2014 FIFA World Cup - Discussion

[Phil89]

This will be the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup and the second that Brazil has hosted. The last time was in 1950, when Uruguay beat Brazil 2-1 in the final to spoil the party.

Predictions:

Winner:
Runner-Up:
Top Scorer:
Best Player:
Best Young Player (U21):
Best Goalkeeper:
Big name not getting out of the group stage:

Winner: Brazil - Hard to look past them at home. Huge pressure, but huge incentive
Runner-Up: Spain - Re-match of the 2013 confed cup with the same result
Top Scorer: Luis Suarez - If he is fit I can see him having a good tournament. 5 goals was the most in 2010
Best Player: Neymar - Player of the tournament at the confed cup and always plays well for Brazil
Best Young Player (U21): Paul Pogba - Will run France's midfield
Best Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas - Solid as a rock as Spain reach the final
Big name not getting out of the group stage: Italy - I think England and Uruguay get out of that group

[[Q]]

Predictions:

Winner:Brazil. Toss up with Spain, really
Runner-Up:Spain
Top Scorer:Ronaldo. Suarez will be up there
Best Player:Neymar. Depends if he's 100% but he will be home, otherwise I think Ronaldo belongs here
Best Goalkeeper:Casillas
Big name not getting out of the group stage:Italy. Totally agree with you on Italy. I don't tihnk people are giving England enough credit
I'm disappointed we got put into a group of death, but I also like Portugal so I'm hoping Germany doesn't get out of the group stage
and wtf the Nazi didn't pick Donovan

I will be rooting for/watching (in order)
USA
Portugal
Netherlands (tough group)
Brazil
Belgium

[Phil89]

Falcao missing out through injury is a huge loss for Colombia. They still have Jackson Martinez, James Rodriguez and Juan Quintero in attack though and being in probably the most open group of all helps them.


I'll obviously be following Australia. But because we are are in transition (aka terrible), I think I'll probably be supporting England to win it because a third of the team plays for Liverpool (with Lambert just signed and Lallana possibly on his way).

[stereoxide]

Predictions:

Winner:I like Spain to win it so Spain it is.
Runner-Up:Brazil or maybe Germany.
Top Scorer:Torres (lol), I think it will be Suarez or Ronaldo.
Best Player:I want Suarez to win this one.
Best Young Player (U21):Lukaku
Best Goalkeeper:Iker Casillas
Big name not getting out of the group stage:England I think. Italy might just squeeze out of the group though.

[shadowgrin]

Most of the scorers I want to watch in the tournament are out with injuries or not in full health

Radamel Falcao (Colombia) is out as mentioned, one of two players I was hoping to see wreck defenses.
Luis Suarez (Uruguay) came back from surgery and won't be in full health during the group stage, the other player that I was also anticipating to see that would go into beast mode if healthy.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) is still bothered from the injury he had during the season, had to sit out a tune-up friendly.
Neymar (Brazil) also came back late in the season from an injury and might not be in full health yet.
Stephan El Sharaawy (Italy) didn't make the cut, was injured and out most of the season came back later but his conditioning wasn't enough for him to be included in the team.
Even the keeper I was anticipating to see in action is still injured even though he's with the team, Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Predictions: Gonna go with the group stages first...
A: Brazil, Mexico
B: Spain, Netherlands
C: Colombia, Japan
D: Italy, England (really wanted to put Uruguay but I seriously doubt if Suarez would even be in game shape if he recovers on time)
E: France, Switzerland
F: Argentina, Nigeria
G: Germany, USA
H: Belgium, Russia


Winner: Germany (homer pick)
Runner-Up: Brazil Italy
Top Scorer: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium); if healthy - Luis Suarez
Best Player: Neymar or Lionel Messi (Argentina), there I said it.
Best Young Player (U21): Marco Verratti (Italy) Julian Draxler (Germany) or Raheem Sterling (England)
Best Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy); if healthy - Manuel Neuer
Big name not getting out of the group stage: Portugal

[[Q]]

Uruguay was a tough choice esp if Suarez isn't 100%, but I still picked them to advance anyways.
Man, I was also really looking forward to watching Falcao
I had Ivory Coast instead of Japan

There's this ESPN bracket predictor thing to see my picks

[benji]

Winner: United States
Runner-Up: Ivory Coast
Top Scorer: Aron Johannsson
Best Player: Yaya Toure
Best Young Player (U21): Andre Drummond
Best Goalkeeper: Dominic Hasek
Big name not getting out of the group stage: Cameroon

[Phil89]

Now Franck Ribery and Marco Reus are out of the World Cup with injury. Unlucky.

[NovU]

LoL at benji's pick.

I bought the game for PS3. I will probably run a simulation and I will go with that result.

[shadowgrin]

Now Franck Ribery and Marco Reus are out of the World Cup with injury. Unlucky.

There goes France's chances.

Germany has loads of midfielders in their current squad, Reus will probably be replaced by another midfielder lol.

[Phil89]

Now Franck Ribery and Marco Reus are out of the World Cup with injury. Unlucky.

There goes France's chances.

Germany has loads of midfielders in their current squad, Reus will probably be replaced by another midfielder lol.

I'm hoping no Ribery means that Antoine Griezmann will get more game time. He had a good season at Real Sociedad (20 goals/5 assists) and is supposedly wanted by PSG and the top teams in England. Probably the future of France alongside Pogba.

