Semi-finals: The Netherlands 0-0 Argentina (PK: 2-4) Wednesday 09/07/2014 22:00 CEST

[Senatore_M84]

It's no secret that Holland overachieved a round too far similar to Brazil.

This guy has no clu what he's saying

overachieved.

explain to me sides who should have gone to last 4 over the dutch? I can't name 4 sides more deserving

 

[Senatore_M84]

bunch of people watching their first world cup here.

LOL 7 games in 30 days is a grind. There are going to be lesss than great results.

 

[SpartanMilan]

The issue with Italy is they need to change how they bring youth up through the ranks. A reserve league would be huge to improve the quality of play that young players get before they are ready to break in.

That being said, while Italy hardly has a golden generation coming through, having Balotelli, SeS, DeS, Verratti, Florenzi, Perrin, Jorginho, Insigne, Berrardi, Immobile, Destro, etc all 25 or younger is not a bad spot to be in.

It may not be the best talent pool to have, but its better than all but a few teams have

 

[milanoldfarts]

This guy has no clu what he's saying

overachieved.

explain to me sides who should have gone to last 4 over the dutch? I can't name 4 sides more deserving

The only one I can think of is Costa Rica

 

[Gio]

I didn't dislike Italy in 2006(neither did I like them that much)...but they didn't deserve to win it lol

I don't really like Italy nowadays because tbh the current team is not exciting
At least a decade ago or so Nesta,Maldini,Gattuso,Pippo were in the team so at least it had some players I liked

But the way Italy plays has never been like Milan so I never became a fan of them when I was a kid(like I assume many Milan Fans became Italy Fans simply cuz Milan was an Italian Team)

The only time I really hated Italy was 2012 with that prick Pirlo and everyone overrating them(I was happy when Spain brought the Pirlo Fanboys back to earth ...though I hate Spain too but I hate Pirlo even more)
Thank god Pirlo retired now I can watch Italy without puking

You were 11 then? How can you have any idea of whether a team deserved it or not back then.

Furthermore, I'm not a fan of the person at all, but you've only known post 05 Pirlo who was a lazy jackass, and now he's shitted all over not only the owners BUT the club itself he is surely seen as worse than he ever was. He WAS fantastic for Milan in his prime but I agree he needed to leave, just shit that he found enthusiasm for the game since joining Juve.

But your point about Milan fans liking Italy, what's so bad about that? Doesn't mean that if Italy plays your country, you prefer Italy, but like I have a slight soft spot for Roma/Udinese simply because I admire Totti/Di Natale, it's a similar thing and it's not unheard of, nor should it really be criticised, fool you if that's what you're suggesting.

 

[Rickaka]

seriously? Argentina holding ball keeps their WEAK defense from being exposed and keeps dutch strength (attack) from not doing so

Ya like spain.

 

[williamp]

seriously? Argentina holding ball keeps their WEAK defense from being exposed and keeps dutch strength (attack) from not doing so

Argentina can't fucking score a goal to save they're lives! Hold up blah blah blah I will be impressed when it leads to them providing an end product and not just creating "chances".

I stand by what I said earlier it's not they're fault at all but they are the most un deserving finalist of my lifetime.

Any team who takes 118 minutes to beat the Swiss side they played do not deserve to win the cup.

 

[Ash]

i mean i think it's fair to say aside from germany and spain, everyone else has talent w/ flaws.

Dutch are STACKED up-top and have some solid CMs but i'm not exactly impressed bu their D.

Brazil have some class players but holes. And on and on.

so it's pretty hard to define big sides v. small. There are those two who are really deep. Another 4-5 in next teir (which i'd include italy, dutch, argentina), then another 8-10 really good sides (like mexico, chile, colombia who have some real good players but still a bit more lack)

iunno it's hard to rank really

Exactly what I am trying to say

They were not any worse off than any of the other teams they faced to make the bold claim that they overachieved

Had they faced one of France, Germany or Brazil on their way to the semis they may have gotten knocked out earlier. I mean, they barely looked impressive against the first supposed 'top' side they played

 

[williamp]

This guy has no clu what he's saying

overachieved.

explain to me sides who should have gone to last 4 over the dutch? I can't name 4 sides more deserving

Mexico?

