Brazil are going to win the World Cup!

19 Jun 2014

Quote by Femalemedic
Lush mods ! Create a football expert badge and give it to Lucy - our very own (and much better looking! ) gary Neville!

Now we need a. Jamie carragher ;-)

Lol thank you so much for that nomination Morag......

I hope your day has been good......

Lucy xxxxxx Big Hugs

20 Jun 2014

Quote by Femalemedic
Lush mods ! Create a football expert badge and give it to Lucy - our very own (and much better looking! ) gary Neville!

Now we need a. Jamie carragher ;-)

I second that! As a non-footballer, I found Lucy's reports interesting and informative, her knowledge of teams and players astonishing to one who only knows the teams by their colours!
Thanks Lucy, You're a gem! clapping

20 Jun 2014

For littleluce now that her beloved England are going home

I won't do the Scottish thing and gloat like everyone in edinburgh was doing today!

20 Jun 2014

Japan 0 Greece 0

Both of these teams lost their first match and it's easy to see why. I've always liked Japan and their play excites me. They've had a few entertaining players over the years but I feel that their World Cup is going to be cut short this time around. Japan have made it to the last four World Cup finals, going out in the group stage twice and making it into the last 16 twice. There is once again a slight chance of them qualifying for the knockout stages but it really is only a slim chance.

The Greeks once again didn't have a very good game and played offering a physical presence rather than a creative one and they paid the price for it when Greece captain Konstantinos Katsouranis was sent off for two bookable offences in the first half.

With the score at 0-0 at half time I expected Japan to really push the Greeks hard in the 2nd half but it became a game of niggling fouls with a stop start stop start pattern to it. Both keepers made a good save but really this result was not what either team would have wanted. Japan had a huge possession advantage but did little with it. The Greeks still created chances to score - in fact too many for a team down to 10 men for so long.

As for the Japanese they will consider this as two points lost rather than one gained.

Next up for Japan is Colombia and you don't really give Japan much hope of winning that game, but having said that, with Colombia already through to the knockout stages - they may just choose to rest a few players from the humid heat.

Next up for Greece is the Ivory Coast. Greece need to win this to stand any chance of going into the knockout stages while the Ivory Coast need only a draw to qualify.

20 Jun 2014

Quote by Femalemedic

For littleluce now that her beloved England are going home

I won't do the Scottish thing and gloat like everyone in edinburgh was doing today!

Hi Morag.......

I hope your day is going well......

With my first post on this thread I stated that England would struggle to reach the knockout stages and it certainly proved to be the case. There were a few good players that we qualified with that were injured towards the end of the season and failed to make the World Cup finals. Unfortunately I think we had a mixture of players that were past their best and players that were not sufficiently experienced enough at this level.

Yes I too know that some of the Scottish will be gloating and I guess that some people like to hold onto old conflicts that should not be part of their existence today. I do believe that you cannot move forward by looking back at the past. I like the Scottish and always support their teams, as do my family, friends and many other English people.......

The Welsh, Northern Irish and even Ireland get our support in even amounts. I know that will continue too. I have to confess that I have a soft spot for Southern Welsh people, but I have little knowledge of Northern Welsh people.

Thank you for lovely comments Morag.........

Have a great evening and a wonderful weekend.........

Lucy xxxx Big Hugs

20 Jun 2014

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1

Oh dear! Two teams play, one team loses - and then another goes out of the World Cup! Not fair I say! Not fair! lol well that's the way it goes.

Anyway, back to the match. Really England needed Italy to beat Costa Rica and Uruguay to stand a chance of qualifying and this display just goes to show that the Italians have enough problems of their own. The problem is that club football has now become so financially important, our national teams are starting to suffer a lack of player development. European international teams just seem to have dropped back in the quality of their play and national teams from other continents have now caught up, or at least that's my belief after watching many of these matches.

