The Football.....

[AndyRM]

Hoping for a Brazil v Morocco final now, because then we technically came third.

(And yes, I know that's not how it works).

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Just shows you can’t leave it to penalties.
You have got to get the game won in 90+30.
Penalties are such a lottery.

They aren't really though. They're a test of skill and courage. What's happened now is that keepers are waiting for the stutter step instead of diving early, which will favourise power penalties again. But stutterers may not be the best power penalty takers, so we might see a few more go over the bar or be a bit tame to the bottom corners

 

[wakemalcolm]

Deutschland, Deutschland, Über ordered.

Are we getting back to the days where the Europeans only won in Europe and the South Americans won the rest?

 

[AndyRM]

They aren't really though. They're a test of skill and courage. What's happened now is that keepers are waiting for the stutter step instead of diving early, which will favourise power penalties again. But stutterers may not be the best power penalty takers, so we might see a few more go over the bar or be a bit tame to the bottom corners

Agreed.

Some of the run ups last night (and recently) are utterly stupid, it's no wonder the striker goes wrong when they've essentially performed Swan Lake before they hit the ball.

Just get it belted.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

It sounds like the Dutch failed to show any of the flair and attacking intent from their demolition of Sweden.
Japan not fit enough?

Not seen the Dutch game.

Japan just seemed to sit back in the second half and invite Brazil on. Perhaps a bit of lacking belief, Brazil were there for the taking.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

They aren't really though. They're a test of skill and courage. What's happened now is that keepers are waiting for the stutter step instead of diving early, which will favourise power penalties again. But stutterers may not be the best power penalty takers, so we might see a few more go over the bar or be a bit tame to the bottom corners

I know why they don't do it as they fear putting it over the bar, but just hit it top corner, even if it is not right in the corner, high and with enough power will never be saved.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Agreed.

Some of the run ups last night (and recently) are utterly stupid, it's no wonder the striker goes wrong when they've essentially performed Swan Lake before they hit the ball.

Just get it belted.

Looks like Scotland's group was, in fact, the group of death. How far do Brazil and Morocco have to go before Clarke has to reconsider his reconsideration of his position?

 

[AndyRM]

Looks like Scotland's group was, in fact, the group of death. How far do Brazil and Morocco have to go before Clarke has to reconsider his reconsideration of his position?

He won't. Sticks to his guns does Stevie, which is part of the problem with the way we played.