[draguer]

Brazil's attacking talent isn't up to the standard of other recent generations.

Comparing Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho with Neymar, Fred and Hulk....no contest.

Looked like a foul in the build up to Oscar's goal, right in front of the referee.

[TheBulldozer]

While the Brazil XI has played well together over the past year, I think Scolari is going to have to change it.

Hulk is not an actual football player. Paulinho looked off the pace as well.

I could see a Willian/Bernard combo in place on anything involving Hulk. Whenever I talked the Selecao with anyone in Brazil last year, Bernard made his way into pretty much any conversation with glowing reviews.

Also, Fernandinho is miles better than Paulinho.

I see more talent in that XI than what was trotted out today.

[Nascimento]

I never said debating the validity of that penalty is questionable, but saying there wasnt a foul on Cesar is ridiculous.

Paulinho was definitely off today. Bernard had a bright sub performance. Oscar was by far the player of the game.

[Bushido]

Haha you guys, do you even watch football?

Plenty of games have poor refereeing without being rigged in any way. It looked like a penalty to me too until I saw the replay.

Brazil were poor though. They lack the flair and easy attacking style of teams of previous generations.

[Neo]

(06-12-2014 01:55 PM)sportbilly Wrote:  

can anybody who is NOT English predict how England will do. Tough group...would be interested to hear some neutral views on how we will do please

I don't think England will get out of the group stage, but of course anything can happen.

[Neo]

Croatia played better than the 3-1 scorecard.

[MidWest]

(06-12-2014 08:13 PM)dreambig Wrote:  

Haha you guys, do you even watch football?

Plenty of games have poor refereeing without being rigged in any way. It looked like a penalty to me too until I saw the replay.

Brazil were poor though. They lack the flair and easy attacking style of teams of previous generations.

I don't know if this applies but remember this during the last world cup and refereeing?

This is really sickening to me ^^^^^ I hope this doesn't happen again in this world cup.

[DjembaDjemba]

Some weak goals conceded by Croatia.

This Brazil team needs to step up its game if it wants to go all the way.

[draguer]

^ Graham Poll is the last person who should be commenting on poor refereeing, after his 3 yellow card debacle.

[Excelsior]

[El Rey]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned how piss poor Croatia's keeper was on the 2 goals and the penalty. On the 2 goals from open play, I didn't think they were going to be anything close to a goal when they left the player's shooting foot. The keeper's legs were stuck in quick sand between the posts. He was so slow to move on those 2 goals. And he should've stopped the penalty when he got his hand on it.

Croatia can complain and cry all they want, but their keeper was piss poor today. That hurt them more than any phantom penalty call.

[big poppa]

Glad I didn't wake up early enough for the game.. What a load of crap with the penalty.
And yeah, Croatia's keeper was poor.

[Vacancier Permanent]

Just finished watching the match. Even as a Brasilian fan, I feel bad for Croatia. They got hard done. A nonexistent penalty against and a perfectly valid goal ruled out. They can hold their head high and if they play like that, they will be very hard to play and can cause do e havoc.

[big poppa]

(06-13-2014 12:13 AM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  

Just finished watching the match. Even as a Brasilian fan, I feel bad for Croatia. They got hard done. A nonexistent penalty against and a perfectly valid goal ruled out. They can hold their head high and if they play like that, they will be very hard to play and can cause do e havoc.

I might throw something on them to get through the group stage. I can see them beating Mexico

[OMYG]

"I might throw something on them to get through the group stage. I can see them beating Mexico"

Croatia will be a challenge to Mexico and they can definitely beat them. The thing one must remember though is that Brazil isin't the best defensively where as Mexico I believe relies on the defensive aspect of the game since its deficiency is attacking and finishing the plays in goals. As said Brazil is a more offensive team and is known for their attackers and creativity which clearly distracts their focus from the defensive side of the game.

If Mexico wants to beat Croatia Mexico will have to bring their A game and finish all their opportunities and defend well, but I think it can go either way which means Mexico can surprise Croatia and vise versa. It can also end in a draw. I wouldn't be surprised by any outcome really anything can happen with these 2.

[Bushido]

England for the win!!

[Que enspastic]

^ germans and their flat asses !

[big poppa]

Give me the Korean chick any day! Followed by the Brazilian.

[poly_72]

Argentina!!

[caracal]

(06-13-2014 04:00 AM)big poppa Wrote:  

Give me the Korean chick any day! Followed by the Brazilian.

^^^ Nah, based purely on the photographs above, Winner: Brazil. Runner-up: Korea

[JJ Roberts]

lol

[Barron]

Just to stoke the flames:

World Cup 2014: Brazil v Croatia referee scandalous - Dejan Lovren

Croatia coach Niko Kovac:

Quote:

If that's a penalty, we don't need to play football anymore... let's play basketball instead

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27827271


Looking forward to Spain - Netherlands!

[kaotic]

I'm not even a big futbol fan but Miguel Herrera is hilarious to watch lol

[Brosemite]

Mexico with a goal disallowed...another bad call which wasn't offsides at all

[big poppa]

And another bad call to rob Mexico