Originally posted by psmith81992
I still don't understand how Portugal is ranked 4th in the world. That team is Ronaldo and nobody else.
Well. The FIFA world ranking just considers games played during the last four years. While Portugal got eliminated in the round of 16 in the World Cup 2010, they lost against Spain, the later World Cup winner. In the last European Championship, they managed to finish second in the "death group" (with Germany and the Netherlands in it) and went to the semifinal, just lose once more against Spain - the later European Champion.
And they, technically, have more good players than just Ronaldo. Pepe and Coentrao come to mind (both Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United) and also Vieirinha (Wolfsburg). But their overall gameplay goes down the tube if either Ronaldo has a bad day or they don't have "fun" playing (e.g. early goal for the opposing team). They don't have the fighting spirit that often helps the German team (for example turning a turned game versus Ghana).
Well. The FIFA world ranking just considers games played during the last four years. While Portugal got eliminated in the round of 16 in the World Cup 2010, they lost against Spain, the later World Cup winner. In the last European Championship, they managed to finish second in the "death group" (with Germany and the Netherlands in it) and went to the semifinal, just lose once more against Spain - the later European Champion.
And they, technically, have more good players than just Ronaldo. Pepe and Coentrao come to mind (both Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United) and also Vieirinha (Wolfsburg). But their overall gameplay goes down the tube if either Ronaldo has a bad day or they don't have "fun" playing (e.g. early goal for the opposing team). They don't have the fighting spirit that often helps the German team (for example turning a turned game versus Ghana).
Originally posted by psmith81992
Yea, they need to change the way they rank teams. There's no way Portugal is the 4th best team in the world and there's no way we're #13.
Well. At the moment, Spain as #1 is the most ridiculous ranking-position, imho. 😉
Nani used to be one of my favorites but he's really dropped the ball the last two years. Yes he's skilled but the US played him straight up using Beasley, who had no problem with him. Pepe is ok I guess but there's no second world class player on that team. Look at teams like Germany, Argentina, hell even Spain. They have at least 2.
I think, in modern soccer a lot can be a question of daily form. Germany has a lot of "world class" players (Neuer, Lahm, Oezil, Klose, Mueller) and each of them can decide a game on his own. Yet, if they have a "bad day", the are also capable of making mistakes that can ruin a game for their entire team (see Lahm versus Ghana).
Those players (can) have a tremendous influence on the spirit of an entire team, and if they don't get into the game right, there will be problems. On the other hand: If Ronaldo catches a good day, he can shot out opposing teams pretty much on his own. For all of his arrogance and - at times - completely retarded behavior, he is still one of the best soccer players at the moment.
I think, in modern soccer a lot can be a question of daily form. Germany has a lot of "world class" players (Neuer, Lahm, Oezil, Klose, Mueller) and each of them can decide a game on his own. Yet, if they have a "bad day", the are also capable of making mistakes that can ruin a game for their entire team (see Lahm versus Ghana).
Those players (can) have a tremendous influence on the spirit of an entire team, and if they don't get into the game right, there will be problems. On the other hand: If Ronaldo catches a good day, he can shot out opposing teams pretty much on his own. For all of his arrogance and - at times - completely retarded behavior, he is still one of the best soccer players at the moment.
To be fair, Messi, Suarez, Neymar...Those guys are getting plenty of help from their teammates. And Ronaldo's cross last night was just beautiful. You have like 6 white shirts and one red shirt, and he places it perfectly to the red shirt. They were saying on ESPN yesterday that even at 70% (which is around where Ronaldo is with the knee tendinitis), Ronaldo was clearly the most skilled player on the field and he had 3-4 white jerseys on him at all time.
He's a beast. When he wants to go somewhere with the ball, he somehow taps into the Speed Force and just goes completely insane in whatever direction he wants.
According to data though the fastest player is Antonio Valencia of Ecuador.
The guy hit 22MPH!, a whole 3 more than Arjen in his super run against Spain.
Pretty good since Usain Bolt is apparently hitting 27-28MPH.
Originally posted by Astor EbligisThis Nai is no debater. He responds yet denies any and all proof. I basically ripped his heart out of his still beating chest and he pretended it didn't happen.
That you rejected a larger debate, and refused to debate him fully on his terms, doesn't mean that you didn't engage him in any kind of debate whatsoever. You did briefly exchange arguments with him, and were soundly defeated. You saw that quanchi came here on a mission, he called out the forum's best debaters and analysed absolutely every argument we could possibly present him with and formed counters to all of them. It's absolutely understandable that you fear him, and rightly so, and wanted to stay the hell away from any kind of argument with him.
Originally posted by Tzeentch
YouTube videoGlorious.