Re: Can Brazil Or Germany Fail To Reach The Semi Finals?

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:19 am

Valkyrja wrote:Brazil afaik are overrated. That Paulinho-Casemiro-Renato midfield will get exposed heavily by the first decent team.

I have the same midfield concern with Brazil. However they are well drilled (unlike some teams), have great attackers, a high quality goal keeper, are extremely motivated after what happened last time, have been getting great results in the last few months, are a traditional super power and if Neymar is fully then maybe he can show that he is ready to be crowned numero uno. When Brazil won the world cup in 1994 or 2002, did they have a great midfield? Which last top quality central midfielder from Brazil can we recall? So maybe Brazil can win in spite of that. If they try to go one on one with the best midfields in the tournament they could be doomed as you said but if they get their tactics right then they could find a way past it.

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:21 am

Perucho21 wrote:Brazil will likely face Mexico and that is not an easy team to play against. I can see Mexico pull off an upset

Mexico have not been going past the first knockout round for ages. If they could do it against Brazil of all teams it might just be the greatest day in Mexican soccer history. I cannot see it happening though.

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:24 am

VivaStPauli wrote:Germany are in this weird space right now where I really feel like they'll flop, but I can't say why. Even at the Euros it was mostly injuries that weakened them, not anything specific beyond that, they actually played good footy ever since 2010. They just feel like a team that's lost it's edge in a way that I cannot really put my finger on.

Brazil won't make the final for Brazil reasons, btw.

I say it's France against some surprise team.

I think Germany's main problem is fitness. In quite a few positions they have players who have not had the best of fitness and form in the last few months.

A surprise team in a world cup final? When did that last happen? World cup has been such a big boys playground that the final is invariably a heavyweight clash. A surprise semi finalist is quite traditional though but that's where the fairy tale ends.

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:25 am

BarrileteCosmico wrote:I see no scenario in which these 2 do not make the semis.

My thoughts exactly. I am just not able to even fathom it. Its like the world cup hasn't even started and two of the semi finalists are already decided. Rolling Eyes

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:29 am

The Demon of Carthage wrote:
I think they'll reach the semi-final with insane ease and then crash out.

Interesting. To do that France are likely to have to face one of Spain and Portugal and I cannot see that as being easy. Quarter final may be reached without too much difficulty though.

by M99 Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:30 am

BarrileteCosmico wrote:I see no scenario in which these 2 do not make the semis.

Stop the jinxing you *bleep* pos

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:33 am

BarrileteCosmico wrote:I see no scenario in which Argentina beat Spain in quarters either. You didn't watch us during qualifiers, we are awful.

I know Argentina has been awful but this could happen. This is where the immortals etch their legacy. This is where Messi can surpass Maradona and Pele and become numero uno of all time. I say it could happen.

At a personal level I do not want Messi and Iniesta to stand in the path of each others' dreams as far as possible. So in my predictions I have made Spain come second in their group and avoid Argentina until the final. Very Happy

Instead it would be so much fun to see Messi vs. Cristiano in a knock out clash at the world cup. Both having mediocre teams who expect one man shows from their superstars. A match for the ages. Make it happen.

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:37 am

urbaNRoots wrote:Kane > Gabriel Jesus
Sterling > Coutinho
Neymar > Lingard
Alli > Paulinho
Henderson > Renato Augusto
Casemiro > Dier
Marcelo > Young
Stones > Miranda
Marquinhos > Maguire
Walker > Alves
Allison > Pickford

I am reminded of the Gestaltist principle which says that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In my book the Brazil whole is at least ten times greater than the England whole.

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:39 am

By the way Dani Alves is unfortunately out of the world cup due to injury. He has been replaced by Fagner I believe.

by VanDeezNuts Sat Jun 02, 2018 4:54 am

I don't think this has been said, but this will ultimately depend on how they do in the group stage. I think we all expect Brazil and Germany to both top their groups, but if one comes in 1st and the other in 2nd they will play each other in the first knock-out round Because E1 plays F2 and F1 plays E2.

Germany, I think, are slightly more likely to slip up to Mexico or Sweden than Brazil are to slip up to Serbia or Costa Rica or Switzerland.

Regardless, in my bracket I have both in the semifinals, but only one makes it to the final...

by messixaviesta Sat Jun 02, 2018 4:41 pm

vanDEEZ wrote:I don't think this has been said, but this will ultimately depend on how they do in the group stage. I think we all expect Brazil and Germany to both top their groups, but if one comes in 1st and the other in 2nd they will play each other in the first knock-out round Because E1 plays F2 and F1 plays E2.

