Netherlands thumping Spain 5-1 seems like a season ago. We’ve had 24 different World Cup-match days since then, during which time most of us have watched close to a season’s worth of football. The dethroning of Spain, in such dramatic fashion, was an early portent of what we were in store for. Brazil’s humiliation at the hands of Germany provided one of the most memorable football events of our times.
While everyone seems to have nominated the competition as the best ever, the football has been of variable quality. Lots of strong football countries failed to show, including Spain, Italy and England. Africa promised early on, then fell. Russia gave no indication they were on-schedule to give the performance of a lifetime when they host the tournament in four years.
Brazil reached the semi-finals but this will surely be known as one of the worst Brazilian teams ever. Argentina have reached their first final in 24 years ago, but I can’t figure out how they made it. Performances against Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria, Switzerland, Belgium and then Netherlands never convinced we were watching eventual winners. The best they have achieved, so far, is a single goal victory.
Belgium’s golden generation were a mere shadow of their less-fancied Dutch neighbours, who under-promised and over-delivered, again. Germany are the team who deserve to take the trophy, and although Lionel Messi finds himself in a World Cup Final this evening, on the basis of what we’ve seen over the last four weeks, he’s no Diego Maradona.
Enjoy the final, the real stuff starts in two days.
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Away for a few days. Just logged in.
RIP Weefras mum. Prayers will be said.
Argentina run of games in this WC has been pretty easy (on paper) and yet they’ve not beaten any of them by more than 1 goal.
I tipped them for the final before the start but that was based on easy run of games and Messi, Aguero etc playing on top form. They haven’t really hit form at all.
But Messi has the ability to win the game on his own if he wants to (or can).
Still won’t put him on par with Maradona, still at the level below with no marks like Zidane :o)
The Germans deserve to win it, been the best team and most entertaining.
Tamrabam
11:54 on
13 July, 2014
Looking back at the moon howlers conversation about their first game vs the huns
but Im having some problems, I seem to recall it was in the early 70s at ibrox
we won 2-0 and the huns invaded. it was also a new years game (i think) but cant find details of it in the wiki celtic site
also remember lennox scoring too. who can help?
*caught this on the last thread but had to leave for Mass.
New Year’s victories at the big hoose were few and far between even in the glory days. I left in 1975 and don’t recall any.
One game I do recall where there was trouble and a 2-0 score line was the opening League Cup game of the season on August 10, 1968
What is synonymous about that date is that there was a “black walk” that morning along Paisley Road West.
It was a gorgeous day and we led early and easily with 2 goals from wee Wispy.
Midway during the 2nd half trouble broke out in the Celtic end however it was deemed to be localised bother as two “Glasgow teams” went at each other, rumour had it that one of them was the Drumchapel Buck.
blantyretim.
Just looked at my phone and saw the missed call, Sorry about that. Haven’t had a drink yet, just getting my dinner ready may have a bottle of wine with it, won’t be ready until 7ish.
Bought another case of wine,will arrive in another couple of days, they’re all sweet wines for a change, Does Karen like a sweet wine. if yes, I’ll bring her through a bottle next time we have a drink in the Blane Valley. Which I hope will be next Friday the 18th.
Paul67
I’m not sure how a draw with Ghana, and a 2-1 extra time victory over Algeria, entitles a team to be ‘deserving’ of this World Cup before they’ve even played the final.
Unless you’re dismissing any ‘freak’ element to the 7-1 semi-final score.
Did anyone hear the golf commenter (American I think) who when hearing a baby cry in the crowd said “I didn’t know Montgomery was on the course today” :o) I’m sure that’s what he said
Weefrathetim,
God bless and take care of your mum.
Bobby Russell
16:23 on
13 July, 2014
Raploch is in Stirling, not Fawkirk (sic)
For Raploch read Billy Bremner and for Fawkirk wee sleekit face Ormond.
Wee Fra,
Condolences on losing your mammy.
May her soul rest in peace.
Morrissey the 23rd, we tried your mobile too, but it was about 4am:-)
Paul67
Agreed, I’ll watch the final tonight but my thoughts are already on who’ll be on the flight to Rejkavik.
Younger son has horsed the rest of our family in the WC predictor. Having foreseen, Brazil losing to the Germans in last week’s semi-fina,l his Argentina win tonight seems to be already aligned in the stars.
You’ve been too good for us, Sean.
Germany have lost more World Cup finals than any other nation.
No European country has won it in the Americas a stat that is often mentioned. What’s not mentioned is that only 1 SA team has won it in Europe….Brazil in Sweden 1958.
Miroslav Klose would extend his record as the all-time World Cup top goalscorer by scoring in the final.
There has been some sad news on here lately and it’s genuinely made me try to appreciate those I love.Amazing how you can let lives rub influence the things and people that are important to you.
Looking forward to tonight’s final in the company of my wonderful family.
To all CQN’rs,have a great night.
