OT: World Cup Day 2 Open Thread
PUT THAT AWAY!!!!
Oh man, that could have been the dagger.
I know tika-taka has its fans (and it's certainly an effective strategy, with the right players) - but the Dutch are just a lot more exciting for me to watch.
I think Spain and Barcelona are more fun to watch defending than they are possessing the ball. Obviously this game isn't a great example as they're down 3-1, but they usually work real hard to get the ball back when they do lose it.
Rocket off the crossbar.
Good sub to get de Guzman off.
Iker Casillas used to be good :(
In mediocre form right now
Talk about good timing. That was terrible
Not surprised to see De Guzman get subbed out. He has had a rough game.
WOW the dutch are going ham against the defending champs!
How often does Spain play down a goal? Serious question.
EDIT: down TWO (2) goals.
Pull Casillas? He looks lost out there.
They have good subs. de Gea might be a better option.
Free De Gea
Casillas has been in mediocre form all year in his domestic league
He is playing poorly now and I would advocate a goalie change.
I will say in fairness that his defense is also letting him down. Van Persie's getting unmarked a lot.
Man, Syracuse looks awesome today
Oh no, Casillas.
Van ass kicking.
Van Persie is a monster today. No one can cover him.
Going in, I swore this would be a classic WC "play to a draw/collect a point" match.
I thought so too. So far, only Cameroon has taken that approach, which is a great thing.
Spain were heavy favorites to repeat and all broadcast they boasted about how Casillas had this unbeaten streak and how he was elite
He is not elite this year
He was not elite at his club during domestic league play
He is overrated and should be benched IMMEDIATELY for De Gea or Reina. Anyone but Casillas. He gone.
At this point I think the problems go behind the keeper. Spain's defense looks like it's running in mud.
According to the Las Vegas Sun the Nevada consensus had them fourth favorites after Brazil, Argentina and Germany, Odds on Spain coming in were 13:2; they're 9:1 after this debacle.
Een, twee, drie, vier, vijf. Vijf doelen. Ah ah ah.
I've never seen Spain die like this.
Incredible. I didn't think the Dutch were the 3rd team in this group like most did, but I would have never expected this.
making sure that if goal differential comes into play down the road, they should win that battle.
Spain getting dutch oven'd.
Robben has been unbelievable.
Jesus I go for a run at halftime and come back to this. Wowzer.
Has any defending champion ever failed to advance to the knock-out round??
The really bizarre thing is that this is not a question of "yeah, they won in 2010 but this is a different team." They were the #1 team in the world before this match!!
What other surprises might be in store in this World Cup??
France in 2002 and Italy in 2010 both were eliminated in the group stages. Defending champs from Europe don't seem to handle success well.
...and it isn't just European sides that suffer from it, Brazil had a similar problem in 2006 with Ronaldo, though at least they got through their group...
is that success in one world cup seems to bring pressure to bring the same successful players back the next time around, even if age has caught up with them in the meantime. It would have been a lot easier to replace Casillas if they hadn't won three straight tournaments with him.
With German efficiency and coldness:
"I am sorry Landon, but you haff failed zee conditioning test, so you are off - OFF! - zee team!"
No, you shouldn't. Klinsmann's comments on Donovan have been spot on and it's a sign he's the right man to have in charge of the squad.
World Cup spots shouldn't be lifetime achievement awards.
Did you know: This is the worst Spanish defeat since 1588
RT @DufresneLATimes Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda, Spain is playing like the Armada! RT @TheTweetOfGod This is Spain's worst defeat since 1588. #WorldCup2014
They lost to the US in a matter of three months the following lands: Phillippines, Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The US essentially ended the Spanish Empire.
Not much of an empire.
They'd been in decline for decades before that. Cuba was all they had left in the Americas.
The amazing thing about this is that it hasn't even really been a case of the Dutch being incredibly lucky, or Spain unlucky. Spain got an iffy penalty for a goal, got away with the headbutt and dodged a few bullets at its own goal. The score could have actually been even more lopsided.
I like the random assortment of fruits in the middle.
30for30, Grantland and soccer are the only things ESPN does well IMO. And now Fox is getting the next World Cup. Ugh.
At least I think so.