Hello everyone.
So, yesterday's game didn't exactly go according to plan for Brazil. I've turned the thing on in the 8th minute and Scolari's side was already behind. Before I could digest this info, Daley Blind smashed a second goal into the roof of the net. It was 17th minute.
Now, before I go any further and say how bad Brazil looked for the second game running, I have to state they suffered from atrocious refereeing. To start with, there was no penalty. Robben was fouled outside the box and it was clearly visible on the replays. Yeah, he did his usual thing, screamed, fell to the ground like he was shot (at the slightest of touches, mind you), but the foul itself happened outside the 18-yard box.
In case with the second goal, the guy who crossed was clearly offside. It was below-par defending from Luiz and even worse showing from his teammates that have to provide cover, but there also was a gross mistake from the linesman. People can joke all they like about how even a blind man can score against Brazil, but this mistake is going nowhere.
After that, Brazil had to respond, but were only able to come up with something from set-pieces. For a while it looked like they could get back into the game, but Scolari's side was so toothless up front (without Neymar and Hulk) that they couldn't get the most out of their possession. The culmination happened late in the day when Oscar got booked for diving (the first time someone got booked for diving during this tournament). Then Holland added another goal (deep into injury time) and it was all over.
Personally, I feel sorry for Brazil, but nothing comes close to how I hate each and every Holland player. I especially despise Robben for all his antics. He's got to the point where he performs several dives a game and still the referees are disinclined to do something about it. Cheating is so deeply ingrained in his DNA, that on a couple of occasions Robben dived, though he was clean through and staying on his feet could have proved a better option for the team. I really pity no one injured this guy. If Neymar deserves what he got for all his diving, Robben should spend the rest of his life in hospitals for all the cheating he's done. Don't want to talk about this guy anymore.
Today is the final day and the final game of this marvellous World Cup and it's Germany vs Netherlands in, erm, the final. Yeah, final in the final game on the final day. Something like that.
Anyway, as this tournament will be behind us in less than 11 hours, I thought a bit of overview is due. There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this World Cup, so I'll start with:
South American teams
To start with six (out of seven) teams made it out of their groups. The only team that failed to make the grade was Ecuador. Three teams then marched into the quarter-final and I suspect this number would have been higher, had these teams not been paired with one another. Chile, Mexico and Colombia all fought valiantly and I maintain they would been better placed in the semis, than Brazil, Argentine and Holland. But it is what it is.
Goalkeepers tournament
Ochoa, Bravo, Ospina, Navas, Enyama, Howard and Boli all deserve the highest marks. To demonstrate just how good they were, it'll suffice to say that the record for most saves in a single World Cup game now resides in third place. Howard set a new one against Belgium, when he performed 15 (or 16, it's still unclear) saves, while Navas bagged 14 saves in the quarter-final game against Holland. Three of the keepers I mentioned have already found themselves new clubs (Ochoa to Atletico, Bravo to Barcelona and Navas to Bayern Munich) and one is on the verge of a transfer (more on that later).
Goal spectacle
Up to this point, 171 goals have been scored. It matches the previous record (set in France in 1998) and, if we don't see a goalless draw today, a new record will be set. True, the goals have dried up in the last eight and, had it not been for two horrendous defeats Brazil suffered, we would not be looking at a new (possibly) record, but not much we can do about these defeats now.
Individual showings
Apart from goalkeepers there were a lot of other players to like. Neymar and Messi for almost single-handedly taking their teams so far, Sanchez and Rodriguez for having a marvellous tournament up front, Klose (who set a new record at the age of 36) and Muller (10 goals in 12 games) and a lot of others. Pick your personal favourite yourself, there are tens of worthy candidates.
Germany
Alright, they are here just because I like them and think they are worthy of lifting the World Cup. But still, it's hard for anyone not to feel attracted to the way Die Mannschaft plays under pressure and for how well Germany plays as a team overall. They have a lot of bright individuals, but none of them is irreplaceable. There will be no tradgedy if they lose Klose (have Muller), Goetze (have Schurrle) or Boateng (have Mertesacker). Unlke Argentine, Brazil or even Holland, Lowe's side doesn't rely on one player to do the bulk of the work. All the luck to them in the final.
Finally for today, Metro has run a story linking Arsenal to Ospina. Don't know, if there any truth to that, but I surely hope there is. Ospina is at the end of his contract, costs only £3 million and is a quality goalkeeper. He's shown what he's capable of during this tournament and will likely push Szczesny all the way. A decent buy for such a meagre sum.
Phew, enough for today. Back here tomorrow with a review.