The match was played at a frantic pace and for the most part fairly even. The Costa Ricans were determined to knock the Italians out of their stride, conceding 23 fouls to Italy's 10. The Italians were not allowed to play the same style of play that they had adopted against England - instead it was a real battle with Costa Rica taking the lead just before the stroke of half-time when Junior Diaz crossed for Bryan Ruiz to head home. Really this should have been 2-0 at the break after the Costa Ricans were denied a clear penalty for a foul on Joel Campbellby by Giorgio Chiellini. I have to say that I don't know what match the referee was at when that foul took place.

The second half went the same way with the Italians pushing and the costa Ricans catching them on the break. There were no signs of the Italy that England faced a week ago and once again there was a questionable denial of a penalty to Costa Rica - but fortunately they didn't need it and really with the way that Costa Rica played - it would have been a travesty had the two denied penalties had a bearing on the result.
Italy started the match with their goalkeeper Captain (Buffon) returning after injury but I have to say that I was more impressed with his replacement (Sirigu) who played against England, maybe his positioning may have been better for the Costa Rican goal.

Really Italy still have it all to do against Uruguay. They either didn't turn up today or just didn't know how to handle a Costa Rica team that was so full of running. Costa Rica are through to the knockout stages and can relax and also rest a few players against England. But Italy, well they are now in a more precarious position. Although they hold the second qualifying position over Uruguay and need only a draw - it is Uruguay who will go for broke and try to break down the Italians when they face each other next Tuesday.

Up next for Italy is Uruguay - what a match this promises to be with both teams realistically needing to go for the win.

Up next for Costa Rica who have already qualified for the knockout stages is England who are already out of the competition - probably a bit of a stroll in the park or maybe England will try and give their long suffering and much traveled fans something to cheer about.

This is Lucy P. dragging her feet and kicking an old tin can down a back street alley - somewhere in Rio.

20 Jun 2014

Brazil will make it to the final, with the help of FIFA. But I hope either Columbia or Uruguay win x No allegiance to either. Just my little opinion.

20 Jun 2014

At this point it is time to offer our condolences to Kolo and Yaya Touré whose brother, Ibrahim Touré also a footballer with the Lebanon-based Al Safa team, died yesterday after a short battle with Cancer. He was 28 years old.

I hope you'll all join with me in wishing their family all the best at this sorrowful time.

21 Jun 2014

Quote by CdnStarlight
No way. Spain all the way baby..... Viva España

yes... they will do that for sure Read it

i would to see some smaller team winning the cup... maybe uruguay, i have always favored smaller teams Sword Fight

21 Jun 2014

Quote by Fleshlover
Brazil will make it to the final, with the help of FIFA. But I hope either Columbia or Uruguay win x No allegiance to either. Just my little opinion.

yes....... i just think the same and lets hope....

21 Jun 2014

Quote by Femalemedic

For littleluce now that her beloved England are going home

I won't do the Scottish thing and gloat like everyone in edinburgh was doing today!

sorry... but they are not good enough... as simply as that

21 Jun 2014

Quote by LittleLuce
At this point it is time to offer our condolences to Kolo and Yaya Touré whose brother, Ibrahim Touré also a footballer with the Lebanon-based Al Safa team, died yesterday after a short battle with Cancer. He was 28 years old.

I hope you'll all join with me in wishing their family all the best at this sorrowful time.

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rip man.........

21 Jun 2014

Quote by nerdjack

sorry... but they are not good enough... as simply as that

No they were not good enough and in my first post on this thread I did forecast that they would not qualify for the knockout stages. We do have one consolation though..........

There are 32 teams in this tournament and 31 of them will not be good enough either!

21 Jun 2014

Well I have some catching up to do here after a day of family commitments, so lets begin with..........

Switzerland 2 France 5

France secured their place in the knockout stages with a convincing win over the Swiss and to be honest were pretty much home and dry after Valbuena made it 3-0 in the 40th minute. France, 3-0 up at half time had missed a hatful of chances including a penalty as well as hitting the bar from the rebound.

This was a really good match and probably the most open of the tournament so far. France went for the jugular right from the start and scored twice inside 60 seconds through Giroud (17) and Matuidi (18) before Valbuena added the third just before halftime. The Swiss, whose defence looked just like the cheese that their country is famous for, looked shell shocked. But had still never given up and had created a number of chances for themselves.

