FIFA World Cup 2010 - Predictions/Discussions/Updates

[roshiq]

Originally Posted by AUSTIN316426808

I don't know why Germany changed what they were doing, but it just got 'em third place. Damn good run though, and definitely the most entertaining team of the tournament.

Ditto, no doubt about that. I think this young German team will be very...very dangerous in Brazil'2014.

[_____V_____]

FULL TIME - Match #62 (SEMI - FINAL #2) -

SPAIN - 1
(Puyol 73')


GERMANY - 0

Many, MANY congratulations to Spain for making into their VERY FIRST FIFA WC Final in their footballing history!

It was their match from the beginning, when they bossed possession and made plenty of daring runs into the German half again and again. The Germans for their part looked solid in defense, but maybe that caused their downfall. TOO much concentration in defending, plus some poor midfield play which kept letting the Spanish players coming in.
Klose, Podolski and the rest never looked menacing at all - in fact Klose was seen only 2-3 times during the entire match. A big point in Spain's favor to keep the ball away from the more dangerous German players.
The first half was engrossing, and the second was loaded with desperate stuff. A fantastic extreme angle cross went inches away from David Villa's touch or it would have been the first goal right then and there.
Then came that superb header from Puyol who stood unmarked behind the German players and coolly sent the ball into the German net. 1 - 0 Spain.
As the final 15 minutes came in and Germany suddenly found themselves desperate for an equaliser, the breaks became tougher for them to handle. Villa had at least 2 break-runs but couldn't capitalise on either, and Pedro had a really FANTASTIC run through the break with Torres in full support and only the German GK to beat, but instead of passing to Torres which would have resulted in a sure-shot goal, decided to go for glory himself and fizzed the awesome chance at scoring.
As expected, Villa came off in the 81st minute and was replaced by Torres in the final minutes of the game. Germany kept plugging in as much as they could, but Spain held their nerves, defenses and the 11 Germans at bay to register their very first march into a FIFA World Cup Final in their footballing history.

It will be the NETHERLANDS taking on SPAIN in the Finals, folks. Before that we will see GERMANY take on URUGUAY for 3rd place. And judging by the way Germany played tonight, if they show the same form they might end up in 4th place. They certainly need to show their fantastic form of beating Argentina if they want to finish 3rd in what has been a great tournament for them.

Good night.

[_____V_____]

Claude Arpi, an ardent French football fan, sent this email to Ivan Crasto, rediff.com's Sports Editor -

Dear Ivan,

A bit tired, but relieved. Paul the Octopus was right.

Yesterday, while I was skyping a friend in Germany to get an idea of the atmosphere there, I mentioned the latest prediction of Paul (Spain in final), he scoffed at me: Do you still believe this bullshit?! Come on, we are living in the 21st century.

He pointed out a more scientific prophecy giving the Germans victory. It was simple and mathematic -

1. Brazil won the World Cup in 1994; they also won in 1970 (1970 + 1994 = 3964).

2. Argentina won its last World Cup in 1986 and they had also won in 1978 (1978 + 1986 = 3964)

3. Germany won its last World Cup in 1990 and they also won in 1974 (1974 + 1990 = 3964)

4. Brazil won the World Cup in 2002 again and also in 1962 (1962+ 2002 = 3964).

Therefore to calculate which nation was going to win the World Cup in 2010, you only have to subtract 2010 from the magic number that has thus been determined: 3964. (3964 minus 2010 = 1954)

Who won the World Cup in 1954? Guess! Yes, Germany!

Simple, Dr Watson!

Unfortunately for the Mannschaft and 80 million Germans, Paul's divination was correct and mathematical statistics were left red in the face.

True, while watching the match, it did not seem to be the same Mannschaft playing.

We had seen Joachim Loew's team playing against England and Argentina (scoring four goals each time); where were those confident, dynamic young chaps, always moving forward, always daring in front of the opposite goal? Where did they disappear to?

Though the coach wore the same fetish blue polo shirt, (unwashed, it seems!), something was different.

A German friend watching with me explained that probably because of Paul's prediction, they were timorous (not to say paralyzed).

Well, it is an explanation, but there is another one. Spain was simply better.

