2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil - Predictions/Discussions/Updates

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Final Scoreline for Match 20:

CAMEROON - 0


CROATIA - 4
(Olic 11', Perisic 48', Mandzukic 61', 73')

Must have been a kickass match for Croatia. Cameroon is now the 3rd side to have been KOed out of the WC.

Need to catch the replay later in the day.

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Final Scoreline for Match 21:

COLOMBIA - 2
(Rodriguez 64', Quintero 70')


IVORY COAST - 1
(Gervinho 73')

Tell you what, the moment of the match was none of those 3 goals scored, but an inocuous-looking hit towards the Ivory Coast goal from the middle line by Quintero which almost, ALMOST converted into one of the most fantastic goals in soccer history, and which was stopped by the keeper very awkwardly.

Either way, the first half had little of note except for a horrid miss by Gutierrez in the 26th minute, which could quite possibly be one of the worst misses in soccer history. Even a little kid could have converted that chance!!

The second half became really hectic, with both sides going for bust. Quick goals by Colombia's youngsters set them to a 2-0 lead, before Gervinho got one back for Ivory Coast through a stunning display of soccer talent, beating the entire defense of Colombia single-handedly.

Unfortunately, a lot of ill-tempered clashes in the final 10 minutes (including added time) ate up the time of what could have been a great finish. As it stood, Colombia won and go top of the group.


And now for the humdinger of the day (night) - ENGLAND VS URUGUAY!!

[ShankS]

Roooooney COME on!!!!

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Final Scoreline for Match 22:

URUGUAY - 2
(Luis Suarez 39', 85')


ENGLAND - 1
(Rooney 75')

What a fantastic match!! Easily one of the best two matches the WC 2014 has provided so far, the other being the Netherlands vs Australia match last night.

And what a difference a world-class player can make for a team. After their shock defeat in the opener to Costa Rica, Uruguay desperately needed some encouragement and motivation - and nothing better than to get their best player off the injured bench and playing!! And what a fruitful decision it turned out to be.

It was a game full of chances, passes and close shaves, really. England came close to scoring twice in the first half itself, when Rooney's shots went very close over the bars (free kick) and thumped into the bars! Equally, Rodriguez's close ranger went inches over the bar, barely missing out! And finally in the 39th minute, Uruguay and Luis Suarez celebrated. Cavani's cross found him in perfect position to head the ball in. 1-0 Uruguay!

England pressed back really well during the second half, and were denied at least 3 times by fantastic saves by Muslera, Uruguay's keeper. But England and Rooney kept on and on, and finally were rewarded in the 75th minute. Rooney finally scored in the WC Finals for England, and what a crucial goal it was. 1-1.

As if that spurred Uruguay ahead, Suarez notched up a gear above and thumped in a second goal 10 minutes later. Uruguay were up 2-1, and although England tried their best in the final 10 minutes (including added time), they were simply not good enough to get the 2nd equaliser.

3 crucial points for Uruguay, none for England. All is not lost for them though - if Costa Rica defeats Italy, they still have a chance. If it turns out to be otherwise, England are out of WC 2014.

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Final Scoreline for Match 23:

GREECE - 0


JAPAN - 0

Both teams needed a win, and only managed through to a draw. It won't help either team's chances now.

Doesn't seem like Japan can beat Columbia which is in red-hot form, and Ivory Coast will clearly get the better of Greece.

Still, let's wait and see.

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Final Scoreline for Match 24:

ITALY - 0


COSTA RICA - 1
(Ruiz 44')

What a massive, massive upset!!

Before the match, the odds of winning for minnows Costa Rica over giants Italy might have been 90 to 1. As things finished in the end, they emerged as true giant-killers. Italy deserved to lose though - their play simply lacked the will to win. Their game was dreary and drab, bordering on boring. They never looked even at one instance of dominating the game. Instead it was the minnows who dominated both halves.

Balotelli's eye-rolling miss at the 32nd minute mark was basically the summation of Italy's game - in front of the open goal with even the keeper almost beaten, and he kicked the ball wide!

The 43rd minute saw another VERY controversial decision of this WC 2014, when the referee didn't award a penalty kick to Costa Rica despite a glaring foul by Italy's defenders on Campbell inside the penalty area. That egged the Costa Ricans so badly that they built up a near-perfect passing game and Ruiz thumped one home in the very next minute.

The refereeing in this WC has again fallen down to low standards, after a couple of decent matches in-between. A legitimate tackle by the Costa Rica defense saw the referee awarding Italy a non-deserving free kick. Thankfully no damages were done.

The second half proved to be more drab than the first. It seemed as if Italy has come to Brazil to enjoy a vacation, and not to play for wins. Costa Rica came close to scoring again, this time thwarted by Buffon's antics. But the minnows held on to their lead till the end, and ended up a much deserved winner than their gigantic opponents.

