crackerjack
Well-known member
The only thing preventing me saying with absolute certainty that Spain will win is Robben. No amount of team play can be completely guaranteed to nullify such random brilliance.
World Cup 2010
- Thread starter scottdisco
- Start date
Dr Awesome
Techsteppin'
Well... who wants to bet against that octopus now?
I thought he (and the rest of the German team) did quite well overall, it's just that the Spanish were even better.
I've also decided that in a perverse sort of way I actually enjoy Lawrenson's daft remarks, he's like a real life Alan Partridge
baboon2004
Darned cockwombles.
ah - the WC was 1998, meant the Euros team of 2000. Indeed, the 98 team was not that great. france in 2002 were dire by anyone's standards!
So from the results, does that mean Spain would have walloped Argentina in an alternative reality semi-final? I somehow get the feeling not...
crackerjack
Well-known member
Doh, teaches me to post before the first coffee - yep, the 2000 team might well have had the making of Spain, so fluid with an ever-present goal threat.
A mate of mine came perilously close to putting huge sums on France, Argentina and Italy for the 2002 WC on the grounds it was inconceivable anyone else would win and he'd wind up with a small profit. None made it past the round of 16.
crackerjack
Well-known member
He's more sardonic and sour than AP. He seems to think true football connosieurship lies in finding faults whatever the display. He and Mowbray seemed to be having an off-camera barney last night - some weird frosty exchanges. The BBC backtracking after the match was a joy to behold.
Sectionfive
bandwagon house
smh
baboon2004
Darned cockwombles.
i want the netherlands to win now. that's just rude.
bandshell
Grand High Witch
Arseholes. I just lost a lot of respect for them.
hucks
Your Message Here
That's from 2008, not last night, if that makes any difference...
bandshell
Grand High Witch
I know. I don't think it makes much difference tbh. Still a harsh thing to do.
don_quixote
Trent End
i know france 2000 were good. i'm not sure i'd bet against ANY french team containing zinedine zidane. he is simply the greatest footballer in my lifetime and lionel messi would take some doing to get close to him.
i have to say, i'm still not totally onside with the Xavi kool-aid sipping action. He has certainly played great, but for a guy who does what he does, he still isn't finding penetration at the end enough, nor has he all tournament long. Really though, you can totally see how the midfield of he and Iniesta fit perfectly with a higher placed Leo Messi. It's really not a fair comparison to bring Barca into this because they obviously are afforded a coherence that national squad very seldom is, but even just stylistically, you can see how Messi is the thing that the Barca generals lack to really make their mark just this second.
Although what makes Spain an interesting team in comparison to Barca is precisely the presence of the English league players, who all have much more of a mind for slashing and ridiculous shots from the outside (which Xabi threatens with just often enough that i can't be down on him for it).
it's a shame pretty much all 3 of them have been in varying states of unfitness all tournament long (which isn't to say that Xabi Alonso hasn't played quite well).
If Spain does win on Sunday, i think it could be a repeat of Euro, where it's on the strength of Torres' first goal of the tournament. Maybe that's what Pedro was thinking... i hear he's got Cassandra complex worse than OctoPaul
Really though there's no reason why Holland can't score early on a long set piece into the box (or something to that effect). I think it's really anyone's game, system or no system.
Although what makes Spain an interesting team in comparison to Barca is precisely the presence of the English league players, who all have much more of a mind for slashing and ridiculous shots from the outside (which Xabi threatens with just often enough that i can't be down on him for it).
it's a shame pretty much all 3 of them have been in varying states of unfitness all tournament long (which isn't to say that Xabi Alonso hasn't played quite well).
If Spain does win on Sunday, i think it could be a repeat of Euro, where it's on the strength of Torres' first goal of the tournament. Maybe that's what Pedro was thinking... i hear he's got Cassandra complex worse than OctoPaul
Really though there's no reason why Holland can't score early on a long set piece into the box (or something to that effect). I think it's really anyone's game, system or no system.
mixed_biscuits
_________________________
Are there any pensioner football bloggers out there who can compare 2010's best to everything post-WWII?
Anyone quizzed their grandparents on this topic?
Anyone quizzed their grandparents on this topic?
baboon2004
Darned cockwombles.
can't fuck with the octopus. dont' really want Spain to win, as their style of football has stopped exciting me (it's the lack of edge alluded to upthread, in comparison with Barca), but the Netherlands really wouldn't be worthy world champions, I don't think, much as I like their individual players.
baboon2004
Darned cockwombles.
My Dad will always think that the West German side of 1972/4 are the best ever - Muller, Netzer etc.
I don't think they have a lack of edge really. It's more that Torres has just been totally shit all tournament. If he had been fit / at the top of his game, they surely would've been more of an attacking threat.... no?
IdleRich
IdleRich
I don't know, there seems to be some kind of lack of linkage between midfield and attack. The midfield is obviously awesome at keeping the ball and moving it around and they've got fantastic strikers but somehow they've completely failed to turn those disparate parts into bags of goals or even chances.
If the Dutch score I'm not sure that Spain will be able to force things to happen - but it will be interesting to watch them try so I hope the Dutch do get an early one to open the game out.