World Cup Finals,Brazil 2014

[BobHelm]

I have been reading a number of very highly paid players who are supposed to be fantastic in Europe didn't measure up in Brazil. Quite a few seemed to be from Real Madrid. Maybe they aren't hungry enough?

Not sure if your last bit is on the money GT.

Take Brazil, only had 1 player from Real in the squad, Marcelo. Although Fred (Fluminense) & Hulk (Zenit Saint Petersburg) were certainly European based players who looked out of their depth, Barcelona fans must have wondered where Neymar came from as he looked scarcely worth a place (let alone the money) playing for them this season but dragged Brazil to a semi-final spot on his own.
I think much of Brazil's issues came from the type of game 'Big Phil' wanted them to play as much as players under performing.

& don't forget that ALL of the German much praised squad play in Europe & are extremely well rewarded for it too...

[GT93]

I didn't mean European players weren't measuring up. If Germany win, it seems to have been Europe's tournament. I read an article in an Aussie newspaper listing star players who were World Cup flops from all the teams. The NZ media don't follow it closely enough to go to this level.

There seemed to be many players making mega bucks in Europe who seemed out of their depth when facing opponents with excellent skills. They played for various teams at the World Cup but a number came from Real Madrid.

Personally if I earned 3 million quid a year at a club side in Europe I wouldn't care much about the World Cup. I would be focusing on earning 3 million quid next year (i.e. don't get seriously injured).

[Balthasar G.]

Touch on Robbens shoulder was outside the area,theatrically fell in the box,penalty.WTF

According to the Fifa rules the penalty was completely legit. It's true that Silva started holding Robben outside the box, but continued to hold him until he fell inside the box: "if a defender starts holding an attacker outside the penalty area but continues holding him inside the penalty area, the referee must award a penalty kick."

What's more, Silva, as the last man, denied Robben a clear opportunity to score, but was given only a yellow card by the referee. Thiago Silva also should have been shown the red card and sent off, so he got off lightly.

[BobHelm]

A rare chance to combine World Sport & Issan !!!!

Check out this awesome rock shaped like the World Cup trophy in Thailand

http://metro.co.uk/2014/07/12/check-out ... d-4795928/

The World Cup has taken this summer by storm, so much so even natural landmarks are getting in on the act.

Pa Hin Ngam national park in Chaiyaphum province, Thailand, is well-known for its funky rocks, naturally shaped to resemble different objects.

And Mother Nature has done a cracking job with one rock in particular, which is shaped like the World Cup trophy.

Located within an area known as ‘Lan Hin Ngam’ or ‘Beautiful Rock Plain’, the World Cup trophy stone has become something of a tourist attraction in its own right.

[stattointhailand]

I suppose it makes a change from buddha shaping trees like babies hands or heads .... looks more like an ice cream cornet to me

They really will believe anything wont they

[mathusalah80]

Tonight sees the climax of the tournament with the final between Argentina and Germany kicking off at 2am Thai time.
Germany must start as the favourites but you can never discount a team that has the likes of Messi,Di Maria,Higuain and Aguero in it. !

Fence sittimg again Zid!
So what we have is, as is always the case, a well organised, well disciplined, well prepared German team playing at the peak of their form, with power, precision, and confidence. A machine in perfect condition to complete the task for which it was built.
Matched against them is an Argentinian team, somewhat in disarray and which, in contrast to Germany, has spluttered and stuttered its unconvincing way to the final; thanks almost entirely to the only player who, at this disappointing World Cup, can truly be said to have fully justified, and even possibly have exceeded, the superlatives used by fans worldwide, to describe his contributions to 'the beautiful game'. Realistically then; 'no contest'.
But, in my naivety, I still cling to the belief that, at its heart and for all its many layers of commercialism, corruption and extortion in the upper echelons , football still remains a game where passion, flair and joy will always hold sway. I believe that it is in these areas that Argentina are vastly superior.For this reason, coupled with the fact that the likes of Messi & Aquero most particularly have demonstrated time without number, that no amount of planning or organisation can nullify their unique skills for ninety minutes, (least of all during THIS most important ninety minutes of their careers), I am going for ARGENTINA to finally get their act together and triumph over a very good German team.

[Drunk Monkey]

No problem waking up for the footy as gonna stay up n watch the final round of the Scottish golf open being played in Aberdeen , cracking links course and really testing for all in attendance scheduled to finished at 2am ish ... then the WC final ...... not really bothered who wins and dont expect the viewing figures to be too high in the UK due to the participants .
Germany have played the better football throughout the tournament but i think Math 80 has it spot on with Argentina have spluttered their way into the final playing averagely at best , they are due a better performance with more players standing up and being counted alongside Messi SO ... im going for a tight Argie win...

As for the golf .. good chance of a Scott to win (Warren) but also Justin Rose in contention .

DM

[stattointhailand]

I think it could be tighter than most think ...... Argentina 5 - 0 Germany :-"

[Zidane]

I've predicted Germany to win 2-1 on IKTS.....no need for extra time or penalties.
This comes after I successfully predicted The Netherlands 0 Argentina 0,with the Argies winning on penalties,in the semi final.
Of course,this then begs the question.....if I knew this was going to happen,why on earth did I stay up to watch the game ??

[stattointhailand]

Same reason you stay up to watch a Man Utd game at 02:00 on a Tues morn ...... you love footie or your stupid ......

