FIFA World Cup 2014: Brazil and Germany

Brazil

Arguably the bets match of the tournament took place in Fortaleza. As always, Brazilians started with great passion, inspired by the 12^th player. They got an early goal thanks to Thiago Silva, who joined the team for a corner kick. Both teams were showing some quick moves and anything could happen in such a typical South American match. However, although the tempo of the match was very high, and the teams were determined to score goals as soon as possible, the early goal played its huge role. Brazilians were more attentive in the back, understanding that even a 1-0 win will be fine for them. The result of this was that the Colombians, despite the great football shown by James Rodriguez, weren’t able to create any danger for Julio Cesar. Thiago Silva and David Luiz, helped by Fernandinho, were solid in defending the lead. The picture changed after David Luiz’s incredible free kick, which made the score 2-0. Colombians had no other tasks than attacking. This earned a penalty for James Rodriguez, but the score never changed any more. Everyone claiming that Falcao’s absence didn’t affect Colombia’s play in the World Cup turned wrong. Pekerman’s team needed him in this match.

But now it is time to meet Germany. The tough match against Colombia was won, but the price was too high. The best two players of the quad, Neymar and Thiago Silva, will not play in the semi-final, which automatically leaves Germans in the role of marginal favourites. The chance for Scolari’s team is to start aggressively and score an early goal. Defending it might not be that difficult, considering the fact that

FIFA World Cup 2014: Analysis after quarterfinals

Argentina – Belgium 1-0: An early goal sent Argentina back to defend the lead and enter the last 4.

Defence: 1,5 – 1

Midfield: 1 – 1

Attack: 1 – 0,5

Interplay: 1 – 1

TOTAL: 4,5 – 3,5

2. Garay (ARG) – 1,5

14. Mascherano (ARG) - 1

10. Messi (ARG) - 1

9. Higuain (ARG) – 0,5

4. Kompany (BEL) – 0,5

15. Van Buyten (BEL) - 0,5

Netherlands – Costa Rica 0-0 (4-3 pen): Van Gaal’s yet another substitution won the match: now the goalkeeper Krul!

Defence: 1 – 1,5

Midfield: 1,5 – 1

Attack: 1,5 – 0,5

Interplay: 1 – 1

TOTAL: 5 – 4

1. Navas (CRC) – 1,5

11. Robben (NED) – 1,5
10. Sneijder (NED) – 1
2. Acosta (CRC) - 1
16. Gamboa (CRC) - 1
3. Gonzalez (CRC) - 1

15. Kuijt (NED) – 0,5

2. Vlaar (NED) – 0,5

Three former World Cup winners and a three-time finalist is the starting line-up for the FIFA World Cup 2014 semi-finals. As it was the case in the Round of 16

FIFA World Cup 2014: Netherlands and Costa Rica

Netherlands

This strange team of Louis van Gaal doesn’t stop surprising. The match against Mexico was almost lost, when a corner on the 88^th minutes brought an equalizer and a hope to continue staying in Brazil. The goal was scored by the most anonymous of all the Dutch players – Wesley Sneijder. Up until this point the heat and the well-organized Mexican team gave no chances for the Dutch to perform. Van Gaal was even ought to take the captain van Persie out, to substitute him with the eventual hero of the match Huntelaar. However, the things did not go that strange at all. After the Mexicans had opened the score, they were thrown to defend the lead. More than half an hour of only attacking tasks was a luxury for the Netherlands, and the team found its play after 15 minutes of such circumstances. Since the second cooling break the Dutch, commanded by Arjen Robben and Memphis Depay, were very close to score. After the equalizer the psychological picture of the match was drastically changed, and it was a matter of time for the Netherlands to score the winner. It happened right before the extra time.

Netherlands is lucky to get the weakest team of the quarterfinals. Although Louis van Gaal keeps on saying that the Netherlands is not the favourite in this match, Costa Rica has not got the quality to show anything troublesome for the vice-champions of the world. The Netherlands has got two options: either wait and take the victory in the end of the match, as they did against Chile and Mexico, or smash the opponent from the beginning, not giving them a chance to increase their selv-confidence. I reckon Louis van Gaal chooses the second option.      

Matches played: 4

Goals scored - conceded: 12 - 4

Topscorer (s): van Persie, Robben (both - 3)  

Team marks: 7,0 + 4,5 + 5,5 + 6,0 = 23,0
Average mark: 5,75
Best players: Robben (5,5)

Place among 32: 2

Chances to win the World Cup: 13,15%

 

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s story has become a famous fairy tale among neutral fans. The team got Greece as an opponent, and managed to beat this European side. It was a battle of two teams that suddenly had appeared in the Round of 16. None of them was ready to take the initiative and get the winning goal. The second half got more intriguing, as Costa Ricans managed to score a goal in a situation, where no one, including the Greek goalkeeper and defenders, were expecting this to happen. And right after this the team remained with 10 men. For 30 minutes the Central American team was trying to defend the lead, but at last Greeks equalized and sent the play into extra time. And for another 30 minutes Costa Ricans were trying to take the game into after-match penalties. This time they made it, but only thanks to disastrous attacking abilities of Fernando Santos’s team. Greece missed lots of chances. The culmination took place in the second half if the extra time, as Greeks managed not to score after a counter-attack of five against two. Costa Ricans scored all of their five after-match penalties and are newcomers in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. 

