Argentina vs Germany / My predictions

I predict that the referees will invent all kinds of bogus plenty kicks, red and yellow cards where there are none against Argentina.

If the referees don’t interfere, I predict Argentina will beat Brazil in the final.

Brazil were given two goals that were offsides by the refs in the Ghana vs Brazil match.

Wow, Ghana broke down Brazil and every other team they played quite well but they could never take advantage of it. Too many missed opportunities, they should have had 5 to 6 goals against Brazil. The only thing that team needs is one or two decent strikers.

Brazil has the most talent but I don’t think they have the best team. Brazil turns the ball
over a lot and they rest on their laurels, in turn, Argentina plays with a sense of urgency, they also have a lot of talent and I think they play better as a team than Brazil.

We will see.

Despite some horrible calls during this or the last WC, one shouldn't start with theories like this. The chosen ref is pretty good and experienced.
Concerning the Brazil game, as far as I can remember, only the second goal was offside. Is it the first or the third goal that you believe to be offside as well? I missed the first one but I'm quite sure that the third one was no offside.

But I agree that Argentinia belongs to the very few teams that actually showed that they can play pretty football in most of their matches. Brazil is rather disappointing, yet extremely effective.
But just look at how the ConfedCup went. Poor first round for Brazil, they were close to not making the KO-rounds. Some weeks before that they got beaten 1-3 by Argentinia and in the final they suddenly blew Argentinia away (4-1). I have the fear that Brazil knows exactly how much effort they have to invest to win the really important games.
I'd not be happy with them winning the title again but one would hardly be surprised if they do.

As for Brazil. They appear to play not to lose. It seemed like Ghana spent most of the game in Brazi's goal crease without anything to show for it. Brazil got very lucky at least twice in those situations.

Meaning 4 or 5 goals. I think Germany wins 3-1 or 3-2, but it wouldn't surprise me if Argentina wins. I just hope it's a good game and the referee stays the hell out of the way. This has the potential to be the best match of the tournament.

I admit it, though, I am in grief.

DAMN!

and the ref did a brilliant job keeping himself out of the story, for once. Well played all around. Shame one of them had to lose.

I thought that it must have been boring for those who didn't support either team, but for those involved, it should have been one of the most intense games ever, from minute 1 till the end. Probably not many teams could come back against Argentinia.

The referee was pretty good I think.
I think we saw 2 of the few teams that actually played quite attractive football so far. Didn't matter which team advanced, I think both teams would be deserving World Champions.

but it is STILL off the hook. I might venture out to get some pics, but Friday night after such a win...? I might play it safe and have another weissbier at home.

Come on, now! We want pics!

Salud!

Drunk people drinving in masses - I barely made it home alive ;).

I was wrong but Bollack is still a crying pussy and a bad actor. : - )

So long as Argentina is out. I am ok with some other team winning the World Cup. Now I can rest easy....

what a relief. Though I wish I could have seen the game and the crying Maradona....

A friend of his wasn't let into the VIP area. Confronted with that terrible situation, Maradona left.

For some reason the Argies were at handbags at dawn with the Germans after the penalty shootout. What on earth was going on there? :shrug:

I'm not sure either, just heard something about players from Argentinia provoking every German player who shot a penealty. Borowski then told them to shut up. But that's only what I heard from another person.
Another player, who got a red after the penealties (Cafu), made a run from like 20 metres to kick Mertesacker from behind and then ran away (I admire his bravery). After the game, Bierhoff said that he became involved because he wanted to prevent any of the players making something stupid that could result in a suspension. I also heard about an Argentinian fisting another player?
Whatever, some players totally lost their control which I can somehow understand. It was about getting to the semis, for many a once in a lifetime experience. Still, it was a disgrace.