World Cup: semi finals
Okay.. so I didn't get my dream final yet again! And yet again the other half went through to face the other half of my predicted final. XDD (Also.. now is the rematch between.. well with Germany and Argentina it's already the third rematch in a final, so there's that... besides being knocked out last time by Germany whereas Brazil were knocked out by the Netherlands)
The first semi was freaking crazy and the goals scored then made up for no goals in the second semi. But how wrong was I?? despite my BRA-ARG prediction I still though the Dutch would have a better chance than the Germans. Well... their game was even while the German's... was not.
Brazil-Germany
WTF was that?? Even my brother texted me to ask what was going on in Brazil (He hardly ever bothers to contact me)
That was not the Germany I was used to seeing in this World Cup. Even against Portugal. They were playing faster (mostly because Brazil was..), surer, their defense was not that bad and most importantly.. they were converting their chances? Amazing. Poor Brazil though... That was brutal and I started feeling bad for them. In their home country of all places...
mentally they just couldn't take it though... Everything seemed to be a mess once they went a two goals down and Germany's players are not only better but also mentally tougher (of course it's easy to be when you're leading). An attackminded Brazil is also a better opponent for them than for example Algeria and the insane defense. Germany IS the best team, even if their coach is the worst.. Okay, maybe I am being a little harsh there...
When I saw the starting line-up, my reaction was: Good, at least Löw hasn't screwed that up yet. But didn't feel super confident until after the second goal.. Okay.. actually, only at the point when Germany were leading 7-0 did I say" I think Germany are going to win this". :D Sceptic till the end. :) (Mostly kidding.. Brazil were pretty much done after three goals.. Even the first goal already messed them up).
OMG at the score chart having to scroll. Ouch.
Germany could have cared a little more though at the end, so Neuer could have kept a clean sheet! He deserved more than that from his defenders! Although it was understandable that with hardly any time left to play and Germany leading by SEVEN goals, nobody really cared that much.. they pretty much had their minds on the final from the beginning of the second half (or end of the first), when Brazil started getting a few good chances...
Now Germany got a few more goal scorers.. And Schürrle passed Hummels as Germany's second best goal scorer. Darn, I was really rooting for Müller to get that second golden shoe (because that would be historical as well.) He has enough passes too. Well, it's still possible.
Interestingly the Brazilian crowd started with booing the German team, then booing their own team and finally cheering the Germans.. But really, it was not cool to boo and specifically one player (Fred), when the problems were much bigger than that (and starting with poor defending)
Apparently there were a few riots after the game, but nothing bad..
Yeah.. Brazil spent a lot of money (ignoring much bigger problems in their country) to get humiliated by a welfare state superior team. I do feel sorry for them, but the country is more than just football. I wish they could take a long hard look at their nation and see that football is not going to solve their problems. Either way, despite the Netherlands' being my second favourite team, I wouldn't mind if Brazil could salvage something with a bronze... As long as Argentina don't win, I don't care!!
This game broke a bunch of records and how awesome/ironic was it for Klose to become the World Cup top scorer in a game against Brazil and leaving a Brazilian legend in second place while he was watching in the stadium?
But yeah, I think there were records like biggest win-defeat in a semi-final, biggest loss for Brazil in the World Cup, fastest 5-0, fastest two consecutive goals... and yeah...
Anyway, all will be forgotten for Germany, if they end up losing the final. DARN IT!!!
I have my scapegoat ready. The coach. He might be cursed. Also.. no European team has ever won in South America. That's also a curse. I think.
The Netherlands-Argentina
DARNIT! I KNEW the Netherlands weren't going to survive another penalty shoot out, even if Krul had played.. but of course with Cillessen there, they had no chance. He wasn't going to save anything. They really needed to score before, and they didn't.. Or even have that many chances. I know people go on about Messi, but Argentina wouldn't be in the final without Mascherano (the REAL captain of the team, IMO.. Seriously, why did Messi get the band when Mascherano is still in the starting line up? Bleh.) That guy displayed some amazing defending (and especially at the end kept Robben from scoring). Oh yeah, and Romero was good too. Gosh, I wouldn't really mind this team that much if it weren't for the overhyped Messi. (he is good, but come on, there are other payers, who IMO have played better in this tournament) I just know that if Argentina win, all glory will be heaped on that little vermin, whereas if Germany win, the whole team will be credited and besides, it would be their first win as unified Germany, which would also mean something.
Anyway.. Argentina did have more chances during the game, so it's not exactly unfair that they made the final. I'm just mad, because I didn't want them there. XDD I wish the Dutch had been better, but not that much was expected from them, and making the semis is great, even if they don't see it that way. I mean, Brazil, Argentina, Germany were the faves to win.. (probably even Spain, but only to really idealistic Spain fans) and at least they didn't crash out like Brazil.
