture that there are 3 medals. In the WC there is much more a mentallity that only becoming the World champion counts. I am not going to do anything to stop this game, I just think it is a stupid game. And I will probably watch Saterday, but I excpect to fall asleep during the game. btw were are you from, The time you post are similar to most european posters here. I thought you were from Mexico/USA (or are you just somebody who works at night?)
Argh, so true. Always shaking my head when reading English articles about German teams, the authors always give the team a nickname that's never used in Germany.
I am temporarily staying in Asia. (Korean/China time) I am going to Europe but long after the World Cup. Thanks for asking. Yeah, I can only sympathize with Dutch fans, it has been extreme bad luck throughout history, throughout decades over decades. What I realized is that the FIFA has a working relationship with the Olympic Committee. The 2012 London Olympic soccer final between Brazil and Mexico was grand. People over the world are starting to watch it so this suggests FIFA will keep this 3rd/4th match for the timebeing. This medal system I was talking about. This 'small final' surely will not be thrilling to fans but it might give bench players some more playing time. It might be just 'another match' not worth talking about but we might see a couple of young players.
Yeah, RVP just never comes through. He had a great goal and that's pretty much it. Otherwise his actual play wasn't amazing in my opinion. He really can't take the ball and run at people anymore - when he was at Feyenoord he wasn't super fast, but he could take people on. And he seemed to be the only one who wasn't fit. To be fair, he did have that stomach bug before the match. It's just disappointing he's never really "done it" for Holland considering he's our all-time top scorer. If you look at our past forwards, they all had a defining moment in the knockout rounds. Kluivert scored against Argentina, Brazil, Yugoslavia in Euro 2000. Bergkamp against Argentina. Nistelrooy against Russia to equalise right before time. RVP has NEVER done anything during the knock-out rounds in any tournament he has played in (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014). Yeah, he even played better than Stam. He won ALL his tackles and aerial duels. Absolutely amazing. And he had a great tackle on Messi as well. I have a lot of respect for him. He took a lot from Robben as well who apparently lives like a professional plus (ATW, that true?). So for the past 3 years, Vlaar has been "living like a monk" (his words) to get the most out of himself, really going the extra mile in training, what he eats, etc. He said the past 2 years he worked to peak at this World Cup - and he did it. Loads of respect for this guy. The one I was most annoyed at is Seedorf. I love him as a player and I forgave him later on, but it was just combined with the later penalty against Turkey where he basically demanded to take it and MISSED. Euro 2000 was perhaps the most painful. Missing TWO penalties during regulation and then 3 players missing in the shootout. Ah okay. I'd be happy with either to be honest. I didn't really experience '88, it came a tournament too early for me - the first one I properly remember is 1990 and even then it's very vague. Ultimately, I agree. They gave us a GREAT "voetbalzomer" this year which is in massive contrast to 2012. I think the players really got the most out of it, but it was still so close......! Also I am on your side with the 1990s teams. We were the best in terms of football (or at least top 2-3) and still managed to throw it all away. That generation should have won a tournament. So many good players, many of them having won the CL in 1995. ARGH.
