World Cup 2014 - Group B (Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia)

[Beefy]

Please use this thread for prediction and match discussion for this Group.

[Bert]

http://i.imgur.com/ixQ4BWP.gif

[Bert]

I predict that you all get rekt.

[Grimario]

Australia to surprise everyone with a win and a draw.

Simmo to drink his own piss or whatever ridiculous claim he made after we score a goal.

[wardy]

Holland to be SHIT again.

[turdpower]

Can't wait for Simmo to drink his own piss.

[Grimario]

Can't wait for Simmo to drink his own piss.

Wasn't quite that as it turns out...


If Australia score a goal I'll piss on my own face

[MichaelC]

Of course they'll score. Only 8 teams have failed to score at the World Cup since 1986 iirc (Canada, Greece, France, Saudi Arabia, China, Trinidad and Tobago, Algeria and Honduras) and 3 of those were in 2002. They'll probably take a 'shock' lead from a set piece leading the commentators to start talking rubbish like "is mission impossible possible?" only to then have reality hit them.

[turdpower]

Wasn't quite that as it turns out...

He's bound to accidentally drink some.

[Chris Scott]

:aussie:

[RFF Champ]

Delighted that Jonathan De Guzman is playing for the Dutch here, FM told me he played for Canada. Class player.

[Grimario]

Delighted that Jonathan De Guzman is playing for the Dutch here, FM told me he played for Canada. Class player.

Sure you weren't looking at his brother in FM?

[MikeHunt]

spain vs holland to be a stinker, 1-0 spain.

chile to win 3-0.

[RFF Champ]

Sure you weren't looking at his brother in FM?

Possibly. As you know Grim, I'm still in 2040 without a trophy to my name.

[MichaelC]

1-0 victories for both Spain and Chile today. (Chile never score nearly as much as they should, and I think Australia will do slightly better than expectations - more Algeria 2010 than Saudi Arabia 2002).

Hoping the Spanish smash the Dutch, mind you.

[Ringo]

Netherlands: Cillessen; Janmaat, Vlaar, de Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind; de Jong, De Guzmán, Sneijder; Robben, van Persie

Spain: Casillas; Azpilicueta, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Alonso; Xavi, Iniesta, Silva; Costa.

Azpilicueta getting the nod :yes:

[Grimario]

1-0 victories for both Spain and Chile today. (Chile never score nearly as much as they should, and I think Australia will do slightly better than expectations - more Algeria 2010 than Saudi Arabia 2002).

Hoping the Spanish smash the Dutch, mind you.

Thanks for not saying "New Zealand 2010". Though if we could get their results, that would be a smashing WC for us.

[Simon]

Netherlands: Cillessen; Janmaat, Vlaar, de Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind; de Jong, De Guzmán, Sneijder; Robben, van Persie

Spain: Casillas; Azpilicueta, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Alonso; Xavi, Iniesta, Silva; Costa.

Azpilicueta getting the nod :yes:

Azpi seems to be one of them players that is rated higher inside the game than out. I mean he is rated by armchair pundits but managers have real boners for him, didn't Mou say he would love a team of Azpilicuetas?

[wardy]

I thought Juanfran would've played instead.

[Ringo]

Azpi seems to be one of them players that is rated higher inside the game than out. I mean he is rated by armchair pundits but managers have real boners for him, didn't Mou say he would love a team of Azpilicuetas?

Yeah he did. I think he's absolutely great. He was like our third best player last season playing at left back - definitely think he'll be in front of Ivanovic at RB next season.

Juanfran had a great season too of course.

[The Rosk]

What a fucking beautiful goal by RVP. Love that.

[Ringo]

That was magnificent. That pass from Blind too.

[Grimario]

The headline writes itself, really. Magnificent header.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Glorious header, such quick thinking. I think Casillas expected him to bring it down, but RvP had a look and made his mind up to do that so quickly, he could have looked like a knob doing that.

[Xtreme Rebel]

IF the contact yesterday was enough to disallow a goal then there is absolutely no reason for Holland's 3rd to stand at all. RVP cleaned the keeper out.

[Ringo]

Fucking hell :lol:

Diego Lopez should've started.

[MichaelC]

Well, this hasn't gone quite as I expected!

[Ringo]

Great job we all did predicting Netherlands as flop of the tourney.

[Andy]

Good grief, didn't see this coming.

