World Cup 2010

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Spain topples Paraguay one to nil in a rather odd game. Both goalkeepers played well. Penalties were missed by both teams, one penalty was scored by Spain but disallowed owing to one player getting a half-step jump over the line. A tough loss for Paraguay, but a nice victory for the Spaniards who now face Germany.

On the basis of the games to date, Germany should win; however, let's see if the Germans can penetrate the Spanish defence and keep Villa off the scoresheet.

Holland should defeat Uruguay, but who knows? Uruguay was fortunate to advance past Ghana and South Korea. Who is to say their winning streak will be plugged by dyke from the Netherlands?

[cryptic]

WE ALL KNEW EUROPE IS THE HOME OF FOOTBALL ....!!

Agree 100%, this game should be kept in Europe.

Iceland is in europe, confine it to that place and dont infect the rest of the world. Be glad when this silly nonsense stuff comes to an end.

[Zidane]

Spain v Paraguay was easily the worst of the quarter finals.
Other than the penalty incidents and Villas late goal their was little action.
I fear for the Spanish against Germany....other than Villa no-one else can score for Spain.
Torres is so out of touch they might as well play Julio Iglesias up front instead.

But the penalties.....some interesting points.
1.The referee disallowed Alonso's first effort correctly for encroachment and made him take the penalty again.
However when you saw Paraguays penalty there were about 6 players in the area before the kick was taken so why wasnt that one ordered to be taken again ?
But good to see the ref give a penalty in the first place for Piques cynical manhandling of the Paraguay player.
2.When Alonso's second attempt was saved the Paraguayan keeper clearly brought down Fabregas going for the rebound....should have been yet another penalty but,I think,the ref bottled it.

But just about the only talking points in an otherwise forgetable game.....

[udonuk1]

Argentina thrashed 4-0 by Germany.

Doesn't make me feel so bad being English, (particularly considering we really scored 2 against them and one of theirs should have been disallowed).

Funny the Germans have scored 4 in 3 of their games now.

And beaten by Serbia. Germany is a hark back to the Italian counter attack teams of the 70s, their style of play is effective if they are leading. I cannot see them winning the trophy . They were very rattled by England between 2-1 and 3-1 and they were ineffective when score was 1-0 against Argentina. Their luck will run out, they are becoming arrogant again, like after the Australia game.
Also they cheat almost as much as Arj Robben. I liked Schweinsteiger though ,

[jackspratt]

I read this on another forum.

After Nigeria was eliminated from the world cup the Nigerian goalkeeper personally offered to refund all the expenses of fans that travelled to South Africa . He said he just needs their bank details and pin numbers to complete the transaction.

[BobHelm]

I hope that no-one sees the ease at which Germany beat Argentina as a reason to believe that maybe England were a better team than previously thought!!
However, they out thought & then outplayed Argentina in much the same way as they had previously done with England. They identified & attacked the Argentinian defence as being the weak link in the side but also managed to isolate the dangerous strike force, which hardly had a worthwhile shot at goal.
Spain were shown up by a side willing to give no Spanish player time on the ball. Make no mistake that the German team will have seen how much the Spanish struggled & will give them even less time. Unless Torres get a remarkable return to form over the next couple of days then I cannot see anyway that Spain will win.
Holland have a great chance of meeting Germany in the finals. Uruguay would have given them a real run for their money if Suarez would have been playing. Without him I think Forlan will just have too much to do...

[Zidane]

If the Germans do have a weakness it is their goalkeeper.Although he had little to do against Argentina he still managed to spill the ball a couple of times and flap at and miss crosses.
I have noticed it but has Vincente Del Bosque ? Maybe I should e-mail him just in case......

Likewise with Holland.....I thought Van Bronckhurst might have been a weak link given his age but he has done reasonably well.Their weak link appears to be Nigel de Jong who plays for Manchester City.I think he is supposed to be the holding midfield player but is very slow.....anyone running at him with speed leaves him floundering.

[BobHelm]

European dominance is dead. It's all about the Americas.

3 of the last 4 from Europe, 1 from South America.....

