World Cup Football!! Congratulations to Spain!!!

Well it's a fact! The Netherlands are playing in the finales of the world cup football in South Africa! (soccer as some like to call it...) After defeating Uruguay yesterday we're through! WOWOWOWOW!![H]


I have no clue how big of a deal this is for most people around here (did you even know the US played as well??[A]), but it's HUGE in the Netherlands and at this moment also in Spain and Germany. Here in the Netherlands people all dress up in orange clothes and in the most silly outfits and there's absolutely nobody walking on the streets when there's a game on! Only the plaza's and the terraces of cafes are fully filled with fans watching the game together! (search for Dutch fans on google images for some ideas[:P])


Anyway, tonight Germany and Spain battle for finalist as well and I know there are some Germans around here....what do you think it's gonna be??


I truly hope Germany wins so we can have a final between the Netherlands and Germany, that would be awesome! Some true rivalry going on there...


Woooooo! I can't wait till sunday!


--Jan





Edit: Spain qualified tonight as the second finalist, so they will be playing against the Netherlands this Sunday!!
<h2>Edit2: Spain defeated the Netherlands in yesterdays final game. Congratulations to the Spain!</h2>

Too bad you guys didn't have the checkered pants like your atheletes had at the olympics! [:P] those were pretty sweet.


And I would love to see a Netherlands and Germany final as well, though Spain would be a much tougher opponent.


Mike

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

The Netherlands are playing in the finales of the world cup football in South Africa!

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yeah, that was a good game yesterday. Congrats on getting through. If Germany beats Spain today I'll be cheering for you in the last game. (Otherwise I gotta stick with my spanish speaking friends)

Good for the Netherlands! I've been watching this world cup and as an avid soccer fan am quite excited...


I will tell you that I am rooting for Germany. The Dutch will have their hands full whoever they play in the final, I don't know if their defense can handle Spain's tight passing game and ball possession or Germany's counterattacking. Or stop Schweinsteiger, Ozil and Klose. But ESPN predicts that Netherlands wins the final, though. for me it all boils down to Dirk Kuyt -- he will have to step up.

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

what do you think it's gonna be??

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Germany vs Netherlands in the final. Germany wins in a shootout. that's my 2&cent; at least. If Netherlands does end up playing Spain I am clueless who'll win. Both sides have great midfield playmakers (though Spain's is arguably the better midfield with Alonso, Iniesta, and Xavi) and both have superb attacking players. The difference in that match will be Robin Van Persie. The Dutch need him to step up and score goals, especially against offensive powerhouses like Spain and Germany. Meanwhile, though, the Spanish have the same problem with Fernando Torres. IMO Van Persie and Torres are two underperforming top players who need to show everyone what they're made of.


Thomas Mueller is suspended for Germany, though. We'll see if that makes a big difference.


brendan

Hmm I guess some people do watch soccer [:D][Y]

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Originally Posted by mikehillman89

checkered pants like your atheletes had at the olympics![img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]those were pretty sweet.

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Can't remember checkered pants, but I'm guessing you're referring to the female athletes? [:)]


Indeed it's exiting what tonight's play brings us! I do have to agree that the Dutch will have a hard time in the finals no matter what the outcome of tonight will be. OF course my Dutch blood says we're going to be worldchampions, but the down to earth side of me doesn't agree with me [;)]

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Originally Posted by Brendan7

Germany vs Netherlands in the final. Germany wins in a shootout. that's my 2&cent; at least.

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Argg shootouts...let's hope not!


I agree with the rest of your analysis though. And yeah we'll see how Muller's absence will show tonight...


Talk to you guys later this evening [:D]



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Originally Posted by Whatsreal

If Germany beats Spain today I'll be cheering for you in the last game. (Otherwise I gotta stick with my spanish speaking friends)

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[Y][Y][Y]
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So Spain vs Netherlands...

I'm not much of a soccer fan but I reckon the Aussie Socceroos are going to get a wildcard entry into the grand finals and take the Netherlands 43-0 [:D]

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Originally Posted by mikehillman89

So Spain vs Netherlands...

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Yup! Spain played very well this evening. A bit bumpy start where both teams seemed pretty equal, but Spain got better during the match and so we can see the Netherlands vs Spain this sunday! It's gonna be a touch cookie to crack for the Netherlands!

