**Official World Cup Brazil 2014 Thread**

[BigOscar]

Ignoring all the other stuff, I thought both sides were poor. All 4 of Brazils defenders were awful (especially Alves), while Paulinho, Hulk and Fred had a competition as to who could touch the ball the least. Croatia were very dissapointing, no balance in midfield, weak in the tackle and the poor lad at LB was awful, that's before even mentioning the shocking keeper. I expected a lot more from both teams, but I'll let Brazil off with the nerves excuse, as the pre match scenes were pretty monumental, so I can possible forgive them getting a bit tense.

Only really Oscar, Gustavo and Perisic did much to impress, everyone else was very dissapointing

Gustavo was actually pretty awful and would be facing a retrospective ban if this was a league match.

Otherwise I agree.

I thought he did well defensively, fighting a losing battle trying to cover the holes single handedly while Paulinho charged around like a moron and the fullbacks tried their hardest to avoid defending. He does nothing with the ball, but I didn't expect him to

 

[80s Shorts]

Expected descions.......no no and no. That is wrong

It may be "wrong" but they are not automatons. It was ever thus and shall ever be in future.

You and others make out that this is a new phenomena when it patently is not.

Irrespective of whether Hursts shot was over the line in 66, do you think the best part of 100,000 partisan fans had an impact upon the decision ?

Yes, of course they did.

Who said this is new?

I'll fight them to the death!

;-)

Anyway, Argentina to win it and Zabba to retake the Malvinas.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Ignoring all the other stuff, I thought both sides were poor. All 4 of Brazils defenders were awful (especially Alves), while Paulinho, Hulk and Fred had a competition as to who could touch the ball the least. Croatia were very dissapointing, no balance in midfield, weak in the tackle and the poor lad at LB was awful, that's before even mentioning the shocking keeper. I expected a lot more from both teams, but I'll let Brazil off with the nerves excuse, as the pre match scenes were pretty monumental, so I can possible forgive them getting a bit tense.

Only really Oscar, Gustavo and Perisic did much to impress, everyone else was very dissapointing

Gustavo was actually pretty awful and would be facing a retrospective ban if this was a league match.

Otherwise I agree.

I thought he did well defensively, fighting a losing battle trying to cover the holes single handedly while Paulinho charged around like a moron and the fullbacks tried their hardest to avoid defending. He does nothing with the ball, but I didn't expect him to

He was just as poor tactically as Paulinho in my mind. He let Modric run about with impunity, failed to cover the wing when the fullback made a run forward several times, had several very questionable fouls, and should have been sent off.

To each their own, though.

 

[Blue Punter]

Not a brilliant performance from Brazil, but tournaments are about building momentum. Which they'll need as their last 16 game looks tough whoever they play.

Still think they'll be there at the business end, but if they give the ball away like tonight, Spain will destroy them. If they defend like that, Argentina will punish them.

Ref was definitely a homer, but rightly or wrongly it happens at most levels of footballand is nothing new.

Joey Barton pretty good on Eurosport.

 

[SebastianBlue]

It may be "wrong" but they are not automatons. It was ever thus and shall ever be in future.

You and others make out that this is a new phenomena when it patently is not.

Irrespective of whether Hursts shot was over the line in 66, do you think the best part of 100,000 partisan fans had an impact upon the decision ?

Yes, of course they did.

Who said this is new?

I'll fight them to the death!

;-)

Anyway, Argentina to win it and Zabba to retake the Malvinas.

Hear, hear.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

Ignoring all the other stuff, I thought both sides were poor. All 4 of Brazils defenders were awful (especially Alves), while Paulinho, Hulk and Fred had a competition as to who could touch the ball the least. Croatia were very dissapointing, no balance in midfield, weak in the tackle and the poor lad at LB was awful, that's before even mentioning the shocking keeper. I expected a lot more from both teams, but I'll let Brazil off with the nerves excuse, as the pre match scenes were pretty monumental, so I can possible forgive them getting a bit tense.

Only really Oscar, Gustavo and Perisic did much to impress, everyone else was very dissapointing

Not sure if serious

Why, who wowed you?

Vrsaljko is a RB, and an inexperienced one at that, don't think that side got the most out of Modric or Rakitic, which is common at international level to fit people in.

The fact that Fernandinho isn't a starter for Brazil sums up what I think of their side.

 

[nijinsky's fetlocks]

Ignoring all the other stuff, I thought both sides were poor. All 4 of Brazils defenders were awful (especially Alves), while Paulinho, Hulk and Fred had a competition as to who could touch the ball the least. Croatia were very dissapointing, no balance in midfield, weak in the tackle and the poor lad at LB was awful, that's before even mentioning the shocking keeper. I expected a lot more from both teams, but I'll let Brazil off with the nerves excuse, as the pre match scenes were pretty monumental, so I can possible forgive them getting a bit tense.

Only really Oscar, Gustavo and Perisic did much to impress, everyone else was very dissapointing

Gustavo was actually pretty awful and would be facing a retrospective ban if this was a league match.

Otherwise I agree.

I thought he did well defensively, fighting a losing battle trying to cover the holes single handedly while Paulinho charged around like a moron and the fullbacks tried their hardest to avoid defending. He does nothing with the ball, but I didn't expect him to

Gustavo was utter garbage.
He is slow, he can't read the game, and he has the accurate distribution of a postman on acid.
You must have been watching a different game to the rest of us.

 

[dom]

Who said this is new?

I'll fight them to the death!

;-)

Anyway, Argentina to win it and Zabba to retake the Malvinas.

Hear, hear.

Seconded

 

[TommoCTID]

Ignoring all the other stuff, I thought both sides were poor. All 4 of Brazils defenders were awful (especially Alves), while Paulinho, Hulk and Fred had a competition as to who could touch the ball the least. Croatia were very dissapointing, no balance in midfield, weak in the tackle and the poor lad at LB was awful, that's before even mentioning the shocking keeper. I expected a lot more from both teams, but I'll let Brazil off with the nerves excuse, as the pre match scenes were pretty monumental, so I can possible forgive them getting a bit tense.

Only really Oscar, Gustavo and Perisic did much to impress, everyone else was very dissapointing

Not sure if serious

Why, who wowed you?

The referee, seriously though I do agree that both sides were poor but im sure the Croatians were deflated by the decisions as the game went on. When we think Brazil we think the Harlem Globe Trotters of football, not anymore they are average and a well organised team like the Germans will tear them apart.

 

[Unknown_Genius]

Brazil weren't great, but can't write them off. Opening day nerves, and a lot of pressure, building momentum is important if you want to win a tournament, look at Italy in 82, or even Spain last time around. They will top the group, the Mexico and Cameroon teams are probably the poorest Mexico and Cameroon teams ever in a World Cup. The referee will get hammered which is a shame really.