World Cup Daily: Argentina cause anguish for tired TV viewers
Published:In The Headlines
After the excitement of Brazil’s historic 7-1 capitulation it was always likely that Holland’s semi-final showdown with Argentina would disappoint but few could have predicted the turgid game that followed.
When the one memory viewers have of a 120-minute football match is the sight of a machine-gun-toting monkey in the latest Planet of the Apes film trailer shown during the ad break you know it’s been bad with Arjen Robben the only one who threatened to do something – and we want to stress that was threatened.
In the end it went down to penalties, with Holland reverting to their status as Europe’s third worst penalty takers courtesy of misses from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder.
After the game future Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal was in his element opting to shift blame elsewhere by claiming two Dutch players refused to take their spot-kicks first, forcing him to go with Vlaar, before trying to take credit for Argentina’s success with the claimhe taught keeper Sergio Romero how to save penalties.
He did end with one good point though, claiming that the third-place play-off was cruel and pointless. We’ll miss you Louis! Oh wait, no we won’t.
The Non-England Camp
Various Brazil football legends have come out to slam the team in the wake of their 7-1 loss, with former AC Milan full-back Cafu getting in there early with a tirade that saw him ejected from the Selecao squad’s dressing room.
Zico, meanwhile, went bonkers on his blog for the Guardian while 1994 hero Romario even took time out of his busy schedule to slam the Samba Boys.
Worse was to come though, with Diego Maradona even getting in on the act with a bit of mockery.
Your move Pele – time to put El Diego back in his place methinks (his Argentina team did lose 4-0 to Germany in 2010, remember).Meanwhile Big Phil is refusing to quit…for now.
Injury List
Pablo Zabaleta and Javier Mascherano may have been left bruised and battered after the physical-but-dull-as-dishwater semi with Holland but they are both fit and raring to go for the final.
The only major absentee could be two-goal Germany hero Mats Hummels, who has a knee problem.
Fan Watch
Just days after dancing around Brazil carrying plastic spines in recognition of Neymar’s World Cup ending injury, it would appear that justice has so far not been done with joyous scenes witnessed amongst Argentina fans after La Albiceleste reached the final.
In the showpiece game for the first time in 24 years, various bars and streets both home and away were awash with fans in white and blue. Let’s just hope Germany don’t hand them a Brazil-style hiding.
In Other News
While it’s fair to say that there are plenty of football fans out there who also happen to be tossers, those who took enjoyment from Brazil 7-1 loss appear to have taken that sentiment far too literally if one news story is anything to go by.
According to a report from the Independent, the website PornHub has issued a request for users to stop uploading clips of the famous defeat under the title ‘Young Brazilians get f**ked by entire German soccer team’.
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