That first goal from RVP was just magnificent.

[The Rosk]

Casillas to retire after the game. Do a Neville.

[Ringo]

Jesus. Only downside to all this is Man United fans beginning to salivate.

[MichaelC]

Great job we all did predicting Netherlands as flop of the tourney.

:D

So...Spain v Chile next up should be fun!

[Ringo]

Should be 6. Wish that volley had gone in.

[Grimario]

Torres, ahahah, fucking hell.

[Grimario]

:D

So...Spain v Chile next up should be fun!

Two hot favourites to be pointless after the opening group games.


Please.

[Ringo]

That was outrageous. All of it.

[Andy]

Blind was class

[Bad Collin]

That was a joy to behold.

[Torn]

GOD THAT WAS GOOD

[Prototype16]

Well.. that was fucking brilliant. Loved every minute of that second half, Robben in particular was amazing - Ronaldo and Messi will do well to better that


Casillas to retire after the game. Do a Neville.

Spain should be more worried about the defenders

[Grimario]

I reckon we can do Chile. Our Prime Minister has given well wishes to Mike Jedinak just a week or so after saying it was nice to be in Canadia and winking at a 60+ year old pensioner who was supplementing her welfare cheque with work on a phone sex line.

If he is supporting us, we can't lose.

[Fanny Batter]

That was a little bit good. Robben and Van Persie play like that and I don't see any defence dealing with them, just excellent performances capped off with a few outrageous goals. Spain weren't bad before it went 3-1 and they started to chase in fairness, but they didn't look full of ideas by any means. Iniesta played a couple of otherworldly passes but other than that nobody impressed. They won't play that badly again. Must win against Chile now, considering the goal difference battering they took here even a draw would probably mean they'd have to sodomize Australia to get through, and rely on Holland and Chile not playing for a gentlemen's draw. Unless big Tim Cahill turns back the clock tonight.

[Grimario]

Mario Melchiot ‏@MarioMelchiot 18m
Rt.Haven't been as entertained by 11 Dutchmen delivering a 90 min pounding since my last visit to the shadier areas of Amsterdam. #WorldCup

Ahahahha, excellent.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

That was ridiculous. Silva really should have made it 2-0 just before Holland equalised, but the second half was brilliant from the Dutch. Casillas and Pique had an absolute nightmare.

[JP]

That was ridiculous. I actually squealed at RVP's first goal, majestic.

This is wide open.

[Chris Scott]

Superb watching Holland earlier.

[Ringo]

Boss. Poor Socceroos.

[Chris Scott]

First goal was terrible defending.

[Grimario]

First goal was terrible defending.

The second was worse. Half of that back line is not remotely international standard.

[Andy]

Alexis is class.

[MichaelC]

Oh look, an Aussie goal. What was that bet again?

[Grimario]

Woo

[Andy]

Hello, where's this come from? Absolutely dominated for 35 minutes then a goal and two chances out of absolutely nowhere.

[Ringo]

Great to watch this.

[Rip]

How shite is Lekke normally?

Is he having a mare tonight, or is he honestly this useless?

[wardy]

FUCKIN BOTTLO YA RANGA

[Grimario]

How shite is Lekke normally?

Is he having a mare tonight, or is he honestly this useless?

Always this shit. No one apart from coaches see anything in the bloke. Halloran will come on at some point and be better.

[RFF Champ]

Is there someone better to come on for the other 10 or...?

[Ringo]

classic Chile.

also I love Valdivia.

[Grimario]

Is there someone better to come on for the other 10 or...?

Well we could bring all the English goal scorers in from when you got beaten by them at home

[RFF Champ]

Really enjoyed that friendly, learned a lot from it.

[RFF Champ]

Said no one, ever. Meaningless.

[Grimario]

Said no one, ever. Meaningless.

Said no losing side ever.

[MikeHunt]

Took 5-1 chile, Sanchez first goal. 150/1, fiver on. 3 more goals please lads!!!

[Grimario]

Timmy needs to calm down

[JP]

Have a feeling this ref is going to send of Cahill for absolutely nothing.

[Judas Iscariot]

Timmy needs to kill someone.

[Grimario]

Have a feeling this ref is going to send of Cahill for absolutely nothing.

Agreed. Hopefully Taggart comes on soon.

[Grimario]

How shite is Lekke normally?

