FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 THREAD

Originally posted by vrabbit:
The soccer fan in me is glad the best team won. I find some consolation in the fact that I predicted Germany winning it before it started (though I had them beating Spain). That's now two WC's in a row that I've predicted the winner.

As an Argentina fan ... I learned since I was young that in soccer when you miss out on scoring chances you'll most likely end up being scored on. Higuain, Messi, and to a certain extent Palacios missed CLEAR chances to score, maybe clearer than any chance Germany had all game INCLUDING the play of their goal. They played an exceptional game, different than the Argentina us fans are used to but beautiful in its own way. Maybe as good defense as I've seen an Argentina team display. It definitely hurts. 4ML is right that Messi and the core of this team will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in 2018, but reaching the finals is such a feat that Argentina will be lucky to get back to it.

I'm with Maradona and many others in that Messi didn't deserve to win player of the tournament. IMO that should had gone to Mueller, though I woulda give it to James had Colombia reached the semi's - same reason why I agree with Neuer over Navas for best goalkeeper. Neuer is the better overall player, but as far as goalkeeping Navas' performance in this cup was second to none.

Yeup...reaching finals requires plenty of luck. So, regardless of how good your team is - you need luck too.

Agree on Messi too. I would have given the award to James Rodriguez.

But, I'll defend Messi on one thing. Argentina lost Di Maria for the last 3 games and El Kun was not close to being 100%. Argentina didn't bring Tevez with themselves to the WC and though I appreciated that move - they could have used him in the Semi-Final and Finals.

Not having any quality up front (a strength of this team) - that made it a lot easier for defense to focus on Messi and it made Messi's job a lot tougher. He should have scored yesterday...that can't be defended - but I thought under the circumstances - he played extremely well in this World Cup.

Originally posted by Garcia:

Originally posted by SofaKing:
No, you can only be a soccer fan if you were born that way, and if the game was never advertised to you and you never cared about any of the biggest competitions in the sport.

Only then can you be a real soccer fan.

False.

I hated soccer growing up. Never played neither did my family. Started enjoying it as an adult and played indoor as well, fell in love with the game that way.

I was being sarcastic lol

Originally posted by SofaKing:

I was being sarcastic lol

Your skill at sarcasm: novice

Originally posted by Garcia:

Originally posted by SofaKing:
I was being sarcastic lol

Your skill at sarcasm: novice

Your skill at detecting sarcasm: potato

pretty cool montage by ESPN

http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/4/video/1949024/relive-the-best-of-the-2014-fifa-world-cup?ex_cid=espnsoc

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by vrabbit:
The soccer fan in me is glad the best team won. I find some consolation in the fact that I predicted Germany winning it before it started (though I had them beating Spain). That's now two WC's in a row that I've predicted the winner.

As an Argentina fan ... I learned since I was young that in soccer when you miss out on scoring chances you'll most likely end up being scored on. Higuain, Messi, and to a certain extent Palacios missed CLEAR chances to score, maybe clearer than any chance Germany had all game INCLUDING the play of their goal. They played an exceptional game, different than the Argentina us fans are used to but beautiful in its own way. Maybe as good defense as I've seen an Argentina team display. It definitely hurts. 4ML is right that Messi and the core of this team will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in 2018, but reaching the finals is such a feat that Argentina will be lucky to get back to it.

I'm with Maradona and many others in that Messi didn't deserve to win player of the tournament. IMO that should had gone to Mueller, though I woulda give it to James had Colombia reached the semi's - same reason why I agree with Neuer over Navas for best goalkeeper. Neuer is the better overall player, but as far as goalkeeping Navas' performance in this cup was second to none.

Yeup...reaching finals requires plenty of luck. So, regardless of how good your team is - you need luck too.

Agree on Messi too. I would have given the award to James Rodriguez.

But, I'll defend Messi on one thing. Argentina lost Di Maria for the last 3 games and El Kun was not close to being 100%. Argentina didn't bring Tevez with themselves to the WC and though I appreciated that move - they could have used him in the Semi-Final and Finals.

Not having any quality up front (a strength of this team) - that made it a lot easier for defense to focus on Messi and it made Messi's job a lot tougher. He should have scored yesterday...that can't be defended - but I thought under the circumstances - he played extremely well in this World Cup.

I'm still trying to figure out why Sabella subbed Kun in for Lavezzi who had an excellent first half. Kun didn't even come close to replicating what Lavezzi had done. To me Messi was one of the top 3 players in the tournament along with Mueller and James. Especially with those around him not stepping up their game Messi was the main focus of the opposition's defense and still came away with 4 goals and an assist as well as plenty of scoring chances and spectacular plays.

Originally posted by vrabbit:

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by vrabbit:
The soccer fan in me is glad the best team won. I find some consolation in the fact that I predicted Germany winning it before it started (though I had them beating Spain). That's now two WC's in a row that I've predicted the winner.

