Paranoid Android

Brazil shocked as footballer charged with ordering ex-girlfriend killed, fed to dogs o_O

Reina is hilarious. The situation with Fabregas and the Barca shirt was a little odd though. Fabregas looked like he was pretending to have fun but really just wanted it all to stop. Where does the real world cup stay the rest of the time? I hope there's a man whose sole job is to polish it and keep it shiny.

I'm not saying I never see any card waving, what I meant to say is that I don't see it to the extent that you seem to. And not as aggressively as you suggest either. You seem to have started the world cup as equally anti-spain as I am pro-spain. I haven't ever wanted to claim they are perfect I've just been responding to posts which seemed to be very blinkered against the team I've been supporting. Anyway if we all agreed on everything this forum would just be pointless and boring:up: So what are people's best and worst bits of this world cup? For me... Best: Spain - a few more convincing victories would have been nice but I got the winner I was hoping for at the start of the tournament. Germany - In the past I tended to dislike German sides, but since '06 they've become one of the most entertaining and top quality sides around and they played great in this world cup. I'd be very happy to see them win something in the next few years. Chile - After the tedious opening few days Chile brought things to life with a cracking performance (only missing more goals) against Honduras. I wish more sides had a positive attitude like theirs. They were a little unlucky against Spain and it could possibly have been them not Holland that caused the Brazil meltdown if they hadn't been missing a few key players. Knockout Games - Much more goals in the knockout stages than in 02 or 06. All the quarter finals were very exciting in some way and most of the last 16 games were great too. France - Comedy Gold Ghana - So unlucky, second world cup in a row they were by far the best African nation. They played some great stuff with a very young squad. Hopefully they can go further in 2014. Van Bronkhorst's goal - what a belter! World Cup daily podcasts - the train rides to work have never been as enjoyable as the last month. James Richardson is simply wonderful, but perhaps Barry Glendenning is even greater! Cameroon's kit - Awesome Aberdeen Music - helped fill those horrible hours between matches. Not sure what to make of receiving more reputation points for my drunken ramble of a post than all of the others where I at least try to make some sense put together! Worst; Negative tactics - Too many sides set out with limited ambition and little desire to play good football. I don't mind North Korea or New Zealand trying to defend with everything they've got but I expect more from the countries which have genuine talent at their disposal. The first 5 days - nothing really happened (except for Germany) The Jubulani - I don't know if it caused any problems really, but hearing about it all the time was very annoying. Bad decisions - lampard, video replays, goal line technology, sepp blatter's an idiot blah blah it's all been said. Lack of a real classic match - there were some very exciting moments but no true classic games with the lead changing hands and lots of opportunities. You expect at least one in a tournament.

I'll be back in Aberdeen for a couple of weeks in August, which means I get to look forward to going to todders for the first time in while and see the opening game against Hamilton! Unfortunately I still have painful memories of this, the last dons match I went too:puke:

Thankyou!! Spain are certainly not immune to the diving problem, no team are, but they are far from the worst around. And of all the players who you could accuse it shouldn't be Iniesta, I really think I must be watching different games to anyone who thinks he's anything of a play acter or diver. When he gets fouled he goes down, but he gets back up and gets on with the game. And maybe I'm just blind but I really didn't see too much imaginary card waving or hounding the referee in the game. I really hope teams such as Brazil and Holland who do have great players at their disposal realise that solid defensive play is not the best way for them to play and come to the next world cup with a more positive game.

INIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESTAAAAA!!!!!!!!:] That ending was worth being put through the tense nervousness of all the previous 116 minutes. Best player on the best team scored the winning goal, perfect. VIVA ESPAA!!!

oh and all this Muller being top scorer based on assists is ridiculous, I'm not really sure goals scored in the 3rd place game should count anyway. It's bad enough Sneijder is credited with 5, he should have 3, 4 at most.

Getting excited now!! If only the world cup didn't have to end Tonight will be the first time I've watched a match on a large outdoor screen, should be fun (if Spain win)

Busquets has been better than Alonso at the world cup, he has made better passes and links up much better with Xavi and Iniesta (which obviously could be expected as they play together). It's clear that Alonso is not as used to the way the team plays so often doesn't give the attackers the best service. I do like most of the dutch team, I don't see much likeable about RVP or Van Bommel though. Xavi and Iniesta are both stand up guys, they appear to be two of the most humble down to earth professional footballers around. Both are very loyal to the team which trained them and they could easily earn more money by accepting a move to Chelsea or City (or Madrid). And neither of them are particulary guilty of diving or play-acting. I would also argue that they are respectful of the referee. Xavi still lives with all his family in a fairly modest house in his home town. Anyway, whatever happens on sunday I like that we'll have a new winner. Seems strange that these two teams have never played each other before in a world cup, makes it even more interesting. Anyone interested at all in the 3rd place match? Hopefully it turns into a golden boot shoot out between klose and forlan.

