World Cup football/soccer

[Fedya]

I couldn't get the Youtube tag to work, but this video is short and humorous.

[Uberdude]

It happened because

- Germany was tactically stronger,
- Brazil was psychologically not prepared for being behind at all,
- Brazil was too burdened by national demand for the title,
- Brazil's defense was too wide and tactically passive, allowing Germany nice looking combinations,
- Klose was motivated to reach the 16 WC goal record.

- David Luiz seemed to think he should replace Neymar by playing 40+ yards out of position. (Though the loss of Thiago Silva as captain and centre of defence was bigger loss in this game).

[Knotwilg]

One match doesn't bring a new era but this match was symbolic for a new era that has been going on for a while now. German football has still the same depth and vigor as it used to have but since almost a decade they have added minute passing and astute dribbling to the equation. It started well before Guardiola arrived in Munich but the Catalan coach may have given the final touch to the upbringing of young and mostly Bayern bred players. 2014 may be the year to harvest for Löw.

I'm following the Brazilian competition through the Lance! newspaper and you would be surprised how low the overall level is. Brazilian football is nothing like the rest of the world may think it is. On average there are about 8 000 spectators in a stadium - which makes the building of even bigger stadiums as ludicrous as it was in South-Africa or will be in Qatar. Some matches have hardly more than 1000 and that includes top teams like Botafogo. The economic conditions are as dire as spectators' safety. But the quality of play is due too. The best Brazilians move to Europe very soon in their career. They excel through their number and natural selection, not through football education.

1-7 was an exaggerated display of the difference in standards between these two nations. It may however sober up Brazil and have an impact comparable to France's loss 3-2 against Bulgaria in 1993. Their non qualifying for the world cup made them revisit the whole structure of their football and its education.

And still ... I'm putting my money on Van Gaal.

[quantumf]

- which makes the building of even bigger stadiums as ludicrous as it was in South-Africa or will be in Qatar.

As a resident of Cape Town, can confirm. The stadium, while magnificent, runs at a sustained and substantial loss. From 2010 to 2013, the costs were about $40m, and the revenue was about $9m. There is minimal football interest in Cape Town, and perhaps only 2-3 football matches a year are held there (when the top local team plays one of the top team from Johannesburg). Hiring the venue is just too expensive to justify it for most games. You might ask why not make it free, and I don't think that's the problem - it's the hiring of security and other stadium personnel, running late night transport, etc., that pushes up the costs.

There have been repeated calls from many to demolish it. I don't think that will happen, I think they will keep trying to find a way to make it economic. But I'm not sure how they will succeed.

It's a shame, because it's a superb, modern stadium. The venue is fantastic for popular performers, such as Eminem or Lady Gaga. But other than that, it's empty most of the time.

[SoDesuNe]

SCHLAAAND ; )

[tj86430]

What a disappointment: in the company prediction competition I had predicted that Germany will win 1-0 and the first goal will come at the 112th minute. Götze was 1 minute too late

[RobertJasiek]

The tournament had two parts: all games until the final, and the final, in which the level of play (but not of arbitration) was raised. Both teams had and missed their chances. Just when another series of fouls let me lose my concentration for watching, Argentina's central defenders also lost theirs and let Götze seek free room for his artistic goal.

The 1986 final was a Maradona show, 1990 Argentina's attempt to make it to the penalty shots, 2014 was an equal and exciting fight.

[TheBigH]

Germany were clearly the best team throughout the tournament and thoroughly deserved to win.