World Cup 2014: QUARTER FINAL Argentina v Belgium 05/07/14

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2014 FIFA WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Venue: Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasilia




Date: Saturday, 5 July Kick-off: 17:00 BST

If these two could stop £#%&!ing about and actually start playing properly, that'd be great.

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

If these two could stop £#%&!ing about and actually start playing properly, that'd be great.

Belgium with the upset this tournament requires imo.

argentina all day long

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

I thought Chile-Brazil and Algeria-Germany were both absorbing and enjoyable.

But I agree on the quality of games, which is frustrating because the quality of player is so high.

What's striking about this World Cup is that almost every game is close. Right throughout the tournament, although there have been some one-sided games, we're seeing the benefit the globalisation of the major European leagues has had on the balance of international football. It's ruining the club game, but we have a World Cup with such a spread of quality and experience.

Great players abound in dysfunctional or just very basic sides. It is the World Cup, idealistically it should be the very best sides in the world, but it is simply not possible for an international team to match the fluency of the top Club sides.

Very competitive which creates its own kind of drama, and the level of pressure these players are under is much higher than in the club game. Brazil last night played horrifically cynical football, but look at the reactions to the goals, it is not joy but manic relief in their expressions.

Belgium been seriously disappointing, everytime mirallas, Mertens or vertonghen get the ball past the halfway line they're just going to shoot no matter what.

So they'll waste the few opportunities they get and Argentina will eventually wear them down at the back

Have a feeling this one is going to be an absolute stinker. The two matches yesterday didn't exactly set a great tone for the quarters either.

As the stakes get higher, the matches become ever more cagey and littered with cynical fouls.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Have a feeling this one is going to be an absolute stinker. The two matches yesterday didn't exactly set a great tone for the quarters either.

As the stakes get higher, the matches become ever more cagey and littered with cynical fouls.

Yep, ninety minutes of di Maria hitting the first man with his crosses before a £#%&! up lets Messi look like the greatest player of the tournament again.

Originally Posted by believe

Yep, ninety minutes of di Maria hitting the first man with his crosses before a £#%&! up lets Messi look like the greatest player of the tournament again.

Woah woah, don't forget he scored against Iran and Nigeria mate.

Originally Posted by Grimson

Loved the group phase and was well up for the knockouts after Brazil-Chile, but it's been slightly disappointing imo.

Goal average has dropped drastically, hasn't it?

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

Loved the group phase and was well up for the knockouts after Brazil-Chile, but it's been slightly disappointing imo.

Goal average has dropped drastically, hasn't it?

Yeah, to be expected tho, surely. There's still drama.

Originally Posted by Grimson

Yeah, to be expected tho, surely. There's still drama.

Yep, and the games have been so tight you can't take your eyes off it. Would love at least one more cracker, though.

Argentina - Romero; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Basanta; Biglia, Mascherano, Di Maria; Lavezzi, Messi, Higuain

Belgium - Courtois, Alderweireld, van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen, Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Mirallas, Origi, Hazard.

Originally Posted by Wez

Argentina - Romero; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Basanta; Biglia, Mascherano, Di Maria; Lavezzi, Messi, Higuain

Belgium - Courtois, Alderweireld, van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen, Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Mirallas, Origi, Hazard.

How in the name of £#%&! is Fellaini getting picked every game .

Originally Posted by Billy Bigbollox

How in the name of £#%&! is Fellaini getting picked every game .

I'm beginning to wonder if it's only us that can see it

Gago dropped. Been so disappointed with him this World Cup. Not sure he's fit, mind.

Demichelis

I don't think the knockout games have been anywhere near as bad as some are saying, tbf.

I also believe some of the anti-Brazil abuse is getting rather OTT, tbh

They played some good football last night amongst the cynical stuff.

a penalty masterclass from lee dixon, about time he was put to good use

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

Gago dropped. Been so disappointed with him this World Cup. Not sure he's fit, mind.

Demichelis

Didnt Gago pick up a second yellow in the 2nd round?