Quarter Finals Discussion

[LeChuck]

How ridiculous is it that Thomas Muller will miss the semi final, all because he has got two bookings in the tournament?

Such an outrageous rule, surely FIFA want the best players in the competition? Well thanks to them one of the stars of this tournament will miss out. I don't see who that rule benefits.

[Doaksie]

I don't see who that rule benefits.

Spain

[Miker]

How ridiculous is it that Thomas Muller will miss the semi final, all because he has got two bookings in the tournament?

Such an outrageous rule, surely FIFA want the best players in the competition? Well thanks to them one of the stars of this tournament will miss out. I don't see who that rule benefits.

I thought they had some rule this tournament where your card count is wiped clean after the group stage or a certain number of games or something? Doesn't look like that's happening anyway...

EDIT: Ah, I see that was the rule in the last World Cup and now they changed it from end of the group stage to end of the quarter finals. What was the reasoning behind that change??

[neekoy]

I thought they had some rule this tournament where your card count is wiped clean after the group stage or a certain number of games or something? Doesn't look like that's happening anyway...

EDIT: Ah, I see that was the rule in the last World Cup and now they changed it from end of the group stage to end of the quarter finals. What was the reasoning behind that change??

They have wiped clear yellow cards from the quarter finals, it is so no one will miss the final if their country gets there.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Another brilliant German display yesterday, I had a feeling they would beat Argentina. Schweinsteiger bossed that midfield once again, must be one of the best CM's in the world since he was converted to a CM this season at Bayern and for Germany. Muller was very good once again.

We saw perfect counter attacking football from the Germans, get the early goal, sit back then wait for the opportunities to counter.

[tcj_jones]

Schweinsteiger looks a classy player, a million miles from the winger who played in the 2008 Euros. He's made CM his own in the absence of Ballack.

[Guest Kamy100]

The best thing that happened to Germany was Ballack getting injured, they had to adjust their tactics and moving Schweinsteiger to the middle has proved a master stroke.

[Eddie]

People need to remember that it's only 5 games...putting Schweinsteiger as one of the best central midfielders is a considerable overstatement.

[tony gale's mic]

People need to remember that it's only 5 games...putting Schweinsteiger as one of the best central midfielders is a considerable overstatement.

He's been performing in centre midfield week in week out for one of the best teams in Europe and the Champions League finalists. He played well in the last World Cup too albeit not in centre midfield. He's in his mid 20s and has over 70 caps for one of the major powers in world football. He's stepped upto the plate when it mattered most and produced two fantastic performances against Argentina and England. Exactly which part of that is a considerable overstatement?

[Rovermatt]

Schweinsteiger has been brilliant all season for Bayern and now for Germany. What a player.

[Eddie]

You watch a lot of German football?

[thenodrog]

How ridiculous is it that Thomas Muller will miss the semi final, all because he has got two bookings in the tournament?

Such an outrageous rule, surely FIFA want the best players in the competition? Well thanks to them one of the stars of this tournament will miss out. I don't see who that rule benefits.

His second yellow was harsh to say the least.

[thenodrog]

You watch a lot of German football?

Dunno about him but I don't watch any eddie. However from what I have seen this WC the thing that strikes me about Germany is that they are like the Liverpool of the 70's but with more flair. Massive amounts of work rate off the ball allied with true teamwork. They all appear to view the team as far more important than any one individual. When they have the ball they have 10 attackers and when the opposition have the ball the Germans have 11 defenders.

Stop a video of the match at any time and I'll nearly guarantee that there are more Germans in the frame than their opposition.

It goes against the grain somewhat but I'd quite like them to win it.

[Rovermatt]

You watch a lot of German football?

No but I bet you do.

You don't need to watch the Bundesliga (which Bayern won if I'm not mistaken) week in week out to see that Schweinsteiger has turned into a super player. A cursory viewing of the Champions League (and indeed this World Cup) will confirm that.

You appear to have a bee in your bonnet with respect to this particular player. It can't be related to your ludicrous assertion that he wouldn't make it into the feted England midfield can it?

[RoyRover]

You watch a lot of German football?

