Seems I just missed a great second half against Spain. I switched off at halftime, because I watched the Mexico-Cameroon match and the first half of the Dutch game, and had enough football for one day.

:-?

Germany? Outsider chances only this time, I think. The team is neither in top form, nor in best player setup. And the past months went not well. I do not have them on the list for the title.

Good result:

Chile 3 Australia 1.

@Skybird: never discount the Germans.

Quite expected. Can't see us scoring a goal against either Spain or Netherlands. We'll be home before the quarters start.:roll:

If it should have gone by the books of the Danish football expert Chile would have won with 6-7 goal and 2-3 Australian would have got the red card.

Maybe I was watching an another game, ´cause I thought Aus. played well.

Markus

They played well but made too few chances and left too many holes in defence at times. Chile played a differnt game to the one the Aussies have been used to playing and whilst they did OK, I don't think they adapted well.

Given they are a younger side than previous cups, It looks like there might be a better chance next year, but with this cup draw they've got no hope of progressing.

Disagree. Their conversion rate was poor. They had a myriad of chances, in particular from the mid point of second half to closing stages, and they didn't convert. They broke Chile's defense well, played the counter game well, but just didn't convert well.
You will get punished in World Cups if you don't convert.

I was surprised they did as well as they did, they played with a lot of heart.

Agree on the rest of your summation. :salute:

Useless Spain cost me 110 quid :wah: but well played the Dutch :yep:

Nothing to sneeze at.

Could you imagine what the Dutch yesterday would have done to the German "defence"? - Kindling in matches' size.

And the German "offence" in past months was anything but convincing.

Will they suddenly rise like Phoenix from the ashes? Will the key players who were not fit days ago, suddenly be? Monday evening we will see. I think Portugal has 60:40 chances.

They played a lot better than many thought they would....early days and England are on at 2300 GMT tonight, just after I finish so may well stop up until things start going bad.

The matches all of Europe want to see (in any order of priority of your choosing):

Germany v Holland
Germany v England
Germany v France

Germany was dominant in the1940 season but failed dismally in the return 4 years later. ;)


Sorry forgot that I wasn't meant to mention the w...

To be absolutely realistic here, the Spanish defenders looked like amateurs, a far cry from a world champion outfit.
If you put up the amateurish behaviour of the Spanish rear guard to the Verteidiger von der Mannschaft i think it would not have been a rout. Far from it.
It's unrealistic to compare the performance of Spain to another team, knowing full well that many teams could have and are better than that performance.

Convincing. What do you expect? A 5:1 drubbing of every opponent in every qualifying and friendly game before a major tournament?
Hardly. Results matter. And let's face it, since 2006, die Mannschaft has come full circle, shed its italian-like dour and drab defensive game tactics, playing open and fast attacking football. Let's not forget what they recently did to Argentina, England. Although of course that will be evident to a lesser extent here in Brazil due to the climate.
Wo ist Deine Treue zu der Mannschaft :woot:




Rise from what? A record qualifying phase to get to Brazil? Or are you talking about...> Yes, Jogy has already confirmed Neuer, Schweini und Lahm will be there at the Portugal match. I watch the Presse Konferenzen mit dem Bundes Trainer und Spielern von dem Kamp In Brazil. You are very generous. History and overall quality is against Portugal. The only thing that may give some advantage to them is the humidity. But that can be countered with clever break phases in the match and clever use of substitutions.

*Fixed*