World Cup 2014

JBS

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this costa rica story is nothing short of amazing...unbelievable!!!!!
 

CanadianCowboysFan

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Italy and England losing is like Christmas in June for many.

Italy just needs to tie the next game to advance so look for them to play for a 0-0 tie.
 

Szczepanik

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Not really impressed with Costa Rica. If you watched the Italy game, it felt like a 0-0 match the entire way. Balotelli goofed up on 2 GOOD scoring chances were Italy should of came away with points. Also Balotelli checked himself out in the 2nd half essentially making it a 10 man Italy side....

So no, I am not impressed with Costa Rica. They didn't play well against an Italy team that played horrendous.
 

JBS

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Not really impressed with Costa Rica. If you watched the Italy game, it felt like a 0-0 match the entire way. Balotelli goofed up on 2 GOOD scoring chances were Italy should of came away with points. Also Balotelli checked himself out in the 2nd half essentially making it a 10 man Italy side....

So no, I am not impressed with Costa Rica. They didn't play well against an Italy team that played horrendous.

hahahah, you are either biased or just dont have a clue

this is COSTA RICA...it doesnt matter if they are impressive...what they have accomplished already is FAAAAAAR beyond what anyone expected...its an incredible story
 

JBS

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and with all of that said...Costa Rica was very impressive defensively...after they took the lead...Italy had just about ZERO scoring opportunities..they were very solid in the back
 

Szczepanik

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hahahah, you are either biased or just dont have a clue

this is COSTA RICA...it doesnt matter if they are impressive...what they have accomplished already is FAAAAAAR beyond what anyone expected...its an incredible story

I have a clue but thank you for your concern. I root for Italy but I am not biased. I enjoy soccer.

It was not a very well played game for both sides. Balotelli missed 2 or 3 great shot chances, and then he didn't do anything. He barely ran in the second half. He should of been rotated out, and made it a 10 man Italy squad.

I am happy for Costa Rica and it is a good story that they made it in the 16 team playoff, but I am not going to sugarcoat it by saying I was impressed. Italy beat itself more than Costa Rica beat Italy.

They playing solid defense against a team down a man, and that didn't play well at all...

Italy would of gotten blown out by any other team today by the way they played.
 

jterrell

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Not really impressed with Costa Rica. If you watched the Italy game, it felt like a 0-0 match the entire way. Balotelli goofed up on 2 GOOD scoring chances were Italy should of came away with points. Also Balotelli checked himself out in the 2nd half essentially making it a 10 man Italy side....

So no, I am not impressed with Costa Rica. They didn't play well against an Italy team that played horrendous.

Sorry but that's either sour apples or a complete lack of understanding of the game.

Costa Rica attacked Italy's vaunted defense all game and aside from the usual merciless long passes by Pirlo up to Balotelli who was always marked (tho he did get escape that for a while before wearing down)they outclassed the Italians much of the day. That forced the Italian midfielders to play more defensively than they wanted.
Balotelli did miss a couple opps but he played very well as the only guy passed midfield for much of the game.
VERY few 9's can play like that for 90 minutes and he definitely couldn't.
No one was complaining about the Italian side being poor when they crapped on England.

In the group of Death Costa Rica is already through with England goign home and fellow top 10 teams Uruguay and Italy battling for 2nd spot.
That's like a 13 seed upsetting a 3 seed in the NCAA bball tourney.
 

jterrell

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I wouldn't say Honduras is well. They are alive because they've only played one game. :D They got spanked 3-0 in against France. We'll have to wait to see how they look against Ecuador in their second game.

fair point, that.
but they have also played a tremendous looking french side(wow i hate typing that) already with lesser teams left to possibly qualify(admittedly a long shot but anyone who had costa rica through could have gotten rich).

still anyone not applauding what concacaf has done is insane.
wins over ghana, cameroon, italy, uruguay
tie w brazil
only loss for entire region is to france
 

Szczepanik

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11 offsides on good scoring chances is Italy beating itself more than anything.

Costa Rica played with alot of heart and had one very good shot on goal before half. Offensively they were not very good in the match, nor was Italy.

Costa Rica kool aid is getting passed around pretty fast.

No Euro teams have impressed me so far in the Cup, with the exception of Netherlands and France. Maybe humidity comes into play, who knows.
 

joseephuss

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fair point, that.
but they have also played a tremendous looking french side(wow i hate typing that) already with lesser teams left to possibly qualify(admittedly a long shot but anyone who had costa rica through could have gotten rich).

still anyone not applauding what concacaf has done is insane.
wins over ghana, cameroon, italy, uruguay
tie w brazil
only loss for entire region is to france

I agree the teams from CONCACAF are showing well except for Honduras up to this point.

I'm not considering the win over Ghana considering you were dogging them for weeks leading up to the World Cup. Just kidding. I have respect for that team. It was a great win for the U.S.

The only consideration I will give to UEFA teams is that they are the only teams that have to play other teams from their own region. Mostly though, they have just played poorly.
 

JBS

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Yeah, germany isnt impressive....

You aren't very good at this game
 

joseephuss

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11 offsides on good scoring chances is Italy beating itself more than anything.

Costa Rica played with alot of heart and had one very good shot on goal before half. Offensively they were not very good in the match, nor was Italy.

Costa Rica kool aid is getting passed around pretty fast.

No Euro teams have impressed me so far in the Cup, with the exception of Netherlands and France. Maybe humidity comes into play, who knows.

Costa Rica handled Uruguay pretty handily. The same Uruguay that dominated England. Italy played poorly, but Costa Rica also did some good things. They should have been awarded a penalty in the first half. And Balotelli does what Balotelli does. He sulks and disappears for portions of the game all of the time.
 

JBS

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I know benzema missed the pk.. But this guy is a completely different player

I dont know if it's Carlo or zizou... But something got into this guy...

I used to hate this guy and was praying for real to sell him. .. This guy has won me over. .. He is in great form and he complements cr7 and bale very well
 

Ren

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Italy and England losing is like Christmas in June for many.

Italy just needs to tie the next game to advance so look for them to play for a 0-0 tie.

That's exactly what will happen, Italy will never do more then the bare minimum to advance
 

jterrell

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I agree the teams from CONCACAF are showing well except for Honduras up to this point.

I'm not considering the win over Ghana considering you were dogging them for weeks leading up to the World Cup. Just kidding. I have respect for that team. It was a great win for the U.S.

The only consideration I will give to UEFA teams is that they are the only teams that have to play other teams from their own region. Mostly though, they have just played poorly.

Ghana isn't very good.
The US took the lead in 30 seconds.
They did look haggard at times trying to hold the lead but losing your only true holding striker can have that affect, lol.
Once Ghana did break through with a goal, the US went right back for the win, never trying to play for a tie.

Mexico, the US and Costa Rica all look like top 20 teams in the world right now.
Most Euro based fans wouldn't have given us one of those before the World Cup.

The Euro teams playing in this sweltering weather of South America is very real.

Tho France may well look the best of anyone....

As we know group stage is totally different from knockouts but if we do get 3 Concacaf sides to the knockouts that's gotta be respected.
 
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