TheIrishGooner

The Arsenal. Pretty much everything AFC, and green, white and gold, of course. Fan of tactical play.

[thelrishgooner]

Frenchies

[thelrishgooner]

The three best players at the World Cup 2014. Messi, Müller and Robben.

[thelrishgooner]

No European team has ever won a trophy in South America
BUT
No team has ever won the WC while the Pope was of that nationality. Either way one of those records will be broken Sunday.

[thelrishgooner]

The boys in training today.

[thelrishgooner]

My love for Messi has taken new heights since this World Cup.

[thelrishgooner]

I just wanted to make people happy... I'm sorry

David Luiz last night

[thelrishgooner]

The God of football in the eyes of many now. 16 goals in the World Cup finals after his goal in the 7-1 trashing of Brazil. MK11.

[thelrishgooner]

This World Cup

Wow. Just. Fucking. Wow. The end.

[thelrishgooner]

Diego Costa: Y'know, I have German ancestors...

[thelrishgooner]

Words can't describe how empty I feel. Brazil, the hosts and neutrals favourite team, have lost 7-1 to a destructive Germany side. Deutschland move on to the final while Brazil end up in the 3rd/4th place play-off. Best of luck to both teams.

[thelrishgooner]

Incredible

This is history. In more the a few ways.

[thelrishgooner]

Brazil vs Germany

The real clash of heavyweights. Brazil vs Germany. A repeat of the 2002 final in which Brazil ended up winning. Their last time winning the World Cup. That was then. This is now. Plenty has changed since that World Cup, and the team is certainly not as star-studded as it was then. You're looking at the likes of Ronaldo, the worlds best ever striker to date, being replaced by Fred. Fred. One of the biggest drop downs in footballing history. Although Van Persie to Giroud was quite a let down also. My point is that Brazil are not the team they are 12 years ago. Neither are Germany, however. The Germans have a weak point in defence and Hulk could be the one to penetrate that weakness with his power and pace. If Höwedes is playing at left-back then he could be in for a long afternoon. The Brazilian defence is solid but without the influence of captain Thiago Silva who knows what will happen. David Luiz is captain for Brazil tonight, and he has been amazing in this tournament so far, getting two goals in his last two games. If the Brazilians want to win this game, they will have to defend against the likes of Lahm, Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger trying to play passes through to the forwards. Midfield is the key part of this game. The match result depends on who Scolari picks to be in his double pivot. If he picks Paulinho and Gustavo I'm afraid it's bye-bye Brazil. However if he picks Gustavo and Fernandinho things may be different. To wrap things up, it also depends on what Brazil show up. Without Neymar, they could flop and go crashing out of the tournament, or they could pick up spirit, work as a team and qualify at the expense of Germany. Whatever way it goes, we should be in for a great showing.

[thelrishgooner]

Aaron Ramsey's finest moment. Arsenal's finest moment last season. Arsenal's most important moment for the most part of 10 years. Pure. Fucking. Bliss.

[thelrishgooner]

BREAKING: Arsenal FC agree £32 million deal for FC Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez.

[thelrishgooner]

Will it be an all South American final? How big a loss is Neymar Da Silva Jr.? Will Angel Di Maria be fit for the semi-final vs The Netherlands? All this and more will be revealed during the week.

[thelrishgooner]

Louis van Gaal- Genius or not?

Tonight's match has sparked a wild discussion- is Louis van Gaal a footballing genius after all. The Dutch manager brought on Tim Krul with a minute left in extra-time so he could be in goals for the penalty shootout, which The Netherlands won against Costa Rica, thanks to two brilliant penalty saves from Krul, but there is one question. Is Louis van Gaal, the new Manchester United boss, a footballing genius. No, in my opinion. He beat Costa Rica, a small country in the middle of Central America, a country who a lot of people hadn't even had heard of before the tournament started. The decision to put on Krul was not a very bold decision, as Krul is 6'7 (or there in and about) and can cover the goals well. He also has an excellent record at saving penalties. Why not put him in? If van Gaal is one thing, then it is a pioneer. On the big stage, of course. Shamrock Rivers, a club side in Ireland did the same thing in the domestic cup final, and ended up winning the shoot-out. My point is, van Gaal and Manchester United are by no means "favourites" to win the league, and not even to get a top four finish. Also, Argentina should be The Netherlands. That is all I have to say.

[thelrishgooner]

GOALLLLLL TO GERMANY!!! 1-0