Rio de Janiero - 2014 Fifa World Cup Thread

[Nachos Jones]

First topic message reminder :

Pretty much the same as you Nachos but I'll come out of the cellar and pick Belgium over USA.

Belgium have not impressed me at all, lack cohesion. I think that under Klinsmann, the USA are tactically superior and will pick Belgium on a counter attack.

[mystiroakey]

C'mon the SUPER EAGLES, big W today.
 
Would like to see a big upset in the other game.
 
As for predictions
hmm, despite wanting Nigeria to win
 
France to win 2-1 in et
Germany 3 -Algeria 1.

ermm. I can not support a team that plagiarizes the best club team on the planets nickname.

no sir!

[westisbest]

Ha.

Was Moses ex Palace?

[socal1976]

What surprised me when it's been mentioned about all the great players who've either not been at the World Cup due to their team not qualifying (Bale, Ibrahimovic), injured prior (Reus, Falcao) or gone home early (Ronaldo) is that no-one has mentioned that the World Cup is lesser for the absence of the greatest central midfielder on the planet Aaron Ramsey.

Get over it. When Aaron is healthy there isn't a better CM in the world. The problem in his career has been his health. Watching Brazil, the Argies, France and the rest of the teams in this WC has only strengthened my belief that when Ramsey is healthy he is as good as any of them.

[hampo17]

Funniest thing I've read all day, thanks for that SoCal it cheered me up

[Duty281]

Good old Socal, saying "Argies" like a true Englishman.

[Duty281]

Funniest thing I've read all day, thanks for that SoCal it cheered me up

What about where he said Aaron Lennon was an England regular?

[mystiroakey]

Ha.

Was Moses ex Palace?

yep and we took him on from a young age and turned his life around(We (palace) got him in to Whitgift school on a scholarship- which is a hugely prominent private school that also has amazing sporting facilities- Surrey cricket play some matches there), and colin pates coaches the football team(ex arsernal player)-and its a seriously tough school to get kids in to. but I suppose its his choice that he picked Nigeria and not England- But in this case and knowing about the lad from when he was 10 years old i am kind of gutted he didn't hold out for England or stay on at palace.

[hampo17]

Funniest thing I've read all day, thanks for that SoCal it cheered me up

What about where he said Aaron Lennon was an England regular?

No this beats it Duty, not by much though. Ramsey is good, but he's not as good as Vidal, Pogba etc.

[mystiroakey]

Ramsey is great but world class for half of one season doesn't really make the lad the best player.. I am sure it was a bit of a tongue in cheek, big up Arsenal  comment!!

Real shame him and bale will never see a world cup though- I do agree with that sentiment.

[J.Benson II]

Funniest thing I've read all day, thanks for that SoCal it cheered me up

What about where he said Aaron Lennon was an England regular?

No this beats it Duty, not by much though. Ramsey is good, but he's not as good as Vidal, Pogba etc.

Vidal yeah but Pogba like Ramsey, still has a lot to prove.

[Guest]

Ramsey is great but world class for half of one season doesn't really make the lad the best player.. I am sure it was a bit of a tongue in cheek, big up Arsenal  comment!!

Real shame him and bale will never see a world cup though- I do agree with that sentiment.

I still weep over the fact that Ian Rush never went

[whocares]

Funniest thing I've read all day, thanks for that SoCal it cheered me up

What about where he said Aaron Lennon was an England regular?

No this beats it Duty, not by much though. Ramsey is good, but he's not as good as Vidal, Pogba etc.

Vidal yeah but Pogba like Ramsey, still has a lot to prove.

agree re Pogba, lacking experience and composure at key times.

speaking of which, he starts for France next:

Lloris (c), Debuchy, Evra, Varane, Koscielny, Cabaye, Matuidi, Pogba, Valbuena, Giroud, Benzema

Sakho injured that's the only reason why Koscileny is playing.

[Duty281]

Wide open game this, neither team comfortable in defence.

