World Cup 2010

[NemesiS]

Spain try to be to cute with the ball. Constantly playing fancy dan football. They should beat Holland as I've just found the Dutch to be a very workman like team. Barring their win against Brazil (which they were very lucky in the first half) they are another team who haven't really been tested against a decent team.

Tonights result will give Spain confidence for the final and i think the Dutch will probably find it harder than Germany to get the ball of them. They are both boring as f*ck and the final will more than likely be a shocker.

Christ who knows tho, this tournaments been a washout from day one with the negative approach from all teams so it could be 5 all, lol.

Ask the Octopus

[Adrock]

I really enjoyed that game. Spain's passing game was immense and Pedro was looking tasty up until that decision to not pass to Torres. He was taking players on like they weren't even there for a lot of the game.

Germany were poor, but I think it was mainly down to the fact Spain were so well organised. Defensively they had all the answers to any German attack and because they control the ball so well Spain always dictated the pace.

Best Spanish performance so far, they've hit form at the right time and that could make all the difference.

[saturn-gamer]

We are much more dangerous than this Germany. Brazil should've finished us off in the first half, but we should've netted 4 in the second. The game was also decided before the red card was being shown. Uruguay should also be sent home with a big score, while they were pretty good and well organized yesterday.

I'd rate our midfield much higher than that of Germany too. And thats where it counts in todays football. De Jong will be back for the final, and he plays an amazing tournament in combination with Van Bommel. Best defensive midfielders on this stage, those guys won't let Iniesta and Xavi to their job so easily as Germany did today. On the whole, the German squad is less experienced, lots of young lads and all playing in the Bundesliga.

Can't say who will win, but Spain won't toy with us like this.

[Anpanman]

Can't say who will win, but Spain won't toy with us like this.

Yes it's a very close call but I'm another one who'll be cheering on Holland.

[On The Edge of Insanity]

I think people saying that Germany didn't play their normal game are underestimating just how well Spain kept the ball, even when put under pressure. In addition, Spain neither had dodgy centre-backs (England) nor dodgy full-backs (Argentina), so when Germany did get the ball back they looked nowhere near as dangerous as they had in the previous two rounds. Mueller's absence was also keenly felt.

[prinnysquad]

That doesn't fully explain the lack of bite in the German closing-down game in the midfield. They sat back from the very first kick, before anyone had time to stamp their authority, often very, very deep. The Gemans couldn't nail a pass half the time, and often just humped it aimlessly forward. That wasn't just down to Spanish ball possession or organisation, it was a technical deficiency on the part of the Germans, and a lack of mental application in the situation.

People like Podolski made several runs into space and weren't picked out, because the ball carrier got cold feet and passed backwards instead.

[Kieran76]

Gutted, I had Germany in my work sweepstake and what annoys me more is that I drew Spain out of the hat for a mate who wasn't there. I will be supporting the Dutch.
For all Spains passing they are quite dull aren't they? I know Holland don't have much flair either, but they get my support.
5/10 World Cup for me.

[On The Edge of Insanity]

The reason they couldn't nail a pass was because they were under more pressure when they did get possession of the ball, both physically - Xavi, Iniesta and Alonso swarmed round the two German central midfielders whenever they did win possession - and mentally - when you know it'll be a while before you get the ball back again there is a lot more pressure to do something useful with it when you do gain possession.

Germany were outnumbered in midfield for the first time in the knockout stages with Busquets, Xavi and Alonso in the centre and Iniesta and Pedro cutting inside and I think this allowed Spain to take charge and force Germany to play at their tempo. In addition, bringing Pedro imto the starting lineup was a clever decision by Del Bosque as it gave Spain a pacey threat in behind, which meant Germany couldn't squeeze up to close down the midfield space as they were able to against England and Argentina without potentially exposing themselves.

The way in which Spain were setup prevented Germany playing the way they had in the previous knockout rounds. At the end of the day the Spanish were far better organised than England and Argentina and therefore didn't leave the same easily exploitable gaps as those Germany took advantage of so brilliantly in their previous games.

