FIFA World Cup

[Ramael]

Another team, cheated out of victory.

This time, it was the referee at it.

Guess this world cup will be forever known as the one with all that noise, and all those shit decisions.

Sorry mate, categorically wrong.

Netherlands lucky to make it to the end with 10 men, should have been 9.

Filthy play all round, I agree, but Holland were the worst perpetrators. Which is a shame, because they were doing a great job of hounding the Spanish midfield down and scaring the shit out of their defenders.

Ultimately though, the few chances Spain were creating paid off.

Although it wasn't a great game by anyone's standards, The Better Team Won.

Viva Espana! (my gf's half spanish  )

I wish I was back in Barcelona right now!

[aya]

Saint Iker saved the day :)

[Phobetor]

I'm glad it was INIESTA who scored the goal. Poor little dude kept getting hit left and right lol

I think for a moment there, Netherlands thought HE was the ball >_<

The game wasn't what I expected and honestly, it was disappointing. But towards the end Netherlands was playing downright dirty and Spain was milking the fouls. I think the true winner was:


IKER CASILLAS!!!!!!!! Because he was cock-blocking Netherlands left and RIGHT!!!!

[Goober]

Dude, did you see that crazy kick to the Spaniard's chest? That was like, a Shaolin Soccer worthy moment... I couldn't believe he didn't get the red. Anyways, epic last-minute goal ftw!

[Malina]

Whee! Spain! Well done! 

After the Netherlands were plastered all in yellow (well, not all, only six, at least one of which should have been red), they actually stopped fouling that badly. The rest of the game was more interesting to watch, actually recognisable as football. *grins* But it sure wasn't the best game in this World Cup... Apart from all the rest that went on, Spain was, albeit not nearly at their best, the stronger team in this match, and they did win deservedly. I'm happy for them!

[Remiel]

Yeah, Netherlands really were lucky to escape with 10 men instead of nine...De Jung should really have been ejected for that. There was no chance he could have gotten to the ball.  None.  I'm only surprised Van Bommel survived to the end.

Nevertheless, Holland played the way it knows how to play, which is gritty, scrappy, and with excellent defense.  They shut down the Spanish on numerous occasions.

Spain, in the end, simply proved to have too much talent.  David Villa wore them down, and Iniesta had an amazing kick.  That's all there is to it.

I'm happy for the Spanish; really, they deserve it.  Like I said way back after the game against Switzerland, they were just extraordinarily unlucky not to equalize in that game.

[Rachubka]

Couldn't read everything people posted, but I'm sure no one could really be happy with that game.

Maybe it was just me being bitter having been stamped on in my soccer game just before watching the World Cup final, but Iniesta needed to be escorted to the ocean because he was flopping around like a fish out of water. The second Heitinga yellow was the softest I've seen in a long time. It drove me nuts knowing the winning goal was by Iniesta who acted like he did (didn't mind the Fabregas assist much at all, mind you!)

Robben really should have done better on both his chances, too. Funny though how he didn't fall down after the Puyol challenge like he would if he was making that run on the wing.

[HockeyGod]

¡VIVA ESPAÑA! 

[Nico]

I am SO GLAD that Spain made it.

Seriously, I am disappointed in the Netherlands. They are usually not that rude, but after this performance, they did not deserve it, to be World Champion.

Well done, Spain!!

[Arhys]

I'm still disappointed in the Dutch, but I did think this article was interesting.  Spain's system is very much modeled on the Dutch, and with the history of Dutch coaches at Barcelona that influence is even more amplified. 

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/07/10/world-cup-final-preview-total-football-holland-spain/

[Lord Drake]

I have to say... well done PAUL.

I gather that the octopus has ALWAYS been right... is that correct?? O.o

[Nico]

I have to say... well done PAUL.

I gather that the octopus has ALWAYS been right... is that correct?? O.o

Yep! ~laughs~ And Spain wants to buy him!

[Remiel]

I have to say... well done PAUL.

