down to four
two great games yesterday, two strange games today. The World Cup is down to four teams now, 2 former champions who have reinvented themselves (Uruguay, Germany) pairing off with the two best teams who have never won (Netherlands, Spain).
The Dutch were a mess in the 1st half yesterday, but the Brazilians were even worse in the 2nd and totally came apart. i dont think i've ever seen a Brazilian team implode quite like that. well, thats because its never happened: Brazil had never lost a game in the 80 yrs. of the World Cup where they led at half before yesterday. but the better team won in the end. the smarter team won. Brazil lost their nerve and they got outfoxed, as the Dutch got into their heads and picked a good time to remember how to play.
Uruguay v. Ghana was, quite simply, the most amazing ending to a soccer game i have ever seen. in the long run, Ghana probably made more friends for losing than they could if they had won. as for Uruguay, people have tried to villify Suarez for handling the ball on the line at the end. all of those people can shut up. he had no choice. if he doesnt do that, they lose and go home. if Gyan hadnt choked the ensuing penalty, it wouldnt have mattered.
Uruguay has had a great run here but the team they put out on Tuesday in the semi is gonna be held together with ducttape. between the Suarez suspension and some injuries, theyre missing everyone who is any good other than Forlán, who already has to do EVERYTHING for this team anyway. i cant see how they win. then again, it would be just like the Dutch to beat Brazil and then gag in the next game. but surely they can win this one.
as predicted here on the blog a couple of weeks ago, the Germans exposed Argentina as frauds who had no defense and an offense that was, really, surprisingly easy to negate. nice going Maradona. try actually employing a strategy at some point. they've hung 4 on the board vs. Argentina and England here, this "New Germany" - a team that smiles, plays fast, talks trash, misses penalties and has a bunch of funny non-German looking names on the back of the shirts. they've been fun to watch. they are young and fearless.
meanwhile, Spain vs. Paraguay was rubbish for 60 minutes, as the Guaraní did everything to play for a 0:0 draw and the Spanish just got frustrated. then the game gets strange for 5 minutes - 3 penalties, 2 misses, one called back, and about 6 bad officiating decisions. play picked up after the near-death experiences for both teams, and eventually Spain prevailed 1:0 as Villa pinballed one in off both goalposts in the 83' for the only goal. an ugly win.
Spain hasnt looked very good in this tourney because their opponents wont let them look very good. (same for the Dutch, for the most part.) i dont suspect the Germans are going to play 10 behind the ball like every other Spanish opponent has done. i also wonder if Germany will be able to defend for 60-70% of the game, which is what happens when you play Spain. they want to get out and run up and down, the Spanish know that and probably will not let that happen. Patient teams (Serbia, Ghana) have given the Germans problems, and i'm thinking Spain will do the same thing.
So that would be a Netherlands-Spain final and i'd look like a fuckin' genius in that prediction i made several weeks ago. (well, except for that bit about England making the semis.) i'd be pulling for the Oranje, of course, but i'd ultimately be happy if either team won.
the best thing about a Spain win in such a final? were that to happen, the records would show that the ONLY team that didnt lose a game in this World Cup was ... New Zealand. go figure.
The Dutch were a mess in the 1st half yesterday, but the Brazilians were even worse in the 2nd and totally came apart. i dont think i've ever seen a Brazilian team implode quite like that. well, thats because its never happened: Brazil had never lost a game in the 80 yrs. of the World Cup where they led at half before yesterday. but the better team won in the end. the smarter team won. Brazil lost their nerve and they got outfoxed, as the Dutch got into their heads and picked a good time to remember how to play.
Uruguay v. Ghana was, quite simply, the most amazing ending to a soccer game i have ever seen. in the long run, Ghana probably made more friends for losing than they could if they had won. as for Uruguay, people have tried to villify Suarez for handling the ball on the line at the end. all of those people can shut up. he had no choice. if he doesnt do that, they lose and go home. if Gyan hadnt choked the ensuing penalty, it wouldnt have mattered.
Uruguay has had a great run here but the team they put out on Tuesday in the semi is gonna be held together with ducttape. between the Suarez suspension and some injuries, theyre missing everyone who is any good other than Forlán, who already has to do EVERYTHING for this team anyway. i cant see how they win. then again, it would be just like the Dutch to beat Brazil and then gag in the next game. but surely they can win this one.
as predicted here on the blog a couple of weeks ago, the Germans exposed Argentina as frauds who had no defense and an offense that was, really, surprisingly easy to negate. nice going Maradona. try actually employing a strategy at some point. they've hung 4 on the board vs. Argentina and England here, this "New Germany" - a team that smiles, plays fast, talks trash, misses penalties and has a bunch of funny non-German looking names on the back of the shirts. they've been fun to watch. they are young and fearless.
meanwhile, Spain vs. Paraguay was rubbish for 60 minutes, as the Guaraní did everything to play for a 0:0 draw and the Spanish just got frustrated. then the game gets strange for 5 minutes - 3 penalties, 2 misses, one called back, and about 6 bad officiating decisions. play picked up after the near-death experiences for both teams, and eventually Spain prevailed 1:0 as Villa pinballed one in off both goalposts in the 83' for the only goal. an ugly win.
Spain hasnt looked very good in this tourney because their opponents wont let them look very good. (same for the Dutch, for the most part.) i dont suspect the Germans are going to play 10 behind the ball like every other Spanish opponent has done. i also wonder if Germany will be able to defend for 60-70% of the game, which is what happens when you play Spain. they want to get out and run up and down, the Spanish know that and probably will not let that happen. Patient teams (Serbia, Ghana) have given the Germans problems, and i'm thinking Spain will do the same thing.
So that would be a Netherlands-Spain final and i'd look like a fuckin' genius in that prediction i made several weeks ago. (well, except for that bit about England making the semis.) i'd be pulling for the Oranje, of course, but i'd ultimately be happy if either team won.
the best thing about a Spain win in such a final? were that to happen, the records would show that the ONLY team that didnt lose a game in this World Cup was ... New Zealand. go figure.