The fairly tail is now very close to its end. With all respect to Jorge Luis Pinto’s work, Costa Rica is by far the weakest side in the quarterfinals. Their hero-defender Duarte was expulsed in the last match, so he will not be there to stop the “flying Dutch”. The only way to win the match is to stay firm in the back and not concede for the first 70-80 minutes. Then a quick counterattack by Joel Campbell might help them beat Louis van Gaal’s side. Of course, it is easier to say than to do. The chances of doing so are very low. Underestimating of opponents takes place in the group stage, but never in Play-offs.

 

Matches played: 4

Goals scored - conceded: 5 - 2

Topscorer (s): Ruiz (2)  

Team marks: 4,0 + 4,5 + 4,0 + 3,0 = 14,5
Average mark: 4,13
Best players: Campbell (2,5)

Final place among 32: 8

Chances to win the World Cup: 3,45%

FIFA World Cup 2014: Argentina and Belgium

France – Germany 0-1: Germany gets back to 4-5-1 and leaves France speechless.   

Defence: 1 – 1,5

Midfield: 0,5 – 1

Attack: 1 – 0,5

Interplay: 1 – 1

TOTAL: 3,5 – 4

1. Neuer (GER) – 1,5

5. Hummels (GER) – 1

20. Boateng (GER) – 0,5

7. Schweinsteiger (GER) – 0,5

1. Lloris (FRA) – 0,5

19. Pogba (FRA) – 0,5

8. Valbuena (FRA) – 0,5

11. Griezmann (FRA) – 0,5

Brazil – Colombia 2-1: Brazil is in the semi-finals, after winning in arguably the most exciting match of the World Cup, and losing Thiago Silva and Neymar on the way.

Defence: 1,5 – 1

Midfield: 1,5 – 1,5

Attack: 1 – 0,5

Interplay: 1 – 1,5

TOTAL: 5 – 4,5

10. James Rodriguez (COL) – 2

3. Thiago Silva (BRA) – 1

4. David Luiz (BRA) – 1

5. Fernandinho (BRA) – 1

7. Armero (COL) – 1

10. Neymar (BRA) – 0,5

7. Hulk (BRA) – 0,5

1. Ospina (COL) – 0,5

Argentina

The first 117 minutes of the Argentina’s first Play-off match were only producing negative thoughts about Alejandro Sabella’s team, including stars like Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. The Swiss were not eager to create any danger in front, so Argentina had freedom in the middle of the pitch. Switzerland was fighting to get a clean sheet for their great goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, and maybe a win for their manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, who had to retire as soon as the Swiss team was beaten in the World Cup. The South Americans had simply no idea how to beat Inler, Djourou and Benaglio. The players were tired, the crosses didn’t pass, the shots were being saved and Messi’s dribbling didn’t work. And only once did the Swiss lose the concentration and it was enough for a pale Messi to send the ball to Di Maria, who had a really bad game, but looked to be the only one not wanting to shoot an after-match penalty.

Belgium is much stronger than Switzerland. Messi and friends have to be not only creative in front, but also attentive in the back. Belgium is going to look for a goal from the beginning. And although the teams have some amazing attackers in their squads, the goals might not come easily. Argentina will be the favourite to win, thanks to the next-to-home atmosphere, and, surely, the Messi-factor. But even if Argentina scores early, this will by no means become the end for Belgians. Let’s see how solid Argentina’s defence is.

 

Matches played: 4

Goals scored - conceded: 7 - 3

Topscorer (s): Messi (4)  

Team marks: 5,5 + 4,5 + 6,5 + 4,0 = 20,5
Average mark: 5,125
Best players: Messi (4,0)

Final place among 32: 4

Chances to win the World Cup: 21,37%

Belgium

The United States defended well for 90 minutes, as Belgium was determined to play much better and score earlier than usually. Fellaini, Hazard, De Bruyne and especially the young Origi demonstrated what was expected from the “Red Devills” since the start of the World Cup. But as their captain Kompany mentioned after the match, “two words – Tim Howard”. The US goalkeeper broke the record of most saves during a World Cup match. But as soon as Romelu Lukaku entered the pitch right from the beginning of the extra time, Tim Howard’s magic touch disappeared. The Belgian number 9 and the great Kevin de Bruyne scored once each, assisting to each other, to enter the most difficult part of their World Cup so far – 15 minutes of endless US attacks. The Americans managed to score once pretty soon, thus getting a real chance to equalize, but the great spell for Juergen Klinsmann’s team, where the Belgian defenders were absolutely exhausted, didn’t bring more. USA leaves home proudly.

