Quarter finals

Hamm

Hamm

At the Start
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As per elsewhere, I am very strong on Colombia, and will back them in 90 mins, to qualify and +1 in Asian handicap. Colombia to win by 2 and 3 at 10s and 28s also of interest. If I could have chosen to have 1 Brazilian player suspended, it would probably have been Luis Gustavo, who has done well, and really protects the back 4, but more so as he would have been very close to Rodriguez. Paulinho nowhere near the same level and low on confidence.

Not quite as strong, but Costa Rica should run the Dutch very close. RVP doesn't look fit/sharp, and aside from Robben, I see no difference between the 2 teams. I think Joel Campbell will give the Dutch defence a lot to think about.

Not quite sure yet what is the best angle, maybe a straight lay of Holland + Costa Rica to qualify at 16/5.
 
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Kept pawning his missus necklace to fund his gambling/stroke-pulling habit. Played by the legend who voiced Mr Benn - one Ray Brooks.

Do I win a coconut?
 
Ray brooks drinks in a pub near me and once sat next to me on the tube.

So there

That was a good series though. Why never repeated?
 
Hamm said:
Not quite as strong, but Costa Rica should run the Dutch very close. RVP doesn't look fit/sharp, and aside from Robben, I see no difference between the 2 teams. I think Joel Campbell will give the Dutch defence a lot to think about.
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I have to admit to only seeing the highlights but I though RVP looked fine. Possibly the heat a reason for him not being as sharp as you'd have thought Hamm?

Costa Rica had a very tough match. I wouldn't be rushing to take the dutch on here. Not having to go through ET in that heat was a huge slice of fortune for the dutch.

I'm keen on RVP 1st gs. Only bet of the match for me.....at the moment!
 
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I think the Dutch should win fairly comfortably. CR have overachieved massively but can't see them as WC semi finalists. Having backed the Argies pre-tournament I'm hoping a few more of them actually turn up and play in the next game and any further games they play but not too optimistic. I reckon Colombia have a good chance v Brazil especially with Luis Gustavo out and it seems Neymar is likely to be less than fully fit even if he plays. However I can't get too carried away with Colombia as Uruguay were pish poor as they were against CR without Suarez. Reckon the winner of France-Germany will contest the final against the Dutch or the Argies


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You and I are at opposite ends of the road here Viking......Can't see Holland reaching the final but they should scrape through against Costa Rica.......I think everyone got a bit carried away after the had that landslide win against Spain but the have looked decidedly ordinary in their last 2 games.

Then again so have the rest of the teams but that could change

You just have to fear Brazil. I think from here on in and the winning post in sight we'll see a different Brazil.

I reckon Columbia won't know what's hit them and 5/6 Brazil looks the bet of the tournament to me.

The Germans are boringly well organised but they were my choice from the start but I secretly hate the b******.......,,.....I think they'll bore the Dutch into submission and win by 1 goal...

Poor Argentina or should I say poor Messi? Messi is a one man team and will have to do a Maradon to reach the final......even he won't be able to lift the cup without teammates.
I wouldn't bet on it but over 1.5 million has been traded on dark horses Belgium between 20 and 30 and it would appear more than a few are happy to let their cash ride on in the hope they get through.

Comes as no surprise the Argies are odds against......Belgium are a decidedly better side than Switzerland and unless Messie's team mates pull the finger out they could easily be going home.

Brazil V Belgium final???
 
everyone aside from colombia has looked ordinary. but would i back them to topple brazil? no

i've got a feeling for a brazil/holland final. im quite convinced the hosts win it. without ever looking great.
 
Germany were anything but well organised against Algeria. A shambles

It's been overrated as a "great World Cup" but it's without anything like a great team or even a truly decent one. To make a really fine wc I think you need 3/4 real heavyweight contenders. Teams that you can remember
 
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clivex said:
Germany were anything but well organised against Algeria. A shambles

It's been overrated as a "great World Cup" but it's without anything like a great team or even a truly decent one. To make a really fine wc I think you need 3/4 real heavyweight contenders. Teams that you can remember
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I've enjoyed this one because all the smaller nations have stood up against the big boys. I can see goals becoming even more scarce now there is so much to lose. Teams are much more comfortable playing for extra time from the first minute eh Clive ;)
 
Hamm said:
Not quite as strong, but Costa Rica should run the Dutch very close. RVP doesn't look fit/sharp, and aside from Robben, I see no difference between the 2 teams. I think Joel Campbell will give the Dutch defence a lot to think about.

Not quite sure yet what is the best angle, maybe a straight lay of Holland + Costa Rica to qualify at 16/5.
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Interesting to see those thoughts. My mate has done well this World Cup and suggested Holland on the -1 handicap was the bet of the tournament, think it was about 6-4 when odds came out initially. He said Costa Rica have looked good against average teams and fully expects Holland to beat them convincingly.

