World Cup: Group B discussion

Art Morte wrote:

Ganso wrote:I got to admit I'm scared of our R16 opponent.Chile and Netherlands have been amazing.I have no idea who I am going to be cheering for next week.I think I'm going for Chile,they can trouble us with their pressing and 3 man backline + dat support.The dutch are looking like a 2 men team (2 very good men that is lol)

Holland were nothing impressive when they came up with a side with a work rate. And you've got the defense to stop their forwards. If I were Brazil, I'd rather face Holland, I think, although it's a bit 50-50.

Yeah, i think Holland is the ideal opposition because our main weakness is fullbacks, and the dutch play with no wingers and pretty narrow.I just hope Thiago,Gustavo and Luiz deal with RVP,Robben and Sneijder.What a game this could be.

you're acting as if the dutch wouldn't be able to change their formation for brazil .

robben vs marcelo could be brutal.

farfan wrote:you're acting as if the dutch wouldn't be able to change their formation for brazil .

robben vs marcelo could be brutal.

They should've changed their formation against Australia. Going with 3 CBs and defensive wing-backs against the Aussies? Ugh. They were better when Indi's injury forced an attack-minded substitution.

Ganso wrote:

Art Morte wrote:

Ganso wrote:I got to admit I'm scared of our R16 opponent.Chile and Netherlands have been amazing.I have no idea who I am going to be cheering for next week.I think I'm going for Chile,they can trouble us with their pressing and 3 man backline + dat support.The dutch are looking like a 2 men team (2 very good men that is lol)

Holland were nothing impressive when they came up with a side with a work rate. And you've got the defense to stop their forwards. If I were Brazil, I'd rather face Holland, I think, although it's a bit 50-50.

Yeah, i think Holland is the ideal opposition because our main weakness is fullbacks, and the dutch play with no wingers and pretty narrow.I just hope Thiago,Gustavo and Luiz deal with RVP,Robben and Sneijder.What a game this could be.

Anyone judging Holland on the basis of their game against Australia might be in for a rude shock. They weren't awesome, agreed. But I think they were casual and complacent. They will be more composed and hungry in R16.

Art Morte wrote:

farfan wrote:you're acting as if the dutch wouldn't be able to change their formation for brazil .

robben vs marcelo could be brutal.

They should've changed their formation against Australia. Going with 3 CBs and defensive wing-backs against the Aussies? Ugh. They were better when Indi's injury forced an attack-minded substitution.

But Australia is not Brazil by any means

Jokes apart, I think the formation will still be the same. Not sure Van Gaal will have enough faith to go with two centre backs to counter the threat posed by Neymar and co. But the philosophy might be different. Blind and Janmaat might play more as a full back and probably will stay back more often with Indi going forward to disrupt their midfield.

Lol all that if we are to play Brazil. Its NOT YET decided. LvG will have some plans for Chile before that and if he fails there only all those above mentioned will come into picture   

farfan wrote:you're acting as if the dutch wouldn't be able to change their formation for brazil .

robben vs marcelo could be brutal.

Just read that they turned into a 4-3-3 today at the second half vs australia, didn't know that.

still, I don't see LVG getting rid of a CB vs us.

Lumiere_Blanche wrote:

Art Morte wrote:

farfan wrote:you're acting as if the dutch wouldn't be able to change their formation for brazil .

robben vs marcelo could be brutal.

They should've changed their formation against Australia. Going with 3 CBs and defensive wing-backs against the Aussies? Ugh. They were better when Indi's injury forced an attack-minded substitution.

But Australia is not Brazil by any means

Jokes apart, I think the formation will still be the same. Not sure Van Gaal will have enough faith to go with two centre backs to counter the threat posed by Neymar and co. But the philosophy might be different. Blind and Janmaat might play more as a full back and probably will stay back more often with Indi going forward to disrupt their midfield.

