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World Cup Match Thread - Semi-Final - Wednesday

DuDe

Well-Known Member
Jun 23, 2007
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I'm not sure who I favour yet, but I am edging towards Holland.

Germany v Holland in the Final would be delicious.
 

not_tenth-again

Well-Known Member
Jun 19, 2009
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All down to the referee and how he judges and manages the fouls on Robben and Messi.

Argentina in extra time I reckon.... normal time if Van Persia doesn't start.

I say Argentina but I've laid off on Holland to cover my other bets. May the best team win.
 

ItsBoris

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
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This is the hardest one to call so far. I'm trying to take my preference for Holland out of the equation and be objective but I still think Holland may win it. The teams are pretty simiilar, both are just 'ok' everywhere but up front so I think Holland having the superior manager may make the difference.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
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This game will need a very strong refereeing performance as Holland's tactic will almost definitely be (going on the evidence of the world cup so far) dive when they have the ball, kick Messi when he has the ball.
 

Mullers

Unknown member
Jan 4, 2006
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I think Holland will bottle it, if not against Argentina then against Germany they will.
 

chinaman

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2003
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This one is hard to call. The extra-time have taken a lot out of the old legs of the Dutch masters Sneijder and Robben; and the absence of di Maria will hurt the Argies. LVG will out-fox Sabella, and I'm banking on that for a close win for Holland.
 

trnk

Active Member
Jan 31, 2013
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376
The dutch had a similar run than Germany, with remarkable wins and ugly prestations in others games. I think the outcome will depend on their form, if they're on their best, they could win, but if not, Messi will definitely take his side to the final.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
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One thing which the Argentinians have which Brazil certainly did not have last night is an exceptional array of attacking talent. Yes, Higuain, Aguero and Di Maria have not been at their best this tournament, but every single one of them is proven class. Lavezzi is also a very good option, and I'd say even Palacio, Perez and Alvarez would waltz into the Brazil line up. What Argentina, like Brazil, lack is a genuine playmaker to feed these guys. What they have, however, which no other side has ever had, is Messi. It's a shame that there's no particularly creative midfield partner for Mascherano, because Gago is the definition of ordinary, but I think they're still strong enough.

They haven't clicked so far, but looking at this line-up, imagine if they did...


Romero
Zabaleta Garay Fernandez Basanta
Mascherano Gago
Aguero Messi Di Maria
Higuain

It's not bee the swashbuckling Argentina I'd hoped for, but if that front four click then they're unstoppable.
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
Holland are set up to counter attack under van Gaal and with Robben have one of the best players in the world on the break and one of the best ( if not the best ) players at this years tournament.

I think they can pick Argentina off like they did against Spain.

Obviously if Messi has a blinder not much you can do but the rest of the Argentinian squad hasn't impressed me that much and they look every much a one sided team as Brasil did ( Neymar )

Going for 3-1 Holland, Robben, Messi and Depay to score.

Then I pray for revenge for 1974

This game will need a very strong refereeing performance as Holland's tactic will almost definitely be (going on the evidence of the world cup so far) dive when they have the ball, kick Messi when he has the ball.


Its the Central and South Americans that have used physical tactics at this world cup so far, not the Europeans
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,159
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Going for Holland myself.

Lots of pressure on Argentina to win the tournament now, and I'd love to see a Germany/Holland final, with Holland finally winning the thing!

Although as I said before, the Germans look very, very strong!
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
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So Di Maria and Ageuro out for Argentina?

If RVP makes it maybe the Dutch are slight favourites.
 

felmani26

SC Supporter
Jan 1, 2008
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So Di Maria and Ageuro out for Argentina?

If RVP makes it maybe the Dutch are slight favourites.
Di Maria will prove a bigger loss than Aguero who seemingly has no real defined role in this Argentina setup.

Hopefully there will be more tactical nous employed than the Brazilians did but that being said, i'm hopeful of a goal fest.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
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Its the Central and South Americans that have used physical tactics at this world cup so far, not the Europeans

Nothing to do with what continent a team's from, everything to do with the fact that the Dutch are dirty cheating thugs.
So Di Maria and Ageuro out for Argentina?

If RVP makes it maybe the Dutch are slight favourites.

Depends which RVP shows up (i.e. not the one from v Costa Rica)... and an attack of Messi, Lavezzi and Higuain isn't exactly shabby. The loss of Di Maria would lose their one real attacking threat from the midfield 3 though so the response to that would be interesting. I'd give Perez the start, he looked good the other day.
 
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