WORLD CUP 2014

[cassinoroyale]

that was a dissapointing game from the ref, but the goalie cost croatia the match! he should have been stronger to save that penalty, and the last goal was a shitty toepoke where he kinda just flopped to the floor at a glacial pace

I agree with the penalty (Nishimura's mistake but you should blame Fifa picking up referees from football backwaters, not Brazil), he should have defended. For the third goal, no. If you look at the replay the ball was really well placed and I don't think many goalkeepers would be able to save it. Maybe E. Van der Sar on his prime lol. The first goal was defensible though. Pletikosa jump save attempt was really delayed, costing him the chance of defense.

[An1maL]

For the third goal, no. If you look at the replay the ball was really well placed and I don't think many goalkeepers would be able to save it. Maybe E. Van der Sar on his prime lol. The first goal was defensible though. Pletikosa jump save attempt was really delayed, costing him the chance of defense.

we're reading that differently, for the first goal at least he properly dived horizontally and still couldn't get it. for the third goal all he had to do was just get down since it was not even a body length away from him, plus the shot wasn't very powerful and from way outside the box! but you're right that his reaction speed was the problem too

[Rambizzle]

What a **** joke. I don't know what was worse, Brazil's diving or the terrible referees.

Take a deep breath. Everything is going to be ok.

[nhoj]

Brazil won this match thanks to the ref. A player who weighs 90kg does not fall that easy from a hand on his shoulder. I actually think Croatia deserved to win this match, because Brazil had periods when they was just playing awful. The trio Modric/Rakitic/Kovacic easily controlled the middle against Paulinho/Luis Gustavo/Hulk(expected more from him).
I had love to see Mandzukic play, to bad he was suspended.

that was a dissapointing game from the ref, but the goalie cost croatia the match! he should have been stronger to save that penalty, and the last goal was a shitty toepoke where he kinda just flopped to the floor at a glacial pace

Stipe Pletikosa is 35 years old, at that age your speed is not that good anymore. You can't really blame him for the 3rd goal.(Didn't watch the 2nd goal, can't argue about that one). The toepoke from Oscar had a really good precision considering he shot while running and not many goalkeepers expect that. Never underestimate a toepoke, it's actually very effective =)

Pletikosa performance was better than Júlio César.

[scorch-]

Really? I thought the 3rd goal was good. Oscar struck the ball at a time when most goalies wouldn't expect a shot. Even I was surprised when he put it on goal. The 1st goal I thought he needed to do better on... it was so slow that he had time to take another step before diving but he just went to the ground and didn't make it far enough to get a touch.

The penalty was whatever... FIFA needs to suspend Fred (and all players that do that shit) for a game for that, because it's really **** hard to tell if these professional actors are acting. To expect the refs to get every call right when the players are flopping around like fish is too much. I thought the goalie interference call against croatia was very light considering the penalty brasil was given though.

All sports should adopt hockey's way of calling dives. Call a penalty against the other team, but then also call them for embellishment to offset it. The way it's called now actually doesn't discourage diving at all.

[An1maL]

You're right that it's too hard for refs to spot diving, sometimes based on the angle it's physically impossible for a ref to judge if there's contact. The punishment needs to be reassessed, people get yellow carded a lot for diving in the UK premiership, not seen much of that in international games though. IMO retrospective banning would put a stop to it the fastest, imagine if fred was awarded a one game ban now, he'd cut that shit right out

Watching the Mexico - Cameroon game, we've really gotta get video analysis for important calls - mexico just had two legit goals disallowed. First one was kinda close, offside decisions are hard to judge as linesmen literally have to look in two places at once so they deserve some sympathy. But the second one is an absolute joke, it clearly came off a cameroon head on the way through, 5 seconds of video analysis would see justice done. Frankly if these errors continue it's embarrassing for the sport

[tenks]

I agree that the Croatian goalie should have done a better job. If he's too old and slow, then it's the Coach's fault for picking him to play in a World Cup. Stupidest argument ever.

Even tho the play was poor, I'm glad Brazil won. Could you imagine if they lost the opening match of the World Cup in their own homeland? The whole f'n country would erupt and riot and probably prevent any more matches from being played, lol


edit: Animal I thought FIFA implemented goal line cameras/replay last cup?

[nhoj]

I agree that the Croatian goalie should have done a better job. If he's too old and slow, then it's the Coach's fault for picking him to play in a World Cup. Stupidest argument ever.

Even tho the play was poor, I'm glad Brazil won. Could you imagine if they lost the opening match of the World Cup in their own homeland? The whole f'n country would erupt and riot and probably prevent any more matches from being played, lol


edit: Animal I thought FIFA implemented goal line cameras/replay last cup?

Old experienced goalie who have lost some speed > young unexperied goalie with barely any experience [not the best comparisons, but w/e]
Puting a goalkeeper with experience even if he's old and slow have never a bad thing, because he bring experience to the field which is needed. No matter how good a team is. You can't pick 3 goalskeepers with barely any experience of being in the squad for previous World Cup/*Insert name of region cup(e.g European Championship) or main goalie for a team in the big 5(Premier League, Liga BBVA, Bundesliga, Lique 1 & Serie A). There's one thing if the club haven't participated for a long time or if it's the first time.
I'm not that familiar with Croatia and goalkeepers beside Pletikosa, so don't know how good his backups are.

[An1maL]

Even tho the play was poor, I'm glad Brazil won. Could you imagine if they lost the opening match of the World Cup in their own homeland?

lol I was thinking the same, imagine if they didn't qualify from the group, given that there's already mass protests against the world cup and over HALF the country didn't want it in the first place ( comical summary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJEt2KU33I )

edit: Animal I thought FIFA implemented goal line cameras/replay last cup?

yeh we have the technology that tells us whether or not the ball has crossed the line almost instantly, but that's it so far. that's pretty rarely useful and doesn't help for calls like offside decisions, penalty decisions or diving etc. the main argument against having replay analysis is that it will slow down the game stopping every minute to analyse something, and football is supposed to be a free flowing spectacle. I think they should do something like wimbledon where you get 3 challenges per game (& correct challenge doesn't use up one)

[nhoj]

Lineups for Spain - Netherlands. Starting in 20 minutes

Spain: 4-3-2-1
Casillas
Azplicueta, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba
Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi
Silva, Iniesta
Diego Costa.

Netherlands: 5-3-2
Cillessen
Janmaat, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind
De Guzman, Sneijder, De Jong
Robben, Van Persie.


I'm looking forward for this match, will be interesting how well Oranjes' defense can stop Diego Costa & Co. Van Gaal made the decision to play with 5-3-2 instead for 4-3-3 is a interesting choice. However, Spain should have no problems to defeat Netherlands.