Is he having a mare tonight, or is he honestly this useless?
Or he will come out and not be so shit I the second half.

[Ringo]

What a game. Group B is brilliant.

[Judas Iscariot]

I'm really enjoying the lack of vuvuzela this time around.

[JP]

You don't deserve to lose this, Grim.

Happy for Beausejour though, an absolute diamond of a man.

[Grimario]

That's a fuckload better than the performance I was expecting. Injury to right back almost certainly killed the other sub planned.

Sleep!

[Beefy]

So by my reckoning, if Chile beat Netherlands then Spain are effectively out.

[Judas Iscariot]

My swag is in a hospice.

[Bert]

Don't post the same thing twice that's boring.

[Grimario]

So by my reckoning, if Chile beat Netherlands then Spain are effectively out.

Pfft, Netherlands have to beat us first.

[Judas Iscariot]

Don't post the same thing twice that's boring.

What the fuck ya'll niggas really want? I went with realness instead, but all the real niggas I know either crazy or dead.

[MichaelC]

So by my reckoning, if Chile beat Netherlands then Spain are effectively out.


Chile/Spain next. If Spain lose that they're as good as out, as they'd need Australia beating the Dutch to save them.

[wardy]

So by my reckoning, if Chile beat Netherlands then Spain are effectively out.
But if Spain beat Chile and Australia they'll go through regardless.

Edit

If Holland beat Australia.

[Grimario]

Our starting right back tore his hamstring and is goneskis.

That means Ryan McGowan, formerly of Hearts in Scotland, is our starting centre back as the manager opted to not take a specialist back up.

[wardy]

I always liked McGowan when I saw him. As a right back though.

[Grimario]

Err... that's what I meant to say. He is now our starting right back.

Forgive me, Mr Cupboard.

[HHHnFoley_Rulez]

UNBELIEVABLE JEFF!

[Dream-Evil]

Ridiculous strike by Cahill

[MMH]

Great goal. Van Basten like.

God I miss the corner punch celebration.

[Ringo]

My God what a goal. Love whoever it is on commentary's reaction.

[Chris Scott]

What a strike by Tim.

[Grimario]

My God what a goal. Love whoever it is on commentary's reaction.

Think it's Champion for you guys.

[Grimario]

Ffsd bresc!

[Ringo]

fuckkkk could so easily have been ahead :(

[wardy]

He must have a foot like a traction engine.

[Grimario]

Unless we miraculously make the knock out stage, this will be Timmy last ever world cup appearance. :(

And Jesus... What happened? That was a foul bit looked mostly harmless

[wardy]

Just realised SAM MATTERFACE is on commentary.

[Ringo]

Big loss for Netherlands that. I've liked the look of him.

Oh, here comes MEMPHIS. Back to a 4-3-3...

[Ringo]

Ooh, no Xavi for Spain apparently.

Casillas; Azpilicueta, Javi Martínez, Ramos, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta; Pedro, Diego Costa and Silva.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I would be really enjoying this game if it wasn't laying waste to my bets. Actually I might be happier when the pot does go so I can enjoy these matches again.

The Aussies have been great, but the Dutch just have not shown up at all. They aren't working here at all, not putting any effort in on or off the ball. No pace to their play, the passing is pedestrian (the number of backpasses they have played is criminal). The Aussies have worked hard to deny them space, but they should have the quality to move the ball around and exploit that. Wesley Sneijder is a player I have always felt was a bit overrated, but today he is having an absolute nightmare, he cannot even play a simple pass. The Aussies are taking the attitude Holland took to Spain and the Dutch can't live with it.

Cahill's goal was just unreal, an absolute beauty. Van Gaal needs to expose his testicles here and rescue my bet.

[Grimario]

Yessssssss

[Ringo]

fuck sake :lol:

[Simon]

Blimey. Maybe now the hacks will calm themselves down with their hype of the Dutch after dishing out one anomalous battering.

[Grimario]

Another lack of cohesion at the back with 3 of 4 defenders up and the 4th keeping everyone onside just like in our friendly against Croatia.

[Ringo]

:cry:

[wardy]

Australia are always good value at the World Cup.

[Grimario]

Australia are always good value at the World Cup.

We weren't last time. Horribly negative manager.

[Grimario]

Taggart who is about to come on apparently is heading to Fulham.

Or not. It's Halloran instead.

[Grimario]

:(

[Pablo Diablo]

Oh my.