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Originally Posted by btaylor

I'm not much of a soccer fan but I reckon the Aussie Socceroos are going to get a wildcard entry into the grand finals and take the Netherlands 43-0 [img]/emoticons/emotion-2.gif[/img]

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You watch too many dance/talent-shows on TV Ben [:P] Haha! But I'm with you on wanting to see the Aussies vs the Dutch! I guess you're more a traditional rugby fan? Not the American football thing...

Rugby Union/ rugby league all the way mate. Been playing both since I was 7 years old, might be my last year though as the body's not holding up as it used to.


The final game in this year's State of Origin series or rugby league was played last night, it's the best series of football you could ever watch. 3 games, Queensland vs New South Wales and some of the most brutal footy you'll ever see... great stuff. Especially since QLD beat the pants off NSW.


Good luck tonight mate - I'm sure there'll be a few sneaky celebratory beers coming your way regardless of the result.

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Originally Posted by btaylor

some of the most brutal footy you'll ever see... great stuff

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I know, I watched some games of the 2007 WC, but normally it's hard to find a rugby match on tv around here.. Soccer/football is our national sport and close are tennis, cycle racing, ice-skating in winters and kickboxing in a less commercial way. Other than that there must be some kind of WC or olympics before they show it on tv...

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Originally Posted by btaylor

Rugby Union/ rugby league all the way mate. Been playing both since I was 7 years old, might be my last year though as the body's not holding up as it used to.

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I could have guessed it [:D] Your getting old mate! [:P]

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Originally Posted by btaylor

Good luck tonight mate - I'm sure there'll be a few sneaky celebratory beers coming your way regardless of the result.

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The finals are played this sunday evening at 2030h (UTC+1), but yea the beers are flowing no matter what the outcome will be [B]


This saturday Uruguay vs Germany for 3rd and 4th place... although in football/soccer there's only 1 important place and that's number 1! But untill sunday, we'll just have to wait! [A]

The finals will be an interesting game... I think Spain could very probably choke up the Dutch offense with their passing and ball possession, but I will say that Pujol and Pique are going to have their hands full with Wesley Sneijer on fire. The difference, as I said earlier, will be Torres and Van Persie. I think that whichever of those two play well; their team will win.

Torres and Van Persie....both stellar players who haven't performed well thus far in the tournament. It will be interesting to see if either one of them is able to get their game going.


Will Torres even start? I know I'd wanna give him the start, but he hasn't been producing much, and Pedro(?) who started for him yesterday played a very decent game. It's the biggest game in their history, so maybe they go with Torres no matter what.


It'll be a great one, I think. Awesome to see the tournament's two leading scorers (David Villa and Sneijder) in the same game.


Not looking forward to Robben and Iniesta falling down every time someone so much as breathes on them. That irritates me.


Bummed the Germans didn't progress to the final, I really love how they've been playing, but Spain dominated the game in terms of the style of it.


Totally looking forward to the final!

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Originally Posted by alex

Will Torres even start?

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Yeah, but he'll be subbed sometime around the 60th minute.

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Originally Posted by alex

It's the biggest game in their history, so maybe they go with Torres no matter what.

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prob. true.

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Originally Posted by alex

It'll be a great one, I think. Awesome to see the tournament's two leading scorers (David Villa and Sneijder) in the same game.

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I just realized that!

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Originally Posted by alex

Not looking forward to Robben and Iniesta falling down every time someone so much as breathes on them. That irritates me.

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Agreed 100%. The ref just ignored his playacting in the game v. Germany.

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Originally Posted by alex

Bummed the Germans didn't progress to the final, I really love how they've been playing, but Spain dominated the game in terms of the style of it.

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+1. So my post was just me repeating what Alex said [:P]

I hope the playacting doesn't come up. There was so little in the Spain v. Germany game that I am not sure what you mean by the ref ignoring it. He just didn't have any to deal with. If you wanted to see playacting then you should have watched Netherlands v. Brazil. I think there was someone on the ground every minute of the game!


If I were to place a bet it would be with Spain. Germany and the Netherlands have similar styles it seems to me. Spain has already shown that it has the patience and endurance to take on a team like that so I would put my money on them.

