2014 FIFA World Cup: Group B (ESP/NED/CHI/AUS)

Det the Threat · Post #761 » by **Det the Threat** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 10:00 am

At some point teams reach their ceiling and regress and that's what happened to Spain.

Though, they can still go out with their heads up high, winning three tournaments in a row, and will certainly try to go for it during the 2016 EC with guys like Koke, Isco, Thiago etc.

AlexDelta · Post #762 » by **AlexDelta** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 2:19 pm

EArl wrote:don't remember what group france was in, but they didn't make it out of the first round in 2002 and I think its the same with Italy.

Uruguay, Denmark and mighty Senegal.
Because France was so bad, El Hadji Diouf became a star after Senegal beat France.

DutchManDanFan · Post #763 » by **DutchManDanFan** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:54 pm

mas1977 wrote:Yesterday against Australia we played very bad. We could have easily lost that one.

The defense is really bad with Vlaar, de Vrij and Martins Indi. Almost every ball they play forwards is a loss of possession. Janmaat is disappointing so far. De Guzman on midfield is terrible, I can't believe he is even in the squad. (..) The rest of the team is average. Blind is a brightspot at leftback, but he is better on midfield.

The defense is not much worse then 4 years ago. Biggest problem is Nigel de Jong. He is never available to receive the ball from one of the defenders. The defense looks bad because of the Jong. Unfortunately he is needed for other reasons. De Guzman is dissapointing indeed. Blind had 2 great passes against Spain but he played very bad against Australia.

Raps in 4 · Post #764 » by **Raps in 4** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 4:46 pm

blkout wrote:That's not an easy group, it's the second (arguably first) hardest group in the tournament (ref: http://www.theguardian.com/football/int ... f-schedule).This sort of thing happens pretty often in the WC though there's always 2-3 teams that should blitz their group and go deep in the later rounds that don't even get out of the group.

France is the big one that comes to mind in 2010. They were the runner up in 2006 to Italy, had a pretty easy group in 2010 (Uruguay, South Africa, Mexico) and finished dead last with 1 point.

Italy is an even bigger one that comes to mind... They won the whole thing in 2006 then finished last in a group consisting of Paraguay, New Zealand, and Slovakia in 2010.

Foye · Post #765 » by **Foye** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 5:50 pm

In Santiago de Chile 527 busses went broke yesterday. 7 busses even got kidnapped.

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Higga · Post #766 » by **Higga** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 5:59 pm

I like Netherlands, and my girl roots for them, but I found myself pulling for Australia to beat them yesterday. They played so damn well. Aussies should be proud of their team's effort, unlike SPAIN. Freaking dog team. Guess the golden age has come to an end.

Doormatt · Post #767 » by **Doormatt** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:57 am

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygc3IfN-gjA&index=2&list=UUUsTSbCLD96-pcWi2Kqaitg[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-UMOjAeoSs&list=UUUsTSbCLD96-pcWi2Kqaitg&index=1[/youtube]

MaliBrah · Post #768 » by **MaliBrah** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 12:46 am

Messi is King wrote:You guys think Chile has a good shot at beating the Netherlands?

it's possible with the netherlands missing van persie and the way they defended against Australia makes me think chile can score a couple

spectacularmove · Post #769 » by **spectacularmove** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 2:37 pm

MaliBrah wrote:
Messi is King wrote:You guys think Chile has a good shot at beating the Netherlands?

it's possible with the netherlands missing van persie and the way they defended against Australia makes me think chile can score a couple

This is hugh game for both teams. This could be the difference between a path of (2nd) Brazil(1/8), Italy (1/4), and france or Germany(1/2) and (1st) Mexico or Coracia(1/8), Costa Rica(1/4) and Argentina(1/2)

Man of Steel · Post #770 » by **Man of Steel** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 4:35 pm

Pretty much unrelated since Spain is already done, but Xabi Alonso has revealed this was going to be his last world cup regardless of how Spain did. Sucks to see him go out on such a low, but he's done it all with the NT.

DD12 · Post #771 » by **DD12** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 5:30 pm

The guy has been overrated as hell. Without the consistency of long balls, dude has no other skill.

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Post #772 » by **5DOM** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 6:31 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/eaamalyon/status/480416437543399424[/tweet]

Ted Lasso · Post #773 » by **Ted Lasso** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 6:34 pm

5DOM wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/eaamalyon/status/480416437543399424[/tweet]

OUCH

Man of Steel · Post #774 » by **Man of Steel** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:32 pm

Fabregas leaving the Spain training session after an argument with Del Bosque.

Foye · Post #775 » by **Foye** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:39 pm

Man of Steel wrote:Fabregas leaving the Spain training session after an argument with Del Bosque.

Overrated player.

TheAdmiral · Post #776 » by **TheAdmiral** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:47 pm

Messi is King wrote:You guys think Chile has a good shot at beating the Netherlands?

Very good shot. Pressure applied by Chile might be too much to handle. I'm thinking they (Chile) either win the match or the match perhaps ends in a draw, unless Van Gaal plays his guys in their best 4-3-3 formation.

However, with Van Persie not being available and the Dutch only needing a tie to win the group, I expect them to play in the more conservative 5-3-2 formation.

JoeyCrawford · Post #777 » by **JoeyCrawford** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:56 pm

I wasn't able to catch the Spain games but did he get any burn at all?

Additionally, did Juanfran get any playing time on the defensive end?

Foye · Post #778 » by **Foye** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:58 pm

No and no.

JoeyCrawford · Post #779 » by **JoeyCrawford** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 12:22 am

Pharmcat wrote:what a horrible flop for Spain, totally exposed...getting clowned twice is embarrassing. they got lucky in 2010 , would've lost the final if robben had a right foot.

How about the 4 years surrounding 2010? Lucky there too? You can't call dominating the last 6 years of international football lucky, it just doesn't work that way.

Foye wrote:No and no.

Disgusting.

Foye · Post #780 » by **Foye** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 12:27 am

JoeyCrawford wrote:
Foye wrote:No and no.

Disgusting.

I don't understand it either. Isco could've helped, too but IIRC he isn't even on the squad. :dontknow:

Del Bosque needs to go.

Who advances from Group B?