Flip

Fred has been abysmal in the World Cup, but this team has played this tactic the last 18months and Fred has a 0.5 goal ratio per game for the national side, higher than most players in the world. The reason to him being benched is that (if it now really happens) he hasn't helped out in the pressing game. We've lacked pressing and he's a reason to it as he's the leader of it. Scolari is looking to play like at the Confed today hopefully and with the amount of speed in that defensive midfield Ramires or Fernandinho could nullify Rodriguez. I'm not sure we'll see Fred benched, but if he is I'll be much more confident. Also, the tactic was tried 15minutes in training and that was enough for Scolari to decide that it was the best system according to rumours. in the games i've seen pressing really didn't appear to be the problem to me That's been our biggest problem this far tbh We're not a good team in slow tempo so when we don't win the ball back fast we're not creating.

Fred has been abysmal in the World Cup, but this team has played this tactic the last 18months and Fred has a 0.5 goal ratio per game for the national side, higher than most players in the world. The reason to him being benched is that (if it now really happens) he hasn't helped out in the pressing game. We've lacked pressing and he's a reason to it as he's the leader of it. Scolari is looking to play like at the Confed today hopefully and with the amount of speed in that defensive midfield Ramires or Fernandinho could nullify Rodriguez. I'm not sure we'll see Fred benched, but if he is I'll be much more confident. Also, the tactic was tried 15minutes in training and that was enough for Scolari to decide that it was the best system according to rumours.

What? pretty clear, he's alright but not top class Agreed that he's not top class (but there's also very few of them), but he's still a very good footballer who gets into positions very well and wins tons of header. Rumours doing the round that Fred will be benched and Brazil will line up: Cesar Dani Silva Luiz Marcelo Ramires Fernandinho Paulinho Hulk Neymar Oscar

What?

Kaka in Orlando

I think it's quite normal. I think Brazil and Germany have only played once against each other in the World Cup and it was a final. The most common matchup in World Cup is Brazil v Sweden which has happened 7 times.

That hope must've died before today or you've missed that they're playing on different sides of the bracket. http://i.imgur.com/5C4EoDf.gif Tyra

The Germans haven't impressed and neither have Argentina or Brazil, but I still see these 3 teams as the strongest. In other words, France v Colombia in one semi-final and Holland v Belgium in the other...

That hope must've died before today or you've missed that they're playing on different sides of the bracket.

Algeria Unbelievable performance from them.

I think only reason he was still on the pitch is because he seemed to regret it immediately and it wasn't malicious. Very clear red nonetheless in my opinion.

David Luiz will get it. ?

Nigeria looking good. So 2-0 France.

Well before the World Cup only South Americans tried to cheat or it was much less common in England. But by going by the English national team and their pathetic diving attempts against Uruguay that ain't true now is it?

Degs :thup: It's lovely how a whole continent can be put into the same corner because the actions of one or a few.

The thread title

I've forgotten what good crossing is like. What are the chances of Santon putting one like that in.. 0

Czechs in the semis was worse. I remember that game so well. Was criminal. All three knockouts were criminal tbh. Great save by Navas.

and I hope borges scores a hattirck.

Great vision, man. Just the receiving player who didn't run for the ball properly.

He never grabs his arm, this is a still from when Fred is beginning his slow motion dive. Having your arm on top of someone else's arm will never be a penalty. The only contact is his hand lightly on his clavicle. Greece don;'t even attack. They just hold the ball until they lose it and settle back. Watch the moving images, he puts his hand on his shoulder and pulls a bit (you can see the shirt movement if you watch it in slow-motion). It's never a pen in a million years, just like todays isn't.