Meanwhile, keep all your fingers crossed for Germany
So, yesterday's game didn't exactly go according to plan for Brazil. I've turned the thing on in the 8th minute and Scolari's side was already behind. Before I could digest this info, Daley Blind smashed a second goal into the roof of the net. It was 17th minute.
Now, before I go any further and say how bad Brazil looked for the second game running, I have to state they suffered from atrocious refereeing. To start with, there was no penalty. Robben was fouled outside the box and it was clearly visible on the replays. Yeah, he did his usual thing, screamed, fell to the ground like he was shot (at the slightest of touches, mind you), but the foul itself happened outside the 18-yard box.
In case with the second goal, the guy who crossed was clearly offside. It was below-par defending from Luiz and even worse showing from his teammates that have to provide cover, but there also was a gross mistake from the linesman. People can joke all they like about how even a blind man can score against Brazil, but this mistake is going nowhere.
After that, Brazil had to respond, but were only able to come up with something from set-pieces. For a while it looked like they could get back into the game, but Scolari's side was so toothless up front (without Neymar and Hulk) that they couldn't get the most out of their possession. The culmination happened late in the day when Oscar got booked for diving (the first time someone got booked for diving during this tournament). Then Holland added another goal (deep into injury time) and it was all over.
Personally, I feel sorry for Brazil, but nothing comes close to how I hate each and every Holland player. I especially despise Robben for all his antics. He's got to the point where he performs several dives a game and still the referees are disinclined to do something about it. Cheating is so deeply ingrained in his DNA, that on a couple of occasions Robben dived, though he was clean through and staying on his feet could have proved a better option for the team. I really pity no one injured this guy. If Neymar deserves what he got for all his diving, Robben should spend the rest of his life in hospitals for all the cheating he's done. Don't want to talk about this guy anymore.
Today is the final day and the final game of this marvellous World Cup and it's Germany vs Netherlands in, erm, the final. Yeah, final in the final game on the final day. Something like that.
Anyway, as this tournament will be behind us in less than 11 hours, I thought a bit of overview is due. There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this World Cup, so I'll start with:
South American teams
To start with six (out of seven) teams made it out of their groups. The only team that failed to make the grade was Ecuador. Three teams then marched into the quarter-final and I suspect this number would have been higher, had these teams not been paired with one another. Chile, Mexico and Colombia all fought valiantly and I maintain they would been better placed in the semis, than Brazil, Argentine and Holland. But it is what it is.
Goalkeepers tournament
Ochoa, Bravo, Ospina, Navas, Enyama, Howard and Boli all deserve the highest marks. To demonstrate just how good they were, it'll suffice to say that the record for most saves in a single World Cup game now resides in third place. Howard set a new one against Belgium, when he performed 15 (or 16, it's still unclear) saves, while Navas bagged 14 saves in the quarter-final game against Holland. Three of the keepers I mentioned have already found themselves new clubs (Ochoa to Atletico, Bravo to Barcelona and Navas to Bayern Munich) and one is on the verge of a transfer (more on that later).
Goal spectacle
Up to this point, 171 goals have been scored. It matches the previous record (set in France in 1998) and, if we don't see a goalless draw today, a new record will be set. True, the goals have dried up in the last eight and, had it not been for two horrendous defeats Brazil suffered, we would not be looking at a new (possibly) record, but not much we can do about these defeats now.
Individual showings
Apart from goalkeepers there were a lot of other players to like. Neymar and Messi for almost single-handedly taking their teams so far, Sanchez and Rodriguez for having a marvellous tournament up front, Klose (who set a new record at the age of 36) and Muller (10 goals in 12 games) and a lot of others. Pick your personal favourite yourself, there are tens of worthy candidates.
Germany
Alright, they are here just because I like them and think they are worthy of lifting the World Cup. But still, it's hard for anyone not to feel attracted to the way Die Mannschaft plays under pressure and for how well Germany plays as a team overall. They have a lot of bright individuals, but none of them is irreplaceable. There will be no tradgedy if they lose Klose (have Muller), Goetze (have Schurrle) or Boateng (have Mertesacker). Unlke Argentine, Brazil or even Holland, Lowe's side doesn't rely on one player to do the bulk of the work. All the luck to them in the final.
Finally for today, Metro has run a story linking Arsenal to Ospina. Don't know, if there any truth to that, but I surely hope there is. Ospina is at the end of his contract, costs only £3 million and is a quality goalkeeper. He's shown what he's capable of during this tournament and will likely push Szczesny all the way. A decent buy for such a meagre sum.
Phew, enough for today. Back here tomorrow with a review.
Meanwhile, keep all your fingers crossed for Germany
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