I watch a lot of it and he is one of the best players in it. Schweinsteiger is a very talented player and to be able to switch from a creative winger to a holding midfielder and play the role so well would speak to his talents as a footballer. He's been arguably the standout player at the World Cup so far.

[Eddie]

You appear to have a bee in your bonnet with respect to this particular player. It can't be related to your ludicrous assertion that he wouldn't make it into the feted England midfield can it?

I watch a decent amount, he's a good player, he'd probably make the squad, but I wouldn't start him ahead of Lampard or Gerrard and I don't think Germany or Bayern Munich would either.

I have a good friend of mine who is a Bayern season ticket who has always described Schweinsteiger as "in German his name means horribly overrated". My views on him aren't changed by this tournament, not because he hasn't played well, but because it's been 5 games and he's only really looked good in 3 of them (one against a side that really didn't turn up and then went down to 10, one against a side that didn't really turn up and then chased the game and left him acres of space to get the ball and one against a side that decided the midfield battle wasn't worth winning).

[Rovermatt]

Dear oh. By that reckoning you can mitigate any good performance by any good player throughout history.

'Pele wasn't that good. He was playing against inferior players who were unable to cope with his talent.'

I'm not comparing Pigmounter to Pele of course however I have to say I'm baffled by the contortions you'll go through to maintain that a player who has had an excellent World Cup (surely the ultimate stage on which any footballer can shine?) is somehow fooling us all .

[tony gale's mic]

I watch a decent amount, he's a good player, he'd probably make the squad, but I wouldn't start him ahead of Lampard or Gerrard and I don't think Germany or Bayern Munich would either.

I have a good friend of mine who is a Bayern season ticket who has always described Schweinsteiger as "in German his name means horribly overrated". My views on him aren't changed by this tournament, not because he hasn't played well, but because it's been 5 games and he's only really looked good in 3 of them (one against a side that really didn't turn up and then went down to 10, one against a side that didn't really turn up and then chased the game and left him acres of space to get the ball and one against a side that decided the midfield battle wasn't worth winning).

When Frank Lampard produces a moment for England like Schwiensteiger did to set up Friedrich's goal then get back to me.

Until then, you're badly, badly wrong.

[thenodrog]

When Frank Lampard produces a moment for England like Schwiensteiger did to set up Friedrich's goal then get back to me.

Until then, you're badly, badly wrong.

Now now tgm. Football is all about opinions remember. It's just that it appears to most that eddies were formed on Fantasy island.

eddie best to stop digging on this argument. Schweinsteiger has been fantastic whilst our midfield have flopped badly. I know they don't pick themselves and that those two should have been left out but they have let themselves and the nation down.

[neekoy]

It's funny because the more Eddie doesn't rate him the better he gets meanwhile his "world class" players get worse.

It is like bizarro world.

[Eddie]

Didn't think he was particularly fantastic last night. First game when he hasn't been given acres of space to sit back in front of the back four and play simple passes and he looked hurried and out of place. Not easy playing up against the Spanish midfield, but playing the easiest position on the park can make a player look a lot better.

[LeChuck]

When Frank Lampard produces a moment for England like Schwiensteiger did to set up Friedrich's goal then get back to me.

Until then, you're badly, badly wrong.

But for an incompetent linesman, Lampard did score the best goal of the tournament in terms of technique, vision and composure. Under the circumstances that chip was fantastic, measured to perfection.

[speeeeeeedie]

But for an incompetent linesman, Lampard did score the best goal of the tournament in terms of technique, vision and composure. Under the circumstances that chip was fantastic, measured to perfection.

Unfortunately it did not count, and he did very little else in the 4 games he played in carrying on from where he left off in 2006.

[Rovermatt]

Didn't think he was particularly fantastic last night. First game when he hasn't been given acres of space to sit back in front of the back four and play simple passes and he looked hurried and out of place. Not easy playing up against the Spanish midfield, but playing the easiest position on the park can make a player look a lot better.

How is midfield the 'easiest position on the park'?

Surely the Spanish should be given credit for nullifying a player who dominated the midfields of England and Argentina?

[Eddie]

I think the defensive/holding midfield spot in the way in which he was asked to play it is about as easy of a job as you can get in football. That isn't to say that it does itself, but relative to other positions it is less demanding and requires less skill.