The only way the Argentina vs. the Netherlands game even compares to what we witnessed yesterday: Messi and Robben brawl it out, hockey-style. I got Messi as a favorite because Robben will probably dive the moment Messi swings at him. Anyway...
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
The 1978 final would've been a solid choice, but these two teams have met more recently than that. We go back to 1998, when Argentina and the Netherlands met in the Quarterfinals. The final score was 2-1 to the Dutch, and it gave us a sublime moment of skill.
Uniforms
Argentina's albiceleste vs. the Netherlands' oranje. This is as good as it gets when talking about soccer jerseys. The advantage goes to the Dutch, only because Adidas screwed up the shorts, going with white instead of the classic black. Else, it would've been a tie.
Three Burning Questions
1. Who replaces Angel di Maria's endless running?
Sadly, nobody. Di Maria was a unique player in this system, very similar to what Neymar gave Brazil. The difference here is that Argentina still has Messi and Higuain. Brazil had Fred and Hulk. Ugh.
2. Will Robben turn right?
No. He's the left-handed version of Derek Zoolander. Dude always cuts left. Always.
3. How many goals will the Dutch score in counterattacks after Argentina loses possession?
The over/under is 2.5, and I think it's over. I'm dead serious. Argentina is going to dominate possession, Dutch defenders are going to swarm Messi, and eventually they will win the ball back and boot it forward where Robben is going to outrace DeMichelis and Mascherano, a.k.a. Slow and Slower.
Argentina will win if...
... Messi scores a hattrick, because I don't think a brace is going to be enough.
The Netherlands will win if...
... they don't screw up. They are the clear favorites and Argentina's style suits them to perfection.
The Final Score
Argentina 1 - The Netherlands 3. I think this is another case of the South American team getting all emotional at the beginning, then getting hit with European indifference. The Netherlands score early, counterattack late, Messi gets a meaningless goal at the end, and a 1974 final rematch is setup.
Showing posts with label Semifinals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Semifinals. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
World Cup 2014 - Semifinals Preview: Brazil vs. Germany
And we're down to our Final Four! All of them are heavyweights, and all of them have a legit change of winning.
Up first we have Brazil... the host, the penta-champion, the scratch, la canarinha, la verde-amarela... facing off against Germany, Die Mannschaft, DAS UBER FUßBALL MACHINEN. This is the Germans' 4th straight semifinals after finishing 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd in the last 3 World Cups. Unbelievable... and then you remember West Germany made 3 straight finals: '82, '86, and '90. Incredible. Tune in at 4 pm Eastern for this Goliath vs. Goliath match-up, live from Belo Horizonte (ESPN in the US).
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
Shockingly, Brazil and Germany have only played each other once at the World Cup. The scenario was the 2002 Final in Yokohama, and it doubled as the crowning moment for one Ronaldo Luíz Nazário de Lima. Enjoy!
Uniforms
I'd rather see the blue shorts or blue socks, instead of this year's all-white version. Germany's away jerseys are an atrocity. Decided advantage, verde-amarela.
Three Burning Questions
1. Neymar is out. Yeah. :( Who will step up and fill the massive hole?
The natural choice to replace injured star Neymar in the Starting XI is amazingly-named Chelsea winger Willian. However, the creative responsibility will fall squarely on the shoulders of another Chelsea player: Oscar. The task for Germany is pretty simple: cut-off Oscar from the run of play and watch as Hulk, Willian, and Fred run around like chickens with their heads cut-off. In Fred's case, I'm pretty sure he didn't have a head to begin with. He's awful.
2. Will Klose dare break Ronaldo's scoring record in Brazilian soil?
Sadly, I think the answer is no. The German attack did not play with the same coherence and intensity that characterizes them in the match against France. I expect Gotze to be back in the lineup, with Müller moving to the center-forward position. The rest of the line-up should remain unchanged from the team that professionally dispatched la France. Klose will only get his chance if Germany is down late and they decide to bomb the Brazilian penalty area with crosses. Schürrle is the preferred substitute option anyway.
3. What will be stronger? Brazilian emotion or Germany's apathetic approach?
Normally, I'd say that the key to beat Brazil is to prevent them from scoring in the first 20 minutes. They really feed off the emotion of the crowd. We saw what happened in the quarterfinals against Colombia. However, if there's a team that is equipped to survive an early Brazilian strike is this German team. They've seen it all. They will not panic and they will find a way.
Brazil will win if...
... Fred scores. Because if Fred scores, you know that things are DEFINITELY going Brazil's way.
Germany will win if...
... the match is played. After all, "Football is a simple game. 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win."
The Final Score
Brazil 1 (4) - Germany 1 (3). Because it couldn't be any other way. Not only do Brazil reach the final of their own tournament, but they do it while beating the Germans at what they do best, penalty kicks. By the way, I think Brazil scores early (that clown Fred will probably use his knee or something) and Germany ties it late.
Up first we have Brazil... the host, the penta-champion, the scratch, la canarinha, la verde-amarela... facing off against Germany, Die Mannschaft, DAS UBER FUßBALL MACHINEN. This is the Germans' 4th straight semifinals after finishing 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd in the last 3 World Cups. Unbelievable... and then you remember West Germany made 3 straight finals: '82, '86, and '90. Incredible. Tune in at 4 pm Eastern for this Goliath vs. Goliath match-up, live from Belo Horizonte (ESPN in the US).
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
Shockingly, Brazil and Germany have only played each other once at the World Cup. The scenario was the 2002 Final in Yokohama, and it doubled as the crowning moment for one Ronaldo Luíz Nazário de Lima. Enjoy!
Uniforms
I'd rather see the blue shorts or blue socks, instead of this year's all-white version. Germany's away jerseys are an atrocity. Decided advantage, verde-amarela.
Three Burning Questions
1. Neymar is out. Yeah. :( Who will step up and fill the massive hole?
The natural choice to replace injured star Neymar in the Starting XI is amazingly-named Chelsea winger Willian. However, the creative responsibility will fall squarely on the shoulders of another Chelsea player: Oscar. The task for Germany is pretty simple: cut-off Oscar from the run of play and watch as Hulk, Willian, and Fred run around like chickens with their heads cut-off. In Fred's case, I'm pretty sure he didn't have a head to begin with. He's awful.
2. Will Klose dare break Ronaldo's scoring record in Brazilian soil?
Sadly, I think the answer is no. The German attack did not play with the same coherence and intensity that characterizes them in the match against France. I expect Gotze to be back in the lineup, with Müller moving to the center-forward position. The rest of the line-up should remain unchanged from the team that professionally dispatched la France. Klose will only get his chance if Germany is down late and they decide to bomb the Brazilian penalty area with crosses. Schürrle is the preferred substitute option anyway.
3. What will be stronger? Brazilian emotion or Germany's apathetic approach?
Normally, I'd say that the key to beat Brazil is to prevent them from scoring in the first 20 minutes. They really feed off the emotion of the crowd. We saw what happened in the quarterfinals against Colombia. However, if there's a team that is equipped to survive an early Brazilian strike is this German team. They've seen it all. They will not panic and they will find a way.
Brazil will win if...
... Fred scores. Because if Fred scores, you know that things are DEFINITELY going Brazil's way.
Germany will win if...
... the match is played. After all, "Football is a simple game. 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win."
The Final Score
Brazil 1 (4) - Germany 1 (3). Because it couldn't be any other way. Not only do Brazil reach the final of their own tournament, but they do it while beating the Germans at what they do best, penalty kicks. By the way, I think Brazil scores early (that clown Fred will probably use his knee or something) and Germany ties it late.
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