World Cup KNOCKOUT STAGE - WHO WINS IT ALL?

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Ballack said Podolski is hurt - didn't say to what extent. Klose was hurt before the World Cup, too, so I suspect there are concerns about his fitness to play big minutes.

Thanks, I missed that.

[razorJAcker]

I've seen Algeria get more chances in the first 20 minutes than the USA got in 90.

I'd say Algeria accomplished that in the first 10 minutes.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Algeria's goalkeeper with the save of the game so far on that rebound.

Algeria is going to find themselves down a man if they keep hacking like that, though.  If they can settle down, they have a real chance at beating Germany here.

Very entertaining game so far, though.  Germany tugging at their shorts, and Algeria still looks fresh in minute 44...

[Dr. Starcs]

I ask this in all seriousness and ignorance: does an Algeria win not bode well for us tomorrow?  Or does it have any effect?

[Huckleberry Pig]

I ask this in all seriousness and ignorance: does an Algeria win not bode well for us tomorrow?  Or does it have any effect?

no effect.  germany is on the opposite side of the bracket.

[Dr. Starcs]

I meant in terms of mindset. Seeing as we lost to Germany and Algeria lost to Belgium. Would that affect us?

[razorJAcker]

I thought Germany might make some adjustments at halftime to cut down on the Algerian attack, but Algeria looks just as threatening to begin the 2nd half as they did in the first.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

I meant in terms of mindset. Seeing as we lost to Germany and Algeria lost to Belgium. Would that affect us?

No, in the World Cup it really is about match-ups.  I was really glad we got Belgium and not Algeria.  They are not a good match-up for us, just like they are showing Germany.  They are typical of an African team, that will drag you into a street-fight and can beat you with one counter-attack.

It won't mean anything who wins today to us.  It's all about that next game.

We should be able to take it to Belgium, but in this W.C. you never know.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

I thought Germany might make some adjustments at halftime to cut down on the Algerian attack, but Algeria looks just as threatening to begin the 2nd half as they did in the first.

Yeah, same here.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Algeria may have more chances overall, but I think Germany's will steadily get higher in quality and they will eventually put one in the back of the net.

[cbhawg03]

Algeria may have more chances overall, but I think Germany's will steadily get higher in quality and they will eventually put one in the back of the net.

This. Algeria can have 1,000 chances, Klose is going to come on and with one moment it will be 1-0 and he will have the record. Quality > Quantity

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

This. Algeria can have 1,000 chances, Klose is going to come on and with one moment it will be 1-0 and he will have the record. Quality > Quantity

Yeah, they are knocking at the door...

[cbhawg03]

What in the world was that?

Muller has always had the geeky look and well the fall didn't help

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

What in the world was that?

Muller has always had the geeky look and well the fall didn't help

LOL, I know.  I'm still trying to figure out if that was on purpose or not.  The crowd was laughing.

What an entertaining game, though!

Who says a 0-0 game can't be exciting??

[cbhawg03]

If I am coaching Algeria, then I keep my team how it is and then bring in two guys about 5 minutes into stoppage and go for the deadly counter and then just all out defend until the final whistle.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

That's the way you come out on a corner.

Well, Algeria pushing them to the brink

[cbhawg03]

LOL, I know.  I'm still trying to figure out if that was on purpose or not.  The crowd was laughing.

What an entertaining game, though!

Who says a 0-0 game can't be exciting??

At work so only getting to watch parts, but I'm glad I caught that. Best moment of World Cup so far. Schweinsteiger was running in a circle and Muller was falling down

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

If I am coaching Algeria, then I keep my team how it is and then bring in two guys about 5 minutes into stoppage and go for the deadly counter and then just all out defend until the final whistle.

Yep.  PKs is an unbelievable chance to advance for Algeria

[cbhawg03]

I can't believe Lowe didn't bring on Klose, especially since Germany always gets chances and Klose always finds a way to put one in.

[cbhawg03]

Yep.  PKs is an unbelievable chance to advance for Algeria

Neuer is good, but I think more in game good, like coming out to knock balls away on crosses and then coming way out of box, I think Algeria keeper would be better on Pks, but Germany has huge advantage in skill in taking PKs.

[Huckleberry Pig]

Almost positive Mullers fall was on purpose, but not 100%.  Weird either way haha

Only got to catch the end but a very entertaining game, would love to see Algeria with the huge upset!

[Hogsooey]

Exciting 90 minutes. While Germany had the better 2nd half, Neuer saved Germany's slow back line on more than one occasion by coming way off his line.

[DukeOfPork]

We should be able to take it to Belgium, but in this W.C. you never know.

I just cannot fathom this level of confidence.

Belgium are definitely the favored team.

[DukeOfPork]

Ballack said Podolski is hurt - didn't say to what extent. 

