World Cup 2014

[shull]

I hate those dirty South American/Latin/Mediterranean divers like Ashley Young, Thomas Muller, Shaun Maloney, Jamie Walker, Peter Pawlett, Arjen Robben & Isma Goncalves.

And watch out for Killie's Lee Miller next season.

One of the worst cheats.

[pozbaird]

I hate those dirty South American/Latin/Mediterranean divers like Ashley Young, Thomas Muller, Shaun Maloney, Jamie Walker, Peter Pawlett, Arjen Robben & Isma Goncalves.

Indeed. Some of the worst diving, cheating and feigning injury occurs in Barcelona v Real Madrid 'El Classico' games. Busquets, Mascherano, Pepe, Ramos....

[JM1]

Arjen Robben diving...Oh no wait, it's model pro Joel Campbell of Costa Rica.

If you're going to dislike sides because they have a diver/cheat playing for them, you might as well dislike every team.

[shull]

Arjen Robben diving...Oh no wait, it's model pro Joel Campbell of Costa Rica.

If you're going to dislike sides because they have a diver/cheat playing for them, you might as well dislike every team.

I do.

[oscar]

I do.

What..................even Pollok?

[oscar]

Not much of a game tonight - needed an early goal.

Costa Ricas defence making the Dutch pass left to right, right to left.

Pretty boring to be honest.

[JM1]

I do.

Including St Mirren.

[shull]

What..................even Pollok?

Naw, Pollok are okay, they make me laugh.

[shull]

:

Including St Mirren.

Sometimes ..................

[JM1]

I think Van Persie has been watching videos of Lewis Guy going on the amount of times hes been caught offside tonight.

[Leicester Saint]

Louis van Gaal made himself look like a right prick last night. Subbing the keeper, who'd had a decent game, to bring on Tim Krul for the penalty shoot out.

I can see no reason for doing this, except for Krul's despicable baiting of the Costa Rica players waiting to take penalties.

Both of them, and Holland, have went massively down in my estimations after this.

People might might think 'well, they won...' but they might well have won anyway. There was no reason for such blatant gamesmanship, and van Gaal made himself look like a cock for making the switch.

Hope Argentina f**k them.

[pozbaird]

Louis van Gaal made himself look like a right prick last night. Subbing the keeper, who'd had a decent game, to bring on Tim Krul for the penalty shoot out.

I can see no reason for doing this, except for Krul's despicable baiting of the Costa Rica players waiting to take penalties.

Both of them, and Holland, have went massively down in my estimations after this.

People might might think 'well, they won...' but they might well have won anyway. There was no reason for such blatant gamesmanship, and van Gaal made himself look like a cock for making the switch.

Hope Argentina f**k them.

Please tell me you don't mean this! It was a masterstroke. In their previous game Costa Rica's penalties were superb. Holland obviously spoke about doing this if the game was heading for pens'. It was firstly a gutsy move to only use two outfield subs' and keep the goalie sub' possibilty in reserve - especially in hot conditions, and in a World Cup quarter final.

It really must have made the Costa Ricans think 'What the fcuk, and who is this new keeper, is he a penalty specialist?'. It really got inside their heads. Krul also started sledging their kickers - giving them the eyes, telling them he knew where they'd place their kicks. It was mindgames from the Dutch.

I thought it was superb. What a ballsy move. The Dutch keeper who went off went mental with delight too. Fantastic stuff from Van Gaal.

[stlucifer]

Louis van Gaal made himself look like a right prick last night. Subbing the keeper, who'd had a decent game, to bring on Tim Krul for the penalty shoot out.

I can see no reason for doing this, except for Krul's despicable baiting of the Costa Rica players waiting to take penalties.

Both of them, and Holland, have went massively down in my estimations after this.

People might might think 'well, they won...' but they might well have won anyway. There was no reason for such blatant gamesmanship, and van Gaal made himself look like a cock for making the switch.

Hope Argentina f**k them.

