FIFA World Cup knockout stages

[mikesiva]

Mascherano....

Romero....

[Durhamfootman]

just seen the highlights.

What struck me in the shootout was how small the Dutch keeper looked standing in the goal. In the CR shootout, Krul looked huge.... filled the goal.

I guess the manager ultimately made his first choice keeper look like a knob, by leaving him on for this one, whilst subbing him for the last.

[Gingerfinch]

In hindsight, he should have perhaps started with Krul? Not sure the other guy is a better all round keeper.

Would love to see Messi score a wonder goal in the final, and Argentina win. I do though think Germany have to much in midfield. We'll see.

[Aidan11]

Third time these two have met in a final.

[The Waugh Twins]

In hindsight, he should have perhaps started with Krul? Not sure the other guy is a better all round keeper.

Would love to see Messi score a wonder goal in the final, and Argentina win. I do though think Germany have to much in midfield. We'll see.

Took the words out of my computer keyboard. Love to see Messi even just have a great match, he deserves that. Thought he looked a little tired towards the end of the semis, like the world was on his shoulders. The other great Argentine players need to step up now, and there are plenty of them.

[The Waugh Twins]

Third time these two have met in a final.

Yes and though I don't remember or didn't see the previous matches, according to one commentator they were brilliant.

[Gingerfinch]

Third time these two have met in a final.

Yes and though I don't remember or didn't see the previous matches, according to one commentator they were brilliant.

The 86 game was good, but not the 1990 one.

[Aidan11]

Third time these two have met in a final.

Yes and though I don't remember or didn't see the previous matches, according to one commentator they were brilliant.

The 86 game was good, but not the 1990 one.

I can't remember either. 86 - refused to watch Argentina after that cheating Maradona cheated us out of the Q/F. The cheat.

90 - I was still gutted after getting so close losing in the semis.

[Aidan11]

FIFA now confirm Suarez's appeal has been unsurprisingly rejected.

[andy]

well i don't care who wins it now...im in 2 sweepstakes and i have Germany and Argentina

[The Waugh Twins]

Third time these two have met in a final.

Yes and though I don't remember or didn't see the previous matches, according to one commentator they were brilliant.

The 86 game was good, but not the 1990 one.

I can't remember either. 86 - refused to watch Argentina after that cheating Maradona cheated us out of the Q/F. The cheat.

90 - I was still gutted after getting so close losing in the semis.

Right of course 86 England had a great team back then. Was that when Lineker had his arm in a cast?

[Aidan11]

Third time these two have met in a final.

Yes and though I don't remember or didn't see the previous matches, according to one commentator they were brilliant.

The 86 game was good, but not the 1990 one.

I can't remember either. 86 - refused to watch Argentina after that cheating Maradona cheated us out of the Q/F. The cheat.

90 - I was still gutted after getting so close losing in the semis.

Right of course 86 England had a great team back then. Was that when Lineker had his arm in a cast?

Yes. That 3-0 win against Poland was the highlight of our tournament for me.

[shankycricket]

Slept off in the 80th minute (unsurprisingly) of the 2nd semi final and having watched the repeat telecast, can't really say I missed watching it live. Awfully boring game with pitifully negative tactics from both the sides. Mascherano was brilliant though. Messi was not quite at his very best but still very good. Netherlands' over-reliance on Robben cost them in the end. I wasn't aware of the Cillisen penalty stat earlier but having reading Dan08's post, their tactics which had "penalties" written all over it right from the start look all the more baffling. I can see why they didn't save Krul again. Its tough work using only 2 subs over 120 minutes but maybe LVG should've started with Krul in the first place or at least looked to be more positive in normal/extra time so as to not take it to penalties? I don't want to be too critical of LVG as he has been brilliant to get them this far (and as Dan said, many didn't even expect them to get out of their group with Spain and Chile in there) but after a goal laden tournament, yesterday's tactics seemed extremely bizzare especially against a suspect Argentine defence. I was expect a goalfest with two very good attacking sides, short on defensive technique. Sadly not to be.

A special mention to Romero- that was as good a penalty stopping display as I've seen. Especially the Sneijder penalty- how on earth did he get to that? Top class effort... Argentina are deserving finalists but barring an extraordinary display from Messi (even by his standards), they look at least a couple of notches below the Germans.

[sussexpob]

I read a story that an Argentine journalist who works in Spain, and is a close friend of many Argentine footballers, particularly with Lio Messi who was known to be close friend and gave exclusive interviews to, was killed on the return from the stadium after the Holland match when his car was hit by a joyrider being chased by the police.

Incredibly, Diego Simeone then took to Twitter to talk of his pain at losing a close friend, referencing the guys wife with the @thingy..... she responded calling for someone to call her, because she hadn't been told, and pleaded for Simeone not to say such things in disbelief.

So nowdays, people release the details to the press, and a friend ends up posting on Twitter that your husband has been killed before anyone decided to tell her.....

Disgusting really.

[Durhamfootman]

Would love to see Messi score a wonder goal in the final, and Argentina win. I do though think Germany have to much in midfield. We'll see.

I'd like to see Germany become the first European side to lift the WC in S America. My worry is that they're a bit pedestrian in defence and rely too much on the sweeper keeper, as I believe he is now called, to allow them to defend too high up the pitch. Someone like Messi might be able to exploit that better than other teams have.

How many goals has Schurrle got now? comes on as a sub all the time, and he must have, what.... 4 goals? maybe 3.

I picked Argentina as winners in the prediction, but, tbh, after the Falklands photo knackers, I've gone right off them

Although......................... they only ever talk about the Falklands when things aren't going so well, and the politicians need to throw the plebs a bone, so maybe we should let them win the WC, and then they might shut the *modded* up, for a bit!