Um to be honest I don't really know what I meant, the drunken ramble should be ignored! I'm a little bit suprised at the levels of hate towards the Spanish team, I never used to support them much before I came here, but they were never a team I disliked they certainly come across as much more likeably chaps than the dutch, aside from a couple of exceptions. Busquets may be the biggest cock on the team but he has been great this tournament, he does his job very effectively. I can't see anything other than a Spanish win on Sunday, like the with Germany, Holland just wont be allowed to play.

Germany were pish and were showed up against a good team. Spain showed that they are great. I am Drunk Shame the game wasn't better tonight because the final will be easy SPAIN I STILL accecpt no negative criticism of Xavi he is the KING We have seen that this WC has been lacking in top quality as a 50% Spain is better than the rest I have to work soon. booooooooooooooooooo come on sunday woohoo

Xavi don't do no wrong! I agree Germany have been great throughout their team but I think Muller has consistently been great and very important for them so I can't see them suffering at least a little without him. I hope Torres doesn't play tonight, personally I'd like Torres and Xabi Alonso removed to be replaced by Cesc and Llorente (maybe Pedro), but this wont happen.

VAMOS ESPAA!! Should be a good game tonight. I think Germany will miss Muller a lot tonight and that Spain wont afford them the spaceand midfield gaps which allowed them to run riot against England and Argentina so I'm feeling quite confident of a Spain win tonight. That said, Spain will still need to have their best game of the tournament to make it happen.

Watched a bit of the TV coverage. Thought Gorillaz were awesome despite what most reviews have said.

Suarez just handled it by instinct, if he'd actually been thinking he would have headed it off the line. He is a cheating cunt though, one of the worst divers of the tournament. Still he's been good for my fantasy football team (although he only finished with 2 points today despite getting a point for a save!!!) Gutted for Ghana though, I didn't see it on ITV coverage but I can understand how they were probably annoying, still I can't understand how anyone would have preferred Uruguay to win.

Very good ending. Much better than the over the top endings by RTD. Matt Smith has been awesome the whole series. Made me completely forget about Tenant.

Hmm I've heard a lot of people say that they consider Maradonna better than Pele because of his club career (basically winning serie a single handed with Napoli) so I think it is taken into account. Although I agree in general that players who don't produce any great world cup memories are not usually thought of among the all time greats. Ronaldo's will probably have one more chance in 2014 but he just doesn't seem to do it for Portugal. His best chance of leaving a lasting impression is probably winning a few champions league titles with Madrid. Messi has played well enough so far that if he gets one or two important goals in the remaining games he will be remembered as having a great tournament, plus he will only just be 27 at the next world cup so he has plenty of opportunities to make his mark. People speak about Zidane having a great world cup in 98 when actually he didn't do much other than get sent off before the final. Certainly nothing like his Euro 2000 levels of genius. I can't really agree with anyone saying this has been a poor world cup. I can only assume people have wildly hyped up expectations. It's miles better than the atrocity that was 2002 and although it hasn't produced as many goals as 2006 we've already seen more exciting knock out games than there were four years ago. All we are really missing is one classic like the Germany-Italy semi-final. So far I'd say better than 94 and 02 but not quite as good as 98 or 06 I just hope this boring Brazil team doesn't win it.

2 good games today. Promising start to the knock out games. Happy with the results today too, I think Uruguay will win the next round though. If only Ghana had Essien and they had decent forwards who worked together. Germany to win quite comfortably tomorrow.

Great game won by a great goal from Suarez. South Korea are one of a few teams really lacking a couple of quality forwards to finish the opportunities they create. Suarez and Forlan will take Uruguay at least to the semis.

It was accidental and Torres makes a meal out of it, but there was contact. Estrada had been let off a couple of times anyway. I'm going for Uruguay and USA today. Ghana could cause problems but they're shite up front (probably because their striker wears no. 3) so I can't see them scoring more than one. btw, I'm top of the fantasy football league after the group stages, get in!

Terry actually had a very decent game against Slovenia.

Listening on Spotify just now. I like what I'm hearing so far!

I think Japan could beat Paraguay, I'm sure it will be a tight game though. Paraguay looked quite impressive against Slovakia but not so much in their other two matches. Germany should beat England, Germany will outnumber them in the centre of midfield and control possession. I don't think England will be allowed to play at the high tempo they did for much of the Slovenia match. Should be a good day today, both the Portugal - Brazil and Spain - Chile matches have the potential to be really great and provide a lot of goals too. I really hope Switzerland don't make it through their group.

Uruguay and Mexico to play out a bore draw? or will Mexico actually go for it to try and avoid Argentina? I hope to see France's misery continue and South Africa to go out with something to celebrate. Sounds like Argentina might rest a few players, I'd like to see Aguero get a full game, he was great when he came on in their last match. And Hopefully Milito plays instead of Higuain, I can't have him giving so many fantasy points to my oppositions again!

I think Spain will be more clinical today and against quite a weak Honduras side I could see it ending up 4 or 5 to 0. Of course that might all change if Spain don't score earlyish and start to get nervous. Chile to beat Switzerland and I also think it's not impossible for North Korea to get something out of their game today. Portugal really didn't look like scoring at all against Ivory Coast so unless Ronaldo comes up with something special I could see it finishing 0-0.