World Cup 2014!

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Good lord, that was terrible. It was like a 2010 match but with the vuvuzela's replaced by screeching neutrals. Technically it was a good example of well executed defensive game plans but it was awful to watch.

I'll never understand the tactic of playing for penalties or at the very least settling for them. Holland had them close to the ropes at 90 mins and should have pressed their advantage. But no, we'd rather have 30 minutes of pinging the ball around midfield waiting it out.

Having said that, I hope this is an approach Van Gaal brings to Manchester United cos they'll win nothing playing that way and seeing ManU fans cry is the sweetest sight a man can see.

[Blu]

Hear hear Sload. Who do you support in the EPL? Anyone but Tottenham please!

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Been a Man City fan now for over 15 years. Before that I didn't really have a club, though I always watched internationals. And I've always hated United. Arsenal are okay by me.

[Blu]

Nice! I've been a Gooner since I started High School in 2000. It was hard not to fall in love with the team. Thierry Henry was absolutely amazing and is my all time favorite player. His touch on the ball, how he could score one on one, and break defenses down. Titi is a legend. My senior year was the year they won the league and when they were named The Invincibles is one my favorite soccer memories.

Have you always been a football fan? Was it difficult to back a club? If you don't mind asking, if it was because you lived in or outside of London?

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Nice! I've been a Gooner since I started High School in 2000. It was hard not to fall in love with the team. Thierry Henry was absolutely amazing and is my all time favorite player. His touch on the ball, how he could score one on one, and break defenses down. Titi is a legend. My senior year was the year they won the league and when they were named The Invincibles is one my favorite soccer memories.

Have you always been a football fan? Was it difficult to back a club? If you don't mind asking, if it was because you lived in or outside of London?

Yeah, I have a lot of respect for those Arsenal teams from that period. Great players, great football and what the league needed after years of United saturation. I don't think any team will be able to replicate the Invincible's achievement, least not in my lifetime.

To answer your question, I've always liked football, both playing and watching. My dad is a big footie fan. We used to watch Serie A together. I was more a fan of AC Milan in those days than any English team. Lost a bit of interest in my teen years, bit of rebellion I guess. I went for City because I'm from Manchester and my family are (mostly) City fans. I also used to go to Maine Road to watch City as a kid. I was there the day we got relegated in 96. And, might have mentioned this already, I fucking hate United. So the choice was pretty clear. I also have a soft spot Shrewsbury Town.

It has been weird the changes the club has gone through. I won't say they are all for the best: our lack of British, never mind English, players is worrying considering we had such a decent flow of youth talent at one point. But City are the real Manchester club. That isn't bias or hyperbole(okay it is a bit), but I've seen the United winners parades and they simply don't pack the streets like we do.

I think it's telling how bad last nights game was that we are talking club football.

[Blu]

Thanks for the insight! I figured there was either a London rivalry, but I've seen how the ManU vs. Man City games go and they seem to be even more intense than the average London derby. Serie A was good during that time, save for the Juventus scandal, if my history is correct. I hope you went to the winner's parade this year! It was such an exciting season and one to be celebrated.

I wouldn't worry about Man City lacking English players, if the players are drama free, there's good relations between the team and the supporters, I'd say things are rosy. Arsenal has 5 British and one Welsh player, which is the same as Manchester City's. I'm glad that our clubs seek the top talent, regardless of nation. I for one am excited to see how Sanchez plays out for us, though word on the street is that he wasn't looking for the transfer. I hope that wasn't the case.

I've never really followed any team in leagues below the Premier League, though I imagine the skill level is still relatively comparable. I do like to see he gets promoted and relegated though, as I think the system is much better than the one we have in the states.

We're looking at England as a possibility to move to once my fiancée completes her PhD and is looking for a post-doc. I'd be looking for work within Higher Education, too. That being said, it'd be a dream come true to finally see a match in person, and of course play for a Sunday/Pub league.

And yes, why we're talking about club football is very telling about yesterday's match. I'm kind of nervous about the final, which I think is a good feeling. You cannot underestimate Messi, though I think the depth of the current Argentine side is much less than any team that included Maradona. We'll see. I think the final will be very defensive, which might be a boring final, and lead to neutral whistling once more.

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In retrospect this final seems like it was meant to be. The best team versus the best player.

Some more stuff from the other night.

Brazil's new flag:



David Luiz' performance:



Fred's heatmap:



His actual heatmap at half time:



It all makes sense now:



In the interest of fairness:

[Blu]

^ I love the Fred ones. Poor guy can't catch a break. And sideshow bob seems fitting for Luiz.

Suarez to Barca (Somewhere in the world Barcelona's risk management director just started choking on his lunch after hearing Luis Suarez was transferring from Liverpool.)
Sanchez to Arsenal
Debuchy to Arsenal
Sagna to Man City
Khedira to Arsenal?
Lars Bender to Arsenal?

DANG WE MAKIN' MOVES!

[ZeroAX]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28240740

As Van Gaal prepares for the meaningless World Cup window dressing of Saturday's third-place play-off against Brazil

Great reporting

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McNulty is often a lazy reporter but in fairness never has a third place game seemed so unnecessary.