<p>I didn’t see the Columbia game but I’ve complained about Brazil’s style of play a lot: all individuals, no offensive plays and a ton of defensive indifference. The US and then Belgium showed that defending Germany, which constantly runs combination plays, is to jam the middle to force them to try to cross the ball in from the wings. Brazil didn’t show much midfield to the box defense before this game and they folded when they realized they couldn’t stop Germany without completely changing their game, which was impossible. On offense, even down by 5 or 6 goals, they’d still dribble to try to beat the guys in front of them instead of passing to the open man - or worse, ignoring the potential runner trying to break into the box. A bunch of individuals can’t beat a team when there’s no great talent differential. </p>
<p>This isn’t the first time this has happened to Brazil and they make noise about playing better as a team, but it’s never been this bad and they’ve rarely shown so little on defense or in the midfield. </p>
<p>I was happy for Klose getting #16 and becoming the all-time leading World Cup scorer. Great instinct and anticipation as a striker, plus hard work to get free when needed (though Brazil didn’t do much defending). </p>
<p>Tomorrow has the makings of a great game. I have been looking forward to it.</p>
<p>The Netherlands are missing their defensive center midfielder which probably isnt a positive against Messi. :)</p>
<p>Argentina is missing a forward and Van Persie is sick. </p>
<p>Still…should be great.</p>
<p>Robben missed a chance on a breakaway in the 2010 world cup that may have given the Netherlands the win. The score as 0-0 at the time. I think he said it haunts him. He is playing like a man possessed in this world cup. Messi is Messi.</p>
<p>Robben and Messi have chances to win the Golden Ball. (Germany may have a say in this).</p>
<p>I am going to have world cup withdrawal syndrome after Sunday.</p>
<p>Who is going to win the Netherlands vs. Argentina match? I was thinking that Germany vs. Argentina would make a better world cup final because the countries are so far away. When I think of the netherlands I think of weed, not soccer. </p>
<p>Tomorrow’s game is a rematch of the 1978 World Cup final game between Argentina and Netherlands. If Netherlands wins then it will have a rematch of the 1974 World Cup final game between Netherlands and Germany. If Argentina wins then it will have a rematch of the 1986 and 1990 final games between Argentina and Germany.</p>
<p>If Netherlands wins tomorrow’s game and the final game then it will kills 3 birds with the same stone. I will root for Netherlands.</p>
<p>The Netherlands have had great teams and great players over the years. I love the way they historically have played. Never can win it all though. In 2010, they almost beat a great team from Spain. </p>
<p>Kids all over the world have studied the Coerver technique to become better players.
I agree with Lergnom. Cruyff is in the argument of who is the best player of all time . I used to have a video tape of his career. His skill level was super high. On the tape, he juggled a cigarette box with his body. Pretty damn great.</p>
<p>This year the Netherlands team isnt awesome. We will know tomorrow.</p>
<p>TonyK your description makes it sound like Brazil played like a run-of-the-mill NBA team. Which is apparently what happened. Indifferent to defense.</p>
<p>Many years ago when weed was not legal or tolerated everywhere, I went with a group to Amsterdam. All they seemed to want to do was smoke weed and get high because it was openly tolerated there. </p>
<p>After the second goal, the Brazilians lost their mind, and since the team has never been known for its discipline, the results came fast and furious. This is not much different from the Holland vs Spain game. Once behind, the Spanish played out of position as the defenders wanted to “help the offense.” </p>
<p>What has been shown over and over again in this WC is that keeping the defense organized is key. The teams that have opened it up (including the US) have contributed to entertaining games but also have not done too well. The notable exception being (perhaps) the Netherlands in a couple of games, but then it is good to remember that they started the game against Spain with five defenders and played the counter. </p>
<p>Fwiw, the high score would never have happened outside Brazil as the team would have closed up the defense. Losing by 2-0 in front of their public made them push forward and leave those boulevards in the middle of the defense. </p>
<p>Not that there are many excuses for the way they played. But it happens. Just look at the semifinals of the last two Champions League. </p>
<p>2013 Bayern Munich - Barcelona Total 7–0 Two games 4–0 and 3–0</p>
<p>2014 Real Madrid - Bayern Munich Total 5–0 Two games 4–0 and 1–0</p>
<p>It happens! Of course, a cynic (like me) might point out that the change of coaches by Bayern might have much to do with the scores. After all, the 7-0 slap on Barcelona was when Pep Guardolia was leading the team. Munich hired him and he repeated the same performance, which should have been an omen of the tiki-taka turning into the Titanic. An omen the Spanish payed no heed to until they landed in Barajas. </p>
<p>Speaking about defensive organization, the German coach came to his senses and also dropped the Munich experiment and place Lahm back where he really belongs - at the right back! This solidified the backline that had been exposed by a faster team. </p>
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