I gather that the octopus has ALWAYS been right... is that correct?? O.o

Mathematically speaking, the chance of randomly picking all eight World Cup matches correctly is 0.4%, or 255 to 1.  If you consider the possibility that any of the first three matches could have ended in ties, this becomes 0.1%, or 863 to 1.

Either that's one hell of an amazing coincidence, or Paul really does know something we don't.

[Kitsunetsuki]

I'm just very happy Spain won...

¡VIVA ESPAÑA! 

p.s. Hell hath no fury like a woman('s team) scorned...hehehe...Here's to World Cup 2014 in Brazil!!

[Remiel]

Indeed, Kit. Indeed. 

However, Germany's stars are all less than 25.  If Ballack plays, then I shudder to think what they'd be capable of.

Anyway, who knows? Maybe I'll see some of you there.

[Kitsunetsuki]

Anyway, who knows? Maybe I'll see some of you there.

I'll be there with bells on...

No, really...I plan on wearing bells...and whistles...probably not much else hahaha

[Ridcully]

Holland did the best they could do against this Spanish team. And we shouldn't forget that Robben had two chances to score.

The referee wasn't good, but not only for the disadvantage of the Netherlands. My good old Ex-HSV-player de Jong showed once again why he is a risk. He's just not the most clever person around. Great soccer player, but a bit of a mislead character at times.

This generation of Spanish players is just immensely strong. I hope for my German team to break through this in a few years. But seriously: It won't happen. The next generation of stars from Barcelona is already forming, since their "farm team" is way strong, and usually 9 to 10 starters of that team are Spanish. There's already guys in this team who'd normally be playing for first class teams all over the world, or even in national teams. If Xavi and Iniesta stop playing for the national team in a few years, it won't hurt at all. I even think Spain will become stronger within the next 4-6 years and dominate world football for a long, long while still.

As a neutral football fan, this is okay. Every Spanish player is the prototype of a modern football player. Pique is a defensive player, but did you see how this guy can handle a ball? When a guy like Xavi or Iniesta gets the ball, it's like Beethoven or Mozart creating music. Others may be good, but they are just that damn good.

Now, they also don't have the pressure anymore of failing at the big tournaments. Won the Euro, won the World Cup. This team has it all. And new guys are coming after them.

Spain will dominate world football for a very, very long time.

I'm feeling very bad for Mathijsen and Elia, my HSV-players. I'd be so happy to go to the stadium in a month and say I'm gonna see World-Cup champions.

And two more things:

1. Van Bommel: No red card at this World Cup. Am I in bizarro world?
2. Paul: This octopus thing has a natural end soon. Paul is 2 1/2 years old - so way aged for an octopus. Paul will not make it to the next Euro or even World Cup.

[Izu]

Woohoo~ Spain!

But if I have to be honest both teams had a rather weak start. Or maybe they were just equally strong so it seemed like they weren't playing at their best? Dunno... Truth is that there were some brilliant moments for both sides and some very very very ugly moments. My gosh! The kick my poor Xavi Alonso got in the chest??? I was surprised he was able to get up at all after it o.o' But then again Spain didn't play all that nicely either. And even if Robben was angry at the referee about the no free kick situation when he was pressed between those two but managed to get out... well, wtf did he want? He managed to trick them, he managed to shoot a very dangerous ball and it was just a chance that he didn't score. I bet he wouldn't have been shouting and jumping and being angry if he had scored ~_~ But I did feel bad for him at the end. He looked so hard broken.

And poor Torres too. He didn't get his chance and he ended up getting injured again at the end of the game and there was no one to help him. Daw.

And omg! Casillas!! He was a whole new level of awesomeness! And he was smoking hot when he lifted the cup at the end :]]


I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait for Euro 2012!! Germany would have matured by then, most probably turned into the strongest team in Europe, England should get new players by then (that's my guess because all the current ones are old and lazy and blinded by fame), Spain would be still as strong if not stronger, Netherlands too... It will be freaking amazing!!

[Lithos]

[Izu]

Ahahahahaha!!!! xDDD

[Ridcully]

Haha, awesome.

[Nico]

Okay, since the World Cup is over and we have a winner, I am going to lock this tread. Was fun, thanks all!