Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/05/2014 06:50 PM |
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Let's just say its good that I manage to rejuventate myself cycling.
Another winning substitution by v Gaal. He's an absolutely brilliant coach.
Now I am perfect in the WC poule at work and on track to win some good beer moneys. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/05/2014 08:19 PM |
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Wow, great show! Also admiring the Brilliant NL substitution putting in Shaquille O'Neal sized goalie for the shootout. Hats off to plucky Costa Rica for hanging with the best. Better game than the Columbia Brazil hackathon.
Almost every team in this steamy hot World Cup that has played 120 minutes has played poorly in their next game and lost. Big test for Holland coming up.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/06/2014 11:59 AM |
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Fortunately stats are just that LSD. The previous 9 penalty shootouts in WC setting had all gone to team starting the shootout. And the Orange had never won one in a WC setting; penalty shootouts had been a history of fail.
Big test for both teams. Argentina didn't really impress against the Belgians. While it was a rough game, Brasil impressed me most in Quaterfinals and I think they are now the hot favorite. But all bets are pretty much off at this stage. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/06/2014 09:17 PM |
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OC,
Good points all. FWIW, the 120 minute game = flat next time out does make sense since it's so hot and humid and recovery time is limited.
IMO, you are generous to the host team. Without Neymar (see my rants above about crappy officiating and your observations on the prevalence of the dark arts of hacking in pro soccer), and Silva (although his suspension might be revoked for som many reasons) can they rise to the occasion? It would be epic. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/08/2014 12:20 PM |
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The 120 minute rule is fine but if you took note; they were still playing soccer at 117 mins; not dropping like flies with cramp as in other games. This is a very fit team.
We'll have 200 million brasilians cheerings us on, that's for sure. Cause the worst thing that could happen for the host country is for those "arrogant" Argentineans to take the cup. Kinda like the NL-GER rivalry.
Ultimately this will come down to who has the better day and greater will power, Messi or Robben.
Consider this though, since 1998, all WC finals both Adidas and Nike have had representation. Which means either an all Euro final or an all South American final. That's not my prediction for WC poule. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/08/2014 04:42 PM |
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| Writing this before halftime of the Brazil debacle. Remember Brazil played 120 minutes last game. Holy Crap, I rest my case. OC, hope you're right about Dutch fitness. It will be tested tomorrow. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/08/2014 04:53 PM |
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I don't know what happened there but I doubt the 120 minute causal effect. More likely a team completely crumbling under pressure of the expectations of a nation. More reminiscent of the Spain debacle, and they were supposed to be fresh as daisies :-)
Already dubbed as the most bizarre 6 minutes of a WC ever. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/08/2014 07:34 PM |
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Almost no effort to defend. Against Germans! Ugly.
The physical and mental fatigue didn't account for the utter mental letdown, but will you agree that it may have contributed significantly?
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/08/2014 09:06 PM |
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This was a loss of such epic proportions, fatigue doesn't come close to explaining it.
I think you put your finger on it better in an earlier post, Brasil was loose sand, held together by Neymar in front and Silva in back. Without those two, it turned into loose sand.
Its somewhere between that and having to make good on the $3B Brasil pumped into this event. A win would have made everyone forget about it; now the country is in a deep mental hole. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 07/08/2014 10:00 PM |
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Can anyone give me the German-Brasil World Cup score?
All I could see was a blowout baseball game score of 7-1
…wow…. just, wow. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 07/09/2014 01:08 AM |
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I agree with Dale...wow!
I am worried for the Brasil as a country now. The have nots might have forgiven the gross use of money to buy the WC if they won the title, but now, the riots will be ugly! Hopefully no one gets killed! |
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jookey
Posts:197
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| 07/09/2014 10:39 PM |
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| Sorry OC... |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/09/2014 11:10 PM |
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| Ah well, you win one (Boom), you lose one. We'll call it even for the day. Too much TV though; time to refocus on my own biking and get this summer going. |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 07/10/2014 02:59 PM |
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Having the Tour and the WC at the same time is entirely too much TV.
Condolences OC. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 07/13/2014 06:03 PM |
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Mike is correct, the big winners are the money people and the big losers are the people.
With that said I'll take Germany for Cup (time stamp  |
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