The first semi was freaking crazy and the goals scored then made up for no goals in the second semi. But how wrong was I?? despite my BRA-ARG prediction I still though the Dutch would have a better chance than the Germans. Well... their game was even while the German's... was not.
Brazil-Germany
WTF was that?? Even my brother texted me to ask what was going on in Brazil (He hardly ever bothers to contact me)
That was not the Germany I was used to seeing in this World Cup. Even against Portugal. They were playing faster (mostly because Brazil was..), surer, their defense was not that bad and most importantly.. they were converting their chances? Amazing. Poor Brazil though... That was brutal and I started feeling bad for them. In their home country of all places...
mentally they just couldn't take it though... Everything seemed to be a mess once they went a two goals down and Germany's players are not only better but also mentally tougher (of course it's easy to be when you're leading). An attackminded Brazil is also a better opponent for them than for example Algeria and the insane defense. Germany IS the best team, even if their coach is the worst.. Okay, maybe I am being a little harsh there...
When I saw the starting line-up, my reaction was: Good, at least Löw hasn't screwed that up yet. But didn't feel super confident until after the second goal.. Okay.. actually, only at the point when Germany were leading 7-0 did I say" I think Germany are going to win this". :D Sceptic till the end. :) (Mostly kidding.. Brazil were pretty much done after three goals.. Even the first goal already messed them up).
OMG at the score chart having to scroll. Ouch.
Germany could have cared a little more though at the end, so Neuer could have kept a clean sheet! He deserved more than that from his defenders! Although it was understandable that with hardly any time left to play and Germany leading by SEVEN goals, nobody really cared that much.. they pretty much had their minds on the final from the beginning of the second half (or end of the first), when Brazil started getting a few good chances...
Now Germany got a few more goal scorers.. And Schürrle passed Hummels as Germany's second best goal scorer. Darn, I was really rooting for Müller to get that second golden shoe (because that would be historical as well.) He has enough passes too. Well, it's still possible.
Interestingly the Brazilian crowd started with booing the German team, then booing their own team and finally cheering the Germans.. But really, it was not cool to boo and specifically one player (Fred), when the problems were much bigger than that (and starting with poor defending)
Apparently there were a few riots after the game, but nothing bad..
Yeah.. Brazil spent a lot of money (ignoring much bigger problems in their country) to get humiliated by a welfare state superior team. I do feel sorry for them, but the country is more than just football. I wish they could take a long hard look at their nation and see that football is not going to solve their problems. Either way, despite the Netherlands' being my second favourite team, I wouldn't mind if Brazil could salvage something with a bronze... As long as Argentina don't win, I don't care!!
This game broke a bunch of records and how awesome/ironic was it for Klose to become the World Cup top scorer in a game against Brazil and leaving a Brazilian legend in second place while he was watching in the stadium?
But yeah, I think there were records like biggest win-defeat in a semi-final, biggest loss for Brazil in the World Cup, fastest 5-0, fastest two consecutive goals... and yeah...
Anyway, all will be forgotten for Germany, if they end up losing the final. DARN IT!!!
I have my scapegoat ready. The coach. He might be cursed. Also.. no European team has ever won in South America. That's also a curse. I think.
The Netherlands-Argentina
DARNIT! I KNEW the Netherlands weren't going to survive another penalty shoot out, even if Krul had played.. but of course with Cillessen there, they had no chance. He wasn't going to save anything. They really needed to score before, and they didn't.. Or even have that many chances. I know people go on about Messi, but Argentina wouldn't be in the final without Mascherano (the REAL captain of the team, IMO.. Seriously, why did Messi get the band when Mascherano is still in the starting line up? Bleh.) That guy displayed some amazing defending (and especially at the end kept Robben from scoring). Oh yeah, and Romero was good too. Gosh, I wouldn't really mind this team that much if it weren't for the overhyped Messi. (he is good, but come on, there are other payers, who IMO have played better in this tournament) I just know that if Argentina win, all glory will be heaped on that little vermin, whereas if Germany win, the whole team will be credited and besides, it would be their first win as unified Germany, which would also mean something.
Anyway.. Argentina did have more chances during the game, so it's not exactly unfair that they made the final. I'm just mad, because I didn't want them there. XDD I wish the Dutch had been better, but not that much was expected from them, and making the semis is great, even if they don't see it that way. I mean, Brazil, Argentina, Germany were the faves to win.. (probably even Spain, but only to really idealistic Spain fans) and at least they didn't crash out like Brazil.