Absolutely delighted the Dutch injected some swagger into the World Cup last night. Diego Costa continued the pattern this week of Brazilian born players profiting from a tumble inside the box, gifting Spain an early lead from the penalty spot, but the Dutch were irresistible.
Exactly how they managed to improve their performance against Spain, four years after losing the World Cup Final with the imperious Edson Braafheid, is a mystery of the modern game.
Netherlands scored all those goals and created even more chances with a meagre 36% possession. If they were German, we would be reverting to the national stereotype that they were the epitome of ‘efficiency’.
Speaking of the Germans, I’ve always had a lot of time for Franz Beckenbauer, but to find himself banned from football for coming up short in a matter with the words “Fifa” and “ethics” in it, must make him the most notorious German since, erm, well, in quite a long time. With his former Bayern Munich teammate Uli Honess due to be jailed this month for financial maleficence, it’s better to assume no one in the game is above sticking his snout in the trough.
The soul of football depends on the outcome of this Fifa investigation; no one should be above its reach. Beckenbauer’s provisional ban should be verified. Kick him out the game.
Fantastic stuff on the blog yesterday from Bertie Auld; what an honour to have these great guys among us. I’m heading to the Celtic Shop on Argyle St today where Bertie, Tommy Gemmell and John Hughes will be signing books between 13:00 and 16:00. If you’re in town I’ll see you there.
The Big Cup’s going to be there, so bring a camera.
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Doc
Has he not been given a free role behind the strikers?
Aguero wud need to get the finger out too
I can see a Bosnia equaliser here
The_Huddle, very likely, but he is subdued, fair point about the last few months at club level.
Bhoylo83, they are playing better, but I think, 2-0, why? Messi is seeing more of the ball, they are trying to move the ball quicker, hasn’t clicked yet, but I think it will.
Slow starters win this tournament,
Bosnians tiring now, could be a few goals
The_huddle
I know how they feel…
craigwhitesoptometrist
Not having seen your betting slip I’m guessing, but is it possible that the bet you placed was actually for the time when a booking would occur?
And with no booking occurring, that is why it is down as a dud?
(Not suggesting that is what you intended to bet, but maybe that is what has been placed?)
Or else, the bet is that between 70 and 80 minutes there will be 0.5 bookings and if there was one in, say the 23rd minute, that even though there was no bookings given between 70 and 80 minutes, there was already more than 0.5 bookings at that time due to the earlier one.
Or else the bookies have made an arse of it.
Goooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllll
Messi.
Wow
genius Messi
Yeeeeeeeeooooooooooooooo
Lots of egg on lots of faces
Not before time!
Ehmm, telt ye.
Remarkable.
Deflected, og :o)
Hopefully this is it, the Messi show
Hahaha
Wat do i know
Glad I stayed up, just to see that. Stunner.
Messi first goal @ 5/1 :)
Ronaldo my arse :-)
Hopefully this is start of it now for messi would love for him to prove once and for all he is the greatest
I’m hoping Ronaldo scores 2 for Portugal and Messi then responds :o) though they are playing Ze Germans so unlikely
How do you solve a problem like Di Maria?
You put him in your FF team with Robben and reap the money :o)
Robben could end up player of the tournie. He was awesome against Spain.
2001?
2-1
How many times???!!!
Why are things never simple
Got to love that type of pass, same as the Costa Rica goal, slide rule think they call it
I have 3-1 on the predictor, C’mon Argentina! Need another.
That warrants one more can
If I had 2-0 and it finishes 2-1 how many points do I get in the CQN predictor?
Ehmm, HT, I should know this, 7? Mibees.
Correct result and one correct score, too late to read rules.
What a pity that Bisnoa goal didn’t come 10 mins earlier, probably a bit late now…
Bosnia not Bisnoa….
Sparkleghirl
Houl ur tongue woman
Yes Doc, you should :-)
Ok 7 will have to do.