Rio de Janiero - 2014 Fifa World Cup Thread

[J.Benson II]

Maybe Toure just never saw Mexico's game against Cameroon or Bosnia's game against Nigeria?

[Nachos Jones]

Really looking forward to Saturday now, cant wait to see Holland v Costa Rica. It should be a cracking game but the one I feel to watch is Germany v France on Friday. That will certainly be a very competitive match.

[Guest]

Really looking forward to Saturday now, cant wait to see Holland v Costa Rica. It should be a cracking game but the one I feel to watch is Germany v France on Friday. That will certainly be a very competitive match.

Will the French allows the Germans to dominate on area of the French half (annex it if you will) or will they put up some for of resistance?

Just because England are out doesn't mean we should abandon the Red Tops' plethora of jingoists war-themed clichés!

[Stella]

I work for a German company, who's employees e-mail me saying (fingers crossed for a German victory) Yeah right! Actually, I'm not worried who wins, as long as it's a good game.
All four QF's look good.

[westisbest]

Gonna go with

France
Columbia
Holland
Belgium

[Stella]

Colombia
Holland
Germany
Argentina

[compelling and rich]

brazil
holland
germany
argentina

[Nachos Jones]

I am going for :
 
Brazil : Purely because they are certain to continue in getting the favourable decisions they have the whole tournament. Brazil 2-1 in extra time.
 
Nederlands : I would not be surprised to see Costa Rica win this though, Nederland will struggle but may just have enough to see them home. Nederland 3-2 in 90mins
 
Germany: Only because I feel the French will.... well, will be French and implode if things don't go their way immediately. Germany 1-0 in 90mins

Belgium : Argentina have not fired at all and I believe that Belgium may catch them on the hop, if their prowess in front of goal improves. Belgium 2-1 in extra time.

[compelling and rich]

lot of people going for columbia, while they have looked good so far they have barely played a decent team yet, in fact they havent played a decent team at all so far, brazil havent set the world alight but have played decent sides in chile, mexico and croatia, and managed to get what they need. expect brazil to go through in a very tight game (lets face it this brazil team isnt going to batter anybody)

[Duty281]

Colombia (After ET)
Netherlands
Germany
Belgium (On penalties)

[Nakatomi Plaza]

I think the four semi-finalists will be

Columbia - They play with a real freedom, and the pressure will be all on Brazil.
Netherlands - Will prove too strong for Costa Rica
France - To use a boxing term, France's style is all wrong for Germany. If they pick the correct frontline (Griezmann, Benzema, Valbuena), they'll have too much pace for the Germans.
Argentina - Think Messi will provide another piece of magic.

[Pal Joey]

Brazil - but would like to see Colombia win
Netherlands - think they have greater potential; just need to click
Germany - although have been v. impressed with France
Argentina - Messi will somehow find a way

[rapidringsroad]

My pick for the last four is the same as Nacho's. I do like France as well but as they are playing each other I had to pick one.The only one I would change is Argentia for Brazil.

[SecretFly]

The trick for all these remaining sides, if they can manage it, is to pass the ball to Messi.

Anyway, I had Netherlands/Holland/The Dutch (why so many names???) down from the start as my team to beat for the overall title.  No not my favourite team just my realistic selection based on their history, how they play, how bloody dogged they are etc.

I still think I'd have them down as the team to go all the way barring a shock loss to Costa Rica.  But unfortunately for the Dutch, that's kinda what I think will happen.  A shock.  Netherlands out.  The best 'could'a won' side in the competition out

Brazil will do enough but still not convince

Germany will have the computerised plans and minute engineering tolerances available to them to do their business

..and Argentina will pass the ball to Messi.  But will it be enough?  Another 'not so sure' from me about them.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Cannot stand the "Neymar" show. I'd love for Colombia to beat them even if they have to cheat. Nah i'm not bitter   

[Guest]

apparently german squad got flu. if true & in this heat, it would be curtains.

[SecretFly]

What about the Messi show?  The Robben show?  The Don't-I-Look-Great-For-My-Age Loew show?  

There's lots of 'shows' you can watch at this WC if you're so inclined.  There was even that lovely little cameo by some white, gesticulating shirt cuffs (which manager was that again?) that got great exposure for a while.

[Guest]

Loew is a walking commercial for "Just for Men (who can't keep their fingers away from their f*cking noses...you're on Worldwide TV lad, blow it BEFORE you come out of the dressing room FFS!!!)"

