Not one group runner up made final 8!

[Stonigut]

All the group winners won their game, even though many were very close it is interesting that all eight group winners went through and not one group runner up made it to next stage. Probably the best group runner up performance was Chile.

[Lazie]

All the group winners won their game, even though many were very close it is interesting that all eight group winners went through and not one group runner up made it to next stage. Probably the best group runner up performance was Chile.

Really? What about Algeria?

[Willi]

Mexico too?

Algeria has played the most fluid game of all participants there in 2014.

[Peter R]

Yes... they played a very easy on the eyes ball; Bradley could learn a thing or two from that team, how to step around a man and make space for a MORE EFFECTIVE pass...

[Stonigut]

They were good but at no point did I feel Germany was packing their bags. I definitely was getting antsy on the Brasil chile game.

[Willi]

Very pretty ball. i recall some triangle formations around the GERMAN right back with 1 touch ball.

[Stonigut]

What! Does Pretty ball now equals effective competitive ball, I have not seen that since well 1982 and that team lost.

[Islandman]

It hasn't since maybe 1970 or so. lol.

[Jangle]

iStonibot, what yuh have against pretty ball so? The game is played for entertainment also you know.

[Stonigut]

Thanks for the new nickname Jangle, precious biz.
Me defend winning first and last, that is it, no matter how it look. Pretty ball nice but it never win anything yet, not since I been watching anyway.

[Peter R]

What! Does Pretty ball now equals effective competitive ball, I have not seen that since well 1982 and that team lost.

Apparently you jumped to that conclusion and/or interpreted my post that way. The truth is Algeria played "pretty ball" as you termed it (I said easy on the eyes ) and at the same time competitive and effective ball. They could just as easily have sent the Germans packing. It's important that when you play, win lose or draw, that you play well, and you cannot deny that they did just that.

[Stonigut]

Sorry Peter it was more Willi's post on Algeria that I responded to, at the end of the day the same holds, even though a lot of pretty ball was played by these sides, none actually won or disrupted the parade of monster football nations and the ones that have won their groups are playing fundamental ball, that is Belgium and cr, though Colombia is playing a style that I am not so sure what it is.