Netherlands v Costa Rica (Quarter Final) Saturday 5th July 2014

[Lo Siento.]

I'm with you. The penalty taker should be just as capable of psyching out the keeper - 'good luck, it's okay, everyone knows you've no chance'

"Just so you know, it's going bottom left, boss"
Anyway, keepers and players talking to penalty takers pre-kick happens every week in league football. The only reason everyone's getting het up about it is because they wanted the underdog to go through.

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

Absolutely. He was a prize cunt.

why? cos the team you wanted didn't win?

 

[T & P]

The commentators annoyed me.

Twice they accused Costa Rica players of diving and had to apologise after the replay. And twice they said Navas was well beaten and had to backtrack, again, when the replay showed that he probably would have saved both.

Typical bias towards the favoured team.

I was listening to BBC radio 5 during the late second half in the car, and they suggested Costa Rica going through would be one of the all-time great upsets in the history of the WC.

Because clearly they are a shit team who miraculously had made it to the QF by amazing luck and on no merit of their own.

 

[Lo Siento.]

I was listening to BBC radio 5 during the late second half in the car, and they suggested Costa Rica going through would be one of the all-time great upsets in the history of the WC.

Because clearly they are a shit team who miraculously had made it to the QF by amazing luck and on no merit of their own.

It would've been a pretty big upset to see a team who had made it out of the group stages once in their entire history (24 years ago) reach the semi-finals, whoever they were playing. Top 10 at least.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Because clearly they are a shit team who miraculously had made it to the QF by amazing luck and on no merit of their own.

Nah more so a team that everyone thought would end up bottom of their group getting to the last four. Would've been quite an achievement like.

 

[T & P]

It would've been a pretty big upset to see a team who had made it out of the group stages once in their entire history (24 years ago) reach the semi-finals, whoever they were playing. Top 10 at least.

To a degree, but surely current form has to be taken into account? Costa Rica are where they are solely on their performances throughout the tournament, and presently they are a very good side indeed. I would not have described their going through as a big upset. Underdogs yes, but they're no lemons.

 

[Lo Siento.]

To a degree, but surely current form has to be taken into account? Costa Rica are where they are solely on their performances throughout the tournament, and presently they are a very good side indeed. I would not have described their going through as a big upset. Underdogs yes, but they're no lemons.

I'd say that whilst you often see teams unexpectedly pass the group phase, unfancied sides beating favourites in the knockouts is uncommon enough (all 12 knockout ties so far have seen the pre-game favourite qualify) that it would've been a major upset. Like the Bulgaria team that beat Germany in 1994 were an excellent side, but it was still a shock to see them put a side like Germany out.

 

[imposs1904]

Goalkeepers have always done stuff like that. And book him for what? Talking to the penalty taker? He could be saying "good luck, son" for all we know.

He was actually in their faces . . . and the pacing along the six yard box . . .I've never seen that done so blatantly again and again in a penalty shot out. It was shit and I hope the blazers nip it in the bud before it sets a precedent.

 

[Lo Siento.]

He was actually in their faces . . . and the pacing along the six yard box . . .I've never seen that done so blatantly again and again in a penalty shot out. It was shit and I hope the blazers nip it in the bud before it sets a precedent.

It happens before the majority of penalties in league games. If you've not seen it before you must've been watching a different sport this last decade. Only difference is that the (outplayed, incredibly fortunate to make it to penalties) underdogs lost and now everyone is losing their shit.

 

[imposs1904]

why? cos the team you wanted didn't win?

I thought the Dutch were the better team and - but for the Costa Rican keeper - deserved to win over both 90 and 120 minutes but Krul was a prick and it just soured it for me. I'd started to like the Dutch again after the cynicism of the 2010 final but fuck it. Fuck 'em. I hope Messi does a number on them in the semis.

 

[imposs1904]

It happens before the majority of penalties in league games. If you've not seen it before you must've been watching a different sport this last decade. Only difference is that the (outplayed, incredibly fortunate to make it to penalties) underdogs lost and now everyone is losing their shit.

Bollocks. It was a penalty shoot out, and he was doing it again and again and again. Of course it doesn't happen every week in the league because you don't have the same scenario. And before his shitty little games, I wanted the Dutch to win it on penalties because they were the better team over the 120 minutes.

One caveat, though. Once I calm down I actually like shit like this because it's what makes a great World Cup. Just like Suarez's bite. And Neymar getting poleaxed against Colombia.

Not the best set of quarter finals but it's still on course to be the best World Cup since 1982.

 

[Lo Siento.]

Bollocks. It was a penalty shoot out, and he was doing it again and again and again. Of course it doesn't happen every week in the league because you don't have the same scenario. And before his shitty little games, I wanted the Dutch to win it on penalties because they were the better team over the 120 minutes.

One caveat, though. Once I calm down I actually like shit like this because it's what makes a great World Cup. Just like Suarez's bite. And Neymar getting poleaxed against Colombia.

Not the best set of quarter finals but it's still on course to be the best World Cup since 1982.

In the league every week people talk to penalty takers and try to psych penalty takers out. Why does repetition during a shoot out make it any worse?

