OT: World Cup Day 5 Open Thread
Group G
Germany - Portugal 12pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)
Group F
Iran - Nigeria 3pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)
Group G
USMNT - Ghana 6pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)
I realize there will likely be a separate Open Thread for the USMNT match but I've listed it here as well.
A headbutt to a player on the ground is an automatic red card. Don't blame the ref for a stupid action by the player.
Diego Costa didn't get anything and his headbutt was way worse. That was Zidane.
He should've got a yellow for pressing his head against the German, but it easily could've been for taunting as well.
Agreed. Could have gone yellow to both.
Agreed. Bury Portugal in goal differential hell.
Now they just need to take care of business tonight.
Germany needs to pour it on now, up 1 man.
Germans.
/ChappellePrinceVoice
Don't know what Portugal's thinking tactically. They keep playing in early balls, which are never going to beat or even trouble the German central defense. If they want to play wide, they either have to take it to the end line or cut inside.
The pace of this match will slow in the the second half (much like the Italy/England match) but I can see Germany scoring a few more goals. This could get ugly.
But they easily can score off of set pieces. 5-0 like a poster said earlier isn't far fetched.
This game is over. Just got to hope we get to play this same Portugal team.
What if they go home 0-3?! France of 2014.
5 or 6-0 isn't out of the question. I could see Portugal getting one back late in the match but Goal Differential will be big in this Group (all Groups, really).
I wonder what this first half makes Klinsmann think--proud of Germany? Terrified of Germany?
Once Germany got up 2-0, they started playing Soccer like the Cavs played basketball with LeBron.
Guys would give up wide open shots and even layups because they'd be so determined to get the ball to LeBron. But in a game that is 11v11 instead of 5v5 on a much smaller playing surface. That doesn't work in the least.
Nevermind, no need for more explanation. 3-0. This will be a route.
Three. Germany rampant.
Well, Germany should be qualified by game three and we face Portugal minus their starting CB.
Win today and I like our odds of getting out of the group.
Really? No reason at all to like them if we faced an already qualified Germany and a Portugal team that looks exactly like "Ronaldo and ten others" without their starting CB? None?
...is that teams that have already qualified and rest a lot of players do very well in that third game. The second-teamers come out motivated in a game that would otherwise be lacking it.
Looking back at the last World Cup, here were games played by teams that were already qualified against teams that could potentially have qualified for the next round:
Chile lost to Spain 2-1, but could have still won the group.
Argentina beat Greece 2-0, Greece could have qualified with a better result.
Looking back to 2006, there is really only one game that fits the vein I'm speaking of: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, which Spain won 1-0. You're right though, the starters probably would have lost that one.
So really, what you're saying is pretty shoddy analysis as the scenario itself is incredibly rare: A team winning their first two games with no chance of losing top spot in the group playing a team that has to earn a result to qualify.
I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Half-asses the clearance, watches Muller put it in the net. Pretty much the match so far.
Also, why is ESPN mispelling his name? It's not Mueller
They're converting the accented 'U' to English. Puts an e after the letter. Same with Gotze (Goetze), Howedes (Hoewedes), Ozil (Oezil) etc.
Are umlaut's that difficult to use?
1. Did Pepe deserve to get sent off?
2a. Did the German player (who's name slips my mind) deserve to get some lip action from Pepe?
2b. Did he flop/exaggerate?
2c. Did he deserve a yellow card?
2) Who cares?
3) Who cares?
4) Who cares?
Or I wouldn't have asked.
Pretty much answered your own question there, buddy.
It's halftime questions coming from someone who doesn't claim to be an expert on soccer.
I would go red to Pepe, because that was a head butt (red for violent conduct) and yellow to Muller for simulation. Muller deserved to get yelled at, because he was trying to get Pepe sent off for the elbow, but Pepe is known to have some, um, impulse control when he thinks an opposing player is flopping.
see here:
1. yes
2a. deserve? yes. Sometimes it's not the time and place to give someone what they deserve.
b. not really a flop but definitely an exaggeration.
c. I wouldn't have given it.
The referee didn't call anything, your team has the ball and is headed the other direction. If Mueller wants to sit on his butt in an offside position holding his chin, why not just leave him there?
1) Yes
2) Probably but doesn't excuse it.
2b) See above
2c) Not getting a yellow when refs at other end of field.
Germany is World Class. I think USA can compete with Portugal. It's a Bayern/Dortmund allstar team out there with Ozil splashed in. Good stuff.
I was not impressed with Portugal in 2010 and here they are again - it is that talented team that is mentally weak and not together. A bunch of individuals, stangers on the field. Once things go against them they fall apart.
With all that said, Germany is an efficient machine.
4 years of prep and qualifying to have your team pretty much take a dump right on the field. The teams are so self-combustible and the wheels come off so quickly and openly for all to see, it's amazing. I can see why so many flock to the sport just for the drama aspect of it.
It's really only two years of qualifying. Also, as bad as Portugal is playing today, they can still probably qualify if they win their next two games.
Not a fan of the red card, apparently. http://t.co/0V5V6by04k (via @markus_gamper) pic.twitter.com/hpJAZKnVqv
— SB Nation (@SBNation) June 16, 2014Likes this post...I expect a retweet is coming soon.
Pepe getting a red card was arguably the surest bet of the tournament. Too bad he couldn't save it for the game against the US, the man advantage would have been useful.
By the way, if you're at work and cannot access the streaming video...FotMob is a decent iPhone app that has streaming audio of the match in a bunch of languages, which doesn't require WIFI. I listened to the first half of URU/CR the other day while driving and it worked well.
I should also mention that it's free.