2014 World Cup Semi Finals

110% wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:

A man described, somewhat oddly, as a "black magic enthusiast" - Helio Sillman - has said he has cursed Germany ahead of their semi-final with Brazil. He says he has chosen an "undisclosed German player" to cast his spell on and promises to "take their top player and bind his legs so he can't run on the pitch". According to the report:

Sillman carries out a ritual before each Selecao game. Using a a small football pitch-shaped box as his alter, he puts inside lit candles in the colours of the opposing team and the voodoo doll of their most important player.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/07/world-cup-2014-day-26-live

Let's hope it's not Ozil or we won't be able to tell if the curse works or not

blutgraetsche wrote:Can you believe it? Holland have to leave their hotel if they progress to the final, because FiFA and sponsors "need it".

http://www.sport1.de/de/fussball/wm/newspage_918329.html

You just can't make this up.

110% wrote:

DD wrote:

110% wrote:

Super Progress wrote:Why has Holland never hosted a World Cup? Too small?

They had a joint bid (with belgium) for 2018 but they didn't pay the bribes.

We were one of the favourites, but it went to Russia (Qatar was also announced that same day if I remember correctly   ).

When it got public what the FIFA 'requirements' were, a big opposition did start (with one week to go before the announcement). They wanted many things, but basically: an ungodly amount of money, all kinds of tax exempts, complete control over many aspects of the WC, deciding all sponsors, all profits to FIFA, wanted certain laws to change in their favour etc.

It wasn't even as if our economy was booming in 2010-2012 or whenever it was announced. Netherlands would have had to invest billions with no return.

I dont mind if it never gets here if those are the terms. Throwing billions down the drain only to line the pockets of Blatter & co.

I think you are right and fully agree with not hosting the world cup. I would just vote for my neighbours to host it (if they are stupid enough to bid) so that I could enjoy it without the massive expense.

110% wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:

A man described, somewhat oddly, as a "black magic enthusiast" - Helio Sillman - has said he has cursed Germany ahead of their semi-final with Brazil. He says he has chosen an "undisclosed German player" to cast his spell on and promises to "take their top player and bind his legs so he can't run on the pitch". According to the report:

Sillman carries out a ritual before each Selecao game. Using a a small football pitch-shaped box as his alter, he puts inside lit candles in the colours of the opposing team and the voodoo doll of their most important player.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/07/world-cup-2014-day-26-live

Let's hope it's not Ozil or we won't be able to tell if the curse works or not

The view from Brazil – as they prepare to face Germany in the semi-final

Neymar’s tournament-ending injury dominates the national mood, which is also starting to show a darker side

Brazil is counting down towards the semi-final with Germany in a mood of anxiety, dismay and – just occasionally – hope despite the loss of the nation’s much-loved match-winner, Neymar.

The misfortune of the tournament-ending injury to the Barcelona forward continues to overshadow the triumph of Brazil’s quarter-final victory over Colombia and the growing prospect of a final against arch-rivals Argentina.

Newspaper front pages have been dominated by images of Neymar being stretchered on to a helicopter. TV channels have run repeat after repeat of his emotional, red-eyed video address to the nation. Even president Dilma Rousseff has penned a florid open letter to the playmaker describing him as a great warrior whose injury “broke my heart and the heart of every Brazilian”.

Her claim may be no exaggeration given the sorrow expressed by fans, commentators and team-mates after confirmation that the national side will have to manage without their biggest star against the toughest opponents to date.

The human aspect and high football stakes have brought out the best and worst of the World Cup hosts: as well as the heartfelt sympathy and love for a fallen hero, there has been hateful, racist abuse towards Juan Zúñiga, the Colombian player who was responsible for the injury. Brazilians have issued death threats to Zúñiga on social networks and described the black player as a “criminal monkey”.

Very few commentators have been brave enough to challenge the prevailing sense of injustice. Among them was André Forastieri, who opined that Brazil have little cause to complain given the win-at-any-cost mentality of the coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose players have gone down more often and committed more fouls than almost any other in this World Cup.

“There is a certain sadistic pleasure in the fact that Brazil will face the remainder of the Cup without Neymar,” he wrote on his blog. “He was anointed the face of our football, the poster child for Brazilianness, a symbol of our skill, swagger and emotion. Well, if our team depended on a single player, we were always walking towards defeat.”.

But this is not the only problem facing Brazil. With the captain Thiago Silva also suspended, Brazil will have to take on Germany without two of the tournament’s most influential players.

Looking forward, the nation is now speculating on how Felipão (as Scolari is better known here) will adjust the squad. Pundits – the best of whom are treated in this football-obsessed society with the reverence other nations bestow on philosophers – have lined up to share their views.

Juca Kfouri, who is probably the most respected football columnist in the country, says he will not be surprised if Brazil has a more attacking lineup against Germany, despite Scolari’s reputation for caution. He expects Oscar to take the central role of Neymar, and hopes the more offensively minded and creative talents of Bernard and Willian will be introduced alongside him.

Xico Sa, a social commentator and football writer, believes the squad – which has been criticised for emotional fragility – will now be stronger and more determined to win on behalf of their fallen team-mate. The loss of Silva, he says, should not be overstated because the defender David Luiz had already become de facto captain after Silva was too nervous to take a penalty in the shootout against Chile.