Italian football has really been a downer in recent times. If Italy gets knocked out soon, it won't be a surprise.

Still, credit where credit is due. Well done, Costa Rica!! You have really earned your reputation tonight of being true giant-killers. Two thumbs up!

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Final Scoreline for Match 25:

SWITZERLAND - 2
(Dzemaili 81', Xhaka 87')


FRANCE - 5
(Giroud 17', Matuidi 18', Valbuena 40', Benzema 67', Sissoko 73')

Crushing win for France. Had to go to bed after the first half, when France were leading 3-0 and had the Swiss completely drilled through like Swiss cheese. Twin goals within 66 seconds started the fray, and the French just kept on pressing forward since then. Even when the Swiss keeper kept out a Benzema penalty kick (a surprising moment!), France got a 3rd goal 5 minutes before the first half's whistle.

I predicted more goals in the second half, and there were four more - 2 for France and 2 for the Swiss, who tried their best to get back some, but it was a classic case of too little, too late. The Swiss keeper must be commended for saving a lot of thundering French shots, else the scoreline could have been even worse.

France are peaking at the right time. They look hungry and ruthless, two qualities which should take them far in WC 2014. Watch out, other teams!


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Final Scoreline for Match 26:

HONDURAS - 1
(Costly 31')


ECUADOR - 2
(Valencia 34', 65')

Ecuador needed this win, to keep their chances alive in the tournament. And their main forward, Enner Valencia, came to the party after they had conceded a goal in the 31st minute. A goal each in either half meant victory for their team, the first being a slider which beat the keeper, and the second a thundering header which netted home.

Even the fouls by Honduras couldn't keep them from smelling defeat yet again, and that is good because their team doesn't look talented in soccer, but talented at scoring fouls!!

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Final Scoreline for Match 27:

ARGENTINA - 1
(Messi 91')


IRAN - 0

All it took was one moment of Messi brilliance in added time to save Argentina the blushes from what would have been a disappointing draw.

Full marks to Iran for keeping Argentina out for the whole duration of 90 minutes, plus pressing down on them more than once to go close to scoring a goal themselves!! Clearly, they were the better team in the second half. Argentina by and large disappointed throughout the game, squandering many chances + hitting the ball wide of goal more than once. The collective Argentinian radar seemed to be off-radar for the duration of the game, until the first minute of added time when Messi unleashed a very special bit of Messi magic - hitting the ball from way out of the box and curling it inward towards the far corner of the post, beating the Iranian keeper by mere inches to net the winner.

But if Argentina disappoints like this, they might not go too far. Messi can't bail them out everytime like he did tonight. Time for them to do some introspection and get a bit more aggressive, rather than their lackadaisal approach for tonight's game.

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Final Scoreline for Match 28:

GERMANY - 2
(Gotze 51', Klose 71')


GHANA - 2
(Ayew 54', A. Gyan 63')

Must have been one heck of a second half!

According to reports, Ghana could have easily upset the heavyweight team, if not for that spectacular equaliser by Miroslav Klose who came off the bench to score straightaway. The first half produced plenty of chances but no goals, and actually Ghana build up more pressure than Germany.

But all the action was in the second half. Germany went ahead in the 51st minute through a chancy header, but Ghana equalised merely 3 minutes later through Ayew's header as well. The shocking moment of the match came in the 63rd minute when Asamoah Gyan put Ghana ahead 2-1!! Klose was brought in the 69th minute through a late substitution, and that move paid off as he got the equaliser for Germany.

And so it stayed till the end. Ghana must be delighted to have drawn against one of the top teams of WC 2014, while Germany might be ruing of not being a bit more aggressive and pressing for the win. As it stands, all 4 teams in Group G are now under pressure to win their remaining matches.


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Final Scoreline for Match 29:

NIGERIA - 1
(Odemwingie 29')


BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA - 0

Both teams needed a win badly, but it was Nigeria who came out on top. Reports say that the refereeing was again questionable in this match, since it disallowed a wonderful B&H goal in the beginning itself! There were plenty of shots on goal by both teams, but no cake. Nigeria held on to their solitary goal advantage till the end, and emerged the winner. 3 hard-earned points for them.

B&H are now KOed out of WC 2014.

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Final Scoreline for Match 30:

BELGIUM - 1
(Origi 88')


RUSSIA - 0

87 minutes of dull, dreary soccer and just when one thinks that the match is destined to finish as a 0-0 draw, Origi punches a hole through the defence in front of goal and crosses one in. And that one goal helps Belgium scrape past Russia in a very dull contest.

After their inspiring first match win, Belgium looked flat and disinterested in this one. They have qualified for the Last 16 stage with this win, but need to really pull up their socks if they have to go further ahead.