F:AT World Cup Pick'em

It was a great World Cup. And the Final was the best since 12 years ago. Remember the orgy of fouls the Dutch committed against Spain? Or Zidane headbutting Materozzi in '06? This game at least had some good soccer.

Not sure what kind of play folks would expect from Argentina at 118 minutes other than a free kick to the goal. Hard kick, hope for a goal or a rebound. He boofed it, but oh well. Not much else in the tank at that point. Especially against Neuer, that roaming giant.

Messi was ineffectual in the last two games because he was utterly buried in defensemen. Who's the other threat? Aguero? That guy is the Michael Bradley of Argentina.

Jeb Lucas! Using Michael Bradley as an insult is beyond unfair.

How so? He was terrible. The guy had so many bad touches it was becoming a joke. For every nice advance he had five? six? momentum killers that just derailed any chance at a smooth offensive push. I admire his athleticism, but he was terrible in the middle. Passing when he should hold, holding when he should clear. Just dreadful. There are a lot of apologists for him out there, as there should be. We deserve apologies.

I agree on Bradley--he was shit on toast in this World Cup.

Argentina weren't the same after Di Maria got damaged.

Aguero really failed to impress, but he's barely played since coming back from injury. We all know that guy could light up a goal from watching Man City, but in this team he just didn't work out. It was a horrible substitution.

However, Germany were clearly the best team at the cup and fully deserve their win.

PS: Zidane headbutting Materozzi should go down as one of the high points of any World Cup.

I don't think Aguero actually came back from injury. He got hurt either in game 1 of or just before the Group Stage games and he was never right this whole tourney. Considering how soon the EPL season starts, I suspect he won't play for City until week 3. I don't know what the injury actually was but it looked just like that nagging thigh thing that fucked up the middle of this past season with City. Seemed like the pro athlete's nightmare injury: not hurt enough to require serious treatment but too hurt to do *anything* approaching what he can normally do...

I got 3rd in my World Cup pool at work. If Brasil had beaten Holland, I would have won, dammit.

Winnah!