France's first half performance was reminiscent to their world cup and European championship winning days a number of years ago and continued throughout the second half. Two further goals from Benzema (67) and Sissoko (72) sealed the victory before the Swiss grabbed two late consolation goals through Dzemalli (81) and Xhaka (87).

The French were awesome on the night - probably the best they have played for some time, the Swiss however were not a bad team, but just defended badly on the night. The downside for the French was probably that they became complacent and conceded the two late goals.
Benzema missed a first half penalty, brilliantly saved, the follow up hit the bar and right at the end of the match Benzema scored a wonderful goal that was disallowed because the referee had just blown for the end of the match.

Next up for the Swiss is Honduras - not an easy game and one that the Swiss may well have to win. A draw will see them through if France beat Ecuador.

Next up for France is Ecuador. If Ecuador beat France then and Switzerland beat Honduras, this group will have three teams on six points so goal average will count. If that is how it finishes then France should be alright and Switzerland will suffer so really all these teams need to go for the win.

It's amazing really that still any two of these four teams could go through although it is only mathematically as Honduras have a -4 goal difference but it's still possible.

21 Jun 2014

Honduras 1 Ecuador 2

England played both of these teams in friendlies in Miami a week before the World Cup kicked off and they both looked like useful and competent teams. Ecuador though looked like the team with a little more quality and so it proved against a Honduran team who had Like Ecuador already lost their first match.

While the Hondurans had seven more shots than Ecuador, it was the Ecuadorans who made theirs count. It was however the Hondurans who opened the scoring in the 31st minute through Carlo Costly with a left footed shot from outside the box. Three minutes later Ecuador were on level terms with the goal of a brace by Enner Valencia.

The match was quite close, although the Hondurans offered more shooting opportunities it was always Ecuador that was the strongest of the sides that offered a little more quality and this proved to be the case when Enner Valencia completed his brace with a close range header in the 65th minute.

The Hondurans huffed and puffed, continued to create chances but really it was Ecuador's night. Honduras still have a faint chance of qualification to the knockout stages but it would rely on some bizarre scores in the last round of group matches.

Next up for Honduras are the Swiss, who after a right thumping from France desperately need a good score to over Honduras to go above Ecuador who have the better goal difference by two goals. The Swiss won't find Honduras a walkover.

Next up for Ecuador is the on form French team. This could be a tight match, one that Ecuador need to win depending on how the Swiss do against the Honduras. The French are almost guaranteed a qualification place but will not take any chances against a determined Ecuador side.

22 Jun 2014

Argentina 1 Iran 0

I have to say at this point that I've been really impressed at the level of entertainment this World Cup has produced. This game was played at a frantic pace and even though you could see that Argentina had the better quality players - you coyld see as an overall team that Iran was not far behind.

Iran played like tigers, fought for every ball and were definitely worth a point, but I guess that when you have one of the very best players in the world in your team then there is always a chance that they will come up with something special.
The game itself ebbed and flowed from end to end and you were always waiting for that moment when Argentina would score before Iran then collapsed as the South Americans took control - but it never came.

With the half-time score at 0-0 the happier manager would have been Iran's, although he would also know that chances were going to be limited so he needed his team to take one of them. I honestly feel that Iran, although creating less goal scoring opportunities, also created the best as the Argentinian keeper pulled off a string of fine saves.

I suppose that's how it goes when the underdogs play such a good game and it proved just so as a 90-minute match that went on for 94 minutes produced a winner in the 91st minute. Iran must have convinced themselves by this time that they had earned themselves a hard fought point when Argentina tried to make the most of every added minute launched another attack and Messi the Argentinian wizard cut in from the right bringing the ball onto his favoured left foot curling a shot round two Iranian defenders, out of the keepers reach and into the corner of the net.

The despair was written all over every Iranians face in the stadium and understandably so. Argentina were not going to let this go in the last couple of minutes and just held possession to see the game out. Argentina have now qualified on six points which leaves Iran and Nigeria to fight for that second qualifying place.

