My team for the tournament Costa Rica is through to the quarter finals with a close victory over Greece. After leading 1-0 for most of the game, Greece equalized during injury time but then Costa Rica pulled it through 5-3 on penalty kicks.
This coming Saturday they face the 2010 World Cup losing finalist the Netherlands who beat Mexico 2-1. That is going to be a very tough game for them to win.
I don’t see how Costa Rica will cope with Robben, van Persie, Sneijder and Kuyt.
It was a treat to see Dirk Kuyt play. Haven’t seen him since he left Liverpool.
That was a fun game, anyhow. Costa Rica definitely earned their advancement.
I’m still agonizing over Chile’s loss to Brazil, almost killing the giants. Colombia has a good chance, though.
It’s fun to see teams lose when their attitude is, “We don’t need to play, give us the trophy now.” Games are played on the field, not on paper.
Netherlands beat Mexico 2-1, their second goal coming from a suspect penalty.
I am so sorry, that comment was meant to have “‘openwakka’pedantic’closewakka” beforehand, and then “openwakka-slash’pedantic’closewakka” after. The wakkas must trigger automatic removal.
Suspect or not, a few non-so-suspect panalties weren’t given, so fair’s fair.
@clamboy,
Thanks. I have corrected it.
clamboy @4,
Yeah I saw that penalty as a penalty of attrition, Robben had been cut down inside the box on more than one occasion and probably should have been awarded a kick before that. It was soft though, but aren’t they pretty much most of the time.
Loved the Costa Rica result. Too bad they have to face the Oranje next. As an aging, balding son of Dutch ancestors I feel a strange obligation to root for Robben and Schneider in that one.
Doug @8
Agreed. I do think Robben flopped in that second half penalty and he has admitted to flopping in the first half where a penalty was not called. In both cases, though, the Mexican defense was really sloppy in their challenges, so they were, in a sense, “asking for it.”
As for Costa Rica, it looks like three of their players from that Greece game are suspended for the next match for collecting two yellow cards in the tournament. I’m not sure how that impacts their chances. Perhaps having less talented players in with fresher legs will be better than more talented players with tired legs…that’s assuming the three that are suspended are more talented than their replacements, an assumption that may not be correct.
Ah, don’t underestimate Costa Rica. They beat Italy and Uruguay. Moreover I’m familiar with Bryan Ruiz, who helped my favourites FC Twente to win the Dutch championship in 2011. When in form that guy is razor sharp; he has a deadly killer instinct. And Dutch defence isn’t exactly watertight. At this stage there simply aren’t any weak teams anymore.
Because of Bryan Ruiz I will be a bit divided Saturday.
@Hermit: you better not root for Schneider, as he won’t play. You might try Sneijder instead.