Surprised at B&H, I really thought they would feature in the last 16, they do have a good team, and just hit the woodwork in the final minute of the game, they did have a few chances though in the second half.

Algeria can get past Russia and Korea too.

Algeria can get past Russia and Korea too.

They do look decent actually. Just Cameroon letting the side down (badly) then.

 

Meanwhile the Asian teams appear to have struggled, although none have actually played that badly. Japan have only got a midfield so look flimsy and can't break anyone down, Iran and Australia were unlucky and South Korea may yet go through.

Real dull game so far. Absolutely no tempo to it at all.

Algeria :o

 

I really would quite like it if they got through this group, they've been owed a second round finish for a long time and they're playing well (I'd normally be on the side of the South Koreans but I haven't really been impressed with them this tournament, just like the other Asian teams :().

A fantastic half, Algeria have ran them ragged. Put the defence under pressure and easy mistakes.

The second half is pretty tasty so far as well.

Great game. Nice to see tactics evolving too. Seems tiki-taka really is dead/totally sussed out. Everyone's going for the high intensity, attack is the best form of defense route.

What a finish. The USA seconds away from getting through and Portugal just about kept themselves in with a chance. Why can't all World Cups be like this?

What a finish. The USA seconds away from getting through and Portugal just about kept themselves in with a chance. Why can't all World Cups be like this?

 

Great game. I think the game is just evolving again, to make it this way.

 

Really good article here on why it's been so exciting so far: http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/world-cup-cen...are-coming-fast

 

 

Very dramatic ending to a very good match, I'm glad Portugal equalised as I'm supporting Ghana to qualify from the group. It's now possible for them as long as Germany beat the USA and Ghana beat Portugal which is definitely possible.

I damn near had a stroke when Varela put in that header in the 95th minute for the draw......was desperately wanting the US squad to win this one against Portugal.....I know my younger brother, who's a much bigger footy fan than I am must be apoplectic about now.....

 

Big trick now is for the US to draw against Germany Thursday in order to advance......

Problem the USA have is they sit far too deep at times, it's Hodgson tactics to soak up the pressure. Portugal are pretty rubbish, so don't have the quality, but Germany have players that can wait and pick a pass to cut through 10 men behind the ball. Think Germany will beat them quite easily, especially if Dempsey is injured.

The main thing I've noticed in terms of why it's been a more attacking tournament is that so many wide forwards/midfielders haven't been given, or simply haven't done their defensive duties so full backs have had loads of space to break into. I read something the other day that there's already been more assists from defenders than there were in the whole of 2010.

Dutch looking very balanced. Shown they can contain a team and then seem to be perfectly set up to counter and overpower Chile.

Chile missed Vidal so much, it was unreal. No idea why Sanchez was playing so deep at times, it really negated his best assets. Netherlands had a plan and it worked, but really think with Vidal on the field it might have been a different outcome. Anyway, will mean a big price when they inevitably face Brazil.

The Netherlands yasss

I'm gonna be honest I was so scared,but we managed to pull through

Disappointed with England's performance. 2 things are the reasons that let us down every year imo

-the amount of foreign players in the premier league, which holds back british players who should be starting for the big clubs. This is highlighted by an interesting stat between english and spanish football ' In La Liga 60% of players are Spainsh, in Premier League only 31% are English'. Yes spain haven't done too well this world cup, but it highlights the problem.

-the other problem i have is that why no lower league players are picked to play for England. Surely some top end championship players should be getting a look in. Plus a season of success means they go to the world cup brimming with confidence.

 

As for the world cup now, im mainly backing columbia, equador and ghana 😀💯💯💯💯

So far

 

Teams that have qualified for Round of 16:

 

Netherlands (B)

Chile (B)

Colombia ©

Costa Rica (D)

Argentina (F)

Belgium (H)

Brazil (A)

Mexico (A)

 

ELIMINATED:

 

Australia

Spain

Cameroon

England

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia

 

Round of 16 matches

Mexico vs The Netherlands

Brazil vs Chile

Edited June 23, 201411 yr by *Tim

With all due respect, the Championship is not a great level, at least not good enough for international football. Our better players get beaten by the elite, so I don't know how players from the Championship would fair.. all the best young English players in the Championship either get snapped up by the top clubs eventually, or are on loan from the top clubs.

 

I agree foreign players populating the league is a problem, but there are bigger issues. There's a lack of opportunities for young players. Thankfully the B-league team has been rejected. Nice idea, but utilising the loan market would be far better. Scrap the loan window for lower league clubs. Really our fault lies in our coaching. This crop of players we have is actually very good, but Hodgson is clueless. We're playing a formation that's alien to the majority. Just look at Mexico tonight, he picked a team that fit his way of thinking and they comfortably beat Croatia. If we're going to play 4-2-3-1 then you need to have the best players for the system, not just the star names...