WeefratheTim
Heartfelt Sympathy, thoughts and prayers for both your Mum and all your family
May perpetual a light shine upon your Mum.
I lit 3 candles at mass today earlier, 1 for Nuestadt- braw’s Da,
1 for a family member of mine,
I will now dedicate the 3rd to your Mum
BSR
And after tonight they’ll have appeared in more World Cup finals than any other nation.
My small betting interest in the WC final tonight shall be Higuain to score anytime in 90mins.
Argentina dont give much away at the back and the Germans just may take their eye off Higuain while watching Messi(though I doubt it very much).
Argentina were my tip before it started but they have been a big disappointment in the flair department but have got the job done and have the potential to burst into life tonight.
I watched Germany on the Sat before it begun and the were playing a not so well known team( I’ve forgot) :))) when the other team eqaulised Germany went through the gears and scored 4 or 5 more.
They are the only team in the tournament that I have seen that can up their game when needed on more than one occasion, so I think the Germans will win tonight but dont really care one way or the other who wins but would love a cracker of a game with all the players bringing their best to the show.
Enjoy the game all as I doubt we will get fast flowing football in 2018
excitement builds ahead of the big game
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Lustig::::::::Ambrose:::::::::Van Dijk:::::::Izzaguirre
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Biton if Kayal is still injured, Matthews if Lustig is unfit.
beatbhoy
I know – and 43% of people don’t understand statistics.
WolfgangOverath CSC
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Gary67
Your dots are better than mine are you up_over_goal?
Talking about Joe McBride again from the early hours.
Dunfermline, yes Dunfermline, offered Joe more money to go to East End Park than what Celtic were offering to take him from Motherwell.His love for the Hoops won the day.
Gary,
I would go with your selection, but I have a feeling he will pick Boerrigter.
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BSR
You’re 100% right.
Georgios Samaras’s beard is wanted at Sampdoria to match up with Andreas Pirlo’s in an unbeatable beardy midfield.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
16:08 on 13 July, 2014
HOOPLE
I think he referred to it as a continent.
Every team from there was a let-down,far below what we expected.
As were those from Asia.
————-
Can I ask a genuine question here
What did people expect from any of the Africans??
Time after time we have seen African teams combust under the combination of weak management, and a combination of rampant egotism and naked greed from star players.
Perhaps it’s been no coincidence that the best of the Africans this time were Algeria – with 16/23 being brought up in Europe and who were the most European in outlook and mentality.
I will be cheering on 33/1 Thomas Muller for tournament top scorer
Can’t have the Argies at all
If Ah wur Picking the Team tae Play the Icemen
Ah wid Mak sure.. that
Commons n Stokes , Wur NO in the Team
Two Guys who disappear… When We Play in Europe..
Ah wid Play wi Only Wan Man Up Front..
Lee..wid be Ma choice.. Tony Watt, if he hid Mair Effective trainin sessions ,under his Belt.
The Icemen, kin.. Shock Us..
We must go wi’ a Defensive Formation.
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
leftclicktic we are all neil lennon
16:47 on 13 July, 2014
Armenia – reus got injured that night, Germany scored 5 in last 20′ to win 6-1
Though I would not be suprised to see Ronny give young Callum McGregor & Eoghan O’Connell their chance.
squire danaher
Can I ask a genuine question here
What did people expect from any of the Africans??
———–
I would guess it’s simply the size of the populations and their natural ability, 1 + 1 should equal successful team but as you pointed out there’s always other factors.
BSR
Do all Italian players adopt the Greek equivalent of their forename when a Greek is signed, or only those who play for Samp?
Paul67 Messi v Maradona comparison
It’s a nonsense to compare Maradona’s performances in ’86 & ’90, let’s not forget ’82 either when he booted a Brazilian in the chuckies, with Messi’s in the WC.
This World Cup more than any other by far has emphasised the importance of the team over the individual.
Germany and Argentina are in the final because they’ve had consistently the best team performances. Where some individuals have stood out, it’s been the team ethic in both sides that has propelled them into the final.
Brazil, man for man are by no means the poorest side in the competition but they’ve turned in the two poorest performances of the World Cup, and would’ve been by far the two poorest had Thiago Silva been rightly sent off in the 1st minute last night.
Yet again, Brazil were the beneficiary of some incredibly dodgy decisions last night.
squire danaher
Thank you I had the name Albania rolling around in my empty head but just new it was wrong :))))
beatbhoy
I don’t know that one.
But I know if Sammi was to ‘gell up’ his hair he’d be very nearly seven foot tall.
Thinking about the orange parades reminds me of a line in Bowie’s masterpiece Life On Mars, ‘look at those cavemen go, it’s the freakiest show’.
I predicted a 2-1 Argentina win v Germany in the final before the tournament began.
Although I struggle to see them winning this evening it would be churlish to change my prediction now so I’ll stick with 2-1 to Messi’s marvels.