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)

[Scrumpy]

Once more onto the pitch dear friends once more
to raise up these walls with our English cheer.
When the whistle blast blows in our ears
then imitate the ashen of the tiger
stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood
disguise fair nature with hard favoured force
Then lend the eye a skillful aspect
Set the teeth, oh gentle men in England
bend up every spirit to its full height
On, on you noble English

[SecretFly]

 I still can't see past Brazil.

Don't worry... the opposition will go look for you. Oh there are teams that will see what's past Brazil okay - goalposts.

[Liam]

I feel Brazil will win it but maybe its finally Germany's time. They have a wonderful team on paper obviously. But its impossible to call after just half the round of first games played. Anything can happen.

[Duty281]

do find it funny that before the game everybody was saying this was a weak italy team, now we have lost its a very strong italian side!

now we also look better than brazil/argentina who all won there first game?!   

england fans dont half make some sh!t up!

Yep England did play better than Brazil and Spain. And Argentina. Oh and Uruguay. And probably Colombia.

Not necessarily in terms of result, but certainly by way of performance.

nonsense! colombia walked to a 3-0 win, Argentina while not being at there best cruised nearly all game to a win until last 5 minutes. dont think anyone can argue spain and Uruguay have had mares but dont see what all this great performance from england is. a great performance would mean getting some out of the game. we weren't screwed over, we were beat by a better team (who i still dont think are great shakes themselves)

I never said it were a great performance. It was around a 7/10 level, good not great.

Better than Brazil and Argentina who were average. Better than Spain and Uruguay who were poor, Better than Colombia who were 6/10 decent against a poor Greek side.

[Stella]

Duty

We played well going forward, but looked vulnerable at the back. I would call it an entertaining performance.

[compelling and rich]

Columbia win 3-0 and its a 6/10, we lose and its 7/10? cant say i understand your scoring very well. greece are poor i understand that, but this isnt a great italy team either

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

do find it funny that before the game everybody was saying this was a weak italy team, now we have lost its a very strong italian side!

now we also look better than brazil/argentina who all won there first game?!   

england fans dont half make some sh!t up!

Just cos Brazil won doesn't mean they were good, I thought they were very poor and very lucky

Otherwise you'd be arguing we were better when we drew 0-0 with Algeria if results dictate how you judge performances

croatia are a strong team, no mugs and brazil got lucky with decisions but still won at the end of the day, maybe a cliche but teams who dont play well and win are the teams you should be worrying about, not rubbish England who yet again another glorious defeat. id rather play poorly and win if im honest

Well then you must've loved our 2010 campaign!

If we can replicate the entertaining performance from the Italy game over the next two I'd be satisfied no matter the outcome. Although I think it'd gain us qualification

[Alistair]

Duty

We played well going forward, but looked vulnerable at the back. I would call it an entertaining performance.

I agree with this but have a few points.

Rooney and Gerrard were poor for the majority of the game. I don't think Gerrard took the game by the scruff of the neck enough and aside from his assist, Rooney offered nothing going forward and missed a glorious chance to pull us level. You have to take those chances at this level, especially if you want to be pushing for a place up front. He also took the ball off Barkley and smashed it over when Barkley had Sterling and Lallana outside him in better positions.

We were toothless in the dying moments. I recall Baines throwing the ball to Barkley and not a single England player was in the box. You're 2-1 down, you go at them, not sit back! I'd rather lose 3-1 pushing for a goal than doing nothing about pushing for an equaliser at 2-1.

Why does Gerrard pull rank on Free Kicks? Baines and Rooney have a much better record. You might have scored one at Sunderland, Stevie but you're not Roberto Carlos. Sit back.

Lallana for Sturridge was a a waste of a substitution. We had been playing the same system and made no impact on the Italian defence, so why keep the same system. He should've brought Rickie Lambert on and peppered the box, gone 4-4-2 and pushed on. Tactical error from Roy there.

[westisbest]

Shame the Ghana/USA gane is 11 tonight, was looking forward to it.

Well probably watch the first 15 mins, see how it goes.

Go USA.

[Stella]

We looked tire near the end, and that's why we need pace (Welbeck) from our subs. Start Lallana, and Wilshere for that matter. It's Gerrard or Henderson for me.

