Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

[Tangles]

Thought Blind played very well and he's not 1 of those 3.

 

[sledger]

Think the hype around Holland after the 5-1 has gone a bit overboard.
Basically they'll need Sneijder, Robben and Persie to firein every match because they're a bit suspect outside those three.

Haha what?

What are you basing this on?

 

[OverratedSanity]

Think the hype around Holland after the 5-1 has gone a bit overboard.
Basically they'll need Sneijder, Robben and Persie to firein every match because they're a bit suspect outside those three.

Very weird post considering Sneijder was probably one of the "worst" of the Netherlands players yesterday. Robben and RVP may have bagged the headlines but the entire team was magnificent really

 

[OverratedSanity]

Thought Blind played very well and he's not 1 of those 3.

Better than everyone bar Robben.

 

[Furball]

Not so Spain. Spain are shot psychologically and there is no way back for them. Even if they scrape through the group phase then they will be vulnerable to the first confident team of quality that they meet. And that will most likely be Brazil.

Remind me what Spain's first result of 2010 was and how they went in that tournament?

 

[Pothas]

Not quite the same though is it.

 

[Furball]

If David Silva had put his foot through the ball instead of fannying about trying to chip the keeper Spain would've gone into half time 2-0 up and would probably have thumped the Dutch themselves. They should win their remaining 2 games comfortably enough and really ought to dick Brazil considering the disparity in midfield talent; Spain have Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso and Cesc whereas Brazil have a Spurs player.

 

[sledger]

Not quite the same though is it.

It's not, but Watson is basically painting a picture whereby Spain have mysteriously become a crap team overnight.

They suffered a resounding defeat, for sure, but to write them off totally...

 

[sledger]

If David Silva had put his foot through the ball instead of fannying about trying to chip the keeper Spain would've gone into half time 2-0 up and would probably have thumped the Dutch themselves. They should win their remaining 2 games comfortably enough and really ought to dick Brazil considering the disparity in midfield talent; Spain have Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso and Cesc whereas Brazil have a Spurs player.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah sure and I agree about the Silva chance but the second half was totally overwhelming.

I don't think it is hard to see that coming back from a 1-0 loss in which you dominated is rather easy than a 5-1 humiliation.

 

[Furball]

The 2nd half actually reminded me a lot of the first 20 minutes of the Liverpool v Arsenal game at Anfield.

"lucky" is completely the wrong term to use but I can't think of a better way to describe it; everything that could go right for the Dutch did go right. They scored 4 goals, hit the bar and Casillas produced a couple of great saves, but it was almost a complete freak occurrence. I don't like using the word "lucky" because that implies that the Dutch somehow weren't deserving of the win but at the same time the margin of victory came because, as well as they played, they ran freakishly hot.

 

[Nate]

Can we please just be respectable is basically my repeating thought before each game, haha.

 

[Burgey]

Netherlands has never beaten Australia, and I predict this to continue this evening, with Australia winning 4-1. Chile to beat Spain and the Dutch while we towel the Spaniards in the last game to progress.

Look, NSW won an Origin series. It's the year for miracles.

 

[sledger]

I'm quite looking forward to this. I expect whatever happens, it will probably be amusing.

 

[Tangles]

Need a big game from Timmy and some luck. If we defend like the first game this won't be good.

 

[Tangles]

Less than 50 caps for back 4 plus keeper. Hmm.

 

[Spark]

We seem to have gotten the neutral support

 

[Tangles]

US commentary saying 18k Aussies turned up. #longsickie

 

[Spark]

craig foster seems to be slightly less annoying this time around, which is a relief

 

[King Pietersen]

Daley Blind is the Belgium of players. Most over-rated player in the tournament by far. Yeah, he had a decent game against Spain, but jesus christ, people talking about him like he's Roberto Carlos.

Nice to see Timmy Cahill still turning out for Australia. I'd still have him back at Everton. What a man he is.