While I agree with your last sentiment I thought it was a brave, and ultimately, correct substitution. Both keepers looked comfortable with the idea so I can only assume it was preplanned.

[BaldyOzBud]

It was certainly despicable that Kruul was allowed to get away with getting in the penalty takers faces instead of standing on his line and doing it.

I would love to see referees given the option of sending a goalie who does this off, and be replaced by one of the outfielders who finished the extra time on the pitch.

I'm pretty damn sure that this would nip this shite in the bud.

[murray street]

Please tell me you don't mean this! It was a masterstroke. In their previous game Costa Rica's penalties were superb. Holland obviously spoke about doing this if the game was heading for pens'. It was firstly a gutsy move to only use two outfield subs' and keep the goalie sub' possibilty in reserve - especially in hot conditions, and in a World Cup quarter final.

It really must have made the Costa Ricans think 'What the fcuk, and who is this new keeper, is he a penalty specialist?'. It really got inside their heads. Krul also started sledging their kickers - giving them the eyes, telling them he knew where they'd place their kicks. It was mindgames from the Dutch.

I thought it was superb. What a ballsy move. The Dutch keeper who went off went mental with delight too. Fantastic stuff from Van Gaal.

Tactics like this are going to win the world cup, he has come up with solutions every time in all of hollands games, also the dutch have

incredible team spirit and I believe this can carry them through, although the germans are also looking really strong, possible all

european final.

[exiledfan]

Great shout and right idea given the heat. I would imaging a fresh keeper would concentrate the and be fresher than one having played and concentrated for 120 minutes. Also agree it's have had a WTF reaction from the Costa Rica players

[smcc]

It was certainly despicable that Kruul was allowed to get away with getting in the penalty takers faces instead of standing on his line and doing it.

I would love to see referees given the option of sending a goalie who does this off, and be replaced by one of the outfielders who finished the extra time on the pitch.

I'm pretty damn sure that this would nip this shite in the bud.

Yep! He should have been given a yellow card for ungentlemanly conduct the first time and a second tellow if he repeated it

[murray street]

Yep! He should have been given a yellow card for ungentlemanly conduct the first time and a second tellow if he repeated it

Then that would be a ted would it not?

[smcc]

Then that would be a ted would it not?

Oops! Finger slipped. You are, of course, right; the second y/tellow would have resulted in a r/ted!

[Leicester Saint]

Please tell me you don't mean this! It was a masterstroke. In their previous game Costa Rica's penalties were superb. Holland obviously spoke about doing this if the game was heading for pens'. It was firstly a gutsy move to only use two outfield subs' and keep the goalie sub' possibilty in reserve - especially in hot conditions, and in a World Cup quarter final.

It really must have made the Costa Ricans think 'What the fcuk, and who is this new keeper, is he a penalty specialist?'. It really got inside their heads. Krul also started sledging their kickers - giving them the eyes, telling them he knew where they'd place their kicks. It was mindgames from the Dutch.

I thought it was superb. What a ballsy move. The Dutch keeper who went off went mental with delight too. Fantastic stuff from Van Gaal.

Sorry, I can't agree with you.

If he's such a master then why couldn't he work out a way to break them down over 120 minutes of football? A game that apparently the Dutch are masters at?

Why couldn't he have pulled a similar masterful substitution during that previous TWO HOURS of football that could have won them the game?

I don't disagree that it was agreed, planned, and accepted within the squad. My issue is that he relied on putting a keeper on at the death to win a penalty shoot out. But NOT because he's a great penalty saver (what did they say his record was before, 2 saves out of 20? Something like that?) but because he was on there to goad the Costa Ricans.

Let's not forget, this is the same country who kicked Spain off the park trying to win the final in 2010, because they knew it was the only way they could possibly beat them.

It didn't work then, and everyone who loves football should be glad of that.

As I said before, I hope Argentina f**k them. You wait and see the kind of treatment they'll dish out to Messi.

[pozbaird]

Sorry, I can't agree with you.

