Argentina vrs Netherlands, World Cup Semi-Final , 9/7/2014 , 9.00pm

Corholio

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

Van Gaal bottled it with not playing Krul...clearly his "balls of steel" got rusted in the Amazon rain....deserving result, the Dutch were muck.

Delighted for some of the Argentina players, in fairness who could begrudge Messi a WC Final appearance...tough on the older Dutch lads too, last hurrah but they did have 2010.

Germany red hot favourites now but should be a cracker

Dont think anyone deserved that to be honest, Argentina were as muck as them. Mascherano and Vlaar the complete standouts for both teams, that tells you the type of game it was.

Rayne Wooney

Genius from Van Gaal getting that squad penalties away from a World Cup final

Seeing as he's not even in the job yet and píssing off fans he will fit in quite well at United

AllGunsBlazing

Jelle1880 wrote: »

That doesn't happen anymore.

Also, Germany have won it 3 times already.

Aware of that.

I meant winning the current trophy for a third time.

klose

A good world cup you would say for the dutch, not much to write home about in the knock out stages but they were a fairly limited team all in all.

ankaragucu

Cienciano wrote: »

3 old men saying how it was better in their day :pac:
Giles, Dunphy and Brady really need to be replaced, as much as I liked them over the years, they're just 3 grumpy old men that offer no insight to the game

They even managed to mention Billy Bremner!
Dinosaurs.

Pdoghue

Looper007 wrote: »

silly talk, old men just a second from saying "back in my day..". To say football has gone backward and their ain't world class players is silly.
But I think they know it will cause a stir that's why they say it.

No, I think the scary thing is that they actually believe their own shyte.

Tokarev

derm0j073 wrote: »

Argentina in the final is a right kick in the ballsack for Brazil .

And IF they win it,

It will be like say, A shotgun blast to the head maybe?

But Ze German efficiency is bloody good.

Limestone1

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

Germany red hot favourites now but should be a cracker

not exactly - great odds on Germany if you think its a foregone conclusion :


Germany 8/11 Argentina 11/10

Cienciano

derm0j073 wrote: »

So , according to the RTE panel everyone is sh1te .

Back in their day everyone was Bobby Charlton and George best.

Looper007

Cienciano wrote: »

3 old men saying how it was better in their day :pac:
Giles, Dunphy and Brady really need to be replaced, as much as I liked them over the years, they're just 3 grumpy old men that offer no insight to the game

after the two semi's I have to agree, coming from three men who don't watch any football is a little silly from their point of view.

adox

They have a point about the lack of quality midfielders in certain teams.

Been a great World Cup but there has been no great team/teams.

billymitchell

derm0j073 wrote: »

So , according to the RTE panel everyone is sh1te .

If you ignore all the good players.
The lads have to have Billo there with them. Darragh maloney is too well able to spot holes is most of the lads arguements.

Iused2likebusts

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Genius from Van Gaal getting that squad penalties away from a World Cup final

Seeing as he's not even in the job yet and píssing off fans he will fit in quite well at United

in the interest of balance he was also penalties away from losing to costa rica

Utopia Parkway

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Genius from Van Gaal getting that squad penalties away from a World Cup final

Must make Bert van Marwijk an uber genius. He got them into extra time in the final.

Will I Amnt

Germany should really make sh*t of that Argentina team.

Limestone1

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Genius from Van Gaal getting that squad penalties away from a World Cup final

Seeing as he's not even in the job yet and píssing off fans he will fit in quite well at United

Another Moyes then ?

Pro. F

People wondering why LVG brought on Huntelaar and saying that he did nothing are out of their minds. Van Persie was spent at the end and he was miscontrolling the ball constantly. As soon as Huntelaar came on he made the ball stick and Dutch got much further up the pitch.

Hulk Hands

shamrock55 wrote: »

If vg has utd playing that way for the new season they will be doing well to finish 7th

Im guessing United fans will dwell on his history of having top European clubs playing good football for seasons on end, rather than this sample size of one game

shrewdness

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Have to look back on Van Gaal's decision to bring on Krul against Cost Rica now.

Cillessen's confidence must have been shot going into that penalty shootout. He would've known that his manager thought he couldn't be trusted for penalties.

Well then what an opportunity for him here to prove his manager wrong, clearly he couldn't though.

