The FIFA World Cup 2014 Thread

[Brownie80]

A bit of World Cup trivia for you:
Seven World Cups have been hosted in the Americas. Meaning North and South America. In every single one of those cups, the victor has been a South American team. Just some food for thought.

 

[Eleuthera]

So, we have two days off now. What are you going to do with your evenings, afternoons, middle of the nights now?

I'm Going to try and get back to a normal day/night rhythm, staying up till 1 AM when I have to get up at 6:30 isn't really all that much fun.

 

[GundamSentinel]

Tim Howard just nearly gave us all a nervous breakdown in Belgium while following that stuff on the big screen. Dang man, Howard, Howard, Howard again.

Respect!

Amen to that, the American goal was a shooting gallery in the second half, with the Red Devils playing some of the best football I've seen this WC. If they play like that in their next match, it'll be Argentina getting their asses kicked.

Let's face it, Argentina has been playing pretty badly this tournament. One good player does not a team make.

 

[Reynaert]

Amen to that, the American goal was a shooting gallery in the second half, with the Red Devils playing some of the best football I've seen this WC. If they play like that in their next match, it'll be Argentina getting their asses kicked.

Let's face it, Argentina has been playing pretty badly this tournament. One good player does not a team make.

I don't know about Argentina vs. Belgium. Even with all that good football Belgium still needed the extended time to score and only one by the smallest goal difference. They aren't very efficient in front of the goal so far.

 

[Aedes]

Man, this days without matches sure are boring...

Anyway, last games show something quite intersting: There's no easy game. It looked to me that everyone had a hard time to achieve the quarters. Guess we can only hope for more drama on the games to come.

captcha: seize the day.
And seize it I shall!!!

 

[Frankster]

And down goes France, Germans really are an efficient bunch and played solid.

Was expecting more goals from the game but was still quite thrilling.

Also in other news, Howard's become a bit of a meme with his l33t goal keeping prowess.
I remember the british commentators before the game judging the american team as being very well drilled and organized but lacking a "star/world class" player, but after that performance Howards name is going down in world cup history.

Catchpra: oh yes

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I'm watching Brazil-Colombia right now and I just realized how boring the World Cup's latter matches get. It always play out more or less the same way - everybody has a fun time watching a few underdog teams make it past the group phase but the same Fantastic Four always make it to the semi-finals. Germany beat France, obviously, and now Brazil is going to beat Colombia, obviously, just as the Netherlands are going to beat Costa Rica, obviously. Still hesitant about Argentina-Belgium.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

This is seriously the best World Cup ever. So closely fought throughout.

Let's face it, Argentina has been playing pretty badly this tournament. One good player does not a team make.

Which is a shame, because Messi has been fantastic. If the rest of them could back him up they be my clear favourites.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

This is seriously the best World Cup ever. So closely fought throughout.

Let's face it, Argentina has been playing pretty badly this tournament. One good player does not a team make.

Which is a shame, because Messi has been fantastic. If the rest of them could back him up they be my clear favourites.

Messi displayed an unusual sense of teamwork with that goal against Switzerland last Tuesday. I hope he builds on that. The general feeling is that he's a great player with Spain's Barcelona, but has no real connection with our national team.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

Messi displayed an unusual sense of teamwork with that goal against Switzerland last Tuesday. I hope he builds on that. The general feeling is that he's a great player with Spain's Barcelona, but has no real connection with our national team.

I read somewhere that they have almost attempted to reshape the team in the style of FC Barcelona to give him more chances.

OT: Wow, Neymar and Silva out for the next game. Brazil are hanging by a thread now.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Messi displayed an unusual sense of teamwork with that goal against Switzerland last Tuesday. I hope he builds on that. The general feeling is that he's a great player with Spain's Barcelona, but has no real connection with our national team.

I read somewhere that they have almost attempted to reshape the team in the style of FC Barcelona to give him more chances.

OT: Wow, Neymar and Silva out for the next game. Brazil are hanging by a thread now.

