Pretty much as you thought, Oddy, although obviously more sophisticated in its small-print logistics. I'll keep this simple in case Heis needs to make notes, but it went like this: 1. without Neymark, the whole Brazil midfield will have to use its natural capabilities rather than the Scolari Masterplan of play it to Neymar: if that didn't work, play it to Neymar a bit quicker. 2. without the need to be Neymar's watercarrier, Oscar would shed his first-round negativity and inhibitions and display his full range of talents in the No.10 slot. 3. the team would play a modernist (Tony Pulis) 4-4-1-1. Hulk, a genuine goalscorer in the right set-up, would get chances similar to those he'd uncharacteristically missed against Colombia, while the technically deficient but energetic and speedy Willian would do the fetch-and-carry bit. Fred, obviously, would be dropped, and Paulinho would start, since only an idiot would consider Fernandinho. 4. This system would completely outmanoeuvre and outrun the stolid, ageing and unimaginative Erichs. Muller, Boateng and Schweinsteiger would become frustrated and revert to their standard kickanythingthatrunspastyou, and the upshot would be at least one Erich red card, possibly two. If bloody Scolari had listened to people who know better than he does, I'd still be counting the money.
I heard Scolari had planned with the wind coming more from the North. Can't do anything about that I guess. The Germans seemed to have invented a new form of football consisting of 2 devilishly fiendish tactics - (1) If you haven't got the ball, move into free space and (2) if you have the ball, pass it to someone wearing the same colour kit as you. These advanced tactics, finely honed at the Prussian Military Academy in Brunswick (aka Braunschweig) bring a completely new dimension to the game and have totally dumbfounded even the most highly paid expert panellists who are left to ponder the meninglessness of the "4-4-2 vs 4-5-1" debate. When questioned about the Germans motives, England captain Stevie Gee said "How can a player without the ball find space? Surely he'll be marked by the opponents? I'm sure I read that on Facetube". Meanwhile, Sepp Blatter's Godson has apparentlly been granted exclusive rights to the grass from yesterday's pitch - €5 per square centimetre of this historic landmark playing surface.
Just time to post before the dour and Calvinistic Dutch bore the world into an early night..... Neatly observed, Oddy, but for sheer diabolic fiendishness the Erichs will have to go some to beat Ste. Did you see his prediction....."Germany 2, germany 0".... (note the subtle absence of the initial capital). Do you think that a) he believes nobody will notice and b) he'll give himself a 7-pointer either way ?
Calvanists ......................... oh dear. Ste is as honest as the day is long rainer, surely a typo creeping into his prediction
Oh feck just noticed that, dont think it will effect the table ind grand scheme of things.rainer just for bringing that up im gona deduct you five points for being cheeky git and predicting brazil to win 4-1.oddy you are a gent as always!
Am away after today and not sure if you're bothering with the waste of time game Ste. If you are I'l go Brazil 2 Holland 4. Germany 1 Argentina 1 in the final. Top job running this Ste, has proved I'm even worse at tipping the footy than I am at the horses! Thanks very much though, great effort on your part.
cheers for the nice comments chann. i am out on the zee beer so will update semi final games when i come home from worky tomo
