Quarter finals

Desert Orchid said:
However, I'm not sure whether any team at this stage should be 7/1 regardless of the opposition so I've taken a stab at Costa Rica at the price in the hope of getting a chance to take a profit at some point.

Holland were a ba'hair off going out to Mexico and Costa Rica wouldn't be that far behind Mexico.
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Never really had a look in at taking a profit but got a reasonable run for my money.

Still hopeful the costarriqueños can get through. The diving Dutch are a disgrace (even though CR should really be a man down).
 
I'll settle for CR winning on penalties.

Robben is incredibly frustrating. He is a fantastic player, so talented yet his focus is on cheating but he is a phenomenal athlete. How good could he be if he channelled all his energy into playing instead of play-acting.
 
Incredible call to replace the keeper if the shoot out.


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Costa Rica squad are all class.

I sincerely hope the Argies hump the Dutch - a poor, one-dimensional outfit.
 
viking said:
Incredible call to replace the keeper if the shoot out.
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Was it maybe a no-lose situation for van Gaal?

Maybe the other keeper agreed beforehand he didn't fancy a shoot-out?

Good saves from Krul, though, and the better team has gone through.
 
Grasshopper said:
Costa Rica squad are all class.

I sincerely hope the Argies hump the Dutch - a poor, one-dimensional outfit.
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Makes you wonder about the pre-match comment/boast by Van Gaal that the Dutch can change how they play depending on how the game is going?
 
archie said:
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.Check

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. Check

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? Close enough

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. Check, Hazard a no show
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8/10

archie said:
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.
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10/10:cool:
 
Desert Orchid said:
Was it maybe a no-lose situation for van Gaal?



Maybe the other keeper agreed beforehand he didn't fancy a shoot-out?



Good saves from Krul, though, and the better team has gone through.
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It certainly worked for the Dutch. Other keeper looked a bit gutted when he came off but looked happy enough in the shots they showed of him watching the shootout


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Yes. I reckon Van Gaal (great manager though he may be) is his own best PR man.

The (few admittedly) papers I've glanced at this morning are all hailing him as a tactical genius because of that decision. No mention of the lack of change in approach in over 120 minutes. Maybe he felt Holland would score at some point and then he could say there was no need to change anything. I've heard that one trotted out often enough at club level.

I don't imagine we'll ever get to know if Cillessen had been disappointing in penalty practice but I can't see any other scenario. It would explain the need to hold on to that one substitution until literally the last minute. Cillessen's save late in the game kept Holland in it (notwithstanding the numerous Navas saves at the other end).

I said during the group stages that Holland looked over-rated and everything that has happened since bears that out. At the same time we seem to be saying it about all the big teams!

Argentina without Messi?
Brazil without Neymar?
Holland without Robben?

It's looking like Germany are the only team not seemingly a one-man band. I wonder if that will ultimately be significant.

I was looking forward to a Brazil-Argentina final before the quarters. Now I'm not so sure.
 
I think someone came up with the stat that Cillessen had never saved a penalty in a match. Krul shouldn't have been allowed to get away with his antics before each CR penalty.
 
Colin Phillips said:
'Expecting' I can accept, "looking forward to" Shirley Knott?
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Pedant :lol:

archie said:
I think someone came up with the stat that Cillessen had never saved a penalty in a match. Krul shouldn't have been allowed to get away with his antics before each CR penalty.
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This would appear to back up the idea of a pre-match decision, as would the very fact that Holland saved this sub to ensure it could be carried out. You could argue, I suppose, that it counts as a tactical one decided in advance, reinforcing the notion of VG's shrewdness, in which case it probably should not have been over-dramatised as it was (as is just about everything in these commentaries, it seems).
 
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VG says it was a pre-match decision and that Krul knew but Cillessen didn't. It would have been quite amusing if CR had kept the ball in play for an extra 30 seconds at the end and denied the chance of a substitution being made.
 
Hamm said:
The referee should have stopped Krul's antics.
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It was disgusting, he should have booked him the first time he did it for ungentlemanly conduct. If he did it a second time, second yellow. Refs have been very weak at this tournament, Brazil got away with murder the other night and then this.

I hope Argentina thump the Dutch, they are a vile side.
 
I'm looking forward to seeing Messi and di Maria (if fit) running at Martins Indi Vlaar and de Vrij. The Dutch haven't got a prayer. Higuain will also be too much for the Dutch defence if on his game.


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Gamla Stan said:
It was disgusting, he should have booked him the first time he did it for ungentlemanly conduct. If he did it a second time, second yellow. Refs have been very weak at this tournament, Brazil got away with murder the other night and then this.

I hope Argentina thump the Dutch, they are a vile side.
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Agree
 
Not looked at any stats, but on the reasoning that the best team make more chances, then on my viewing, alone. Holland look the ones to lift JR.


MR2
 
archie said:
VG says it was a pre-match decision and that Krul knew but Cillessen didn't. It would have been quite amusing if CR had kept the ball in play for an extra 30 seconds at the end and denied the chance of a substitution being made.
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Would have been hilarious - imagine what sort of state Cillesen would be in having seen Krul standing there and then they didn't get the sub made.

Krul's antics were over the top in my opinion - if you need to resort to mental games like that you don't deserve to win.
 
viking said:
I'm looking forward to seeing Messi and di Maria (if fit) running at Martins Indi Vlaar and de Vrij. The Dutch haven't got a prayer. Higuain will also be too much for the Dutch defence if on his game.


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Watching the 3 Dutch defenders pass the ball is quite amusing - their technique is barely good enough for Sunday league...
 
Holland will only 'lift the JR' if they find out who stole it in 1983. As for shots(chances) in a previous match being any guide to the next, consider this. Belgium had 39 shots (albeit in 120 minutes) against the USA but managed precisely 7 in 90 minutes against Argentina.
 
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What is a "chance" anyway? A punt from 30 yards that hits the corner flag?

And small matter of all very well if you make loads of "chances" but have four divs in defence
 
Just on a roll at the moment having previously posted my semi-finalists on a WC thread thread.

My logic a month ago was to look at goals scored in qualifying, do a bit of adjustment for Qualification Domian and then factor in a 'chances' made criteria.

Given, with a few disappointments and a pretty obvious outcome, that I predicted all four semi-finalists I think I am speaking from a position of strength when I say:

NETHERLANDS for the JR, with Germany runners-up.

Not awful reasoning at all - MR2
 
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