World Cup: GO USA!!!

**Kyle Cactus** · 07-10-2014, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by alien bird

Damn. I just read that two Dutch players declined when their coach asked them to take the first penalty kick. You are a professional in the biggest tournament in the world and you don't want to be "the man"? They deserved to lose.

Wonder who ... I'd have to guess Robben and Sneijder. With van Persie out I'd think you'd want one of them to take the first PK.

At least they didn't have to send Billy Cundiff out there.

**Igotstoknow** · 07-10-2014, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Kyle Cactus

Wonder who ... I'd have to guess Robben and Sneijder. With van Persie out I'd think you'd want one of them to take the first PK.

At least they didn't have to send Billy Cundiff out there.

Well, for the record, I'm almost positive it was those 3 who took the 1st 3 kicks vs Costa Rica. Can't recall the order they went in, but it was Robben, Sneijder and van Persie. I remember that because I was so surprised that none of them went 1st against Argentina.

We haven't even gotten into the keeper change debate that worked out so well for Neth in PK's vs Costa Rica. Having no sub allotment left the Dutch coach couldn't change goalies at the end of extra time against Arg and we saw what happened.

**alien bird** · 07-11-2014, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by Igotstoknow

Well, for the record, I'm almost positive it was those 3 who took the 1st 3 kicks vs Costa Rica. Can't recall the order they went in, but it was Robben, Sneijder and van Persie.

The article didn't say which Dutch players declined, but it was a sticking point because van Persie did take the first kick against Coasta Rica. With him out, the coach had to change the order and was looking for someone to step up and go first.

**alien bird** · 07-13-2014, 02:56 PM

Almost game time.

Who is watching, and who are you picking?

I'm going with Germany in a not-as-close-as-you-think match.

**HoustonRaven** · 07-13-2014, 03:00 PM

I'm watching and pulling for Deutschland.

**alien bird** · 07-13-2014, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

I'm watching and pulling for Deutschland.

Argentina had a lot of chances in the first half. Germany looks a little shaky, even with the header off the post.

**HoustonRaven** · 07-13-2014, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by alien bird

Argentina had a lot of chances in the first half. Germany looks a little shaky, even with the header off the post.

Agreed. They're definitely playing on their heals right now.

**alien bird** · 07-13-2014, 06:06 PM

Congratulations, Germany.

It wasn't always pretty, but they were the better team and deserved the victory.

**stevez51** · 07-13-2014, 06:20 PM

Germany controlled the ball for most of the match but in the attack end no one would step forward. They needed a Messi.

Argentina looked like a hockey team that would dump the puck and chase. Their whole attack was the long ball.

Glad to see a score, didn't want it to come down to penalty kicks.

**Ravenous1** · 07-13-2014, 06:30 PM

Congrats to Germany.

Good game fun to watch. It was a great World Cup this time around.

I bet the beer is flowing in Berlin

**Kyle Cactus** · 07-13-2014, 08:23 PM

Congrats Germany! 0-0 doesn't do justice to the first 90 minutes. They weren't thrilling, but both teams produced meaningful scoring chances. As was previously mentioned, glad to see it end in OT rather than PKs. Now let's really piss off the Russians by winning it on their turf in 2018!