Don't mind it being the "Neymar" show (not that I think it is) I'm just glad that prancing preening performing peacock Ronaldo has gone. Would have much preferred to see Ibra upstaging everyone though!

[Nachos Jones]

The Neymar show I dislike is his play acting as if he has a serious injury simply to get other players carded, its disgusting. He and Robben both dive constantly and that sickens me as well but the weak attempts to get fellow professionals sent off is not on in my book. I would love to see Brazil go out just for that reason.

[Duty281]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2679152/BBC-receives-170-complaints-Mark-Lawrensons-sexist-commentary-World-Cup-match.html

Oh do shut up you eternally offended, politically correct, nancy lefties.

[GSC]

Logically speaking, Phil Nevilles commentary is more than twice as offensive as sexism.

Its 172 people anyway, who cares.

[CFCNick]

But, GSC. One complaint equals a billion people. So 172 billion people were offended by this.

[CFCNick]

Are they sure it's not Danny Murphy? He could pass for Lawro's son on voice and commentary style.

[Nachos Jones]

Its a throwaway comment, just like Linekar's joke. There is nothing wrong with either of them. This world has become far too PC for my liking.

[The Special Juan]

I agree with this one: "Another incident for which the BBC drew widespread flak was Jonathan Pierce's failure to understand the newly implemented goal-line technology during the France and Honduras game." Pearce was utterly abysmal.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

He has since explained why...its actually reasonably fair too

[Fernando]

Mclovin meets Mata,Cafu & Vieira < Im aware it's not football but it's still a good laugh

[Nakatomi Plaza]

I can't believe Mata man sausage-blocked McLovin!

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Gotta love the swear filter

[Fernando]

France: Lloris, Debuchy, Evra, Varane, Sakho, Cabaye, Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann, Matuidi, Pogba.


Germany: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Hummels, Howedes, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Muller, Kroos Ozil, Klose.

[whocares]

France starting XI: Lloris (c), Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra, Cabaye, Matuidi, Pogba, Valbuena, Griezmann, Benzema,.

Germany starting XI: Neuer, Lahm (c), Boateng, Howedes, Hummels, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Ozil, Muller, Klose.

Lahm moves down to the defence and Khedira takes his place in the midfield. Klose is bak which means Muller on the right will have a field day against Evra..

[Duty281]

Should be a tight, nervy and close game.

Both teams were poor against lesser opposition in the last sixteen, and just how bad is the German flu?

Regardless, I fancy Germany by a goal.

[kingraf]

fu.king Khedira starts again.

[The Special Juan]

fu.king Khedira starts again.

Odds on him scoring the winning goal in the final?

[kingraf]

Hummels has more world cup goals than Rooney!!

[mystiroakey]

who cares graf!

why is that allways brought up-

poor shrek- leave him be..

good game so far. This could be the first quality game all world cup.

[socal1976]

Was that the much maligned Ozil dropping the ball perfectly onto Hummels head? Great header for sure but the cross was pretty special.

[Kurt N. Jurqa]

Was that the much maligned Ozil dropping the ball perfectly onto Hummels head? Great header for sure but the cross was pretty special.

Wasn't it Kroos?

[socal1976]

I don't know, honestly didn't see who it was, that is why I am asking.

[mystiroakey]

It could have been given- but soft

[kingraf]

You can understand why Germany were forced to put Lahm back at fullback, but you look at the nothingness Khedira adds, and you can see why Jogi prefers Lahm in the middle.

[Duty281]

Was that the much maligned Ozil dropping the ball perfectly onto Hummels head? Great header for sure but the cross was pretty special.

Wasn't it Kroos?

It was Kroos, correct.

[kingraf]

Guys help me out here, I went through a period in 2009-2012 when I stopped watching English premiership, exactly when did Evra become an awful footballer?

[Hammersmith harrier]

I thought the angle of the delivery coming off a right foot was a bit of a give away.

[socal1976]

Mueller diving again

[socal1976]

France getting some joy down their left and on the german right. Neuer with a special save.

[The Special Juan]

Guys help me out here, I went through a period in 2009-2012 when I stopped watching English premiership, exactly when did Evra become an awful footballer?

Been terrible for as long as I can remember. I'd say it was the season after Utd broke the clean sheet record.

[kingraf]

Khedira can't even do cynical fouls right!

[mystiroakey]

Got to love the refs comb over - oh dear!!!

do a howard webb mate- shave it off

[Duty281]

Having Bobby Charlton do your hair is rife with difficulty.

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