ijjysmith
Calm
So here it is Merry Christm.....oh no that's something else.
But here is the World Cup Final 2014. The finale to what some have called, with great confidence, the greatest World Cup finals of all time.
I don't feel in a position to say yes it is, or no it isn't but my word it's been bloody good. A quite brilliant distraction from our beloved Everton's quests in the transfer market, as Sunday's game sees the last meaningful togger we'll see before the big domestic Kick Off in August. Domestic kick off sounds like something different from one of those Benefits Britain show she watches, but you know what I mean.
The group stages were a veritable feast of boss entertainment. Signs didn't look good with Brazil sneaking their way past Croatia in the opening game with a couple of dodgy looking decisions going there way but things soon picked up
Reigning champions Spain got a couple of right royal kickings from Holland and Chile which we all hoped killed the Tika Taka regime for good.
Tim Cahill made all us Evertonians over emotional with a couple of goals, one still a contender for goal of the tournament in my eyes.
Colombia took the eye (along with Chile) as hopes for a team that might actually break the usual countries dominance in major tournaments.
Luis Suarez wrote himself further into World Cup folklore for all the wrong reasons, but somehow got a move to Barcelona out of it. For crying out loud.
France looked a proper threat, and snotted all comers and not a sign of a fall out.
The African teams huffed and puffed, with no little skill but we said goodbye to Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon at the first hurdle.
Cristiano Ronaldo was surrounded by the most mediocre load of tripe you'll ever see as Portugal snuffed it. Actually felt sorry for him still being their best player despite being half fit.
USA shocked the world by squeezing through their group to the knock out stages, and deservedly so.
The Golden Generation of Belgian yoooot won all their games without even trying.
And a group summary couldn't go by without praising Costa Rica. Snotting Uruguay and Italy along the way to the knockouts. Great days to be alive.
England played 3 football matches.
Onto the Round of 16, which clearly needs a better name than that!
Chile so very very very nearly dispatched of the hosts, as Brazil sneaked through on pennos.
God I love pennos.
Colombia continued to look great, with HAM-ES Rodriguez scoring a rip snorter to see off a Suarez-less Uruguay.
Los Ticos, or Costa Rica to you and me, beat the anti-football of Greece in another shoot out.
Nigeria being defeated by France saw the end to the African challenge. Will an African team ever win this? Doubt it.
Then Belgium played Tim Howard in one of the most ridiculous things i've ever seen. A small word for USA who despite having a very limited squad showed what giving everything means for your country. Well USMNT. Well in. Still lost like but well in.
Argentina squeezed passed the Swiss.....something about knife through cheese or whatever.
(defo over the line before anyone even starts)
The quarter finals promised much. A load of the big boys through, and Costa Rica there for giggles too.
But let's be honest most of these games were a bit average to poor, bar a few ace extra times.
Brazil rode their luck AGAIN, and sneaked past what looked like and played like a superior Columbia.
Germany vs France should have been a classic, but I had a nap. And I don't even mind admitting it. 1-0 Germans.
Belgium's youth team got done over by Argentina in another dull affair.
Holland vs Los Ticos though. 80 minutes of yawn followed by arguably the best 40 minutes of entertainment of the whole tournament. And then a sub keeper wins it for Man United. Or something.
We can only wonder how Costa Rica would have done with Bryan Oviedo in their team. Probably won it.
If I was chlidish here, i'd make a joke about having a 'semi' but I won't. LOL semi.
Look right. Germany beat the hosts 7-1.
Let that sink in. Germany 7 Brazil 1.
Germany SEVEN Brazil ONE
In a World Cup semi final. Unbelievable. It's hard to imagine something like this happening ever again. Brazilian football may never be the same again, because of this one result. I don't even think this has sunk in with me yet, I cannot imagine how their players feel.
David Luiz though. Never been a defender.
Have to mention the Germans. People make jokes about them being 'efficient' and it's become a bit of a cliche. It's not though. They know what they are doing and do it to the very last second of the game. It's efficiency taken to the extreme. Can't help but be impressed by it.
In the other semi, well it wasn't very good.
Holland 0 Argentina 0 - and Argentina with the second best player in the world scab through on pennos. I'm not sure why this game was such a damp squib. Two teams cancelling each other out. Maybe the night before had an effect.
Not sure. But Argentina into the final to face the rampant Germany.
And there we have it. Germany to face Argentina in Sunday night's showpiece main event.
Germany should line up with a very familiar team. Neuer in nets, a back 4 that excludes one of their very few weaknesees in Merterzacker, a midfield that attacks, defends and scores and does everything. And a manager who picks his nose and his assistant who weirdly wears the same clothes as him all the time. I'm not the only one to spot this yeah? It's weird.
Argentina shouldn't see too many changes either. They don't have too much depth to their squad, so injuries and suspensions do effect them more than the Germans.
If both can play their strongest teams then there is some awesome talent on show.
For me it comes down to Lionel Messi.
Without doubt a phenomenal player, some people say the best ever. But if he wants to cement this I can't help but think this is the best chance.
Germany are rightly the favorites for this World Cup. They are the better team.
But the better team doesn't always win.
COME ON THE FOOTBALL
Enjoy your month off after this. If that's possible.