[Duty281]

Columbia win 3-0 and its a 6/10, we lose and its 7/10? cant say i understand your scoring very well. greece are poor i understand that, but this isnt a great italy team either

Well once you understand that a good performance doesn't always equal a good result, and when you've factored in the strength of opposition, you'll be able to see what I mean.

[The Special Juan]

 I still can't see past Brazil.

Don't worry... the opposition will go look for you.  Oh there are teams that will see what's past Brazil okay   - goalposts.

We'll see

[owen10ozzy]

Been a couple while since I posted (I know you've all missed my positivity )

Anyhow few thought's on yesterdays games;

Very unimpressed by Switzerland yet they managed to grind out a victory in the end. Credit to Ecuador who made a game of it and they will take confidence from that game. However they have it all to do now if they are to make it and it would seem that the top 2 in this group is now determined, though stranger things have happened.

I thought France were fantastic yesterday; free of the shackles that has hampered them in past couple of tournaments...i.e. poor team atmosphere, manager they didn't believe in etc.

They looked together and united as one and they played some great football. Swept forward with verve and pace, especially down the wings where Valbuenna put in a man of the match performance. Benzema continues his form from this season; never lauded but does have great strike record. If he can continue like that then France are in with a small shout. Cabaye and De Griezemann were also fantastic.

*Side Note - Ferguson/Man Utd must rue getting rid of Pogba..oh how they could do with him now*

Argentina have got some work to do if they want to be in with a chance of getting to the final. They should escape the group unscathed and on top...however they will need to perform much better than that in the games to come. The tackle decision to bring on Higuain changed the game and allowed Messi to get a better foothold in it. Once he did he showed glimpses of what he can do. You would imagine that they will now line up in the 4-3-3 which had served them so well going into the tournament, for the remaining games.

Onto today; I think we will have 3 good games again...even think Nigeria vs Iran will turn out better than maybe thought.

Predictions:

Germany 2-1 Portugal
Iran 0- 2 Nigeria
USA 2-3 Ghana

[westisbest]

Germany 3 Portugal 1
Iran 0 Nigeria 3
USA 2 Ghana 1

[Duty281]

Today then:

Germany 2-0 Portugal
Iran 0-2 Nigeria
Ghana 2-1 USA

Should be a quite interesting three games. Nigeria should be comfortable over Iran, but any outcome is possible in the other two games - particularly if Ronaldo starts well against Germany, of course.

[westisbest]

USA will be looking to get the W over Ghana.

Think Ghana have beaten them in the last 2 world cups.

Hopefully Howard will pick up an injury so Guzan starts,(if he isn't already, which I dont think he is).

[Duty281]

Duty

We played well going forward, but looked vulnerable at the back. I would call it an entertaining performance.

Quite.

It reminded me of Euro 2004, and gallant England charging forward! The first result was the same as well. There's only been, thus far over the short duration and without seeing Germany or Portugal yet, three teams that have actually impressed me: Netherlands, Italy and England.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Portugal to beat Germany
Iran to draw with Nigeria
Ghana to beat the US

I'm all over it

[owen10ozzy]

Really Duty?!

I was very impressed by France yesterday; when you look at the shambles of 2010 and even the 2012 side I would say they have come on leaps and bounds. In fact if your going to say England have progressed in the past two years you would have to say France have also...if not slightly better.

They have a host of players who really impressed me last night; granted opposition was far from great but they are the games France have come a cropper against in the past.

I was also pretty impressed by the verve and pace of Columbia going forward..not forgetting they had Jackson Martinez on the bench and they are missing Falcao (could be a blessing in disguise for them). Look shaky at back mind...but still going to be a threat on the attack.

[Duty281]

Its difficult to be impressed by the French on the basis of yesterday, as they played a completely nothing team not interested in playing football. I'll reserve judgement until they play Switzerland.

Colombia were rather underwhelming against a poor Greek side, particularly when they (the South Americans) were in possession.

[CFCNick]

This England side is nowhere near as good as 2004.

[Duty281]

Well this is a lively start!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

France were very impressive, especially in the face of thuggery. They eased down considerably and didn't really have any defending to do, but looked good. I was more impressed by Ivory Coast than Columbia, coming back against better opposition.

