Update [2010-7-2 17:30:1 by BooMan]: Okay, so don’t tell me that wasn’t the craziest, most dramatic, and crushing end of a World Cup match evah!! Uruguay on penalty kicks!!
Netherlands or Brazil? I like both teams, but I’m pulling for Orange. Brazil is the favorite and they’re hosting the Cup in 2014, so they’ll probably win it then. After America, England, Italy were eliminated early, my team now is Germany (I’m a German/English/Northern Italy mutt, and my son is even more German). But they don’t play until tomorrow.
The afternoon game features Uruguay and Ghana. Either team would be a feel-good story in the Semis. Uruguay hosted and won the first World Cup in 1930 and then upset Brazil (in Brazil) in the 1950 Cup. But they haven’t done too much since then. They did reach the semis in 1954 and 1970, but they’ve been dry since then. It would be nice to see them reestablish themselves as a major power.
And Ghana is the only remaining African team in an African World Cup. No African team has even reached the semis, so a Ghanan victory would be the definition of a feel-good story and really excite a whole continent. I don’t give either team much chance of beating either Brazil or Holland to get to the finals, but you never know.
Who are you pulling for?
Brazil is wearing their blue jerseys today. That’s kind of disappointing.
But they look so pretty! 😉
Not pulling for anyone in particular, I just want a continuation of what has been a fantastic WC.
Brazil (FIFA Ranking, No.1)
Netherlands (FIFA Ranking, No. 4)
Uruguay (FIFA Ranking, No. 16)
Ghana (FIFA Ranking, No. 32)
Germany (FIFA Ranking, No. 6)
Argentina (FIFA Ranking, No. 7)
Spain (FIFA Ranking, No. 2)
Paraguay (FIFA Ranking, No. 31)
The only serious mismatch is between Spain and Paraguay. But Paraguay has gone three straight matches without allowing a goal and only allowed one goal in tying Italy in their first match. On the other hand, they’ve only scored three times in four matches and only prevailed in their last match on penalty kicks. That may be the only way they can defeat Spain.
The Germany/Argentina and Brazil/Netherlands matches could easily be the finals.
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in the earliest stage of the World Cup for the last four: Netherlands – Uruguay – Argentina and Paragua. So I will root for Orange with a streak of 23 games without a loss. The canaries aren’t playing the great samba soccer of old and do lack the extra individual talents. The greatest match between these two nations was the semi-finals in 1974 in Germany. Brazil was the favorite as defending World Champion. Brazil was beaten 2-0 by the greatest Dutch team ever (Cruyff, Neeskens, Krol, Haan, Rensenbrink and Suurbier) and the only match I ever attended. It was a tremendous explosion of Orange fans. Germany with Beckenbauer and Muller beat the Dutch in the final in Munchen.
Early minutes of today’s match, it appears the Brazilians are making tough tackles on Dutch forward star Robben. Brazil scores first, this will be a major advantage in match as they can defend and wait for the chances as the Dutch defense opens up. We’ll see …
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."How are you feeling now, Oui? Can’t believe Brazil blocked their own goalie!
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A beautiful play by the Dutch, a corner headed through and poor defense by Brazil. Netherlands – Brazil 2-1 . Brazil are great in attacking play, twice were poor in defending. Early goal by Brazil caused some concern, Brazil failed to score 2-0 and 3-0. A hope the Japanese referee is upto his task, the Japanese leaque is not quite the same as South America or Europe. He just redcarded the capatain of Brazil for losing his head on an attack on Robben. Dutch should be home free …
73 min: RED CARD!!! IT’S ALL GOING PEAR-SHAPED FOR BRAZIL. AND FELIPE MELO, IF IT HADN’T ALREADY!!! Down the right, Felipe Melo knocks Sneijder down. It’s a free kick. The Brazilian then crumps his studs on the Dutch player’s thigh. That’s a no-brainer for the ref, a disgusting challenge.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Are you dancing now, Oui? Great game! Alright – my last hope of the day is Ghana..!