They were organized, passing fast and with precision and had decided not to let the young White shirts play.

The great tactician Vicente Del Bosque probably knew that if he could avoid an early German goal, the Roja had a good chance to get their first visa for a World Cup final, (for the Dutch, it is not a first, having already participated (unsuccessfully) in the 1974 and 1978 finals).

The first half was a festival of good passing (it is probably linked to the fact that 6 of the original line-up plays with FC Barcelona, the Barca).

The German timorousness is shown by the few faults, nasty tackles or tough pushing witnessed during most of the match.

Did you realize that the tall Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai did not distribute a single Yellow Card during the entire match?

It is a first in this competition. Sixteen faults for the entire match (9 for Germany, 7 for Spain) prove the fair-play of the players, but also the lack of aggressiveness of the Mannschaft (despite the high stakes).

For 45 minutes, not only did the Roja dominate the proceedings, but had several occasions to open the score. After the pause, same tempo. But anything could have still happened at this point in time.

At the 58th minute, David Villa misses again a chance on a superb center from Iniesta, always dangerous. Will the same scenario continue till the end of the full time? It was not to be! No, at the 73rd, 3 players of the Barca participate to the decisive strike.

On a corner by Xavi, Puyol goes high in the air above his teammate Gerard Pique and sends a powerful header in the corner of Neuer's post. The German keeper can't do a thing.

During the remaining 16 minutes, the Germans feebly press their luck, but it is too late and the fire is not there.

Pedro could have increased the tally when he does not have the intelligence to pass to substitute Torres facing Neuer alone; instead he tries to dribble past Arne Friedrich on his own.

Would the Germans have equalized, Pedro would have regretted his selfish action for the rest of his life.

The Roja undoubtedly merited to be in the Last Two. If they play this type of football, it will be a tough proposition for the men of Van Marwijk to lift the Trophy.

Seven countries have got the Golden Grail so far: Uruguay (twice), Italy (4 times), Germany (thrice), Brazil (5 times), England (once), Argentina (twice) and France (once). On Sunday night, at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, an eighth team will enter its name in annals of football.

Voila, two well-merited rest days before the final for the third place (is it so important to be third or fourth? One usually remembers the winner and the finalist and the semi-finalists) and then the Great Day.

Did you notice that one does not notice the vuvuzelas anymore?

With Olés, Olés

Claude.


PS: Everyone makes fun of the French these days, but Yoann Gourcuff, the Bordeaux mid-fielder (who was unjustly expelled during the match against South-Africa) has been elected the cutest player of the World Cup 2010. Next in line (but far behind) Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguay; Favio Cannavaro, Italy (I don't understand ladies); Rafael Van der Waart, Holland and Carlos Bocanegra, USA. Ronaldo is only 6th.

A fair compensation for us French boys!

[scouse mac]

Apparently Paul the Octopus has predicted Germany to beat Uruguay in the 3rd/4th place play-off and Spain to beat Holland in the Final.

[Angra]

Originally Posted by scouse mac

Apparently Paul the Octopus has predicted Germany to beat Uruguay in the 3rd/4th place play-off and Spain to beat Holland in the Final.

Geez.. I could've told you that. :cool:

[_____V_____]

I am with the German boys to take 3rd.

As for the big Final, something tells me the Netherlands will spring a surprise. Spain should head in as slight favorites now that they are in it, but the Dutch have it in them to pull one over their European rivals, fortune-telling octopuses aside.

I ll go with the Netherlands.

[roshiq]

Thank God, Paul already picked Spain for the Final. Now that's a great relief!

But the Spanish prime minister pretty much concerned about him as some frustrated German fans expressed their desire to kill/eat Paul, the psychic Octopus!

:D:D

[_____V_____]

Itssssssss 1 - 0 GERMANY!!!

MULLER scores his 5th of this WC!

[_____V_____]

URUGUAY equalise through Cavani!!!!

1 - 1 after a terrific counter-attack, and in the first 28 mins!

[scouse mac]

I missed this game due to work but sounded like a great match. Germany get Bronze with a barnstorming 3-2 win.

Easily the most entertaining team in the finals, they are going to be the ones to beat come Euro 2012.