The Football Thread

[Banjo]

Oh yes, pleease

But what does Titoli think?

[titoli]

Spain - Teutschland 0-1

[mike siegel]

so far it looks like a replay of the 2008 final...
if Spain wins - they deserve it.
not enough nerves our young team - experiences makes the game (so far)

[titoli]

This is the right finale: I think this WC was mediocre, exactly as the last 2 editions. It was right that Germany was eliminated because there was little class in the team once that Ballack was out. I don't care who's gonna win between Hol and Spa, though I have a preference for Spain because they have more technique and, had Torres not been injured throughout the season, probably would have shown a clearer superiority.

So here's my prediction (so I get them off my mind):

Uruguay - Teutschland 3-3 (+ extratime+penalties) (I hope Klose will surpass Ronaldo in the all-time scorers list) 

Holland - Spain 2 -1

 

[Banjo]

I haven't seen the game yet as i've been out to the folk club earlier this evening.I'd recorded the game and was hoping to avoid the result by avoiding the bar downstairs but this ploy was ruined by a couple of loadmouths.

Just about to watch it now.

[moviesceleton]

Uruguay 1 Germany 2
Netherlands 1 Spain 2

[stanton]

Teutschland

Actually it is still Deutschland

Or do you use the T by purpose?

[Banjo]

This is the right finale: I think this WC was mediocre, exactly as the last 2 editions. It was right that Germany was eliminated because there was little class in the team once that Ballack was out. I don't care who's gonna win between Hol and Spa, though I have a preference for Spain because they have more technique and, had Torres not been injured throughout the season, probably would have shown a clearer superiority.

Before last nights games i thought that Germany had been the classiest,outstanding and easily the most entertaining side in the tournament.They were very disappointing last night so i'm not sure if they just had an off night or that their previous opposition had made them look brilliant.Spains tactics were obviously spot on to make Germany look very average but the way they took apart Argentina last week i find it hard to agree that Germany without Ballack are mediocre.

Anyway being English i always back the underdog so i'm  hoping Holland can somehow be inspired once more and turn over Spain in the final.

I can agree however that the tournament has as a whole been a bit of a letdown with few truly memorable games and not enough goals.Perhaps they should ditch that infamous new ball?

[Banjo]

Result:Spain 1 Germany 0

Titoli 6
Banjo 6
Moviesceleton 1

[titoli]

I can agree however that the tournament has as a whole been a bit of a letdown with few truly memorable games and not enough goals.Perhaps they should ditch that infamous new ball?

The infamous new ball should have contributed to higher scorings thanx to its unpredictability. No, I think that maybe this tournament should be staged before the season begins, not when it ends. You see Brazil, they made a first half against Holland playing grandly and then they were short of breath in the second half. About  same happened to Holland against Uruguay. I don't know if that can be the reason, but I think that to play 8 matcfhes in a month a play them brilliantly must be done in another stage of the sporting season.

[Banjo]

Or maybe allow larger squads and more substitutions?

[titoli]

Or maybe allow larger squads and more substitutions?

That would lower the level of the play even more.  No, a season with 50-60 matches in 8 months is too much if you have to append another 7 to play in a month. That was an effect of satellite football which wasn't for the good. I still think that WC is still the greatest show on earth and should be preserved. But it's the big clubs which decide the main lines of foot policy, so I do not expect something decisive to happen to preserve the international game at high levels.

 

[Banjo]

That would lower the level of the play even more.  No, a season with 50-60 matches in 8 months is too much if you have to append another 7 to play in a month. That was an effect of satellite football which wasn't for the good. I still think that WC is still the greatest show on earth and should be preserved. But it's the big clubs which decide the main lines of foot policy, so I do not expect something decisive to happen to preserve the international game at high levels.

 

Ditching the CL and reverting back to the old European Champions Cup knock-out format involving only the league winners in their respective countries would not only drastically reduce the average number of games played but also spare us the tedium of the league phase of the CL.But obviously the greedy likes of MU,Chelsea,Real,Barcelona,Milan are never gonna allow this to happen.

[Banjo]

Uruguay 1 Germany 3

[titoli]

Even reducing Leagues to 16 sides (like it was in Italy until not long ago) would eliminate 8 matches and keep a higher level of matches.