"I could have played that well in their net."

The goalkeeping has been poor through the first three games. Iker Casillas was once one of the best keepers in the world. The only reasons he's even playing in this tournament are his reputation and because Victor Valdes blew out his knee a couple of months ago. But all five goals today weren't entirely his fault. All of a sudden, the Spanish defense looks old and slow.

"Spain has Chile and Australia still so you have to think they get through but they have no room for error now."

Spain needs to beat Chile because right now Chile has a plus-6 goal differential over them.

alz wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Spain has Chile and Australia still so you have to think they get through but they have no room for error now."

Spain needs to beat Chile because right now Chile has a plus-6 goal differential over them.

I don't think Spain gets in with any draw...  goal differential better not play in or they are totally screwed.

 
The way they played today, they're going to have a hard time beating Chile.
Of course, Spain lost its first game of the tournament four years ago and then gave up one goal in the next six games, so maybe today's game was another Mulligan.
The difference is that, except for Diego Costa, who was ineffective and appeared to be intimidated by the crowd booing him every time he touched the ball, and the right back from Chelsea whose name I won't even try to spell, this was the same lineup from 2010 that today looked four years older and slower.
Robben blew by Sergio Ramos for the fifth goal like Ramos was a traffic cone, and van Persie ran circles around Ramos and Pique in the second half. Granted, Robben and van Persie are two of the most dangerous scorers in the tournament, but Ramos and Pique are supposed to be the best central defense tandem in the world.

I tip my cap to you guys for your interest. I watched about 20-30 minutes of that Uruguay/Costa Rica match. I saw more headbands than shots in the direction of the net and couldn't take any more of it.

alz wrote:

Isn't Uruguay supposed to be one of the elite teams? I know they are missing Suarez but they got hammered by Costa Rica... Three goals in the second half. And a red card issued in extra time. First of the tournament.

This game here will pretty much end their hope of getting beyond group.

Uruguay made it to the semifinals four years ago, and there were some people who predicted them to win the group, but they looked awful yesterday. Without Suarez, they really don't have a consistent offensive threat.
With the caveat I didn't pick them to get out of the group, Costa Rica was the second-best team in the North/Central American region.
 

forsberg_us wrote:

I tip my cap to you guys for your interest. I watched about 20-30 minutes of that Uruguay/Costa Rica match. I saw more headbands than shots in the direction of the net and couldn't take any more of it.

Based on the first four days, this is so far the most exciting World Cup I've ever seen. Even the game involving the Swiss had drama today, and the Swiss are usually about as exicting as ... well, you'd expect the Swiss to be.
 

alz wrote:

Yeah the Ecuador Switzerland game was brilliant. Excellent counter there at the end. The first Netherlands goal is still up there for Goal of the Tournament to me.

Honduras was overmatched by France pretty soundly. I'll be honest I didn't really care much about the Japan//Ivory Coast match, it was maybe one of the more boring matches to me.

Today however (and I will be absent from this forum to avoid being told spoilers) is exciting. I will be golfing after work and hoping nobody tells me anything about Germany/Portugal or the US match. I'll check back in with this when I'm caught up though.
 

I'll refrain from posting until I see something from you at the end of the day.
 

Can't ... post. ... Promised ... Alz ... I .. wouldn't ,..

"Haven't seen iran/Nigeria yet."

That's probably one you can skip.

"With that red card, doesn't that keep that Portugal player out for the next game too?"

Yep. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. The only better thing that could have happened is one of the Germans kicking CR7 in the teeth.

"Let's hope for a win against Portugal, at least a draw."

With Portugal's minus-4 goal differential, a draw probably gets the U.S. through, no matter what happens against Germany. Unless, of course, Ghana knocks off Germany.

 

I've been really impressed with CONCACAF in this world cup I must say. 3-1-1 so far. Mexico's goalie Ochoa (spelling, I'm too lazy to look it up) deserves a serious pay raise after yesterday. I don't know what they are paying him, but it can't be enough.
 

I haven't been amazed by Brazil either. I felt the 3-1 result against Croatia was more the result of two very bad calls (one giving them a PK goal, the other taking a legal goal from Croatia). Mexico was not routed in that game. They sent about 5 balls whistling within a foot of the crossbar and had some very good chances (including the one which resulted in a good save with a very dangerous up the middle of the box rebound that nobody from Mexico was able to get to).

So far I'm only terrified of the Germany. This list may grow, or shrink at my whim. Plenty of teams worry me, but Germany looks absolutely scary good. We need to get a result against Portugal.

artie_fufkin wrote:

Ronaldo supposedly left Portugal's practice early today and there's a rumor floating around the British media that he may be done for the rest of the tournament. 

 

That's just heartbreaking. I'll need to send him a get well soon card. After I dance my little happy dance that is.