Yeah, and to think what he came in for. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Elano has a reputation for being a dead ball specialist, free kicks, penalties, and what not. It almost seemed like this was his first spot kick, ever, let alone a shootout. His stupid, stupid shot set the tone for the rest of the kicks, which in the end were almost as bad.

But then again, the camera panned to Maicon (as well as the Brazilian team) before the start of the shootout, and their faces and expressions were exactly those like the ones I saw before - that night in Istanbul, 2005. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) Down and out spirits. I told the friends who were watching the match with me that this is it, Paraguay are going through. Little did I know that I would be watching the worst performance in a shootout. Ever. Of All Time. Somebody punch me!

So after seeing this I'm still not at all sold on Neymar, he's flashy & he's Brazilian but that's about it. If I had the choice I'd take Sanchez over and above him, with better players around him he will be quality, Neymar just seems like another of these hyped Brazilian kids.

As for Ganso, well from these performances if that's our future, I'm looking forward to trying to qualify for the Europa League.

Haha, well said!!

I never really understood what Ganso's role was in this Brazil team. He just looked like a fish out of water. From what I've seen he's more in his element playing a possession game, which is why I believe he'd be good in our system.

Also you really can't judge players on their performances in summer tournaments, we've seen this being proven time and again

well atleast it would bring ganso price tag down..

I'm not completely sold on this, if he had scored a few, and tore teams apart we wouldn't be rating him more? It works both ways in my mind.

Sure there would be more excitment, etc sarrounding him. But I still wouldn't be as convinced about him until I see him playing an entire season in Europe.

Exactly, Oguchi Onyewu being the finest example. I think Ganso would be perfect for us.

Germans (well... ) are the best example in looking better with their NT I believe...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Agreed there Podolski and Klose immediately spring to mind

I can't agree there. I still think they are valuable.

Podolski is a special story, but all in all - his fine finishing flourishes for Germany, while at Köln or even at Bayern he never had the creative force behind him or always had better strikers to compete with.

Klose? What are you guys talking about? He was a Bundesliga monster for years, at Bremen and at Bayern. He was phenomenal. Now he's faded, in both departments.

Naah, sure we cannot rate Ganso on this sole tournament, but hey, we also cannot act like it didn't happen. Ganso was there, played 4 matches, none of them very good.

Klose a phenomenon? Seriously? Come on. Not that he's just any player but nowhere near a phenomenon really.

I think the same applies for Schweinsteiger and Lahm, I've never seen them perform for club as good as they've performed for their NT.

Lahm, now there's an overrated player. So poor defensively.

Lahm is not overrated.

Naturally. Especially in these days, when good fullbacks can be counted with one hand.

Schweini still has plenty of time. But he's been and he'll become what Effenberg was to FCB, only without his temper and bitterness.

Klose at his days in Werder was a great player, he was a total liability, he scored whenever needed. So, yes, it think you guys forgot that. He was consistently doing very good for a few seasons in a row. The Klose of today,...well..he's near being finished.