The Round Ball Game

[Demetrius]

Brazil. Because otherwise too many hearts would be broken and it's been the best world cup ever but I reckon Colombia will edge ahead
France. Because the alternative is Germany (whose team isn't much good I reckon)
Belgium. Because at the start I said I was backing Belgium and Argentina are a dysfunctional one man band.
Costa Rica. Because. And the Dutch always play dirty

Columbia - better performance till now, underdog
Germany - because the coach just revised his system into something that might possibly work
Belgium - Argentina is too predictable in their efforts
Costa Rica - because it would be so much fun. But the Dutch will get through

Columbia to beat Germany in the semis, Netherlands beating Belgium; Columbia wins the Final, while the Germans take third place again.

[teamsaint]

Since we are playing......

Brazil. Just because...

Germany.

Belgium.strength in depth for the possible 120 mins

Holland/Netherlands. 3 match winners.

But all very hard to call.

Stripes back for Saints.
Fans jubilant, except for the PL only fans, who just want huge amounts spent on players!!!

[jayne lee wilson]

Well, that was disappointing, wasn't it? Too much caution, heat exhaustion...? By Brazilian standards 30 degrees isn't bad (humidity today...?), but France sans Ribery had no answer to an excellent defence... weird 2nd half though, without much urgency much of the time...

You do get games like this... tonight, head says Columbia, heart says... I'd hate Brazil to "head out" (commentators new fave) now, it is much more emotional and atmospheric with them still in. Especially with that amazing speech-song-stretto-chant the fans greet their team with!

[teamsaint]

Well, that was disappointing, wasn't it? Too much caution, heat exhaustion...? By Brazilian standards 30 degrees isn't bad (humidity today...?), but France sans Ribery had no answer to an excellent defence... weird 2nd half though, without much urgency much of the time...

You do get games like this... tonight, head says Columbia, heart says... I'd hate Brazil to "head out" (commentators new fave) now, it is much more emotional and atmospheric with them still in. Especially with that amazing speech-song-stretto-chant the fans greet their team with!

amazing, isn't it.

I have been fortunate enough to experience a league game at the Camp Nou, where something similar happens with their song, and catalan nationalistic fervour takes hold.

Worth a goal start, as Lawro might say.

as JLW says, lose one world class player at this level, and you are in trouble.

[johncorrigan]

Well, that was disappointing, wasn't it?

Bang goes the coupon as my old dad used to say!

[Tevot]

Indeed - I'd go as far to say that the Germans bored the French into submission

I hope Brazil vs Colombia has more oomph ...

[EdgeleyRob]

Brazil getting all the breaks in this tournament it seems.

Germany just know how to win big games,not sure how you coach that.

[Parry1912]

Well, I thought that ref was useless after the England - Uruguay game. Looks like I was right.

[teamsaint]

Very poor refereeing performance, but another star turn from David Luis, who has been quite exceptional.

Sad news about Neymar, really have to fancy Germany in the semi.

[johncorrigan]

Sad news about Neymar, really have to fancy Germany in the semi.

No Silva, no Neymar...hard to make a case for the Brazilians. But there's no team still in the mix making a case for me to be considered best team of the tournament. I think I'm realising that I just prefer the early stages of the World Cup where you get such great match-ups. I'm left hoping the Costa Ricans can pull it out of the bag.

[Nick Armstrong]

Brazil getting all the breaks

That marred a bracing match, enhanced from being watched in a Brazilian restaurant surrounded by bellowing Brazilians and Colombians and eating endless tender rare picanha washed down with cerveja Brahma...


If Brazil get the breaks, Colombia seemed to get the bugs...

[Anna]

...... enhanced from being watched in a Brazilian restaurant surrounded by bellowing Brazilians and Colombians and eating endless tender rare picanha washed down with cerveja Brahma...

Cali – you are in Brazil?!? Ot just showing off in typical elite metrosexual manner at having procured a table at the most sought after dining location in London last night?

I was so disappointed in France, they seemed to have lost the will to fight back against the Germans (no jokes about Vichy Water please), or as Ruud Gullit said: “A good example of how Germany did well at killing the game were the fouls by Miroslav Klose and Sami Khedira" Or, as Gary Lineker once said “"Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win."

And talking about fouls – surely the Ref during Brazil & Columbia should have got a red card? What now for Brazil without Neymar and Silva, all that raw emotion versus something like the old, teutonic Germany emerging again – it’ll be tears before bedtime.

[Nick Armstrong]

Cali – you are in Brazil?!?

Nah mate: Westbourne Grove!

http://www.rodiziorico.com

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Linecker and his team have won this World Cup hands down in this house .... Hoddle is fatuous, Chiles annoying and only Lee Dixon is worth his money ...

Vamos Los Ticos!

[teamsaint]

Linecker and his team have won this World Cup hands down in this house .... Hoddle is fatuous, Chiles annoying and only Lee Dixon is worth his money ...

Vamos Los Ticos!

I agree, Dixon is a very good pundit.

as for France...against Germany....in the real world...9 times out of 10?...........