[old-timer]

Paraguay-Argentina
Uraguay-Brazil

Go South America!

OT............

[pienmash]

Paraguay-Argentina
Uraguay-Brazil

Go South America!

OT............

Surely should of read .......... Go "back home to" South America !!!!

[Zidane]

The Dutch booked their place in the World Cup Final with a 3-2 win over Uruguay last night.
The score actually flattered the Uruguayans whose second goal came in injury time and led to an exciting last couple of minutes.
Van Bronckhurst scored a beauty from 30 yards to open the scoring for Holland after 18 minutes but the Dutch keeper was at fault with Forlans long range effort after 35 minutes,only helping to palm the ball into the net.
The Dutch dominated for long periods without ever looking particularily threatening and Forlan almost scored for Uruguay with an effort just after half time.
But then Schneider grabbed Hollands second goal after 70 minutes and Robben headed in a third just three minutes later.
The Dutch were coasting from then on until Uruguays late goal set up an exciting finish.
Felt a bit sorry for Forlan who has been one of the best players of the tournament,along with Kuyt.
So can this Dutch team win the Final where the "total football" team of Cruyff,Neeskens and Haan failed in 1974 & 1978 ?

[pienmash]

Me and my gran are rooting for the jermans tonight ME - because theyve played the best football in the tournament so far while Spain have been dissapointing and abit negative , MY GRAN because she says the brussel sprouts are more handsome and dashing - sex on the brain that woman !!

A Hollanf German final would be a cracker.........AND ANYONES GAME !?

[old-timer]

European dominance is dead. It's all about the Americas.

3 of the last 4 from Europe, 1 from South America.....

was one.
OT........

[immortal1977]

Oooooooohhhh yessssssss........we did it !!!!! I still can't believe it.....for the first time in my life Holland is in the World Cup final !!!! Okay, second time.....but I was only 1 yr in '78, so I don't remember that much
Again we did not play great, but as long as we keep winning, I don't care..... I hope it will be Holland-Germany this Sunday.....

[arjay]

I hope it will be a Holland -v- Spain final, but something tells me it could be a Germany -v- Holland final.

As long as Holland win, I will be happy.

[pienmash]

Gentkdeman pless rememder this issj onllyb aaa game ,,,,,,,,,,, sollty a gan3me,,,,,,,,,,,,carmoon u jamooms

[BobHelm]

Spain v Holland in Sunday's final as Germany lose 1-0.
Just about a fair result tonight as well.
It will mean that a new country will get its name on the world cup. i understand that the 2 nations have never met in the World cup before. Good luck to both & i hope that the best team (& so football) wins...

[Laan Yaa Mo]

It was a fairly dreary game. The Dutch will have to do something about the Spaniards game of ball-control. On the Spanish side, it is understood that the Armada is setting sail for Amsterdam tomorrow to try and win back the Netherlands for an individual. They just better hope the winds don't take them toward England and a repeat of their disaster in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

[nkstan]

Looks like the English Octopus was right again!It picked Spain to win!I thought Spain was by far the best side in this game.Could have been 3-4 to nil! =D>

[Zidane]

Spain deserved to win as they had 70% of the possession but their game is pass,pass,pass,pass then more pass,pass,pass...very rarely do you see a shot or even a cross come about despite all this possession.
It was no surprise that the winning goal was scored by a defender,Puyol.....Spains attack and midfield couldnt get the ball on target even when they managed to shoot !
Typical of this was near the end when Pedro was one on one with a German defender in the penalty area with Torres completely unmarked.He chose to take on the defender rather than shoot himself or pass to Torres !
Villa was subdued and,with Torres far from full fitness and sharpness,Spain arent going to score many goals.
Man of the match was Iniesta....his skill and workrate were phenomenal.

But Germany were very disappointing.They seemed content to sit back and let Spain have all the possession and never really got going until it was too late.Surely they should have adopted a more "up and at them" attitude against the Spanish.
Germany played the best football of the tournament against Australia,England and Argentina but for this match the coach got the tactics wrong.

So Holland v Spain in the Final.....a popular choice for many and should be a good game....plus the fact neither has won the trophy before.