Rio de Janiero - 2014 Fifa World Cup Thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Diego Costa for £32 million isn't looking to hot either...Chelsea could be looking at the 3 most expensive striker flops in history in Shevchenko, Torres and now Costa.

He lacks pace and mobility which for me are essential in the premiership.

Tbf this isn't the same Costa that's been playing for Atletico, a long hard season and a few injuries catching up with him here I think

[Fernando]

Argentina: Romero; Fernandez, Garay, Zabaleta, Rojo; Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria; Aguero, Messi, Higuain

Iran: Haghighi, Haji Safi, Hosseini,Sadeghi, Nekounam, Shojaei,Timotian, Montarezi, Ghoochannejad,Dejagah, Pooladi

Last meeting between Argentina & Iran ended 1-1 #BoLieve

[kingraf]

It's about to get ugly.

Odds on at least six for Argentina?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Germany are my dark horses

[Fernando]

It's about to get ugly.

Odds on at least six for Argentina?

6-0 = 40/1

[kingraf]

Iran aren't finishing with eleven men

[kingraf]

Worth a look, I'd say - which bookie is that?

[Fernando]

Moved up to 45/1 with betvictor

[kingraf]

Cheers - I'll have a look at mine, and put my free $100 bet on it.

[FootballLight]

Close to the 20 minute mark, Iran doing well enough, looking fairly comfortable at the moment. Only had a couple of half chances Argentina. Iran will take this so far, they will take this game in stages. Could they get tired, yes, that's when Argentina might just be able to win this game. But it will be no more than 2-0 today I feel.

[CFCNick]

Open tournament for me, another reason why England will be disappointed.

I've been most impressed with Germany thus far, admittedly after only one game. Chile and Colombia decent, but can they maintain it? France good, but have played two very poor teams, Group D has turned out to be average fare. Brazil and Argentina are a bit meh, presently. Holland inconsistent.

You were saying only a few days ago that you like the swiss team and think they will beat France and finish top of the group....

Switzerland hadn't lost a competitive game since October 2011. Hardly a poor side. They may be average but they aren't easy to beat and win a lot of their games.

[kingraf]

Yeah it's not going to be six

[FootballLight]

I did say, Iran will be no pushovers but I can see Argentina just winning the game by a couple of goals because Iran will tire.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

THIS IS SO DULL

[cherriesfna]

Reckon Iran could be this years New Zealand.

[socal1976]

I thought Iran would give up 3 goals at this stage. So far they are playing lights out, cmon Team Melli. Probably will give up goals in the second half but if they keep playing like this it could be famous point. Who cares about aesthetics, pack the bus. Argentina have space open on the wings but are trying to push it right up the middle, there best bet is to get wide and then pick out the cross. Iran just needs to stay organized and tight and pray for help.

[FootballLight]

I have told you all, from the first whistle to this point, Iran will be a tough side to break down. So far, they are proving my point and they are doing well. But they will still lose.

[socal1976]

Iran with the best chance so far a great counter and cross the goalie with a tough reaction save.

[kingraf]

Iran fighting back.

[kingraf]

That Mick jagger fella is plenty decent

[Guest]

Iran looking just as dangerous now.

[socal1976]

Iran with two pretty darn good chances in this half, cmon boys 15 more minutes

[Guest]

Considering how many obstacles they had to get through just to get to this WC, it's amazing how well they've done so far.

[Guest]

Socal, do you speak any Persian languages?

[socal1976]

Yes I speak farsi amigo

[socal1976]

In fact, I am in Iran right now

[Guest]

Cool, Rumi was a good friend of mine, but sadly he died, as they all do in the end.   

  

emancipator

[socal1976]

another great counter chance by Iran, with the Argies applying constant pressure as expected.

[kingraf]

Been a brilliant second half

[Lowlandbrit]

Boo.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

THERE HE IS!

[socal1976]

ouch, that hurt, but that is what messi is all about

[kingraf]

Touch of genius there. that's why Argentina are my dark horses. Even playing dog poorly, there are enough genius players to give them results they don't deserve

[socal1976]

oh well, proud of the boys. Could have a nicked a goal in the second half.

[socal1976]

Touch of genius there. that's why Argentina are my dark horses. Even playing dog poorly, there are enough genius players to give them results they don't deserve

How is argentina a dark horse?

[Guest]

Yeah they were always one of the favourites, still are.

[kingraf]

They are dark horses in the sense that while most expect them to go far, I don't think many, gun to head think they can go all the way

[socal1976]

I don't see how they are dark horses. After Germany and Brazil, probably 3rd favorite maybe second favorite despite not burning up in the early rounds so far.

[Dave.]

My dark horses are Chile and Colombia.

This is a great World Cup, so it is. Makes me want NI to make a major tournament again, and our Euro group is doable...

[Duty281]

There we go, a certainty.

This is very much like England in 2006, and Peter Crouch is..er...Messi.

[compelling and rich]

so far on this thread ive heard germany and argentina called dark horses?!!    

thats the second and third favorites for the tournament!!

think people need to reevaluate what they think dark horse means

[kingraf]

Okay let me ask like this - Who genuinely thinks Argentina are going to win the cup?

[Duty281]

Dark horse - a candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.

Not Argentina, or Germany for that matter.

[Lowlandbrit]

so far on this thread ive heard germany and argentina called dark horses?!!    

thats the second and third favorites for the tournament!!

think people need to reevaluate what they think dark horse means

Everyone's clearly been blinded by what massive, obvious favourites Brazil and England were...  

[Dolphin Ziggler]

so far on this thread ive heard germany and argentina called dark horses?!!    

thats the second and third favorites for the tournament!!

think people need to reevaluate what they think dark horse means

Didnt get my sarcasm there lad?

[socal1976]

I think Argentina are clearly among the top 3 favorites to win it KR, it is a stretch calling them a dark horse. Chile, Colombia, even France could be a dark horse. But the Argies in south America are not a dark horse.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Okay let me ask like this - Who genuinely thinks Argentina are going to win the cup?

They are now third favourites. I expect at the very least they'll make the semis. I get your point but dark horse isnt the right term

[Guest]

fact it, they got switzerland prob in the last 16, then the average belgium prob in the quarters, then either chile or brazil isnt it. not a tough route to the semi.

[kingraf]

So if Brazil and Germany don't win, Argentina, in your opinion definitely will?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

So if Brazil and Germany don't win, Argentina, in your opinion definitely will?

No one will definitely win it. But the money is weighted on Argentina just behind the other two. Considering how much money that must be, they are not dark horses. I'm being charitable even discussing it, there is no way they count as a dark horse.

[kingraf]

Kevin Prince Boateng - 14 caps, six of which have come at a world cup... It grates me to no end when African players pick and choose their availability.

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