 

[Dr. Furface]

I was listening to BBC radio 5 during the late second half in the car, and they suggested Costa Rica going through would be one of the all-time great upsets in the history of the WC.

Because clearly they are a shit team who miraculously had made it to the QF by amazing luck and on no merit of their own.

Clearly they're NOT a shit team, but given their footballing history and their lack of star players and their world ranking etc etc, they've far exceeded everyone's expectations of them at this tournament (and quite likely their own too). Even though they lost tonight they played with such a great spirit and organisation that has endeared them to the vast majority of fans - and we can say the same about Colombia too. Contrast them with the likes of big hitters like Spain and Italy who went out pathetically early.

 

[imposs1904]

In the league every week people talk to penalty takers and try to psych penalty takers out. Why does repetition during a shoot out make it any worse?

He's setting a precedent for penalty shoot outs that I personally don't like. He could have done it once then the referee should have pulled him up for doing it the second time. Should have given him a booking, tbh.

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

I thought the Dutch were the better team and - but for the Costa Rican keeper - deserved to win over both 90 and 120 minutes but Krul was a prick and it just soured it for me. I'd started to like the Dutch again after the cynicism of the 2010 final but fuck it. Fuck 'em. I hope Messi does a number on them in the semis.

i'm sure they'll lose against the argies

but think they deserved to win against costa rica!

 

[Lo Siento.]

He's setting a precedent for penalty shoot outs that I personally don't like. He could have done it once then the referee should have pulled him up for doing it the second time. Should have given him a booking, tbh.

a precedent that was already set when people did it every week in league matches all over the world. And what is the ref supposed to punish him for? If chatting shit is a booking then you'd end each game with 5-a-side

 

[imposs1904]

a precedent that was already set when people did it every week in league matches all over the world. And what is the ref supposed to punish him for? If chatting shit is a booking then you'd end each game with 5-a-side

I'm talking specifically about penalty shoot outs. That's where the unedifying precedent has been set. One penalty kick after the other.

I'd have loved Costa Rica to have won on penalties and for the Costa Rican who scored winning penalty to have followed it up by drop-kicking Krul and then have two of his team mates grab one of Krul legs each and run his bollocks into one of the goalposts. But that's only because I'm a football purist.

 

[Lo Siento.]

I'm talking specifically about penalty shoot outs. That's where the unedifying precedent has been set. One penalty kick after the other.

I'd have loved Costa Rica to have won on penalties and for the Costa Rican who scored winning penalty to have followed it up by drop-kicking Krul and then have two of his team mates grab one of Krul legs each and run his bollocks into one of the goalposts. But that's only because I'm a football purist.

What's special about penalty shoot outs? As a goalkeeper you're wishing the taker to blaze over the bar just as you are in normal play

 

[Silva]

Why does everyone always loses their shit when the highly favoured underdog is defeated over a single play? 4 years ago it was the bawling of "IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GOAL ANYWAY" when Suarez made that crucial save against Ghana, now it's going to be the Dutch flag pole being a big meanie ?

 

[Utopia]

Just trying to explain the decision, is van Gaal thinking the Costa Rican players will be thinking "crap, this guy has been brought on especially for penalties, how good is he?!?". Or, simply "these Dutch are fucking mental, what's going on?!".

I think the masterstroke wasn't that Krul is a specialist at saving penalties, the masterstroke was the psychology to make the Costa Rican's think he was!

 

[Batboy]

Tactical smartness on the part of Van de Gail to switch keepers. Krul was big and intimidating, fresh legs and mind, and probably less nervous. The decision won the Dutch the game, as much as I was rooting for Costa Rica (not because they were the underdog but because cheating diving cunt Robben gets under my skin). The only other time I've seen keeper switched in cup match is when I did it in a youth cup match. I had two keepers in my squad and we discussed it during training and practice when we focussed specifically on penalties. The substitute keeper was actually on the field as a defender and like Krul was big and intimidating, It was agreed amongst all of us to do that. It worked as well with new keeper not only saving two penalties but scoring the winning one also. The key to not destroying the substituted keepers confidence is to involve them in the decision making, that way they will have made a large contribution to the penalty shoot out, its a team effort. I am certain Van de Gaal would have consulted and worked on this with both keepers.

Some keepers have a better psychological and tactical approach to penalties, as Shearer on the BBC keeps reminding, the penalty takers have to make a decision and stick to it, do not change your mind, equally my advice on facing a penalty is not to move before ball is kick but to focus completely on the ball and largely ignore the players face. As has been shown by the number of penalties scored by players who run up to the ball and wait for the keeper to move before diverting ball into opposite direction. Penalties are a percentage tactic, every little edge including psychology and nerves gives you more chance. Holland won the game based on that small edge of a decision. Robben is still a Tom Daley diving cunt though...

 

[Dr. Furface]

The key to not destroying the substituted keepers confidence is to involve them in the decision making, that way they will have made a large contribution to the penalty shoot out, its a team effort. I am certain Van de Gaal would have consulted and worked on this with both keepers.

