longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/13/2014 11:26 PM |
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Well Germany probably spent the most money preparing their team, so . . .
At the tournament's conclusion, outstanding individual performances are recognized- best goalie, best offensive field player. They should add a "best flopper" award. It should look exactly like the motion picture Oscar for outstanding acting. The competition would be intense, as there are so many deserving candidates.
I have a Brazilian houseguest now, who is just plain miserable. This is a deep psychic wound for Brazil. They take the sport so seriously, it's hard for me to understand as an American. I suspect that for most American fans, even most hard core fans, pro sports are mainly a show, an excuse for a picnic. Game over, give it day, we move on.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/13/2014 11:51 PM |
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Well at least Argentina did not win; that would have made the Brazilian wound that much more unbearable. The fact that world cup sits so deep in the psyche of a nation is what makes soccer like no other sport. Hell, the Netherlands have still not fully come to terms with the losses of 1974 and 1978. 2010 was rectified relatively quickly. The tournament ended on a good note but too bad the dagger in Brazilian's hearts had to be twisted one more time.
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/13/2014 11:58 PM |
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| OC, Does the 3rd place satisfy? |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/14/2014 12:45 AM |
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Yes, they came in as outsiders ranked 15, left rank 3 despite a cobbled together midfield and a green back line. This was a better performance than 2010 where we had a must-win team.
The one guy whose feelings will be raw is Robben. In 2010 he was denied in regular time by the toe of Cassilas and you could tell how he was set on revenge by how he grabbed every game by the scruff of the neck. He played a heck of a lot better than Messi, whose performance in semis and final was pretty pale.. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/14/2014 08:51 AM |
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Roben was a force, no doubt.
Interesting take on Messi in particular and tikka takka soccer played by little fast guys in general:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/11/enjoy-argentina-s-lionel-messi-while-you-can.html |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 07/14/2014 02:31 PM |
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| I have always said that Messi would not do nearly as well in a league with size. It is why I always preferred Ronaldo to him these past few years. Christiano can do his thing on any team. Messi, I remain unconvinced. |
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| -----
It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/14/2014 03:24 PM |
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That daily beast article is pretty poor, it tries to make links that do not exist.
There is no link between the individual artistry of Messi and the genius that was Barca and Spain, both of which were based on the collective strenght and superior position play, as is the German win this tournament.
Barca's hey days were under Rijkaard and Guardiola, both of which are Johan Cruyff protegees who introduced the Dutch style of pressing soccer to the club. It was that superior position play that made the difference and the abandonment of that play under current management is what set in the downward slide for Barca. There's nothing Messi alone can do about this. Hence his frustrating season this year.
Incidently, v Gaal and now Guardiola brought that same pressing style of play to Bayern and as main supplier of national team, that has led to the success Germany saw this year.
Meanwhile watch Barca run further downhill with the Suarez transfer. Another individualist that will not make them go any better as a team. Cruyff has heavily criticized the move and the guy has amazing predictive capabilities when it comes to the game of soccer. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/14/2014 04:35 PM |
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| Thanks for the insights. The Suarez acquisition for a kings ransom is hard to fathom. Good deal for Liverpool - if they spend the money wisely. |
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