Final 3-1

Brazil goals by: Neymar, Neymar (PK), Oscar

Croatia goal by: Marcelo (OG)

Credit to Neymar for showing real leadership , especially in the first goal, and playing with a maturity beyond his years.

Alves had a weak game.

I thought Rakitic was invisible but its true that Croatia have no good DM to really free him and Modric so he was stuck with a lot of the dirty work.

was more impressed with rakitic then with neymar tbh
really do hope we sign him up.

Rakitic can't defend.Looked like a AM played in deeper role.

He did some OK defensive work. Was overwhelmed in the midfield really, and was indeed stuck trying to do the dirty work- which isn't his calling. Croatia as a whole, other than the first 15 minutes, never really were able to kick it into full gear.

That being said, his defensive contribution was fine, and his passing range was quite impressive in the game, as he had some great pinpoint passes out wide. 1 or 2 times I saw he was able to pass it out from deep which I liked, but on the whole I think the game mostly passed by him.

Can't say he's worse for it, Modric didn't really make a large impact either- nor Kovavic.

I look forward to seeing what he has in store for Cameroon and Mexico.

Thought Neymar was patchy. Excellent at times, invisible at others- but that was exactly how Brazil played. He was excellent when Brazil needed him though (as always) and that's what's important. Good job Neymar

Agreed with BC that Alves had a weak game. Offensively didn't do much (had a beautiful control though), and defensively he was out of position a couple times. I'd have to see it again, but I can't remember even seeing Alves for Croatia's goal- which came from his side.

I don't think anyone really expects Rakitic to be an excellent defender, Xavi sure isn't a great one..

what we do need is a midfielder who moves a lot and is willing to drop deep and fight for the ball.. or even just stand in the way (the foul on neymar is a good example) like yeah he got a yellow but he stopped the play completely and it's not like he was up against a scrub, neymar easily gets fouled because of his quick feet..

when we sold cesc, we essentially sold our slowest player in the team, even slower then buscuit and pique...
rakitic has some good speed and physicality something we really lacked in the midfield..

I was relatively impressed with Rakitic defensively. He isnt a holding midfielder, so obviously if you hold him by those standards he isnt adequate. But he gets his foot stuck in and he made a couple good tackle, one in my mind is isolated against Hulk and he cleanly took him out.

Made some fine passes, and looked especially good for a 10 minute spell to start the 2nd half.

Just isnt a holding midfielder, thats the only criticism I can really give him.

Rakitic yesterday served some amazing passes,everytime I'd think this is the time he'd make a shit one but everytime he does it with such unbeliveable precision.

Also I think defensively,he's not much of an intercepter.He's amazing at pressing though and he's very agressive while doing it which is great.

However,he's very sloppy on the ball,there were a couple of times yesterday when he looked so sloppy I thought he'd lose the ball then he'd bail himself out with a great pass.Other times he lost it,the great thing about Xavi is he was a Great passer and he was very comfortable on the ball aswell.

Rakitic is not comfortable on the ball at all in tight spaces and it worries me.

Still I think the only players who are great replacements for Xavi are Thiago,Modric,and perhaps Veratti.The first two are impossible to buy,the third almost impossible.

Hope Rakitic does well though.

I agree, his defensive effort was very good. Don't remember the Hulk scene but he was defending Nerman in his own box on the byline. Obviously he's not a defensive pivot so Nerman drew a foul and got past him once or twice but for our purposes he doesn't have to be a defensive midfielder anyway. Croatia had about 30 % of the ball and played deep on the counter. With Barca he'll play about 30 yards higher up and have 70 % of the ball with Busquets behind him. He'll instantly become our second hardest working midfielder after Busquets in that setup.

his long balls are beautiful, and handles pressure well.

What a pass from Xavi if Costa was clinical could've scored that without drawing a PK. And Alba that defensive work in the one play

Iniesta what a pass. Silva you pos how do you miss something like that.

RVP 1-1

Xavi and Iniesta still dominating.

Silva still choking.

5-1 win for Netherlands oh god.

Wouldn't say Xavi has been dominating. Spain have not controlled the match at all.

Pique alba looking like their old self..

a new centerback wont save our backline so far our defence in the world cup (alves/alba/pique)
have been beyond shat

The blame should mostly be on del Bosque.

how..
god wouldn't be able to teach pique / ramos / buscuit how to stop a ball to save their lives..

Buscuit got completely bypassed today, I didnt see his face once ion screen in 2nd half, it's like he might as well not be there. Lots of work for Enrique, consider that's performance from Barcelona core.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Wouldn't say Xavi has been dominating. Spain have not controlled the match at all.

Yeah, obviously they haven't in the 2nd half.

Only thing I hated about this game was the performance by the Barça players. But f it, I'm not going to let that ruin my mood right now.  

I noticed in the first half how there were runners right infront of Busquets and he didn't bother to mark them and I said it on Chat.

Busquets Has been horrible all season,needs to sort it out soon.

Pique finally showed his true level.

Xavi,Iniesta best on the pitch for Spain.

casilas  

Xavi: Loss to Dutch hardest of my career

Xavi: It’d be a mistake to change our style, we must die by it

Let's sell Sanchez Everybody!
Seems like good business