As Argentina took the possession percentage 77% to Iran's 23% and shot total 21 shots to Iran's 8 this looks all too much like Argentina had their own way but to be honest, that was far from the truth as my man of the match was the Argentinian keeper Sergio Romero.
If you look back at Iran's qualifying record for this tournament, you may be aware that Iran kept more clean sheets than any other team at the tournament, so it was by no surprise that Argentina was struggling to break them down and often restricted to long shots. It was made all the more impressive when you think that Iran's preparations for the competition had been hampered by political sanctions that affected their funding and ability to organise friendlies prior to these finals.

Up next for Argentina is 2nd place Nigeria who only need a point to secure their passage to the knockout stages. It will depend on what frame of mind th Argentinians are in having already qualified themselves.

Up next for Iran are the Bosnians who are already out of the tournament after a poor second match. If Iran win this one they will have to hope that Argentina beat Nigeria by a few goals in order to reach the knockout stages.

22 Jun 2014

I've been hooked (again) with FIFA .... match after match has been terrific!

My Firm has set up a boardroom for us, and at every chance, many of us are watching there.

The Firm (Students/Associates instigated) Bracket is well over $1200 ... and at this rate, with upsets .... anyone could be the ultimate winner.

Another Sunday of soccer/football .... I'm in heaven ....

22 Jun 2014

Germany 2 Ghana 2

Wow! What game this was! Once again a game of David Vs Goliath and David this time came in the form of Ghana. Over the years the saying of "there are no easy games" springs to mind and this tournament has been testament to that. Germany who were favourites to win this match after mauling the talented Portugal, had the best of the possession, but this time it was the underdogs Ghana who had the most shots at goal.

After an exciting but goalless first half it was Germany who took the lead in the 51st minute through Mario Götze with a left footed shot from just inside the box. The lead didn't last long and three minutes later Ghana were level when André Ayew headed into the German net.
That scoreline didn't last long either as Ghana then took a shock lead just nine minutes later through Asamoah Gyan with a right footed shot from inside the area.

Once again we didn't have wait too long before we saw a change of scoreline, just eight minutes later when substitute Miroslav Klose equalized for Germany with a right footed shot from close range. With Ghanaians hearts broken a 2-2 draw would normally have felt like a victory.

Both sides created a lot of chances and the game was 90 minutes of pure entertainment. A draw was a fair result but of course people will feel sorry for the Ghanaians - they really played well on the day and both teams must have suffered in the conditions as humidity rose to 60%.

Next up for Germany Are the USA who already have three points. They play their 2nd game tonight against Portugal - a game that Portugal must win.

Next up for Ghana, their final game will be Portugal, and if Ghana are to stand any chance of qualification then they will need to beat them unless the USA win tonight, then the last game for both sides will be irrelevant.

22 Jun 2014

Nigeria 1 Bosnia Herzegovina 0

I find myself starting these reports sounding all too familiar by stating how exciting the games have been - but it really is true if you like football and you've watched other World Cup finals that have failed to impress in some of the games.

Nigeria and Bosnia both attacked from the start and if anything the Bosnians were on the back foot during the early periods. Bosnia qualified well and looked impressive, they looked impressive and very unlucky against Argentina last week. So where did it all go wrong last night?

Well the referee made a complete howler as he blew for offside when Edin Dzeko was clean through on goal. Replays showed that Dzeko had timed his run to perfection. Had he gone on to score, it may have settled their nerves. Instead eight minutes later, Emmanuel Emenike powered past Emir Spahic on the right before finding Odemwingie, who shot through the legs of his Stoke team-mate Asmir Begovic to score what turned out to be the winner.

The second half played out the same way with both side creating plenty of chances, Edin Dzeko was probably the villain as he had eight shots out of the twenty that were created by Bosnia. I really wanted Bosnia to qualify for the knockout stages in their first tournament finals but they are just another team to have now booked their ticket home. They played well enough at times, but not as well as they did to qualify. They like one or two other teams will return home home with regrets.

