2014 FIFA World Cup: Group C (COL/GRE/CIV/JPN)

[truth18]

Love it when all the casual football fans come out during the World Cup. So many lulz

If you're talking to me, I have followed the US team since 06 and also follow the Polish squad in their Euro attempts(However feeble they are).

Nice assumption, much like in the other thread though.

[Clincher]

Love it when all the casual football fans come out during the World Cup. So many lulz

If you're talking to me, I have followed the US team since 06 and also follow the Polish squad in their Euro attempts(However feeble they are).

Nice assumption, much like in the other thread though.

You basically just admitted to being a casual football fan.

I don't follow clubs if that's what you mean unless its MLS and even then. I watch the qualifiers and everything for the US, I don't jump on the World Cup bandwagon. Baseless assumption.

Doesn't mean I don't love soccer.

[truth18]

If you're talking to me, I have followed the US team since 06 and also follow the Polish squad in their Euro attempts(However feeble they are).

Nice assumption, much like in the other thread though.

You basically just admitted to being a casual football fan.

I don't follow clubs if that's what you mean unless its MLS and even then.

Doesn't mean I don't love soccer.

I don't even. Must. Find. Words

[Det the Threat]

Though, I guess your's is that penalties aren't to be given after the 80th minute, or something...
And we don't see eye to eye on the penalty itself which is where we agree to disagree.

It was a chance on goal for Samaras and that player denied it by running into his leg.

That's a penalty(or should be) any time, if you like it or not.

[Clincher]

You basically just admitted to being a casual football fan.

I don't follow clubs if that's what you mean unless its MLS and even then.

Doesn't mean I don't love soccer.

I don't even. Must. Find. Words

So you have to follow a team year round to love the game or understand it? Got it.

[El Turco]

Unfortunate, but fair, penalty call.
Lets see what they can do in the 16s
Dutch/Mexico look strong to move thru to the final 4 IMO

They have Argentina and Belgium on their side of the brackett.

no they don't, they'd meet with argentina or belgium in semi finals

[truth18]

I don't follow clubs if that's what you mean unless its MLS and even then.

Doesn't mean I don't love soccer.

I don't even. Must. Find. Words

So you have to follow a team year round to love the game or understand it? Got it.

No, just understand it.

[Det the Threat]

Unfortunate, but fair, penalty call.
Lets see what they can do in the 16s
Dutch/Mexico look strong to move thru to the final 4 IMO

They have Argentina and Belgium on their side of the brackett.

no they don't, they'd meet with argentina or belgium in semi finals

I stand corrected. I thought you ment they'll for certain make it to the final.

But yeah, the winner of Netherlands/Mexico will be the clear favourite in it's quaterfinal matchup.

[Clincher]

I don't even. Must. Find. Words

So you have to follow a team year round to love the game or understand it? Got it.

No, just understand it.

That doesn't make a casual fan or someone who tuned into the World Cup for the US. I've watched all the games and do so for many of these big tourneys.

That's a baseless assumption.

[Boognish]

It's a clear foul, defender got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, dumb decision. Not much in it, but he clipped him.

[El Turco]

it shouldn't have been called penalty because now people of ivory coast will suffer from that punishment.

[Doormatt]

That doesn't make a casual fan or someone who tuned into the World Cup for the US. I've watched all the games and do so for many of these big tourneys.

That's a baseless assumption.

following a national team during only big tournaments is the absolute definition of a casual fan.

[Point forward]

I feel sorry for CIV, but if I see one more of Gervinho's brainless 1-on-5 dribblings, I'm gonna puke. He cannot cross even if his life depended on it.

[No_20]

Really looks like it's gonna be Netherlands - Argentina in the semis.

[treiz]

it shouldn't have been called penalty because now people of ivory coast will suffer from that punishment.

Yeah think of the fans, instead of being able to watch the Ivorian Messi and his technical gifts, we now all have to watch Greece?!

[Maex]

Greece just needed one regular goal to advance from the group stages. Really do not know how they do it all the time.

[Grants Goggles]

It's a clear cut obvious penalty. I'm genuinely at a loss as to how anyone could argue otherwise.

I've watched this clip a 100 times now and I don't see how you could possibly think it's a penalty. I'm sober and unbiased, too. The defender is allowed to stand in his spot when an attacker winds up for his spot. Samaras is just awful and kicked into the ground, basically.

It was a disgusting call, which sent a country home.

Cote D'Ivoire should also blame themselves for underachieving and playing unorganized and selfish ball, though.

