Semi final 2: Argentina vs Holland

[Burgey]

Jeez, this is brutal.

 

[Spark]

I guess the best team won...

 

[Burgey]

Well, got to say the Argies kept their nerve very well there. Shame for the Dutch, but, well, someone has to bow out.

Have to think Germany will win it, barring something mercurial from Messi.

 

[Pothas]

Well there we go then.

No real sympathy for the Dutch, if you don't score a goal for two games then you don't deserve to be in the final.

 

[Cabinet96]

Second time in a row someone who scored a penalty in a live game didn't take out of four players. Instead they got a centre back to place it straight at the goalkeeper with no power.

 

[Howe_zat]

Seems fair. Can't get through two knockout games in row without scoring.

 

[The Sean]

To be fair, you can see why he gets subbed off for shootouts.

Would things have worked out differently if Van Perise had stayed on and Krul had come on, particularly given that Huntelaar neither scored nor took a penalty?

 

[Spark]

To be fair, you can see why he gets subbed off for shootouts.

Would things have worked out differently if Van Perise had stayed on and Krul had come on, particularly given that Huntelaar neither scored nor took a penalty?

You have to be prepared to lose to win

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Feel for the Dutch. They played really well in the group stages but I guess lost steam.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Their keeper is pretty bad at penalties.

 

[Cabinet96]

Can't wait for LVG and Mourinho in the prem every week. If this WC is anything to go by, will be lots of hype and not a lot of goals.

 

[sledger]

No sympathy for Holland at all. They obviously came into this game with their top priority being just to put 5 men on Messi, get behind the ball, and for a Robben counter-attack to be their only mode of attack.

If they had set up more offensively I think they would have won this, as Argentina were there for the taking.

Alternatively, if Argentina actually had a midfield they'd have threatened a great deal more. Can't see them giving Germany much of a game in the final though if Germany are in a similar mood to which they were in last night. Pleased as I am that Argentina got through, they pretty much owe this win to Mascherano, who did the job of about 3 players tonight. Top marks to Zabaleta as well.

 

[The Sean]

Second time in a row someone who scored a penalty in a live game didn't take out of four players. Instead they got a centre back to place it straight at the goalkeeper with no power.

Yep, Huntelaar's penalty against Mexico was near-perfect, and yet against both Costa Rica and Argentina he was clearly down either to go fifth or not at all. Bizarre.

 

[sledger]

Feel for the Dutch. They played really well in the group stages but I guess lost steam.

If by "lost steam" you mean "decided to play in the most negative and spoilerish way possible", yeah I agree.

 

[Spark]

I'd kind of like to see Argentina score the winner from a ball over the top from defence followed by an error by Neuer just to see sledger's reaction

 

[sledger]

Second time in a row someone who scored a penalty in a live game didn't take out of four players. Instead they got a centre back to place it straight at the goalkeeper with no power.

I really hate it when you see big lumbering players with no technical finesse try and pass the ball in when they take a pen. They should just smash it.

 

[sledger]

I'd kind of like to see Argentina score the winner from a ball over the top from defence followed by an error by Neuer just to see sledger's reaction

Haha, if they do, they do, I guess. I have no great affection for either side other than the fact that I like some of the players on both teams. I'd rather Germany won, but that's because they're just the better team by absolute streets.

 

[Cabinet96]

I really hate it when you see big lumbering players with no technical finesse try and pass the ball in when they take a pen. They should just smash it.

https://twitter.com/cabinet96/status/487003762540937216

 

[Ikki]

Yeah, it would be a bit tragic if this **** Argentina side won over a pretty fantastic German side.

 

[sledger]

https://twitter.com/cabinet96/status/487003762540937216

Ha, great minds think alike, obvs.