Nigeria, just like Ghana are fearless - they just go out and play open attacking football and it's great on the eye. Nigeria need one point from their last game to qualify - unfortunately that last game is against Argentina so they will be hoping that Bosnia will beat Iran in the other final group game.

Next up for Nigeria are group leaders and qualifiers Argentina.

Next up for Bosnia are third place Iran who need to win the match to keep their hopes of knockout stage qualification alive.

22 Jun 2014

Belgium 1 Russia 0

Well I don't need many words to sum up this match so I shall not use many!

This has been by far the worst match of the tournament by far. There was one other duff match but this one takes the biscuit. The first half was lifeless and finished at 0-0.

The second half wasn't much better as Belgium left it until the 88th minute to score there winner through Divock Origi's right footed shot from the centre of the box. I'm not really sure what either team were looking for in this match, maybe they were both just trying not to lose.

The game to be fair did liven up in the second half but it still wasn't great and it was Russia who had the best of it and could feel unlucky to have lost the match. As for Belgium, well a lot of people have favoured them to go far in this tournament, and to be honest just looking at the players they have in their squad - you would have thought so. But as of yet, I haven't seen anything in their performances to suggest it.

Having said that, they have won their first two matches to qualify for the knockout stage and left the others to scrap for the second qualifying spot from this group.

Next up for Belgium are the South Koreans

Up next for Russia are the tough Algerians.

22 Jun 2014

Staying up for USA tonight Lucy?

22 Jun 2014

South Korea 2 Algeria 4

Well I knew this match with the high scoring Algerian qualifiers against the entertaining South Koreans were going to make up for the monotony of the previous match on TV. The match started with South Korea in disarray and Algeria looking every bit the attacking and high scoring team that they were in the African qualifying group.

South Korea struggled to keep possession of the ball and the Algerians were on top for most of the first half. The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Islam Slimani hit a left footed shot from inside the area. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 when Rafik Halliche sent a header into the top corner of the South Koreans net and we had only eight minutes to wait before the Algerians scored their third through Abdelmoumene Djabou with a fine left footed finish.

The half-time whistle couldn't come soon enough for the South Koreans and they looked shocked and disappointed as they left the pitch. After half-time a rejuvenated South Korea took to the pitch looking nothing like the one that came off at half-time, and after only four minutes they pulled a goal back through a smart turn and shot from Son Heung-Min. This really gave the south Koreans a new lease of life, the problem was that the Algerians were not fazed at all.

In the 62nd minute the Algerians restored their three goal advantage with a right footed finish by Yacine Brahimi. The South Koreans never lost belief and continued to attack with great vigour and got their just reward with a second goal, a left footed close range finish from Koo Ja-Cheol.

Unfortunately this was to be an end to the scoring in what was a highly entertaining match that saw Algeria coming close to taking that second qualifying place, but it is really close in that group. Belgium have qualified with six points at the moment but anyone out of the other three teams can take the other qualifying place as the goal difference is very close.

You could be forgiven for thinking that at 3-0 the match was over and to be fair it was as the final score was 4-2, but if South Korea had scored their second goal before the Algerians had got their fourth........ well who knows, also the Algerians were lucky not to have a player sent off for a terrible foul in the 2nd half and later on the South Koreans should have had a penalty...... hmm

Up next for South Korea is Belgium.

Up next for Algeria is Russia.

22 Jun 2014

Quote by Femalemedic
Staying up for USA tonight Lucy?

Hi Morag.......

I hope you're well......

USA Vs Portugal is one match I'd love to watch - I'm supporting the Americans but I have to say I'm exhausted! A day of housework, photographing a friends baby, editing the photos and ordering prints on canvases as a birthday present for her husband plus writing up these matches has left me all done in. I'm going to go to bed now as I have to be up early for work tomorrow. I'll watch the match tomorrow when I get home from work as I'm recording it.

I hope your evening and weekend has been good to you......

