<p>I mean I DID get it! 
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<p>The Germans needed only a tie to advance when they played the USA. Once they got their goal, I don’t think they gave it their all, so I’m not gung ho that our goal differential vs. Brazil’s really means much.</p>
<p>If you’ve ever had a kid play sports, you’ve witnessed a game such as happened with Germany vs. Brazil. Sometimes it happens that once the floodgates open, chaos ensues. It’s almost like an animal who has drawn blood on its prey, and once it smells it, nothing is stopping him. Germany and Brazil could probably play 15 more games and that would never happen again. </p>
<p>I just hope the final displays some exciting play. If I have to watch defenders pass the ball back and forth to each other and to the keeper all game, I’m going to be pretty disappointed.</p>
<p>“Please ESPN, no more shots of crying Brazilians. Can’t they find any of the 1000 Germans in the stadium?”</p>
<p>Anyone see the follow-up photo of the elderly Brazilian clutching the fake trophy in sorrow? Someone took a second photo of him smiling and passing the trophy over to a German fan telling her to take it to the final game. So sweet!</p>
<p>My pick has been Germany because they play best as a team, particularly on offense. The main worry was their defense and it’s been fine. Argentina hasn’t shown much - lot of standing around on offense waiting for Messi to do something - but if they have di Maria back and play with energy on offense … they are much better on defense than Brazil and I’m sure they understand the importance of stopping the German combination plays into the middle of the box. </p>
<p>Nigeria managed two goals against Argentina by playing a physically attacking game. Everyone else has been shut out by Argentina’s defense and has created very few chances.</p>
<p>Look for a physical game and Mueller falling down a lot to try for free kicks.</p>
<p>After dozing through Netherlands v Argentina it occurred to me that it might be more interesting to do penalty kicks first, so the outcome of a regular game tie would be known in advance. Either that or sudden death in overtime with no time limit. </p>
<p>I’m rooting for Argentina. Germany won’t play as well as they did against Brazil and I look for them to be behind at the half. The referee will not let a dive determine who wins the World Cup. </p>
<p>One person’s tactical snoozefest is another’s brilliantly played tactical chess match. I would be very happy if the final played out like Argentina/Holland.</p>
<p>I admire Germany but I want Argentina to win tomorrow. Germany bullied Brasil. I stand up against bullies :-* .</p>
<p>The real question-- now that the World Cup is over, how many of you will continue to follow your local club? I hope you will follow the team whether it is MLS, NASL USL Pro. If you have a NWSL team, you should be supporting it too.</p>
<p>“The real question-- now that the World Cup is over, how many of you will continue to follow your local club?”</p>
<p>Probably very few.</p>
<p>We have season tickets to the Toronto FC, and my four year old granddaughter is playing this year, so soccer isn’t over in our house. :)</p>
<p>Ummmm…the World Cup is not over. 8-| </p>
<p>I apologize I should have said “almost over”</p>
<p>Two games left! :(</p>
<p>Interesting that Silva wasn’t red carded, and then Robben gets a yellow for…?</p>
<p>I probably will not follow much local soccer, but, as I do with the Olympics, will get excited in 2 years for the women’s and 4 years for the next World Cup. And I will talk enthusiastically against anyone who says soccer is a boring game.</p>
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<p>I have often used similar arguments to “explain” that a 0-0 game could be a lot more exciting than a 5-0 one-sided game to my friends who compare soccer to football or basketball. </p>
<p>There are, however, differences between 0-0 games. How different were the Belgium-USA and Holland-Argentina games in terms of emotions, chances, and excitement? </p>
<p>What is it that people will remember from this WC? The desire to play offensively or the great tactical defenses? One can LOVE the tactics, appreciate a well-designed defense, and understand a low scoring game, and still recognize that a game with two offensive teams makes for a better spectacle! </p>
<p>Argentina does what it is does best and that includes frustrating its opponents by keeping the game very tight in the midfield and hoping to capitalize on one of their few chances, even if that deprives Messi of a complete game. </p>
<p>Applauding the effectiveness does not preclude one to wonder how the WC would have been if every team followed a similar strategy! Do we wish for Italy to revert to the days of the catenaccio or to give us more of Pirlo’s prowess? </p>
<p>Anyone know who is calling the final? I haven’t been able to find it.</p>
<p>Rizzoli </p>
<p>Germany and Argentina contested the final of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy™ and an Italian referee will officiate as the same countries meet in the 2014 decider. Nicola Rizzoli, a 42-years-old an architect from Bologna, has already refereed three matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, taking charge of Spain-Netherlands and Nigeria-Argentina in the group stages and the quarter-final between Argentina and Belgium.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=7/news=nicola-rizzoli-to-referee-final-2403526.html”>http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=7/news=nicola-rizzoli-to-referee-final-2403526.html</a></p>
<p>^^^Hmm, interesting.</p>