Podolski is an Arsenal player.  Of course he is hurt.

[Hogsooey]

Schurrle with a clever touch to put Germany up 1-0.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

I just cannot fathom this level of confidence.

Belgium are definitely the favored team.

Yes, but I don't think they aren't playing well .  I think the game is ours for the taking.


Schurrle with a beautiful goal, let's the cross go between his legs, and then hits it with his back heel.

1-0 Germany

Schurrle 95"

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

This is why Germany is the soccer powerhouse that they are.  They are not panicking, they continue to attack and they trust their D and their keeper.

Algeria has thrown everything at them.

I expect Germany to maintain this lead or get one more.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Good no-call there on the breakaway by Algeria.


Algeria has nothing left.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Finally....Germany puts them away.

Ozil 119"

2-0

[Hogsooey]

Die Mannschaft going through to the quarters. That's 16 consecutive World Cup quarters (or equivalent thereto).

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Algeria with a great goal.

Djabou 120"

Finally whistle blows.

Germany 2

Schurrle 95"
Ozil 119"

Algeria 1

Djabou 120"


In this world cup, it seems like at times the only way to score is right after your opponent does..

[Wild Bill Hog]

Two great games today.  Maybe not the best from a technical standpoint, but exciting to the max IMO.  All four teams played aggressively.  No one was playing "not to lose".  Lots of heart across the board.  Refs did a pretty good job and let them play.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Two great games today.  Maybe not the best from a technical standpoint, but exciting to the max IMO.  All four teams played aggressively.  No one was playing "not to lose".  Lots of heart across the board.  Refs did a pretty good job and let them play.

Yeah, great games and I agree, refs did a great job of not inserting themselves into the outcome.

Saw some great goal-keeping, also.  Germany owes their win to their keeper, who came out several times to intercept the counter-attack when the D had been burned.  As much as Algeria was attacking, you never got the sense that Neuer was panicking.

[Huckleberry Pig]

Schurrle is one of my favorite players to watch.  Great speed and always gives 110%.  Very clever too

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Schurrle is one of my favorite players to watch.  Great speed and always gives 110%.  Very clever too

He was the spark they needed.  Absolutely world class touch, unstoppable by the keeper.

Ended up being huge, too, with Algeria scoring in the last minute.

[JayBell]

Two great games today.  Maybe not the best from a technical standpoint, but exciting to the max IMO.  All four teams played aggressively.  No one was playing "not to lose".  Lots of heart across the board.  Refs did a pretty good job and let them play.

I expect that to continue for most of the remaining matches.  Argentina has no excuse but to attack and that is going to draw Switzerland out.  The US cannot sit back and hope for a result against Belgium.

In the quarterfinals, Colombia will take the game to Brazil more than Chile did.  France and Germany know each other too well for it to be a tight match.  The only match I'm worried about it, quality-wise, is Netherlands and Costa Rica.  Los Ticos will probably sit back a lot and make the Dutch uncomfortable.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

I expect that to continue for most of the remaining matches.  Argentina has no excuse but to attack and that is going to draw Switzerland out.  The US cannot sit back and hope for a result against Belgium.

In the quarterfinals, Colombia will take the game to Brazil more than Chile did.  France and Germany know each other too well for it to be a tight match.  The only match I'm worried about it, quality-wise, is Netherlands and Costa Rica.  Los Ticos will probably sit back a lot and make the Dutch uncomfortable.

Who'd of thought a few weeks ago we'd be having this conversation with the U.S. being right in the middle of it?

Can't wait until tomorrow...

[Huckleberry Pig]

He was the spark they needed.  Absolutely world class touch, unstoppable by the keeper.

Ended up being huge, too, with Algeria scoring in the last minute.

couldn't have said it better.  He is definitely a "spark" player.  I always enjoy seeing a professional athlete go out and give 110% and seeing his teammates respond to it

[Huckleberry Pig]

I expect that to continue for most of the remaining matches.  Argentina has no excuse but to attack and that is going to draw Switzerland out.  The US cannot sit back and hope for a result against Belgium.

In the quarterfinals, Colombia will take the game to Brazil more than Chile did.  France and Germany know each other too well for it to be a tight match.  The only match I'm worried about it, quality-wise, is Netherlands and Costa Rica.  Los Ticos will probably sit back a lot and make the Dutch uncomfortable.

I think the FRA v GER game has the chance to be a high scoring affair.  Both D's have obvious holes and both D's are facing offenses that are significantly better than they faced in their previous game. 

I think Columbia has a real chance to win this game.  Again, Brazil's D has holes and this will be the best offense they've faced. 

[Dr. Starcs]

So as a novice, what would you guys say is the main decider in determining an outcome for a match (I.e. time of possession, corner kicks, etc)? In other words, what can we look at during a match to kind of gauge who is in control?

