World Cup 2014 Thread

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by nornironhorn, Oct 16, 2013.

  1. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    So all the qualifying is over now.

    France, Greece, Portugal and Croatia join the European teams
    Algeria and Ghana are the last Africans to qualify
    (Uruguay and Mexico are pretty much qualified)

    South America:
    Brazil (hosts)
    Argentina
    Colombia
    Chile
    Ecuador
    Uruguay

    Europe:
    Italy
    Netherlands
    Belgium
    Switzerland
    Germany
    Russia
    Bosnia
    England
    Spain
    France
    Croatia
    Greece
    Portugal

    Africa
    Ivory Coast
    Nigeria
    Algeria
    Ghana
    Cameroon

    Asia
    Australia
    Iran
    Japan
    South Korea

    North, Central America and Caribbean:
    Costa Rica
    United States
    Honduras
    Mexico

    I think this has to be the toughest WC ever, not many 'crap' teams like Slovenia/N Korea/New Zealand/Trinidad and Tobago/Togo/Angola etc

    Worst teams are probably: Costa Rica, Ecuador and Iran

    Apart from the 3 mentioned above, could realistically see any other team in the semi final (except most of the africans, but still think they're better than the teams above)
     
  2. Daft Row

    Daft Row Reservist

    New Zealand were the only unbeaten team at the last World Cup I'll have you know. #tinpotnation
     
  3. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    True but dont think they're any good these days (although I am basing that on one result as I dont follow them much)
     
  4. PhilippineOrn

    PhilippineOrn First Team

    Why do I honestly believe people in Ecuador are saying...

    Worst teams are probably: Costa Rica, England and Iran
     
  5. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Ecuador are not a poor team by any means. Given the feebleness of the England attack yesterday against a much shuffled German defence and how Ecuador scored two and should have easily scored another leads me to believe they have far more flair and skill in an attacking sense.

    Australia, Cameroon would be a good draw for any team along with Algeria as all three are pretty fallible. Watched highlights of Argentina against Bosnia and despite several absentees Argentina controlled and should have scored more aside from Dzeko's early effort so I would not rate them too highly either.

    However it truly is to use the colloquialism one of the most stacked World Cups ever given the sides that have qualified. No fairy tales for Burkina Faso or Iceland unfortunately.
     
  6. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    We were discussing the possibility of Belgium being a real threat at next year's fiesta but the way Japan have performed in recent friendlies admirably led by Keisuke Honda and the way their men and women play the game leads me to the conclusion they should also not be discounted.

    Their performance in the Confederations Cup where they for the most part outplayed Italy also lends weight to this argument as does the increasing number of young Japanese players entering European academies.

    Their third goal against Belgium was excellent as is the excitable nature of the Japanese commentators:

    [video=youtube;BSEZ1AjJLfk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSEZ1AjJLfk[/video]
     
  7. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Yet more clouds hanging over the way things are being handled in Brazil with yet more deaths in the construction of the future Corinthians stadium:

    http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...d-to-worries-over-2014-world-cup-8968198.html

    Not to mention growing public protests at the allocation of public finances to the construction of stadiums whose costs have been spiralling upwards from their original estimates. There have been continual warnings (fan could enlighten us) that the protest movement that has been gathering pace since the Confederations Cup will try and do their level best to disrupt the World Cup. It is great to see the general public stick two fingers up at the politicians and bureaucrats who see such tournaments as their own pet projects, desirous of trying to leave their name in the history books while squandering the public purse. It's the sort of action that we should see more of in years to come hopefully as politicians across the world realize they are there to serve us , not the other way around. They are absolutely correct when they ask how the whole thing is going to benefit them. The fact is it won't as we saw in South Africa.

    I also fail to see the point of building stadiums in places like Manaus aside from trying to buy votes with short lived construction jobs, though most of the workers are not locals and to massage the ego of the local state governor. The local side barely attracts a following so after the WC is over more than likely the stadium will be a white elephant. The same with Brasilia.

    Not to mention the fact that such developments as with others in Amazonia merely encourage more ribbon development and destruction of what is an already greatly threatened world resource. FIFA said they were looking to make football a more socially and ethically and environmentally friendly sport given the role the sport has across the world in various communities and as a force for social cohesion. All talk and precious little action.

    The 46,000 planned Arena da Amazônia as envisaged and as it currently is behind schedule:


    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  8. Daft Row

    Daft Row Reservist

    Your not wrong mate haha.
     
  9. fan

    fan slow toaster

    i completely agree with the bits about manaus and the general wonderment of sticking it to the man and his white elephants, but the protest movement has really lost momentum (as far as i can ascertain in any case). my prediction is that the protests will be contained and shepherded by the authorities so as to hide them from gringo consumption.

    to draw a comparison to my time in vancouver during the winter olympics and london during the summer (proper) olympics, people now are very sceptical about the costs and tourism benefits. but history tells me when the people show up and the party starts, the majority of the population will just get on with it.
     