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Great stuff. To be candid, I was sitting in the back yard enjoying the beautiful summer weather. It’s a city neighborhood, so I just listened to the uproar of the fans as soon as Orange scored. We have our 4 year-old grandson over for three weeks summer vacation. He is now getting indoctrinated what the meaning of Orange is! LOL
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.".
In the warming-up, first-choice central defender had to retire because of an injury. The central-defending bloc was now one routinier and the old-PSV player André Ooijer who is without a club for the new season!!
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Really low class, totally foolish move.
I’ve been a Netherlands fan for years – I have two very good friends from Holland, so that’s where that came from. Should be a great game.
Enjoying this World Cup very much! Mexico and USA I was supporting both eliminated now. Liking Uruguay but vs. Ghana, like the idea of a Ghana win.
Last Saturday, when you guys went to the High Line, we watched Ghana – USA in the Mexican bar on Carmine. My kids were in a dilemma – being US citizens, but also half African. We decided to root for Ghana, probably the only ones in the bar.
We were happy with the outcome. Big disappointment for Booman and lurker.
Your kids – great kids!!!!- were in a win-win situation for the outcome but difficult to know what side to cheer during the game I guess. I saw a photo of some Ghana fans I think holding a sign apologizing to Obama for winning – very gracious!! Glad I opted for the high line though. At the bar where I watched Uruguay-Korea in the morning, by the end of the game they were removing all the chairs to make room for the crowds, it was already becoming packed at noon. can’t imagine what the places were like by 2:30! What a fun day it was!!
I’m pulling for Brazil. I know more people from Brazil than the Netherlands.
And not to make you all jealous, but I’m sitting in a recliner in front of the largest screen I’ve ever seen (plus another 12 more) NICE BLOCK BRAZIL! Sorry – where was I? I’m enjoying a breakfast buffet at ESPN Zone at LA Live. I think nearly everyone here is rooting for Brazil as well. I got sucked into the games early this year, and honestly, I have a reason to root for just about everyone. (NICE STEAL BRAZIL!)
I mean, unlimited bacon, free WiFi, and a server (in a Brazil shirt, no less) refilling my coffee while my feet are up and I’m in the biggest, comfiest leather chair ever? Truly, I’m in sports heaven right now! And there’s another game to follow!!!
They are public enemy # 1 for US soccer fans. Can’t cheer for them. None of these teams can beat Argentina right now so everyone is playing for second place.
But wouldn’t it be great if Ghana won? Then we’d have lost to the Wrold Champions. I’d love to see Ghana win it, if Brazil doesn’t..!
Or the WORLD champions, even!
I want the colorful, dynamic teams to advance, generally.
So, Brazil over Nederlands please.
Argentina over Deutschland, to see more of the sideline antics of Maradona and to watch Messi try to finally score a goal.
Spain over Paraguay.
Uruguay (only slightly) over Ghana. Still influenced by the courage of the Uruguayan rugby players from the book/movie Alive.
I’ve got ancestors from Alsace-Lorraine from a time when the area kept flip-flopping between French and German armies. They got out of Dodge so if I’m rooting for a country I wouldn’t be rooting for Germany (or France, for that matter).
I’ll probably root for Ghana. I always root for underdogs, years ago when I went to church there were Ghanaian families attending there, and there was this very hot woman.
That’s all I got. Sexual fantasies during a sermon fifteen years ago guides my rooting interest in World Cup soccer.
I’ve got a new job I’m going to be starting in a couple of weeks at ING, so I’m for the Netherlands! LOL!
Nice job, Netherlands. And I’m really liking the ref. Seems very solid, very fair.
And if it’s Netherlands, Spain, that would be fun, as my two Saturday morning post-hiking breakfast hosts come from those countries. Would be fun to see husband and wife’s countries warring for supremacy..!
Wow – didn’t see that coming. Good job, Netherlands!
No kidding. Brazil looked a tad overrated, on both ends of the field. Sloppy negligent defense allowed 2 goals, and not nearly the clever offensive skill previous Brazil teams have displayed.
Congrats to the Orangemen who outplayed their opponents and deserved to win.