I've been impressed with France and I can see them beating Germany on Friday. Surely Germany won't play their defensive line so high up the pitch again. Algeria exploited it but couldn't make it pay. I'd expect them to defend deeper on Friday because if they play that way again they'll get turned over. France have quality all over the pitch from Lloris, Varane to Matuidi, Valbuena, Pogba and Benzema/Giroud. If this goes to extra time someone like Remy with plenty of pace could run the Germans ragged from the bench.

Brazil and Argentina have looked average but have still got the job done when looking ordinary. Any improvement from either side could see them through but I'd like to see both knocked out. I want to see France v Holland and think that could be a great game. I've backed France pre tournament but only to small stakes and have Germany in the sweepstake at work. Not sure if to go in again on France or just let the one run I've got already.
 
Tanlic said:
You and I are at opposite ends of the road here Viking......Can't see Holland reaching the final but they should scrape through against Costa Rica.......I think everyone got a bit carried away after the had that landslide win against Spain but the have looked decidedly ordinary in their last 2 games.

Then again so have the rest of the teams but that could change

You just have to fear Brazil. I think from here on in and the winning post in sight we'll see a different Brazil.

I reckon Columbia won't know what's hit them and 5/6 Brazil looks the bet of the tournament to me.

The Germans are boringly well organised but they were my choice from the start but I secretly hate the b******.......,,.....I think they'll bore the Dutch into submission and win by 1 goal...

Poor Argentina or should I say poor Messi? Messi is a one man team and will have to do a Maradon to reach the final......even he won't be able to lift the cup without teammates.
I wouldn't bet on it but over 1.5 million has been traded on dark horses Belgium between 20 and 30 and it would appear more than a few are happy to let their cash ride on in the hope they get through.

Comes as no surprise the Argies are odds against......Belgium are a decidedly better side than Switzerland and unless Messie's team mates pull the finger out they could easily be going home.

Brazil V Belgium final???
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Opposite ends of the spectrum alright but differing opinions makes for a good debate. Certainly I agree we might see a different Brazil now the winning post is in sight but I think the same applies to other teams notably Argentina. Holland have been distinctly average after the Spain game but have scraped through and I suspect they too are capable of raising their game.

You say Belgium are a better team than Switzerland. I'd also agree with that but official FIFA rankings say otherwise. Still they've got Portugal 4th and Uruguay 7th so obviously c**p. Anyway Argentina are also a very different proposition to the USA


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In 14 meetings, Brazil have won 7 and Colombia 1 (in 1991). The last 4 have all been draws, three of them 0-0. This looks bound to be another tight game but I'd expect Brazil to come through.

I still can't see in France what others do. So vulnerable in defence out wide. If the German team was selected on here I'd be very confident in them progressing but it's a wait and see until the team is announced.

Robben could beat Costa Rica on his own but he might have to and he'll be under very close scrutiny. Both teams were lucky to go through and this will again be tight. Netherlands 1-0?

Argentina badly missing Aguero as Higuain and Lavezzi haven't even been at yesterday's races. Seems likely that they will continue to rely on Messi and Di Maria. Belgium will have to improve on the ratio of chances taken to win this and the game might turn on whether Hazard finally comes to the party.
 
Germany used to be the great reliables in competition football but the defeat to Italy in the Euros hinted at a weakness in this generation. Maybe to do with the goalscoring in their two main club sides being heavily reliant on foreigners and Guardiola messing around with Bayern's system but they haven't delivered on the potential of 4 years ago. However, it seems like Hummels will be fit and, if he is, I'd be very surprised if they can't take care of France.

Before the tournament I had the semi-finals as Brazil/Germany and Chile/Argentina. Had Chile beaten Netherlands in the group I'd still probably go with that so I'm just replacing Chile with Netherlands.
 
Never understood the Germany being winners thing, any other country would see them as bottlers. They've lost more finals and big games than any other country in the history of football. Maybe it's the fact that they get there that's impressive but they always lose.
 
In the 15 competitions since (West) Germany were allowed back into the tournament after the war, they have been first 3 times (Brazil 5 times), second 4 (1), third 3 (1) and fourth 1 (1). That's 11 out of 15 in the semis. Pretty reliable, which was the word I used, and it is getting through to the semis that we're talking about here rather than winning.
 
AliGupter said:
Never understood the Germany being winners thing, any other country would see them as bottlers. They've lost more finals and big games than any other country in the history of football. Maybe it's the fact that they get there that's impressive but they always lose.
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What nonesense. Germany have won 3 Euros and finished runner up in three others. They've won three WC's and finished runner up in four others. So much for they always lose. Every other football nation would kill for those numbers. Every tournament they go too they have the rightful ambition to win. Other countries (unnamed) go there with an entitlement mentality and never produce squat.
 
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