[britblazerdude]

I've watched this clip a 100 times now and I don't see how you could possibly think it's a penalty. I'm sober and unbiased, too. The defender is allowed to stand in his spot when an attacker winds up for his spot. Samaras is just awful and kicked into the ground, basically.

It was a disgusting call, which sent a country home.

Cote D'Ivoire should also blame themselves for underachieving and playing unorganized and selfish ball, though.

Sio's leg is outstretched.

/End of

[Grants Goggles]

Britblazerdude, you're wrong, just because there's contact between players in the box doesn't mean it's a PK. I do not have a clue why you keep posting that picture like it proves anything? I assume you watch a lot of football?

It was the same mistake by a ref that gave Spain a PK against the Netherlands, offensive player initiates contact and, in this case, kicks into the ground and falls. Not a foul. Obviously.

Anyway I'm not going to change my opinion on this, I believe in my eyes, brain and general experience with/knowledge of football. So I'm just gonna leave this thread for what it is.

Hope Costa Rice wins, visited that country once and had a great time, made some good friends too. However the Greek population could use something to smile about so good for them if they do manage to advance even further.

[AdamTheGreek]

I'm still on Cloud 9 and I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep until Sunday. We fought our asses off and somehow found a way to get it done. Bravo. This is our first ever knockout stage in the World Cup. Everything from here on out is a bonus. Costa Rica can beat us 10-0 and it won't bother me. But obviously now that we're in the Sweet (Glykos) 16 let's keep the run going. No one on this planet is happier than us Greeks. Pure Ecstasy.

In real time it was a penalty and the replays show it was a penalty. Sio clipped Samaras' leg which caused him to lose his balance and fall. Penalty. I'm just glad that Samaras buried it because I was fearing for how much pressure he had on his shoulders at that point. Bravo, Samaras!

AND WE HIT 3 BARS/POSTS! The soccer gods blessed us and I'll never forget this moment.

Glykos was put in a tough situation was Karnezis out and he did about as well as you could expect for a cold keeper.

I hope Karnezis is 100% because he looked fine before his injury.

I am so happy for Samaris. That's a good of time as any to get your first national team goal. Calm as **** finish on the goal. Him and Maniatis reunited the midfield Olympiakos combo. Samaris made his case for starting next match. Provided a wonderful mix of passing and timely shot blocking. Pushed the tempo.

THAT'S WHY LAZAROS NEEDED TO PLAY MORE! MOTM for me. Christodoulopoulos was phenomenal and he is a must start on the left side next match.

Samaras played as well as you could expect up top. Lost the ball a lot but that was with 3-4 Ivory Coast guys surrounding him. Ice in his veins on the penalty take. Should start up top next match with Mitro and Gekas not suitable.

Gekas came on and looked bad. The one beautiful low ball by Salpingidis was supposed to be for Gekas and Fani's instincts failed him as he didn't make the run. Shame. Stay on the bench, Fani.

Salpingidis did well. You could tell he was gassed for the final 30 minutes but he had some great moments down the right. Almost would've scored past Barry early on had his legs been 3 inches longer. Fetfatzidis though is more suitable to start on the right, but bravo to Dimitri for hanging tough.

I hope Kone is healthy for the next match. He and Lazaros can team up for some dangerous 1-2 moments.

Maniatis was an animal and it's games like this that prove he doesn't deserve all of the fan hate he gets. Pure warrior. Bravo.

Karagounis we knew would be infinitely better than Katsouranis and he proved it. Hit the bar on what would've been the goal of the tournament. Could've done better on a few dead balls, but he won fouls and played solid defense. He's probably better off the bench but if it's between him and Katsouranis starting next match then it needs to be Karagounis.

Holebas played his best match of the World Cup so far. Did a great job for the most part backtracking on defense. Had some outstanding clearances and headers won in the box. That punishment he took by Drogba (head collision) and others pissed Jose off and it made Holebas attack more efficiently. Needs to play angry more often.

Manolas and Sokratis were fantastic as always as CBs. They are the rocks to our defense and Manolas is going to garner a ton of attention from huge teams. Pray these guys stay healthy.

Torosidis again turned in another beauty of a match. Great tourney so far for him as well. Had that one bad whiff that almost turned into a goal but Manolas covered for him. Other than that, no other defensive errors. Hit the post on what was definitely a shot from him. He's not shy to try that. Made some timely offensive runs. Hopefully he keeps it up.

It's on Santos to not resort to his previous **** lineups. Learn from this match and adapt your 11.