Lucy xxxx Big Hugs

23 Jun 2014

USA 2 Portugal 2

Silvestre Varela's equaliser deep into injury time kept Portugal in the World Cup as their Group G clash with the USA ended in a dramatic draw in Manaus. The substitute headed in a Cristiano Ronaldo cross after it appeared Clint Dempsey had sent the Americans through. Portugal took an early lead through Nani, but Jermaine Jones' superb strike levelled the scores just after an hour.

A draw between Germany and USA will see both through, while Portugal must beat Ghana to have a chance of progressing.
Portugal are relying on a Germany win and must also hope for scores that cause a change in goal difference by six goals if they are to pip the USA to second place and reach the last 16.

Realistically, they had needed to win in the Amazonian rainforest after a 4-0 thrashing by Germany in their opening game, but their performance was at least a marked improvement on that showing in Salvador. For the USA - who had opened with a late win over Ghana - this was a performance characterised by attacking verve and defensive slackness, the latter allowing the European side to race into a fifth-minute lead, and also to hit back with the final whistle seconds away.

Their first defensive lapse came when Geoff Cameron sliced an attempted clearance across the face of his goal to Nani, the Manchester United winger finishing emphatically past Everton keeper Tim Howard. The early goal stung the Americans into action, and they chased the game to create decent chances from which Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley failed to test Portugal keeper Beto.

But while Portugal looked vulnerable to the USA's rapid counter-attacks, they remained a threat going forward themselves and went close to doubling their lead just before the break when Nani struck the post from outside the area, and Eder's follow-up was brilliantly pushed over by Howard.

Ronaldo's participation had been in some doubt following a bout of tendonitis in his left knee, and while the World Player of the Year looked good when supplying his team mates, his finishing was wayward. Ten minutes into the second half, Bradley should have equalised, but the midfielder's side-footed shot from close range was superbly cleared off the line by Ricardo Costa.
The miss was soon forgotten, though, when Jones side-stepped Nani before bending in a brilliant shot from outside the box beyond the static Beto.

With less than 10 minutes to go, Dempsey stooped to guide the ball in off his midriff from close range for what looked to be the winner, until the defence switched off again in the 94th minute and Varela dived to meet Ronaldo's cross and claim what might still turn out to be a crucial point.

This was a great game and you have to feel for the USA team to concede so late, but unfortunately they gave the ball away through Michael Bradley, one of their most experienced players and that gave Ronaldo the opportunity to cross for the equaliser. The stats for this match favour the Portuguese so really they were probably worth their point but really with seconds to go, the American players should have defended better.

Well.......I believe the second qualifying spot will be between Ghana and the USA. Portugal I feel have too much to do and have done too much wrongly, but we'll see.

Up next for the USA are Germany who will have had one day more of rest than the USA.

Up next for Portugal is Ghana - both teams need to win and Ghana will have also had one day more of rest than Portugal.

23 Jun 2014

Australia 0 Spain 3

Goals from David Villa, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata prevented Spain from suffering a third successive loss for the first time since 1991. Villa scored the opener when he flicked in Juanfran's cross, before Chelsea's Torres fired in the second. Mata slid in the third from fellow substitute Cesc Fabregas's lofted pass.

The result means Spain finish third in the table with three points after one win and two defeats, while Australia finish bottom. During the opening 30 minutes, Vicente del Bosque's Spain played like a side bewildered by the events of their opening two games. Their play was characterised by misplaced passes, uncertainty in defence and a lack of bite in the final third. But the reliable Villa, whose inclusion was one of seven changes, eased those concerns with a familiar flicked finish nine minutes before the break to cap a move that was typical of Spain during the last six years.

Andres Iniesta threaded a pass down the right to overlapping full-back Juanfran. The Atletico Madrid played squared to Villa, whose clever finish outfoxed keeper Mat Ryan. It was the 32-year-old's ninth goal in World Cups and his 59th in total in what will be his 97th and final game for Spain. Villa was later substituted, head bowed, and was consoled by his team-mates on the bench.

