Last night's games really lived up to their billing. Brazil and Chile was a great game - both teams going at it, the threat of goals ever-present and the threat of red cards also seemingly high. Chile looked the better team on balance, but the home advantage seemed to lift Brazil and they always carried a threat. The theme of course; one which is endemic across the tournament, is that neither defence looked very strong.
In the end, the width of the post denied Chile in the shoot-out, as had the crossbar in the final minute of extra time. A really crappy way to go out of the tournament, but they can be proud of their efforts. Few will be disappointed to see Brazil still in the tournament, as things always go a bit flat once the hosts bow out. I'll also enjoy those anthems carrying on. If anything sums up England's utter failure in big competitions of late, it is the passionless mumblings we do in the anthems, which sets the tone for the game afterwards.
The second game of the evening saw Uruguay do the inevitable and lose without Suarez. His team mates, for want of a better phrase, must be utterly fucked off with his antics. After all of the initial denials, he now claims that he lost balance and only regained it by safely lodging his teeth into Chiellini's shoulder. A common way to regain balance that one, why put your hands out when you can pivot from your molars. He should have got an extra month or two for the total lack of any acknowledgement or acceptance of his ways.
Columbia, by the way, are rapidly becoming a team to watch. To be honest, I've kind of viewed them as the South American Switzerland - largely irrelevant. I'm proving that general media conditioning works, to the point that Columbia and Costa Rica both look awful on paper (by virtue of not having superstar players). Columbia though score two absolute pearlers, and put in a sound performance. It will be interesting to see them play Brazil.
Now I'm watching Holland vs Mexico, which is tough to call. In the heat, there's got to be a real chance for Mexico to progress beyond their customary second round exit.
And later is Costa Rica vs Greece. I'm starting to get a growing feeling that Greece might pull off the impossible. They actually played really well in their last match, and have probably the tournament's best defence. Surely not!?
In the end, the width of the post denied Chile in the shoot-out, as had the crossbar in the final minute of extra time. A really crappy way to go out of the tournament, but they can be proud of their efforts. Few will be disappointed to see Brazil still in the tournament, as things always go a bit flat once the hosts bow out. I'll also enjoy those anthems carrying on. If anything sums up England's utter failure in big competitions of late, it is the passionless mumblings we do in the anthems, which sets the tone for the game afterwards.
The second game of the evening saw Uruguay do the inevitable and lose without Suarez. His team mates, for want of a better phrase, must be utterly fucked off with his antics. After all of the initial denials, he now claims that he lost balance and only regained it by safely lodging his teeth into Chiellini's shoulder. A common way to regain balance that one, why put your hands out when you can pivot from your molars. He should have got an extra month or two for the total lack of any acknowledgement or acceptance of his ways.
Columbia, by the way, are rapidly becoming a team to watch. To be honest, I've kind of viewed them as the South American Switzerland - largely irrelevant. I'm proving that general media conditioning works, to the point that Columbia and Costa Rica both look awful on paper (by virtue of not having superstar players). Columbia though score two absolute pearlers, and put in a sound performance. It will be interesting to see them play Brazil.
Now I'm watching Holland vs Mexico, which is tough to call. In the heat, there's got to be a real chance for Mexico to progress beyond their customary second round exit.
And later is Costa Rica vs Greece. I'm starting to get a growing feeling that Greece might pull off the impossible. They actually played really well in their last match, and have probably the tournament's best defence. Surely not!?
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