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QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

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    QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

    Though the Republic of Costa Rica and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are neighbors at the Caribbean sea, tonight we will see the first ever match between them. By their footballing history, it is hard to see past a comprehensive Dutch victory. However, Costa Rica is on their best World Cup run ever, topping what arguably was the group of death before taking out Greece in the round of 16. Meanwhile, the Dutch performance started overwhelmingly with the 1-5 demolition of the reigning world champions, but has deflated since; Mexico was three minutes away from eliminating them. Obviously, I am also rooting for a Dutch victory tonight, but Costa Rica may be well worth a punt at the bookies.

    #2
    QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

    I wonder how much Costa Rica will miss defensive lynchpin Duarte, suspended for this match.

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      #3
      QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

      The big question is how bolloxed the Dutch players are after the Mexico match.

      I'd say they've spent most of the past five days lying down in darkened rooms.

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        #4
        QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

        Selected Ambient Works 85-92 wrote: The big question is how bolloxed the Dutch players are after the Mexico match.

        I'd say they've spent most of the past five days lying down in darkened rooms.
        Apart from Arjan Robben, who has probably been running into walls non stop since Sunday.

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          #5
          QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

          I'm getting over my oranjefobie, breaking my duck and actually going out to watch this one at De Prael.

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            #6
            QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

            obviously I want Costa Rica to win (especially as a NEDBEL semi is looking unlikely), so expect the oranjefobie to kick back into gear as I find myself surrounded by bellowing dickheads in wacky gear celebrating the inevitable.

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              #7
              QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

              Vamos Ticos! Robben to injure himself falling over in the first minute. Por favor.

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                #8
                QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                Based on the Qfs so far. Holland will win in an incredibly tedious match. Probably 1-0 with an early goal and no actual threat from Costa Rica.

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                  #9
                  QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                  On the face of it, I should want Costa Rica to win. But Argentina-Netherlands has more of a chance of being a decent semi-final than Argentina-Costa Rica does.

                  And the Dutch themselves, after a truly incredible start, have grown more and more pragmatic and no-frills as the tournament has worn on. It's all slowly turning to shit, isn't it?

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                    #10
                    QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                    Versalete wrote: Though the Republic of Costa Rica and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are neighbors at the Caribbean sea, tonight we will see the first ever match between them.
                    A geographical tidbit which offers up this quiz question (annoy your friends today!): What is the highest point in the Netherlands? Yes, I had to look it up, everybody does.

                    Hopes for game: Ticos win, Robben and RVP get red cards for fighting each other.

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                      #11
                      QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                      Ticos all the way. Don't see any way it happens though, they've reached their limit and LvG will have them sussed.

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                        #12
                        QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                        Yeah, the Dutch are the most well drilled of the 'big' countries left. I'd have given Costa Rica a smidgeon of a chance against the other three semi-finallists, but not here. A straightforward 2-0 or 3-0 I reckon.

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                          #13
                          QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                          1-0 to someone in the 30th second. Then nothing happens for the rest of the game.

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                            #14
                            QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                            I'm sorry I was so pessimistic. You guys can come back if you want.

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                              #15
                              QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                              Is the commentator going to continue to tell us how Robben hasn't dived yet every time he gets the ball, or has he stopped now?

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                                #16
                                QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                It's funny how in the group games the natural order seemed in the balance, with Costa Rica controlling their game against Italy, for example, but in these knock-outs, the "smaller' nations are doffing their cups once more. Costa Rica playing like a side that expects not to control this match (i.e. on the break).

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                                  #17
                                  QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                  I thought they were playing much more like themselves than they did against Greece, really.

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                                    #18
                                    QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                    Did he just say that the ball was played by Scunner Campbell there?

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                                      #19
                                      QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                      John Godot wrote: I thought they were playing much more like themselves than they did against Greece, really.
                                      Yeah, it's started to change a little since about the time I started writing my previous comment!

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                                        #20
                                        QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                        The camera focused on some of the Dutch substitutes, and on RTE, George Hamilton says "some anxious looks on the Costa Rican bench". All the Dutch players in shot, bar Huntelaar, were black. Are we making assumptions, George?

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                                          #21
                                          QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                          You would think that an Irishman would recognise the significance of orange . . .

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                                            #22
                                            QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                            ursus arctos wrote: You would think that an Irishman would recognise the significance of orange . . .
                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnNhd7dLj3w

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                                              #23
                                              QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                              I wonder if when Robben steps on a piece of lego at home, he falls like that. I bet he can't fall normally any more.

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                                                #24
                                                QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                                Costa Rica playing like a side that expects not to control this match (i.e. on the break).
                                                They played like that against Uruguay. And it worked. And it was entertaining. They're doing alright - so far

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                                                  #25
                                                  QF4. The battle of the Caribbean

                                                  Memphis's attempted volley should end the day as a youtube favourite.

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