The Spanish improved considerably after the break as Australia with much of their team being young - tired as they attempted to break up Spain's trademark 1-2 passing moves. After increasing the pressure, Del Bosque's men eventually doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Iniesta's ball split the defence and found Torres, who sidefooted in. That was the Chelsea forward's first World Cup goal since 2006.

The final goal of Spain's campaign came eight minutes from the end. This time it was Fabregas who was the provider.
The Barcelona midfielder, who had a falling out with Del Bosque during the build-up to the match, played a lovely lofted ball to Manchester United's Mata at the far post. The midfielder, making his first appearance of the tournament, barely looked up before poking the ball under the body of Ryan.

Manchester City's David Silva, who was also a substitute, went close with a hard shot in stoppage time as his side bid farewell to a disastrous Brazil 2014 campaign with a flourish.

The second half saw Spain play just like we're used to seeing them play. Torres started the match which was a good thing because he made a difference when he came on against Chile and players who entered the fray in the second half should have started this and the other matches, certainly brought Spain to life.

Well Spain will be on their way home soon and not too long after their arrival I do wonder if we will have seen the last of Vicente del Bosque who had a face like a Bulldog chewing a wasp for most of the tournament. Neither he or his players looked like they had a future together and one or two of them may be retiring from the international scene very soon.

23 Jun 2014

Netherlands 2 Chile 0

Both of these teams had qualified before this match was played so the result as such the result was only relevant as far as who plays who in the next round. It was the late show here as Holland scored twice in the last thirteen minutes to make it three out of three wins.

Norwich City man Fer headed in with his first touch in the 77th minute, before Depay tapped home in stoppage time. Chile are now likely to face Brazil in the last 16, with Louis van Gaal's side set to face either Mexico or Croatia. Monday's meeting in Sao Paulo had failed to live up to expectations given the four previous games involving the two teams had seen 17 goals.

The Dutch were missing the suspended Robin van Persie, while Chile rested midfielder Arturo Vidal and their absence was keenly felt as the game reached the interval with neither keeper having been forced into a save. Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez looked most likely to force an opener for the South Americans with his clever movement and eye for a pass causing Van Gaal's backline concerns on a number of occasions.

For the Netherlands Arjen Robben went close to continuing his record of having scored in every match when another trademark long run ended with him dragging a low effort just wide. The first half's only other moments of note owed more to the two teams' physical approach, with the flow of the game interrupted by numerous niggling fouls. It took until the 65th minute for the first real save of the game, Jasper Cillessen forced to beat away Sanchez's effort at his near post.

That sparked a response from the Dutch as Robben fired straight at Claudio Bravo in the Chile goal after a positive run at their defence.
Depay then brought a good save from the keeper with a powerful shot from range. From the resultant corner the Oranje worked the ball back to Daryl Janmaat and his deep cross was met by the head of the unmarked Fer, who had been introduced just moments earlier.
With Jorge Sampaoli's side needing a win to finish top of the group they pushed forward in search of an equaliser but were unable to fashion a clear chance and Depay wrapped up the win in the dying seconds when he converted Robben's low cross on the breakaway.

This was a game that had the possession well in favour of Chile, but shots on goal in favour of Holland. On the day it was the shots on goal stats that were key on the day.

The Dutch looking good, Chile looking a tough side and lots more to come in this very entertaining world cup.

24 Jun 2014

Louis Suarez ....seemed very hungry during tonight's game ! ?

3 match ban for him I reckon !

As for England .....Luce over to you.

My Karma just ran over your Dogma

25 Jun 2014

Thanks Jolly Jack, I'll add to this post later with a number of short write-ups as I'm now getting packed ready to work abroad for a week from Friday. So people if they wish to can keep this thread alive by contributing while I'm away........

So just for now.........

Here's something to chew on!

I also posted this pic in the "what was the last thing you put in your mouth " thread lol.

Lucy xx

25 Jun 2014

hopefully holland will win it, but i have a sneaky feeling ze germans will

25 Jun 2014

Ok soooooooooooo,,, whats with the biting in soccer ? Mike Tyson wannabe's or what? Think