World Cup 2014

[Irbis]

Lucky for who?

Goalkeeper pretty much won it for Germany. It was this close to draw and penalty roulette.

Germany pretty absurdly held the edge in quantity and quality of chances to score, particularly in the 2nd half and extra time, unless Algeria got very lucky eventually they would start going into the net and Algeria wasn't likely to get goals of their own playing like that.

You could have said that about quite a few matches of European teams and look where they are now.

[Purple]

What are the odds for Argentina to lose this one?

[Welf]

Lucky for who?

Goalkeeper pretty much won it for Germany. It was this close to draw and penalty roulette.

He really held up the tradition of great German goalkeepers. I guess it was his opportunity to compensate for his usual lack of work when he plays for Bayern München.

What are the odds for Argentina to lose this one?

So far, 50-50. But I hope Swiss wins, so another somewhat-german team is in the best-of-8.

[Crown]

Congratulations Costa Rica.

Greece's defenders deserve a better forward line than what they have, they're fucking diabolical! 5v2 and they fuck it up, unbelievable!

Greece are a dire team to watch.

Greece were more exciting in that match than Costa Rica, anyone saying otherwise wasn't watching the match.

I'd like to see Columbia go on to win it.

Not for me. I'm hoping Colombia win it.

[Edi]

Fuck it. I was hoping for the Swiss to win, but no dice. That one goes on Lichtsteiner's account.

[Purple]

[Coop D'etat]

Lucky for who?

Goalkeeper pretty much won it for Germany. It was this close to draw and penalty roulette.

Germany pretty absurdly held the edge in quantity and quality of chances to score, particularly in the 2nd half and extra time, unless Algeria got very lucky eventually they would start going into the net and Algeria wasn't likely to get goals of their own playing like that.

You could have said that about quite a few matches of European teams and look where they are now.

That's how single elimination matches in not just association football, but other low scoring sports like them work. Being the better team and out playing doesn't guarantee anything because there is a fair bit of randomness in between how you play and the score board.

[Block]

God Bradley has been an atrocity.

[Soontir C'boath]

Didn't like the US centerbacks. One of them, Gonzalez or Besler, should've been taken out instead of Bedoya. They were a liability and Belgium took us down with them in the end.

[wautd]

Loved the USA - Belgium match. Despite Belgium being much more dangerous, it was exciting until the end (thanks to an amazing Tim Howard). I feared that Belgium would be out in the last seconds of the first two halves, can't believe how close that was. Probably the best period of extra time in the tournament.

[Lord Pounder]

Near enough half time in France - Germany. Both teams defences seem nervy. There are more goals in this game but I think Germany will prevail. The Germans are much more threatening in attack and Neuer will take some beating.

[DaveJB]

Anyone else getting the feeling that the Germany squad made up that whole "flu" thing so that the French players would be too scared to go near them for fear of getting infected?

[Thanas]

The referee seemed a bit bias, thank god France couldn't capitalise on that.

[ray245]

my god, Germany is so horrible to watch in this world cup. where has all the speed and flair gone?

[DaveJB]

This, incidentally, is the fourth time in a row that Germany have gotten through to at least the semi-finals of the World Cup. Not sure if that's an all-time record, but still quite the achievement.

[Welf]

Brazil advanced. The result will give me a boost in the betting pool, but I would have preferred the Colombians to advance.

And Germany is in the semifinals. I like the result, but again a weak defence.I really miss the 2010 performance. That was playing to love. But if they/we win the championship all is forgotten.

[Edi]

The Colombians played, ugly, fractured and disorganized football and made a lot of mistakes. They also did not get at least two or three yellow cards that should have been given. All in all, Brazil deserved that win. I had not had the opportunity to watch previous Colombia games, so I have no idea if their style was different now.

[Welf]

I won't disagree, Brazil won the game fair. It's more a general sympathy for the underdog.
Also: they got rid of Neymar for us, so points for that

Also: the loneliest (and happiest) person in France:


Source

[Lord Pounder]

Half time in Argentina Belgium. I know the Argies are 1 up but to be honest I fancy the Belgians in this one, though maybe as a Chelsea fan I'm a bit biased. I think the Argentines are too reliant on Messi for creativity and Vincent Kompany has Messi in his back pocket.

Looking forward to the Dutch match tonight. I think they'll beat Costa Rica easily but then again people have been discounting Costa Rica from the start yet here they are.

[Ace Pace]

The Belgians deserved to lose that one...

[Edi]

The Belgians deserved to lose that one...

Yes, yes they did. They were slow as molasses and froze in all the important places.

[Welf]

One great save after the other by Navas. I'm for Costa Rica now.

[Welf]

Poor Costa Rica, they are out. Really clever move by Van Gaal to replace keeper in the last minute.

So all the top teams advanced. No surprises here, altough it looked close a few times.

[Thanas]

Tim Krul should not have been allowed to do his theatrics.

[Crown]

Tim Krul should not have been allowed to do his theatrics.

He stayed on his line unlike Navas who was 3ft off it before the ball was kicked ...