This game proved once again that Fred (and Jo) are shit. I bet Kaka would've scored more goals than both of them if he was invited. (He played as a striker for Milan in a couple of games this season)
2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil
- Thread starter Night Prowler
- Start date
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
Brazil had a good stint of 20 minutes after their goal. Apart from that, the game was - as you say - mostly about tackles and fighting. Personally I thought the ref was giving too many free kicks overall, but he should have brought the yellow card out earlier. Neymar's injury was more bad luck than a particularly bad tackle. I mean, it was a clear free kick - of course it was - but you see one or two of those in most Premier League matches and the receiving player rarely gets (badly) injured.
Germany were rather solid against France. Think they only allowed two really big chances - one in the first half where Neuer saved from close range, and then the one right at the end. Apart from those, Germany had the two biggest chances, both between the 80th and 90th minute.
Without Neymar, I don't believe for a second that Brazil will be able to unlock the German defense. That would take several divisions of T-34s ...
Tonight's matches: Argentina vs Belgium: Argentina have not yet shown any sign of being able to open the opposition's defense without a moment from Messi. They have been good defensively, so one moment from Messi in each game has been sufficient so far. I think Belgium have enough to offer up front to give Argentina some real headaches. They will need more players to contribute in attack. There's no reason why players like Higuain and Di Maria shouldn't contribute creatively, but so far they just haven't. OK, Di Maria scored the deciding goal against Switzerland, but again it was Messi who set him up for an easy finish.
Holland vs Costa Rica: I'm quite sure Holland will win it. Costa Rica weren't that impressive going forward against Greece, so this might end up as 90 minutes with their backs against the wall. And the Dutch have players who can take advantage of that. Before the tournament, Holland was one of the teams I hoped would do well, but I have sympathies for Costa Rica as well. I'll take whichever result this match gives, and support the winner against Argentina/Belgium in the semi
This will be the biggest test for Argentina so far. Bosnia, Nigeria and Switzerland didn't have a particularly good defence and Iran defended good but it was more of a team effort. Belgium and Germany have the best defence (including the goalkeeper and central midfielders) in the World Cup so far.
No. 1 priority is stopping Messi and Di Maria. Higuain has been shit so far. Messi can be stopped. If Milan managed to do it with the defence consisting of Abate, Mexes, Zapata and Constant (and Ambrosini and Muntari as DM's) anyone can do it ANYONE. It's just a matter of tactics. Belgium also plays with 4 strong and tall center backs and 2 strong and tall defensive midfielders while Argentina is much weaker physically. I can see Gago and Mascherano easily getting overrun and outnumbered in the midfield.
No. 1 priority is stopping Messi and Di Maria. Higuain has been shit so far. Messi can be stopped. If Milan managed to do it with the defence consisting of Abate, Mexes, Zapata and Constant (and Ambrosini and Muntari as DM's) anyone can do it
ANYONE. It's just a matter of tactics. Belgium also plays with 4 strong and tall center backs and 2 strong and tall defensive midfielders while Argentina is much weaker physically. I can see Gago and Mascherano easily getting overrun and outnumbered in the midfield.
RTC
Libera et impera!
Netherlands have an excellent defence in the form of Blind, Vrij, Cillessen, among others.
“Neymar has been hunted”
FORTALEZA: Slim, spiky-haired and prodigiously talented, Neymar is the child prodigy who made good on his talent and looked poised to deliver the World Cup for an expectant host nation.
Aged just 22, such is his importance that a serious back injury which has ruled him out of the tournament could also dash the hopes of his 200 million compatriots.
Neymar is the main creative contributor and leading goal-scorer for an otherwise unimpressive team whose patchy World Cup has provided uneasy viewing for Brazilian fans.
His goals led Brazil to victory in the highly charged tournament opener and sealed the 4-1 victory over Cameroon which took them into the knock-out stages.
Neymar's tears during appearances against Croatia and Chile were testament to the severe pressure that he otherwise seemed to carry lightly.
And his pain and anguish while being stretchered off against Colombia were explained when hospital tests showed he had fractured a vertebra in his back, ending his tournament.
“I have been saying for three matches that Neymar has been hunted,” fumed Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari, as a shocked nation began to digest the news.
