The FIFA World Cup 2014 Thread

[Johnny Novgorod]

snip

It's like this:

The US has no football cred. To beat them is to be expected, to lose against them would be shameful.

England is a WC champ and has a good team. Losing to them carries no shame, winning against them is superb.

Italy is also a WC champ and has a very good team. Costa Rica is neither, so beating them is doubly celebrated.

Then there's your perception of football as "just football". To most, if not all, underdeveloped third world countries football is their only means of pride and self-worth, and big tournaments like the World Cup carry an enormous hype and prestige that transcends individual interest on the sport itself. For many of these countries it's also their one chance to go elbow to elbow with the first world elite and shine against it on some sort of layer. All of Latin America - this isn't an exaggeration - will pine for the sudaca underdog going against a country like England, Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands because of this, bar the usual neighborly conflict (like Argentina-Uruguay).

Winning the FIFA WC doesn't change anything most of the time, but it means a lot to these people.

 

[Commerford]

It's like this:

The US has no football cred. To beat them is to be expected, to lose against them would be shameful.

England is a WC champ and has a good team. Losing to them carries no shame, winning against them is superb.

Italy is also a WC champ and has a very good team. Costa Rica is neither, so beating them is doubly celebrated.

Then there's your perception of football as "just football". To most, if not all, underdeveloped third world countries football is their only means of pride and self-worth, and big tournaments like the World Cup carry an enormous hype and prestige that transcends individual interest on the sport itself. For many of these countries it's also their one chance to go elbow to elbow with the first world elite and shine against it on some sort of layer. All of Latin America - this isn't an exaggeration - will pine for the sudaca underdog going against a country like England, Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands because of this, bar the usual neighborly conflict (like Argentina-Uruguay).

Winning the FIFA WC doesn't change anything most of the time, but it means a lot to these people.

I'd say it can be more basic than that. I'm European, and if a European can't win it, I want an African team or the States to win it, and if they can't, I want an Asian team or Mexico to win it, and if they can't, I want the lowest ranked South American team to win it etc. etc. and if the final is Argentina v Brazil, then I just hope for a good game. Upsets are one of the biggest joys of international football for the neutral.

As for France and the Dutch being Europe's best hope. So far neither have played a South American team, so i'm not that hopeful. Maybe it is all down to home advantage, we need look no further than Euro 2004 to see its effect.

Edit: Apologies for accusing Honduras of being South American.

 

[Frankster]

snip

Mmm fair enough, I guess I can sorta understand it put it like that.

All right cheers for giving me a new perspective then

 

[Tiger King]

snip

It's like this:

The US has no football cred. To beat them is to be expected, to lose against them would be shameful.

England is a WC champ and has a good team. Losing to them carries no shame, winning against them is superb.

Italy is also a WC champ and has a very good team. Costa Rica is neither, so beating them is doubly celebrated.

Then there's your perception of football as "just football". To most, if not all, underdeveloped third world countries football is their only means of pride and self-worth, and big tournaments like the World Cup carry an enormous hype and prestige that transcends individual interest on the sport itself. For many of these countries it's also their one chance to go elbow to elbow with the first world elite and shine against it on some sort of layer. All of Latin America - this isn't an exaggeration - will pine for the sudaca underdog going against a country like England, Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands because of this, bar the usual neighborly conflict (like Argentina-Uruguay).

Winning the FIFA WC doesn't change anything most of the time, but it means a lot to these people.

hmmm dunno, I think you are giving England too much credit, England has won the world cup once way back in 1966. If I were to draw a comparison, Nottingham forest (no offence forest fans) won the European cup twice back in the 70's but that doesn't put them on par with say man united because of it. (Nottingham play in the division below the premier league)

I don't think England are a terrible team but I don't think they are good either. They certainly have good players but for some reason they don't really seem to 'click' when playing as a team.

 

[shootthebandit]

What do you guys think of Iran. I think they gave Argentina a run for their money and had a few good chances

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

What do you guys think of Iran. I think they gave Argentina a run for their money and had a few good chances

I think Argentina played horribly and Iran played even more horribly, though Iran (briefly) had better game around 2nd time. I think relying on Messi to play deus ex machina during additional time is a horrible strategy and won't get the team too far into the tournament. Round of 16 is already a mystery - we either play against Switzerland or Ecuador, and the way both teams have been playing I wouldn't mind giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Now that Argentina is heading to the round of 16 in the first place and Bosnia's out, it's between Nigeria and Iran to see which follows 2nd. I think Nigeria is way better, but the coming 2 matches will muddle things up. Argentina will most likely win against Nigeria, and Iran will most likely win against Bosnia, evening out both second place contenders to a statistical ballotage.

A part of me is now rooting for the US to win both matches against Germany and Portugal, and for Ghana to beat Portugal as well, so Germany is left out as well. The way the WC is going makes you feel like anything's possible at this point. But a planet alignment of that kind is just unlikely.

 

[Aedes]

A part of me is now rooting for the US to win both matches against Germany and Portugal, and for Ghana to beat Portugal as well, so Germany is left out as well. The way the WC is going makes you feel like anything's possible at this point. But a planet alignment of that kind is just unlikely.

