Fantasy World Cup Live Match Chat Last 16, Day 2
Welcome to the last 16 of the World cup – or the round of 16 as some choose to call it, or the first knockout stage. In fact, call it what you want – either way, it’s sudden death time – lose and you go home, outta here, offski and this will likely mean that your coach resigns or gets the chop or in England’s case receives a pat on the back and a “bad luck old chap”.
Sunday sees LVG’s Netherlands take on the bandits of Mexico in a clash which sees the great entertainers try to prise through a stubborn and tight defence. The late game is your chance to surprise your partner – turn off the telly and make their day with the comment, “i think i need a break from the World Cup darling, let’s go out for a drink” – little will they realise that Costa Rica vs Greece is about to start, you’ve chucked in your cheap defenders on the off chance for a clean sheet and the brownie points are banked for the week’s more exciting matches.
Monday is Europe vs Africa day. France vs Nigeria get’s us going – hopefully goals is the order of the day and a game akin to Nigeria’s 3-2 loss to Argentina will do very nicely, thanks lads. The evening gives us another viewing of ze Germans as zey take on ze plucky, mucky, lucky (delete as per your personal preference) Algerians. Both European sides will be favourites to go through, but it’s been a World Cup of surprises thus far so mustn’t count our chickens quite yet.
The final day of the round sees the Argies back on display as they attempt to neutralise the Swiss – that shouldn’t be tricky. However, with the likes of di Maria and Higuain quiet so far and Aguero injured (obviously), it’s been down to little Leo to carry the Argies through the group. Easy then, mark Messi out the game and you’ll be fine – how many times have we heard that before?! Switzerland’s only chance of course is if Shaqiri turns on the style and his hat-trick vs Honduras will leave him feeling on top of his game.
The round is concluded as Belgium take on the US of A. Could be a tough one to call this as Belgium have hardly set the tournament on fire as yet, while the Yanks have surprised many with their courage and adventure. Klinsmann of course, has been here before and knows what it takes to get through this stage of the tournament and there’ll surely be cries of “Mashed potato” and “You’re the man” if awesome talisman Dempsey can lead America through to the quarters, or quarter finals, or last 8, or the round of 8…..we’ve gone full circle here.
Enjoy, select your squad’s wisely and good luck.
This is only going one way now!!
Yeah, Costa Rica need a miracle.
Regardless of what happens with the penalties,well played Costa Rica!!!!
+ 1
So I picked the two Costa Ricans to be subbed off…. And Manolas is hardly setting this game alight. Anyone getting a decent score out of this match? It’s another tense finish!
Doubt it Pippin, all my guys from this one are dust tomorrow. Bring on the Frenchies and Germans…
well have to say i enjoy extra time in that one , worth missing kasabian @ glasto
Quite amazing that Karnezis has no save points after 120 mins.
Quite annoying also, subbed out Cillessen for him. Going to have to rely on Mbolhi against the Krauts
Anyone know if Gamboa will have a CS added in mirror, since he was subbed before the goal was conceded? Didn’t find anything about it in the rules.
Yaaaaay CS added
Lol @ Aussie ref. Sending the coach of Greece away or not? Bwahaha. No authority. He need’s a bit of Cartman in him. Respect My Authoritah! Anyway, his last match. Hopefully not Costa Rica’s last match. They had 2 penalty series the last couple of years and lost both. COME ON GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Costa RICA MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feel sorry for Gekas but very happy for Costa Rica.
Raz what do you think about Costa Rica as Netherlands next opponent? They have looked efficient on the counter-attack; think they can give the Netherlands trouble?
Don’t know. Greece were terrible though, even against 10 players they refused to go for it. They deserved to lose this match. Also, freaking coach gets send away just before penalty shootout. How bad is that for your team? Feel sorry for Gekas like I said before, that’s why I hate penalty shoot outs. The guy that makes the last miss usually … sighs.
Anyway. Can’t tell, I figured Australia would be the easiest opponent in the group stage and they were the hardest. I think our squad will be more fit than Costa Rica. Van Gaal made them fitness beasts. Ball can go either way. Think Costa Rica is a bigger challenge than Greece though.
Netherlands should win because they (can I say we because I’ve supported Netherlands since I was a kid?) are a better team than Costa Rica, however the same could be said for Italy and Uruguay (not England haha). Still, I think the Dutch have played better against teams were they can lay back and counter-attack, but that’s exactly what Costa Rica will do against them. Think it will be tough, but the individual talents of the Dutch (Robben especially) should see them through imo.
That’s cool. Have I ever told you I support the Dutch? 😛
Anyway, Holland haven’t been the same as they were before 2010. Changed tactics, formations, style of play. Didn’t like the football in 2010 but we reached the final with ease (only hard game was against Brazil). Final was a nightmare with de Jong and van Bommel that should’ve been red carded. Still, that’s something that sticks to mind, saw the last game of Belgium were Defour tried to injure someone for life (those the are the ones you tend to forget).
Anyway, same for this tournament. Playing 5-3-2 is normally not our cup of tea. Van Gaal had to adjust this team to make it through the group stage, I get it. In all honesty, they still played better in every second half where they usually went from 5-3-2 to 4-3-3 (Dutch comfort zone). Since the defense is still crap we’ll probably start with 5-3-2 against next game (van Gaal calls it something else, I think he calls it 3-5-2, lol).
Anyway, yeah. From all the opponents left in the WC, we should be able to beat Costa Rica. But again, you never know. Think fitness is important and from what I’ve seen tonight from both countries I think the Dutch are fitter.
Oooh Tekno. One thing I do know, I don’t want to let it go to penalty shootouts, lol. Costa Rica was perfect (apart from 1 penalty taker).