OT: World Cup Open Thread (Quarterfinals - Day 1)

Submitted by wlubd on

Two huge regional battles today in the quarterfinals. Winners face each other in the semifinals. Think all 4 teams playing today could legitimately win the title this year.

12:00 p.m. ET - France vs. Germany (ESPN2)

4:00 p.m. ET - Brazil vs. Colombia (ESPN)

wlubd

July 4th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^

France: Lloris (c), Debuchy, Evra, Varane, Sakho, Cabaye, Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann, Matuidi, Pogba

Germany: Neuer, Howedes, Hummels, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Klose, Muller, Lahm (c), Kroos, Boateng

 

Klose getting a start and Lahm presumably at right back again. This is all good news for Germany IMO.

Yeoman

July 4th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^

...is no Mertesacher. Thoughts coming in were that Boateng would move to left back replacing Höwedes but instead he's staying at center back. Concerned about his lack of speed and don't think they need his height today? Or maybe he's one of the seven that's ill?

LSAClassOf2000

July 4th, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^

The full estimate for the surviving teams:

TEAM
GROUP
SEMI FINAL WIN
Brazil
A
72%
53%
40%
Argentina
F
70%
43%
17%
Netherlands
B
76%
39%
14%
Germany
G
53%
17%
9%
Colombia
C
28%
15%
8%
France
E
47%
15%
8%
Belgium
H
30%
12%
3%
Costa Rica
D
24%
6%
<1%

 

alum96

July 4th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^

Not an exciting game probably due to Germany getting the early goal and then just grinding you into the ground.  Some key misses by France.  Have to give Germany credit though - they just find a friggin way to get to the semis.

alum96

July 4th, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^

There is not much DNA in either Brazil or Columbia to play "shell" defense for 70 minutes so it would seem unlikely.  Germany just mucked up that game which is effective but boring.  It reminded me of a lot of other years of World Cup where 50-70% of the games were like that.  Which is why this WC has been so enjoyable - so few games in this style.  I get why they did it, and it worked - and that's all that matters in the end.  Just not so fun as a neutral to watch.

jmblue

July 4th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^

Disappointing.  France had a pretty spirited second half but didn't show enough creativity to create really good chances.  Oh well.  With more experience, they'll be tough to beat in the Euros on home soil in 2016.

Germany was terrific in the first half, looking more like the team that played Portugal.  In the second they were a little more on their heels but didn't look nearly as vulnerable defensively as against Algeria.  The Germany that played today can win it all.

 

 

NOLA Wolverine

July 4th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^

Outside of that last shot from Benzema I never really felt like France had any solid chances. Expected it to be a lot more interesting. Germany's ability to take tactical yellow cards essentially without consequence really killed what probably would have been a couple of great chances for France.

Yeoman

July 4th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^

Colombia's a tactical mess, the referee's lost control (complete disrespect for his spray can by both sides, Fernandinho hacking James down repeatedly with not even an admonition let alone a yellow, same for the ridiculous studs-to-Hulk's-knee). It's kind of ugly and I have a bad feeling about the second half.

Yeoman

July 4th, 2014 at 5:04 PM ^

McManaman and Darke are two of the world's very worst match officials.

But, yeah. Switzerland-France is in the running and of course there's the Brazil penalty in the opener but this might be the worst officiating job of the entire tournament. I know he doesn't want anyone suspended for the semis but he's going to get someone hurt.

MGoGrendel

July 4th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^

tells me the young US men may more development. We didn't hold the ball long in our games and both these teams appear to have the footwork to take the ball away and passing to keep possession if they played us.