PENNO

[Duty281]

Well done referee.

Nice pen as well.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hugo Almeida is absolute dogshite

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Game over

[Duty281]

Germany looking good.

[Duty281]

Portugal now hit the self-destruct button.

Poor from Muller, but Pepe...absolutely braindead.

[owen10ozzy]

Oh Portugal....didn't they would win but as Duty says talk about hitting self destruct! Pepe once again...such a liability, normally you would say expect better from such experienced player but simply doesn't apply to him.

This could be a rout now; 4/5 goals and what's the betting that Ronaldo sulks off with a fake injury of some kind...

[Guest]

There really is something mentally wrong with pepe

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Best thing is he's actually gone down to knee height to nut him

Honestly the stupidest thing I've seen since Wilson Palacios yesterday

[Nachos Jones]

Absolutely loving this. Really cant stand the Portuguese football team. Like Ronaldo but hate the way they play.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Well at least Paulo Bento can say he went for it, refreshed the team, played the promising young players and wasn't tediously conservative.

Oh no that's right he picked Miguel Veloso over there brightest young talent William Carvalho

[Guest]

As much as I love Ronaldo, my shear hatred of Nani is making this scoreline music to my ears. How is he seriously in the Portugal national team

[compelling and rich]

someone please shoot chiles

[compelling and rich]

As much as I love Ronaldo, my shear hatred of Nani is making this scoreline music to my ears. How is he seriously a professional footballer

there fixed that for you

[Guest]

As much as I love Ronaldo, my shear hatred of Nani is making this scoreline music to my ears. How is he seriously a professional footballer

there fixed that for you

haha, good work. I'd have Bebe over him....seriously

[owen10ozzy]

I would have been intrigued to see if ref had produced red had Pepe not done that as Chiles is right in that he tried to con the ref.

[Duty281]

I can add Germany to the list of impressive teams now. I think they'll go top of said list!

Not a surprise, though, as I said before the tournament began that they're one of the two teams that I believe have a serious chance of winning.

[compelling and rich]

I can add Germany to the list of impressive teams now. I think they'll go top of said list!

Not a surprise, though, as I said before the tournament began that they're one of the two teams that I believe have a serious chance of winning.

over holland?!!

[CFCNick]

Assuming we can stick a fork in Portugal, I am a USA and Belgium win away from £260.

[compelling and rich]

im sorry duty but your writing off columbia for level of opposition but then saying germany look the best against 10 men portugal team that started almeida and nani!!!

[Duty281]

I'm not writing off Colombia, they were 6/10 good against limited opposition.

Germany are on a 8.5/10 here, even before the red, they just play so very nicely,

Holland did well, very well, but it was more a case of Spain capsizing than Dutch dominance.

[compelling and rich]

holland by far and away the best performance so far, you cant say its just spain capsizing and not say the same of what pepe just did. dont get me wrong there great to watch germany and play great stuff but beating the reigning euro and world champs 5-1 is a much better performance than beating a poor 10 man portugal team

[Scrumpy]

How come england never get the benefit of playing a team that self-destructs?

[Guest]

Because sometimes England are that team that self destructs

I wonder if that guy cashed out his bet when he had chance

[compelling and rich]

i would have all day

[DirectView]

Today then:

Germany 2-0 Portugal
Iran 0-2 Nigeria
Ghana 2-1 USA

Should be a quite interesting three games. Nigeria should be comfortable over Iran, but any outcome is possible in the other two games - particularly if Ronaldo starts well against Germany, of course.

Ahh Ronaldo is rubbish over-rated player, when was the last time you saw him doing a seizable contribution for his national team's cause?  

Germany rightly crushed the over-rated Portugal and Ronaldo's team to 4-0, the only decent team Portugal can win is England.

Some of the bet sites should have gone nuts in giving more or less equal odds for Portugal on Germans game, I bet germany to win by 3-goal margin and made a wealth out of it.   

[Scrumpy]

I don't think Ronaldo was fit.

[DirectView]

I don't think Ronaldo was fit.

But he was never fit when playing for his national side, a phenomenon matched by Rafa Nadal on Tennis.

Ronaldo and Nadal never lose when they are fit.   

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