It's evenly balanced... except Argentina have Messi.
Final - Germany vs. Argentina
- Thread starter gooDevil
- Start date
I don't think anyone will "boss" it necessarily. It's a World Cup final. Argentina will put up a fight, anything else would both surprise and disappoint me.
It's also amusing how Messi has all of a sudden become a player who can be easily dealt with because of his perceived laziness. He's the most dangerous footballer in the world, off form or not. It only takes a moment of magic to turn a game of football on its head - and if anyone is capable of producing that, he is.
Indeed. Di Maria will help the midfield and Messi would be in a more free role when he can be as much lazy as he wants.
It is gonna be a good and very balanced final IMO. Some people have in memory only the game against Brazil, but Germany struggled against Ghana and needed extra time against Algeria (when Algeria could have won the game too). Argies have a good front four that can make all kind of problems for Germany (although I think that it'll be Higuain up front with one of Aguero-Lavezzi on the wing).
? They will park the bus and make 1.000 000 tactical fouls just as well as they did against - cough - Holland.I have a good feeling.
Our squad and quality is superior to Argentinas. And they are not as defensive as Holland, that could have troubled us.
we will all love to see a very balanced game, but the truth is that they are way better than us
but playing the final game in the maracana, for argentina, is still a great acomplishment, i'm delighted and i think we made it further than i ever thought
but playing the final game in the maracana, for argentina, is still a great acomplishment, i'm delighted and i think we made it further than i ever thought
Yep, that could happen - and it could, potentially, make them even stronger if both Higuain and Aguero turn up in reasonable shape.
I'd say that in theory Argentina can field a quartet up front which is significantly better than what Löw seemingly prefers - including an Özil who has looked pretty underwhelming thus far.
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I doubt very much, that Aguero will be part of the starting 11 against Germany. He and Palacio were rather useless when they came in against the Dutch after 80 minutes. My guess is that the team sheet will look pretty much the same as it did in the semifinal. If Di Maria can play, either Lavezzi or Enzo Perez will probably be left out, depending on Sabellas tactical plans.
Hehe. No jinx. We get it, mate.
Yes, I think so too - I was just jotting down what they could field ideally (and not entirely unrealistically). But Higuain will probably start up front, sure. He's looked a bit on and off so far but on his day he's a very good striker - certainly not worse than old man Klose.
At least that's what the numbers suggest. Cakir had a shocker in my opinion. Your lot were lunging in on Van Persie and Robben dangerously from the second half onwards, esp where there was a remote chance of a counter-attack. Not many of those were signalled as fouls, though. It was a bit bizzare at times.
You are absolutely right with regard to Higuain, I've already corrected that on my initial post....
Biglia will surely play partnering Mascherano. He has played very well in his role, I don't see Sabella dropping him
Argentina of 2006 were so good. Germany barely crossed the half way line all game only scoring from the single mini chance they had. On Sunday I expect Argentina to win comfortably 5-0.
If this goes to a penalty shootout, who do you guys think will win? Both seem to have very good records in penalties.
On form I'd say the Germans will maul the Argies. But I also thought the Dutch would take a few goals off them so what the hell do I know?!
that argies team would be one of the least spectacular winners ever. yes, there is messi, who would become an even greater legend. but who else will be remembered as the 2014 world cup winners? will they become legends like eg the following names?
in 2010: xavi, iniesta, puyol, casillas...legends.
in 2006: pirlo, totti, cannavaro, buffon...legends.
in 2002: ronaldo, cafu, roberto carlos, rivaldo... legends.
in 1998: zidane, henry, thuram, vieira...legends.
in 2010: xavi, iniesta, puyol, casillas...legends.
in 2006: pirlo, totti, cannavaro, buffon...legends.
in 2002: ronaldo, cafu, roberto carlos, rivaldo... legends.
in 1998: zidane, henry, thuram, vieira...legends.
Argentina: Messi, Aguero, Mascherano
Germany : Lahm, Neuer, Klose, Muller, Kroos, Schweinsteiger,
players like masch, aguero or di maria are big names, but nobodys compared to the legends i listed. or will they become as big as rivaldo, pirlo, henry or iniesta by winning the wc?
Henry, Thuram, Vieira became legends years after the 98 wc win, so i think they could reach those heights in the future.
Not so sure about that. I see a lot of Bayern mentality in the team. And since Heynckes, I got the feeling they learned that the power balance can shift really hard into their favour after the first goal, especially if it's done early. I think it's part of their away strength. They strive playing somewhere else and shutting fans up with a goal. I think they love shellshocking the opponent into submission. Brazil is probablly just the worst possible outcome of that strategy, but I think it wasn't accidental. That early goal is part of the strategy.
My bet is they will try to control the game tthe first ten minutes and once they feel defensively comfortable (I swear you can see it on the field almost every time), they ramp up the gear and go for a goal as hard as they can and then see how it develops. I'm betting money on that to happen at the final. Once they get the feeling they control Messi and thus the engine of Argentine's attack, they'll go on the offensive.
