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ChrisMcCandlessIts been lame the whole time.
WattsAmerica might not be very good at soccer, but at least we don't fake injuries to try and get the ref to stop the game every time we have a lead. Lost a lot of respect for Chile after watching this game.
RubberSoulhope they get destroyed soon
J.D.I'm somewhat behind live but wanted to point out what a huge pussy Martnis Indi is.
.MASSHOLE.I think this is the end of a few things.
1st. Pure Tikitaka is dead. It has been exploited and is now predictable. It takes a lot of pressure and physicality. Bayern, Barcelona, and Spain were all exploited due to their dependence upon that style.
2nd. This has been one of the most dominant national teams of all time, rivaling that of Puskas' Hungry in terms of pure dominance. While this year they were disappointing, they won 2 European Championships and 1 World Cup. Not many teams can say that.
3. I think this is the last time we see Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi, Villa, Torres, and Casillas in International Tournaments.
Watts1. Maybe, I'm not quite convinced, I don't know if pure tiki taka will ever be truly dead. I think the problem is that it's so incredibly difficult to play that way that even a team like Spain, who were able to do it a few years ago, are now just a step too slow, and not quite energetic enough, to pull it off. Spain were clearly sloppy today, but you think a team that was a little bit sharper would have put a few goals away. Hell even this team, poor as they were, could have easily scored twice.
2. Yes.
3. Yes. Though I hope Del Bosque will allow them all to play the next match, if for no other reason than to say goodbye. I'm sure he will.
.MASSHOLE.1. I think the pure possession style is dead. The tight passing, triangle attack down the center of the pitch does not work anymore. I think they needed wing play with out and out wingers (Navas) with a CM playing the false 9 behind a striker. Too often they were stuck in the middle with 3, 4, even 5 players with very little width. When width was present, it was too often the wing backs who were then out of position if the attack broke down suddenly.
I think the fact that Bayern, Barcelona, and Spain all attempted to play this style this season and failed on the big stage represents this. They were all suspect to high pressure, counter attacks, and often too much complexity. Teams like AM, RM, Holland, Chile, and Brazil were able to exploit this and it ended in wins.
Age definitely played a part in regards to Xavi and Iniesta's rapid decline, and I think Xabi just had a poor tournament. He played a fantastic season with RM, so hopefully this is not a sign of things to come. Casillas' rapid decline has been a semi-shock. I think his confidence is shot, and while he is still a great keeper, he is not what he once was. His lack of height has shown his weakness dealing with crosses, while age has shown that he no longer has the reflexes he once had when he was Saint Iker.
Wattstiki taka =/= no width. Still surprises me that Navas didn't make the team considering how important he was in giving width to Spain in past tournament wins. I still think the failure to Spain, Barca, and Bayern is more down to the teams not being good enough or sharp enough than the system itself. Honestly, I don't think Bayern's midfielders, as good as they are, are the right kinds of players to try and play tiki taka with. I'm not surprised they failed at it, but am surprised Pep stuck to it so religiously at Bayern. The whole reason Bayern were supposed to potentially be able to be better than Pep's Barca was because they could not only pass short almost as well as Barca, but beat teams with their size and strength as well when need be. But I guess we'll agree to disagree.
Xavi has declined, yes, but I don't really think Iniesta has. He and Busquets were Barca's two best players when Messi was out injured, and even in this tournament Iniesta looked better than those around him and has been the only one really making chances.
.MASSHOLE.I do not completely agree with the Bayern statement, I think Gotze, Kroos, and Mueller all could handle tikitaka but eh. I do not watch enough Bundesliga to truly say. I only saw them get decimated in the CL :)
I think Iniesta is still good, but he is a step slower. He cannot play the full 90 as effectively as he used to be able to. I think Busquets was horrid during the last two games, but then again it could be an off tournament, like it was for many of the players.
I still think Costa is overrated, especially with Spain. I cannot see him working out at Chelsea either
BombogenesisLet's run all the way this way then will run all the way this way then will run all the way this way
acualywasdolanOh lets sit down on the couch with 20 pounds of hot wings and spend 4 hours watching 5 minutes of actual play. In between plays we have time to eat, perpetuating the trend of proud fat fucking fuck americans!
BombogenesisThat sounds like an awesome fucking idea actually
acualywasdolanI think you like the break in play mostly so you can hop off the couch, get down on your knees and tongue punch your mother
BombogenesisAnother not so bad idea
acualywasdolanYou must really like american football...
BombogenesisYes...
Wattsfrom Iain Macintosh's article on espn: "Australia's gutsy start was inspiring, but then came something that stunned the watching world, a breathtaking moment that no pundit could have predicted: Someone made contact with Arjen Robben and the Dutchman stayed on his feet."
Truly great stuff.
http://www.espnfc.us/blog/world-cup-central/59/post/1892979/bell-tolls-for-tiki-taka-and-spain
DingoSeanHoly shit, they're totally yelling "Puto". How do they get away with that?! haha.
DingoSeanCan you get a red card for putting your head against your own teammate's head?
Jesus, Cameroon.
....and now the answer from the commentator. Apparently, yes.
fujaromeviolent conduct is violent conduct. I remember one match from a long time ago where a player knocked his own teammate off his feet and got sent off.
anyway. very happy Spain is out. now I just want england to lose today.
it's strange. it's been a great world cup, yet no single team has really looked all that great. except maybe Germany
BakerpowGermany was beyond solid in the first game. Didn't get much of a test but still.
RubberSoulyeah, and i'd say the same for netherlands. i'd be shocked if someone besides one of those two wins the cup
Ski_the_east01I'd say the opposite for netherlands actually. After watching chile beat spain it detracts somewhat from the beat down placed upon them by netherlands. The dutch have a good team no doubt, but that spain team is not even close to looking like the previous cup winners
Ski_the_east01I'd say the opposite for netherlands actually. After watching chile beat spain it detracts somewhat from the beat down placed upon them by netherlands. The dutch have a good team no doubt, but that spain team is not even close to looking like the previous cup winners
RubberSoulyeah i agree, but they still won two games handily, which is more than you can say about pretty much anyone else so far
who do you see winning if not germany or netherlands?
.MASSHOLE.Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Belgium, and Italy/England can all possibly make a run. If you ask me, if Croatia beat Mexico, I would not want to play them. Rakitic, Modric, and Mandzukic are a formidable trio. Olic is like a lesser version of Klose as well.
RubberSoulyeah i agree, but they still won two games handily, which is more than you can say about pretty much anyone else so far
who do you see winning if not germany or netherlands?
RubberSoulwho do you see winning if not germany or netherlands?
