World Cup 2014 Thread...

[dredd]

Am I the only one to think that AR did not dive and was actually tripped by Marquez?

 

[Lionheart]

No African team has managed to qualify past the quarter-finals stage in the World Cup, but based on their last game against Argentina, Nigeria look the most likely side of the two African teams to go furthest in Brazil.

Nigeria qualified through to the round of 16 with a win, draw and loss apiece – scoring three goals and conceding three. While that stat reveals their solid defense, it equally highlights their impotency in front of goal. However, their fast-paced wingers and aggressive play will definitely work in their favor.

John Obi Mikel and Onazi will need to be at their best if they to break down play and allow Nigerians the rare chance to dictate play throughout. As inevitable as it may be, sending the ball to front men Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa and Odemwingie may bring them the goals. However, they need to involve other players in the game or risk being configured all too easily.

However, with keeper Enyeama solidly marshaling his defense, coupled with France’s attacking style of play, Nigeria can be silently confident of punishing France on the counter.

Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi does have some injury problems ahead of the clash. Midfielders Michael Babatunde and Victor Moses look unlikely to make the tie. The former is nursing a freak arm injury while the later is yet to return to full fitness. In the case of Moses failing to make the team, Michael Uchebo could be called up.

Meanwhile the once fallible French squad has been transformed into a spirited, gutsy, counter-attacking and flamboyant side. Les Blues have been impressive in the group stage, they managed to put eight past their opposition, conceding only two. And with the likes of Evra, Valbuena and Cabaye all rested against Ecuador, they will fancy their chances. In Benzema and Giroud, France have plan A and B to rely in their arsenal of tactics to outwit Nigeria.

French manager Didier Deschamps will however have to shuffle his back four after Liverpool and Arsenal defenders Mamadou Sakho and Laurent Koscielny are struggling with injuries. This should see Eliaquim Mangala and rapidly rising youngling, Raphael Varane, deputise in their absence.
Further up field, Paul Pogba looks likely to start ahead of Moussa Sissoko, while Benzema will lead the men upfront.

France: (4-3-3) Lloris; Debuchy,Magala, Varane, Evra; Cabaye , Matuidi, Pogba; Valbuena, Griezmann, Benzema.

Nigeria: (4-3-3) Enyeama; Ambrose, Oshaniwa, Omeruo, Yobo; Mikel, Onazi, Uchebo; Emenike, Odemwingie, Musa.

Read more at http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/06/30/france-face-nigeria-in-round-of-16-clash/#x386eccL4ADEpTP9.99

 

[Lionheart]

African outsiders fighting the European Giants!!!

MATCHDAY PREVIEW - Africa's two remaining teams return to the fray on Monday in a pair of Round of 16 showdowns against European powers. For Algeria, through to the knockout phase for the first time in their history, that means a daunting tie against three-time winners Germany, who have looked in excellent form so far at Brazil 2014. Les Fennecs (Desert Foxes) fear no one, though, and particularly not their upcoming opponents, having edged both of their previous meetings: a 2-0 friendly win in 1964 and a 2-1 success during the group stage at Spain 1982.

Nigeria can point to a similar record against their last-16 rivals France, with the only match between the teams ending in a 1-0 triumph for the Super Eagles in June 2009. Despite that, Les Bleus have emerged as a genuine force at this FIFA World Cup™, scoring eight goals in their first two games ahead of a goalless draw with Ecuador.

That contrasted with Nigeria's more delicate progress through a very open Group F, the African champions opening with a goalless stalemate against Iran before downing Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 and losing 3-2 to Argentina in their most accomplished performance. The statistics suggest France are favourites, as does a comparison of the teams' respective trophy hauls. But who will shine when it matters? .......

French omen:

France have grabbed a spot in the knockout phase for the sixth time since 1958. Each time Les Bleus have made it out of the group stage, they have gone on to reach at least the semi-finals, finishing third in 1958, fourth in 1982 and third in 1986 before lifting the Trophy in 1998 and reaching the Final in 2006.

German juggernaut:

Germany will contest their 889th international when they tackle Algeria, with their previous fixtures yielding 515 wins, 181 draws and 192 losses. The three-time World Cup winners have rattled in 1,996 goals along the way, with an average of 2.24 per game.

 

[chuckyworld]

France and Germany win...:*:

 

[Lionheart]

My heart goes to these happy go lucky Nigerians.

 

[Lionheart]

Didier Deschamps has warned France's players they cannot think about anything but Monday's last-16 encounter with Nigeria if they are to make a lasting impression on the 2014 FIFA World Cup™.

 

[Lionheart]

Mighty West Germany were on the receiving end of a historic event at the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™, becoming the first side from the continent to lose to an African team at the global showpiece...

“Go Fennecs. We’re all with you.”

That is a chant that has been on the lips of every Algeria fan for the last few days. It has even become available as a ringtone, with many supporters of Les Fennecs downloading it on their mobile phones – and not just those in the street either.