Brazilian World Cup-winning sides have always possessed a goal-scorer in top form -- from a 17-year-old Pele in 1958, to Garrincha in 1962, Jairzinho in 1970, Romario in 1994 and most recently Ronaldo in 2002.
Neymar followed in Pele's footsteps at the Santos club, wears the same 10 jersey and plays in a similar carefree style -- the “jogo bonito” (beautiful game) that made Brazil so popular with football fans worldwide.
Born in the hard-scrabble city of Mogi das Cruzes, near Sao Paulo, as the son of a professional footballer, Neymar grew up playing in the streets and indoor futsal pitches, and was talent-spotted at an early age.
He joined Santos, Brazil's most titled club, in 2003 and made his debut for them in 2009 having an instant impact as the country's young player of the year.
Neymar finished the 2010 season with 42 goals in 60 games as Santos secured the Copa do Brasil and domestic Sao Paulo state championship.
In 2011, Neymar played the central role as Santos took the Copa Libertadores and the state championship again.
He won the FIFA Puskas goal of the year award for an astonishing solo effort for Santos which beat out Wayne Rooney's famous overhead volley against Manchester City.
Barcelona beat Santos 4-0 in the Club World Cup final that year and it already seemed a formality that Neymar would head to Spain.
But it was not until 2013 that he followed so many of his Brazil team-mates overseas -- a delay that helped further endear him to Brazilian fans.
Neymar already has an impressive tally of 35 goals in 54 international games and shone as the Selecao prepared in perfect fashion by winning the Confederations Cup last June.
However, an unconvincing first season in Europe threw up questions about whether he is ready to lead Brazil to World Cup glory.
“This is Neymar's first World Cup and nobody knows exactly what is going to happen. It is a big responsibility for him,” Pele said in an interview with AFP.
Neymar attracted criticism for fathering a child out of wedlock in 2011, but his biggest controversy revolves around alleged tax evasion implicating ex-Barcelona president Sandro Rosell over his transfer to Spain.
Despite this, such is his popularity that his publicity machine is known as “Neymarketing”, his female fans are called “Neymarzetes” and many young men have had his image shaved into the back of their heads.
“First comes God, then family and then Neymar,” Rayellen Andrade, 17, told AFP during the World Cup.
Neymar has 12.2 million Twitter followers. His latest tweet, sent before the 2-0 win against Colombia, is not without poignancy.
“May the Lord God bless us and protect us!! #insearchofadream,” he wrote.
FORTALEZA: Slim, spiky-haired and prodigiously talented, Neymar is the child prodigy who made good on his talent and looked poised to deliver the World Cup for an expectant host nation.
Aged just 22, such is his importance that a serious back injury which has ruled him out of the tournament could also dash the hopes of his 200 million compatriots.
Neymar is the main creative contributor and leading goal-scorer for an otherwise unimpressive team whose patchy World Cup has provided uneasy viewing for Brazilian fans.
His goals led Brazil to victory in the highly charged tournament opener and sealed the 4-1 victory over Cameroon which took them into the knock-out stages.
Neymar's tears during appearances against Croatia and Chile were testament to the severe pressure that he otherwise seemed to carry lightly.
And his pain and anguish while being stretchered off against Colombia were explained when hospital tests showed he had fractured a vertebra in his back, ending his tournament.
“I have been saying for three matches that Neymar has been hunted,” fumed Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari, as a shocked nation began to digest the news.
Brazilian World Cup-winning sides have always possessed a goal-scorer in top form -- from a 17-year-old Pele in 1958, to Garrincha in 1962, Jairzinho in 1970, Romario in 1994 and most recently Ronaldo in 2002.
Neymar followed in Pele's footsteps at the Santos club, wears the same 10 jersey and plays in a similar carefree style -- the “jogo bonito” (beautiful game) that made Brazil so popular with football fans worldwide.
Born in the hard-scrabble city of Mogi das Cruzes, near Sao Paulo, as the son of a professional footballer, Neymar grew up playing in the streets and indoor futsal pitches, and was talent-spotted at an early age.
He joined Santos, Brazil's most titled club, in 2003 and made his debut for them in 2009 having an instant impact as the country's young player of the year.
