Rio de Janiero - 2014 Fifa World Cup Thread

[FootballLight]

First topic message reminder :

This **should** be the main article for the Fifa World Cup 2014 competition that happens in 10 days time. Lets try and keep the debate simple yet reasonable about all of the build-up, the stadiums, the countries, the players, the qualifying, the winners and most importantly, the "bought" 2022 World Cup.

Enjoy! (And... lets try and make this World Cup as good as possible considering all of the poor build-up, tragic deaths and he outrageous violence that has been happening over recent months)

[The Special Juan]

Nobody seemed to know why it was given. The commentators thought the cross had gone out of play. Olic had every right to go for that ball.

IMO i think 'Keepers are far too protected at times.

I agree. I can see why it was given but there was nothing in it. The player and goalkeeper went up for the ball fairly. The trouble is it never goes the other way. I remember Bayern playing Man United at Old Trafford a few yers ago when the Bayern Munich goalkeeper basically punch a Man United defender in the face and nothibg was given.

Yeah but come on, who doesn't want to punch a Man United defender in the face?

I take exception to that

[hampo17]

Cannavaro and Vieira do not deserve to have to sit with Chiles.

He came across as really pervy last night when they showed the couple kissing during the Brazil celebrations, sounded like he was cracking one off under the desk, and the whole pat on the back from Viera was pathetic.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I am quite liking Cannavaro and Vieira.

[Duty281]

One of the first things ITV and BBC for that matter should take into account is the quality of English of pundits, there is no point using a big name player if he can't get his points across very well.

Leave Ian Wright alone!

[Fernando]

Mexico: Ochoa, Rodriguez, Marquez (c), Herrera, Layun, Dos Santos, Moreno, Guardado, Peralta, Aguilar, Vazquez

Cameroon: Itandje, Assou-Ekotto, Nkoulou, Djeugoue, Song, Moukandjo, Eto'o (c), Choupo Moting, Chedjou, Mbia, Enoh

[Kurt N. Jurqa]

Don't think I've missed Keane this much since the 97-98 season.

[Crimey]

Yeah, both those teams look poor, imagine Cameroon are going to be horribly reliant on Eto'o.

[Ent]

Cannavaro wasn't the best pundit.

Cameroon, well they are absolutely awful.

[skyeman]

And now Mexico have been robbed TWICE of perfectly good goals.

[Guest]

top class officiating   

[owen10ozzy]

This is the problem with all continents having to be represented by officials. The standard is so wide...so far very very poor. You wonder where they get some of them from...well Columbia for one!

[Dave.]

ITV's coverage is very folksy.

Poor picture in SD though, anyone else get that? Thankfully I can get Saorview which means RTE is in HD.

[The Special Juan]

This is the problem with all continents having to be represented by officials. The standard is so wide...so far very very poor. You wonder where they get some of them from...well Columbia for one!

Honest question - are Antarctica represented?

[Guest]

So far I'm shooting a Jap & a Colombian. At least we have Nicola Rizzoli for the Spain/Holland game, I've got faith in him not to **** it up.

[skyeman]

This is the problem with all continents having to be represented by officials. The standard is so wide...so far very very poor. You wonder where they get some of them from...well Columbia for one!

Honest question - are Antarctica represented?

No one is going to bite at that. Although a penguin might have performed better  

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Cameroon depress me

[The Special Juan]

This is the problem with all continents having to be represented by officials. The standard is so wide...so far very very poor. You wonder where they get some of them from...well Columbia for one!

Honest question - are Antarctica represented?

No one is going to bite at that. Although a penguin might have performed better  

It was genuinely an honest question!! I'm sure I could guess at the answer though.

[Dave.]

I've now got an image of Pingu as a referee. He wouldn't need a whistle anyway.

Goal!!!!!!!

[owen10ozzy]

They love to show off this goal line technology....what's the betting the first time they actually need it the system fails or something   

[Ent]

There are shocking refs in every country.

Linesman at fault today.

Pen looks obvious enough but you see the reaction from yesterday so he was going to have to get shot for one to be awarded tonight.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Commentary duo are meh, but Carlisle is right, these two teams are so bad at defending set pieces

[Duty281]

Mexico comfortable; Cameroon negative.

Fortunate that the refereeing errors counted for very little in the end.

And what a save at the end!

[Crimey]

Neither of these teams will go far, think Mexico were made to look better by Cameroon who were shocking and can't see Mexico beating Brazil or Croatia.

[kingraf]

Cameroon only got past the first round of African qualifying on a technicality, and it showed. Quite embarrassing.

[Duty281]

Luis Suarez out of tomorrow's game.

I think Costa Rica will sneak a point.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

So um this is why casillas didn't play all season

[CFCNick]

Neither of these teams will go far, think Mexico were made to look better by Cameroon who were shocking and can't see Mexico beating Brazil or Croatia.

Mexico are horse manure. They needed two last minute goals by the USA against Panama and USA won 3-2, otherwise Panama would have played Jordan in the playoff and one of those minnows would be in.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Best game of football I've seen in a long time

What a performance from Holland

[Duty281]

Might be a bit cynical and say Spain made Holland look better than they actually were.

Robben was immense though.

Come on England...you really want to win group D now!

[SecretFly]

More teams and more individual players should realise the kind of immortality that awaits them if they truly set out to make the World Cup what it should be - outrageous displays of footballing entertainment.  Go for it - it might only come to a player's career once.  Go for it - entertain.

But alas............ we'll have more games of slow chess and boring defensive stalemates before this WC is over.  The WC should be a celebration of football at its best...  not a businessmen's convention of order and restaint.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

A word for the Beeb's coverage

Fantastic

Pundits all good, Rio very good, p1sses all over ITV's

[NickisBHAFC]

It can't get worse than ITV though can it.

Clarke Carlise commentary is just an embarrassment to all.

Adrain Chiles the most hated man in Britan.

[Duty281]

Yeah the BBC is fantastic.

Thierry Henry and Gary Lineker in the same studio in full HD =

[Dolphin Ziggler]

When they had that conversation about finishing it just oozed class and knowledge. Lineker prompts but you respect he knows what hes doing; Chiles would have made a joke "maybe if he wasnt as snide then Wesley might have scored it Paddy?"

[Dolphin Ziggler]

GOL GOL GOL GOL

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Another GOL GOL GOL GOL

[Guest]

Game Over. Love Sanchez.

[NickisBHAFC]

Sanchez is amazing. Chile are amazing. What a tough group.

R.I.P Australia.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I would take very little from this game other than Australia are poor

[SecretFly]

Is Australia being poor a secret exposed or was it known before they turned up?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I would take very little from this game other than Australia are poor

And with the tie break being decided on goal difference, it looks like Chile will only need a draw versus Spain to go through

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And I just can't bring myself to back a team that has Gary Medel and Gonzalo Jara at CB.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

CLASSIC Cahill

[skyeman]

Roo, roo, roo.

[NickisBHAFC]

Tim Cahill!  Classic memories of him doing that in the Prem!

Game on. Been a class game so far. Both teams attacking!! How football should be done.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And I just can't bring myself to back a team that has Gary Medel and Gonzalo Jara at CB.

[NickisBHAFC]

Gonzalo Jara. Wow what an awful footballer. Makes me angry he's playing in a world cup and Matt Upson isn't.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I'm still annoyed Matt Upson has played in a World Cup altogether

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Been a good game again

Set up perfectly for England/Italy to bring us back to earth with a 0-0 tomorrow ain't it

[SecretFly]

Australia now on the way for a 6-2 victory.................. exceptional players......

[Sponsored content]