I know Neymar is probably out because of the spinal fracture but what happened with Silva?

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

Messi displayed an unusual sense of teamwork with that goal against Switzerland last Tuesday. I hope he builds on that. The general feeling is that he's a great player with Spain's Barcelona, but has no real connection with our national team.

I read somewhere that they have almost attempted to reshape the team in the style of FC Barcelona to give him more chances.

OT: Wow, Neymar and Silva out for the next game. Brazil are hanging by a thread now.

I know Neymar is probably out because of the spinal fracture but what happened with Silva?

He got carded again for a stupid foul on Columbia's keeper. It was a really idiotic challenge.

 

[Two-A]

Messi displayed an unusual sense of teamwork with that goal against Switzerland last Tuesday. I hope he builds on that. The general feeling is that he's a great player with Spain's Barcelona, but has no real connection with our national team.

I read somewhere that they have almost attempted to reshape the team in the style of FC Barcelona to give him more chances.

OT: Wow, Neymar and Silva out for the next game. Brazil are hanging by a thread now.

It'll be a miracle if they make it to the final.

I do hope Neymar has a speedy recovery, that challenge was horrible.

 

[Fdzzaigl]

So, we (Belgium) lost to Argentina. They deserved to win because they clearly dominated the duels.

However, I hated the way it happened. After the first half they absolutely destroyed any will to make a match happen and simply focused on slowing everything down by crawling around the field for no reason and slogging the ball back and forth.

Still, great flashes by some of their players when they got the ball and too much openings and bad passes on Belgium's side!

 

[Brownie80]

For the Argentinian native who I won't mention...
[small]*coughjohnnycough*[/small]
it's the first time Argentina got to the SF in 24 years.
It seems you've been having a great couple of weeks.

Spoiler

Now I have to hope the Jamaican bobsleigh team wins agains The Netherlands. Oh wait did I say that, oh I meant the Costa Rican Men's National Team, yes that's what I meant to say. #JamaicanBobsleighTeam

 

[Two-A]

So, we (Belgium) lost to Argentina. They deserved to win because they clearly dominated the duels.

However, I hated the way it happened. After the first half they absolutely destroyed any will to make a match happen and simply focused on slowing everything down by crawling around the field for no reason and slogging the ball back and forth.

Still, great flashes by some of their players when they got the ball and too much openings and bad passes on Belgium's side!

Di Maria's injury pretty much forced that playstyle. Argentina doesn't have too many attaking midfielders.

 

[Andy Shandy]

As someone who's a fan of gifs, this World Cup has been fantastic

I keep on thinking he's going to fall over each time XD

 

[Eamar]

Oh come on Holland, I want to go to bed! God damn it...

EDIT: Well, that was too close for comfort, but fair play to both sides. My hopes for a Netherlands - Germany final remain intact

 

[Aedes]

And there we have it, the final four.
Brazil will take on Germany and Argentina will face Holland (or Netherlands), only the big guys remains.

As much as I would like to see Brazil go through, I think Germany might be one step too high without our 2 most important players, Neymar and Tiago Silva. I can only hope this shock of reality brings the best of our players even though I find that to be incredibly unlikely.

For the other game, I think Argentina played well but not totally convinced me there. But then again, so did Holland. Don't think one is stronger than the other but I did see some improvement on Argentina compared to their other games so if I had to bet, I would choose Messi and co..

4 games left.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Van Gaal is a mad genius, seen plenty of players brought on to take penalties but I think this is the first time someone's brought on a sub to save them. Van Persie missed a few sitters and was constantly offside, Robben ran at everyone without delivering an end product (though he did keep getting fouled to be fair), they held plenty of possession without penetrating their defence for long stretches of the game, they've scraped through in the end but they did it nonetheless. Roll on the Netherlands. I'm thinking Brazil Vs Holland for the final and the Dutch to play the heart breakers, finally getting the trophy that's been a long time coming after three finals without a win.