World Cup: Group G discussion

stunt wrote:Portugal sucks. Nani sucks.

http://gfycat.com/NippyFatherlyCormorant

what a proof!!! they deserve   

Portugal's midfield doesn't convince me, I think especially a side like Germany will give them the runaround.

Art Morte wrote:Portugal's midfield doesn't convince me, I think especially a side like Germany will give them the runaround.

Can't say I agree tbh. Germany's midfield has more glaring holes imo and based on the fact that the teams will be almost the same from Euro 2012 I think it will be a close game.

Germany were lucky to beat Portugal last time they met so the result could be different this time.

I'm not convinced by Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles. Not too bad, but not as good as Schweini, Kroos, Khedira / Lahm. I don't know how good Carvalho is, though, maybe he's the key.

I'm talking strictly about central midfield, though. If Portugal's wide players are on song and they are able to distribute the ball to them efficiently, that might be where they can punish Germany. That's what I reckon anyway (so probably nothing like that will happen).

Portugual's defense is also suspect. Think USA have a decent chance against that back four.

It's our defense I worry about though still.

Highest scoring group coming up?

Moutinho is a top class playmaker and William Carvalho while inexperienced, is the highest rated prospect in his position. Meireles isn't great and is the weakest link in their midfield but he adds experience, movement and energy to their team.

No idea why everyone is saying their defense is weak either when they have two World Class players (Pepe, Coentrao) in their backline. Alves and Pepe have a nice little partnership going on and João Pereira was arguably the best RB in EURO 2012. They're competing for the 2nd best backline in the competition with Spain IMO.

So the Germans are now playing 4 CB's like Belgium? No recognized striker, no Ozil & Schweini?

Gil

In what universe is Coentrao world class?

William Carvalho will be a revelation at the world cup. Hope they starts him at the deep role. Portugal always defends well in tournaments. If Pepe can play like he did in the Euro 2012 then it will be really tough to break their defense since Moutinho and Meireles are good defensively and Carvalho just wipes out everything infront of him.

McLewis wrote:Gil

In what universe is Coentrao world class?

In international football? In this one he is. Go watch WC 2010. Best left back of the tournament, and what brought him to real madrid.

McLewis wrote:Gil

In what universe is Coentrao world class?

Only Filipe Luis and Alaba are better. Hell, I'd take him over Alaba but that debate's for another day.

stunt wrote:

McLewis wrote:Gil

In what universe is Coentrao world class?

In international football? In this one he is. Go watch WC 2010. Best left back of the tournament, and what brought him to real madrid.

That was 4 years ago, brah and Madrid overpaid massively for him. World Class players generally justify their price-tags or are damn near close. Coentrao is nowhere near it.

He was pretty dire in the CL final if I remember. Had to be hauled off for Marcelo, who ended up having a major hand in changing the game.

So how is Coentrao world class again?

McLewis wrote:Portugual's defense is also suspect. Think USA have a decent chance against that back four.

It's our defense I worry about though still.

Portugal will keep a clean sheet against the US imo.

McLewis wrote:

stunt wrote:

McLewis wrote:Gil

In what universe is Coentrao world class?

In international football? In this one he is. Go watch WC 2010. Best left back of the tournament, and what brought him to real madrid.

That was 4 years ago, brah and Madrid overpaid massively for him. World Class players generally justify their price-tags or are damn near close. Coentrao is nowhere near it.

He was pretty dire in the CL final if I remember. Had to be hauled off for Marcelo, who ended up having a major hand in changing the game.

So how is Coentrao world class again?

Marcelo is my favourite left back and I personally rate him higher than anyone currently playing in his position (I am biased though)

However I will say that Coentrao is ten times the player he is with Portugal than he is with Madrid and overall he has been good for Madrid this season.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:If Germany goes 1st then they and Brazil would face each other before the final. Win-win for Argentina. Also rooting for Spain to finish 2nd for this reason. To win you have to beat the best, but I wouldn't mind seeing the best knock each other out first

Good one. :)I am reminded of WC 2002 when the best largely knocked each other out and Brazil were left to pick up the pieces. Actually it was not the best but the very average who knocked the best out and  Brazil were left to pick up the pieces. People complain about how dull the football was at several world cups but for me the competition matters even more and therefore WC 2002 remains by far my worst world cup, hopefully never to be equalled.

BeautifulGame wrote:Can see them beating Germany in 1st game if Low tries to play possesion tiki taka with False 9.

Good point

Art Morte wrote:I'm not convinced by Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles. Not too bad, but not as good as Schweini, Kroos, Khedira / Lahm. I don't know how good Carvalho is, though, maybe he's the key.

Khedira is very short of match fitness and who knows how fit Schweini is. At their best I would agree with you but now is a different matter.

messixaviesta wrote:Joachim Low - Germany
Jurgen Klinsmann - USA
Ottmar Hitzfield - Switzerland
Volker Finke - Cameroon

By the way, adding to those German coaches, there is a 5th NT coach in this World Cup who was born in Germany and spent most of his life here: Niko Kovač of Croatia.

Right. The Kovac brothers are native Berliner.

Café King

rwo power wrote:

messixaviesta wrote:Joachim Low - Germany
Jurgen Klinsmann - USA
Ottmar Hitzfield - Switzerland
Volker Finke - Cameroon

By the way, adding to those German coaches, there is a 5th NT coach in this World Cup who was born in Germany and spent most of his life here: Niko Kovač of Croatia.

Germany has us beat this time around but usually we have quite a number of coaches in WCs as well:

Pekerman - Colombia
Sampaoli - Chile
Sabella - Argentina

Last time around we had Paraguay with Martino too and Bielsa with Chile.

Zealous wrote:

McLewis wrote:Portugual's defense is also suspect. Think USA have a decent chance against that back four.

It's our defense I worry about though still.

Portugal will keep a clean sheet against the US imo.

Not sure about that. The US attack is quite good this time around. Portugal have good individual defenders, but from what I've seen, the chemistry isn't there at all. That's an advantage for its rivals.

Same could be said of the US defense though, who are also relatively inexperienced as well.

Cristiano had to quit training today. Sat on the bench with an ice pack on his left knee

they can manage against Germany without him, but I think it is important that he remains fit for throughout the tournament. If they are able to get out of the group with a fit Ronaldo. They have enought quality to somehow manage to get out of the group without him, imo. So it will be better not to risk him

NOOOOOOOOOOO

Why is he constantly getting injured? What's his injury?