 

[milanoldfarts]

The issue with Italy is they need to change how they bring youth up through the ranks. A reserve league would be huge to improve the quality of play that young players get before they are ready to break in.

That being said, while Italy hardly has a golden generation coming through, having Balotelli, SeS, DeS, Verratti, Florenzi, Perrin, Jorginho, Insigne, Berrardi, Immobile, Destro, etc all 25 or younger is not a bad spot to be in.

It may not be the best talent pool to have, but its better than all but a few teams have

The only one out of these that's actually good is DeS
SeS seemed amazing at first with that wonder season...but now he's looking more to have been a one-hit season wonder more than anything
Hopefully he proves me wrong since Milan need him...but I doubt it

 

[crazy4milan]

Lol the guy who is 19 and admired Italy that had Maldini...at 8.

Suuuure.

Also that 2002 side if he saw it (I can't believe he actually knew the ones prior to that), only had Maldini as a Milan player in the starting 11.

 

[Gio]

I know that...that was when Italy was still kind of decent
But the way Italy has always played was always closer to Catenaccio than Milan that's what I meant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993–94_Serie_A

1994 Scudetto:


P Team Games W D L F A GD PTS
1. Milan (C) 34 19 12 3 36 15 +21 50

The most 1-goal differential wins possibly ever, in one of Milan's most famous years.

 

[vB9]

We (Milan) never truly have had one of our own in goal or in attack... defence, yes. Midfield, Albertini, Donadoni u cud say, came to Milan young, and we made him big... but no1 from Milan in attack or in net.

 

[Ash]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993–94_Serie_A

1994 Scudetto:


P Team Games W D L F A GD PTS
1. Milan (C) 34 19 12 3 36 15 +21 50

The most 1-goal differential wins possibly ever, in one of Milan's most famous years.

Dude wasnt even one

 

[Tantalis]

The only one out of these that's actually good is DeS
SeS seemed amazing at first with that wonder season...but now he's looking more to have been a one-hit season wonder more than anything
Hopefully he proves me wrong since Milan need him...but I doubt it

how can you say that when he literally played 6 serie a matches all season...

 

[Gio]

Dude wasnt even one

It's okay I'm old now and my memory is shit, I struggle to remember the glory days of Pato and Robinho who brought so many new and fantastic fans.

 

[Sage]

good game holland.

many people thought they would have trouble qualifying out of the group stages and now they might finish 3rd, excellent work by van gaal and the boys.

 

[FNF]

how can you say that when he literally played 6 serie a matches all season...

He doesn't watch football?

 

[milanoldfarts]

You were 11 then? How can you have any idea of whether a team deserved it or not back then.

Furthermore, I'm not a fan of the person at all, but you've only known post 05 Pirlo who was a lazy jackass, and now he's shitted all over not only the owners BUT the club itself he is surely seen as worse than he ever was. He WAS fantastic for Milan in his prime but I agree he needed to leave, just shit that he found enthusiasm for the game since joining Juve.

But your point about Milan fans liking Italy, what's so bad about that? Doesn't mean that if Italy plays your country, you prefer Italy, but like I have a slight soft spot for Roma/Udinese simply because I admire Totti/Di Natale, it's a similar thing and it's not unheard of, nor should it really be criticised, fool you if that's what you're suggesting.