Neymar finished the 2010 season with 42 goals in 60 games as Santos secured the Copa do Brasil and domestic Sao Paulo state championship.
In 2011, Neymar played the central role as Santos took the Copa Libertadores and the state championship again.
He won the FIFA Puskas goal of the year award for an astonishing solo effort for Santos which beat out Wayne Rooney's famous overhead volley against Manchester City.
Barcelona beat Santos 4-0 in the Club World Cup final that year and it already seemed a formality that Neymar would head to Spain.
But it was not until 2013 that he followed so many of his Brazil team-mates overseas -- a delay that helped further endear him to Brazilian fans.
Neymar already has an impressive tally of 35 goals in 54 international games and shone as the Selecao prepared in perfect fashion by winning the Confederations Cup last June.
However, an unconvincing first season in Europe threw up questions about whether he is ready to lead Brazil to World Cup glory.
“This is Neymar's first World Cup and nobody knows exactly what is going to happen. It is a big responsibility for him,” Pele said in an interview with AFP.
Neymar attracted criticism for fathering a child out of wedlock in 2011, but his biggest controversy revolves around alleged tax evasion implicating ex-Barcelona president Sandro Rosell over his transfer to Spain.
Despite this, such is his popularity that his publicity machine is known as “Neymarketing”, his female fans are called “Neymarzetes” and many young men have had his image shaved into the back of their heads.
“First comes God, then family and then Neymar,” Rayellen Andrade, 17, told AFP during the World Cup.
Neymar has 12.2 million Twitter followers. His latest tweet, sent before the 2-0 win against Colombia, is not without poignancy.
“May the Lord God bless us and protect us!! #insearchofadream,” he wrote.
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
If "hunted" refers to how he is treated by the opposition players, he is no different than any other technically gifted player at the top international level. The easiest way to stop such players is to kick them, shove them, make them uncomfortable on the pitch. Sometimes it goes too far, and combined with a bit of bad luck, he got injured. I'm sure he'll come back from this a stronger player, and perhaps be the most important player for Brazil for two more World Cups.
Sure, but they conceded more goals. Now that I checked, Belgium and Costa Rica have the best defence, both conceded only 2 goals, and in both cases one was a penalty. But I just don't think Costa Rica will be able to perform so well tonight, they were already running out of steam against Greece.
Sara
Not even Wensleydale?
Yep, the ref was very poor. Overall, I think Brazil deserved to win, though they only played well in spurts. After the penalty, it was all Colombia, but they didn't do enough earlier in the match, and that cost them. The first Brazil goal was incredibly sloppy, and Colombia should have defended better there. David Luiz's goal however, was sensational, and worthy of winning any match. As long as Germany don't bottle it in the electric atmosphere on Tuesday, then they should win. Especially now Silva is out, and Neymar looks very doubtful for the game. Hope the Germans can do it!
And it's Belgium and Holland for me too!
Sara
Not even Wensleydale?
Exactly. And I think the Brazilian players did their fair share of that themselves last night to James Rodriguez! Also, Neymar himself was very lucky not to be red carded in the first game against Croatia... that's just the way it goes in football.
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
He was also lucky not to be booked in the match against Chile, in which case he would have missed yesterday's match ...
Sara
Not even Wensleydale?
I bet he wishes now that he had been booked in that match! lol Then again, it was his corner that lead to the first goal last night, so would Brazil have won without him?
He won't play in the World Cup anymore, 4-6 weeks recovery.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
If you don't count the dubious penalties we've had against us, we also conceded only 2 goals.
Sara
Not even Wensleydale?
That sucks.
I more blame the ref though, than the Colombian player who made the foul on Neymar. If the ref had control of the match, it's likely that wouldn't have happened. Players on both sides probably thought they could get away with murder, with how unbelievably lenient the ref was in the match.
SixesAlltheway
Ancient Mariner
Definitely the best fan at the World Cup so far!
Watermelon Man!
Watermelon Man!
TheSeventhSonRoberto
Rockin in Rio
I know Argentina has been playing like shit. But with that said I grew up around Argentinians around my block. I have Argentinians friends. There's no way that I could root for Belgium over Argentina today. Although I really do like Belgiums team.
That's really sad about Neymar.