Former Algeria star Lakhdar Belloumi is just one of many who now answer their phone calls to the sound of the chant, an indication of the huge support that Vahid Halilhodzic’s side has been generating across the country with their ground-breaking exploits at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Thanks to their impressive second-placed finish in Group H, the Algerians have reached the second round of the tournament for the first time.

“They’ve done Algeria and the Arab world proud with this achievement,” Belloumi told FIFA.com. “This team has shown that Algerian football has a lot of exceptionally talented players.”

Belloumi is one of the greatest players the north African country has ever produced and starred in the side that impressed so much at Spain 1982. Another hero of that fabled Fennec team was Rabah Madjer, who like his former team-mate, is also thrilled by the current crop’s exploits in Brazil.

“The team has had a great run up to now,” said the ex-Porto forward. “The players have a lot of potential. Many of them are playing their football abroad and that’s having a positive impact on results.”

WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF....MY HEART GOES TO THE UNDERDOG......“Go Fennecs. We’re all with you.”

 

[Lionheart]

Germany must prove themselves as potential FIFA World Cup™ winners with a commanding display in their Round of 16 clash against Algeria, insisted captain Philipp Lahm.

The versatile defender said Joachim Low's team must justify their place among the favourites to lift the Trophy or risk a shock exit at the hands of the African side.

Germany have lost each of their two previous matches against Algeria - 2-1 at the 1982 FIFA World Cup and 2-0 in a 1964 friendly - with the latest winner set to play France or Nigeria in Rio de Janeiro.

"We're in the knockout phase - either you deliver or you go home," said the 30-year-old. "Germany have been world champions three times and there aren't that many teams who can say that....."

DELIVER NOW OR WE GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lionheart]

I AM SORRY I CHEATED AND WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera blamed referee Pedro Proenca for his side's last 16 World Cup exit on Sunday after his decision to award a stoppage-time penalty allowed the Netherlands to seal a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory....
With two minutes to play Mexico led 1-0 but Wesley Sneijder equalised with a fierce drive before captain Rafael Marquez was judged to have tripped Arjen Robben and Klaas Jan Huntelaar calmly scored to put the Dutch in the quarter-finals.

"It seems to me the reason (we lost) was the referee, the man with the whistle. He left us outside the next stage of the World Cup," Herrera told reporters.

"If the referee starts marking fouls that don't exist, you leave the World Cup to circumstances out of your hands. We expect the referee committee to take a look at that and that this gentleman goes home, just like us."....


He said the spot kick for the Dutch could also have been avoided had Robben been booked for diving earlier in the game, suggesting the winger may not have risked going down so easily under the challenge of Marquez for the late penalty.

"He dived three times, he should have cautioned him the first time," said Herrera, who also questioned why Portugal's Proenca had been selected for the game, suggesting a referee from Africa, Asia or South America would have been fairer.

"I'm happy and calm about the performance of the boys... We'd done really well. Then the team sits back and we start to give chances to a team that had not done anything.

"(But) with the assistance of the referee they came up with this result that takes (the Netherlands) to the next stage.

"We will leave tomorrow or the day after. We hope that referee does as well."

 

[Lionheart]

I AM SORRY I CHEATED AND WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I really have to say and at the same time apologise in the first half I took a dive and I really shouldn't do that," Robben told Dutch broadcaster NOS as he celebrated the victory.

"That was a stupid, stupid thing to do but sometimes you're expecting to be struck and then they pull their leg away at the last minute."


There is no glory and no honour in the Dutch victory.Shameful!

 

[krafty]

tonite got 2 good matches, france followed by germany...

 

[jw5]

France and Germany win...:*:

Sweeeeeeee...................... :p

But I hope there is at least one upset tonite................

 

[jw5]

Am I the only one to think that AR did not dive and was actually tripped by Marquez?

No. I too believe that he was tripped by Marquez and the peenalty was correctly awarded.

But he dived on the other occasions.

 

[chonburifc]

Today and tomorrow, I take a break. Pong Chek liaoz. Pocket also a little no wind liaoz.:*:

 

[dredd]

No. I too believe that he was tripped by Marquez and the peenalty was correctly awarded.

But he dived on the other occasions.

AR plays his football at blinding speed. It is inevitable that defenders will trip him because he is just too fast. He is a nightmare for any defender...

 

[dredd]

Sweeeeeeee...................... :p

But I hope there is at least one upset tonite................

Algeria may be the banana skin for Germany. They are nippy, fast and has quite a few talented players. This game is not so straightforward. Germany might just squeaked thru but it will not be easy. Hopefully, the fasting during Ramadan will weaken them a little.

 

[currypuff]

Today's picks:

Germany win
France win

 

[krafty]

be prepared for 1 upset in tonite's matches.

Today's picks:

Germany win
France win

 

[currypuff]

be prepared for 1 upset in tonite's matches.

Then I hedge using under and half/full time. Makan might upset, so no touching it.

 

[chonburifc]

Bo bian, although I already switched off my dual 23 inch monitor, now just want to go in check check.