FIFA World Cup 2014: Germany and Algeria

Germany

Joachim Loew’s team is determined to win every single match in this tournament. This was obvious during their last group match against USA, where even a draw would win the group for Germany. The coach was so nervous, as if the team was losing a semi-final. And, of course, there could be no talk about a stalemate with the former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann. Germany had already destroyed

FIFA World Cup 2014: France and Nigeria

Netherlands – Mexico 2-1: Miguel Herrera’s change into ultra defensive tactics already after 60 minutes left Mexico out of the World Cup.

Defence: 1,5 – 1,5                                

Midfield: 1,5 – 1,5

Attack:1,5 – 1,5

Interplay: 1,5 – 1,5

TOTAL: 6 – 6

13. Ochoa (MEX) – 1,5
11. Robben (NED) – 1,5

6. Herrera (MEX) – 1,5

4. R. Marquez (MEX) – 1

7. Layun (MEX) – 1

20. Aquino (MEX) – 0,5

10. Dos Santos (MEX) – 0,5

21. Depay (NED) – 0,5

Costa Rica – Greece 1-1 (5-3 pen.): Greece’s passive football in the extra time prevented the team from earning a quarterfinal-place.

Defence: 1 – 1

Midfield: 0,5 – 1

Attack: 0,5 - 1

Interplay: 1 - 1

TOTAL: 3 – 4

20. Cholebas (GRE) – 1,5

4. Manolas (GRE) – 1

1. Navas (CRC) - 1
19. Sokratis (GRE) - 1
9. Campbell (CRC) - 1

10. Ruiz (CRC) – 0,5

7. Bolanos (CRC) – 0,5

7. Samaras (GRE) – 0,5

France

One of the most impressive teams of the group stage was Didier Deschamps’s France. Easily beating Honduras and smashing Switzerland, the team played the last match using the reserve. A very young and enthusiastic team of France uses an attacking 4-3-3 formation, where wingbacks turn into wingers, central midfielders are also forwards, and the winger Valbuena is the playmaker. But everything turns around

FIFA World Cup 2014: Costa Rica and Greece

Costa Rica

The biggest surprise of the World Cup 2014 is surely the team of Jorge Luis Pinto. Given no chance to earn a single point in a group full of former World champions, Costa Rica not only managed to qualify to the next round, but also win the group. They didn’t give up after they lost the first half to Uruguay in the first match, coming out of the dressing room and utilizing their chances. Their greatly organized tactics is based on

a disciplined defence. The technically strong dispatcher Bolanos, alongside with the captain Ruiz in the midfield, and the quick striker Campbell are always there to bite when a chance for a set piece or a counterattack is there. To be fair, the first two matches against Uruguay and Italy were won predominantly thanks to lousiness of the arrogant opponents, who surely had underestimated Costa Rica. The last match didn’t decide anything for England, so Costa Ricans, didn’t struggle much holding a goalless draw.

A huge self-confidence built after the group stage is going to be the biggest advantage in the match against Greece. The fans and a negative pattern for European teams make Costa Rica a favourite to win this match. Against such an opponent as Greece the team will have to take the initiative and create danger. This might be something new for the team used to be an underdog.         

 

Matches played: 3

Goals scored - conceded: 4 - 1

Topscorer (s): Campbell, Duarte, Urena, Ruiz (all - 1)  

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

Final place among 32: 8-9

Chances to win the World Cup: 2,11%

Greece

Greece started the tournament with a hard 0-3 defeat from Colombia, and then played more than half of the

match with 10 men against Japan. Only one point and no scored goals was the starting point before the third group match. It became one of the most dramatic one in the tournament, as Fernando Santos had to make two substitutes already in the beginning of the match. However, the teams scored its first goal against an Ivorian team, which was determined to defend a draw, but not good at it at all. After conceding the equalizer on 74^th minute, Greeks were almost

FIFA World Cup 2014: Netherlands and Mexico

Brazil – Chile 1-1 (3-2 pen.): Chile – a proud way to leave the World Cup

Defence: 1 – 1

Midfield: 1,5 – 1,5

Attack: 1,5 – 1
Interplay: 1,5 – 1,5

TOTAL: 5,5 - 5

1. Bravo (CHI) – 1,5

7. Alexis Sanchez (CHI) – 1,5

10. Neymar (BRA) - 1

12. Julio Cesar (BRA) - 1

21. Diaz (CHI) – 1

8. Vidal (CHI) - 1

7. Hulk (BRA) - 1

4. David Luiz (BRA) – 0,5

Colombia – Uruguay 2-0: Colombia beat toothless Uruguay  

Defence: 1,5 - 1

Midfield: 1,5 - 1

Attack: 1,5 – 0,5

Interplay: 2 - 1

TOTAL: 6,5 – 3,5

10. James Rodriguez (COL) - 2

11. Cuadrado (COL) - 1

2. Zapata (COL) – 1

3. Yepes (COL) - 1

1. Ospian (COL) – 0,5

3. Godin (URU) – 0,5

Netherlands

The fabulous start of the World Cup with a 5-1 win over the champions of the World makes the Netherlands big favourites in the eyes of many experts. The interesting tactics by Louis van Gaal, where he fills the defence with many inexperienced players who fight for the ball and send it to the great

FIFA World Cup 2014: Colombia and Uruguay

Colombia

Without Radamel Falcao Jose Pekerman’s team was surely expected to qualify from a relatively easy group,

but not play so well. The way the team won all of its three matches makes many pundits put their money on Colombia’s advancement. Despite the fact that Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan showed their best against Colombia, the South Americans were always ahead of their opponents. Especially impressive was

FIFA World Cup 2014: Brazil and Chile

Brazil

The hosts won their group and are in the 1/8 finals, as projected. Not everything has been perfect so far. The

tournament started with an own goal by Marcelo in a match where only a controversial penalty gave them a lead. Then it was the time for a goalless draw, and finally a bright match against Cameroon. The overall impression is that

FIFA World Cup 2014: Analysis after the group stage

Time to say goodbye to half of the 2014 FIFA World Cup participants! 16 teams were not good enough to continue the fight for the most valuable trophy in the world of football. The pairs of 1/8 finals are known, the bracket is filled. Now we know that a Brazil-Argentina final is possible, but Germany cannot meet Brazil in the final. Maximum two South American teams can reach semi-finals. Only one of former World champions Brazil, Uruguay, France and Germany can

FIFA World Cup 2014: Climax day in Group G and Group H

USA – Germany 0-1: In a match, where both of the teams only needed an official confirmation of their advancement, there was not much happening on the pitch. The teams had their main players to start the match. The clash between two former allies, Jurgen Klinsmann and Joachim Loew, looked like a friendly match. Germany would be happy with a draw, which would win the group for them, and USA would be happy to leave Portugal and Ghana behind. Miroslav Klose was given a half to find his record-breaker, but it was

FIFA World Cup 2014: Will Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal be eliminated?

Group G

1. Germany 4

2. USA 4

3. Ghana 1

4. Portugal 1

Last matches: USA – Germany, Portugal – Ghana

Germany will qualify a) if the team doesn’t lose, b) if the team loses to USA, and the parallel match ends in a draw, c) if the team loses to USA, and still has got a better goal difference than the winner of the parallel match. The current goal differences: Germany +4, Ghana -1, Portugal -4. A scenario, where Germany can advance could be: USA – Germany 2-0,