Germany will win and i think they will do it quite easily.
A comfortable 3-1 victory.
A comfortable 3-1 victory.
I wish I had words of encouragement like last time, but I don't. There's nothing to do against these Germans, I'm afraid you're going to know how Poland felt in 1939, mate.
RIP Argentina
i'm walking on sunshine yeah yeah and
RIP
I wish I had words of encouragement like last time, but I don't. There's nothing to do against these Germans, I'm afraid you're going to know how Poland felt in 1939, mate.
RIP Argentina
RIP
Games like these are where legends are made though. If Messi is a true great like Maradona and Pele, he'll show up on Sunday and lead you towards the title against this fantastic German side. It's only international success that separates him from the very best players ever imo.i'm walking on sunshine yeah yeah and
RIP
I can't see it happening though in all honesty, this German team is just too good.
Why are most of you writing off Argentina? Yes, Germany outplayed Brazil completely, but that game was also a combination of a collective breakdown of Brazil and great efficiency from the Germans. But it is still worth noting that they struggled against teams like Algeria, Ghana, USA and France, not to mention that they have a tendency to bottle it in important games as of late. So far in this WC, Argentina seem to have a good defensive organisation in contrast to WC 2010. They won't get absolutely destroyed as they did four years ago, although they do need a fit Di Maria to have a real winning chance. My take on the final is that it will be a much more even game than many of you think.
4-1 Germany
If Argentina win it on penalties, I'll think it's a bigger shock than that 7-1.
Germany have NEVER lost a WC penalty shootout.
if you play that many semis/finals, you are more likely to lose many semis/finals. so i dont get the point here.
its argentinas first semifinal since 1990(?) this year. so they havent lost a semi or a final since 24 years. does it mean they dont tend to bottle in big games? no. it means they werent even good enough to play these games, so they bottled it earlier, and on a more regular basis. just like 2006 and 2010, when ze germans ended argentinas world cup campaigns.
Now that's going overboard.
I think an even bigger shock then the German's losing in penalties is the fact that i agree with cal.
Neuer in goal and the stone faced germans losing a penalty shootout? Then again, we can look at Bayern vs Chelsea (but by god, Romero is definitely no Cech).
Neuer in goal and the stone faced germans losing a penalty shootout? Then again, we can look at Bayern vs Chelsea (but by god, Romero is definitely no Cech).
yeah, right.
In the final Argentina IMO should field the same midfield against Netherlands with Mascherano, Biglia and Enzo Perez. It provides a good balance : Mascherano and Biglia are great at breaking up play, especially Mascherano who is brilliant and a good leader. Enzo Perez is a good surprise, very composed , good on the ball, hard working and created some nice play. He contributes to both defence and offence a lot. Against Netherlands after he was replaced by Palacio at about 70 minutes, Argentina started losing midfield. Netherlands looked like they could score after that. If Perez shares more responsbility of Messi in the playmaking department, that could allow Messi, who played very deep against Netherlands, play more upfront and be more dangerous against Germany.
Lavezzi should definitely start ahead of Aguero, who isn't in good form and doesn't contribute as much as Lavezzi to defence. Di Maria is the 2nd most important attacker after Messi to make things happen but he tends to lose the ball a lot and it can be very costly against a team like Germany. In that way it's probably a blessing in disguise to play Perez instead against Germany. Since he is unlikely fully fit for the final, the best possible case is to make to the bench and used as an impact sub in the 2nd half or possibly ET.
Lavezzi should definitely start ahead of Aguero, who isn't in good form and doesn't contribute as much as Lavezzi to defence. Di Maria is the 2nd most important attacker after Messi to make things happen but he tends to lose the ball a lot and it can be very costly against a team like Germany. In that way it's probably a blessing in disguise to play Perez instead against Germany. Since he is unlikely fully fit for the final, the best possible case is to make to the bench and used as an impact sub in the 2nd half or possibly ET.
how many german pen shootouts have been there? 4?
and how many games have brazil played at world cups?
If I'm not mistaken, Germany won 4 penalty shootout in WC.
Argentina's penalty record in WC is also very good : 4 wins and 1 loss.
Argentina is the only team that had two penalty shootout wins in the same WC, in 1990.
I won't be too surprised if Argentina indeed beat Germany in penalty.
Argentina is the only team that had WON 2 penalty shootouts in 1 tournament, plenty of teams have had 2.
Anyway, note who Argentina lost to in their only PK defeat?
It doesn't really matter, the size of sample in the World Cup is too small to draw any conclusions. You could never guess Brazil losing by 6 goals at home in a World Cup semifinal, penalties are a different subject -anyone can win or lose them. 7 out of 11 Germany players play for Bayern who lost a CL shootout to Chelsea, they could lose again.
That's exactly what I wrote.
Indeed. My apologies.