Cultivating is different from harvesting...the design of the future dominant Brazilian commenced in 1978 with Socrates, Zico, Falcao and Eder, and while Brazil did not win any World Cups or indeed place in many finals during an extended period, player and coaching development were taking root.
Despite their poor record there were few, if any, teams that ever took the Brazilians lightly or did not think the Brazilians capable of coming back from a deep deficit...a feat that no team, other than the Argentines were capable of hence the "mystique"
that the Brazilians never give up and were always capable of a comeback.
The collapse of the Brazilians is overstated during the late 70s to early 1990s, no World Cups until 1994, yes...but it is still the only nation on earth to have qualified for every World Cup...so yes, a mystique, that win, lose or draw the Brazilians will always bring the best they are capable of.
There have always been two teams that strike no small measure of approbation in the hearts of European Teams..be they Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal or Holland...and they remain: Brazil and Argentina!
Oops, I got carried away. 😀
😀 Too Funny Cassiel.....Glad to hear the Spanish people on the whole would like to see some fire out of their team as well.
Dreadful game (Spain/Portugal)...if this is the future of Euro Soccer...I'll be watching CONCAF and CONMEBOL games exclusively from now on...an epic snoozefest!
Never thought I'd say this for the Euro Cup....Anyone But Spain! Please, Dear God!
Never thought I'd say this for the Euro Cup....Anyone But Spain! Please, Dear God!
Not quite. Brazil is the only team to have played in every World Cup but Germany have also qualified for every Cup except that in the '30s they could not afford the travel cost to South America due to record-breaking inflation at home and they were banned from the 1950 Cup due to just having lost WWII.
They were readmitted for the '54 Cup which they duly won.
Germany is the only team to have qualified for every Europa Cup which was harder to do than qualifying for the World Cup for most of the time as only 8 teams qualified for the Euro Cup while the World Cup used to have 12 slots for european teams.
PS: Argentina and Germany have to be grateful to Brazil and France for taking the title for 'The most tediously boring World Cup final ever' from them.
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I do very like how you guys are treating this argument . Me too , I'm absolutely not involved in the soccer world , except when there are happenings like this .And only when it plays 'my' team .
The last post from Charles Darwin (I've heard this name before
)
reminds me of two facts : the aeromobile connection between Berlin and San Paulo ; the Corean worldcup with Moreno involved in obscure affairs .
The last post from Charles Darwin (I've heard this name before
)reminds me of two facts : the aeromobile connection between Berlin and San Paulo ; the Corean worldcup with Moreno involved in obscure affairs .
So, a Spain v Italy final, a repeat of the group game. Who would've thought the Italians would make it through this far? I guess there were some signs in that first game that the Italians knew a thing or two about football and how to play. They sure showed an inexperienced German team how it's done.
Predictions for the final? We know the Italians can defend, but the key, IMO, is stopping Pirlo and Cassano. The Germans never managed those two very well. I'm sticking with Spain. I think they'll step it up a notch and win it, narrowly.
Predictions for the final? We know the Italians can defend, but the key, IMO, is stopping Pirlo and Cassano. The Germans never managed those two very well. I'm sticking with Spain. I think they'll step it up a notch and win it, narrowly.
Can't believe what's happening, ra7. I thought about posting my thoughts on Ronaldo but I didn't, only to see later your post which was just what I was going to say. After this game (getting creepier here) I was thinking the Germans played like noobs and when I thought about Italy I was only thinking about Cassano and Pirlo. Liked those two very much. I thought about posting my thoughts but I didn't, but you did it for me! Again! This is a very strange coincidence.
Ahhh Charlie D. it's obvious you know your soccer history and make some very excellent points...love learning something new..particularly that bit of German Soccer history. Thanks!
Now back to the soccer at hand!😀
Pick it up a notch? God that would be a relief! They've been a bore thus far with the exception of their game against Italy. I was quite surprised by that fist group game...with all the betting scandals back home and previous disappointments at the 2010 Worlds and 2008 Euro, I wasn't sure the Azzurri had it in them...I am immensely relieved to be so wrong! They have provided some of the best games and shown elan and flair!
I pray they take it to Spain! In this game, at least, the Germans looked as hapless and defeatist as the Dutch...the Italians, indeed, played a beautiful game!
Seems that the history book trumped the form book yet again: Germany has never beaten Italy in competitive match and they had 8 attempts by now in Worlds and Euros.
I thought they might change that last night but on the whole Germany was disappointing.
Especially their set plays, a traditional strength of the german game, were pretty much all rubbish. They took practically all their free kicks fast and they all lead to absolutely nothing.
I thought they might change that last night but on the whole Germany was disappointing.
Especially their set plays, a traditional strength of the german game, were pretty much all rubbish. They took practically all their free kicks fast and they all lead to absolutely nothing.
Never good for a team to have their way, so to speak, with all of their opponents in these events, IMO...it seems to set them up somewhere down the line for underachieving at a critical point of no return moment.
I also think that Klose would have been a better choice of starting striker against Italy than Gomez because he moves better and Boateng had a really bad night too. May be his brother would have been better but he plays for Ghana (yep, they played against each other in the last WC).
It is quite important to score first when playing Italy IMO because there is no other team in the world which defends better. On good days the italians can frustrate even Brazil who no doubt are always the best attacking team.
Usually Germany is the world leader at set plays but they failed miserably last night as I said before.
It is quite important to score first when playing Italy IMO because there is no other team in the world which defends better. On good days the italians can frustrate even Brazil who no doubt are always the best attacking team.
Usually Germany is the world leader at set plays but they failed miserably last night as I said before.
So the hapless Italians find enuff talent to score two goals against zee Germans , yeah what a game .. 🙄
What were the odds, the vig overpowers everything in pro sports ...!
What were the odds, the vig overpowers everything in pro sports ...!
..this is just psychology, humans are allways best when up against the wall, ie at the edge.
Germany should have given Italy all the cash they needed, that way they would relax...not have the motivation to win....😕😎😉😀😀😀😀
Ps: never underestimate a latin type !!! hehehe
Germany should have given Italy all the cash they needed, that way they would relax...not have the motivation to win....😕😎😉😀😀😀😀
Ps: never underestimate a latin type !!! hehehe
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Very interesting CD...yes Klose would have been my nod for a clutch striker...Ozil didn`t impress me either...the Azzurri rushed him a lot, and he was visibly frustrated.
Super Mario stepped up in the Big Game....it will be interesting to see if he`s able to do so against the Spanish...I hope so...lovely display by the Italians IMO, on both ends of the field and particularly in the middle!
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