:::[Official]World Cup South Africa 2010 Thread:::

[wawaweewa]

Originally Posted by Fear The Ibis

Originally Posted by JD214

The way Spain played today didn't look like a team that could take on Germany.

The way Germany played today there isn't a team in the world that looks like they could take them on.

Spain has the correct personnel to play a solid strategy against Germany. When it comes to this World Cup Spain is no England or Argentina.
The only thing is Spain, historically, plays a fancy type of football and they often lose when it comes time to grind out a tough game. Today almost served as another example.

They have a very real shot against Germany though. Germany hasn't really been tested yet with a solid team playing a solid strategy.

This world cup is pretty weak in terms of play.  Brazil was the most impressive squad (the ease with which they were playing and winning) but they got bounced. Germany's equally impressive but England and Argentina may have been a bit overrated.

Germany's defense in the box is solid though.

 

[noskey]

6th overall in the NT fantasy league

Aint this some bull $@!%.

 

[shaunhillftw49]

^Davd Villa>

 

[ezln1]

HEADS UP TO MY BAY HEADS

Real Madrid v.  America: Wed, Aug 4
Tixs on SALE NOW! @ Ticketmaster

Yeah, *!%% madrid, but aint every day the elite teams come through to the US.

 

[shaunhillftw49]

Yeah read it in the paper.
Ronaldo+Kaka Raul
been on sale for hr

 

[ezln1]

Originally Posted by ShaunHillFTW49

Yeah read it in the paper.
Ronaldo+Kaka Raul
been on sale for hr

Higuian +Di Maria

It's all hate for me when la liga starts, but a fan of too many players to miss this.
Just got tixs ...corner section, but 2nd row...going to have to track them down like I did last summer with Barca in SF and Inter in LA

 

[brownin187]

Originally Posted by TheGift23

Originally Posted by SUCKAFREE85

Originally Posted by Keepie Uppie

Argentina got the anal so bad,it was like watching porn...

and Messi = 0 goals...

  

Why are people so

that he didnt score?  

One of the requirements on NT is to hate on a top athlete. 

People like the feeling of being apart of a collective of people that have an opposition.....A team of people if you will....
It's like people who say "You're an Xbox fanboy!" or "Dude why are you using a MAC? Use a Desktop"....or Twilight kids with their Team Edward v. Jacob *%%!.

In the end they're wasting their energy.

 

[Trey Bantz]

I'm so disappointed with the way we got bounced today, but after thinking all day we deserved to lose the way we did. We need to take this loss as a lesson, I hope this shows that no matter how many stars we put up front and on the wings we will never win without hiring a serious coach that knows a thing or two about tactics, without building a strong defense, and without chemistry and teamwork. I should have known better but I bought the hype surrounding my team after the first four games when in reality I should have taken those victories with a grain of salt because we hadn't played anybody and we had shown huge holes on defense. I hope now Grondona hires a coach along the lines of Bielsa or Bianchi that know how to create winning teams, we have all the tools we just need someone who will put them all together. Germany is an example of how national teams should be built, not around star power but around discipline, patience, and intelligence; kudos to what Low is doing with such a young team.

 

[joe camel smooth]

Honestly Torres didn't contribute much and probably was trying too hard but he looked way better than before......his dribbling was much improved over the last few games IMO. He just got carried away at times.

I think not having 2 real strikers (Torres being basically just an 11th warm body at times) is hurting them. I liked having Pedro & Fabregas in there for a little, their offense was so much better. Not for the whole game as Alonso is much better defensively but it was a good series of substitutions.

Spain should've had 2 goals, either on the first PK that was disallowed or the foul from Villar on Fabregas.



Netherlands deserves the relatively easy road to the finals after knocking out Brazil.

Germany-Spain will be a big match though. This is definitely the first high-powered offense Spain has faced in the whole tourney....Chile being the closest thing to it.

Every team as their ups and downs, but Spain is still a better teamthan Germany IMO. The problem is Germany is riding high and Spain isstill struggling to piece their (very talented) offense together.






Edit: Actually.....without Torres being effective, even as a Spain fan + Müller being out I don't think they have the edge. They gotta get their offense in check to stand a chance against Germany.

One thing that works in their advantage is the way they keep possession for so long......which means less chances for Germany. But Germany's counterattack is part of what makes them great so that's not a huge edge.

