If this is boring football then I wonder what you consider exciting...

I think the game itself has been great. I think Germany have been boring. When they get the ball it's very much the Guardiola way, which is the least interesting style of football IMO. Algeria have been fantastic to watch with their counter attacking.

You're very much in the minority of people who thinks Germany have been exciting, but then you are biased. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Jun 30 2014, 11:20 PM

I don't agree that this Germany plays like Barça or Guardiola's Bayern. I don't see any tiki-taka nor exaggerated possession, but smart passes and an overall involvement of the players. It's not working perfectly, but it's not boring to watch. Not for me at least.

Was the 2010 World Cup not very hot? I don't ever recall seeing so many l players get cramp before.

Germany, as usual, find a way to win. Massive respect for Algeria though. Sensational performance.

Germany were far superior in the ET. I guess Algeria just got tired.

2-1!

What a game!

Lahm played 20 seconds in defense. They conceded. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Actually, the moment Khedira entered and Lahm switched to RB, Germany seemed more secure and in possession of the game.

That's true. Getting Lahm out of a possession position would help.

I'm kidding, before you jump on me again, X-Off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Jun 30 2014, 11:39 PM

predicted 2-0 for my work comp. absolutely devastated with that last min goal.

Brazil v Colombia
Holland v Costa Rica
France v Germany
Argentina/Swiss v Belgium/USA

Assuming the favourites win tomorrow, I think that's not exactly a hugely unexpected lineup of teams aside from Costa Rica. Colombia and Belgium have been getting a lot of hype in recent years, Brazil and Argentina were always going to do well in South America, Germany are always there nowadays and Holland/France had too much talent to disappoint again. Switch Costa Rica with Italy and I think it's gone about expected. Oh, and Spain. But I'm sure everyone that isn't Spanish is happy about that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Jun 30 2014, 11:45 PM

So, three sidenotes from me:

1) On Germany

I agree with both Kurt and XO here. I think Löw is trying to implement some segments of the Guardiola game. It's not tika-taka, but playing Lahm in the DM/CM spot and making the wing players circulate with the ball more and more isn't the real Germany way. I remember Hässler, Möller and the teams of the past. They had this very German like approach, straight to the goal, fast attack, fast switch. Höwedes, Mustafi and Boateng are incredibly slow and sloppy. By fielding them and stubbornly playing Lahm out of position the German game loses pace and danger from the flanks, while virtually gains nothing. Höwedes and Mustafi ain't Maldini and Tassotti to give special defensive balance. Lahm may be intelligent, but the moment he got back on the fullback Germany started to be more lethal. So, I do enjoy the German game, I like them, they don't play boring football; but Löw is doing unnecessary tactical extravaganza.

2) On "national" styles in football and this WC

So we come to my second point, related with the first. You know what? Call me a romantic or someone who's been prisoner of the past, but I do miss those days when you knew how Germany would play by default, or how Italy or Spain would play. This is the reason why I acknowledge and respect Greece. The whole world might call them antifootballers, laugh at them and despise them, but hey, they still got balls to play their way of football and stand for it. I respect that very much. It adds (to me) that special national factor that seems to be lost with most of the modern day teams.

3) On shirts and this WC

This is unrelated with the first two points. I think the HD television fashion is ruining football fashion. I was asking myself why Brazil and Colombia play that hideous yellow-white combination, why Germany doesn't play with black shorts, Holland with black or white (even though their choice may be, IMO, the most tasteful), etc. And well, it's because of the HD resolution that dictated this change. Well, it sucks to me big time, I'm sad to see teams leave traditional colors and tricolores.

I mentioned this to my dad. Germany's isn't too bad, just the white shorts makes it look a bit off. But I wish Brazil and Colombia would go back to the blue/white and blue/red shorts/socks combo.