World Cup Semifinals: Pick Your Winners…

My heart says Uruguay x Germany, my head says Netherlands x Germany.

The intense rivalry and bad feelings towards each other – or rather the Dutch towards the Germans – has lightened up in the past 20 years pretty thoroughly.

But when it come's to football, it's still there. There is some song by Göti Widmann, “Solang's um Fußball geht, hass' ich Holland wie die Pest” – “As far as football's concerned – I'm hating Holland like the pest” (literally). It's somewhat a declaration of love to our western neighbours. Except for football, that is.

The young Germans and Dutchs seem to get along quite well. Plus almost 60% of the young Dutchs speak German to a degree you can have a simple conversation.

My heart says Germany-Netherlands. My head does, too. But let's wait for the game against Spain. It'll come down to day shape. If Germany plays as they did before and Spain will play as they did before, there's not doubt about it. I can't for the life of me see how Uruguay wants to sneak past the Dutch.

I would say Netherlands-Germany, but I am concerned that without Thomas Müller there may be some creativity missing in the German midfield. Özil will need to make his presence felt to make up for the suspension. So, like Bense said, it will come down to game-time form. I think Germany has shown the better form throughout the cup, and if they can keep that up they will beat Spain.

Be asured: I'm not saying this for mentioning's sake. Kroos and Marin or even Jansen can replace Müller quite well. Löw might be going with Trochowski, and he might surprise me, too. I don't like him.

Germany /Holland

We had South America vs. “Rest of the World” in the quarters.

We have Europe vs. Uruguay in the semis.

We'll see a “multicultural Germanic” final.

What Maradona didn't realize: God's an octopus.

Holland will go past Uruguay, but Spain vs Germany is a close one. Germany looks like in better form, but somehow I think Spain will go through.

Head says Germany v Holland, heart says Spain vs Holland. I want a new WC winner.

1. Germany
2. Netherlands
3. Spain
4. Uruguay

Well, Uruguay better not make the finals. It would be an embarrassment to football if a World Cup finalist blatantly cheated their way in. As many have said, head says Netherlands-Germany, heart says Netherlands-Spain.

Ditto.

With Lodeiro, Suarez, and Fucile out and Lugano still a probable. Los Charruas will give up a good fight but will fall short. La Naranja Mecanica in on that side.

Germany vs. Spain.. hmmmmm.. tough !! Muller out – that's a key miss. Still, Germany has been the better team throughout the tournament.

Final: The Netherlands vs. Germany… Wow !! tough to pick a winner but a final that I do want to see….

Netherlands v. Germany. Heart: Uruguay v. Spain. Though I do really want to see a NED v GER game, I want URU in the final even more.

Look who's talking, a frenchman whose team qualified to the WC by cheating. Suárez did not cheat: he took one for the team, don't tell me you wouldn't have done that in the last play of extra-time in a world cup quarterfinal if you had been in his position, that would be complete hypocrisy! Plus he got what he deserved: a red card and a one-match suspension (heck Henry got away with it completely and some people were asking for Suárez to get a longer ban and FIFA actually discussed it, the nerve!) It's not Urguay's fault that Gyan didn't have the cool head he needed to score!

Come on ! How is that cheating ? Did the uruguayans enlarged their posts so that Gyan would hit the woodwork ? Did they make a handball that went unpunished ??
In your opinion a handball is cheating ? Well then every team that made a handball at this WC is a cheater…

I am pulling for the Netherlands all the way. I would love love LOVE to see a Germany Netherlands final. I think both teams have the talent and will to get there as well.

Not that I dont like Uruguay, but this year it is all about the Dutch. Plus, their weird Giant Blue Duck Head Celebration sort of creeped me out ( http://www.daylife.com/photo/09tWaex28M4N0? or http://www.daylife.com/photo/0erW1dv16d5oN? ).

And all hail Paul

I wouldn't be so sure about Germany's win against Spain. Germany's scores are results of good circumstances (quickly scored goal and opportunities of counter-attacks) and practically 100% efficiency converting scoring chances. The key in that match will be the first goal. Also, Germany don't use such high pressing as Paraguay against Spain, so it might be easier for them.

