That There World Cup of Winning Football.

[HomerJay]

David Luiz, the world's most expensive defender.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I have been saying (to anyone that listened) for a week that Germany would crush Brazil in this match. I predicted such wild scores as 3-0 and 4-1. I never suspected anything like this! I wouldn't want to be a German fan trying to get a late pint in Rio tonight!!1!!

To be honest, Brazil have been mediocre throughout the tournament - even with Neymar - and were lucky to scrape through their last two games (not to mention, gifted a win in their opening match thanks to a homer ref and a clear-dive penalty!) Germany, on the other hand, have been clinical from day one, have never looked like losing and have always looked like they have plenty in reserve should it be needed.

Brazil should be grateful they decided to rein things in in the second half. They could easily have lost 12-0!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

My forecast for tomorrow is a narrow Argentina win - either 2-1 or 3-2 - maybe after extra time.

Germany will win the final. But it will be a lot closer than tonight's debacle.

[HomerJay]

My forecast for tomorrow is a narrow Argentina win - either 2-1 or 3-2 - maybe after extra time.

Germany will win the final. But it will be a lot closer than tonight's debacle.

Best to get your predictions in before the games.

[Animavore]

Eamon Dumphy had a field day.

Brazil will likely have another humiliation before the tournament is through.

[Hermit]

Yes, Germany's win was massive, but the scoreline looks like a statistical aberrance to me. The game was not as one-sided as it appears. Brazil managed to intercept plenty of passes, had the majority of possession, corner shots and shots on goal. It did fall down with its defence and the attack was rushed and uncoordinated. On another occasion this might have been quite different. I call this one a disastrously bad hair day. It's also worth mentioning that the German goalie did save 12 goals whereas the Brazilian counterpart only managed 5.

My prediction: The final will be between Germany (duh) and The Netherlands. It will be very stodgy. Both teams will prioritise defence over scoring a goal. There'll be a flood of free kicks, no shortage of yellow cards and at least one red one. The Dutch will win 1 - 0 by virtue of a somewhat freakish goal, possibly during extra time. [/armchair based football comment]

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Yes, Germany's win was massive, but the scoreline looks like a statistical aberrance to me. The game was not as one-sided as it appears. Brazil managed to intercept plenty of passes, had the majority of possession, corner shots and shots on goal. It did fall down with its defence and the attack was rushed and uncoordinated. On another occasion this might have been quite different. I call this one a disastrously bad hair day. It's also worth mentioning that the German goalie did save 12 goals whereas the Brazilian counterpart only managed 5.

My prediction: The final will be between Germany (duh) and The Netherlands. It will be very stodgy. Both teams will prioritise defence over scoring a goal. There'll be a flood of free kicks, no shortage of yellow cards and at least one red one. The Dutch will win 1 - 0 by virtue of a somewhat freakish goal, possibly during extra time. [/armchair based football comment]

Almost all of Brazil's chances (and a lot of their possession) came in the second half. Germany had 7 shots on target to 0 in the first, 5 of which they scored! They were shellshocked until Scolari kicked them up the arse at half-time.

[Babel]

I think it was the backlash of whatever they had before the Columbia game.

[Hermit]

I think it was the backlash of whatever they had before the Columbia game.

Wrong. It was God's backlash - a response for so many south American team members crossing themselves in order to curry favour with him. Idiots.

[SteveB]

That Germany and Brazil match was the most awesome and saddest thing I've ever seen.

My prediction was a tad off. Brazil hasn't lost a home game in like 50 matches, until now. Conversely, Germany hardly ever loses to a South American team.

[klr]

My forecast for tomorrow is a narrow Argentina win - either 2-1 or 3-2 - maybe after extra time.

Germany will win the final. But it will be a lot closer than tonight's debacle.

After watching about 2 minutes, I predicted a a supremely boring 0-0 draw, and thence a penalty shoot-out.

I should have gone off and done something else for 2 hours or so, and come back for the shoot out. A terrible, terrible game. Had there been no penalty shoot-out available - say sudden-death extra time instead - you can bet your bottom dollar the two teams would have played from the outset with a very different attitude.

Argentina v. Germany is a repeat of the 1986 and 1990 finals. 1986 was the last great final. 1990 plumbed the depths.

[HomerJay]

The problem with van Gaal's masterplan, as we predicted after Costa Rica, was that if he couldn't get Krul in the sticks for the shoot-out then the other team would know they were facing a keeper no-one believed in.

[Hermit]

After watching about 2 minutes, I predicted a a supremely boring 0-0 draw, and thence a penalty shoot-out.

I should have gone off and done something else for 2 hours or so, and come back for the shoot out. A terrible, terrible game. Had there been no penalty shoot-out available - say sudden-death extra time instead - you can bet your bottom dollar the two teams would have played from the outset with a very different attitude.

Our tastes of what constitutes a good game obviously differ. I was fascinated by the solidity of defence in both teams, and there were sufficient attempts to get past it by both sides to make it interesting for me. It was just a pity that neither side had enough coordination to succeed. In particular, I thought Messi was definitely not firing on all cylinders. In general neither the Argentinean side nor the Dutch ever managed to mount a cleverly concerted attack. All real dangers were results of happenstance and almost lucky shots.

On the other hand I was not particularly enthralled by Germany's demolition of Brazil. Game over in just under 30 minutes as far as I'm concerned. The remainder was akin to watching a cricket test match in which Australia beats England by an innings and a fuckload of runs. My preference is for close contests.

The scoreless game between the Netherlands and Argentina was definitely more enthralling to me than their 1 - 0 win over Ghana, which consisted of a goalie and ten other defenders not quite succeeding in staving off a lacklustre attack. So we had yet another penalty shootout. To adapt something an internet shopping site might say, "People who enjoy penalty shootouts also like the 20 - 20 "cricket" bash."

One thing I heartily agree with you on is that penalty shootouts should be abolished, and that extra time ought to be a sudden death arrangement. (Perhaps an additional substitution of one or two players should be allowed as well. That would be the humane thing to do.)

[Hermit]

This thread is lacking humour. Let's lighten up, shall we?

[leo-rcc]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 94287.html