World Cup 2014

Bosnia inept at governing ya

Somewhere between the robbed goal, Bosnian odd quasi-performance, Spahic's behaviour during goal/ongoing defense mishaps/ca 100 crazy passes/covering his mouth with his hand while talking to the linesman after conceding (seriously, what was that about?), Nigeria being the Nigeria from 'Nigeria vs. Scotland' and Sepp Blatter visiting _this_ game in person, this game has some cool manipulation conspiracy potential...

covering the mouth is the new thing after lipreading controversies of yore

Why then?

I mean, sure, at free kicks it has maybe some far-fetched relevance, but in this situation...?

idk but I'd guess he was calling the official ten types of gowl

More defenders is meaning more goals: football undergoes a major tactical shift

I'm pretty sure there's an interesting argument to be made about why 5 at the back is leading to more goals but that article really isn't making it and the bits about David Luiz are just bizarre.

Five defenders necessitates ceding control of midfield especially if you play two upfront, but is also means breaking quickly, more end to end football and more goals. But the teams playing five at the back have been harder to break down nobetheless.

Poor balance of midfields is more of an issue -most teams either too stodgy (Brazil, Holland) or too lightweight (Croatia, England, arguably Spain now) and teams who can really press in that bit of the park are doing well.

Brazil don't even play five at the back and doing so would probably play to David Luiz's strengths (athleticism, dynamism, bringing the ball forward out of defence) rather than exposing his weaknesses (being really quite stupid) but still, Brazil couldn't break down Mexico's back five.

that article is really weird.

the 5 at the back style seems a lot more mobile than other tactics of recent years, with two holding midfielders you have fluidity around a stable base, tiki-taka maximises ball movement but not really player movement, but this kind of post-bielsa wing back thing is maybe trying to maximise movement in every respect. but i dunno that that's necessarily a more attacking way of going about things.

Strange this morning watching the highlights of Italia 90 and although it feels like another age - there are people still in shirt and tie in the crowd, and it was still WEST Germany at that point - it also feels like the start of the modern era in a lot of ways. Pressuring referees into giving cards and surrounding him following fouls is in full swing, and going down around the box looking for a free kick was pretty much how the final was played. The interesting thing was how the crowd reacted; whistles and jeers saw the players off at half time, with the crowd feeling they'd been denied a 'proper' match.

Also there are a lot of great attacking players in this World Cup and, unlike 2002 and 2010 and arguably 06 as well, most of them have come through the end of a domestic season largely unscathed and not struggling for form or fitness. Abiding memory of recent World Cups has been watching big names looking jaded and only Argentina and Spain really seem to be suffering there.

lol that article. finally a soccerball lex has risen

Haha

Has anyone done a breakdown of minutes played during the past season and World Cup squads?

I'll not be mourning the departure of Bosnia as, during last night's game, the fact that the commentator constantly referred to Dzeko as Edin Dzeko (as mentioned upthread) began to seriously affect my enjoyment of the football (and my mental health)

Tydlesley really likes saying Lavezzi's first name as well. tbf 'Ezequiel' is fun to say.

Is it Tyldesley who pronounces Clichy as Cleeeeessheeeeeeeee, with about 19 e's? ITV seem to have a new commentator, who they give the lesser games to, who is a total Partridge clone.

That Edin Dzeko thing was getting right on my tits as well. I think we did a thing once about players who it is impossible to name just by their surname (Ruel Fox, Charlie Adam etc), and it turns out Dzeko is one of those.

Kevin Kilbane managed it!

There was some discussion of this upthread, but "Edin Dzeko" isn't even mellifluous or anything

yeah it is

btw can I just

the espn app ON IPHONE has been totally life changing

watching games in HD on an iPad in my depressing little work room has been great, I thought I was gonna miss the bulk of the matches and I think I have actually managed to see most if not live then in replay? that shouldn't be possible as a first year resident but there you go

How does that app compare to the Univision Deportes app?

Haven't used the Univision app but a buddy of mine that doesn't have cable (which is required for the espn one) loves it

Hope Akinfeev recovers better than Casillas.

Are they allowing Belgians in Maracanã now? smh

hakka the dog vs jonathon pearce? hmm

hacker every time imo

No Vertonghen.

he looks dazed to me

football really doesn't care about concussions

Playing for Sherwood is hazardous for your international career

Sorry to interrupt but I've just heard that it's very likely that Van Gaal will be playing Kuyt tomorrow, and no Depay or Huntelaar. Kuyt... Where's our God now?

This makes me so happy

see jose he can track back

if belgium could cross for shit they would be dangerous

sidenote: just started listening to Men in Blazers, I dig it!

pretty stodgy game so far

Yeah, bit frustrating to watch tbh

Vermaelen broken again

mertens is straight clowning the russian LB

Lukaku having a very difficult game, again.

never appreciated how comically large fellaini is

sacking this off to watch the replay of the Grrmany-Ghana match, think i'll enjoy that more

Bravo Kompany

Yes it's p much end to end but the decision making and execution in the final third are terrible from both teams but esp Belgium.

HOW DO YOU MISS THAT???????

efan ekoku happily compounding the boredom

I think I hate this Belgium team, one or two real talents, a load of overhyped EPL landfill, just complacent shit hallumphing around the pitch, a desolate Boxpark abandoned by all but the most unthinking of hipsters.