tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post4293334898343389985..comments2024-03-22T05:48:26.129-05:00Comments on Braves & Birds: Brazil and ArgentinaMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-7502100671666632332007-07-14T12:02:00.000-05:002007-07-14T12:02:00.000-05:00Well, speaking ahead of Sunday's final, which is n...Well, speaking ahead of Sunday's final, which is normally fatal, Argentina look like the best side in the world. Tevez & Messi were, as I recall, a bit young at the World cup & were on the bench a lot. Not sure what Riquelme did, but he is equally the best in the world today. The point is, there is an Argie style which is recognisable back to 1978, scoring by going through the middle of defences by sheer class, via close control.Dave Tootillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06516234347029273849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-91880776956877860172007-07-14T07:42:00.000-05:002007-07-14T07:42:00.000-05:00In '02, they were fairly boring, although they had...<I>In '02, they were fairly boring, although they had plenty of talent, so I'm at a loss to explain whether they didn't try hard enough to score or they were just inept at doing so.</I><BR/><BR/>The '02 squad put on a show of how to shoot at the near-side side netting. Never in my life had I seen a team put so many shots off target. It was borderline ridiculous. Also, the idea that the success of the team might help bring the country out of the economic depression it was suffering might have put a little pressure on the squad, I'm guessing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-41775544734024319692007-07-13T14:57:00.000-05:002007-07-13T14:57:00.000-05:00Argentina played fairly well against England, alth...Argentina played fairly well against England, although their cheatery in getting Becks sent off, combined with their refusal to go for the jugular with a man advantage, were not to their credit. They played well against Holland, but their cheatery backfired and they lost. I'm not sure what to do with their diving; I never liked it, but Leo Messi dives and he is incapable of doing wrong. (Look at his cherubic face!)<BR/><BR/>In '02, they were fairly boring, although they had plenty of talent, so I'm at a loss to explain whether they didn't try hard enough to score or they were just inept at doing so.<BR/><BR/>They've been fun to watch in '05 (Copa America and Confederations Cup), '06 (WC), and '07.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-43794553668376085462007-07-13T14:15:00.000-05:002007-07-13T14:15:00.000-05:00I didn't think Argentina played attractive footbal...I didn't think Argentina played attractive football in France '98 (against decent opponents I thought they were plain). And 2002 they were an embarassment (2 goals, elimination in the group).<BR/><BR/>I do think you're right about the current generation of Argentinians. They most certainly play better and more attractive football than their forefathers.LDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08416468186977171781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-52932484559119047722007-07-13T09:49:00.000-05:002007-07-13T09:49:00.000-05:00I saw most of the Brazil match and we looked reall...I saw most of the Brazil match and we looked really good. It was neat to see a US side trade punches with the canary shirts for 90 minutes. It was also neat to see some real skill in front of goal, which we've never really had. I did not see the Uruguay match, although I did watch the highlights at Dodgy at Best. It sounds like we ground a result out. I'm planning on watching the Austria match tomorrow.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-48540352660886131082007-07-13T09:45:00.000-05:002007-07-13T09:45:00.000-05:00have you been watching any of the us u-20s? their...have you been watching any of the us u-20s? their wins over brazil and uruguay were quite fantastic. adu is playing as if all the hype was true. his juggling against brazil that split two defenders and eventually led to altidore's goal was amazing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com