World Cup watch thread

[MadaboutWu]

Thought we soccer fans could use a thread.

Go Croatia! Up 1-0 early against Brazil.

[Shock Top]

That was an awful call on that penalty.. You cannot give one for that..

[WstateU]

Go Brazil!

[Shock Top]

This game would have ended differently if it wasn't for that BS penalty. I don't see Brazil making it that far in the knockout stages.

[Shox1979]

Terrible penalty call and I'm surprised there wasn't a foul on Ramires before Oscar's goal. Brazils defense isn't very good and Julio Cesar gives up a lot of second chances. They will have to play much better to win the cup.

[MadaboutWu]

I turned it on at the 64 minute mark only to see the penalty give the game to Brazil. A disappointing beginning.

[_kai_]

@WstateU: I think that's Argentina.

[WstateU]

@WstateU: I think that's Argentina.

Thanks for the clarification.

[Kung Wu]

@WstateU: I think that's Argentina.

Thanks for the clarification.

No, that's Arsentina; the women's team.

[Kung Wu]

Brazil's defense looked a little suspect. Not entirely unusual though. Their offense is so good it probably will not matter. Croatia didn't do themselves any favors by packing it in and playing a 4-5-1. What a bunch of cowards.

[WuDrWu]

Brazil's defense looked a little suspect. Not entirely unusual though. Their offense is so good it probably will not matter. Croatia didn't do themselves any favors by packing it in and playing a 4-5-1. What a bunch of cowards.

I don't know about you, but it was a sad reminder of the early 90s watching the US National team. Hang back, pack it in, hope to hang on, pray the keeper can make a handful (or more) great saves, then counter attack with a speedy lone forward and hope for the best.

[Shox1979]

I don't know about you, but it was a sad reminder of the early 90s watching the US National team. Hang back, pack it in, hope to hang on, pray the keeper can make a handful (or more) great saves, then counter attack with a speedy lone forward and hope for the best.

I hate the play for a draw and 1 pt mentality. I've seen teams park the bus worse than Croatia did. Brazil seemed to struggle against the counter attack so might not have been a bad strategy.
It's definitely not going to be a productive month at work for this guy. Especially during the afternoons.

[Play Angry]

Pretty jazzed for this Spain-Netherlands match.

[Kung Wu]

I don't know about you, but it was a sad reminder of the early 90s watching the US National team. Hang back, pack it in, hope to hang on, pray the keeper can make a handful (or more) great saves, then counter attack with a speedy lone forward and hope for the best.

Don't get me wrong, if I'm Croatia's coach I would have petitioned FIFA to allow me to use two goalkeepers at one time and sat my loan forward, but as a fan it's irritating.

The thing about that particular game is:

1) You aren't going to beat Brazil by packing it in. Those guys will slice and dice you thinner than Ronaldo's girlfriend.

2) You aren't going to draw Brazil by packing it in. Their offense is too good.

So you might as well try to take the battle to them and exploit the only weakness they have -- their defense. Even if you aren't scoring, if you can keep the ball on their side for even 40% of the game, you are way better off. Might get lucky and draw. Might even accident your way into a win.

[Shock Top]

Pretty jazzed for this Spain-Netherlands match.

Holland dominated!!

Should have been a clean sheet, with yet another bad penalty call.