HALFTIME WHISTLE -



GERMANY - 2


ENGLAND - 1



Hot-damn what an explosive 45 minutes just went by! And the score SHOULD be 2 - 2 damnit!

I hate these referees with my guts. :mad:


Yes he sure did. The asses in the checkered shirts didn't allow it.

Germany lead 3 - 1!

Andddddddddddd...


ITS 4 - 1 TO GERMANY!!!

What an awsome game!!! :D

FULL TIME - Match #51 (ROUND OF 16 - #3) -




Germany played some of their best football in this match, and deservingly took the win. Although a scoreline of 4 - 1 looks very flattering for them, because England's defenses were caught with their pants down more than once throughout the match.

Even though Lampard was denied what was a perfectly legitimate goal, the game was always Germany's from the beginning. They were clearly the superior side today, and it showed in their football and in the final score.

Germany march on, full of confidence and raring to clash against either Argentina or Mexico, which will be decided later tonight.

YES! This will put an end to that stupid world cup dream over here. Germany deserved it, England didn't and I couldn't TAKE any more World Cup talk. Yes, it will continue but to a lesser degree.

way to support your nation FC!

Germany played extremely well and our defense was awful. The blatantly obvious goal from Lampard might have changed the direction of the game had it stood but I cant deny the Germans deserved it.

Argentina should roll them however (assuming they get past Mexico)

This has been the best day of WC football so far.

Really entertaining games.

What a fortuitous shot by Tevez!

Shot passed through by Messi while Tevez was CLEARLY offside!

A very VERY BIG glaring mistake by the referee!

All the protests of the Mexicans fell on deaf ears and after a brief period of discussion, the goal stands.


Nevertheless...

1 - 0 Argentina!

Make that 2 - 0 to Argentina!!

One of the Mexican defenders made a complete mess of a routine pass and Higuan put the ball coolly behind the GK.

HALFTIME WHISTLE -


ARGENTINA - 2


MEXICO - 0



Yet another keenly contested first half. The scoreline could easily have read 2 - 1 to Mexico, but they fizzed out two absolutely wonderful chances at scoring the goal.
And that very controversial goal by Tevez, when he was quite clearly offside by quite some distance.

Its a shame and a disgrace to such a huge sporting event such as the World Cup that so many matches are marred/influenced by piss poor refereeing.
It's just one of those things which you don't want to see headlining the stats of a match once its over.

Both teams look pretty intense. Mexico will come out all guns blazing I suspect. Argentina should be thinking 1 more goal to get the match beyond them. I hope it ends with a closer scoreline than this.

I expect one big fight in the last half. Fist fight, that is.

It's gonna be brutal and it's gonna be GREAT!! :D

THE BEST GOAL OF WORLD CUP 2010 JUST CAME OFF A THUNDERING ZAPPER OF A SHOT FROM CARLOS TEVEZ!!!


3 - 0 to ARGENTINA!!

Sure, they can score goals...



FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!

The only fist fight I can foresee will be after the match.

11 Angry Mexicans, 1 very angry Mexico Coach versus the 4 Referees. :D

Yes!! Great!!!

On a more serious note, think about this Angra...

Argentina will be taking on Germany in the Quarters.


Made your mouth water yet? :D

Andddddddddd Mexico pull ONE back!!


3 - 1

Dude's right. :cool:

Can you say, bye bye Argentina. :D

It will be the best 4-4 match ever!!

Dude's right again.

FULL TIME - Match #52 (ROUND OF 16 - #4) -




Like Angra said, we had 2 fantastic matches today. Although they were pretty much dominated by one side in each match, nevertheless it produced some very impressive football from all 4 sides involved.

And the second goal from Carlos Tevez in this match is undoubtedly the best goal of the WC so far.

Mexico and England gave it their best shot, but eventually the teams with the more aggressive attacks on goal took the wins. Both losing teams need to find better defenders.

And FIFA needs to find some goddamn good referees. Disallowing the crystal clear goal by Frank Lampard in the first match, then allowing Carlos Tevez's first goal when he was clearly offside in the second match, pretty much sums up the refereeing in this World Cup so far. It feels like schoolkids have worn an uniform and come to become a ref here. Is FIFA listening yet?

And, like I mentioned, Argentina take on Germany in the Quarter-Finals. What a explosive treat that promises to be now!

Tomorrow's WC menu reads...




Let's see some predictions. I know who you will be siding with, though.

Given the form the Netherlands have shown, they should go beyond Slovakia. Don't see the Slovaks pulling any bunnies out of the hat for that one.

And Brazil should seal theirs against Chile. Slightly more tough match to predict than the first one, since Chile certainly won't be a pushover. It could turn out to be a close match. I am betting Brazil.

2 02 on the clock. Off to bed. G'night, all.

Netherlands and Brazil. Obviously.

Lets see some surprises.

Netherlands haven't amazed me yet, so..


Slovakia & Brazil.

Ar-gen-tina!! Ar-gen-tina!!
 

Oh, what a relief for a good Argentine football fan!

I was so tensed & worried about the game last night that I couldn't divert my attention to anywhere while watching the Mexicans were trying good & hard to send the ball into the Argentine net from the very beginning of the match.

But obviously the day with 2 great matches were bit ruined by those 2 completely wrong decisions. Unintentionally the referees are damaging the credibility of the game. It's now time for FIFA & everyone to think about it and come up with some alternatives & ideas.

