Anyone else watching the world cup?

[Nakor]

The robbery of the poor Bosnian side today aside (absolutely terrible offside call took away a goal, leaving them to lose 1-0 if you didn't catch it), the games have been very entertaining this year. A lot more active, very few low scoring games, quite a few surprises. Even the supposedly lesser teams have shown up and made games of it. Iran has played hard and still has a shot at the round of 16, and in a group that was supposed to be England, Uruguay and Italy fighting tooth and nail for the two spots available, it's Costa Rica who are the only team to earn a ticket to the elimination round from that group, leaving Uruguay and Italy to fight over second spot. Ghana is showing that they're not to be counted out, and still might steal the US spot in the round of 16 if they defeat Portugal and the US can't get through Germany. It's honestly pretty crazy looking at the standings right now. Even as a neutral (Canada isn't exactly a world cup team -- we've been there once, and got sent home 0-3 lol) these games have almost all been really entertaining.

[soloist]

I haven't been really been keeping up, but with the talks at
work, on the bus, on the train and all of the advertise-
ments all over, it's hard not to get involved some-
how (laughs). I didn't expect the Netherlands
to take Mexico nor did I see France beat-
ing Nigeria. Brazil and Colombia will
be interesting at my workplace
since both teams have plen-
ty of fans there, and lo-
ud ones at that (lau-
ghs). Do you see
Argentina an-
d Netherl-
ands ad-
vanci-
ng?

[Nakor]

The Netherlands are a team I was actually fairly confident would go through. I didn't expect the Spain flop, but Oranje is a strong side, so all they really had to do was defeat Chile. I did pick them to win over Mexico, although they very nearly botched that lol. France's win over Nigeria shouldn't come as too much of a shock I think; the truly shocking thing is how very nearly the French blew that game. I think they underestimated the Nigerians. Sure France is the better team, but they can't go playing like the game is a freebie. Argentina, in group F, probably had the easiest ride to the round of 16 there was this cup (Nigeria, Bosnia, Iran). That said, I think Switzerland will end that run today. I have the US side getting past Belgium, but probably dropping to the Swiss in the quarters.

Brazil and Colombia should be a really tight match. I think Colombia can take it from them. I just hope it doesn't start any riots if they do. I'm thinking Germany-Netherlands in the final, but it depends a bit on how well Brazil does, it could easily be them too.

[soloist]

Colombia may have won that game if not for the pro-Brazil play
calling in my opinion. There were a lot of bad calls in that
game and missed cards against Brazil. There were a lo-
t of angry workers in the building yesterday and th-
ey weren't afraid to voice their pain. So do you
see Germany getting past Brazil? If Brazil g-
et the play-calling from officials in the
way they did against Colombia, Ge-
rmany will have an uphill battl-
e (laughs). I don't think the
French took the Nigeria-
ns seriously in that g-
ame, but they ca-
n't keep playi-
ng that wa-
y, beca-
use
Brazil,
Netherlan-
ds, Argentina,
and Germany wo-
n't allow such lax pla-
y. Yeah, Spain was a favo-
rite over here too so that was
yet another upset at my workplace.
While Argentina may have had an easie-
r schedule, they better not get too confident
because from here on, the challenges will begin.
I can see a LOT of fights break out if Brazil loses. If I
am not mistaken, there was an incident that occurred w-
hen Colombia played. Someone drove through a crowded stre-
et and Colombian attacked the car and the driver until the autho-
rities arrived... but I think that was warranted for those injured by th-
e reckless driving. I'd like to see Germany and Netherlands playing too. Th-
at would make for a good game to watch in my opinion. Let's see if Brazil allows it.

[Nakor]

I uh... don't think that Germany needed to worry about the reffing. (Yeesh.)

[soloist]

Brazil has gotten blown out by Germany! I guess they
had what was coming to them after the bad pl-
ay calling against Colombia. Netherlands
and Argentina play today. Which di-
rection do you see this game g-
oing? Netherlands have be-
en rather consistant i-
n my opinion, so i-
f they continue
this way, th-
ey could
win.

(what do you say?)

[Nakor]

I've been going with Netherlands, though it ought to be a close match. That said, if it turns out that van Persie can't play it'll be bad news for them.

Mostly I just want to see a GER-NED final, that would be pretty great.

[soloist]

Argentina advances!!! I was thinking that
the Netherlands would be able to t-
ake Argentina, but it could hav-
e went either way. So it loo-
ks like Germany and Arg-
entina? I wouldn't be
surprised if Germ-
any takes the
cup this y-
ear. Wh-
at says
you?

[Nakor]

I agree. Argentina plays a very defensive game, relying on strangling the opposing team and keeping them to scoring at most a goal, and preferably none. I'm not convinced that they can hold back the German side. Furthermore, Neuer has been stellar in goal this entire tournament, and shows no signs of slowing down. Since Argentina don't typically put on a lot of offence, another solid game by Neuer might mean a clean sheet for Germany.

As for the Netherlands, I feel like they played a bit into Argentina's hands. They laid back and didn't press too much, preferring to play a defensive game against the defensive Argentinean side. GER-NED would've been fun to watch, but I guess at least now I don't have to be conflicted this weekend about which sides to cheer for; I'll be pulling for both of them.

Not sure how much I fancy Netherlands' chances with Thiago Silva back in the lineup though... it seems he's the guy that pulls Brazil together. It'll probably come down to which side is more motivated to actually play for 3rd spot, a position neither team really wanted to be playing for.

[soloist]

I just hope that neither team gets violent at all as a
result of being sore for their losses. More Brazil
than Netherlands. Did you hear about the ki-
d who committed suicide over Brazil's lo-
ss in Napal? A shame. A defensive ga-
me tends to work against an atta-
cking team since it wears on t-
heir aggression in time, but
two defensive teams ten-
d to have uninterestin-
g matches since nei-
ther team really
attempts to s-
core as mu-
ch. So u-
nless
Argenti-
na changes
their strategy
or Germany loses
focus, I can see Germ-
any being the team this y-
ear. I too am rooting for both
teams since I can appreciate them
both... but going by instinct bases on s-
tatistics (that I'm familiar with anyway... la-
ughs), I can see Germany being the favorite and
winning this year. If Argentina wins... I'd be surprised.



(unless they become the aggressor in this game...)