Reus is a great player, but you're right. I'm sure Germany will cope with his loss with either Schurrle, Muller, Draxler, Kroos or Gotze.

[Fresh8]

I would pick Brazil to win it against Argentina in the final..... most interesting prediction for me though is....

Big name not getting out of the group stage: Spain - I am picking Chile and Netherlands to get out of the group. Australia is going to break Spain's heart with an upset win in their last group match.

[PavleSRB]

I would pick Brazil to win it against Argentina in the final..... most interesting prediction for me though is....

Big name not getting out of the group stage: Spain - I am picking Chile and Netherlands to get out of the group. Australia is going to break Spain's heart with an upset win in their last group match.

Like against Serbia in 2010. :/

[Stress Fracture]

[bigh0rt]

Winner: Brasil
Runner-Up: Argentina
Top Scorer: Neymar
Best Player: Aguero
Best Young Player (U21): Pogba
Best Goalkeeper: Tim Howard
Big name not getting out of the group stage: Portugal (God willing), or England.

[formx]

Predictions:

Winner: Brazil
Runner-Up: Spain or Argentina
Top Scorer: Suarez if he fit enough
Best Player: Neymar
Best Young Player (U21): Januzaj (Man United bias)
Best Goalkeeper: Julio Cesar (Would've went with Casillas but shitty MLS needs some love. )
Big name not getting out of the group stage: England if Suarez is healthy

Just gonna throw this one in as well but
Worst Player: Fellaini (Again Man United bias)

[shadowgrin]

lol...

...just noticed that my winner and runner-up prediction are only possible if Germany or Brazil end up 2nd in their respective group stage, which is stupid for me, in that case I'm going with Italy as runner-up because Argentina who probably has the most easiest path to the semis will choke against Italy...

Worst Player: Olivier Giroud (France)
If only he spends more time making shots on goal the same way he spends time with his hair Arsenal wouldn't need another striker.

[Phil89]

17 hours until to until the Brazil vs Croatia opening game. I've just realised that the group matches are played at between 2am-8am my time. Guess I'll be watching a lot of them on delay.

At least Australia's games are on at 8am and 2am. So I can just wake up early or stay up late, rather than staying up most of the night.

Worst Player: Martín Demichelis

[formx]

Actually scratch Fellaini as worst player got a new one.

Worst player: Alexandre Song

[Phil89]

Random thought I had today: What if Yugoslavia hadn't broken up? Imagine their football team.

Not a bad 23 man squad for a World Cup

Goalkeepers
Samir Handanovic (Inter)
Asmir Begovic (Stoke)

Defenders
Dario Srna (Shakhtar)
Neven Subotic (Dortmund)
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)
Dejan Lovren (Southampton)
Nemanja Vidic (Inter)
Matija Nastasic (Man City)
Aleksandr Kolarov (Man City)

Midfielders
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla)
Miralem Pjanic (Roma)
Mateo Kovacic (Inter)
Dusan Tadic (Twente)
Lazar Markovic (Benfica)
Adem Ljajic (Roma)
Zoran Tosic (CSKA Moscow)

Forwards
Mario Mandzukic (Bayern)
Edin Dzeko (Man City)
Goran Pandev (Napoli)
Stevan Jovetic (Man City)
Mirko Vucinic (Juventus)

[shadowgrin]

They won't be allowed to participate and lose every match by technicality because the squad doesn't have a third goalkeeper, violation of rules!

Yeah kind of a dumb rule for World Cup squad composition but eh it's FIFA.

[stereoxide]

Chelsea confirming Fabregas signing before the WC starts. Arsenal fans must be really pissed off.

[shadowgrin]

Not really, Arsenal days before reportedly didn't use its first option buy-back clause with Barcelona for Fabregas.
As talented as he is another (attacking) midfielder is the last thing Arsenal needs and could also slow down further development of Ramsey and Wilshere.

Arsenal had first option after his 2011 move from the Emirates to the Nou Camp but, when he decided to return to the Premier League, his old club were not interested.

“I do feel that I have unfinished business in the Premier League and now is the right time for me to return,” Fabregas said in a slightly provocative statement. “Yes, everyone knows that Arsenal had the first option to sign me. They decided not to take this option and therefore it wasn’t meant to be. I wish them well.”

Thank god that terrible opening ceremony is over.

[shadowgrin]

Brazil vs Croatia

Croatia scored the first goal of the 2014 World Cup, up 1-0.
Pathetic Brazil D there.
Time to see Brazil's offense go into turbo mode now to tie it up.

Neymar's going to get injured if he keeps doing those aerial kicks.

lol replay showing Croatia's goal was an own goal made by Brazil's Marcelo.

Neymar now reminds me of Dwyane Wade, flops on offense and plays dirty on defense.

Wade tying the game 1-1 with that long ground shot.

Now I remember why I stopped watching football then, damn divers.
If players dive they shouldn't act like they stepped on a landmine and lost a leg then get up like nothing happened.

Neymar with the penalty kick to give Brasil the 2-1 lead!

Oscar made it out of reach with a goal, 3-1.

Ho-hum match.


Bring on Spain vs Netherlands tomorrow.

[PepsiWithCoke]

2022 News:

https://twitter.com/ESPN_JorgeRamos/sta ... 5559742464

Apparently the loose translation is: FIFA has called the US regarding their hosting committee for the 2022 World Cup. It will not be held in Qatar.