If he's such a master then why couldn't he work out a way to break them down over 120 minutes of football? A game that apparently the Dutch are masters at?

Why couldn't he have pulled a similar masterful substitution during that previous TWO HOURS of football that could have won them the game?

I don't disagree that it was agreed, planned, and accepted within the squad. My issue is that he relied on putting a keeper on at the death to win a penalty shoot out. But NOT because he's a great penalty saver (what did they say his record was before, 2 saves out of 20? Something like that?) but because he was on there to goad the Costa Ricans.

Let's not forget, this is the same country who kicked Spain off the park trying to win the final in 2010, because they knew it was the only way they could possibly beat them.

It didn't work then, and everyone who loves football should be glad of that.

As I said before, I hope Argentina f**k them. You wait and see the kind of treatment they'll dish out to Messi.

No argument from me that the Dutch have aspects about them that are, well, questionable. So do many teams though. Van Gaal's Dutch side weren't the only ones who failed to overcome Costa Rica by masterful tactics though... England, Italy and Uruguay in the group stages?

I don't want the Dutch to win it. Robben is a cnut and Van Persie is an elbowing, shirt-pulling, snide shite. IMHO.

The Krul thing was brilliant though. Again, IMHO.

[RickMcD]

No argument from me that the Dutch have aspects about them that are, well, questionable. So do many teams though. Van Gaal's Dutch side weren't the only ones who failed to overcome Costa Rica by masterful tactics though... England, Italy and Uruguay in the group stages?

I don't want the Dutch to win it. Robben is a cnut and Van Persie is an elbowing, shirt-pulling, snide shite. IMHO.

The Krul thing was brilliant though. Again, IMHO.

In some ways I'd like to see an all European final but I share some of your reservations about the Dutch. I tipped Germany last year to win it so I'll stick by it. I'm not one for conspiracy theories but I fear there are so many within FIFA that might like an all South American final or certainly one of either Brazil or Argentina to make it through. I hope both games are won fair and square but I am half expecting some dubious refereeing and possibly diabolical decisions. There simply hasn't been an outstanding team this year so it is wide open.

[oscar]

I'm going for a Germany v Argentina final...........

So put your money on Brazil & The Netherlands :-)

[murray street]

Sorry, I can't agree with you.

If he's such a master then why couldn't he work out a way to break them down over 120 minutes of football? A game that apparently the Dutch are masters at?

Why couldn't he have pulled a similar masterful substitution during that previous TWO HOURS of football that could have won them the game?

I don't disagree that it was agreed, planned, and accepted within the squad. My issue is that he relied on putting a keeper on at the death to win a penalty shoot out. But NOT because he's a great penalty saver (what did they say his record was before, 2 saves out of 20? Something like that?) but because he was on there to goad the Costa Ricans.

Let's not forget, this is the same country who kicked Spain off the park trying to win the final in 2010, because they knew it was the only way they could possibly beat them.

It didn't work then, and everyone who loves football should be glad of that.

As I said before, I hope Argentina f**k them. You wait and see the kind of treatment they'll dish out to Messi.

They "kicked" five past the number one team in the world in the group game

I hope holland win as I've got £100 on @ 12/1 to win the world cup outright.

I think they can beat both argentina and germany to win this world cup.

Never write the dutch off, knock them down and they just get back up again,

brilliant team spirit throughout the dutch squad.

Edited July 8, 2014 by murray street

[Howard Hughes in BlueSuedeShoes]

They "kicked" five past the number one team in the world in the group game

I hope holland win as I've got £100 on @ 12/1 to win the world cup outright.

I think they can beat both argentina and germany to win this world cup.

Never write the dutch off, knock them down and they just get back up again,

brilliant team spirit throughout the dutch squad.

When they're in the mood the Dutch can beat anyone. And Robben IS a fantastic player. He is also a diving bástard and the Dutch can be dreadfully cocky and arrogant at times, hence the reason they overreach themselves and lose. If they keep the head and play as they can then it should be a fantastic game.