[fallenangle]

I haven't enjoyed either of the semi-finals, both have felt oddly passionless. Two sides trying not to make mistakes and rather than winning by commitment and creativity hoping to win by taking advantage of any errors the opposition made. I have a suspicion the final is going to be a tight, fairly boring match too.

Germany today certainly weren't the attacking force that played against Australia, England etc. As prinnysquad says they defended too deep, rarely had control of the mid-field and were strangely aimless in their passing.

I was kind of hoping they'd win the WC because then it would at least have put England going out to them in a better light.

Who to support now though? I've never liked watching Spain play and the Dutch are only interesting when they all hate each other and that gets their blood up.

[saturn-gamer]

As said before, Argentina was ****. They were like cheese with holes. 1 midfielder and no tactics. A dream for any decent team facing them. And after a 4-1 battering on a paralyzed England, thats a godsend.

Argentina, Australia and England gave Germany their first goals on a silver plate. Which meant that they could play their game early on, speculating on outbursts from Podolski and Klose. Ghana was a solid squad on this stage, didn't leave much space and was better than Germany in their face off. Germany could've been eliminated right there, thus winning only against an exceptionally poor and slow Australia. The Ghana game was the one I kept in mind. The England match was also dodgy ofcourse. The notorious decision sealed the game, forcing an already gutted England to play Germany's cards. Even they pressured a bit and netted 2.

To be fair, Joachim Low tempered the euphoria a bit and said some of this too.

Del Bosque played with the Squad I expected them to, although I would've selected Cesc for Alonso (but hes being injured). This meant a bigger focus on the midfield, and taking a hopeless Torres off which just made them play with 10 up until now. Villa can play as a sole striker anyway. He's easily the best in the world right now, essentially 2 guys in one.

[prinnysquad]

Well I did note earlier that it was a coaching error to allow such a discrepancy in midfield and formation, but I do think that, much in the same way as some think the German faults are overemphasised, I feel the same way about the Spanish strengths. The German game plan was entirely wrong, they played a poor set of tactics and paid the price. Spain played well, but were not untouchably brilliant, which is what they appeared at times against a German side who showed no verve whatsoever in any aspect of the game. Spain did not have a dominant handle on the game in the first ten to fifteen minutes, yet Germany sat very deep and allowed them to dictate the game thereafter.

I also disagree that the Germany technical deficiency in passing was simply down to mental pressure and Spanish organisation. I counted three times when an easy wing pass was available to Podolski, but the pass was not even attempted twice, and the third was a horrid scuff straight to the defender, under no pressure. I can accept the panic-button hoofing that Spain imposed on the German back four through their organisation, but not the simple, unchallenged passes that went awry. Such poor efforts weren't entirely down to the diseased mindset they'd been forced into by Spanish possession. Only 81% pass completion.

They did desperately miss Mueller though. Pyotr Tchiakovsky wasn't up to the job.

On a different note, I thought the Hungarian ref had a good game. No hysterical overreactions, just firm, level-headed refereeing. I can't remember any yellow cards.

[Uli]

so Germany's dreams of a 4th world championship are over again. congratulations to spain, they've played 100% when they had to - and won well-deserved. i don't think they have played brilliant though - they just managed to keep the ball, whereas Germany felt unfocused and too nervous. maybe a tribute to the youngest football team in German history.

[yesteryeargames]

come on Holland

[merf]

for stat nerds the FIFA Castrol site I posted a few pages back is really interesting when you drill into it.

Busquets is a water carrier par excellence, all he does is receive the ball from the defence and give it to Xavi, not critiscising him as thats his job but to see the numbers its really interesting, especially when you then look at Xavi's pass completions and how often he goes forward or sideways.

No player in the tournament has attempted more runs with the ball than Ramos and you see just how isolated Torres has been when played.

I had the impression of Van Bommell being a right dirty wotsit (he has put in some card worthy tackles) but he's given away very few free kicks. Unlike Holland as a whole who have conceded the most FKs and got the most cards.

I can see why some managers are such a fan of pro-zone and opta, gives you something to back up your hunches or alter your mind.

Fastest player in the tournament is the new Mexican guy going to Man Utd.

[Matt]

Webb has got the final. Good for him