Netherlands v Costa Rica (Quarter Final) Saturday 5th July 2014

[friedaweed]

Kuyt was shite last night.

He scored his pen. That's the one thing he did right.

I know but he runs around like an eight year old kid full of boundless energy with that dorky look on his face

I never said we loved him for his technical ability We've even got an Igor Biscam fridge magnet in this house LBJ

 

[Lo Siento.]

Combination of things. Much of their luck, they earned. Last ditch tackles and blocks, goalie of the tournament (which isn't luck, it's just that their best player by a distance was their goalie - how many saves did he also make from offside players!). But they also had the Dutch running out of ideas for much of that second half. They kept their shape and discipline and defended stoutly - those 11 corners were mostly the result of good defending snuffing out an attack. I would say that they rode their luck in the last 5 minutes of normal time, but I also think the Dutch then rode their luck in extra time - could have gone either way in extra time, I think, and credit to CR for that.

The Dutch then struck five brilliant pens in the shootout. That I do give them credit for.

(On another night, CR would have ended with 10 men, mind. They were a little fortunate to keep all 11 on the pitch.)

Having a good goalkeeper isn't lucky (and England, who conceded from virtually every chance they faced should take a long hard look at the state of their goalkeepers), but having world class strikers hit their one on ones in saveable areas rather than pinging them in the top corner is fortunate. It's not a result of planning, skill or organisation, it's just watching the striker in space and crossing your fingers that he doesn't catch it right. Blocks are evidence of stoutness but also that you're defending very deep and inviting pressure, doesn't take much for a blocked shot to be a deflected shot or to drop to a well placed striker.

I think Costa Rica spent the entire 90 minutes with virtually no plan on how to win the game, allowed the Dutch a good 7 or 8 clear cut opportunities, defended very deep, allowing a lot of crosses and shots to come in and I don't see how it's not fortunate for them to survive that.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

England, who conceded from virtually every chance they faced should take a long hard look at the state of their goalkeepers

Yep, agree with this. Was a time when England had a proud tradition of top goalies. Hart was one of the worst of the tournament.

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

from this article: http://www.theguardian.com/football...herlands-keeper-tim-krul-intimidation-tactics

Keylor Navas, the otherwise excellent Costa Rica goalkeeper, tried exactly the same thing, approaching each Dutch taker before their kick and attempting to intimidate them. Navas was perhaps a little less aggressive than Krul but the theory was still the same, the difference being that the Dutchman converted that into practice more effectively than his opposite number.

 

[Gingerman]

Yep, agree with this. Was a time when England had a proud tradition of top goalies. Hart was one of the worst of the tournament.

Remember when England rotated Shilton and Clemence for a while,what they'd give for a keeper of that calibre now,Hart is lucky in that he hasn't much completion.....

 

[Batboy]

I'd have thought so too but apparently Van Gaal hadn't told Cillessen beforehand he was going to do it, but said he'll still be his No.1 for the semi-final. It'll be interesting to see what happens if that one goes to penalties too, as they'll have lost the surprise element if they do it again.

He should get Robben to be the goalkeeper for penalties as he is pretty good at diving

 

[imposs1904]

I think a few people on the thread are being unfair to Costa Rica. One factor in them not playing so well is that it was obvious that Campbell was still absolutely fucked from the Greece game. He gave absolutely everything in that game, and he just didn't have the same impact in this game as he had in his previous games.

 

[Lo Siento.]

I think a few people on the thread are being unfair to Costa Rica. One factor in them not playing so well is that it was obvious that Campbell was still absolutely fucked from the Greece game. He gave absolutely everything in that game, and he just didn't have the same impact in this game as he had in his previous games.

I thought Costa Rica were excellent throughout the tournament but that it was a bit OTT to suggest they deserved to go through. Thought similar ultimately about Chile, Mexico and Colombia (although I think all three brought a lot more to the tournament than Costa Rica)

 

[imposs1904]

I thought Costa Rica were excellent throughout the tournament but that it was a bit OTT to suggest they deserved to go through. Thought similar ultimately about Chile, Mexico and Colombia (although I think all three brought a lot more to the tournament than Costa Rica)

I never claimed that Costa Rica deserved to go through. I just got the arse about Krul, and the specialist goalkeeper bollocks.

But, with regards to Chile, if they had scored that last minute goal against Brazil would you really have said they didn't deserve to win? I don't remember Brazil being that superior in their game.

 

[Lo Siento.]

I never claimed that Costa Rica deserved to go through. I just got the arse about Krul, and the specialist goalkeeper bollocks.

But, with regards to Chile, if they had scored that last minute goal against Brazil would you really have said they didn't deserve to win? I don't remember Brazil being that superior in their game.

I really wanted Chile to go through and I don't think it would've been an injustice if they had, but Bravo had three times as many saves to make as Julio Cesar.

 

[juice_terry]

Remember when England rotated Shilton and Clemence for a while,what they'd give for a keeper of that calibre now,Hart is lucky in that he hasn't much completion.....

They had Fraser Forster a cracking keeper