FIFA World Cup 2014

[Sixth Man]

Great performance by USA in this tournament, but there is a chasm between USA and top national squads.  We just don't have players with the kind of skill levels that other countries' squads possess.
When Bradley has to play as an offensive mid, there is a very long way to go.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Howard just wooowww!

I'm no soccer fan, but wow Howard has been awesome.  To soccer fans,  how does Howard rate world wide?

Tournament; Neuer(Ger), Ochoa(Mex) and Howard arguably top three GK

World wide; Neuer(Ger), Courtois(Bel), Buffon(Ita), Casillas(Esp- he is not as good as he usually is), Lloris(Fra) top 5 IMO.

Next five maybe; Handanovic(Svn), Sirigu(Ita), Howard(Usa), Muslera(Uru), Cech(Cze)

Worldwide, I would drop Buffon, Lloris and certainly Casillas, who isn't even automatic
starter for RM.  Handanovic and Sirigu should be included off last season's performance
levels.

I like Lloris, but he made of lot of critical errors for Spurs last season.

No love fot Szczesny?

[Sixth Man]

Howard just wooowww!

I'm no soccer fan, but wow Howard has been awesome.  To soccer fans,  how does Howard rate world wide?

Tournament; Neuer(Ger), Ochoa(Mex) and Howard arguably top three GK

World wide; Neuer(Ger), Courtois(Bel), Buffon(Ita), Casillas(Esp- he is not as good as he usually is), Lloris(Fra) top 5 IMO.

Next five maybe; Handanovic(Svn), Sirigu(Ita), Howard(Usa), Muslera(Uru), Cech(Cze)

Worldwide, I would drop Buffon, Lloris and certainly Casillas, who isn't even automatic
starter for RM.  Handanovic and Sirigu should be included off last season's performance
levels.

I like Lloris, but he made of lot of critical errors for Spurs last season.

No love fot Szczesny?

Ask Wenger first...

[Who]

My four favourite teams heading into this World Cup were - Brazil, Italy, Colombia and Chile.

Italy knocked out in group stage. Then Chile play Brazil in last 16, Chile knocked out. Now Brazil vs Colombia in quarter finals and another of my favourite teams set to be knocked out. Shame Brazil had to meet Chile and Colombia so early in competition.

[ederson]

Brazil qualifying over Chile was a shame.....
I guess you`ve read what Pinilla has done
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/chile-striker-mauricio-pinilla-gets-tattoo-of-agonising-lastminute-shot-that-hit-that-bar-against-brazil-9575342.html

I really hope Colombia wins today. This brazilian team is bad and they don`t deserve to reach the semis.

Nice to see Lahm in the back4. Low needs some speed to face France. Griezman VS a heavy slow german def would have been a gift to the French.

I hope Klose scores. I really want him to break the scoring record.

[Who]

Hummels!

Terrific header.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

What a header by Hummels.

Completely overpowered Verane for the goal.

[Who]

Ozil is wasted out on the wing

Edit: First good attack Germany has in about 10 minutes is when Ozil cuts inside and makes threatening through pass. I hope he looks to come inside more often. Germany do not look threatening when Ozil is far out near the touchline. France's midfield trio keeping Kroos and Co well contained.

[Who]

Griezmann and Valbuena need to drop deeper and link up better with central midfielders. There is too large a gap between them. Central midfielders can only play long balls ahead. Nobody there to collect and link things together in final third.

I haven't seen a lot of Griezmann but I do not think he is this type of player. Seems more like a finisher than a creator. Valbuena will have to do the lion's share of the work.

[Who]

I wonder if Klose is right choice for France. I think French CBs are very good and will be more comfortable defending a more typical #9 like Klose than say someone like Schurrle who will roam everywhere across final third and is harder to pickup.

Klose struggling have impact so far.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

No love for Vincent Enyeama? He has started for Nigeria for at least a decade and the tv commentators are talking about him as an 'undiscovered.' I think Yaya Toure has a point when he complains about African players being under appreciated

[Who]

I think Germany have looked comfortable here. That early goal was a major aid. Forced France to chase the game and France have struggled to do so.

[BballTim]

Great performance by USA in this tournament, but there is a chasm between USA and top national squads.  We just don't have players with the kind of skill levels that other countries' squads possess.
When Bradley has to play as an offensive mid, there is a very long way to go.

  I don't think that we were going for our best attacking lineup in the Cup, and I didn't like the lineups myself. We're not on the level of the top few countries in the world but we're not that far below that. We don't have the name players other countries do but we're as good as plenty of those national teams. Considering we were unable to even qualify for any of the previous 9 Cups before 1990 we're definitely heading in the right direction.

[ederson]

Amazingly bad finishing by Schurle

[Who]

I thought that Khedira foul at the halfway line about 20 minutes ago should be allowed to be punished by more than a yellow card. I understand professional fouls but he didn't even try to make a play on the football. He got beat and then just tried to bear hug the guy from behind. That is not a football play. France had a very good chance to create goal scoring opportunity after Griezmann had beaten Khedira.

I know that is not a red card under current rules (yellow card was right decision) but I would have liked to see ref been able to give Khedira a red for that. I don't mind a foul there but a foul that has nothing to do with football (bear hug) and makes no attempt on the ball whatsoever and denies other team goal scoring chance is bad for football.