World Cup 2014 thread

[FRED HALE SR.]

And Brazil will still win. That looks like more then enough firepower on paper. Germany and Spain look as good on paper, but home pitch advantage is gonna put them over the top.

[Cuthbert]

I don't know. It should do and most likely will but there's not really anything that wows me with this Brazil team.

They don't really have many stand out players like the legendary Brazil teams of the past, compare to the 90's/early 2000's. Neymar is an obvious one but he is nowhere near world class yet.

Fair enough it doesn't matter as long as you're a good 'team', but I've seen them play quite a few times over the last 2/3 years, including against England (we have actually beat them) and I haven't been all that impressed, they just don't seem like a typical Brazilian team. There isn't much flair, they aren't particularly quick and Neymar aside there aren't really any players who get you out of your seat.

As said they will probably go on and win it now and make me look a dick but that's my take on it.

[FRED HALE SR.]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

I don't know. It should do and most likely will but there's not really anything that wows me with this Brazil team.

They don't really have many stand out players like the legendary Brazil teams of the past, compare to the 90's/early 2000's. Neymar is an obvious one but he is nowhere near world class yet.

Fair enough it doesn't matter as long as you're a good 'team', but I've seen them play quite a few times over the last 2/3 years, including against England (we have actually beat them) and I haven't been all that impressed, they just don't seem like a typical Brazilian team. There isn't much flair, they aren't particularly quick and Neymar aside there aren't really any players who get you out of your seat.

As said they will probably go on and win it now and make me look a dick but that's my take on it.

This World Cup has the most parity of any i've seen. I could easily see any of about ten teams winning it all if they get hot. I like Fred and Hulk alot also. I wouldn't call them world beaters, but together along with Neymar they're rather formidable. Its about capturing alot of chemistry in a very short time, and being the home team certainly makes you play alot looser it seems. Can't wait for it to start, Champions League has been underwhelming.

[Goofle]

Argentina.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

This World Cup has the most parity of any i've seen. I could easily see any of about ten teams winning it all if they get hot. I like Fred and Hulk alot also. I wouldn't call them world beaters, but together along with Neymar they're rather formidable. Its about capturing alot of chemistry in a very short time, and being the home team certainly makes you play alot looser it seems. Can't wait for it to start, Champions League has been underwhelming.

Fully agree with that last sentence. It's been shite this year.

Originally Posted by Goofle11

Argentina.

Hopefully in a final vs Brazil after beating Portugal in the semis.

[FRED HALE SR.]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

Fully agree with that last sentence. It's been shite this year.



Hopefully in a final vs Brazil after beating Portugal in the semis.

Would be nice to finally see Messi bust out with a great tournament. I'm sure teams are gonna box him with three players and make his life miserable, so its gonna take some help from his teammates. I still have little faith in them going beyond the Quarters.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

Would be nice to finally see Messi bust out with a great tournament. I'm sure teams are gonna box him with three players and make his life miserable, so its gonna take some help from his teammates. I still have little faith in them going beyond the Quarters.

Well if they do that there'll just be a load of space for Aguero, Higuain, Di Maria & co to wreak havoc.

Fuck it, we're gonna win the World Cup anyway.

#Deluded

[Cuthbert]

Germany:

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund).

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Max Meyer (Schalke), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim).

Very young squad again. A bit weak in terms of strikers but that midfield is terrifying.

[Cuthbert]

BBC Sport - World Cup 2014: Rooney is ready to make mark, says Giggs

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is ready to make a big impact at this summer's World Cup, according to interim manager Ryan Giggs.

Rooney has endured a succession of tournament failures since bursting onto the international scene at Euro 2004.

However, Giggs feels the England man can enjoy more success in Brazil.

Maybe this World Cup will be his breakthrough World Cup .

BBC News - Brazil World Cup: Worker killed in electrical accident

Another death.

A worker has been killed after being electrocuted at a World Cup stadium in Brazil, officials say.

The 32-year-old man died in an accident at the new Arena Pantanal in the western city of Cuiaba where he was installing communications equipment.

It is the first fatality at the Cuiaba stadium, but eight workers have now died in accidents during the building of Brazil's 12 World Cup arenas.

Brazil's preparations have been marred by accidents and missed deadlines.

The Arena Pantanal is one of several stadiums still to be finished with just weeks to go before the World Cup begins, reports the BBC's Wyre Davies in Rio de Janeiro.

Thousands of seats are still to be installed and other vital work has to be completed, our correspondent says.

We are 34 days away ffs .

BBC News - The all-time World Cup finals league table

All time World Cup league table. We are 6th, Scotland 28th, Ireland 32nd, Northern Ireland 36th and Wales 53rd.

[Cuthbert]

Spain:

GK. Casillas, Reina, De Gea

Defenders: Azpilicueta, Pique, Ramos, Alba, Moreno, Martinez, Albiol, Juanfran, Albiol, Carvajal.

Midfielders: Busquets, Alonso, Koke, Iturraspe, Xavi, Thiago, Pedro, Navas, Silva, Fabregas, Mata, Cazorla, Iniesta

Forwards: Costa, Villa, Torres, Negredo, Llorente.

I am surprised Isco and Illarramendi didn't even make the provisional 30 man squad. No Jese either.

Belgium:

Goalkeepers: Courtois, Mignolet, Casteels/Proto.

Defenders: Alderweireld, Vanden Borre, Ciman, Kompany, Van Buyten, Vermaelen, Lombaerts, Vertonghen

Midfielders: Witsel, Defour, Fellaini, Dembélé, Chadli, De Bruyne.

Forwards: Lukaku, Origi, Hazard, Mertens, Mirallas, Januzaj.

Standby players: Nainggolan, Pocognoli, Hazard, Gillet, Batshuayi, Van Damme.

Januzaj in. Deserved.

BBC Sport - World Cup 2014: England exclusion upsets Jermain Defoe

Striker Jermain Defoe says he is "devastated" not to be part of England's World Cup squad.

The 31-year-old, who moved from Tottenham to MLS side Toronto FC in February, has played 55 times for his country and scored 19 goals.

"It's hard to find words to describe the feeling," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"In life you can't expect anything, but I felt I had a good chance of going because I've been involved in most of the squads. I feel devastated."

Shouldn't have went to America.