Saint Martini

I was thinking Oxlade-Chamberlain could work well in a version of "Buffalo Soldier".

Maybe he automatically qualified for a new contract if he played at least 1 minute for the first team.

Getting your coat?

I don't either. But going forward Holland has more threats then Spain. For Spain only Villa has been scoring goals, for Holland Robben and Kuyt have backed up Sneijder nicely.

2-2 Another blunder from Muslera.

Nice finish!

I doubt very much that Spain will keep a cleansheet against Holland.

Brazil for instance. Besides, is Spains attack really that dangerous? 8 goals in 6 matches is exactly impressing. Like I said, they played well against Germany but in the end they didn't create a whole lot of chances and only managed to score from a set-piece. Indeed, they played very well against Germany but lets wait and see if they can put up such a performance again. If Holland put as much forward pressure on Spain as they did against Brazil in the second half the Spain won't be able to play their game.

Ow, come on. They have played one good match and have been extremely poor the rest of the tournament. They got a rather easy route to the final, if they had gotten proper opposition in one of the earlier rounds they would have been out of the tournament.

Best half by Spain this tournament by a country mile. Not a whole lot of chances though. Smart decision to finally drop Torres, Spain look better without him.

Interesting.

It wasn't offside in opinion. The shot was towards the left and only made it to van Persie because an Uruguayan deflected it towards him. That means it can't be offside since it was an Uruguayan that made van Persie qctive in the play.

Holland is a few classes better then this Uruguay team, especially with them missing Suarez and Lugano. I would be absolutely shocked if Holland don't make the final. But then I'm watching with those funny old orange glasses.

Not a TV-pundit but he works for the BBC so I'll have to mention Garth Crooks' idiotic team of the quarter finals. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8786208.stm His team of the QF's: How can you put a player in a position he has never played in? Especially when you also have Lahm in your team who can play both left and right back..... Ow, and Germany beat Argentina, not Brazil.... How can you take a columnist seriously after such mistakes?

I don't think Sneijder has been playing all that well (apart from the second half against Brazil). He's not been as dominant as he can be but somehow he has scored a few goals (so no complaints there). But to be a "standout player" he has to show more of that second half vs. Brazil form in the next two matches. For me Villa, Contrao, Müller and Forlan. If anyone for Holland has been standout its van Bommel in my opinion.

Judging by Suarez' reaction I beg to differ...

If that is how he is feeling he shouldn't be taking the penalty. It is his possibility to be the nations hero, if you don't relish the opportunity then you should leave the responsibility to someone else. The fact of the matter is that Suarez commited a foul and got his punishment according to the laws of the game. The fact that the laws of the game worked to Uruguay's advantage here doesn't matter, it harsh on Ghana but they play the game knowing what the rules are and they were applied. This to me also means it is not cheating like Henry against Ireland or Maradona against England, he didn't lure the ref in any way what so ever.

Exactly! If a random England player would have done that to reach the semis you would all be applauding him for "taking one for the team". Suarez did it knowing very well what the penalty was and accepted it. Gamemanship yes, cheating no.

So the threat is: Lift the ban or we will ban you?

I always considered it a mistake to not drop Terry altogether. A team of lesser players can win a tournament a squad with superstars can't.

Holland were neutral in that one. I guess Germany just took revenge for '66?

Italy actually played quite well. They were unlucky with the goal (offside) but created a few chances themselves.

Who took the .... out of NK and how?

Funny to see how the Germans are perfectly executing a "Dutch" 4-3-3.

The attendance has more to do with the teams playing then the location.