Might have got away with it if he hadn't proclaimed his intention to stay several times over the last week.
when I was 22, a girlfriend who I lived cheated on me with a mate and moved in with him...being a kind sensitive and honest sort of bloke I duly told everyone that that she was boring so I ditched her arse...no one believed me but it made me feel better so I'm with phil on this one
On reflection I think Germany were the best team, and I hate saying that, denn ich hasse Deutschland immer. But they were the best team because Goetze finished a half chance brilliantly, while Higuain, Palacio and arguably Messi all f**ed up much better chances than Goetze had. The fact that Argentina had the better chances shows they would have been the better team if finishing didn't count. Having Di Maria and Aguero unfit looks like it may have cost them the cup. On the other hand, of the successful teams, Germany may have been the most consistently positive team aside from Chile that I can think of offhand, and so may have deserved the cup partly for that. I'd say Neuer should have gotten a yellow and a pen, and whoever clattered Kramer (Higuain?) should have gotten a yellow as well. Something needs to be done to protect players in big games, when they're much likelier to risk life, limb, and their opponents lives and limbs by going into 50/50s recklessly. I don't see giving Messi the Golden Thingy, though. He did his best, but looked exhausted. Mascherano, James, Lahm, Schweinsteiger or Muller were probably all better choices, maybe in that order.
The Argies did have some great chances but I can't credit a nation that sets up to contain and just punt the ball high up field because they have Messi. That for me isn't a team that deserves to be called a great team. You can argue the tactics are smart but I'm glad Germany took the cup as they at least wanted to play football, rather then just hope for luck. Anyway, Messi said it himself " we didn't have the luck we had in the previous games". Luck was what Argentina needed to win and it ran out for them.
They were somewhat negative, but I kind of liked Argentina. They didn't play the way I expected, but they did play well, I thought. On the other hand, it's nice the deciding game was won by an outstanding goal. My only wish is that I could have had the Soccer Guy commentating instead of Ian Dark and McManahan. Incidentally, it was nice to have saved the best comedy officiating for almost last: the third place game where the Algerian ref gave a yellow to Oscar for diving, then watched the player Oscar supposedly feigned contact with get stretchered off.
Argentina set themselves up to counter what they knew Germany would do - play a high line pressure game. They quite rightly figured that the best way to get at the German defence was with a ball behind them. It would have worked, had they not wasted the chances.
They where negative throughout the entire tournament so while the tactics may have been smart for the final they didn't deserve to win and for once cheap tactics never paid off which was fitting considering this has been called the best world cup ever for its attacking play and the team that wanted to attack in the final took the cup.
Can't argue with their tactics. I just think they set up that way more of necessity, rather than anything else. I still believe that they could and would have won, had they taken the clear chances they has. The Germans are undoubtedly a talented side, however their defensive personnel and defensive tactics are highly suspect and would have been punished by a more efficient counter attacking side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PJz7OLCScA Video of the Neuer challenge above. I know I might come of as some old (I'm only in my late 30s), macho (I'm quite wimpy and not at all attracted to violence) fart but I just wouldn't want to call that a foul. I dunno about this "excessive force" business or when it was introduced but even then I can't see why this should fall under that category. The thing is that Neuer jumps excellently to get a solid contact with the ball. Higuain, on the other hand, stays on the ground and, had the goalie not been there, the ball would have sailed about a foot over his head. Now if one person jumps for a ball and the other stays on the ground, not even trying to get to it and nowhere near it and the jumping player gets not just legal contact with the ball but clear, decisive contact I can't see why that's excessive. It had nothing whatsoever in common with the infamous Schumacher challenge. People will get knocks and bruises playing football. Anyone who's ever played the game at any level will recognise this. If I had been playing and a goalie bashed me like that whilst making an excellent leap and clearance I would just know that I was dealing with a bloody good goalie. I would not be calling for a foul. (Though I might wonder why someone playing on a Thursday night on astroturf in a pick-up game was taking it quite so seriously and might have a word). As for the Aguero hand in Schweinsteiger's face - it happens and did not look at all malicious to me. He really should cut his nails, though. No joke. Personally I would always make sure that I did not have long nails or jewellery or a watch or stuff like that on me.
I think the reason people are saying Aguero targeted Schweinsteiger was because there is previous between Argentina and Schweinsteiger. [video=youtube_share;_JVPGzTM_1s]http://youtu.be/_JVPGzTM_1s[/video] Although It was 8 years ago yet Rodriguez is in the current squad
Yeah, I have to agree with Lenny on this one. Comparisons to the Schumacher assault seem very wide of the mark, to me. For those that don't remember it or haven't seen it: [video=youtube;tGq7VcaHoqo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGq7VcaHoqo&feature=kp[/video] No attempt to play the ball, very, very late and clear malicious intent. The only incident in the game that could vaguely be compared to it was Garay's attempt to knock Kramer into next week, though even that was very tame in comparison. please log in to view this image
Looking at that video, it looks to me like Higuain was planning to take the ball on his chest, he doesn't see Neuer coming. Neuer just flies in with complete disregard for Higuain. Sorry but my opinion hasn't changed. It was reckless and deserved a red card - Higuain could have been seriously injured.
That video doesn't show it, but Higuain clearly looks up and knows where Neuer is. This one shows it on about the third replay: [video=youtube;rMrWZLZ1FDQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMrWZLZ1FDQ[/video]
I see what you mean. However, I don't think in his wildest dreams he expected what followed. Sorry, still completely reckless by Neuer and a red card for dangerous play.
Neuer had a right to go for the ball, as did Higuian but NSIS has a point as Neuer IMO clearly knew that he would take out Higuian when he decided to leap forward and I believe he had complete disregard for the safety of Higuain. As much as I admire the Germans, they know what they are doing, they wouldn't hesitate in trying to gain an advantage or stop an opponent, even if they are pushing the rules.
I agree with with lennypops; I don't see what Neuer did wrong. He's entitled to challenge for a ball in the penalty area. Only he (as goalkeeper) can leap high and punch the ball clear. Any forward who attempts to win the ball should know this. Higuain should have anticipated Neuer's clearance and checked his run. It's nonsense to suggest Neuer should have retreated to his goalline and let Higuain win the ball first or just come out to block him; he was entitled to claim the ball. Higuain took the risk in trying to get there first. Neuer cannot be held responsible for a forward challenging for a ball he has no realistic chance of winning when a 'keeper's ability to punch clear makes him a certainty to get there first.
Sorry, Luke, but I don't agree. Yes, he has a right to challenge for the ball - in a reasonable manner. IMO, he gave no regard to the consequences for Higuain, whom he obviously knew would be poleaxed. It was reckless & dangerous. Higuain could easily have been seriously hurt had he not been so lucky.
I thought it was a nailed on free kick and if the ref had given a red or a yellow I wouldn't have been surprised at either...my gripe was that it wasn't a free kick...I thought then and still do that it was a stupid decision to give a free kick to the keeper (which is what the ref gave) that said I can't argue with the result...the best team won the match and the best team won the tournament
