Argentina started the game playing 5-3-2 or something like that and Bosnia started with only one attacker, which meant that Džeko was guarded by 3 Argentinian defenders and as consequence, Argentina was outnumbered in the middle. Aguero and especially Messi had to dribble their way through thick Bosnian middle and that way they were just loosing balls. At halftime Argentinian coach came to his senses end changed to 4-3-3 and Argentina immediately became 100% more effective. Messi finally had room and was playing at his preferred spot, piercing from the side towards restricted area. Bosnia’s coach waited too long for the substitutions when Bosnia started to loose pace. Natural scorer Ibisevic could likely start in the next two matches, against Argentina they were more careful with two defensive midfielders, but since Argentina started in ineffective formation maybe there was no need for that and Bosnia missed the opportunity.
Pretty dull, yes. Messi & Argentina were a bit better in the second half, but only for 10-15 minutes, then they fell back to the level of the first half (and nearly paid the price for it). I’ve noticed very few ideas, it’s still Messi trying to be Maradona, asking the ball, having the other players moving around him, trying to make a decisive action, on his own, or in a combination. That’s not really him: he’s more the guy on the end of the line, the one who finishes what others have started. What he misses - for quite a while now - is a good Iniesta and Xavi behind him. Maybe Di Maria should play more central, but you never know with him: in the CL final he was magnificent, yesterday he was playing his kindergarten/circus football again, nice tricks, but no effect. Mascherano should keep it as simple as possible, and Maxi Rodriguez is history.
So far we’ve seen three of the four great favorites (according to the boomakers), none of them was convincing. Let’s see what the Germans are up to later today.
I think that Argentina should pick a foreign coach, with so much quality at the front, Aguero, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain, they even left Tevez out, and two quality center backs so safety at the defense, Argentine coaches have the strange tendency to destroy their squads with suicide inadequate tactics.
And let’s see what Ronaldo and company would do today. To be real honest I’m not expecting much, the Germans are favourites, they have a better team in one by one players, and normally we don’t like good starts, he have to do it the hard way, still a tie would be a good result, anyway if we cant beat the US and Ghana in the next games we aren’t doing much there in Brasil.
[quote=“El Topo, post:163, topic:3252”]I think that Argentina should pick a foreign coach, with so much quality at the front, Aguero, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain, they even left Tevez out, and two quality center backs so safety at the defense, Argentine coaches have the strange tendency to destroy their squads with suicide inadequate tactics.
And let’s see what Ronaldo and company would do today. To be real honest I’m not expecting much, the Germans are favourites, they have a better team in one by one players, and normally we don’t like good starts, he have to do it the hard way, still a tie would be a good result, anyway if we cant beat the US and Ghana in the next games we aren’t doing much there in Brasil.[/quote]
I didn’t think they were that convincing defensively. Like titoli said, they were outnumbered in midfield because of their tactics: that is a liability of the 5-3-2 system, Holland had to cope with it too, and it’s probably even more detrimental to the Argentine than to the Dutch game: in the Dutch team, the players “who make the difference”, are forwards (Robben & Van Persie) and the central midfielder is a passer, not a dribbler. In the Argentine team the one player who is supposed to make all the difference, is a midfielder and a dribbler (technically he’s a forward, but he played more in in midfield), if he loses the ball, you’re immediately in trouble because you’re outnumbered in midfield and therefore very vulnerable to quick breaks. Bosnia didn’t hurt them enough with breaks, but an opponent like Germany, Holland, Portugal, France would have. Playing like this, i don’t see them playing a major role in the tournament.
Yes, playing the three center backs tactic takes a lot time to do it right, in the end Argentina didn’t had a midfield most of the gmae, Mascherano was a nº 10 imagine De jong playing as a 10.
Garay and Fernandez or Rojo who plays center back at Sporting, are quality center backs, Garay is one of the best in Europe, but with the wrong tactics even them can’t make a difference. I still believe that with the right tactics and right midfiled players they could go all the way, let’s see.
Germany v Portugal
Kick off in just under an hour, should hopefully be a good game this one.
Germans for me.
Good luck to both Stanton & El Topo
3-0 at half time …
Germany clearly the better team, Portugal way, way below expectations
Again awful refereeing, we haven’t seen a decent referee yet. No penalty and Müller should be ashamed of himself. Pepe too, of course. Stupid behavior.
This went well …
Surprisingly well. But the game after the game that went so well is usually a difficult one, so in that aspect, both Holland and Germany have a difficult game ahead.
Wouldn’t surprise me if indeed the next game would be quitee difficult for both teams, Holland plays Australia, Germany plays USA, in both cases fans expect an easy win …
But Germany was stronger than expected (after some pessimistic voices), with a good Khedira, Götze and Müller.
However they weren’t really put to the test. Portugal was almost laughable today.
Really?
I thought the penalty was legitimate. He had his hands on Götze’s trikot, and that’s where the hands don’t belong.