Lol all that if we are to play Brazil. Its NOT YET decided. LvG will have some plans for Chile before that and if he fails there only all those above mentioned will come into picture   

perhaps, but as we said before, Chile are favorites.specially since you lot will be without RVP.I think RVP was a bit foolish getting that yellow card, Holland should give it all trying to finish top because our potential confrontation in R16 could be a brutally tough game.

Brazil drop out either way. Doesn't matter.

The hunter to kill Chile

Holland passed the test..... being the underdog and winning is one thing but being the favourite and going up against a team who will defend a lot more aggressively and with numbers its another entirely.

They passed the test albeit barely, i'm still unsure about them going forward into the tournament but if Robben and Van Persie keep playing as they are they are a major threat.

Respect to Australia, they showed balls again and Cahill's goal was amazing.... should have scored at 2-2 and maybe it would have been different.

Chile didn't surprise me at all, they always give Spain problems with the likes of Vargas and Sanchez able to stretch the game, Isla and the other "fullback" stretching the pitch and Vidal in the middle just kicking everyones ass

on Sanchez though, if Barca sell him they are f*cking stupid and will regret it....

Spain look mentally old, like a boxer who had been through too many fights.... they need to rejuvenate and perhaps it should have happened before this tournament.

2016 will be interesting to see how they react to this.

I'm immensely proud of our team even though we are now out of the World Cup. This team is mostly a bunch of kids who have never played with each other before and it will be excellent to see them hopefully win the Asian Cup on home soil next year.

More importantly, the foundation has been laid for the next World Cup in Russia. Today, our backline had less than 30 apps between them and our best RB (Franjic) was out injured, leaving the more inexperienced McGowan to face the Netherlands' most threatening player in that game - Memphis Depay.

Van Gaal's change in formation (which I believe was intended, and would've happened regardless of BMI's injury) from 5-3-2 to 4-3-3 was tactically astute. Although, starting with a 5-3-2 against Australia clearly showed how he had underestimated the team.

This game showed what a difference real quality in the final third can make - Robben and van Persie are guys who instinctively know where the back of the net is - some of our younger players have yet to learn that. Cahill was excellent and IMO has scored the goal of the tournament, thus far. Leckie (ex-Adelaide United) has developed very well since leaving Australia for Germany.

Lastly, the defences for both teams were substandard and I will be surprised to see the Dutch defeat more disciplined sides with disciplined, experienced defensive units. For Australia, I'd like to see us take some points of Spain in the dead rubber - we don't deserve to finish last in this group. Also, well done to Chile.

Can you imagine how butthurt brazil would be if Chile beat them in R16 on their turf

It was painfully obvious that the Netherlands weren't trying for most of the match. On top of that both of Australia's goals were kind of lucky. As soon as they started putting forth effort they took over.

The Netherlands are the better side over Chile, but anything can happen. Missing RVP is not a big deal IMO as Huntelaar is very good for the national team.

Regardless I think both Holland and Chile beat Brazil in the round of 16.

El Cujo wrote:It was painfully obvious that the Netherlands weren't trying for most of the match. On top of that both of Australia's goals were kind of lucky. As soon as they started putting forth effort they took over.

This is absolutely ludicrous.   

Honestly, I mean no disrespect, but this is the stupidest thing I've read in some time.

To suggest that a team would deliberately "not try" in a World Cup is unfair to the Dutch and unfair to Australia. I saw absolutely no evidence of that. Credit should be given where credit is due.

The change in control of the match occurred due to the Dutch switch from 5-3-2 to 4-3-3 in the second half and Australia's failure to take great chances, whereas the Dutch were clinical.

Furthermore, to discredit Tim Cahill as 'lucky' after scoring a goal which took absolutely superb skill and technique is an extremely disappointing attitude. If it had been CR7 or Suarez or Messi, you wouldn't have said anything.

I really hope you get a chance to re-watch the game and re-evaluate your above "analysis".

I actually didn't read one true statement in the entire post. Literally.

Don't agree with our team not trying the first half, the formation just wasn't good to deal with Australia's game plan. However, that penalty was harsh and I don't agree with us just being clinical. The Netherlands were clearly the better side in the second half and we weren't even all that clinical as you say Forza. We wasted a bunch of opportunities; could've ended worse for you guys.