Melo will need a bodyguard after the own goal and getting sent off with his team down a goal. Poor guy.
I thought the goal from the corner kick was atrocious defense by Brazil — first they don’t have a defender out there on the edge protecting in front of the outermost Dutch player, who ended up flicking the ball unimpeded back towards the front of the goal, where another Dutchman went unmarked to head it in.
Just a very casual defensive mindset by the Brazilians.
Then the emotional reckless red card play. No self-discipline at all.
Strange showing by Brazil, totally unexpected outcome. Even ESPN’s one Dutch commentator had picked Brazil to win.
It wasn’t unexpected to me at all. I thought they were so evenly matched that it was a toss-up. A little luck for Holland and a little lack of discipline by Brazil, and there you are.
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But for the Colombians, the own goal had a disastrous and chilling effect. The 27-year-old Escobar, one of his country’s greatest players and captain for the 1994 national team, was held accountable for the loss.
Colombia failed to make it out of the group stage of the World Cup, its first in 28 years. Ten days after the loss to the U.S., Escobar was shot dead outside a nightclub in Medellin, Colombia, the violence-stained city where he grew up, cultivated a love for the game on its rugged streets and played for Athletico Nacional, a team once owned by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, no relation to the player.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."People trot that story out a lot, and it is one of the most shocking bits of soccer lore. But I read that the guy who shot Escobar wasn’t an unhappy fan, so much as a gangster who had bet and lost a bunch of money on the game Colombia lost.
I have to agree on you their were too sloppy.
I love to see Brazil get outed. As noted above, they are strong for 2014, so let someone else win for a change.
Holland-Germany final, anyone? Germany is very strong.
I think Argentina is playing at least twice as well as anyone else. Germany is great, but young. I don’t think they can win outright. Maybe on kicks.
I think it will be Spain v. Argentina and Netherlands v. Uruguay.
If so, I’d predict an Argentina v. Netherlands final, with Argentina as the champion.
But you never know. Maradona has created create spirit, but can he match up tactically?
I still think Ghana might pull this off. I felt Uruguay is playing better, cooler, but Ghana wants it more, and they certainly have the best home court advantage ever. But we’ll see.
And I hope Argentina beats Germany and Spain. I like the New World beating the Old World, myself..!
Well, it’s Ghana’s match to lose now. I thought that guy on Uruguay might have broken his neck. That was scary.
Yeah – the whole place was groaning on the replay – looked so painful. Glad to see him walking around after.
And now, of course, it’s anybody’s game, again..!
A friend of mine predicted it would be the two “guays” in the final. I’m beginning to think he may be right. Uruguay is playing amazingly well!!!
Cool photo essay of WC finals winning scorers:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2010/may/29/worldcup2010-worldcup2006?picture=363061636
My favorite is Alcides Ghiggia’s comment about his ’50 cup winner: “only three people have ever silenced 200,000 people at the Maracana — Frank Sinatra, Pope John Paul II and ME.”
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Luis Suarez the Hero as Uruguay Beats Ghana on Penalty Kicks
Luis Suarez, star forward for Ajax Amsterdam, will miss semi-final match against The Netherlands.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.".
(FIFA.com) – Shots which are on target (i.e. goal bound) and come off a defender, or shots which rebound from the goal-frame and bounce-off a defender or goalkeeper may be considered as an own goal, but in the instance of the Netherlands opening goal against Brazil, the TSG have decided to credit the goal to the attacking player.
Therefore, Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder now has 4 goals so far in the 2010 FIFA World Cup<sup>TM</sup>, taking him level with Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina), Robert Vittek (Slovakia) and David Villa (Spain) at the top of the goal scoring chart.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."That ball was simply not an own-goal. The contact by the Brazilian was so slight that it was almost impossible to see. You need replay to see it. I said at the time “I think that the Brazilian touched it for an own goal”, but I was just guessing really.
Holland is the most successful team to have never won the WC. They appeared in several finals, but always lose. Spain is the second most successful team (I’m just guessing on that, I will admit). If we had a final between Spain and Holland, that would be great. Let’s spread the WC wealth. Let a non-previous winner win. Of course, for Spain to win, they have to get thru Germany. And I really wonder if ANYONE can get thru Germany.
