World Cup GDT: June 30th

[SebC]

Monday, June 30th

10:00 AM France (Group E winner, 2-1-0, 17) vs. Nigeria (Group F runner-up, 1-1-1, 44)
2:00 PM Germany (Group G winner, 2-1-0, 2) vs. Algeria (Group H runner-up, 1-1-1, 22)

Numbers in brackets are group stage finish, and W-D-L in the group stage, and FIFA ranking.

France and Germany are heavy favorites, but you never know what might happen.

Bracket:

Spoiler!

(from CBC)

[Itse]

Nigeria might give France an actual challenge, but Algeria's hopes probably lie in parking the bus and hoping for a lucky break somewhere.

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by Itse

Nigeria might give France an actual challenge, but Algeria's hopes probably lie in parking the bus and hoping for a lucky break somewhere.

Considering how well that worked out for them against Belgium, a match where they got REALLY lucky but still fell short, I don't see them being much of a challenge for the more talented and organised germans. If Germany can score just once in the first half this game is a blowout.

France have looked good so far and a Nigerian upset sounds really unlikely. Were it not for a blown offside call in the Bosnia game, they wouldn't even be in the knockout stages.

All that being said, I'm hoping for a surprise! It's always fun to see a massive underdog take down an established power.

[Luder]

Auf gehts, Deutschland, auf gehts!

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Deutschland uber alles!

[Senator Clay Davis]

Germany really needs two goals to break it open. One will not prevent Algeria from unparking the bus, two leaves no choice but to open it up.

[Burke Salad]

Curious to see if this France club is legit, they have looked really slick thus far.

[Machiavelli]

I don't think Nigeria has a hope against France. Crossing my fingers, though.

[rich76]

I think Nigeria do have a chance.

France haven't really been tested yet. 2 of their group games were against 10 men for half the game, and they were gifted 2 very early goals versus the Swiss.

Admittedly the Nigerians were shocking against Iran in that first group game, but more than found their feet by the time they played Argentina in the final group game, and gave them a bit of a run for their money.

[GirlySports]

Why do you think Algeria will park the bus? They have been one of the more exciting teams in the tournament.

6 goals...wingers...long ball.

I wish England played like that.

[GirlySports]

Good start for the Nigerians

[Itse]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Why do you think Algeria will park the bus? They have been one of the more exciting teams in the tournament.

6 goals...wingers...long ball.

I wish England played like that.

They did it in the first game and generally the best way for a huge underdog to prevail is defending hard and hoping for a stroke of luck on counterattacks. And they do have a decent defense. In a different weather pressing hard in the midfield might work, but in these games it's also somewhat of a suicidal strategy, unless you think you can score a couple early on.

Admittedly Algeria has shown defense is not the only thing they can do. They've actually been one of the (many) pleasant surprises in this tournament, and it would not shock me at all if they tried to be active, despite the risks.



WHOA SUPER EAGLES STRIKE FIRST!

Offside, dammit.

[Esoteric]

That offside call - correct call, but man was that close.

[Locke]

That was tight.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

That offside call - correct call, but man was that close.

Canadian linesman

[Simon96Taco]

What happened to CBC's live stream on their webpage?!?!?!

[Esoteric]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/soc.../match/1266274

It's still there

[Simon96Taco]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/soc.../match/1266274

It's still there

Crap...not working for me.....looks like my company have blocked it

[Itse]

Pretty even game so far.

[GirlySports]

Benzema is responsible for the right back? That's some weird analysis.