Germany, I think, are slightly more likely to slip up to Mexico or Sweden than Brazil are to slip up to Serbia or Costa Rica or Switzerland.

Regardless, in my bracket I have both in the semifinals, but only one makes it to the final...

That's a possibility I certainly considered but discarded. That's because Brazil hardly ever slip up in the group stage. Germany do once in a while but they invariably find a way to top their group. That's why I cannot see anything other than these two topping their respective groups.

My comment is strictly up to semi finals only. After that I really don't know. I cannot see any team in this world cup without significant weaknesses. Germany and Brazil will still have the edge coming from an easier path but after that one of Spain, France, Argentina or Portugal could knock them out.

by Robespierre Mon Jun 04, 2018 12:52 pm

Honestly have France under Deschamps ever convinced against anyone ? Perhaps just that match against Germany at Euro
It looks like a bunch of talented players that aren't squad though
So I think there is tendency to overrate them.

by Robespierre Mon Jun 04, 2018 12:54 pm

urbaNRoots wrote:
Stones > Miranda

Can Brazil Or Germany Fail To Reach The Semi Finals? - Page 2 Colin_Farrel-Disgusted

by messixaviesta Sun Jun 10, 2018 2:40 pm

Robespierre wrote:Honestly have France under Deschamps ever convinced against anyone ? Perhaps just that match against Germany at Euro
It looks like a bunch of talented players that aren't squad though
So I think there is tendency to overrate them.

You are right. If that one match hadn't happened we would be asking when has this team ever performed. Still the talent is there for all to see and that one match suggests that if and when they click and perform they can beat anyone.

Its worth noting that the bookies are not unanimous about France. Some have rated them 3rd while others have placed them 4th behind Spain.

by BarrileteCosmico Sun Jun 17, 2018 6:44 pm

Mexico

If Brazil finish 1st and Germany 2nd they would see each other in eights, right?

by Cruijf Sun Jun 17, 2018 7:42 pm

Round of 16 actually.

Amazing how quickly this thread (which was entirely reasonable) now seems like it will be proven wrong

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Sun Jun 17, 2018 8:19 pm

Is anyone really surprised by Germany lol? They've been utterly underwhelming ever since the last WC. Hans has complained about them multiple times.

Not to mention they are arrogant enough to think they can leave their 2nd best performing player this season at home and it doesn't matter rofl

Not surprised in the slightest they are struggling.

by futbol_bill Sun Jun 17, 2018 8:25 pm

Every one of top favourites have had problems! Way too early to make any conclusions!

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Sun Jun 17, 2018 8:28 pm

Only one conclusion can be made tbh....

FOOTBALL IS COMING HOME.

by futbol_bill Sun Jun 17, 2018 9:22 pm

by El Gunner Sun Jun 17, 2018 10:01 pm

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Is anyone really surprised by Germany lol? They've been utterly underwhelming ever since the last WC. Hans has complained about them multiple times.

Not to mention they are arrogant enough to think they can leave their 2nd best performing player this season at home and it doesn't matter

Not surprised in the slightest they are struggling.

who is their second best performing player?

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Sun Jun 17, 2018 10:05 pm

Sane.

Other than Kroos, name a German who had a better season.

by Hapless_Hans Sun Jun 17, 2018 10:15 pm

Once again, Sané has not been the second best performer in the NT. He' been like the 20th.

Still you're right it was an arrogant move by Löw to leave him at home.
Anyway, our problem is not Sané or Brandt, our problem is that the moron Löw continues his love affair with Khedira when clearly Gündogan is better at everything.
Then he complains that Mexico marked Kroos out of the game while letting Khedira more freedom Laughing

Yeah well genius

Also starting Draxler over Reus, a resounding WTF

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Sun Jun 17, 2018 10:21 pm

Don't care for your excuses tbh, looked like Brandnt, Draxler and all the other out of form players you are relying on because they " have played well for the country " before worked out wonderfully today.

Also the fact you rely on someone who can't stay fit for more than 5 minutes only strengthens my argument tbh.

by Mr Nick09 Sun Jun 17, 2018 10:30 pm

Hans, i think Kroos should be back at playing n10. I dont think you have a DM that can support him the way Casemiro does in Madrid, and that leaves too many gaps in midfield.

I love Kroos but he is a mediocre defender. replacing Khedira with Gundogan will not solve anything. You team looks so unbalanced, with Kimmich playing like a right winger

by El Gunner Sun Jun 17, 2018 10:38 pm

Wait Sané didn't even make it into the world cup squad????? rofl

You totally correct, Mole. By now he should be one of their key players, imagine being so arrogant lol.

Germany can go fail in hell for all I care.

by Sponsored content

Stones > Miranda