The World Cup Thread

[SmiffyBee]

Doesn't it count towards FIFA rankings or something??.......

3rd place get medals.
Wouldn't seem pointless if England were involved

 

[w6bee]

Some World Cup news you may have missed from North Korea is that they have emerged successfully through the 1/4 finals to book a semi-final place. The 4-0 win over the USA has probably been their highlight so far probably just ahead of their 7 nil thrashing of Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJoRZOK18Fg

 

[TW3Bee]

Some World Cup news you may have missed from North Korea is that they have emerged successfully through the 1/4 finals to book a semi-final place. The 4-0 win over the USA has probably been their highlight so far probably just ahead of their 7 nil thrashing of Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJoRZOK18Fg

Good job their not playing Brazil they'd get double figures.

 

[GP200]

.............what a load of faffing about..........

 

[davery83]

Did Messi really just get the player of the tournament award? He looked embarrassed receiving it and so he should be!

 

[sonofabee]

Real class trophy for Neuer, bleedin' great golden glove!!!!!

 

[WarrenBee]

The best team won, no dout about that.

I wonder what the FA will learn from Germany's continued success?

op op

 

[hanworthbee]

#GER in WC:

'54 Win
'58 SF
'62 QF
'66 Final
'70 SF
'74 Win
'78 QF
'82 Final
'86 Final
'90 Win
'94 QF
'98 QF
'02 Final
'06 SF
'10 SF
'14 Win

 

[NorthamptonBee]

Has Thomas Mueller got the biggest mouth in the world? He's always appealing for something and the circumference of that gob is huge.

 

[beebopalula]

The best team won, no dout about that.

I wonder what the FA will learn from Germany's continued success?

op op

If Argentina had taken the clear chances it may have been different. I'm pleased the Germans won because the Argentinian approach was entirely negative. If possession is the criteria then they were better but on chances , they weren't. The exception was for the first ten mins or so of the second half when the Argentinians had a go and created problems but then they reverted to type. IMO there hasn't been a standout team in the W Cup this time around. Germany are square at the back and slow. They are there for the taking if a team is prepared to have a go at them with pace. In a sea of average stuff it simply shows how abysmal our failure was.
The big lesson for the FA is that the Bundesliga isn't stuffed with overseas players. Even Low has said we will never succeed til we sort it but why should anyone listen to him ? The powers that be obviously know better.

 

[Artixbee]

So...world cup over....time for the focus to shift from Brazil to Borehamwood.

 

[Ealing Bee]

If Argentina had taken the clear chances it may have been different. I'm pleased the Germans won because the Argentinian approach was entirely negative. If possession is the criteria then they were better but on chances , they weren't. The exception was for the first ten mins or so of the second half when the Argentinians had a go and created problems but then they reverted to type. IMO there hasn't been a standout team in the W Cup this time around. Germany are square at the back and slow. They are there for the taking if a team is prepared to have a go at them with pace. In a sea of average stuff it simply shows how abysmal our failure was.
The big lesson for the FA is that the Bundesliga isn't stuffed with overseas players. Even Low has said we will never succeed til we sort it but why should anyone listen to him ? The powers that be obviously know better.

Excellent post, but regarding the bit in bold, isn't that exactly what the FA is trying to address with it's recent/imminent proposals covering League Three/Loan Market/Coaching/Facilities?

And who has been blocking that? The Football League and Conference clubs.

The ubiquity of foreign players in England is imo as much a symptom of the National team's problems, as their cause.

That is, the people involved in English football, from Billionaire Premiership Owners, right down to fans of clubs likes ours, simply don't crave international success for England as much as they do domestic success for their own clubs.

Which is why they/we are not prepared to take the measures which could improve the national team's chances eg a mid-winter break, which people have been recommending for decades.

Meanwhile in Germany, the national team/German FA are at the very top of the game, not the clubs.

 

[Guildford Bee]

Did Messi really just get the player of the tournament award? He looked embarrassed receiving it and so he should be!

Think it was more to do with the fact that he's sponsored by adidas and it just happens to be the adidas Golden Ball Award. Farcical...

 

[mhead bee]

3rd place get medals.
Wouldn't seem pointless if England were involved

We were in 1990 and it did.

Pointless game, after the disappointment of a semi final people just want to go home. FIFA is so full of pomp, why did it take about 45mins to an hour to do the presentation yesterday. Ridiculous.

 

[mhead bee]

Some World Cup news you may have missed from North Korea is that they have emerged successfully through the 1/4 finals to book a semi-final place. The 4-0 win over the USA has probably been their highlight so far probably just ahead of their 7 nil thrashing of Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJoRZOK18Fg

Maybe we should all vote for UKIP and then we might win it one day as well.

 

[To Bee Someone]

Just seen that Gary Neville feels that we will find it extremely difficult to follow a long term plan like the Germans. The PL does present a huge obstacle but I dont think it is the root of the problem.

Couldn't help thinking back to Chris Waddle's post England Uruguay rant and feel that Germans are everything that he said England weren't

 

[Balders Bee]

If Argentina had taken the clear chances it may have been different. I'm pleased the Germans won because the Argentinian approach was entirely negative. If possession is the criteria then they were better but on chances , they weren't. The exception was for the first ten mins or so of the second half when the Argentinians had a go and created problems but then they reverted to type. IMO there hasn't been a standout team in the W Cup this time around. Germany are square at the back and slow. They are there for the taking if a team is prepared to have a go at them with pace. In a sea of average stuff it simply shows how abysmal our failure was.
The big lesson for the FA is that the Bundesliga isn't stuffed with overseas players. Even Low has said we will never succeed til we sort it but why should anyone listen to him ? The powers that be obviously know better.

Germany were the stand out team, they had average days but found ways to win - e.g. Vs Algeria they humiliated the host nation and were well worth the win against Argentina yesterday. They are by no means infallible but they play progressive attaking football, press high up the pitch and have the best keeper in the World on current form. Their midfield is industrious, technically gifted and inventive. I think to say that they are there for the taking for a team with pace is a little disparaging of the new world champions. You don't win a world cup if you can't play against teams with pace.

Personally thought it was a hugely entertaining World Cup compared to others in my living memory not really sure what this 'sea of average' you are refering to is- unless it's applied to the current England team. What has happened it that sides such as Algeria, Columbia, Chille, USA etc are no longer the whipping boys they once were and can now be competitive on the World stage. The World Cup has whetted the appetite for the main event- The Bees Championship season.

 

[wibs]

Anyone who doesnt think it was an enjoyable and entertaining world cup has forgotten what a lot of football matches are like in the modern era

There wasnt that much, diving, rolling around, theatrics, defensive football or stop start referees.

Compared to the average premiership or CL match it was v refreshing, especially the refs not giving free kicks for every tiny bit of contact