That match was amazing! Germany was more powerful than ever in recent years at this stage of the tournament... strike 3 goals in the first half, the put the focus on maintaining control over the game and let the opponent make occasional mistakes. The first hattrick in this World Cup and the first one since 2010! The one before was 2002, also by Germany. My hopes are up... but they had been crushed many times before. But this time, the team is looking very promising at least.
I'm sure you know the rest of the world always rates even a weak German side, weak being very relative here! And this is not a weak side, ominous. Potential semi with Brazil, even at this stage? 39 year record to end?
The amount of injuries in this WC is getting pretty high. A lot of teams have to make 1 or 2 subs just because of injury and not tactical. Good win for the U.S.A.
Indeed, another great to watch match imo. USA were so organised in defence, a solid two rows of four that hardly deviated. I have to say that so far this has been a very exciting tournament, lots of attacking, lots of flair, lots of great defence. Shaping up to be a great tournament if it continues. (Helps for me that I've really been turned off football the last few years...the UK's overwhelming forced diet of Premiership action and their overpaid stars is too much...almost like discovering the beautiful game again!) Three more interesting(ish) ties today. I think Belgium should shade Algeria. Brazil v Mexico is shaping up well. I hope the real Brazil steps out this time, if so, a comfortable win for them imo. Then Russia and South Korea...the return of Capello to the World Cup. Will he be as tactically empty and inept as he was in 2010? Russia to win this for me, given their physicality.
Brazil v Mexico has everything to be a great match. Maybe Ramirez will play instead of Hulk but this can be a good thing. Hulk didn't play that well on the first match.
Got to agree with wheeler, great tournament so far, 13 matches before the first poor one. The England game alone was quality in terms of excitement, even if we lost since the second half we seemed to be parked in Italy's box like gypsies on a cricket pitch, seemed to be no getting shut of us!
Dayyyyyymmmmmm Mexico made a brick wall against Brazil. Vegas had Brazils chances of winning at 86%. A tie is a huge upset (by gambling odds).
Starting to wonder if Mexico is better than I thought...or maybe Brazil is worse than I thought, considering they didn't look all that good against Croatia.
I think Brazil is worse than what everybody thought. Even here in Brazil you can't find anyone happy with our team today. People were already not that happy with the first game and now nobody is happy. Our team is a bit of a disappointment in these two matches.
idk, I thought Brazil played a decently today, they were unfortunate that Mexicos Goalkeeper was just superb today. Against Croatia though Brazil did not look convincing (even though they did win). However even if they didn't play there best on either game, there is no shortage of talent on that team, so once it clicks together they will be deadly good. It's not like we haven't seen it happen. In last years Conderdations cup, they were incredible. Naymar was on another planet of skill.
Another interesting day, albeit different. Great comeback from Belgium, outstanding Mexican keeper, and a rather drab Russia/SK match. Will Brazil click in time though? They didn't look impressive in either game, but I also didn't think they looked like they could be impressive. Neither match looked like a 'bad day at the office' for an otherwise good team. Does Fred have some dirt on Big Phil (ie why is he playing at present)? So today's offerings... Australia v Netherlands - assuming the Dutch don't have one of their meltdowns, should be a win for them. Spain v Chile - in spite of Spain's collapse in their previous match, the general feeling is a Spanish win (pundits et al). I reckon Chile will go at them hammer and tongs, they'll know it's a great chance to beat them. Score draw for me... Cameroon v Croatia - any loser in this and that team cannot progress out of the group. Croatia looked far better against Brazil than Cameroon did against Mexico...but now we have a better idea as to Mexico's quality! Still, Croatia for me.
They need to click in the next match. Neymar seems like the only one that wants to win, he is the only one who runs all the time. I don't know why Fred is playing. Our coach loves him, I wouldn't be surprised if there is something that we don't know between the two. Jo played yesterday but didn't do anything. Brazil is very reliant on Neymar. When he doesn't play well, the team doesn't play well.
What struck me was their lack of urgency throughout the match. So few players getting forward and really looking to push the attack. Even in the last 20 minutes, last 5, hardly saw more than 2 players in the Mexican box. No player looking to at least try and raise the tempo, try and force something to happen. Could argue that a draw was all either team needed, as one has to fancy both to win their last games against Cameroon and Croatia (well Mexico v Croatia isn't a gimme) and qualify without issue. I think Germany have looked the best so far. Not just all the goals, but defensively they look as sharp as ever, tactically as astute as always. Edit - it just keeps on giving. Aus v Neth fantastic, Chile 1 up at present.
Rumor has it (American rumors aren't the most reliable) that Fred is only one of a few players who actually plays on a Brazilian League, that's why he has been a favorite. Usually when he's on the field he's the only guy from a Brazilian league, most of Brazils other players play in Europe. He also isn't half bad... but I agree, he isn't half good either. Hahaha, nope, they played pretty darn poor, then again, they didn't have an easy schedule at all. Nothing to be upset about though, it was the end of a great dynasty. I recognize a lot of those players from the last World Cup, and the Euro Cup before that (2008). They had not a single new or raw player on the field. After this years performance, I won't be surprised if I don't see a majority from this years team ever again in a Spanish jersey as they begin scouting for very young talent again.
So, three down, thirteen more to fall at the group stages. I'm ashamed to say I'll miss Australia. Cahill is such class (what a finish yesterday!) and as with all Aussie sports teams, they just keep on going, never give up, play with a great spirit. They really need to try and sort out more friendlies with better opposition to get used to the higher quality they face at these tournaments. Spain, thanks for the memories, 5-6 years of sublime football. Cameroon, suicidal Song, what a fool. Today...three hard to call ties for me. Colombia v Ivory Coast - could go either way for me, very little in it. Draw perhaps. England v Uruguay - is Suarez 100%, is he match fit? Another 'could go either way' for me, heart says England, head a score draw. (Come on England!!!) Greece v Japan - Japan to shade it on work rate?
There are only 4 players that play on Brasileirão (the Brazilian League). Two of them are goalkeepers and the other two are Fred and Jo. Fred didn't play for a lot of the first semester because he was injured and when he did play it, he wasn't playing very good. Sometimes he can score a goal but for you to be the number 9 of the brazilian national team you need to score a lot of goals. If not people will begin to ask for Jo.