Any criticism for Van Gaal shouldn't be for him bringing on Krul in the last game, obviously that was the right call. It's more puzzling why he didn't do the same again here, maybe he thought any element of surprise was gone and it wouldn't be as effective. But clearly Krul is the better option in shoot-outs anyway. He probably thought Huntelaar could help them nick it in ET and RVP was out on his feet anyway, it turned out that Huntelaar did little anyway but easy to say in hindsight.

murpho999

I don't think the 3 lads are that far wrong in saying there is no great team in this World Cup.

No one has shone except for Germany and we just saw a very low quality semi final.

Mr. Incognito

adox wrote: »

They have a point about the lack of quality midfielders in certain teams.

Been a great World Cup but there has been no great team/teams.

Nonsense. Robben and sneider are fabulous players and argentina kept them to without a shot.

Corholio

I'm not a huge fan of his but I think Mascherano has had a very good tournament. Hasn't been many attacking midfielders stood out, and no Ozil certainly hasn't, to nip that one in the bud :P

AllGunsBlazing

adox wrote: »

They have a point about the lack of quality midfielders in certain teams.

Been a great World Cup but there has been no great team/teams.

Has it been a great tournament? The group stage was excellent but the knock out rounds, and the 1/4 finals especially, were quite ordinary.

Rayne Wooney

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Genius from Van Gaal getting that squad penalties away from a World Cup final

Seeing as he's not even in the job yet and píssing off fans he will fit in quite well at United

Calling it genius is hyperbole as is calling him a joke for bowing out now.The SF is mad place for extremes!

The Dutch could have won tonight if he tried to play football.

Will I Amnt

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Must make Bert van Marwijk an uber genius. He got them into extra time in the final.

4 years is a lot when your best players are the wrong side of 30.

Utopia Parkway

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Nonsense. Robben and sneider are fabulous players and argentina kept them to without a shot.

Robben is a fabulous player. Sneijder hasn't been one for a good while now.

Cienciano

adox wrote: »

They have a point about the lack of quality midfielders in certain teams.

Been a great World Cup but there has been no great team/teams.

One reason for this is the lesser teams have played well.

unkel

Andersonisgod wrote: »

The Huntelaar sub didn't work, he had no impact at all and Cillisen was particularly poor at penalties, if the praise for Van Gaal was overwhelming against Costa Rica then perhaps there should be criticism here.

Couldn't agree more. What I don't understand is why van Gaal believed the Huntelaar sub might work? Knowing Cillisen has never ever stopped a penalty? I've never watched a match that was as sure to go to penos as this one before. Surely a realist like him wasn't dreaming of what might be but what would be unlikely?

That said, Germany would be a deserved winner of this world cup. if I were a betting man, I'd put money on Germany - Argentina 3 - 0

Corholio

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Nonsense. Robben and sneider are fabulous players and argentina kept them to without a shot.

He did say certain teams and I think it was more meant performance wise. Although Sneijder has looked a shadow of his former self to be honest. His crossing tonight was absolutely abysmal.

Pro. F

Pro. F wrote: »

People wondering why LVG brought on Huntelaar and saying that he did nothing are out of their minds. Van Persie was spent at the end and he was miscontrolling the ball constantly. As soon as Huntelaar came on he made the ball stick and Dutch got much further up the pitch.

Agreed

If the truth be told Van Persie should have been off even earlier. He looked knackered

JONJO THE MISER

Eamon topping up his PP account:D

Looper007

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Germany should really make sh*t of that Argentina team.

No if's or buts, mark out Messi and with their attacking flair Germany will put this team to the sword.

Pro. F

Also people (United fans) saying the Dutch squad are weak and that LVG did something amazing are wrong. They've an extremely good pool of players to select from. Semi finals is fine, but not a special tournament run by any stretch.

adox

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Nonsense. Robben and sneider are fabulous players and argentina kept them to without a shot.

One a wide player/forward and the other a number 10, so I have no idea what point you are trying to make in relation to my post.

Stinicker

I hope we see another 7 goal rout from the Germans, this Argentine team were every bit as sickening as Spain to watch, nothing but complete and utter negativity and defensive tactics. Colombia would have been more worthy finalists. Messi or not I have no love for the Argentines and hope the Germans repeats Tuesday nights effort.

