The_jagster

Speculating at this stage about murder is stupid but this is nonetheless big news, he is probably the only American football journalist I could name.

IF YOU'VE GOT ANY BOTTLE, LAHOZ.

It was just like Howard Webb in 2010, thought he could keep it under control by booking everyone, when it's the threat of a red that actually makes the difference. It seems like you are going to have to do something incredibly bad to get sent off this world cup.

Torn, as I don't really want to see that Dutch team go through but it was hard to like Argentina either.

Same as Emi Martinez, wasn't really a starter until he was that age

Keown and Pearce seem shocked that The Netherlands aren't playing in the same way as they were when they had to score and were sticking 5 big men in the box.

They are just a boring football team

Yeah it's more like "we do not recognise that version of events" than "this did not happen".

Argentina not in black shorts

0.68-2.72 xg, apart from a few early scares there was no danger at the back, they just didn't take their chances although I don't remember any really bad misses. Even the goal was a deflection.

Today I'll also find out if LVG has been "laying traps for opponents" or if Holland are just quite a boring football team who haven't met a good enough team yet, I thought Ecuador probably should have won their match.

Annoyingly there is a Matthaus clip where he says "It's a wonderful game what we are playing here" in a fairly camp voice but I cannot find the original source, just seeing his name reminds me to post it in case anyone knows what I'm talking about

Guido Rodriguez clearly doesn't tip his barber

The grandest stadium at the tournament hosts what is probably the most evocative tie of the quarters, two countries with World Cup pedigree who contested the 1978 final. The winner will be beaten on penalties by Croatia in the semis. Once again, the Dutch FA give the formation too Argentina are being slow Past quarter-finals? The Netherlands: Perhaps surprisingly, only their 5th quarter final, in part thanks to the tournament format when they were one of the best teams in the world in the 70s. The only time they failed to progress was a 3-2 loss to Brazil in 1994, having beaten Costa Rica on penalties in 2014, Brazil in 2010 and most memorably, beating Argentina 2-1 in 1998 with a brilliant Dennis Bergkamp goal late on. Argentina: 7 previous quarters but not always successful ones. Their first two were against England in '66 and '86, and the only other time Argentina have won was beating Belgium 1-0 in 2014 thanks to a Higuain goal, although they did progress after a penalty shootout against Yugoslavia in 1990 following a goalless draw. Past meetings? The Dutch won 4-0 in a 1974 second group stage match, Cruyff cushioning a lofted ball, deftly taking it past an Argentina player and scoring with his third touch in opening the scoring. Argentina won 3-1 after extra time in the 1978 final, Kempes scoring twice, and Bergkamp cushioned a lofted ball, deftly took it past an Argentina player and scored with his third touch in the 1998 quarter final. That was the last goal in this fixture, despite a group stage meeting in 2006 and a semi-final in 2014 which Argentina won on penalties, a traditional Dutch weakness. Blind and Depay were on the bench in 2014, only Messi survives from that game for Argentina, and he also started the 2006 match. What if it goes to penalties? The Dutch have won 2, lost 5. Argentina have won 10, lost 6. The Copa America has a lot of penalty shootouts I am busy tomorrow so won't be starting either match thread. *Fun fact: Cruyff also wore a unique shirt at that tournament as his personal contract with Puma meant that his sleeves only had two stripes rather than the Adidas three like his teammates

It was 4v6, then one Croatian (can't remember who) turns 2 of them and then it's 4v4.

Not a fun watch, but fair play Croatia

Beat Brazil in normal time at a world cup

Petkovic No ****ing way

Quite close to missing from that range tbh

FINALLY A THING HAPPENED

Nobody expected Petkovic to do anything

I would agree up to about 60 minutes, since then nothing.

Fine, so pick somebody with pace then! Brazil is one thing, Japan it was the same.

You don't have to throw everyone forward, but at the moment there is zero threat on the break and you're not even crossing to the big man which is the traditional way of scoring if you don't think you're going to pass your way through.

I mentioned it in the OP and so it came to pass Will Croatia ever win a knockout match in 90 minutes?