I'd have thought so too but apparently Van Gaal hadn't told Cillessen beforehand he was going to do it, but said he'll still be his No.1 for the semi-final. It'll be interesting to see what happens if that one goes to penalties too, as they'll have lost the surprise element if they do it again.

 

[friedaweed]

why? cos the team you wanted didn't win?

If you'd read the thread you'd know the answer to that.

He was a very unsporting cunt though. You didn't see an outfield player walk up to any of the goalkeepers and give it large. It's not good sportsmanship, it's a cunts trick and anyone who follows football knows that Those players he was whispering shite too had been running up and down that pitch for two hours whilst he was sat on the bench watching.

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

If you'd read the thread you'd know the answer to that.

He was a very unsporting cunt though. You didn't see an outfield player walk up to any of the goalkeepers and give it large. It's not good sportsmanship, it's a cunts trick and anyone who follows football knows that Those players he was whispering shite too had been running up and down that pitch for two hours whilst he was sat on the bench watching.

i did read it and seemed like loads of people were biased against the dutch...which i thought might have had something to do with it
not that i'm not biased as well... just saying

 

[friedaweed]

i did read it and seemed like loads of people were biased against the dutch...which i thought might have had something to do with it
not that i'm not biased as well... just saying

I've always had a soft spot for the Dutch. Mainly because all the dutch folk I know are lovely warmhearted people. I've got the Dutch in the sweep at work and Dirk 'Sloth' Kuyt is one of my favorite all time footballers. We love Dirk in this house.

I think Krul and Robben are an embarrassment to the sport though. I do hope the Dutch win the WC not because I'll be quids in of course

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It happens before the majority of penalties in league games. If you've not seen it before you must've been watching a different sport this last decade. Only difference is that the (outplayed, incredibly fortunate to make it to penalties) underdogs lost and now everyone is losing their shit.

Incredibly fortunate? They nearly scored a wonder goal a couple of minutes from the end and they were denied a blatant penalty in the first half of extra time. Navas was busy and excellent first half but had little to do for most of the second, until right at the end and the flurry of chances.

Personally, I think it is the Dutch that were fortunate in the end. Missed glorious chances, should have given away a penalty. Costa Rica kept their shape, caught van Persie offside well over 10 times in the match. They nearly 'did a Greece', and it was not just good fortune that saw Greece to their euro success.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I've always had a soft spot for the Dutch. Mainly because all the dutch folk I know are lovely warmhearted people. I've got the Dutch in the sweep at work and Dirk 'Sloth' Kuyt is one of my favorite all time footballers. We love Dirk in this house.

I think Krul and Robben are an embarrassment to the sport though. I do hope the Dutch win the WC not because I'll be quids in of course

Kuyt was shite last night.

He scored his pen. That's the one thing he did right.

 

[Lo Siento.]

Incredibly fortunate? They nearly scored a wonder goal a couple of minutes from the end and they were denied a blatant penalty in the first half of extra time. Navas was busy and excellent first half but had little to do for most of the second, until right at the end and the flurry of chances.

Personally, I think it is the Dutch that were fortunate in the end. Missed glorious chances, should have given away a penalty. Costa Rica kept their shape, caught van Persie offside well over 10 times in the match. They nearly 'did a Greece', and it was not just good fortune that saw Greece to their euro success.

Comes down to definitions of luck really, I suppose. In my book when your opponent has 11 corners, 20 shots on goal and forces 14 saves, missing at least half a dozen one-on-ones, it's pretty damn fortunate that a striker doesn't hit one of them slightly truer or one doesn't take a deflection off a defender or a corner doesn't drop kindly for the attackers. Yes, it's about good defending and goalkeeping too, but it's lucky because it could so easily go against you (as Belgium and France saw, it only has to do so once) and it's lucky because good defending is about starving your opponents of chances, not just hoping they'll miss the ones you put on a plate for them.

As to their attacking contribution, it was negligible and a 50-50 penalty shout (you'd see that one not given more than its given tbh) and one decent attack on the break (one of 3 saves the Dutch keeper had to make) ain't much to write home about.

Personally I thought Costa Rica showed a lot more attacking intent in their earlier games...

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Combination of things. Much of their luck, they earned. Last ditch tackles and blocks, goalie of the tournament (which isn't luck, it's just that their best player by a distance was their goalie - how many saves did he also make from offside players!). But they also had the Dutch running out of ideas for much of that second half. They kept their shape and discipline and defended stoutly - those 11 corners were mostly the result of good defending snuffing out an attack. I would say that they rode their luck in the last 5 minutes of normal time, but I also think the Dutch then rode their luck in extra time - could have gone either way in extra time, I think, and credit to CR for that.

The Dutch then struck (edit!) four brilliant pens in the shootout. That I do give them credit for.

(On another night, CR would have ended with 10 men, mind. They were a little fortunate to keep all 11 on the pitch.)

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Personally I thought Costa Rica showed a lot more attacking intent in their earlier games...

Yes, that's because they pushed up higher. They were (almost certainly rightly) scared of the pace of the Dutch front three last night. They played the situation.