2014 World Cup Semi Finals

110% wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Roger Hunt wrote:

Axeslammer wrote: Have to say it again : never rated him until yesterday.

  

Best DM in the world over the last 10 years. Despite being played out of position at his club for the last 5.

He just looked like another Gattuso while he played in England, now I think he is a better version of Gattuso.

But Gattuso was also one of the best DMs in the world in that period. The problem is that the bar is not very high for running a lot, kicking people and mouthing off in the last 10 years.  Who else was there? Mikel, Flamini, Busquets, Diarra, doesn't really seem like anyone that outstanding.

Kimbo wrote:

110% wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Roger Hunt wrote:

Axeslammer wrote: Have to say it again : never rated him until yesterday.

  

Best DM in the world over the last 10 years. Despite being played out of position at his club for the last 5.

He just looked like another Gattuso while he played in England, now I think he is a better version of Gattuso.

But Gattuso was also one of the best DMs in the world in that period. The problem is that the bar is not very high for running a lot, kicking people and mouthing off in the last 10 years.  Who else was there? Mikel, Flamini, Busquets, Diarra, doesn't really seem like anyone that outstanding.

Can't say I ever rated Gattuso highly, he just ran around kicking people and acting like a fanny when it was given back to him.

Makelele was a couple of levels above anyone mentioned here IMO.

Jaime wrote:Makelele.

The most overrated player in the history of football.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote: 

Jaime wrote:Makelele.

The most overrated player in the history of football.

"The Makelele role" - as if Makelele was the first defensive midfielder ever.

Kimbo wrote:I never mentioned the "Makelele role", generally I prefer midfielders that aren't so limited to one role so I don't rate any of these players that highly, but he was a player that was strong defensively without having to hack and make last ditch tackles. Some of these players are just Tiote without the brain farts.

blutgraetsche wrote:Sammer defined the role of a modern defensive midfielder. A successor to, but quite different to the "liberos" of old.

Jaime wrote:

S4P wrote:

messiah wrote:Mascherano was an absolute beast today

Infinitely better than Busquets. Maybe Barca will finally start playing him in his best position

That's what I was saying to a friend, but no, they will never play him ahead of Busquets because he doesn't have "Barsa DNA" and that is fine by me. It is their loss.

I wanted Mascherano to replace Makelele when he left but we went for Gravesen instead.  

S4P wrote:

messiah wrote:Mascherano was an absolute beast today

Infinitely better than Busquets. Maybe Barca will finally start playing him in his best position

Roger Hunt wrote:

Axeslammer wrote: Have to say it again : never rated him until yesterday.

  

Best DM in the world over the last 10 years. Despite being played out of position at his club for the last 5.

Kimbo wrote:

110% wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Roger Hunt wrote:

Axeslammer wrote: Have to say it again : never rated him until yesterday.

  

Best DM in the world over the last 10 years. Despite being played out of position at his club for the last 5.

He just looked like another Gattuso while he played in England, now I think he is a better version of Gattuso.

But Gattuso was also one of the best DMs in the world in that period. The problem is that the bar is not very high for running a lot, kicking people and mouthing off in the last 10 years.  Who else was there? Mikel, Flamini, Busquets, Diarra, doesn't really seem like anyone that outstanding.

Can't say I ever rated Gattuso highly, he just ran around kicking people and acting like a fanny when it was given back to him.

Makelele was a couple of levels above anyone mentioned here IMO.

Jaime wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote: 

Jaime wrote:Makelele.

The most overrated player in the history of football.

"The Makelele role" - as if Makelele was the first defensive midfielder ever.

I drives me mad the way they talk about him.

shazlx wrote:

Jaime wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote: 

Jaime wrote:Makelele.

The most overrated player in the history of football.

"The Makelele role" - as if Makelele was the first defensive midfielder ever.

I drives me mad the way they talk about him.

Brilliant short passer under any pressure

blutgraetsche wrote:

Isco Benny wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Youre going to be unbearable arent you?

Hah... Says the guy who supports the team that made a fucking DVD out of a qualification match. I wonder if any of you fuckers would have reacted in the way the German fans reacted on here.

No, I don't.

Did Ron Vlaar’s penalty in World Cup semi-final cross the line?

The Holland defender’s penalty was initially saved by Argentina’s Sergio Romero – but did it cross the line after bouncing?

When Sergio Romero wheeled away in celebration and the realisation hit Ron Vlaar that his failure to convert Holland’s first penalty had given Argentina an immediate advantage in Thursday night’s penalty shootout, the main broadcast feed cut to scenes of Dutch despair.

But alternative footage has appeared online which shows the ball rolling towards goal – spawning questions over whether his effort crossed the line or stopped millimetres short.

The Aston Villa defender can be seen gesturing to the referee, Cuneyt Cakir, who refuses to entertain his plea.



Vlaar, who performed brilliantly to keep Gonzalo Higuaín quiet through 120 minutes, was a surprise choice to take Holland’s first kick and struck his penalty straight down the middle, allowing the Argentina keeper to save.



Yet there is also a question over whether the ball touched Vlaar’s shoulder after bouncing.

It is difficult to be certain but this clip from a reverse angle suggests Vlaar dipped his shoulder just in time.



Rules state that the referee must wait for the ball to complete its path but Cakir did not make any attempt to check whether it had indeed crossed the line, presumably because his GoalControl technology would have detected the ball crossing the line.

blutgraetsche wrote:You have Rutten as your manager, enough said!

What's up with Dutch and Belgian players trash talking Argentina after defeat, saying how shit they are and how a better team (name: Germany) will win easily against them? Not exactly good losers these lowlanders, are they?