Thread: World Cup 2014

Originally Posted by mike1011

Its the American name for what is known around the rest of the world as Football hehe

Was the USA in that thing, like, in 1950?

Do they have cheer leaders ??? I'll watch :<0)

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Do they have cheer leaders ??? I'll watch :<0)

Don't think so, but there must be something in the water over there, the players keep falling down all the time????

Originally Posted by Phrank

Don't think so, but there must be something in the water over there, the players keep falling down all the time????

Lol or seizures.

Is that the game of diving and embellishment ....and players look like they got shot...and then rise to their feet ??? I won't be watching .....

Originally Posted by Cobre

I just want the cup to stay in America (as in the continent), whether it's Brazil or Argentina which are the only teams in the continent that have a good chance.

Don't count out Uruguay. They can beat anyone on the day, as they say, and in the bitey racist Suarez (although to be fair I don't think he has been involved in either a biting or a racist incident for a whole year) they have an insanely in-form striker. I'm just not sure he's 100% healthy.

As for my predictions - bearing in mind that for all my obsession with the game, I am *horrible* at predicting anything - here we go:

IMHO, England don't have a snowball's chance in Hades. As is normal, the English press have gone completely over the top over a mediocre squad, building up massive expectation that is, as is traditional, built on an equally massive sense of entitlement that has been looming over them since 1966. They also tend to suffer when playing in heat and humidity and at altitude. They will be playing at altitude in humid heat.

Brazil and Argentina are both very strong, but that's stating the obvious. I'd watch out for Messi - he will be wanting to make up for a mediocre (by his incredibly high standards) season.

Germany would be my pick from the European sides. The Dutch can be great, but there's always the chance they will implode, and much the same could be said for Belgium. I do hope the Dutch will return to playing like the Dutch after the debacle of the last final. France seem to be getting their act together which is a little disappointing considering that we're unlikely to be treated to the same kind of hugely entertaining bust-up they treated us to in South Africa. I quite like France and they way they play, but that really was funny as hell.

Spain... do they have a plan B? Other countries have slowly been figuring out how to counter their possession/pressure tactics over the last few years, so if they aren't tactically flexible, I think Spanish fans might be disappointed. But if they are able to adjust their play, they could well repeat as champions.

With apologies to any fans of Portugal out there, in recent years they have proven to be the absolute worst in terms of diving cheaters. And in Ronaldo they have the unique combination of one of the best players in the world who also happens to be one of the most egregious offenders in the diving/cheating stakes. Drives me bonkers. Anyway, I don't know how they will do, but I hope it's not well.

Italy - who knows? I haven't watched much Italian footie recently so I'm kind of in the dark there...

My outside picks:

As mentioned above: Uruguay
And my bet to make the semis: Ghana

I'll be watching as much as I possibly can.
The Olymoics aside, this is as big as it gets!

My favorites to win it this year is one of the following four:
Germany and the Netherlands from Europe, both sides have strong players on all areas of the pitch.
Stellar coaches too.
Outsider from Europe would be Belgium.

From South America there's the big two.
Brazil and Argentina.
I think perhaps Brazil is the stronger side, but the God of football plays on the other team
I wish Messi success for Argentina.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

IMHO, England don't have a snowball's chance in Hades. As is normal, the English press have gone completely over the top over a mediocre squad, building up massive expectation that is, as is traditional, built on an equally massive sense of entitlement that has been looming over them since 1966. They also tend to suffer when playing in heat and humidity and at altitude. They will be playing at altitude in humid heat.

Meh, the press is the press they have to hype it up to sell papers. I think if you ask any Englishman in the street what they think our chances of winning are they would laugh Personally i think we would need a miracle akin to moses parting the red sea just to get out of the group stage !

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Germany would be my pick from the European sides. The Dutch can be great, but there's always the chance they will implode, and much the same could be said for Belgium.

Agree with most of your post apart from the comment about Belgium. I think they have a stronger squad than The Netherlands and are a good outside bet for at least a semi-final place.

Originally Posted by UKRob

Agree with most of your post apart from the comment about Belgium. I think they have a stronger squad than The Netherlands and are a good outside bet for at least a semi-final place.

Belgium have a ridiculous number of potentially world-class young players right now. I have no idea what they are doing right of if it's just a fluke, but if they can avoid their past tendency to develop factions, they could be a real force for years to come. I hope they do as it would be refreshing to see a smaller country challenge the big boys.