  10. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    The draw is coming up on Friday afternoon. Easy to follow as always:

    Errr right. Better get my abacus dusted off.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25206040
     
  11. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    So long as there isn't any singing or dancing.......;)
     
  12. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Knowing our luck we'll be moved and get the harder draw.

    Mind you could mean the players know they have to perform from the off rather than think it will be a walk-over (ie Algeria..)
     
  13. Diamond

    Diamond First Team

    Why is anyone concerned about the draw? You could put England into any group and they'll still not get anywhere near the semi finals.
     
  14. ForzaWatford

    ForzaWatford Squad Player

    This will be my last student football tournament. I'm going to celebrate by watching every match possible. Will they be on in the evening or early morning?
     
  15. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Think it will be 7pm 9pm and 11pm. Hooray.......;)

    Adidas have also released the match ball they will be using for the finals. The Brazuca. If you want one it apparently retails for just £98 each. Christmas present ? Pehaps not.

    Apparently this one has been tested out already and met with approval. Having watched Sweden versus Argentina it did run true and with plenty of dip, curl and flight dependent on how the ball was hit.


    [​IMG]

    Full article on the ball from The Guardian:
    http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/03/brazuca-2014-brazil-world-cup-ball-adidas
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2013
  16. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Few scare mongering stories coming out as usual.
     
  17. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    Can't wait for the draw tomorrow and we aren't even represented!

    Got a feeling this will be one of the best World Cups ever (cant be worse than SA)
     
  18. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

  19. nascot

    nascot First Team

    On the whole it was dreadful wasn't it? Awful atmospheres, dull games, teams scared to lose, a football that behaved like a beach ball and final remembered for shameful tactics of the Dutch.
     
  20. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    1990 was the worst I have watched. All the teams in it were pretty dreadful. It was a real nadir in World Cup history just four years after the fun in Mexico. Fingers crossed Brazil will be praised for more open football and it may well be given the paucity of top class defenders worldwide these days.

    Some of the Adidas liveries for the competing teams. As usual Nike will be trying to beat them and vice versa. I like the Argentina kit although they have had to dispense with their black shorts. Likewise with the Germans. This is down to FIFA's new rules. Completely pointless and a waste of time. Russia's kit has a small logo commemorating Yura's journey into space. Why ? I have no idea. They also have a scarlet red kit as opposed to the carmine affair in the picture.

    All the Adidas kit's have the usual climacool and wicking and are said to be much lighter than previous kits.

    Argentina:​

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG][​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Germany:​

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG][​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Russia:

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG]




     
  21. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    Only really seen 3: 2002, 2006, 2010

    2002 was by far the best to watch I think (still watch my highlights dvd of it!) and reckon its bound to be up there with the best ever? 2006 wasnt bad either

    But yea, 2010...

    Started so well, SA v Mexico was a great match and the place went crazy when Tshabalala scored but it was shocking from there on in
     
  22. nascot

    nascot First Team

    The only thing that spoilt 2002 was the time difference. 2006 was a decent tournament, I spent nearly 3 weeks there taking in as many games as possible.
     
  23. TheDon

    TheDon First Team

    Considering I work in the biggest sports pub in my area I can't help but slightly dread the World Cup.

    Just kidding, I can't ****ing wait!
     
  24. simms

    simms vBookie

    You'll be sacked long before that for shagging a barmaid on the pool table after closing!
     
  25. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Not if you do first. Lolz. #lad
     
  26. TheDon

    TheDon First Team

    this reply literally makes no sense.
     
  27. J.B

    J.B First Team

    As a fan of football nothing comes close to the World Cup for me.

    The last one was pretty dreadful but since watching the Confederations Cup in the summer I'm convinced this will be the best World Cup in my lifetime.
     
  28. I predict we get drawn into a group of death, lose all our matches, the media has a fit, and Hodgson gets sacked
     
  29. Diamond

    Diamond First Team

    or Hodgson has a fit and the media get sacked.
     
  30. simms

    simms vBookie

    I forgot to mention you were caught.
     
  31. fan

    fan slow toaster

    I'm looking forward to this. The football, the chance to make a **** load of money renting out my spare room, giving tours to fifa bigwigs, travelling the coast. Dahle brasil!
     
  32. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh gimeeeeee group E

    Swiss
    Ecuador
    Costa Rica
    England

    pleaaaaaase
     
  33. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    Oh fu*k sake
     
  34. Fernandiiito

    Fernandiiito First Year Pro

  35. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Well that's that done with then. First game at 2am BST in the middle of the amazon.
     

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