I've been a Milan Fan since 2002 and me being 11 has no correlation to anything whatsoever
2006 was my 2nd world cup(2002 was my first one)...and I watched all the matches I could that WC(some few weren't broadcasted tho)

I knew Pirlo since 2002...I never thought he was that great I just thought of him as a Part of the Team at most(which he kinda was)
I hated Italy in 2012 cuz I really hated Pirlo when he left to Juventus and hated all of his fanboys defending him(not to mention him insulting Milan on his own book)
Seedorf was almost as lazy as Pirlo during that time period but he didn't leave us for Juventus(though recently he has really pissed me off with his terrible coaching stint at us and him asking 10 million for moral damages or whatnot)

I couldn't stand Pirlo and Seedorf from 2007-onwards tbh cuz they didn't give a shit...but man I hated their apologists
And in Euro 2012 the way Pirlo was getting overrated was disgusting...when he was nothing special and Spain proved that in the Final
Also Milan did more for Pirlo than Pirlo ever did for Milan...but his fanboys don't wanna admit that of course

But yeah 2012 was the only time Italy NT really pissed me off...so yeah

I never said it's wrong to like Italy just cuz you're a Milan Fan...I just said I never was one of them and I'm not a Fake Italian Fan
Being utterly deluded on the other hand(such as thinking Italy deseved '06 WC) is a different thing

 

[Gio]

I've been a Milan Fan since 2002 and me being 11 has no correlation to anything whatsoever
2006 was my 2nd world cup(2002 was my first one)

I knew Pirlo since 2002*...I never thought he was that great I just thought of him as a Part of the Team** at most(which he kinda was)
I hated Italy in 2012 cuz I really hated Pirlo when he left to Juventus and hated all of his fanboys defending him(not to mention him insulting Milan on his own book)
Seedorf was almost as lazy as Pirlo during that time period but he didn't leave us for Juventus***(though recently he has really pissed me off with his terrible coaching stint at us and him asking 10 million for moral damages or whatnot)

I couldn't stand Pirlo and Seedorf from 2007-onwards tbh cuz they didn't give a shit...but man I hated their apologists
And in Euro 2012 the way Pirlo was getting overrated was disgusting...when he was nothing special and Spain proved that in the Final

But yeah 2012 was the only time Italy NT really pissed me off...so yeah

I never said it's wrong to like Italy just cuz you're a Milan Fan...I just said I never was one of them and I'm not a Fake Italian Fan
Being utterly deluded on the other hand(such as thinking Italy deseved '06 WC****) is a different thing

*You were SEVEN. What seven year old has in depth footballing knowledge and who other than the heavily-marketed players do you even care about at that age? Christ.

**You're clearly looking at history through rose-tinted spectacles. I, like you, cannot stand the man Pirlo has become, and even got aggrieved with him later on in his Milan career, but to see him as not that great is stupid. He was in a team of absolute superstars til '07 and was equally deserving to be in there. I hate defending him because I honestly don't like him but the truth is the truth.

***He didn't leave, his contract wasn't renewed and Milan didn't think he was worth the salary Juve offered him, simple as that. Sounds like in his book he wanted out anyway so whatever fuck him but at least get your facts straight.

****and then you were only 11... Italy played some fantastic catenaccio, which to some isn't entertaining but how can you be a fan of a club like Milan with players (in your lifetime) like Maldini, Nesta, Costacurta, Stam, Gattuso etc who specialised in shutting down the opposition and making it look fucking wonderful in the process (perhaps not so much Rino but yea) and not enjoy this style of football. Italy still attacked when it mattered so it wasn't even parking the bus.

 

[milanoldfarts]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993–94_Serie_A

1994 Scudetto:


P Team Games W D L F A GD PTS
1. Milan (C) 34 19 12 3 36 15 +21 50

The most 1-goal differential wins possibly ever, in one of Milan's most famous years.

You have got to be kidding me
League and Tournaments are way different things
Serie A is always won by the team with the best defense in particular...and I like how you failed to note that Serie A in the 90s had some of the best defenders ever and was one of the most competitive leagues of all time

The level of competition in 90s Serie A>2006 WC

And granted Milan played defensively under Capello...but I wasn't even born then lol
I remember checking these records though...I believe this was the only season where Capello's Milan really overdid it with the Defensive Play(and it shows lol )

But like I said...I never hated Italy(with the exception of 2012)

 

[Albertini]

argentinas defence has been brilliant. no goals conceded in the knockout stages. bpl fans dumped on demichelis because people like to see young, speedy players. the guy was immense tonight. so was mascherano and rojo, they were all good in fact. they perform better as a unit than the ayala, sensini, zanetti teams imo. i still think gago does a better job in the middle there than biglia tho, but im bias when it comes to gago. will be a great final with the 2 most deserving teams. argentina should be rightly proud of their wc so far. the only big let down so far has been aguero.

vamos argentina!

