So the quarter finals have come and gone, and our inability to predict results is becoming more obvious. Whilst Numbernine attempts to try his hand at predicting the results of the Semi-finals, I shall cast our gaze backwards over the quarter-final matches.
Germany v France
Numbernine predicted a high scoring match for the first quarter-final, and if I had done a prediction I would have said the same. However the Germans, and the French, had different ideas about how the game would go after taking the lead in the 13th minute and then shutting the game down and easily holding the french to book their place in the final four. Germany did have a lot to thank to their goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, as he proved to be unbeatable in goal, despite some very good French shots. At the other end Hugo Lloris also saved some brilliant German shots, but still let the one in (not that he was much to blame for that goal.)
In the end, as we said in our podcast, France were disappointing, and didn’t play the free flowing attacking football that had scored 8 goals in their first two games at the cup, whilst the German’s played a clinical (german) game.
Brazil v Colmbia
Another game in which Numbernine picked a high scoring match, and one in which Colombia would win. As it turned out there were three goals, which was the most goals in a match that didn’t involve a penalty shootout; though it was only half the six goals that Numbernine was predicting in his 4-2 scoreline. However one thing we did predict at the start of the tournament did happen, and that was that the Brazilian centre-backs scored the goals, and were quite attacking. The big shock of the game came near the end, with Neymar going off injured, with what we now know to be a broken vertebrae in his back, and is out for the rest of the tournament, despite what some media reports are saying. Despite this black spot near the end of the game, the actual football was very good and entertaining. Brazil scored twice through Silva and Luiz, before James Rodriguez pulled one back for Colombia from the spot to set up a tense final 10 minutes. All in all both teams played fast, fluid football and both sides deserved the win; though with the tournament being in Brazil it was arguably better for Brazil to win – at least it avoided a country wide riot from erupting. It was sad to see the Colombians go, but as we said in the podcast, we are sure they will be back in four years time in Russia, stronger and more likely to succeed.
Argentina v Belgium
This game blew both Numbernine and my own predictions out of the water. Though, maybe it shouldn’t have. This tournament has shown that Argentina have decided to win all their games by 1 goal, generally with a later winner. This time round they scored early, within the first 8 minutes, and then held on against an ineffective Belgian attack to get their win. Late on, with Belgium pushing far up the pitch, Argentina should have had two more goals, with both Higuain and Messi missing clear cut chances, first through Higuain hitting the woodwork, then with Courtois saving Messi’s shot to give the Belgians a chance. However Argentina’s defensive players remembered how to play and kept a clean sheet through hard work and a little bit of luck. Belgium on the other hand went out with a bit of a whimper. Thier great attacking players failed to show any firepower.
The Netherlands v Costa Rica
The final game of the quarter finals, and another game in which Numbernine and myself were wrong. Numbernine predicted a easy win to the Dutch, whilst I foresaw. a tight game, but one the Dutch would win within the 90 minutes. As it turned out it was a close game, but it went to extra time and then to penalties after neither side could score a goal, leaving the scorers untroubled with a 0-0 scoreline after 120 minutes of football.The dutch had the better of the attacking opportunities, but they were nowhere good enough to defeat Keylor Navas, who was resolute within the Costa Rican goal. Costa Rica had a only a few real chances, but nearly managed to snatch it near the end of the extra time with Marco Urena having a smart shot blocked by Jasper Cillessen to deny the Costa Rican’s a famous victory. Arguably the most decisive moment of the match came with seconds remaining in extra time, when Louis Van Gaal brought on substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul in place of Cillessen so that Krul could keep goal for the penalty shootout. This turned out to be a master stroke, as Krul played some magnificent mind games, and saved two shots to give the Dutch the victory.
NineSixFourTwo 