[Ringo]

nooooo fffs

[wardy]

Taggart who is about to come on apparently is heading to Fulham.

Or not. It's Halloran instead.
To be fair I was just thinking about your game against Italy in '06.

[Grimario]

To be fair I was just thinking about your game against Itsly in '06.
Back under Guys Hiddink. Good times. Until 6 months ago, most of those players were still in the side because there was no regeneration.

[Grimario]

I'm possibly a little biased but Taggart is the best natural finisher we've had in a long while. Fully expect him to blow a sitter now I've said that though.

[Grimario]

What an excellent game and mostly excellent performance.

[Grimario]

:cry:

[Ringo]

Good effort Aussies. That Cahill goal will still be talked about for years to come.

[connorboy]

I'm possibly a little biased but Taggart is the best natural finisher we've had in a long while. Fully expect him to blow a sitter now I've said that though.

Bet he's murder to play against.

Yes I did just rehash a Gerry Taggart joke so what.

[Prototype16]

Australia have contributed a lot to both games they've played - unlucky not to get anything from them but they've been far better than anyone expected

This group has been brilliant so far - let's hope Spain/Chile delivers too

[Grimario]

God our pundits are painful. It's 4 ex Socceroos basically saying "this team doesn't have the individual quality we had when we were playing". Fuck off the lot of you.

[Ringo]

Yeah, Group B for brilliant. 15 goals in three games!

[Grimario]

It's 330 am. How the Fuck can I sleep after that?

[Grimario]

It's 330 am. How the Fuck can I sleep after that?

New plan. Don't sleep. Be a grumpy tired bastard at work

[Grimario]

Ffs Spain

[Bert]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL.

[Ringo]

get in thurrrrr. Got money on Spain to soften the blow when they inevitably sort it out.

[Grimario]

Unbelievable Jeff

[Ringo]

Lovely finish.

[Bad Collin]

Fucking hell. Less than a week into the world cup and the champions are pretty much out.

[Beefy]

get in thurrrrr. Got money on Spain to soften the blow when they inevitably sort it out.

2018?

[MTR]

What the hell is wrong with Spain?

[Pablo Diablo]

As it stands. Spain bottom of the group as we all predicted.

[Ringo]

Absolutely delighted to be fair, despite doing some damage to my good day of betting yesterday.

[Hlebsfall]

RIP Tiki Taka August 2008 - June 2014

[Bert]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL again.

[Romford Pele]

What is going on with Spain?!

[Grimario]

What is going on with Spain?!

They know I've got them in GOD and sweep at work si they are fucking me over.

[Grimario]

Awful miss by Biscuits.

[Beefy]

I bet Diego Costa tried to declare for Chile at half time...

[Grimario]

They've had no movement up front really. He barely looks like he fits into their squad

[Bert]

http://i.imgur.com/ixQ4BWP.gif

[Hlebsfall]

I have honestly never seen Diego Costa play well. Aside from that, Spain have been fucking dreck in those 2 games. If England had played like that, they'd be getting turned out by everyone.

[Grimario]

It blows my mind that ANY point next game will mean we finish above Spain. Had hoped to play well but wouldn't have even contemplated that a week ago.

[Fanny Batter]

Embarrassing by Spain. Amazing how shit they've been, Iniesta seemed the only lad worth salt out there. Chile will be tough to beat, And at least we get a decent game between them and Holland as both will want to avoid Brazil early you'd feel.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

It's great to see Chile go through, they're a great team and with a brilliant style and attitude. Hope they knock Brazil out but I fear the refs will have a hand in it.

As for Spain, a lot of people will take delight in it and see it as humiliating, but this team has won 3 international tournaments in a row, while also cleaning up club titles. The intensity of their play, the relentless schedule for clubs and country, the success has all taken its toll. It must be hard to keep up that level of success for so long, no other set of players has done it in the modern game really. Other teams have adapted their style of high pressing (often ignored though it's as important as the passing and movement) and allied it to counter-attacking rather than possession, so things have moved on. It had to come to an end for them sometime and they're the best international team we'll ever see.

[Fanny Batter]

They were reluctant to pass a football forward when they needed to score 3 goals. It was a shame to see such a team look so ordinary. If ever there was boxing terminology (if it were on ITV there would have been 42 uses) appropriate for football, there's your No Mas moment or something. They'll come again though, a lot of talent in that squad and more emerging, it just wasn't the right mix this time around.