Anyways, props to Australia for their grit and allround great mentality. Very well done.

I still thought Spain could beat Chile and qualify.... but Chile stepped up their gmae and Spain just continued their strange dip. Their midfield and defense look to out of sorts, just being bypassed so easily. Their attack so blunt, Costa didnt do much tbh. Nor did the other attackers but thats not too much of a surprise. Im just puzzled how Villa did nto feature at all. Instead Torres continually used. Xavi did not feature too was wtf....

Im afraid everythign just went wrong. Del Bosque too got things wrong....

Pique proved that hes long past his best....rightly dropped...but strange thing is players like Busquets and Alonso too looked so poor....

Must be just other teams figuring out Spain, the loss of that hunger and edge as time passes, combination with everything else....

So one of the best teams in history crash out in record 2 group games

Australia for me should be proud of themselves. They performed very well overall and lost to 2 very good teams narrowly. Netherlands I think were a bit sloppy and underestimated them a bit. Then the Cahill goal and penalty, but still overall I think Australia again surpasses everyone's expectations of them!

Forza wrote:I'm immensely proud of our team even though we are now out of the World Cup. This team is mostly a bunch of kids who have never played with each other before and it will be excellent to see them hopefully win the Asian Cup on home soil next year.

More importantly, the foundation has been laid for the next World Cup in Russia. Today, our backline had less than 30 apps between them and our best RB (Franjic) was out injured, leaving the more inexperienced McGowan to face the Netherlands' most threatening player in that game - Memphis Depay.

Van Gaal's change in formation (which I believe was intended, and would've happened regardless of BMI's injury) from 5-3-2 to 4-3-3 was tactically astute. Although, starting with a 5-3-2 against Australia clearly showed how he had underestimated the team.

This game showed what a difference real quality in the final third can make - Robben and van Persie are guys who instinctively know where the back of the net is - some of our younger players have yet to learn that. Cahill was excellent and IMO has scored the goal of the tournament, thus far. Leckie (ex-Adelaide United) has developed very well since leaving Australia for Germany.

Lastly, the defences for both teams were substandard and I will be surprised to see the Dutch defeat more disciplined sides with disciplined, experienced defensive units. For Australia, I'd like to see us take some points of Spain in the dead rubber - we don't deserve to finish last in this group. Also, well done to Chile.

Agree a lot with u there. Aussies should be proud of themselves

Netherlands is still a bit hard to judge since these 2 games one completely shell shocked Spain then beating an expected weaker side. But their midfield looks very average and defense too. VP and Robben is amazing and each with 3 goals. Not 100% if Im right but they will likely top the group and go on to play Mexico/Croatia and then probably Italy? Not the hardest path indeed.

Ganso wrote:perhaps, but as we said before, Chile are favorites.specially since you lot will be without RVP.I think RVP was a bit foolish getting that yellow card, Holland should  give it all trying to finish top because our potential confrontation in R16 could be a brutally tough game.

yea but a draw will be enough and I think that can very much be achieved as the Dutch are so goal friendly right now. So even if Chile scores a couple, which is very likely to happen btw lol.. this team has in them to match it. RvP absence yea it might prove a problem. But then again there is hunter who always performs well for NT will be a great match nonetheless.

Well, I bet the Hunter will score some to prove to LVG that he should play more.

rwo power wrote:Meh. The Dutch in blue look so un-Dutch. I want them in their proper oranje!

I was confused during the first at least 10 min untill my brain kicked in gear... my thoughts excatly!
But what a exciting game and I so wished for Australia to win because the have put up such a great fight in the two games... very sad for them... and what a great shot by Cahill... just loved it.

DAT Moyes

Robespierre wrote:

DAT Moyes

ohh my!
Is this guy still allowed to do stuff like this ?   why cant you subsist low key for at least an year you clueless clown.

the guy has fumbled both on and off the pitch