Geez, what a display of team football!! The passes inside the box. The numbers forward!! These guys come to win, and no mistake.
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The Germans were superb, but the Argentinians lacked team tactics and extreme poor marking of opponents. The Germans were playing against a defense of Swiss cheese …
Argentina will face Germany at Cape Town’s Green Point stadium later looking to claim a semi-final spot and lay to rest the frustrations of four years ago when Germany knocked them out on penalties at the same stage of the German hosted World Cup.
“We will rewrite history today and win 2-0,” said Adrian Romerzaro, a 30-year-old businessman from Rosario in Argentina.
“The team has been incredible, and the warmth and focus they have around Maradona is absolutely unique, no other coach has ever achieved that. He is an idol,” he added.
Maradona’s long history as a player, colourful personal life and his pitch-side antics as a coach have helped make Argentina hugely popular with South Africans, who flocked in their thousands to the stadium.
“I’ve followed all their games, they are a great passionate team, and I guess I also like their light blue colour,” said Estine Johnston, 27, gesturing to her new sky blue Argentina shirt and confessing she knew very little about football.
“I wanted to be there and part of the atmosphere,” she said.
Maradona under criticism during WC qualifications
≈ Cross-posted from my diary — World Cup Surprise: Argentina-Germany 0-4 ≈
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."An entire game of “bring it to the 18 box, and shoot it into the wall.” I saw very few passes across the front of the box, which I saw 50 times from Germany.
Germany 4 – Spain 1 (maybe Villa, maybe)
It will be crushing defeat for Spain
I don’t think you’re far off at all.
Spain something of a disappointment even as they advance while Germany is anything but disappointing. Big, strong, fast, disciplined, skilled, team oriented, positive youthful energy, able to play hard entire game.
As far as I can see, only the Netherlands might have a chance to upset them if they get to the finals.
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Argentina played a tactical poor match. What seemed to be South America’s chance for gold has turned in favor of three European nations vying for the Golden Jules Rimet Trophy. The German team is young and a product of a new soccer initiative of the German association based on the principles of … Holland. It’s the best form of an attacking side with all players participating in offence and defensive chores. The German team put pressure on the Argentina backs who failed to reach their midfield and forwards. Messi was desillusioned after the match, Maradona hugged Messi, but Messi shrugged off his coach who failed the team and nation of soccer fans. The best two teams will meet in the final, I’m not placing any bets though on the outcome. A bit of luck is needed in addition to command of the match and discipline and creativity of the players. Apparently the return of Bayern Munchen to the European top under Van Gaal this season has also provided the impulse for the national team … with 6 players from Bayern. BTW two Bayern stars Van Bommel and Robben play for Holland. It would be a shame for these two teams not to meet in the World Cup final.
(CBC) – A somewhat subdued match suddenly became chaotic in a two-minute span of the second half. Gerard Pique pulled down Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo in the penalty area on a corner kick, earning a yellow card and giving the Paraguayan a penalty kick.
With the vuvuzelas reaching a crescendo, the striker who ended his team’s shootout win over Japan was denied brilliantly this time by Iker Casillas, who dived left to block Cardozo’s low kick.
Seconds later, Villa broke free behind the defence and was hauled down by Antolin Alcoraz, who drew a yellow card. Xabi Alonso went to the penalty spot and sent a wicked drive into the net.
Again, the stadium rocked, but referee Carlos Batres of Guatemala waved off the goal, saying a Spain player entered the area too soon [just about all Spanish players entered the box way too soon – Oui].
Given a second chance, keeper Justo Villar guessed correctly, diving left to stop the penalty kick. He also knocked the rebound away from Cesc Fabregas before defender Paulo Da Silva made a leg save at the goal-line on another shot by Sergio Ramos.
After that wild sequence, it seemed anything was possible.
And for Spain, anything is possible with Villa on the field. Not only is he the Spaniards’ best finisher, but he’s a sparkplug with his darting runs and imaginative moves.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."