...Costa Rica & Belgium to advance.
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Introduction: Phew! &
Eight matches? Eight thrillers!
..but there is no doubt that the most balanced displays have been from the Germans and the Belgians.
How did I arrive at making what I think were three difficult choices?
The selection of Argentina's good-bye and the advance of her next opponent, Belgium, was straight-forward.
France v Germany
We have here comparison between the efficient and creative perpetual motion Germany with its X1 attackers (yes...please include goalkeeper, Neuer) and its X1 defenders. Germany presents goal-scoring threats...constant goal-scoring threats...from among its forwards and midfielders versus a French TEAM that is not at 100% as unit.
In this tournament, the French have not had the baptism of fire the German have had. The French had it easy in the group stages and if it was not noticed that they were less than well organized and balanced in the earlier rounds, they were found out and displayed as such in the just concluded Round of 16 match by Nigeria.
The French still have too many passes going astray in crucial areas. Good possession becomes more and more crucial as the standard of play moves closer to the TOP OF THE WORLD status. That good possession was not displayed. It is also worth noting that the French made heavy weather of getting by a Nigeria rocked with internal conflicts and less committed to playing football.
To win and advance - Germany
----
Introduction: Phew! &
Eight matches? Eight thrillers!
..but there is no doubt that the most balanced displays have been from the Germans and the Belgians.
How did I arrive at making what I think were three difficult choices?
The selection of Argentina's good-bye and the advance of her next opponent, Belgium, was straight-forward.
France v Germany
We have here comparison between the efficient and creative perpetual motion Germany with its X1 attackers (yes...please include goalkeeper, Neuer) and its X1 defenders. Germany presents goal-scoring threats...constant goal-scoring threats...from among its forwards and midfielders versus a French TEAM that is not at 100% as unit.
In this tournament, the French have not had the baptism of fire the German have had. The French had it easy in the group stages and if it was not noticed that they were less than well organized and balanced in the earlier rounds, they were found out and displayed as such in the just concluded Round of 16 match by Nigeria.
The French still have too many passes going astray in crucial areas. Good possession becomes more and more crucial as the standard of play moves closer to the TOP OF THE WORLD status. That good possession was not displayed. It is also worth noting that the French made heavy weather of getting by a Nigeria rocked with internal conflicts and less committed to playing football.
Stats: Scroll down to> Scoring - Attacking - Defending - Passing
France - http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/t...tatistics.html
Germany - http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/t...tatistics.html
France - http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/t...tatistics.html
Germany - http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/t...tatistics.html
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