Anyway, we can now easily say that the major QF will be the Germentina one. I hope Germany will return to that game like the way they did against Serbia after a cracking opening against Australia in the first match of Group stage and yesterday was their 1st match in Knock out stage. So you can now do the math.;)

It'll be the revenge time for Maradona & Argentina.:mad:

HALFTIME WHISTLE -


NETHERLANDS - 1
(Robben 18')


SLOVAKIA - 0


Well, after yesterday's two supercharged matches, today's first half felt dull and drawn out. Even the goal scored was a sudden burst of energy from Arjen Robben towards the Slovakian defense and he dodged and turned through 3 defenders and the GK to put the ball in the right corner of the net.

Otherwise, it was dull football. Surprising to see both teams not showing any energy in their play. It's like 2 tired teams content to play out the minutes. There just isn't any sort of momentum in the play yet.

Maybe the Slovaks will come hard at the Netherlands in the second half. Let's wait and see. Bet Angra was bored out of his wits with these 45 minutes.

FULL TIME - Match #53 (ROUND OF 16 - #5) -



The second half saw a WEE bit of surge in tempo and energy in the match. The Netherlands were more impressive than the Slovaks who looked sluggish throughout the whole match. They won a Penalty Kick in the penultimate minute of the second half (more like dying seconds of the game), and of course it was too little, too late by then.

The better team won. But Netherlands need to up their game a little bit more if they want to win over the likes of Brazil, who will most likely be their next hurdle.

Yeah right. :rolleyes:


FIFA says Argentine goal replay a mistake
June 28, 2010 20:27 IST

It was a mistake to show replays of Argentina's controversial opening goal against Mexico on giant stadium screens during Sunday's World Cup game, world soccer's governing body said on Monday.

The replay of Carlos Tevez's opening goal from a clear offside position sparked a melee during the game and at half-time rival substitutes squared up to one another behind the Mexican bench.

"This shouldn't happen," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told a news conference. "Replays can be shown but not when there are controversial situations. We will work on this and be tighter in future."

"It has worked so far very well. Last night was a mistake. It should not happen again," he added, declining to answer numerous questions on the contentious decisions made by referees and FIFA's rejection of goal line technology.

In another questionable decision that angered English fans on Sunday, England were denied an equaliser in their match against Germany when a shot from Frank Lampard hit the crossbar and clearly bounced behind the goal line.

FIFA is under increasing pressure to allow goal line technology or an extra referee behind the goal line to assist in such situations.

Spanish striker Fernando Torres said steps were needed to stop mistakes by officials altering the course of matches.

"We're tired of asking for technological help for these kinds of situations because they can determine something as important as whether you get knocked out of a World Cup," he told a Spanish radio station.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected goal line technology repeatedly, saying he wants soccer to be played under the same rules at all levels and retain its human element.

We need a new president..

And BRAZIL HAVE THE LEAD!

1 - 0

Make that 2 - 0!

HALFTIME WHISTLE -


BRAZIL - 2
(Juan 35')
(Luis Fabiano 38')


CHILE - 0


Much, much better. I am so glad that the South Americans carry on their tradition of playing smooth, fluent and attacking football. Wiped out the memories of the slow, drudging first game of today already.
It was pretty much even-stevens for the first 30-odd minutes, with both teams having almost equal chances at each other's goals. Chile were surprisingly good in their repeated attacks, and pretty solid in defense.
Then the Brazil thunder struck. Twice. Within 4 minutes.
A superb corner cross by Maicon was headed in near to perfection by Juan straight past the GK into the net. 1 - 0 Brazil.
And as if in reply, Robinho made a superb run into the Chilean defense again and sent it to Kaka, who touched it gently to Luis Fabiano with the GK out. Fabiano dribbled it easily away and eased it nicely into the goal. 2 - 0.

And that's how the scoreline stayed till the whistle.

The two rapid goals rattled up the Chilean players a bit as they started fumbling and making some unforced errors. The break will do them some good in calming their nerves. Hopefully they will come out all guns blazing.

Doesn't matter. They're doomed. :cool:

Bye bye, Netherlands.

Why am I here?

Oh yes, now I remember...


3 - 0 BRAZIL!

Robinho scores!

FULL TIME - Match #54 (ROUND OF 16 - #6) -



Chile simply had no answer to the brilliance of their continental cousins. They were outplayed, outsmarted and out-thought in every aspect of their game. They did have some chances at pulling one back, but the game was always ahead of them.
Brazil were brilliant. After the first 30 minutes, they hit their stride and how! The finest example came from Ramires who made a breathtaking run straight through the heart of the Chilean defense and pierced it nicely, then turned it to Robinho who scored effortlessly in the 59th minute. Robinho went into the goal-scoring charts, but it was Ramires who effected it.
A small example of the immense confidence and self-belief Brazil are carrying with them. What the hell was THIS team thinking by playing out a dull goalless draw against Portugal?!

And I have to agree with Angra. It looks curtains for Netherlands in their Quarter-Final, seeing how red-hot Brazil are running at the moment.

btw, if you are feeling the faint, stirring rumblings of a Brazil - Argentina Final, I would say those are pretty deep and strong tremors you are feeling. Even though Germany or Spain might look to upset that applecart, nevertheless, if you are predicting that particular final, I am willing to side with you.

The final menu to be dished out in the Round of 16 menu reads...




Let's see your predictions.


On paper, Paraguay look solid. But the way Japan controls this controversial ball and those fantastic free-kicks in their last match will mean this could turn out to be a really tough encounter. I ll stick my neck out and still go with Paraguay.
And the second one will be another real cracker! Two teams who will go all out in their quest for victory. I ll say Spain have a slight edge, but it would be a real tough nut to crack Portugal. Still, I ll go with Spain for this one.
Two very nicely poised and even matches to finish off the Round of 16. Looks delicious.


Nite, folks.

Couple of tough picks to make.

I'm going against my initial two thoughts and going with Japan and Spain.

Paraguay
Spain