Argentina vs. Belgium (QF3) 17:00, 5 July

Darkglasses · 03-07-2014 12:15pm #1

Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília

Oddschecker Argentina 6/5, Belgium 14/5, Draw 12/5

calum22 · 04-07-2014 11:45am

Tight one, Im going to go Belgium

Jelle1880 · 04-07-2014 11:53am

This is probably going to be our hardest game so far, the smallest mistake will be punished by Messi.

Funkfield · 04-07-2014 11:53am

calum22 wrote: »

Tight one, Im going to go Belgium

Damn straight!

I reckon they have this match.

Too Tough To Die · 04-07-2014 11:57am

Argentina will win. It was written.

inforfun · 04-07-2014 12:00pm

My ideal scenario:

Hope Argentina will take this one after penalties.

Holland to do it in 90 mins vs CR.

Dont fancy a Holland - Belgium much.

What will probably happen: Holland out after pens with CR having 6 players suspended for the semis and Belgium walking all over them

Jelle1880 · 04-07-2014 12:04pm

inforfun wrote: »

What will probably happen: Holland out after pens with CR having 6 players suspended for the semis and Belgium walking all over them

I don't know what I would do if that happens, but the jail time that would probably follow will be worth it :pac:

HaveASnickers · 04-07-2014 12:05pm

Hopefully Argentina win!

Leroy42 · 04-07-2014 12:11pm

Vamos, vamos Argentina,
vamos, vamos a ganar,
que esta barra quilombera,
no te deja, no te deja de alentar.

Dont be at yourself · 04-07-2014 12:54pm

Think Argentina will walk this. Neither team looks particularly convincing, but one of them has Messi.

T runner · 04-07-2014 3:45pm

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lionel-messi-is-impossible/

Some interesting stats on Messi. (Statistics crunched from many different angles.)

The conclusion is that since 2012: if Messi for Barcelona and Messi/Argentina were two different people they would be easily the best 2 players in the world. Good news for Argentina obviously.

Al_Coholic · 04-07-2014 4:24pm

Rojo is suspended so Basanta will come in to replace him at left back.

diomed · 05-07-2014 1:30pm

I fear a 0-0.

Morzadec · 05-07-2014 1:46pm

I'm going to just about go with Belgium.

I was really impressed with them against USA - they just need to be a bit more clinical. Between one of Lukaku and Origi I think they could have enough to get in behind Argentina, and hopefully punish them.

At the other end, there's a strong case for Belgium having the best defence at this World Cup - and imo, that is probably the most important thing to have to win a World Cup. Belgium will be very, very tough to beat. Their back 5 is very solid. They have only conceded two goal - one in extra-time cruising at 2-0 up, and one a soft penalty. Kompany is maybe the best centre-back in the world, the others around him are very, very good too, and then you have maybe one of the best goalkeepers in the world to beat after that in Courtois.

For me there's little to choose between Belgium, Argentina and Netherlands on this side of the draw. For that reason I decided to back Belgium at 12/1 a couple of days ago - I think they definitely have what it takes to reach the final, and after that who knows?

It's a cliche, but it could come down again to Messi. Can he yet again conjure up the magic required? It is a really poor Argentina side with Messi out of it (of course you have Di Maria too who is a quality player), and if Belgium can keep him quiet then I see them keeping a clean sheet.

At the other end, Belgium have not been prolific, but if they can get a goal I can see them hanging onto it.

As another poster said, 0-0 and penalties would not surprise me. Either team might nick it 1-0, and of the two teams I would lean towards Belgium pulling that off.

As a small European nation I'm behind Belgium anyway, would love to see them set up a semi with their neighbours

Iused2likebusts · 05-07-2014 3:03pm

Hope and think argentina will win. I think Belgium like France and Colombia have had it fairly handy up till now. This will show what they are made of.

A Primal Nut · 05-07-2014 3:11pm

I backed Argentina before the tournament but Belgium will win this I think. The only thing they lacked in the game against the US was a finisher; then Lukaku came on and delivered. He'll have confidence now (surely he'll start now?).

Belgium only conceded one goal from open play so far and that was very late in extra time. Argentina apart from Messi and Romero have been very poor - you can't carry so many players this late in the tournament. They struggled to break down a poor Switzerland side (Belgium created a lot more chances against the US) and this is going to be more difficult.

There is the possibility that Di Maria's goal will give him confidence - he and Messi both on form could be unstoppable; that's Argentina's best hope; I'm sceptical though.

AllGunsBlazing · 05-07-2014 3:24pm

Not holding out much hope for this one.

You can tell the consequences of defeat are now weighting on everyone's mind. No one wants to be the player whose mistake could lead to elimination and games are becoming strangled as a result.

Penalties, I reckon.

weisses · 05-07-2014 3:29pm

Komop rooie duivels

3-1 for Belgium

eagle eye · 05-07-2014 3:39pm

I think Mertens will cause big problems for Argentina in this one. They look weak defensively on that side of the pitch and I think the Belgian will control the midfield and look to create through Mertens.

alchemist33 · 05-07-2014 3:45pm

Jelle1880 wrote: »

This is probably going to be our hardest game so far, the smallest mistake will be punished by Messi.

Love that picture!

Utopia Parkway · 05-07-2014 3:49pm

Belgium

Courtois, Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen, Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Miralles, Hazard, Origi

user2011 · 05-07-2014 3:51pm

Professional Griefer · 05-07-2014 4:02pm

Cmon Messi!!

Nordic Mists · 05-07-2014 4:04pm

Have bets before the world cup for a Germany vs The Netherlands Final and a Brazil vs Belgium Final so no guesses who I want to win tonight.

tastyt · 05-07-2014 4:10pm

The masch to wind up fellaini and get him sent off for a stupid elbow/headbut ðŸ˜Š. Come on you argies!!

Lukker- · 05-07-2014 4:14pm

Think Dembele should be ahead of Fellaini, unless they plan on pumping long balls into the box.

Think Lukaku finally showed what he is actually capable of in the last match, but I reckon Wilmots is probably planning on using him as an impact sub.

Iused2likebusts · 05-07-2014 4:19pm

Should be a great atmosphere at this loads of argies in brazil and all the brazilians will be cheering on belgium.

Al_Coholic · 05-07-2014 4:23pm

Demichelis starting for Argentina only after noticing that

ZeroThreat · 05-07-2014 4:27pm

having put a small sum on Argentina to lift world cup, I'll have to hope they have too much on the day for Belgium to handle.

Too Tough To Die · 05-07-2014 4:27pm

Al_Coholic wrote: »

Demichelis starting for Argentina only after noticing that

Hopefully he won't get blamed if Kompany f*cks up.

Loafing Oaf · 05-07-2014 4:43pm

Is Daragh Moloney some sort of robo presenter unable to deviate from his menu of questions? "Are Messi's supporting cast doing their jobs?" He's just spent a minute telling you they weren't...