Tostão, a key member of the Brazil team that won the World Cup in 1970, also remained optimistic. “After the initial earthquake, I still believe there is a good chance for Brazil to win the World Cup even without Neymar and to beat Germany without our other key player Thiago Silva.”

But the challenge of doing that was graphically represented by Folha de São Paulo newspaper, which devoted an entire page to an image of a spinal column with each vertebra named after a player in the national team. With Neymar fractured and Silva out, the implication is that this is a team that requires emergency surgery if they are to avoid being crippled against Germany.

As usual, the Meia Hora tabloid has the most humorously absurd take on the calamity facing the national team. Noting that the midfielder Willian has also been complaining of back pains, it says the team now need a superhero to emerge. Step forward, the most ordinary player in the squad – the striker Fred, who is depicted on the front page in a Superman outfit roaring his team on to victory in their hour of need.

blutgraetsche wrote:Di Maria definitely missing the semis. Big blow for Argentina, as he has been one of their best if not the best player.

debaser wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:Di Maria definitely missing the semis. Big blow for Argentina, as he has been one of their best if not the best player.

ah come on. Maybe it's too obvious to praise Messi, but he is the sole reason they have got this far & is their best player by a long distance. they will miss Di Maria but it's not a fatal blow - if Messi was missing they'd be completely fucked.

Super Progress wrote:

110% wrote:

DD wrote:

110% wrote:

Super Progress wrote:Why has Holland never hosted a World Cup? Too small?

They had a joint bid (with belgium) for 2018 but they didn't pay the bribes.

We were one of the favourites, but it went to Russia (Qatar was also announced that same day if I remember correctly   ).

When it got public what the FIFA 'requirements' were, a big opposition did start (with one week to go before the announcement). They wanted many things, but basically: an ungodly amount of money, all kinds of tax exempts, complete control over many aspects of the WC, deciding all sponsors, all profits to FIFA, wanted certain laws to change in their favour etc.

It wasn't even as if our economy was booming in 2010-2012 or whenever it was announced. Netherlands would have had to invest billions with no return.

I dont mind if it never gets here if those are the terms. Throwing billions down the drain only to line the pockets of Blatter & co.

I think you are right and fully agree with not hosting the world cup. I would just vote for my neighbours to host it (if they are stupid enough to bid) so that I could enjoy it without the massive expense.

Seems like a good solution. Should have taken advantage when Germany held it in 2006.

Sweden 2026 WC    

Antarion wrote:CR7 wins the beauty contest though. (out of these 3)   

Super Progress wrote:Why the hostility against the third place game? Even if it is an excuse for another game at the WC I still want it.

blutgraetsche wrote:

Formerly known as sheva7 wrote:
Are you trolling?

That ridiculous appeal has no chance of being successful.

That referee is strict and that's good for Germany and bad for Brazil. He didn't sent him off because he clearly didn't see the bite.

Jesus, even you germans are complaining without any reason now. Sad really.

Under normal circumstances the appeal has no chance, true, but these are no normal circumstances I'm afraid.

Fact of the matter is that the Mexican ref was not exactly convincing in the group stages, to put it mildly, yet is appointed for such an important match again. That just stinks, no matter how you look at it. Plus, I'm not sure how this can be interpreted as an advantage for Germany? Uruguay are at least as physical as Italy, yet it was Italy who were punished in that match.

Whatever, we'll see how things will work out in the end.  

110% wrote:

Super Progress wrote:Why has Holland never hosted a World Cup? Too small?

They had a joint bid (with belgium) for 2018 but they didn't pay the bribes.

Also maybe they were too stingy, they'd want to go Dutch on everything with FIFA.

blutgraetsche wrote:We could host the WC every four years without breaking a sweat. You just know it makes most sense - stadia, infrastructure, fans, tradition and location, easy to reach from almost everywhere.

No fan of the "two hosts" thing, but Holland (and Belgium) would definitely deserve to host a WC for their contributions to this sport alone. German FA should support their bid, if they want to.

Fey wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:We could host the WC every four years without breaking a sweat. You just know it makes most sense - stadia, infrastructure, fans, tradition and location, easy to reach from almost everywhere.

No fan of the "two hosts" thing, but Holland (and Belgium) would definitely deserve to host a WC for their contributions to this sport alone. German FA should support their bid, if they want to.

Germany already hosted it twice, more then enough.

I thought 2006 was below par, it was more a feast of looking to a German identity and the world helps the Germans with looking.

Mexico and Brazil also hosted it twice now...Holland 0.

Now, we are stingy as hell, so I doubt it will ever happen. England/Britain deserve another one as well.

Super Progress wrote:

Fey wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:We could host the WC every four years without breaking a sweat. You just know it makes most sense - stadia, infrastructure, fans, tradition and location, easy to reach from almost everywhere.

No fan of the "two hosts" thing, but Holland (and Belgium) would definitely deserve to host a WC for their contributions to this sport alone. German FA should support their bid, if they want to.

Germany already hosted it twice, more then enough.

I thought 2006 was below par, it was more a feast of looking to a German identity and the world helps the Germans with looking.

Mexico and Brazil also hosted it twice now...Holland 0.

Now, we are stingy as hell, so I doubt it will ever happen. England/Britain deserve another one as well.

That has to happen. I think it would be great. Imagine the hype