FIFA World Cup 2014 - Semi-finals [8th - 9th July] **spoilers**
- Thread starter Robbo
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Soldato
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Big blow of Brazil not having Neymar. Might put them off their game plan and you don't want that against Germany.
Holland vs Germany Final.
Holland vs Germany Final.
I'm kinda hoping Netherlands will still be tired after having to work hard against Costa Rica.
Argentina Germany final for me, at the start I thought it would be Argentina vs Brazil with Argentina to win, however now Brazil don't have Neymar or Silva I can only see them struggling.
Argentina Germany final for me, at the start I thought it would be Argentina vs Brazil with Argentina to win, however now Brazil don't have Neymar or Silva I can only see them struggling.
Caporegime
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I hope Argentina don't make the final, they've been terrible, with the odd freekick and stupid Di Maria goal(after being utterly utterly awful for the entire game before that) being the only thing dragging them through.
Holland though have form for freaking out and just turning uber violent in the final though it doesn't really look like they'd go that way this time(also no Van Bommel to push them down that path). Holland vs Germany would be the two teams who produced the best football in the final which would be a good outcome, Holland vs Brazil may make for a frenzied atmosphere in the final.
I just hope all the teams improve the general quality of football back to the group stage level. A lot of the games since may have been exciting, and end to end, but the actual quality of the football fell off a cliff after the group stage.
Holland though have form for freaking out and just turning uber violent in the final though it doesn't really look like they'd go that way this time(also no Van Bommel to push them down that path). Holland vs Germany would be the two teams who produced the best football in the final which would be a good outcome, Holland vs Brazil may make for a frenzied atmosphere in the final.
I just hope all the teams improve the general quality of football back to the group stage level. A lot of the games since may have been exciting, and end to end, but the actual quality of the football fell off a cliff after the group stage.
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I hope Germany win (cant believe i said that) I have been waiting for some sexy rioting since mid June
Soldato
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Soldato
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Should I go with two 90 minute draws?
Soldato
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I struggle to pin down a favourite without knowing the standard of refereeing.
I'm going to hazard a guess that it's biased towards Brazil.
Caporegime
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Absolutely.
None of these teams have really looked great since the group stages, with a couple looking poor all the way through (at least underwhelming). For all the goals and excitment at the World Cup, we've been left with teams that have been boring to watch in the knock out rounds.
I think this is first world cup I've watched where I have absolutely no idea who's going to win, none of the teams left have really impressed.
I really would like a Brazil v Argentina final only for the Argies to beat them on home soil, what's most likely to happen though is for the Germans to beat a very average looking Brazilian team and the Argies to come through against the Dutch with Messi & Co.
I really would like a Brazil v Argentina final only for the Argies to beat them on home soil, what's most likely to happen though is for the Germans to beat a very average looking Brazilian team and the Argies to come through against the Dutch with Messi & Co.
I hope Argentina don't make the final as every match they have been involved so far has been a borefest, they seem solid in defense but not creative at all going forward.
Germany v Netherlands has the potential to be the best final imo. I can't see Brazil beating Germany on recent form but with forced changes who knows they might actually play better with Neymar etc out.
Germany v Netherlands has the potential to be the best final imo. I can't see Brazil beating Germany on recent form but with forced changes who knows they might actually play better with Neymar etc out.
It is odd; we're in the semi-finals and no team looks good enough to win the World Cup. Brazil were just starting to creep above average - then they lost Neymar and Tiago Silva. Argentina look poor whenever Messi isn't within 10 yards of the ball. Germany have been OK going forward but look vulnerable (and slow) at the back.
As much as I hate the Dutch, I think they'll win it. Holland are about as reliant on Robben as Argentina are on Messi but they have a coach who accepts that if you have no quality in defence you need quantity. Van Gaal didn't mind playing seven at the back in the first half against Mexico, and while that served to reinforce my hatred it was effective in the end.
I struggle to pin down a favourite without knowing the standard of refereeing.
I'm assuming that the referee is 'friendly'.