2010 FIFA World Cup

[the.killing.44]

Fucking marvelous injury time.

[White Moose]

Germany wins 3 - 1 against spain.

Germany wins 2-0 against netherlands.

True story

[sherkaner]

The Netherlands doesn't seem able to reach its full offensive potential (Van Persie especially).
It's quite ok (only undefeated team now), but the football isn't too pretty. Though a final against Germany would be great.

[ga7]

Great game, with a crazy ending where I thought the uruguayan devils would equalized. They nearly did too... The fact it was tight until the 70' and the pretty awful defense make me think there's no way Holland can win the finals though. Spain would have to pass after extra time or something, which is quite doubtful considering the germans have all the weapons to run over both. Anyway Van Brockhorst's goal was something else, best so far imo. Sneijder is looking better and better to win the golden ball, it could still be Schweinsteiger I guess but with champions' league, calcio, cup, and WC finalist with 4 goals scored, man that's a hell of a season.

[cyrenius]

I think that germany has won with strenght agaisnt very good teams, as England and Argentina. For my is the first option to become champion of the world Cup

England and Argentina are good teams, I think you are a few years behind
Holland is the only team that won all the games and they will go all the way. I don't say that they are beter then Germany I just say they will win the World Cup (ofcourse if they beat USA )

[pmchugh]

Germany will balls it up, it always happens. If they win this tourney then imo they are one of the best teams of all time cause no one can keep up those kind of performances.

I can see a spain-holland final with Holland taking it very narrowly. Either way its gonna be an awesome last two games!

[Timminz]

I can see a spain-holland final with Holland taking it very narrowly. Either way its gonna be an awesome last two games!

I'm with you, all the way, here.

[Titanic]

I can see a spain-holland final with Holland taking it very narrowly. Either way its gonna be an awesome last two games!

I'm with you, all the way, here.

I'm with you on the last part. I think the last 2 games are too hard to predict personally.

[Gypsys Kiss]

I have it on good authority that it will be a Spain v Netherlands final

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10521867.stm

On the strength of this etremely scientific test, I have put a tenner on Spain to beat the Germans....

[cyrenius]

I have it on good authority that it will be a Spain v Netherlands final

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10521867.stm

On the strength of this etremely scientific test, I have put a tenner on Spain to beat the Germans....

In the Euro 2008 final this particular octopus leand towords germany so...

[sonicsteve]

The problem there, Gypsy's, is that no matter how many "Intensity Mussels" they feed this thing on, the octopus is playing a long game with the bookies and is only right 70% of the time.

Now, he has a 100% record for this tournament so far which means he is statistically due an incorrect result - applying this simple statistical correction...Germany win.

I for one will be donning my Germany shirt tonight, unthinkable when I was younger, but acquired in a moment of international harmony during the 06 tourney. The obliteration of Argentina was enough medicine to cure my bitterness at England's exit (and let's face it, if we left the tourney early, it was because we failed to show up against Algeria).

[jaimito101]

bring on the germans!!!!!!

2-1
germany win tonight, should be a fun game!

[Haggis_McMutton]

Now, he has a 100% record for this tournament so far which means he is statistically due an incorrect result - applying this simple statistical correction...Germany win.

I know we're talking about a psychic octopus, but still, i have to say this: That's not how statistics work, it doesn't matter that your coin flip came up heads 5 times in a row, the chances that your current coin flip will come up heads again is still 50%.


Anyway, i've always rooted for Holland in these things, don't know why, they must have impressed me in some game when i was a kid or something, but what the hell is with them missing unbelievable chances? Wasn't there like a 3 vs 1 in the box in the Brazil match and they didn't even manage to get a shot in? I'm far from a football expert but that doesn't seem quite right.
Also, the Holland i remember didn't use to dive quite as much, times change i guess.

[Timminz]

Also, the Holland i remember didn't use to dive quite as much, times change i guess.

You and I must be watching totally different games. I have noticed very, very little diving from the Netherlands. The last one I can recall seeing, was in the quarter-final against Brazil, and the diver was rightfully carded for it.

[Haggis_McMutton]

Also, the Holland i remember didn't use to dive quite as much, times change i guess.

You and I must be watching totally different games. I have noticed very, very little diving from the Netherlands. The last one I can recall seeing, was in the quarter-final against Brazil, and the diver was rightfully carded for it.

I wasn't able to pay full attention to the last matches, but i did think i saw a few dives(one from the guy with the arab sounding name comes to mind), but hell I hope you're right maybe i didn't see what really happened there.

[ga7]

Yeah, there was not so much diving as Van Bommel doing his usual show (and getting only his first yellow so far, which is already a miracle). Robben did take a bad habit of it though, but the challenges were more real this time. I like Robben but he annoyed the f*ck out of me in that last game, having perfect opportunities to score but either botching his attempts or failing to see that with a single pass from him there'd be a goal. I guess the magic of Holland this year is to manage to win despite so many egos that want to play for themselves primarily
Anyway the octopus is awesome, I think he's doing the right thing in his own way, he realized after making the germans hope then letting them down in the Euro 2008, he wants them to prepare mentally for defeat just to be awed and overjoyed when Germany ultimately wins I think his 70% correct rate was picking every correct result but the finals in the Euro, and he chose right for the 5 german games so far in his WC. A pity they use him only for Germany games, or we'd have a real statistic basis to worship that octopus

[the.killing.44]

Robben is like a bad point guard: he has no right foot. Honestly, he cuts into the left every fucking time. Just don't let him do that!

[Timminz]

Robben is like a bad point guard: he has no right foot. Honestly, he cuts into the left every fucking time. Just don't let him do that!

If only it were that easy, opponents wouldn't have to foul him so much.


I hope to see Spain win today, not just because I like them more than I like the Germans, but also because it would guarantee that the champion is a country that has never won it before.

[Snorri1234]

yesterday's game was awesome. I was at Museumplein here in Amsterdam and the crowd just went insane after the Netherland's goals. I have never shouted so much in my life. the whole city basically exploded with people dancing on streets and getting drunk and being happy and shouting. this is the first time since 1978 we're actually in the final of the world cup and the third time ever.

[nietzsche]

GERMANY!!!

[Haggis_McMutton]

the whole city basically exploded with people dancing on streets and getting drunk and being happy and shouting.

So, how is this different from any other day in Amsterdam?

[Army of GOD]

*rubbing hands for Germany/Spain*

Finally! I get to watch a fucking game!

[Army of GOD]

Spain seems to be controlling this game.

[Doc_Brown]

Spain seems to be controlling this game.

I think it would depend on who you're rooting for. Spain is holding the ball a good bit more (I think they've had the ball about 60% of the time), but it seems like Germany is shutting everything down. I get the feeling Germany is just relying on a suffocating defense, letting Spain get spread out, and then going for an occasional penetrating attack. I think this game is really well balanced though. I still think Germany will take the win, but it could go either way. We'll see what the teams look like in the second half.

[Army of GOD]

I wonder what the percent of time in each half of the field was. If it's the German's intention to play a lot of defense, then I have to disagree with that style of play. That only allows for something shitty to go wrong and then for Spain to score. It's defense that wins games, but you shouldn't intentionally depend on your defense to do something.

The Germans haven't had many great attacks.