Soccer / Football 2012-2013 Always With The GERMANS!

[Moss]

Scotland-USA who are you rooting for?

[Cail]

Scotland. Im a sucker for an underdog

[Moss]

what the fuck Cail

[Cail]

Theyll never play each other, so its ok

[Pendulum]

I wouldn't try and read anything in to the qualification period for a tournament, especially results vs part-timers. England has problems but being able to put San Marino away isn't one of them. The squad is just a lot less talented than in recent (also underachieving) tournaments. Holland almost always dominate their group (apart from failing to make 2002) and then at some point disintegrate in the finals by turning the game in to a fight (2006 vs portugal and 2010 vs spain) or just being horrible and not getting out of their group with one of the most talented squads (2012). Portugal only got to Euro 2012 through the playoffs but were one of the more entertaining/successful teams in the tournament.

Edit: forgot to post these gems lol http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/b...ootball-season

[Talint]

Who is that guy, and what have they done with Jozy Altidore?

How do you go your whole career without scoring a goal in international play*; and then score four in four games?!

*(I may be exaggerating, but I don't remember him ever scoring)

[Plow]

so this is gonna be fucking faptacular


also

Who is that guy, and what have they done with Jozy Altidore?

How do you go your whole career without scoring a goal in international play*; and then score four in four games?!

*(I may be exaggerating, but I don't remember him ever scoring)

cuz he just hit puberty

[Plow]

so this is gonna be fucking faptacular

holy shit lol

[The Stig]

Anyone watching the confed cup?

Brazil 3-0 Spain at the moment, third goal went in 1 or 2 mins after half time - considering going to bed now instead of staying the next 40 mins + ceremony/celebration as the winner is evident now lol

[Plow]

yeah that's what I was posting about heh

barca development progr-- er, Spain been disappointingly terrible but man I forget sometimes how fun it is to watch Brazilian teams when they're playing well

[The Stig]

Ah, I didn't realise you were referring to the confed cup. I only watch the country games and I tend to ignore everything else.

But yeh 5 mins to go, brushing my teeth now. Might see the celebrations a little in case a riot breaks out, etc

I wonder if the crowd is putting Spain off? A fanatic at work suggests teams always play better in their homeground/land/stadium. But as it stands, it's not as simple as that, the whole country is involved rather than fans of X team lol

[Plow]

To some extent yeah, I mean it is a home game for the selecao.

But it's mostly just a matter of Spain's passing being complete trash and this Brazil team really starting to come together.

[Plow]

and neymar

lots and lots and lots of neymar


Cesar was a beast today too

[Moss]

Just got home so I missed it but what's up with Spain?

Are they at full strength or are they just not as good as the team that won world cup/euro cup?

[Plow]

just played like shit today mostly, but Del Bosque still resisting letting Villa do his thing and Iker still looking almost human-ish

[Maaglin]

Italy showed Brazil how to beat'em. Press them up high and get width from your attacking players. It's risky, but if you can maintain the pressure you can break them down. You would just expect Spain to break out of it a few times in the match, but with the tough match against Italy and the atmosphere of the crowd it was just too much for them.

Also Sergio Ramos taking a penalty? wtf i don't even.

[Mizango]

Cesar was a beast today too

All that needs to be said.

Also, that fucking goal line clear by David Luiz was epic as fuck. Was sort of disappointed in Torres today, he just seems...off. Nigga shouldnt have cut his Samson hair.

[Plow]

oh man yeah I almost forgot about that goal line clear, that was absolutely beautiful

[Naiya]

Also Sergio Ramos taking a penalty? wtf i don't even.

Who would you rather take it? and please don't say Torres, I don't think I've ever seen him score a penalty lol.

[Pendulum]

People are still surprised about Torres being terrible? His last good season was 2009/10 and he missed about 1/3 of that through injury. He won't be No. 1 striker at Chelsea this year.

Brazil have a very big advantage playing at home because the altitude, humidity and temperature are generally a lot harsher than anywhere that top-class football in Europe is played. Teams will spend a lot more time working on acclimatising next year. This tournament probably meant a lot more to Brazil because the national team has no competitive qualification games to play and it was important to lay the foundations of the squad for next year. Brazil were excellent last night though and deserve the plaudits. They get phenomenal support from the crowd, all the reports I have read say it doesn't show on TV just how loud the home crowds have been.