FIFA World Cup 2010 - Predictions/Discussions/Updates

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally Posted by Angra

Can you say, bye bye Argentina. :D

It will be the best 4-4 match ever!!

Dude's right again.

[_____V_____]

FULL TIME - Match #52 (ROUND OF 16 - #4) -

ARGENTINA - 3
(Tevez 26', 52')
(Higuain 33')


MEXICO - 1
(J Hernandez 71')

Like Angra said, we had 2 fantastic matches today. Although they were pretty much dominated by one side in each match, nevertheless it produced some very impressive football from all 4 sides involved.

And the second goal from Carlos Tevez in this match is undoubtedly the best goal of the WC so far.

Mexico and England gave it their best shot, but eventually the teams with the more aggressive attacks on goal took the wins. Both losing teams need to find better defenders.

And FIFA needs to find some goddamn good referees. Disallowing the crystal clear goal by Frank Lampard in the first match, then allowing Carlos Tevez's first goal when he was clearly offside in the second match, pretty much sums up the refereeing in this World Cup so far. It feels like schoolkids have worn an uniform and come to become a ref here. Is FIFA listening yet?

And, like I mentioned, Argentina take on Germany in the Quarter-Finals. What a explosive treat that promises to be now!

[_____V_____]

Tomorrow's WC menu reads...

NETHERLANDS - SLOVAKIA

BRAZIL - CHILE

Let's see some predictions. I know who you will be siding with, though.

Given the form the Netherlands have shown, they should go beyond Slovakia. Don't see the Slovaks pulling any bunnies out of the hat for that one.

And Brazil should seal theirs against Chile. Slightly more tough match to predict than the first one, since Chile certainly won't be a pushover. It could turn out to be a close match. I am betting Brazil.

2 02 on the clock. Off to bed. G'night, all.

[AUSTIN316426808]

Netherlands and Brazil. Obviously.

[Angra]

Lets see some surprises.

Netherlands haven't amazed me yet, so..


Slovakia & Brazil.

[roshiq]

Oh, what a relief for a good Argentine football fan!

I was so tensed & worried about the game last night that I couldn't divert my attention to anywhere while watching the Mexicans were trying good & hard to send the ball into the Argentine net from the very beginning of the match.

But obviously the day with 2 great matches were bit ruined by those 2 completely wrong decisions. Unintentionally the referees are damaging the credibility of the game. It's now time for FIFA & everyone to think about it and come up with some alternatives & ideas.

Anyway, we can now easily say that the major QF will be the Germentina one. I hope Germany will return to that game like the way they did against Serbia after a cracking opening against Australia in the first match of Group stage and yesterday was their 1st match in Knock out stage. So you can now do the math.;)

It'll be the revenge time for Maradona & Argentina.:mad:

[_____V_____]

HALFTIME WHISTLE -


NETHERLANDS - 1
(Robben 18')


SLOVAKIA - 0


Well, after yesterday's two supercharged matches, today's first half felt dull and drawn out. Even the goal scored was a sudden burst of energy from Arjen Robben towards the Slovakian defense and he dodged and turned through 3 defenders and the GK to put the ball in the right corner of the net.

Otherwise, it was dull football. Surprising to see both teams not showing any energy in their play. It's like 2 tired teams content to play out the minutes. There just isn't any sort of momentum in the play yet.

Maybe the Slovaks will come hard at the Netherlands in the second half. Let's wait and see. Bet Angra was bored out of his wits with these 45 minutes.

[_____V_____]

FULL TIME - Match #53 (ROUND OF 16 - #5) -

THE NETHERLANDS - 2
(Robben 18')
(Sneijder 84')


SLOVAKIA - 1
(Vittek *PK* 90' + 4')

The second half saw a WEE bit of surge in tempo and energy in the match. The Netherlands were more impressive than the Slovaks who looked sluggish throughout the whole match. They won a Penalty Kick in the penultimate minute of the second half (more like dying seconds of the game), and of course it was too little, too late by then.

The better team won. But Netherlands need to up their game a little bit more if they want to win over the likes of Brazil, who will most likely be their next hurdle.

[_____V_____]

Yeah right. :rolleyes:


FIFA says Argentine goal replay a mistake
June 28, 2010 20:27 IST

It was a mistake to show replays of Argentina's controversial opening goal against Mexico on giant stadium screens during Sunday's World Cup game, world soccer's governing body said on Monday.

The replay of Carlos Tevez's opening goal from a clear offside position sparked a melee during the game and at half-time rival substitutes squared up to one another behind the Mexican bench.

"This shouldn't happen," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told a news conference. "Replays can be shown but not when there are controversial situations. We will work on this and be tighter in future."

"It has worked so far very well. Last night was a mistake. It should not happen again," he added, declining to answer numerous questions on the contentious decisions made by referees and FIFA's rejection of goal line technology.

In another questionable decision that angered English fans on Sunday, England were denied an equaliser in their match against Germany when a shot from Frank Lampard hit the crossbar and clearly bounced behind the goal line.

FIFA is under increasing pressure to allow goal line technology or an extra referee behind the goal line to assist in such situations.

Spanish striker Fernando Torres said steps were needed to stop mistakes by officials altering the course of matches.

"We're tired of asking for technological help for these kinds of situations because they can determine something as important as whether you get knocked out of a World Cup," he told a Spanish radio station.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected goal line technology repeatedly, saying he wants soccer to be played under the same rules at all levels and retain its human element.

[Angra]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected goal line technology repeatedly, saying he wants soccer to be played under the same rules at all levels and retain its human element.

We need a new president..