(Besides the obvious "whoever scores the most goals)

[cbhawg03]

The key is when you get a corner to actually play the ball into the box and can you pass that long to all other World Cup teams?

Quit playing a short corner that leads to a shot from out from that goes 20 yards wide and 20 feet to high.

[cbhawg03]

So as a novice, what would you guys say is the main decider in determining an outcome for a match (I.e. time of possession, corner kicks, etc)? In other words, what can we look at during a match to kind of gauge who is in control?

(Besides the obvious "whoever scores the most goals)

I would say possession. Well, we need more possession, but not necessarily much more, but just better possession. If we have better possession then we will have more possession that previous games. We can't just give the ball away like we have been at times. Go back to Portugal game and play like we did that game and we can win, except for giving up that early crap goal and the last second goal.

[JayBell]

So as a novice, what would you guys say is the main decider in determining an outcome for a match (I.e. time of possession, corner kicks, etc)? In other words, what can we look at during a match to kind of gauge who is in control?

I don't think there is a clear indicator.  Possession may seem to indicate which team is in control of the game, but many teams deploy a counter attacking strategy that does not depend on possession.  That's why you'll often hear about a team scoring a goal "against the run of play."  They may have been sitting back on defense a lot while the other team kept the ball, but then they score on a counter attack or set piece or something.  The US scored against the run of play against Ghana, just as Portugal did against the US.

That's another reason that Americans can have trouble with soccer because results can often feel unfair.  A team may possess the ball for 90% of the match, hit the woodwork 10 times and be done in by one successful counter attack.

Then you have the philosophical debate about offense versus defense.  You'll still hear people saying that the US didn't deserve to win in the 2009 Confederations Cup against Spain.  Some say the US didn't deserve to beat Ghana two weeks ago.  That kind of stuff pisses me off because you're completely ignoring the role and the significance of the defensive players, especially the goalkeeper.

[cbhawg03]

I don't think there is a clear indicator.  Possession may seem to indicate which team is in control of the game, but many teams deploy a counter attacking strategy that does not depend on possession.  That's why you'll often hear about a team scoring a goal "against the run of play."  They may have been sitting back on defense a lot while the other team kept the ball, but then they score on a counter attack or set piece or something.  The US scored against the run of play against Ghana, just as Portugal did against the US.

That's another reason that Americans can have trouble with soccer because results can often feel unfair.  A team may possess the ball for 90% of the match, hit the woodwork 10 times and be done in by one successful counter attack.

Then you have the philosophical debate about offense versus defense.  You'll still hear people saying that the US didn't deserve to win in the 2009 Confederations Cup against Spain.  Some say the US didn't deserve to beat Ghana two weeks ago.  That kind of stuff pisses me off because you're completely ignoring the role and the significance of the defensive players, especially the goalkeeper.

Was it not Celtic that did it to Barca? I don't remember if it was Celtic, but it was Champions League when Barca got beat by a like 1 counter and people were all pissy about it.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

ARGENTINA
LINE-UP:

G
1   Sergio Romero
D
2   Ezequiel Garay
D
4   Pablo Zabaleta
D
16   Marcos Rojo
D
17   Federico Fernández
M
5   Fernando Gago
M
7   Ángel Di María
M
10   Lionel Messi
M
14   Javier Mascherano
M
22   Ezequiel Lavezzi
F
9   Gonzalo Higuaín

SWITZERLAND
LINE-UP:

G
1   Diego Benaglio
D
2   Stephan Lichtsteiner
D
13   Ricardo Rodríguez
D
20   Johan Djourou
D
22   Fabian Schär
M
8   Gokhan Inler
M
10   Granit Xhaka
M
11   Valon Behrami
M
18   Admir Mehmedi
M
23   Xherdan Shaqiri
F
19   Josip Drmic

0-0 in the 64"

[Fort Dweller]

Swiss are living dangerously.

[JayBell]

Swiss are living dangerously.

So are La Albiceleste.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Messi is just serving it up on a platter to his teammates...

What happened to Argentina?  They used to have 5,6 superstars on every national team.

[Fort Dweller]

So are La Albiceleste.

Yeah, but the Swiss can't mount an attack.

Messi is just serving it up on a platter to his teammates...

What happened to Argentina?  They used to have 5,6 superstars on every national team.

He's scary good.  They should be up 4-0.

[cbhawg03]

That was a huge save, between 2-3 different players legs.

This is why I said that Argentina will not last much longer, it is a one man show, Messi and all others. They could play with 7 or 8 and get the same result, give the ball to Messi and everybody else defend and Messi will get one here and there eventually.

I like the US chances against Argentina more than Belgium.