Where's the midfield of either team?

[whocares]

Phew...

[Duty281]

Ball in the net for Nigeria, but a marginal offside means no goal.

Can't believe there hasn't been a legitimate goal yet.

[compelling and rich]

france far too open here, suits the pace of Nigeria on the break. they'd be better off to slow it down and dominate possession, make them do all the running

also no idea why you would force benzema wide left just to get giroud central?!

[whocares]

Some very poor passing from both sides Duty.

Good save that!

[The Special Juan]

I can't see either African team upsetting the odds here. Whoever beats Germany wins the Cup, for me.

[Duty281]

Brilliant driving run and volley by Pogba. Wonderful save to deny him.

[mystiroakey]

This is going to be a brilliant game.. open as you like.

[Duty281]

Some very poor passing from both sides Duty.

Good save that!

 
Good to watch - frantic and end-to-end - but a severe lack of quality from both sides.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

If France just wise up a little bit they should take it

[whocares]

Pogba been allright but Giroud positionning has been awful.

[compelling and rich]

pogba much like he was in the reserves for us is very very raw, his game is all about physicality still. he's nowhere near as good as people make out yet, plenty of ability to become a great player but people talk like he's already one of the best cm in the world

he's gave the ball away more than barkley so far!

[westisbest]

Nigeria running the show here.

[Duty281]

Giroud has to be substituted at half-time.

[whocares]

He's been awful allright

[mystiroakey]

giroud cant create something out of nothing- but he can finish- we all know that.

pogba just needs 10% better on his final ball- very raw as others say- very english in many ways- big strong- slightly lacking in end product.

good player- but its got to be said- if people are laughing at ramsey being tagged as the best cm- you have to laugh harder about pogba at present!!

[socal1976]

Funniest thing I've read all day, thanks for that SoCal it cheered me up

What about where he said Aaron Lennon was an England regular?

No this beats it Duty, not by much though. Ramsey is good, but he's not as good as Vidal, Pogba etc.

I believe that if Ramsey was English and not Welsh, in regards to this irrational sheep shagging stereotype people would see his true quality. Like I said, and I stand by my comment Pogba is Poopie, Vidal is not nearly as handsome and when healthy I wouldn't take any of them over Aaron "game winning goal in the FA cup final" Ramsey.

[mystiroakey]

This is Tantric Football: constant buildup with no finishing.

[Guest]

He's been awful allright

Giroud at his best

[catchweight]

France look like England in disguise. Only with a worse front line.

[catchweight]

Pogba and Giroud would be at home in a white shirt giving the ball away every opportunity. Benzema out wide left is even worse than Rooney out wide. Is Deschamp looking for the England job?

[mystiroakey]

France look like England in disguise. Only with a worse front line.

white shirts- they should try and disguise themselves better

[whocares]

Matuidi lucky here...

[LastDamnation]

Should be a red

[mystiroakey]

Oh sod it- Got to go for the ex palace to win the game..

Come on  the EAGLES.

[westisbest]

C'mon that was a red card.

[GSC]

[Duty281]

Relief for France as Giroud departs.

[mystiroakey]

i think he should also apologize to uruguay and liverpool.

but at least he admitted what he did

[Duty281]

Oh what a glorious chance squandered.

[LastDamnation]

"suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision"

slightly ambiguous

[catchweight]

Amazing lack of quality for two teams that are past the group stages

[mystiroakey]

True no one has been good- I think Germany are really going to come out of this round with the best performance bar Colombia(yet they haven't faced anyone that great as of yet- uruguay without suarez is a nothing team)

[GSC]

Lets be real here.

He apologised because Barca demanded he did.

[mystiroakey]

Lets be real here.

He apologised because Barca demanded he did.

i just hope liverpool get the buy out clause or stick.

[socal1976]

If Ramsey was French they would be 2-0 up right now

[Dolphin Ziggler]

France have woken up

[Duty281]

Nigeria starting to crumble.

[Sponsored content]