USA didn’t try to initiate many attacks until conceding a couple of goals, but Argentina is going to do so, to say the least. Lionel Messi is probably the worst opponent to have, so Kompany, van Buyten and Witsel have to learn a lot from the Swiss team, which contained the Argentines for almost two hours. But Argentina will also have its defence tested after Marc Wilmots’s both strikers have hit the form. Belgium never scores in the first 70 minutes in this World Cup. Conceding will not close the door to the semi-finals, so Belgium will have to be fighting during the whole match, if the victory is going to come for them.  

Matches played: 4

Goals scored - conceded: 6 - 2

Topscorer (s): Vertonghen, Origi, Mertens, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Lukaku (all - 1)  

Team marks: 4 + 4 + 6 + 6 = 20,0
Average mark: 5,0
Best players: Origi (2,5)

Final place among 32: 5

Chances to win the World Cup: 8,82%

FIFA World Cup 2014: Brazil and Colombia

Brazil

Scolari’s team is in a big trouble. The team is unable to play against strong sides and Brazil is already aware of this. The hosts have never showed any great football so far. The morale hasn’t been high either. This is why the coaches have decided to invite psychologists to help the team before the quarterfinal stage. Chileans had problems in the back, as Brazil started the match aggressively, however, lack of

FIFA World Cup 2014: France and Germany

France

Didier Deschamps’s France was not expected to have many problems against Nigeria. However, the team had problems when trying to cope with the enthusiastic Africans. The team used its 4-3-3 formation, introducing Koscielny instead of Sakho as a centre-back. Not making mistakes was

FIFA World Cup 2014: Analysis after the Round of 16

Argentina – Switzerland 0-0 (1-0 et): 3 minutes of football after 117 minutes of struggling sent Messi’s Argentina to the quarterfinals.

Defence: 1 – 1,5

Midfield: 1 – 1

Attack: 1 – 0,5

Interplay: 1 – 0,5

TOTAL: 4 – 3,5

1. Benaglio (SUI) – 2

20. Djourou (SUI) – 2

8. Inler (SUI) – 1,5
11.Behrami (SUI) – 1
10. Messi (ARG) – 1

16. Rojo (ARG) - 1

13. Rodriguez (SUI) – 1

22. Schaar (SUI) – 0,5
23. Shaqiri (SUI) – 0,5

7. Di Maria (ARG) – 0,5

Belgium – USA 0-0 (2-1 et): The incredible saves of Tim Howard weren’t enough for USA not to lose to Belgium.

Defence: 1,5 – 1

Midfield: 1,5 – 1

Attack: 1,5 – 1

Interplay: 1,5 – 1,5
TOTAL: 6 – 4,5

1. Howard (USA) - 2

7. De Bruyne (BEL) – 1,5

17. Origi (BEL) – 1,5

9. Lukaku (BEL) – 1

2. Yedlin (USA) - 1
11. Mirallas (BEL) – 0,5

1. Courtois (BEL) – 0,5

7. Beasley (USA) – 0,5

Only eight teams are left in the tournament – all of them

FIFA World Cup 2014: Belgium and USA

Belgium

Slow start didn’t assume bad results for Belgium. The European “dark horses” of the World Cup played

three matches, in each of them being accurately a goal better than the opponents. Marc Wilmots’s team never showed the football which would scare their upcoming opponents. However, the fact that the team scored all of its goals

FIFA World Cup 2014: Argentina and Switzerland

France – Nigeria 2-0: France showed Nigeria where the exit door is as soon as the African team was done demonstrating its skills. 

Defence: 1,5 – 1

Midfield: 1 – 1

Attack: 1,5 – 1

Interplay: 1 – 1

TOTAL: 5 – 4

19. Pogba (FRA) – 1

1. Enyeama (NGA) - 1

8. Valbuena (FRA) – 1

2. Debuchy (FRA) – 0,5

21. Koscielny (FRA) – 0,5
8. Odemwingie (NGA) – 0,5

Germany – Algeria 0-0 (2-1 et): 90 minutes of heroic performance by Algeria was enough to win sympathy, but not entrance to the quarterfinals.

Defence: 1,5 – 1,5

Midfield: 1,5 – 1,5

Attack: 1,5 - 1

Interplay: 1,5 – 1

TOTAL: 6 – 5

23. Rais (ALG) – 2
5. Halliche (ALG) – 1,5
22. Mostefa (ALG) - 1
1. Neuer (GER) – 1
13. Mueller (GER) – 1
6. Khedira (GER) – 1
9. Schurrle (GER) – 1
20. Boateng (GER) – 1
13. Slimani (ALG) – 1
10. Feghouli (ALG) - 1
15. Soudani (ALG) – 0,5

17. Mertesacker (GER)- 0,5
18. Kroos (GER) – 0,5

Argentina

The first three matches were won thanks to Lionel Messi’s talent. The Argentina captain scored 4 of the

 team’s 6 goals. Alejandro Sabella’s side never demonstrated anything extraordinary; however, the quality of the play has been getting better. There was much more