Cienciano

murpho999 wrote: »

I don't think the 3 lads are that far wrong in saying there is no great team in this World Cup.

No one has shone except for Germany and we just saw a very low quality semi final.

They've said that for pretty much every world cup except the last one.

corny

Pro. F wrote: »

People wondering why LVG brought on Huntelaar and saying that he did nothing are out of their minds. Van Persie was spent at the end and he was miscontrolling the ball constantly. As soon as Huntelaar came on he made the ball stick and Dutch got much further up the pitch.

That was happening when he was fresh as a daisy earlier in the game too. Come to think of it it was happening all game, every game of the tournament. Van Persie was shocking in general play throughout the tournament. Offside constantly, giving it away, needlessly fouling defenders because he couldn't be arsed fighting for the ball. He shouldn't have started any of the knockout games.

Tokarev

AllGunsBlazing wrote: »

So does the winner on sunday get to keep the trophy? Third time winners and all.

The original FIFA World Cup Trophy cannot be won outright anymore, as the new regulations state that it shall remain FIFA's own possession. Instead, the FIFA World Cup winners are awarded a replica which they get to keep as a permanent reminder of their great triumph. These gold-plated replicas are referred to as the FIFA World Cup Winners' Trophies.

http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/marketing/brand/trophy.html

Lenin Skynard

Great Apres Match sketch, Trevor Welch was hilarious but the Darragh Maloney sounds a bit too much like their Craig Doyle.

Talib Fiasco

Looper007 wrote: »

No if's or buts, mark out Messi and with their attacking flair Germany will put this team to the sword.

I presume you've the house, car and the kids savings fund on Germany so?

Hulk Hands

rarnes1 wrote: »

Calling it genius is hyperbole as is calling him a joke for bowing out now.The SF is mad place for extremes!

The Dutch could have won tonight if he tried to play football.

Well I dunno if genius is the word but he took on a squad who had a disastrous Euro 2012 with inhouse fighting and pathetic performances, gelled them together and got a near perfect record in qualifying. Then went to a South American World Cup and topped the group of death and led them to a Semi Final where they drew and were eliminated on Pens. All with a quite average squad of players. No mean feat whatsoever

shamrock55

I wouldnt hand ze germs the cup just yet, remember ghana, remember france, they were ****e in those games, and in fairness i wouldnt even count last night because brazil imploaded

Iused2likebusts

Pro. F wrote: »

Also people (United fans) saying the Dutch squad are weak and that LVG did something amazing are wrong. They've an extremely good pool of players to select from. Semi finals is fine, but not a special tournament run by any stretch.

I mightnt always agree with what you have to say but its a pity there isnt a lot more people like you on these forums that can actually form an opinion without letting team bias come into it.

billymitchell

adox wrote: »

They have a point about the lack of quality midfielders in certain teams.

Been a great World Cup but there has been no great team/teams.

Kind of like when tiger woods got caught riding around and had to quit golf for a while,the game of golf was poorer for his abscense. Similar in football with the decline of the Spanish team, you finally see how poor everybody else is when you go looking for somebody to replace them at the top. That Spanish team was the best in a generation, be a while before we see a team like that again

Alfred Borden

Netherlands shouldnt have even got out of the group imo. 2 star players and a rake of youngsters and washed up has beens. Fair play Van Gaal, another top quality manager enters the league.

Pyjamarama

It's like being a well organised defence makes you a bad team these days...

Alfred Borden

Hope the Germans hammer this Argentine team for serving up nothing but muck all tournament.

Lennonist

Looper007 wrote: »

If Germany don't rip this Argentina team apart in the Final I be shocked. Germany have a Better midfield and they have in the past marked out Messi brilliantly, Defence they are equal and forward line Mueller is far better then what Argentina have.

If Germany don't win the final I be shocked.

I think you might be shocked, I won't.

Tokarev

murpho999 wrote: »

I don't think the 3 lads are that far wrong in saying there is no great team in this World Cup.

No one has shone except for Germany and we just saw a very low quality semi final.

They are dead right,

But this is one hell of a mad, crazy, flipping, Brilliant World Cup.

It ends sunday

unkel

Raf32 wrote: »

Netherlands shouldnt have even got out of the group imo

Spot on. They shouldn't have won all 3 matches in their group of death. Somehow I don't think your opinion will be taken seriously on this forum. Don't give up your day job!