Jury is still out on that one

[SkyyWalker]

I've predicted Germany to win 2-1 on IKTS.....no need for extra time or penalties.
This comes after I successfully predicted The Netherlands 0 Argentina 0,with the Argies winning on penalties,in the semi final.
Of course,this then begs the question.....if I knew this was going to happen,why on earth did I stay up to watch the game ??

I hope you at least bet on it!

You seem like a confident young lad. Tell ya what. I'll say regular time ends at 2-2, then Argentina wins it in extra time (not penalty kicks). Gentleman's bet, eh?

[Zidane]

Half time is 0-0....quite a good game,so far.....Argies shading it,just about.
What Kroos was doing heading that ball straight to Higuain only he knows.....Higuain should have scored.
Also Kroos missed a good chance for the Germans near half time......thats two reasons why Van Gaal doesnt want Kroos at Manchester United !

SkyyWalker....OK,the gentlemans bet is...
1.Germany win 2-1 in 90 minutes....Zid wins 500 baht.
2.Its 2-2 after 90 minutes and Argentina win it in extra time (not penalty kicks)....SkyyWalker wins 500 baht.
3.In the event of both Zid and SkyyWalker being incorrect with their scores then stattointhailand has to pay for a night out for Zid and SkyyWalker in the company of Miss Thailand World 2014.

[stattointhailand]

Half time is 0-0....quite a good game,so far.....Argies shading it,just about.
What Kroos was doing heading that ball straight to Higuain only he knows.....Higuain should have scored.
Also Kroos missed a good chance for the Germans near half time......thats two reasons why Van Gaal doesnt want Kroos at Manchester United !

SkyyWalker....OK,the gentlemans bet is...
1.Germany win 2-1 in 90 minutes....Zid wins 500 baht.
2.Its 2-2 after 90 minutes and Argentina win it in extra time (not penalty kicks)....SkyyWalker wins 500 baht.
3.In the event of both Zid and SkyyWalker being incorrect with their scores then stattointhailand has to pay for a night out for Zid and SkyyWalker in the company of Miss Thailand World 2014.

Unless of course either team score a goal in 90 mins/extra time/or Penalty Shootout 8- or it finishes 0 - 0 after pens (just in case!)[ In which case DM gets a round in at the sports bar

Phew .... that was close :-"

[pomps]

Well I never =D> Twas just about to post a youtube link of all of messi penalty shootouts where most saved were the goalkeeper diving to his left if it was 0-0 after ET

[Zidane]

Germany 1 (Gotze 113)
Argentina 0

So,Germany are the World Champions ! =D> =D>

Quite a good game till Argentina visibly tired after 70 minutes,then the Germans took control.
Argentina will rue the first half miss by Higuain and one by Messi just after half time.
An excellent goal by Gotze to win the game,though.

See you in Russia in 2018.

[pomps]

Used to find her frightening in me youth orf for a Dunkel beer

[Khun Paul]

Thank god thats done and dusted, now perhaps we can get back to sports with talent like watching the Open or Snooker championships, where talent is individual and not hype.

[GT93]

A post supporting a gentleman's interests. Horses for courses.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

This punter is pleased to announce that he won the World Cup office pool and a financial award of $200 to boot. It was a close-run thing because I was in 69th spot after the group stage. Happily I got every match after that correct. In fact, I did well once England, Italy and Ghana were swept away.

Congratulations Germany!!!

[mathusalah80]

Well. I did admit to being naive!
Although there was little noteworthy football about which to excite,the Argentinians missed their chance in the first half with excellent goal scoring chances, set up by Messi , going begging. In the second half their play seemed to lack spark and was unconvincing, and Messi, without the level of support I had expected, (and probably so had he), from the newly arrived Aquero, and Higuan, (the miss of the tournament), suddenly looked a very lonely and tired figure.
From there on the result seemed hardly, if at all, in doubt, and the surprise was the game extended into extra time before Germany finally prevailed, with a goal of some considerable skill from Goetze.
I have read and heard frequent comments complimentary to the standard of football seen, (by others! ), at this tournament. For myself, I consider the standard of football seen in, and the excitement provided by,the matches overall, to be among the lowest I have experienced covering a span of some 15 World Cup tournaments. None of the participating teams, including the winners, could justifiably be referred to as outstanding, (judged by standards set at past tournaments). That Messi, (thanks to the politically inspired 'removal' of his only possible competitor), stood alone as the only possible winner of the 'Player of the Tournament award, says all that is needed as regards the virtual total absence of players of outstanding skill and personality, so necessary to ensure the success of a world tournament of this magnitude.
The only lingering memories of the tournament which I still retain, even at this early stage, are limited to vanPersies superbly headed goal, (his solitary contribution of any note ); the individual football performance of the tournament, (and maybe any other tournament?), in the single handed dissection and destruction of the England team by 'Nibbler Suarez' ; and the sorrow of the whole of a fiercely proud football nation, as depicted on the tens of thousands of tear stained faces appearing on the TV screens at the end of Brazils 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany.
Finally, the most unpleasant memory is of the unsavoury, vindictive, revenge motivated actions of a certain Italian player in singlehandedly ensuring the less than lillywhite tournament powers had the excuse for which they had been praying to enable them to dismiss from the tournament one of its few world stars, and outstanding characters. That the aforesaid Italian had committed two bone crunching tackles upon Suarez, prior to the alleged 'nibbling' offence, and shouldn't have even been on the pitch, and that he had a history of similar 'assaults' on Suarez in past meetings, were apparently considered irrelevant.
Sadly, I had hoped for better memories to treasure from my likely last World Cup Finals viewing; 2018 being a lifetime away