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Originally Posted by Flaming

There was so little in the Spain v. Germany game that I am not sure what you mean by the ref ignoring it

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Xavi and Sergio Ramos certainly had their share of, "Referee, he scratched me!" against Germany.

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Originally Posted by Flaming

If you wanted to see playacting then you should have watched Netherlands v. Brazil. I think there was someone on the ground every minute of the game!

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Agreed. Brazil is my favorite team (after the US of course) and it was pitiful to watch them lose like that. The Dutch got away with murder in that game. It's annoying to see a player (cough cough Arjen Robben) roll around on the ground like someone's hit him with a cinderblock, get the other player a yellow, and then stand right back up as if nothing had happened. I don't like when teams have to do that to win.

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Originally Posted by Flaming

If I were to place a bet it would be with Spain. Germany and the Netherlands have similar styles it seems to me. Spain has already shown that it has the patience and endurance to take on a team like that so I would put my money on them.

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Germany never got into its counter-attacking rhythm against Spain, and I attribute that to thomas mueller's absence. What might have been.


Spain will have their hands full with Robben, Kuyt, and Sneijder. At the same time, I don't think the Netherlands can stop Villa when he's in the box with that unpredictable Jabulani.


To me there are two factors that will decide the winner:


1. Goalkeeping: Maarten Stekelenburg and Iker Casillas both have been phenomenal this world cup. Whomever can come up with the saves will lead his team to victory.


2. As has been said multiple times, Torres and Van Persie. Either of those strikers could easily tip the balance if they played half as well as they are capable of.


I'm not sure who I'll be rooting for. I sure do like tapas [;)]


brendan

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Originally Posted by alex

Not looking forward to Robben and Iniesta falling down every time someone so much as breathes on them. That irritates me.

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Agreed 100%. The ref just ignored his playacting in the game v. Germany.


To be honest Robben is my least favorite player, because he's a master wussie [:P] Anyway sometimes I do get it though, since he had a serious injury and so is vulnerable and it seemed a bit like they where targeting him. But nonetheless I don't like the wussie-acting!

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Originally Posted by Brendan7

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Originally Posted by alex

Bummed the Germans didn't progress to the final, I really love how they've been playing, but Spain dominated the game in terms of the style of it.

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+1. So my post was just me repeating what Alex said[img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]

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+2 in that case [:D]

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Originally Posted by Brendan7

roll around on the ground like someone's hit him with a cinderblock, get the other player a yellow, and then stand right back up as if nothing had happened

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Have you seen Suarez's trick last night?? [A] It was close to a 3-3 tie due to that...


I truly hope tonight will be a good game to watch, we'll see, but I'm pretty sure the Netherlands will beat the */-* out of Spain no matter what [:P]


-Jan- Stay positive [:)]

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Have you seen Suarez's trick last night?? [img]/emoticons/emotion-13.gif[/img] It was close to a 3-3 tie due to that...

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yep i saw it...

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

I truly hope tonight will be a good game to watch, we'll see, but I'm pretty sure the Netherlands will beat the */-* out of Spain no matter what [img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]

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[:D]

OK, it's in the 84th minute and the Netherlands is looking FANTASTIC; Arjen Robben almost scored half a dozen times. I predict Netherlands wins it in a shootout, which is going to be hard with Iker Casillas.

Sorry to all the Dutch fans and congrats to all the Spanish fans!!!


Just spent 5min in the street party here in Toronto, shot over 400 pictures... Awesome.


Now back to studying for my test tomorrow. Then post-processing and photos will be posted tomorrow!

It was a nerve-wrecking game with a lot of yellows and groundplay unfortunately. Both teams attackers failed to end the game earlier, although they had quite some chances. Anyway congratulations to the Spanish!! [Y]


Nicely done! And Mike, looking forward to the pictures [:D]

Jan (and everyone else) here are my photos on my flickr from the Toronto street party!


Enjoy!


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/...ac408273c6.jpg


Click on through!





Mike

Well, at least the guy's vuvuzela is orange! Too bad we didn't made it - again. Time to get back photographing it's just soccer/football after all ;-)

Great set of photos Mike! It looks like a great party to me [:D]


And Joel you're right, back to normal life [;)]

Thanks Jan! It was quite the party. Though the game finished at 5pm here, and by 10pm the cops started to open the roads so it was kinda short... I was hoping for it to go into the wee hours of the morning