Timmy Krul

This for me. I can't even comprehend people getting on their high horse about a bit of gamesmanship from a keeper towards a penalty taker. The 'keeper is the one who is seriously disadvantaged - he is not expected to save it. Any kind of advantage from winding up the penalty taker (within the rules) is just part and parcel of the penalty/penalty shootout. If the ref doesn't see a problem with it - and he was right there - then what is the issue?

 

The Dutch team are just keeping up with the Joneses (as opposed to the Jonases - which they obviously can't do). They can be cynical these days - just as the Uruguayans, Argentinians, Italians and Germans have been for decades - and it's no coincidence that these national sides have been powerhouses. They can play lovely football at times, but can mix it up when their backs are against the wall. So it really is up to the authorities to stamp out the uglier elements.

The problems of diving, play-acting, time-wasting, gamesmanship, pulling/tugging, histrionics, etc, have not been addressed by FIFA. IMO, FIFA is a centralised authority (Switzerland, as usual) that has little interest in the essence of football - the same with UEFA ( also Switzerland, as usual); however, they are interested in world domination and making lots and lots of money (no better place than Switzerland, as usual). Their default position is: "is there lots of money to be made here?".

As a boy whose earliest memories are of those fine Dutch teams of '74 and '78 (Neeskens et al) that should have won the world cup but were stopped by the exploits of Germany and Argentina, I've retained a soft spot for The Netherlands. I don't care for RVP, Robben or de Jong, but I still hope they win the World Cup.

 

Its sledging...happens in all sports

Plus no one seems to have commented on the costa rican keeper going up to the (2nd i think) dutch guy first and say summat...then wor Timmy joined in after that...

Have to support the Dutch as best out of the usual bunch ..(tho my support seems to be the kiss of death for any team...)

 

I'd far prefer the Dutch to the Brazilians. They are getting favourable decisions left, right and centre. The have been absolute filth too. They basically kicked their way past a more gifted Colombian side. It was a real shame as Rodriguez didn't deserve that bollocks. The Argies have been pretty robust too. If the Germans weren't the Germans I'd pick them as they have tried to play, squeeze the game and be competitive but fair.

As it is I have money on Argentina so I hope they smash everyone. I'd prefer Aguero also got 4 in each match to bring my double in but I'll settle for the single winner.

 

Come on lads Krul was brilliant and the South Americans invented dirty play and cheating.If Krul comes on and psyches out the God botherer Messi in the semis I will laugh like a drain.'Mon the Dutch!

 

Can you not remember Grobbelar playing his mind games for Liverpool. Wobbling all over the place to put people off. It's all part of the game.

 

He's a tosser all footballers are **** it