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OT: World Cup Semifinals Thread - Spain v Germany
July 7th, 2010 at 2:36 PM
#302
I hate you all who are at
July 7th, 2010 at 2:39 PM
#303
david villa is a cold blooded
david villa is a cold blooded killa, a hundred dolla billa
July 7th, 2010 at 2:54 PM
#304
Random question
How are the three-letter abbreviations for countries determined? Is it up to the country? I can understand why Spain is ESP (for España) but why is Germany GER when its native name is Deutschland?
July 7th, 2010 at 3:38 PM
#305
They should have thought about that before this happened:
July 7th, 2010 at 3:01 PM
#308
Spain dominating it would
Spain dominating it would seem, but so did Argentina for large portions of their 4-0 loss. Torres out for Spain, Pedro in. Germany defense very organized early
July 7th, 2010 at 3:14 PM
#309
It streams quite nicely on
It streams quite nicely on ESPN3 for those that are stuck behind desks and can be discrete.
July 7th, 2010 at 3:17 PM
#310
That looked like a penalty to
That looked like a penalty to me.
July 7th, 2010 at 3:19 PM
#311
Me too
Ozil went down a little easily but his left leg got clipped and Ramos got nothing of the ball. Spain very fortunate.
July 7th, 2010 at 3:20 PM
#312
Eh...
If he would have played strong right there he would have had a goal regardless of whether it was a penalty or not. Call it an "and one" soccer style...
July 7th, 2010 at 3:19 PM
#313
Possession
Is Spain just going to possess Germany to death?
July 7th, 2010 at 3:21 PM
#314
Their MO lately
The last few games (Portugal and Paraguay) they have dominated the ball without really threatening the goal all that often. They are a much different team without a fit Torres. Seem to be lacking that killer instinct and true goal scoring threat. I think the Germans have had as many or more actual chances so far and wouldn't be surprised to see them pull this out 1-0.
July 7th, 2010 at 3:28 PM
#315
I can only see Shakira in the
I can only see Shakira in the Univision broadcast. I'm ok with that...
July 7th, 2010 at 3:32 PM
#316
Game on! Go Deutschland!
Game on! Go Deutschland!
July 7th, 2010 at 3:48 PM
#317
Spain is playing their best
Spain is playing their best game yet. I'm really surprised at how well they've controlled the ball against Germany.
July 7th, 2010 at 3:51 PM
#318
The spaniards are coming in
The spaniards are coming in waves now. Germany doesn't seem as strong with Muller out.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:46 PM
#319
Every time you post,
I get a nice, soft booby speedbump for my train of thought.
Not that I am complaining...
July 7th, 2010 at 3:52 PM
#320
Spain
Finally creating chances but nobody there to bang them home. Ramos could easily have won a penalty but I think if you aren't going to call the earlier one for Ozil you can't call that one.
July 7th, 2010 at 3:56 PM
#321
Great save
Casillas denies a wide open chance in the box for Kroos. Right when the Spanish look like they could win it any time the Germans get their best chance by far.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:00 PM
#322
Puyol with a perfect header.
Puyol with a perfect header. That was Steve Threet vs. Wisconsin-esque.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:00 PM
#323
1-0
Puyol heads in a corner. He just missed one like it earlier in the game, too. 20 minutes to answer for ze Germans.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:09 PM
#324
Pedro= selfish tool. He
Pedro= selfish tool. He wanted to be the hero right there. I hope the Germans make him pay for that.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:13 PM
#325
Could be huge
Game is over if he slips it to Torres. Germans denied a great free kick just outside box on a blown call.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:17 PM
#326
Disagree. Good no call.
Disagree. Good no call. Puyol's tackle was legit and Schweinstieger tripped over his leg after the fact. The ref has let minor contact go throughout the game, it would have been completely inconsistent to call that.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:21 PM
#327
To me
I didn't think Puyol got any of the ball. Could be wrong as just saw first few replays but if he didn't the blatant leg out is always a free kick there.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:40 PM
#328
He might not have. And I
He might not have. And I should be clearer - by legit I don't mean it was good tackle, rather a tackle that was rather unharsh and of no danger. In some games it could have been a foul, but since the ref let the players play through a lot of contact, I think for consistency-sake it was a good no-call.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:19 PM
#329
Spain!!!!!!!!!!!
Spain!!!!!!!!!!!
July 7th, 2010 at 4:21 PM
#330
Oh well...59 days til
Oh well...59 days til Michigan football. And Spain better go down in the final...
July 7th, 2010 at 4:21 PM
#331
The ref did a good job of not
The ref did a good job of not handing a result to either team today. I wish every game were called that way. It would probably do away with diving.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:24 PM
#332
Spain put on a possession and
Spain put on a possession and defensive clinic. The Germans could barely win a ball in the air. Imagine that!
July 7th, 2010 at 4:56 PM
#333
I think it's interesting when
I think it's interesting when you try to compare that to our football. They played the game by dominating possession and slowly weakening the Germans down until scoring chances arose. It's a really similar mindset to the conservative style of football where you establish the run game in order to create chances for damaging passing plays.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:26 PM
#334
Best two teams
The defending European champions against a team that has won every single game in both qualifying and the World Cup while featuring possibly the two most in-form players in the world (Robben and Sneijder). Spain has owned the ball but hasn't been terribly sharp in the final third without Torres fully fit (though they haven't had to be in their three 1-0 knockout round wins). Would love to see what happens if the Dutch can get a goal and really open things up. Should be fun.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:31 PM
#335
Both Robben and Sneijder were
Both Robben and Sneijder were flops in La Liga. If anyone knows how to shut those guys down it's a group of the best defenders and mid-fielders from Spain.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:28 PM
#336
Flops?
Both made over 60 appearances at Real Madrid in their two years there scoring double digit goals from midfield. They won La Liga once and came in second once (to a historically good Barca side). Then they were sold so that Madrid could bring in Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema, etc. who proceeded to also finish second and go out in the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
I don't think they were flops so much as victims of the unrealistic expectations at Madrid. Their recent success with domestic doubles at Bayern and Inter while leading those teams to the Champions League final, coupled with Madrid's continued struggles (by their standards), would suggest they weren't the problem at the Bernabeu.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:40 PM
#337
I don't understand
why people keep overlooking Spain in WC. They pretty much dominated in every games even with the two losses against USA and Swiss. They lost two games in the last 54 matchesand the former #1 team in the world(for several weeks) for a reason.
Spain is an outstanding posession team and will wear you down defensively. They certainly wore Germany down and caught them napping. The better team won. I expect Spain to win the WC.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:55 PM
#338
Spain was a co-favorite in
Spain was a co-favorite in this tournament with Brazil. No one's selling them short.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:06 PM
#339
They were
after the loss against Swiss in which they completely dominated in every aspect of the game but the scoreboard. No one in the media and other people here is talking about Spain as a possible WC winner.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:58 PM
#340
I'm actually very happy with
I'm actually very happy with the teams in the final. It will be nice to have someone new win a World Cup. The whole "if you aren't named Brazil, Germany, or Italy you have no chance in any World Cup ever" meme is a little irritating.
July 7th, 2010 at 8:16 PM
#341
Netherlands-Spain
The final matchup has interesting historical overtones. The Dutch were once ruled by the king of Spain, before revolting and declaring their independence in 1581. The Dutch national anthem pays tribute to William the Silent, Prince of Orange, who led the revolt. Ironically, the final line of the anthem actually says "The King of Spain I have always honored."