[MikeHunt]

It's great to see Chile go through, they're a great team and with a brilliant style and attitude. Hope they knock Brazil out but I fear the refs will have a hand in it.

As for Spain, a lot of people will take delight in it and see it as humiliating, but this team has won 3 international tournaments in a row, while also cleaning up club titles. The intensity of their play, the relentless schedule for clubs and country, the success has all taken its toll. It must be hard to keep up that level of success for so long, no other set of players has done it in the modern game really. Other teams have adapted their style of high pressing (often ignored though it's as important as the passing and movement) and allied it to counter-attacking rather than possession, so things have moved on. It had to come to an end for them sometime and they're the best international team we'll ever see.

I was saying to my mates about the amount of games the Spanish player on the whole have played since their rise and was questioning the burnout possibility. Has busquets ever had a break between u21's, Olympics, euros, world cups and club. It's fucking mental. Sad that it over but fucking amazing to actually see it. Thank you Spain.

[Ringo]

Chile/Brazil and Netherlands/Mexico (or Croatia for that matter) could be great games.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Del Bosque picked an odd squad and made some strange selection decisions. I would have had Navas in that squad for width. Villa should have made it on to the pitch because he naturally pulls out to the left. Playing two holding midfielders was overkill, as it was in the last two tournaments even though it worked. Some key players were short of fitness or confidence. Costa just hasn't adapted to the team yet, Carles Puyol is a key figure for them too but has obviously retired. I think they just didn't have the heart anymore when it came down to it. Holland also showed today against a pretty terrible Australian team what difference it makes when one team wil put it all on the line and the other isn't really up for it, in sharp contrast to their desire to pillage Spain completely.

I get the sense Spain would have come into their own if they had been dropped into the quarters or semis, but just didn't want to deal with the groups. Casillas' confidence and authority has gone down the shitter too, hopefully he'll recover because he is still a good age for a keeper.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I was saying to my mates about the amount of games the Spanish player on the whole have played since their rise and was questioning the burnout possibility. Has busquets ever had a break between u21's, Olympics, euros, world cups and club. It's fucking mental. Sad that it over but fucking amazing to actually see it. Thank you Spain.

Confederations Cup as well, plus they've been going all over the world for friendlies. It's just been constant high level, high pressure football, the latter stages of every tournament and competition possible. No other team has had to do that, or been able to do that. It's incredible and they have had a great time of it. They'll be sad but they absolutely left everything on the pitch when it mattered over that period and should be recognised for that.

[Beefy]

It isn't just the number of games without any time off but, as ECG alluded to earlier, it's the high pressing and workrate as well. It must have taken a lot out of them.

[Mik]

The Spanish players have played so many games it's like they are all 4 years further on in their careers.

[Version 6]

God our pundits are painful. It's 4 ex Socceroos basically saying "this team doesn't have the individual quality we had when we were playing". Fuck off the lot of you.

But they're right.

[Simon]

Alex Song has a cabbage for a brain.

[Grimario]

He's also in a different group ;)

[McBain]

Late to the party but holy fuck what a game that Australia/Holland match was!

I was in a sports bar packed to the brim with the Dutch contingent with a few smatterings of Aussies. The atmosphere was incredible, a real party vibe. Thought Australia's game plan was superb, and they were unlucky not to get something out of the game. And Tim Cahill's goal. :drool:

...Spain. :lol:

[MikeHunt]

Kris Boyd scored a very similar (better) goal against partick in the scottish cup once. I sat in disbelief for the rest of the game. I'm going to try and find a video of it.

[McBain]

Van Persie himself had the chance to score a Van Basten-like strike, but chose to control it. Idiot.

[MikeHunt]

I would honestly say Boyd's is better than van bastens. I know the opposition wasn't as good but the angle was tighter and Boyd never scored with his weak foot off the ground.

[Ringo]

Do like this one from TAISON.

http://i.minus.com/ibv1AH0kYH45GB.gif

[McBain]

I would honestly say Boyd's is better than van bastens. I know the opposition wasn't as good but the angle was tighter and Boyd never scored with his weak foot off the ground.

It's not just the opposition though, it's also the STAGE.

But yeah, will have to check out that strike you're on about.

[Bluemoon]

Chile got out their group, Hodgson is a shit manager.