As for the Netherlands, I'm not convinced about their play either. But yes, they will probably slide by, like in the other games.

i'd like to see holland v/s spain in the final of the 2010 wc.so spain will defeat the germans.

You are all regarding this situation from a disturbingly cynical perspective. Uruguay (or Luis Suarez and Jorge Fucile if you prefer) were manipulating the rules of the beautiful game in the absolute worst possible way, one that rots away at the core of the sport. If not for the interference by Suarez, Ghana would definitely and deservedly have won the game. To avoid defeat at all costs, Suarez cheated them out of it. He probably realized that a red card would hardly effect the team in that match if given at the 120th minute, and that an approximately 50% chance of a goal from the spot would be much better than an outright one. This destroys football the way it ought to be played.

I am not a Frenchman, and that little comment is simply meant to distract from my point. Describing the actions of Suarez as “taking one for the team” is ludicrous and makes it seem like he accomplished some sort of last ditch tackle and LEGALLY succeeded. Please see my above response to “marian”.

Netherlands is a clear favorite, Spain-Germany is a very tough call. The winner of Spain-Germany will be the favorite in the final either way.

Given the playing styles, I would not be surprised to see Spain-Germany go 0-0 all the way to penalty kicks. It would be quite ironic if Germany lost on penalty kicks for once, and if any team can challenge them in a shootout it's Spain.

There has been a good amount of controversy in this World Cup, and people have had plenty to say. Some, with little or no soccer background, decide that they know better and make accusations. Whether it's an infraction against another player, or arguing with the referee, or using your hands to redirect a ball, there is a consequence. Players decide, or react, in the best way for the sake of their team. When a referee misses a violation, because his line of sight is blocked or he doesn't see what happens, a player can get away with an infraction, or even an intentional deception. Such is the case of Germany's goalkeeper who admittedly took the ball from inside the goal area and quickly kicked it back into the field to mislead the referee and deprive the English team of a scored goal. THAT is cheating. When a referee recognizes an infraction, he applies the rules. Suarez' much talked about actions were understandable to anybody who knows soccer. Yes, they also broke a rule of the game. And so he was expelled and suspended and the opposing team granted a penalty kick. Situations like these occur all the time at domestic and international matches, they are a part of the game's dynamic and, as long as the players are held accountable for their actions and corrective measures are taken, the game's outcome cannot be questioned or condemned. Those are the rules, and there are examples of instances when they weren't even applied, and the world kept turning. Why was it so important that the African team won, even though they played rather violently, diving at every chance, but Uruguay didn't deserve to win? I think media influence, we are supposed to let one African country into the semifinal round because their continent hosted the games. Well, Uruguay being the country with most number of international tournaments won in the 20th century, also wants to win, also is the hope of the continent, also is a third world country. With less than 4 million people, and being economically disadvantaged, we are the smallest country to win world cupS. Watching soccer every four years just to join the World Cup party doesn't qualify people as experts in the game. I don't know if Uruguay will win, but if we do, it will be deserved.

I think Spain will defeat Germany, surprising, Yes Germany has played well. Germany wins over Argentina ( bad defense and no coach) and England ( bad cup overall plus ref error) are impressive, but their group stage, not so much.
I would love to see Uruguay go through, but probably Holland will be in the final.
Heart URU-SPA HEAD : SPA-NED

Yes the duck is awful:-) , everybody hate it ( even in Uruguay )

Lugano won't play

I think Spain's run out of time to find their A game and Germany's been a steamroller since the group stage. I also think that Uruguay's cards and injuries are going to prove a bit too much to overcome. Germany-Netherlands in the final. I think Germany wins it all, as Netherlands has been putting on a show of winning through horrible football so far and that won't be enough.

Again, just because Germany beat England and Argentina, doesn't mean they will beat Spain. The way they played againts Argentina will not happen again, not this world cup! They have been inconsistent. Finals Spain 2 vs Uruguay 1!!!