Once in a blue moon, those alignment do happen. As I write, USA is winning and eliminating Portugal of the World Cup. I am honestly baffled. Portugal is playing like nothing but that's mostly because they rely on Cristiano way too much and he's ar from being what he once used to be.
USA is giving their bodies and soul to win this game. Guess I shouldn't be surprised after all.

This is turning out to be one hell of a World Cup.

--Edit--
Fuck Me! Portugal JUST got the equalizer. That was close to be another dramatic end to another european country. There's still some drama left on this group it seems.

 

[The Goat Tsar]

I know most people will be talking about that Portugal-USA game, but the game of the day for me was Algeria-South Korea. I had no idea Algeria had that performance in them. Extremely well played, especially that 4th goal. African teams are doing quite well at this World Cup, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Algeria all likely to move out of their groups. Ghana still has a chance as well, only Cameroon disappointed.

 

[viscomica]

A part of me is now rooting for the US to win both matches against Germany and Portugal, and for Ghana to beat Portugal as well, so Germany is left out as well. The way the WC is going makes you feel like anything's possible at this point. But a planet alignment of that kind is just unlikely.

Once in a blue moon, those alignment do happen. As I write, USA is winning and eliminating Portugal of the World Cup. I am honestly baffled. Portugal is playing like nothing but that's mostly because they rely on Cristiano way too much and he's ar from being what he once used to be.
USA is giving their bodies and soul to win this game. Guess I shouldn't be surprised after all.

This is turning out to be one hell of a World Cup.

--Edit--
Fuck Me! Portugal JUST got the equalizer. That was close to be another dramatic end to another european country. There's still some drama left on this group it seems.

Portugal's situation is still tricky, though. I don't count on them passing to the next round.

 

[Eleuthera]

So, the first two fixtures of the final 16 are set, Brazil-Chile and Netherlands-Mexico.

I think Chile will be able to give Brazil quite a run for it's money, the Ned-Mex game is a toss-up, we (Ned) just have not been playing very well this tournament so far (despite winning all 3 matches)

 

[GundamSentinel]

we (Ned) just have not been playing very well this tournament so far (despite winning all 3 matches)

I wouldn't say we haven't been playing well, but we certainly haven't been playing like a Dutch team. From proactive aggressive football the Netherlands has changed to efficient counter football, throwing up a wall on the own half, tiring the opposite team and relying on a couple of players (generally Robben and Van Persie) to jump into gaps and score.

Not very pretty, but it worked really well against Spain and Chile. The Netherlands got 3 goals against in the group phase and 2 of them were penalties that could be called dubious. De Jong has been doing great work especially, defending, countering and generally annoying the shit out of the opposite side.

 

[Andy Shandy]

So even with all the brilliant games so far, we're all in agreement the the Mexican manager, Miguel Herrara is the best thing to come out of this World Cup, right? =P

 

[GundamSentinel]

So even with all the brilliant games so far, we're all in agreement the the Mexican manager, Miguel Herrara is the best thing to come out of this World Cup, right? =P

-snip-

He was the best thing to come out of last World Cup as well. XD

 

[AnarchistFish]

Uruguay are such a horrible team.

I'm going to enjoy watching them getting slaughtered by Colombia.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Uruguay are such a horrible team.

I'm going to enjoy watching them getting slaughtered by Colombia.

I don't mind they booted Italy out of the cup at all though.

 

[AnarchistFish]

Uruguay are such a horrible team.

I'm going to enjoy watching them getting slaughtered by Colombia.

I don't mind they booted Italy out of the cup at all though.

That's the one good thing to take out of it.

 

[The Goat Tsar]

Damnit Suarez. Godin played a godlike game, prevented a bunch of goals and scored the only goal.

But what is everyone gonna talk about. Uruguay as a whole are the villains now because one guy one their team is an asshole. FIFA should ban Suarez and just let Uruguay play without them for the rest of the tournament, Forlan should be fine up top.

EDIT: And Costa Rica being awesome. Suarez takes the spotlight away from them as well. At least Italy is gone I guess.

 

[Uhura]

I was rooting for Uruguay, but yeah... they weren't playing that well. Imo, Buffon was the star of that game.
And then there was that 'incident'

I wonder what Fifa is going to do do with him (if anything).

 

[Chromatic Aberration]

Goodbye Italy! *cackles with Schadenfreude in the back*

...this world cup really starts to get surprising.

 

[shootthebandit]

I was rooting for Uruguay, but yeah... they weren't playing that well. Imo, Buffon was the star of that game.
And then there was that 'incident'

I wonder what Fifa is going to do do with him (if anything).

I think he's definitely out of the world cup and I would like to say he's ended his career. He's certainly missed out on a move from liverpool and I dont know if liverpool will want to keep a hold of him. Sure he's a fantastic player but he is unreliable and he makes hannibal lector look like vegan


Theres no excuse for what he done. Some violent conduct is partly justified (e.g two footed tackles and a bit of aggression when going for the ball) but biting is a different story. Its just malicious and uncalled for