As an Argentina fan ... I learned since I was young that in soccer when you miss out on scoring chances you'll most likely end up being scored on. Higuain, Messi, and to a certain extent Palacios missed CLEAR chances to score, maybe clearer than any chance Germany had all game INCLUDING the play of their goal. They played an exceptional game, different than the Argentina us fans are used to but beautiful in its own way. Maybe as good defense as I've seen an Argentina team display. It definitely hurts. 4ML is right that Messi and the core of this team will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in 2018, but reaching the finals is such a feat that Argentina will be lucky to get back to it.

I'm with Maradona and many others in that Messi didn't deserve to win player of the tournament. IMO that should had gone to Mueller, though I woulda give it to James had Colombia reached the semi's - same reason why I agree with Neuer over Navas for best goalkeeper. Neuer is the better overall player, but as far as goalkeeping Navas' performance in this cup was second to none.

Yeup...reaching finals requires plenty of luck. So, regardless of how good your team is - you need luck too.

Agree on Messi too. I would have given the award to James Rodriguez.

But, I'll defend Messi on one thing. Argentina lost Di Maria for the last 3 games and El Kun was not close to being 100%. Argentina didn't bring Tevez with themselves to the WC and though I appreciated that move - they could have used him in the Semi-Final and Finals.

Not having any quality up front (a strength of this team) - that made it a lot easier for defense to focus on Messi and it made Messi's job a lot tougher. He should have scored yesterday...that can't be defended - but I thought under the circumstances - he played extremely well in this World Cup.

I'm still trying to figure out why Sabella subbed Kun in for Lavezzi who had an excellent first half. Kun didn't even come close to replicating what Lavezzi had done. To me Messi was one of the top 3 players in the tournament along with Mueller and James. Especially with those around him not stepping up their game Messi was the main focus of the opposition's defense and still came away with 4 goals and an assist as well as plenty of scoring chances and spectacular plays.

I thought the same thing. I could not believe he subbed out Lavezzi.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by Garcia:

Originally posted by SofaKing:
I was being sarcastic lol

Your skill at sarcasm: novice

Your skill at detecting sarcasm: potato

This lol. GGG.

Originally posted by Garcia:

Originally posted by SofaKing:
No, you can only be a soccer fan if you were born that way, and if the game was never advertised to you and you never cared about any of the biggest competitions in the sport.

Only then can you be a real soccer fan.

False.

I hated soccer growing up. Never played neither did my family. Started enjoying it as an adult and played indoor as well, fell in love with the game that way.

most people play soccer as kids right after they learn how to walk lol. Its like the gateway sport

I think Messi had a poor WC. Constantly dribbling into traffic and getting dispossessed. He had a couple of brilliant goals in group but when the knockout rounds started he disappeared and not for lack of trying. Masch was easily the MVP of that team during knockout. Mueller should've gotten the boot. He was brilliant against Portugal and Brazil plus he was in the final unlike James.

Originally posted by Garcia:

Originally posted by SofaKing:

I was being sarcastic lol

Your skill at sarcasm: novice

His sarcasm was super obvious. Seriously. I don't know how you missed it. Go read it again, it can't be anything but sarcasm.

Originally posted by eonblue:
I think Messi had a poor WC. Constantly dribbling into traffic and getting dispossessed. He had a couple of brilliant goals in group but when the knockout rounds started he disappeared and not for lack of trying. Masch was easily the MVP of that team during knockout. Mueller should've gotten the boot. He was brilliant against Portugal and Brazil plus he was in the final unlike James.

Mueller is already creeping up on Klose's brand new goal record. Already has 10, and he's only been in two WC's....at 24 it's possible he could be in 3 more WC's.

Originally posted by vrabbit:

Originally posted by NickV:

Best team of the tournament by far and away. Congratulations to Germany. They deserved it. Even though they are the main reason why we (Portugal) didn't advance.

Was rioting for Argentina in this game with all present and former Benfica players in the game. Enzo Perez is a defensive midfielder for us (Benfica) had he partnered with Javier Macherano and had Di Maria on the wing it would have been a totally different game. Di Maria's speed would have eaten Howedes alive.

dude you were sorely missed during this past month, I felt for you watching Portugal

Unfortunately marriage and a house puts my priorities in other places :P I haven't posted on the zone much since I got married in March

Originally posted by Janitor:
Mueller is already creeping up on Klose's brand new goal record. Already has 10, and he's only been in two WC's....at 24 it's possible he could be in 3 more WC's.

He could easily be in 3 more. He's a striker that plays on the wing but once he loses a step his technique, shooting, and passing will make him a great CF. I'm hoping Low finds a couple of wingbacks and a true DM for the 4 3 3. Mueller is a prototypical CF in the 4 3 3.

This is like the Olympics but dare I say more entertaining.

Fifa should add more countries/teams and stretch it out even more.