World Cup 2014 - Official Thread

[Jimothy]

I've learned two things about you Facecloth,

You're really good at trivia and you're obsessed with Shola Ameobi

Just thought, how did you work out the Shola obsession? I hardly mention him in here.

[Stadt]

Just thought, how did you work out the Shola obsession? I hardly mention him in here.

You've said something before about him and the Super Ameobi brothers avatar

[Dan]

Had a fiver on Croatia to beat Brazil at 12/1

 

I hope Modric is anything like he is at Real Madrid for Croatia.

[Stadt]

Had a fiver on Croatia to beat Brazil at 12/1

I hope Modric is anything like he is at Real Madrid for Croatia.

Is it because they're good on FM?

I'm currently at Inter Zapresic, a second divisin Croatian club

[Dan]

Is it because they're good on FM?

I'm currently at Inter Zapresic, a second divisin Croatian club

 

Nope. They have a genuinely quality side. Their midfield is outstanding.

 

12/1 tempted me. **** it, it's the World Cup, lets have a bit of fun.

 

Sadly they're bound to go three down after 15 minutes.

[Jimothy]

You've said something before about him and the Super Ameobi brothers avatar

I have slipped the odd mention in but not many. But i did have the Super Ameobi Bros as my avatar for ages.

Might bust out the one him riding a bike eating an apple and beating a bunch of Olympic cyclist as my next avatar.

[Nalis]

There's a lot for us here to digest about the Donovan decision. Klinsmann and Donovan really don't seem to get along, Klinsi has been preparing for a post-Donovan era since "the sabbatical," LD has been in poor form and has admitted his body just doesn't recover like it used to, Klinsi wants youth + hard workers, Klinsi doesn't think LD is a good fit for his system, and Klinsi is clearly building a base for 2018 (I can't blame him, considering our draw and his long-term contract).

That said, if there were no extenuating circumstances (I.e. Effect on team chemistry, etc), I'd have liked to see Donovan on the roster to at least come off the bench. I've never been a Wondolowski fan and I think he'll be out of his depth in Brazil.

Dude, it's Bleacher Report--anybody can submit an "article" to that site.

I'm with Klinsmann on this one (though his son's tweet was disrespectful). Taking a sabbatical during a qualifying campaign isn't on. If anything, it may have unsettled a squad.

Donovan was a great servant for the US over the years, time for the team to move on and focus on the future.

[Manwell Pablo]

I'm not expecting anything from the U.S or any of the CONCACAF Nations this time around really. Germany will be too good, Portugal more than match them man for man and Cristiano will more than likely win that game for them by himself, even Ghana is a tough game. Croatia and Brazil should have to much for the poorest Mexico side in years and if Costa Rica don't get the wooden spoon in our group I'll be amazed. Hounduras actually have the best chance of getting out of the group for me but I think they'll probably make a good fist of it and end up going out as well. 

 

In fact the only side I fancy to get to the knockout stages that's not from South America or Europe is the Ivory Coast. 

[LeicesterBran]

Rafael Van Der Vaart has been ruled out of the World Cup.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/news/3790/world-cup-2014/2014/05/28/4845398/van-der-vaart-ruled-out-of-world-cup?ICID=OP

 

Not good for Holland as they shall miss his experience at the WC as they have very young talented squad and you need a experienced head in the squad. Holland's only other experienced heads are Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder.

[Dan]

I genuinely can see the Dutch going out in the groups.

[Manwell Pablo]

Costa Rica in the work sweepstake, Ivory Coast in the football club one. 

 

£7.50 down the pan.

I genuinely can see the Dutch going out in the groups.

 

Chile game is everything.

 

They'll get a shoeing off Brazil in the next round even if they do go through.

[Ric Flair]

Costa Rica in the work sweepstake, Ivory Coast in the football club one.

£7.50 down the pan.

Chile game is everything.

They'll get a shoeing off Brazil in the next round even if they do go through.

Do they play Chile 2nd or 3rd? Spain will roll them and if they've got Chile 2nd then it could be curtains for them. The same could be said about us with our games but I actually think we'll do the business in Manaus and it'll set the tone for us.

[Manwell Pablo]

Do they play Chile 2nd or 3rd? Spain will roll them and if they've got Chile 2nd then it could be curtains for them. The same could be said about us with our games but I actually think we'll do the business in Manaus and it'll set the tone for us.

 

Same could be said about any team in the tournament to be fair, although the dutch have the Aussies 2nd and if they fck that up they fully deserve to be on the next plane back to windmill land. 

[Grandad.]

Has anyone seen any odds on Portugal going the furthest European team? Seen 17/1 for England but can't find any for anyone else. 

[Ric Flair]

Dzeko is massive for top scorer, they have Nigeria and Iran in their group. I also fancy them to cause Argentina a bit of a problem.

[Alexikokopops]

Not really sure where to stick this so it's going in here. An interesting article about the Argentinian view of Messi.

[Kitchandro]

Not really sure where to stick this so it's going in here. An interesting article about the Argentinian view of Messi.

 

Argies eh.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhfiWXTBPWU

[kingcarr21]

 

cant WAIT for the world Cup to start

[MC Prussian]

 

cant WAIT for the world Cup to start

If that's you two weeks before the tournament, I can't imagine what you're like a day or two before the first ball is kicked in the opener.

[Stadt]

[Dan]

Dzeko is massive for top scorer, they have Nigeria and Iran in their group. I also fancy them to cause Argentina a bit of a problem.

 

That's a decent shout to be fair as I don't think they're incapable of beating France, Ecuador or Switzerland in the next round either. Argentina will walk that group IMO but I wouldn't be surprised if they beat Bosnia in a high scoring game, 4-2 or something. Their defence is bang average.

 

Seriously am buzzing for this now and delighted to see the opening game is a 9pm kick off rather than 5pm as it means I'll actually see it now.

[Ric Flair]

That's a decent shout to be fair as I don't think they're incapable of beating France, Ecuador or Switzerland in the next round either. Argentina will walk that group IMO but I wouldn't be surprised if they beat Bosnia in a high scoring game, 4-2 or something. Their defence is bang average.

Seriously am buzzing for this now and delighted to see the opening game is a 9pm kick off rather than 5pm as it means I'll actually see it now.

Is it? Sweet! Is opening ceremony about 7ish then? Was gonna take half a days leave, no need now.

[Dan]

Is it? Sweet! Is opening ceremony about 7ish then? Was gonna take half a days leave, no need now.

 

Yep I'm on training that day and finish at 5pm, thought I was going to miss most of it. 9pm it is.

[Dan]

Not really sure where to stick this so it's going in here. An interesting article about the Argentinian view of Messi.

 

That was a cracking read.

 

That's really sad to be honest - people can slate him for not playing in Argentina, but how many Argentine clubs offered to pay for the treatment he needed? Barcelona took the chance and it paid off immensely.

 

I also found that pretty interesting that they're not expecting to do anything in Brazil. Shows what I know then as I've had them down to win it for a while - not that they can't.

[LeicesterBran]

I genuinely can see the Dutch going out in the groups.

 

I reckon they have enough to see off Chile  and make it to the last 16  but, they'd be very lucky to get something against Spain tbh. There won't be any shit in the Dutch camp with Van Gaal in charge of his last international tournament like what happened at the Euro 2012 with Van Marwijk as Holland manager. The reason why they failed then was because, the squad were not working together with their egos.