 

[milanoldfarts]

*You were SEVEN. What seven year old has in depth footballing knowledge and who other than the heavily-marketed players do you even care about at that age? Christ.

**You're clearly looking at history through rose-tinted spectacles. I, like you, cannot stand the man Pirlo has become, and even got aggrieved with him later on in his Milan career, but to see him as not that great is stupid. He was in a team of absolute superstars til '07 and was equally deserving to be in there. I hate defending him because I honestly don't like him but the truth is the truth.

***He didn't leave, his contract wasn't renewed and Milan didn't think he was worth the salary Juve offered him, simple as that. Sounds like in his book he wanted out anyway so whatever fuck him but at least get your facts straight.

****and then you were only 11... Italy played some fantastic catenaccio, which to some isn't entertaining but how can you be a fan of a club like Milan with players (in your lifetime) like Maldini, Nesta, Costacurta, Stam, Gattuso etc who specialised in shutting down the opposition and making it look fucking wonderful in the process (perhaps not so much Rino but yea) and not enjoy this style of football. Italy still attacked when it mattered so it wasn't even parking the bus.

I was 7 but I wasn't stupid
Maldini impressed me,Nesta impressed me,Sheva impressed me,Pippo impressed me,Seedorf impressed me,Early Rui impressed me,Kaka impressed me,Stam impressed me,Cafu impressed me,Crespo in his short stint with us impressed me,Rino impressed me,Pirlo DID NOT Impress me

Milan rarely played Catenaccio when I started being a fan...in fact we started playing Catenaccio when we started getting weaker(like Post '07) cuz we had no choice(talking about matches vs Barcelona and whatnot here btw)
I'm a Post-Berlusconi Milan Fan...I was not born in the 70s so I never was a fan of Pre-Berlusconi Milan logically

Give it a rest with all the age bullshit

Pirlo left afaik...Galliani gave him a 1 year contract(like all 30+ year old players with the exception of Stars like Ibra)
We treated him like a King(6 million euro wages every season since 2007...for doing nothing) and he treated us(Milan) like crap...we deserve it...should have sold him to Chelsea in 2008 but is too emotional

 

[ELMAGO99]

I didn't dislike Italy in 2006(neither did I like them that much)...but they didn't deserve to win it lol

I don't really like Italy nowadays because tbh the current team is not exciting
At least a decade ago or so Nesta,Maldini,Gattuso,Pippo were in the team so at least it had some players I liked

But the way Italy plays has never been like Milan so I never became a fan of them when I was a kid(like I assume many Milan Fans became Italy Fans simply cuz Milan was an Italian Team)

The only time I really hated Italy was 2012 with that prick Pirlo and everyone overrating them(I was happy when Spain brought the Pirlo Fanboys back to earth ...though I hate Spain too but I hate Pirlo even more)
Thank god Pirlo retired now I can watch Italy without puking

Defense wins championships.

Deserving to win and exciting football are two different things my friend.

In 2006, Italy gave up 2 goals the Entire tournament;
An own goal vs USA and a phantom penalty in final against France.

Italy's defense was so unbeatable that year and totti,
Toni, inzaghi and gilardino provided chances up front .
An amazing team, really...

Spain in 2010 was a complete team front to back,
Although I never liked tiki taka style..

 

[Ash]

*You were SEVEN. What seven year old has in depth footballing knowledge and who other than the heavily-marketed players do you even care about at that age? Christ.

**You're clearly looking at history through rose-tinted spectacles. I, like you, cannot stand the man Pirlo has become, and even got aggrieved with him later on in his Milan career, but to see him as not that great is stupid. He was in a team of absolute superstars til '07 and was equally deserving to be in there. I hate defending him because I honestly don't like him but the truth is the truth.

