Cybereagles

Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

Ekorian wrote:KESHI WAS SO POOR THAT HIS BOYS SCORED AGAINST THE ARGIES TWICE. HMMMMMMM

Na so we see am o.

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

Higuain's goal was not offside. It would have been injustice if they were knocked out

Vincent. wrote:

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

Higuain's goal was not offside. It would have been injustice if they were knocked out

Not quite sure if the ball went in tho...I think it hit the side netting

Why is an Egyptian Canadian using "we" when describing the Argies?

Arsenal with 3 players in the final........... Arsenal till i die

Vincent. wrote:

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

Higuain's goal was not offside. It would have been injustice if they were knocked out

did that go in or did it hit the side netting ?

Vincent. wrote:

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

Higuain's goal was not offside. It would have been injustice if they were knocked out

He missed.

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

We-we don extend to countries now?

Bigpokey24 wrote:

oloye wrote:Some coaches are the architect of their own downfall.

I will like to see you coach some day

Can't agree more with Oloye. I know hindsight is 20 20 but why sub out De Jong. the kid Clasie who came in was good but i dont think that was a necessary sub.

Secondly, Kuyt brought absolutely nothing to this game. Yes he hustled but i cant count the number of times he got the ball with so much space down that left flank but he failed to exploit it. He kept passing the ball back.

Also he should have saved a sub again to bring on Krul. Apparently, Cillessen has never saved a pk. He has faced 16 and never saved any. As of today, he has faced 20 and saved 0. Now that is down right pathetic

The YeyeMan wrote:

Vincent. wrote:

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

Higuain's goal was not offside. It would have been injustice if they were knocked out

He missed.

Higuain was not called offsides, he missed the shot, it was side netting.

A high level, cagey, tactical game.

But surely football can do better than European reductionism...

ohsee wrote:

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

We-we don extend to countries now?

Nna!

txj wrote:A high level, cagey, tactical game.

But surely football can do better than European reductionism...

The Dutch were being reductionist in this game...?

juventuss wrote:

Vincent. wrote:

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

Higuain's goal was not offside. It would have been injustice if they were knocked out

did that go in or did it hit the side netting ?

Sorry, I thought he scored. I was too tense to see

skillful wrote:Arsenal with 3 players in the final........... Arsenal till i die

Hope they leave their Arsenal form at home else we know what will happen

The YeyeMan wrote:

txj wrote:A high level, cagey, tactical game.

But surely football can do better than European reductionism...

The Dutch were being reductionist in this game...?

They've been that way all tournament. They've not really taken any game to the opponent, they've reacted to what the opponent has done.

txj wrote:A high level, cagey, tactical game.

But surely football can do better than European reductionism...

At the end of the day it's about winning, that's been what this cup has been about, the sides who were cavalier were weeded out swiftly but surely.

This world cup is weird man, how on earth did this so called Average team called Argentina get to the finals..........
How did a team like Germany that could have lost to useless Ghana make it to the final??????

Heliopolis wrote:Higuain played his best match of the tournament. Props to him.

Argentina looked calm and composed at the back for most of the match. Only exception was when yeye Demichelis got booked and was afraid to tackle afterwards.

We aint pretty going forward but by defending in numbers we have made it this far. If Di Maria can get fit in time for Sunday our chances improve significantly.

We dont need any motivation going into a World Cup final but I hope some of the Argentina players are out to exact revenge against Germany after they eliminated us from 3 of the last 6 WCs (2010, 2006 and 1990). Messi is due for a good performance. Unfortunately for the first time in the tournament we wont have much home support since the final will be full of neutral fans.

Germany is the clear favorite on Sunday but we will make it tough for them by defending in numbers. Other than the Nigeria match our defence has been terrific all tournament. I will worry about them on Saturday/Sunday but for now let me digest this victory after 20+ years of suffering

Who is "we"?? I thought you last qualified for the WC in 1978?

GREENWHITEGREEN wrote:They deserve to lose. You all can say it was tactical and all that but they played scared. The Argies were actually more positive in their approach.

How do you take away a team's counter attack? The Dutch were cautios going forward because they wanted to maintain team balance and not allow Argentina to counter them while they were thin at the back. People are bashing Kuyt for not going forward like Efe was going forward and SE getting burned in the space he left. This is what I was saying during teh SE game when I was being bashed, you don't commit too many players forward against a good counter attacking team, the best example of that was Brazil sending players forward incuding their center back and captain and getting caught repeatedly with thin numbers at the back and against a German team that obviously studied that and came up with the offensive patterns to exploit the space and basically passed the balls into the net.

Some people just need to be spectators

Vincent. wrote:

txj wrote:Javier Mascherano, the best DM in the world right now...

What a monstrous performance...

We taught him well at Liverpool...

The guy is amazing!
I remember Cesc was speaking in an interview a few years ago, describing Mascherano as a specialist tackler, as someone who knows where the ball will go before it is kicked and positions himself to make a tackle.

Cesc on Mascherano
http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... -barcelona

But there's a player who's played in both leagues and does that better than anyone: [Javier] Mascherano. Masche always dives in and he always comes away with the ball. He uses it a lot but not as a last resort, rather as a specialty. For him it's a recurso [something you have to resort to] and a cualidad [a quality, something to aspire to]. Masche is incredible, very clever: he knows when to tackle, when to stand. He's a guy who really knows how to play football.

soothsayer wrote:This world cup is weird man, how on earth did this so called Average team called Argentina get to the finals..........
How did a team like Germany that could have lost to useless Ghana make it to the final??????

It is actually not weird. Tournament-winning teams usually pace themselves: they start slowly in the group stages and improve as the tournament progresses, with the idea of peaking toward the business end of the tournament. If you come to win a tournament, there is no point peaking in the group stages. It is about getting it right between peaking too early and starting too slowly.

It is clear that Argentina has improved significantly (especially in terms of team defense) in the past two matches.