World Cup GDT: July 9th - Netherlands vs. Argentina 2:00 PM

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

As only a casual observer, I'm confused by the yellow card. Can someone explain how that gets a yellow? Is it perhaps due to a warning from the ref?

That was my reading yes.

Dutch in general had been fouling hard for the whole half, it was kind of in the air.

[V]

Man, they are getting shredded on the right side. I hope they figure something out.

[rich76]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

As only a casual observer, I'm confused by the yellow card. Can someone explain how that gets a yellow? Is it perhaps due to a warning from the ref?

Yeah, possibly a culmination of fouls. Martens Indi got away with one a few minutes earlier, think he was probably on his last chance.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Itse

I think both teams have been playing great, great first half.

Of course neither team looks dominating, because they're evenly matched. Both teams are filled with very skilled players, and both are playing a very good tactical game.

Which is kind of my point. These two teams are evenly matched, but Germany is another level above both, and when it's fully on like yesterday Germany is unbeatable.

[St. Pats]

This is much more of the expected semi-final type game. Both teams taking no chances. Probing and looking for set piece chances.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Which is kind of my point. These two teams are evenly matched, but Germany is another level above both, and when it's fully on like yesterday Germany is unbeatable.

Yesterday made Germany look much better than it was, just as it made Brazil look much worse.

The final will be a whole different game, and Netherlands especially is very well suited to play Germany. They've been vulnerable to counter-attack play, which is what the Dutch are best suited to play.

[Street Pharmacist]

Yeah. It's the same in hockey. A blow out can distort what's really going on

[Mccree]

Not his best dive I say 5/10. He was fouled but not when he actually fell.

[Street Pharmacist]

Holland playing so tentative

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Which is kind of my point. These two teams are evenly matched, but Germany is another level above both, and when it's fully on like yesterday Germany is unbeatable.

On what do you base Germany being a level above both these teams on?

Germany yesterday was equally a result of them being fully on very good but just as much Brazil being in fully on complete meltdown mode.

Regardless who wins this, I wouldn't put them in a class below Germany.

[Itse]

To play the other side, Germany has had two dominating performances in a row now against Brazil and France.

Neither of these teams has had dominating games against opponents on the level of France or Brazil.

So yeah, they should be considered the favourite.

[Bagor]

So, looking at ESPN it has Aguero listed as a sub.

Anyone know if he is kitted out and an option?

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Itse

To play the other side, Germany has had two dominating performances in a row now against Brazil and France.

Neither of these teams has had dominating games against opponents on the level of France or Brazil.

So yeah, they should be considered the favourite.

You don't think Holland's 5-1 victory over defending World Cup and Euro champion (and FIFA #1 ranked) Spain was a dominating performance against a top-tier opponent?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Yeah. It's the same in hockey. A blow out can distort what's really going on

While true, it was still Brazil. Even at their worst Brazil aren't hot garbage. While Brazil were poor, Germany were incredible, that's why it was a blowout instead of a decent win.

In many ways Germany aren't getting credit for their performance yesterday. It's the other side-effect of a blowout, the winning team don't get much credit.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

You don't think Holland's 5-1 victory over defending World Cup and Euro champion (and FIFA #1 ranked) Spain was a dominating performance against a top-tier opponent?

Lol, no?

Spain was crap in this tournament. Chile beat them easily too.

[Itse]

At least two direct reds have been given for clearly intentionally driving defensive players by a player with the ball.

That would IMO deserved at least a card.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Locke

While true, it was still Brazil. Even at their worst Brazil aren't hot garbage. While Brazil were poor, Germany were incredible, that's why it was a blowout instead of a decent win.

In many ways Germany aren't getting credit for their performance yesterday. It's the other side-effect of a blowout, the winning team don't get much credit.

They weren't 7 times better than Brazil though, not is Holland 5 times better Spain.

Germany is certainly not in a different class than these two teams

[Senator Clay Davis]

Look at this game. Risk free, play not to lose soccer. Germany played to win and look at their reward for doing so. Brazil played bad yesterday, but Germany deserves the vast majority of the credit for that. I said yesterday I thought Germany was the best team left without having played their best. Looking at their best, it just looks better than anyone else by a comfortable margin.

[vennegoor of hesselink]

Originally Posted by Bagor

So, looking at ESPN it has Aguero listed as a sub.

Anyone know if he is kitted out and an option?

I believe he is.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Itse

Lol, no?

Spain was crap in this tournament. Chile beat them easily too.

Spain was indeed crap in this tournament, but prior to the start of their game against The Netherlands, they were widely considered the favourite to win it all. You're selling Holland incredibly short if you dismiss the result of that match.