***He didn't leave, his contract wasn't renewed and Milan didn't think he was worth the salary Juve offered him, simple as that. Sounds like in his book he wanted out anyway so whatever fuck him but at least get your facts straight.

****and then you were only 11... Italy played some fantastic catenaccio, which to some isn't entertaining but how can you be a fan of a club like Milan with players (in your lifetime) like Maldini, Nesta, Costacurta, Stam, Gattuso etc who specialised in shutting down the opposition and making it look fucking wonderful in the process (perhaps not so much Rino but yea) and not enjoy this style of football. Italy still attacked when it mattered so it wasn't even parking the bus.

Why bother man

his nickname itself should be a dead giveaway how childish his arguments would be

 

[Ash]

I was 7 but I wasn't stupid
Maldini impressed me,Nesta impressed me,Sheva impressed me,Pippo impressed me,Seedorf impressed me,Early Rui impressed me,Kaka impressed me,Stam impressed me,Cafu impressed me,Crespo in his short stint with us impressed me,Rino impressed me,Pirlo DID NOT Impress me

Give it a rest with all the age bullshit

lol

Unless you are a bloody savant with in depth football knowledge, no bloody severn yr old would have any fuckin clue about football tactics. The only thing they would care about that point is star football players and the top clubs

And this is from personal experience of having been a said seven year old in my past

 

[Gio]

You have got to be kidding me
League and Tournaments are way different things
Serie A is always won by the team with the best defense in particular...and I like how you failed to note that Serie A in the 90s had some of the best defenders ever and was one of the most competitive leagues of all time

The level of competition in 90s Serie A>2006 WC

And granted Milan played defensively under Capello...but I wasn't even born then lol
I remember checking these records though...I believe this was the only season where Capello's Milan really overdid it with the Defensive Play(and it shows lol )

But like I said...I never hated Italy(with the exception of 2012)

A team you support played a style of football you criticise another team (italy) for playing, that is my point. Milan played to their strengths, as did Italy in 06, regardless of the inferior level of competition compared to a season in 90s Serie A. I was comparing playing styles, not tournaments.

For me, my two most favourite matches I've ever witnessed for Milan were the two 1-0s against ManUtd in CL 05. Allowed them something like three shots on target over the course of the two legs. SO utterly one sided yet beautiful in execution of a plan to simply stop ManUtd, Stam was beyond words in the 2nd leg.

lol

Unless you are a bloody savant with in depth football knowledge, no bloody severn yr old would have any fuckin clue about football tactics. The only thing they would care about that point is star football players and the top clubs

And this is from personal experience of having been a said seven year old in my past

Fucking, exactly. At seven I thought because America was so cool and amazing that they just HAD to be good at football also. This was 1994. Hell, I even liked Manutd cos of Cantona.

Defense wins championships.

Deserving to win and exciting football are two different things my friend.

In 2006, Italy gave up 2 goals the Entire tournament;
An own goal vs USA and a phantom penalty in final against France.

Italy's defense was so unbeatable that year and totti,
Toni, inzaghi and gilardino provided chances up front .
An amazing team, really...

Spain in 2010 was a complete team front to back,
Although I never liked tiki taka style..

Yeah, I didn't like their style of play but their success was merited simply because they were better than everyone by a long way. Italy were a great team in 06, not on the level of Spain, but they outplayed every team they faced, even Australia -just (except maybe USA).

 

[Sven]

It's no secret that Holland overachieved a round too far similar to Brazil.

I dont think Argentina management agree with you

 

[Italian Tsar]

For my money, Holland was the best team in the tournament. Germany came to life only now. Argentina weren't better today, both kind of cancelled each other out. I did expect the Dutch to create more chances though.

Will be a great final. I expect Germany to win it easily. If Argentina win (assuming they keep up this style of passive football in the final too), they'll be the worst champions since Brazil 94.

 

[Albertini]

holland deserve every compliment they get. they didn't overachieve, they have a fantastic core with decent youngsters coming through.