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

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