FIFA World Cup 2014

[theyoungest]

Van Ginkel is dynamic, box-to-box. Van Gaal likes that. But he's been injured for the better part of a year.

The point was that the midfield that Van Gaal will have to field in the coming matches isn't his first choice. I think we can all agree on that? The only one who would possibly, maybe have been in it is Sneijder, although he was hardly a certainty.

 

[The Hitch]

Sneijder was a missed robben 1 on 1 away from being world player of the year 4 years ago. Now he struggles to make the dutch team. How the mighty have fallen.

 

[l.Harm]

That's nonsense. No one expected anything from this team. Yes, now it has turned around quite a bit, but not as much as our dear Southern neighbours in Belgium.

Before the tournament ye, I'm talking about now.

But I think De Jong-Strootman would always have played. But still, I wouldn't mention this as an excuse. These players have proven they can handle the pressure and are performing much better than expected (Eredivisie players). It's already a huge surprise to me we made it to the quarters, but we really got a chance of winning this World Cup

 

[theyoungest]

Sneijder was a missed robben 1 on 1 away from being world player of the year 4 years ago. Now he struggles to make the dutch team. How the mighty have fallen.

Van Gaal more or less insulted him via the media to get off his lazy a.ss and get fit for the World Cup. To Sneijder's credit, he did.

 

[jaylew]

Results of an ESPN poll:

When will the United States win the FIFA World Cup?

In the next 10 years 14%
In the next 20 years - 31%
In the next 50 years - 24%
In more than 50 years - 8%
Never - 23%

Ridiculous? Reasonable? Of course this is assuming Americans even realize that the World Cup is every 4 years which is by no means a solid assumption.

 

[Sciocco]

Results of an ESPN poll:

When will the United States win the FIFA World Cup?

In the next 10 years 14%
In the next 20 years - 31%
In the next 50 years - 24%
In more than 50 years - 8%
Never - 23%

Ridiculous? Reasonable? Of course this is assuming Americans even realize that the World Cup is every 4 years which is by no means a solid assumption.

I would imagine it would take several generations of interest in soccer before America even starts sending its best athletes to association football instead of so many other sports. May never happen, might not need to happen either(some improvement though...). 10? 20? Pretty much nil. Within 50? With a hard push and some luck there's a slim chance. More than 50? Yea. Though are we taking for granted that the WC will last for centuries... Never know about the future.

 

[theyoungest]

Results of an ESPN poll:

When will the United States win the FIFA World Cup?

In the next 10 years 14%
In the next 20 years - 31%
In the next 50 years - 24%
In more than 50 years - 8%
Never - 23%

Ridiculous? Reasonable? Of course this is assuming Americans even realize that the World Cup is every 4 years which is by no means a solid assumption.

Klinsmann made a mediocre team (in terms of talent) play reasonably well, but they already punched above their weight. There are zero American players who would make the squad of any of the top teams, maybe apart from the keeper.

You need a bigger talent pool, and better coaching from a young age, to really be a contender. And that depends on soccer really taking off in the US.

 

[hrotha]

The USA regularly overachieves (relative to their raw talent), thanks to a certain je ne sais quoi that makes them never give up or be intimidated by their rivals. Sure they'll need more than that to become actual contenders, but in a country with the resources and manpower of the US, all it takes is for football to become a bit more popular for the talent pool to grow exponentially. I could see it happening, but it's not at all a given. It's already been 20 years since the US WC, and while American soccer has grown a lot since then, it would seem the big leap was made in the first ~10 years after that and things have been more steady since then.

 

[The Hitch]

Well the US could have won in 2002. They were by far the better team against Germany who they got totally screwjobbed against so should have been in the semis against South Korea who had played 2 extra time matches already.

Ok in the final against Brazil they wouldn't have been favourites but that was a weird world cup where lots of upsets were happening.

 

[ILovecycling]

The atmosphere is here,Im already nervous.Today great two matches (probably better than tmorrow) and I really dont know who will win them.
Im quite (ok,a LOT) fvcked that colombia plays brasil cuz both teams are my most favourite on this Cup

 

[The Hitch]

probably better than tmorrow

I don't think there's any doubt about it.

Most interesting games

1a France vs Germany
1b Brazil vs Colombia

3 Argentina vs Belgium










4 Netherlands vs Costa Rica.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

I don't think there's any doubt about it.

Most interesting games

1a France vs Germany
1b Brazil vs Colombia

3 Argentina vs Belgium










4 Netherlands vs Costa Rica.

What?
Hitch! How can the game with the standout favourite to win the Cup (Costa Rica) be the least interesting? I do think the dutch will give them a good fight.

 

[thirteen]

i predicted before it started that the Red Devils would get into the final round because my ****ing boyfriend scheduled us to be in the UK (even worse, we start up north a few days *after* the TDF is there, grrrrrrr!!!). murphy's law that they'll make it there when i'm not in Belgium to enjoy the atmosphere.

but i'd feel even worse if Les Bleus make it there (even if i'm hoping beyond hope that they do) because i would have hot-footed it to Paris, no questions asked, the atmosphere is always so electric… but, again, i can't because i'll be in the UK.

so put France and/or Belgium in the finals and imagine me in sulking and fuming in some glaswegian pub

that said, ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!!

 

[MBotero]

France vs Germany
France: Lloris - Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra - Cabaye, Matuidi - Valbuena, Pogba, Griezmann - Benzema

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

The Panzers will roll over France again,Klose to break the WC scoring record in this one.

 

[Flamin]

Way better line-up from Germany. Müller is a runner, not a striker.

 

[jens_attacks]

go germany. invade the blues

 

[thirteen]

i'm obviously outnumbered but, since i'm a female, i count for more

allez les bleus!!!

 

[ChewbaccaD]

3-0 Germany

 

[thirteen]

3-0 Germany

oh, pi$$ off!

(said with love)

 

[jaylew]

50% new world, 50% old world, same as last round.

Ok, so this would be my order of preference for the teams remaining:

Netherlands
France
Belgium/Colombia/Costa Rica
Brazil
Argentina
Germany

So, go France!

 

[Jagartrott]

The Panzers will roll over France again,Klose to break the WC scoring record in this one.

You're right about the Germans rolling over. Acting like divas when they feel a hand on their body. Allez les bleus!

 

[Arnout]

First majorly disappointing game of the tournament this.

 

[thirteen]

First majorly disappointing game of the tournament this.

no $hit! i could almost accept the outcome if it had been a decent game but, noooooo -- both teams are suck.

come on! i will root for any team that shows passion!

 

[Arnout]

no $hit! i could almost accept the outcome if it had been a decent game but, noooooo -- both teams are suck.

come on! i will root for any team that shows passion!

Yeah, France was unable and Germany unwilling. Lots of silly diving as well, not a fun watch.

 

[Sciocco]

Well, Colombia - Brasil surely won't be worse.