And Pepe hit Müller obviously in the face (maybe not with intent). And then he gave him a Materazzi, only a slight one, but he clearly did it. I think in that case the yellow card would have been sufficient, but the rules allow it.
Hell I’m so drunk (with German beer), and what can I say, I didn’t expect to win, but this debacle… Murphy’s Law in full scale.
Total lack of rhythm and a lot of outclassed players (Veloso, Meireles what the f**k are they doing there) and a Moutinho far from his best form since he left Porto, and a true nightmare of losing Coentrão and Pepe for the next games in the process.
We were outclassed by the Germans all the way; to play against teams like these you have to overcome yourself not the other way around.
Bento can complain what he wants about the ref, but the penalty was a penalty and Pepe should know better, purely amateur stuff, sometimes this guys forget the are playing for Portugal not Real Madrid (he wouldn’t be expelled in the same situation playing for RM), but what he did is something I would expect from a player of the non professionals leagues I played, but even there I was banned for life for head butting a ref and sending him to Hospital. My only doubt is if the ref would the same if it was in the contrary, Eder suffered a clear penalty and it was play on for the ref.
Bento got that siege mentality, of who isn’t with him is against him, and he will pay for one of the main mistakes he made in the final draft, choosing multi positions players instead of others who played one position, at least he should have brought another left back (Antunes), now we have none, only a few players that sometimes play the position. He was very conservative in the call, and in the choices he wasn’t he didn’t brought the right players.
Also to my sadness our goalkeeper didn’t give enough security (he’s from Sporting), he’s left footed and can’t play with is foots, I would had given Beto a chance he won the UEFA cup and been doing a good job.
Can’t really blame Ronaldo, he’s the only reason why we reach Brazil in the first case. We are far from our best teams of 2004 and 2000.
In the end we have to gain the US and Ghana to go trough like I expected in the first place, but now after this defeat I have my doubts.
In general terms I think the team that will win the world cup will be the one that resist the most to the severe weather conditions. for playing the game.
[quote=“Stanton, post:171, topic:3252”]Really?
I thought the penalty was legitimate. He had his hands on Götze’s trikot, and that’s where the hands don’t belong.
And Pepe hit Müller obviously in the face (maybe not with intent). And then he gave him a Materazzi, only a slight one, but he clearly did it. I think in that case the yellow card would have been sufficient, but the rules allow it.[/quote]
Well, I’ll have to look again at that penalty. I honestly thought both players touched each other (like they always do) and that it was Götze who made the foul, not the Portuguese player. But maybe I saw it wrong, watched the game on my PC.
I have no doubts about the red card, that was stupid, ultra-stupid behavior from Pepe, but I thought Mueller made an enormous show after Pepe had hit him, not too hard and unintentionally with his right hand. I don’t like that kind of behavior, and guess that it was also the reason why Pepe was angry at him. But that’s no excuse for a ‘Materazzi’ of course.
About the Portuguese team: They’ll have serious problems to get over this debacle. Losing a game happens to the best, but this was a real flop, they simply made fools of themselves. I don’t know how strong Ghana and USA will be, but four years ago Ghana was the best African team (and they possibly still are) and I suppose Klinsmann turned the USA team in a top fit fighting machine. So it won’t be easy for the Portuguese.
I hope all the best for Portugal’s next 2 games. It’s a team I always cheer for. (Unless they play against Germany or England)
I think they make the round of 16.
Ok, Germany started not like from me expected, but like from me hoped for. In that form they have a good chance to reach again the half final.
And I hope they have now enough experience to win also games in which the others make the first goal.
[quote=“Stanton, post:175, topic:3252”]Ok, Germany started not like from me expected, but like from me hoped for. In that form they have a good chance to reach again the half final.
And I hope they have now enough experience to win also games in which the others make the first goal.[/quote]
They looked really strong and concentrated this afternoon, but it all went in their favor, and like you say: it’s important to be able to bounce back, or win games when the football Gods are against you. Sooner or later that happens in a tournement.
Yes, and that was something Germany had a reputation for. And was not liked for: winning even when playing bad, fighting back, never giving up.
Since 2006 they are playing often very beautiful, but they don’t have this frightening efficiency any more.
I hope Ghana wins this one.
Portugal trained in the morning, Germany made their last trainings at the hour of game. It was really too ambicious to expect to win against Germany, with the backbone of the team all with an Hospital on their back, due to a very long season. If the US and Ghana have a tie, then we still have a chance, but I really don’t have many expectations, to play the usual Ronaldo plus ten (or as we call it Ronaldo solve it), he need to have him in his best shape, someething its far from happening, and nobody thought abaout a plan B.
Whew… nice US win in dramatic fashion, scoring 50-seconds in, then finally getting tied 81-minutes later… before winning on a corner-deflection at the 87-minute mark. Though they won’t do anything against Portugal unless they can create more diagonal-spacing.