 

[mastamind89]

If Germany scores a goal before Spain, Spain will have a lot of trouble bouncing back from that

 

[cincoseisdos]

Biesla appears to be on almost every latin american teams top list to take over

 

[Retroballer]

Originally Posted by knightngale

I think Uruguay can take this if they somehow get to the final vs Spain. That would be epic and hilarious

noooooo there is a kid at my school whos family came from uruguay, he might be the most annoying kid out there. it would only make it worse

 

[ezln1]

the argentina scoreline is a bit misleading. The team was able to settle down and take control of the game, and were clearly the better team by the end of the first half. and 2nd up until the GER's second goal.They were SLOWLY beginning to make head way into opening lanes down the center and on the right flank, but a couple of things made this difficult. Maxi was practically wasted today...he was tracking back and forth down the right side, and with Mascherano running around the pitch putting out fires, they had no one to facilitate the ball into Messi and Higuian. Messi practically had to come out to midfield to even touch the ball. Di Maria should have been subbed out (or not have even started) for Pastore at the beginning of the 2nd half, and Veron for Maxi. What at moments took Germany 3 passes (get outside the box), took Argentina an eternity. By then, they faced a solidly planted German defense. This is the game when the exclusion of zanetti and cambiasso caught up to them. but damn, any half chance germany has gotten in the last 2 games and it has been game over. Young teams, with speed, skills, and no pressure are scary

2. If it werent for the fact that Suarez , Lodeiro, Lugano will be absent (lugano having a slight chance he might play), I would have taken Uruguay in this match without hesitating. The dutch were gifted a goal that paralyzed Brazil, and have yet to show much of anything that makes me believe they would have broken Uruguay's defense. Up to this point, Forlan has had to sacrifice and play much further behind than he usually does with atl. madrid, providing service for his teammates, namely Suarez. It will be interesting to see if he will go up front or assume the same midfield/creative role he has played so far in the tourney

 

[TheGift23]

Top 10 Overall Standings in the NT FIFA Fantasy Game...

KO Round update...

 

[knightngale]

are any important dutch players going to miss the semis?

 

[joe camel smooth]

I don't know how many other Spain fans there are here, but I was thinking.....

In Euro 08 Spain found a lot of success using one less deep midfielder like they're doing now and instead putting in another attacking midfielder.

Given Spain's stale offense this sounds like a good idea, but given their solid defense maybe it's best to leave well enough alone?

I don't expect Del Bosque to switch up his strategy this late in the tournament but it would be cool to see him try it at least towards the end of a match when they need some scoring like they did vs. Paraguay.

Take out Busquets or maybe Alonso and put in Fabregas. This would allow Xavi to play back a little more which is his best spot I think, and give Spain a lot more opportunities to create chances.

I gotta say.....Pedro looked great yesterday, I'd love to see him get some more minutes as well. I wouldn't be surprised to see Llorente make an appearance either, but Pedro + Fabregas changed Spain's offense dramatically. I hope this is something Del Bosque is ready to pull out of his sleeve again.

Germany looked good against Argentina but people are getting too worked up over them because of the score........not to say they aren't a formidable opponent that could very well beat Spain, but their 3 goals in the 2nd half were basically the same. They sent a bunch of players at the area where the right back was and with it pulled the CB out of position and then making a solid cross and scoring. Smart solid play that capitalized on Argentine defensive lapses, not superior, otherworldly talent that can't be stopped.



And since we all put in our $.02......Messi was Argentina's best player today (again). Only one who looked like he could pass worth a damn. Tevez on the other hand was worthless.

 

[brian cushing]

Euro 2008 rematch

Let's go La Furia Roja. St. Iker today

although he should've held onto that first shot at the end of the game.

I hope Del Bosque can channel some Aragones magic.

 

[AZwildcats]

Other then David Villa spain has really not impressed me. All the blame cant go to Torres but he looks lost out there. Fabregas looked much better for the time he was out there. IMO Germany and one of my new favorite players, Ozil, move on to play the Netherlands by a 3-1 win. They look that good 

 

[noskey]

Originally Posted by AZwildcats

IMO Germany and one of my new favorite players, Ozil, move on to play the Netherlands by a 3-1 win. They look that good 

Nah. If Germany wins it's by only 1. That's a big 'if' though

 

[AZwildcats]

Originally Posted by Noskey

Originally Posted by AZwildcats

IMO Germany and one of my new favorite players, Ozil, move on to play the Netherlands by a 3-1 win. They look that good 

Nah. If Germany wins it's by only 1. That's a big 'if' though

Normally i would agree with you but after the way the just beat Argentina, they to m are clearly a better team

 

[noskey]

I just cant agree with you. Mostly because I'm biased

But yeah, unless RVP can somehow get his head on his shoulders (not counting on it), and the team can finish with their wide open shots (unlike the last game), Germany will have a great chance. Assuming both teams make it to the championship game.

 

[gma 11]

Originally Posted by TheGift23

KO Round update..

It's annoying how there's only 4 free transfers in the next round. i have no subs.. and half my team is already knocked out

 

[engoi]

Originally Posted by Noskey

Originally Posted by AZwildcats

IMO Germany and one of my new favorite players, Ozil, move on to play the Netherlands by a 3-1 win. They look that good 

Nah. If Germany wins it's by only 1. That's a big 'if' though

Kaaskop............

 

[jd214]

I really don't know who to choose between Germany or Spain, I liked both teams before the WC started and chose Spain to win but the way Germany is playing right now seems like it'll be tough.

 

[jrizzyjay]

Germany is playing extremely great soccer right now. I like Spain as the favorites but put it like this...Whoever cracks first on defense will lose.