World Cup 2014

[AniThyng]

I don't know if it's hilarious or sad that it's the Pole arguing that he is not "German", and not a nationalist ethnic-German arguing that he isn't.

[Tribun]

Having had some time to reflect on the game, it seemed like none of the two teams actually wanted to win (no wonder, considering who's waiting for them). It was perhaps the most boring match of the entire tournament.

Compared to the Dutch, Argentina is doable. Their last three games were atrocious, especially the ones against Switzerland and Belgium (both of which had been eaten alive by the German team in numerous previous matches). Seeing how they went through the tounament it's clear they don't have any real surprises they can use and are utterly predictable. The problem Holland had was, that they copied them 1:1 and a horrible game resulted.

Well, the brazilians are already for germany, since they hate Argentina, so lat's prepare for a hot dance.

[Welf]

And with the controversy over Klose, is there some bullshit ethnicity or nationalistic thing going on here that an Australian from a country which doesn't have "failed multiculturalism" won't get? Because as far as I can tell, he has a German citizenship, then he is German even if he was born overseas. That's like saying Zinedine Zidane isn't French because his parents were born in Algeria.

It's not bullshit, just history. Poland was erased by it's neighbours for 130 years and the poles subjected to quite a few campaigns of assimilation. So telling a pole that someone stops being a pole because of a legal paper has a bad ring to them.

[Thanas]

Are you seriously comparing forced assimilation and occupation to peaceful migration?

[AniThyng]

It does sound to me that this is sort of like the issue in the other thread about majority-minority districts where it's pointed out that no matter how idealistic you want to be about race-blindness, being a black-american is different from being a white-american even if they are both americans.

[salm]

Interestingly this is pretty much what Karim Benzema complained about when he said:

"If I score I´ll be French, if I don´t I´ll be Algerian."

[Welf]

Are you seriously comparing forced assimilation and occupation to peaceful migration?

Nope, I'm explaining different approaches to define nationality.

On a lighter note: comparing the reaction of Löw and Scolari to the goals. Note how Löw and the German team hardly cheer after the 4th goal.

http://youtu.be/nVp4iQgz8EU

I was also looking for a video where Löw allegedly calls Schweinsteiger to the side after the 4th goal and tells him to stop making more goals.

[Crown]

Worst Seleção <Kanye West>OF ALL TIME!</Kanye West>

Wow, diabolical at the back.

[Spekio]

Worst Seleção <Kanye West>OF ALL TIME!</Kanye West>

Wow, diabolical at the back.

This is an improvement from 2006/10, IMO.

[Lord Pounder]

Hulk is not Incredible.

Joking aside the fall of Brazil is elegant proof that reputations don't win games. Brazil played only 2 teams with real quality, Germany and tonight Holland. Both times they've been shown to be the joke of world football. Holland could easily have put more past them tonight but they really were taking it easy. On the international stage you cannot just rely on 1 or 2 players. Brazil had all their hopes pinned on Neymar creating goals and Thiago Silva holding it at the back. I've not seen a yellow shirt so disgraced since Lance Armstrong's last Tour de France.

Looking forward to the final tomorrow. I'd like to see Germany win because I respect their efficiency and ability to play as a team. Would be nice to see a European team win it in South America.

[Edi]

Brazil actually played a couple of other good teams in the tournament, particularly Chile, whom they only beat by shootout.

The bronze medal game was not the outright massacre that the semifinal was, but it wasn't pretty.

[Thanas]

Argentina will be hard to beat.

[Edi]

Well, I hope you do.

[darth_timon]

I am still recovering from the Brazil-Germany game. Never in all my time watching international football have I seen Brazil get thrashed, let alone get thrashed at home, and certainly not in a World Cup. I thought Germany would take a narrow 2-1 win in a nervy game, but Brazil without Neymar are woeful- as they displayed last night as well. I don't think Holland had to be anywhere remotely near their best to win that one comfortably.

As for tonight...

Argentina will almost certainly rely on being difficult to break down and feed the ball to Messi every chance they get, in the hope he can do some magic. The trouble for them is, the Germans have a great team, rather than one outstanding player. Reus, Kroos, Muller, Ozil, Schurrle, Schweinsteiger... they are all world-class, and just a handful of names in a great squad. I predict Germany 3-1 Argentina.

[Crown]

It's about to start! I'm so excited!

[Lord Pounder]

The loss of Kheidra might hurt the Germans but they should have enough quality in other areas to compensate.

Edit*

Germany looking vulnerable on their left side. Argentina missed a sitter. Germany are very fond of back passed to keeper, a player as fast as Messi could exploit that.

[Block]

Germany is very lucky not to be playing with 10 men, what a bad challenge by Howedes.

[Crown]

Good final so far, the only thing I don't understand is why Argentina are a little slow on their transitions. They're taking the pace out of the game but allow Germany to get men behind the ball and then the German forwards start pressuring and pushing Argentina off the ball.

[Crown]

Agüero for Lavezzi is the wrong sub for me, lets see if I make a fool of myself now lol!

[Lord Pounder]

Definately goals in this game. Very entertaining first half. The addition of Aguero will take the pressure off Messi.

[Thanas]

Apparently Argentina can hold at will when it comes to corners.

And why can't we hit the damned goal?

[Block]

Apparently Argentina can hold at will when it comes to corners.

And why can't we hit the damned goal?

You really can't complain about favorable officiating at all in this match, sorry.

[darth_timon]

Fascinating contest, if not a classic. Am finding it very hard to pick a winner.

[Welf]

YESSS!!!!!!

The Argentines tried to kill the wrong player

[Lord Pounder]

Great goal, sweet volley. Brilliantly made by Andre Schurrle.