The 2014 World Cup chat thread

[LukaMotion]

U put portugal and not Italy. Italy always handle themselves well in a tournament

Also Uruguay have been very bad recently

Yeah it's all personal opinion, not saying Italy won't have a good tournament, I just don't see them winning it. All the others I could see doing it, Portugal and Uruguay if only for Ronaldo and Suarez/Cavani.

 

[Coyboy]

Aren’t Portugal and Uruguay both a bit of a one man team though?

I can’t see past Brazil or Germany, though I think Chile and Colombia could do well.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Argies or Germany I reckon.

Cant wait, having a world cup themed party on the first Friday (13th), so excited lol

 

[thinktank]

My dark horse: Chile

 

[Nine while nine]

My dark horse: Chile

Bizarrely, that was also the tip I got from my local Eastern European meat supplier.

 

[Dinpomp]

Still flabbergasted that Pletikosa used to be a part of our team...

And I think he was 4th choice as well.

He's a good goalkeeper. Proved it again this season. Didn't take his very limited chances at Spurs, but overall he is very solid and reliable.

 

[Partizan]

I'll be keeping an eye on the Swiss in this WC. They have an interesting mix of youth and experience, they have a wily old fox managing them who's done/seen it all (Hitzfeld) and a decent looking group in which they'll back their chances of progressing (France, Ecuador, Honduras). The main reason for my interest though is that some of their young players (Schar, Rodriguez, Xhaka, Drmic) have gathered praise for good/standout seasons which I've seen very little of. So I want to see if they can shine in the WC.

Possible XI:

Benaglio

Lichtsteiner V.Bergen Schar Rodriguez

Behrami Inler

Shaqiri Xhaka Stocker

Drmic​

- Reliable GK
- Schar is an up and coming CB that several here have been impressed with. Djourou had a torrid season at Hamburg so I'd be shocked if he started, Senderos has barely played this season (he's pretty shit anyway) and Von Bergen seems to be the preferred choice by Hitzfeld anyways
- Offensive fullbacks, key players for their respective clubs. Both have produced impressive stats this season. Lichtsteiner (Juve) 2 goals, 8 assists. Rodriguez (Wolfsburg) 5 goals, 9 assists.
- Two experienced CMs in the middle (who also play together at Napoli). Dzemaili also plays with them and would be good enough to start anyways
- 3 young, attacking midfielders. Special emphasis on Shaqiri who is the brightest talent, but Stocker has been an important player for Basel aswell and the more experienced of the 3. Xhaka had a better second season at Gladbach, but still has a lot of room for improvement, and Hitzfeld seems to have faith in him. If it doesn't work out, he could always bring in Barnetta from the bench
- Drmic was the 3rd highest goal scorer in the bundesliga, which earned him a move to Bayer Leverkusen next season. For a while Hitzfeld has given Seferovic the responsability of leading the line, but doesn't seem to have impressed much, and has barely featured all season for Sociedad. Maybe he'll give Drmic the reigns to shine in the WC?

The team seems like a bit of unknown entity for a lot of people (you won't hear them mentioned much) but I think they're capable of playing attractive football this time round (they've had a reputation in past tournaments for being quite dull and defensive) and if they could manage to finish first in their group, they would in turn avoid Argentina and actually have a chance of reaching the last 8

 

[yankspurs]

Player A: Quit life for 4 months last year and goes to Cambodia. Comes back, does okay for club and kills it against shit carribean teams for country. Shit this year for club and country. Makes stupid comment about training. Was the best player the country has ever had

Player B: Absurdly high potential. Future of national team. Plays at one of the best clubs in the world. Lights it up for their reserve team. 1 first team appearance and probably would have made more if he hadn't separated his shoulder in national team debut.

Who do you take to Brazil?

I take B.

 

[carpediem991]

I'll be keeping an eye on the Swiss in this WC. They have an interesting mix of youth and experience, they have a wily old fox managing them who's done/seen it all (Hitzfeld) and a decent looking group in which they'll back their chances of progressing (France, Ecuador, Honduras). The main reason for my interest though is that some of their young players (Schar, Rodriguez, Xhaka, Drmic) have gathered praise for good/standout seasons which I've seen very little of. So I want to see if they can shine in the WC.

Possible XI:

Benaglio

Lichtsteiner V.Bergen Schar Rodriguez

Behrami Inler

Shaqiri Xhaka Stocker

Drmic​

- Reliable GK
- Schar is an up and coming CB that several here have been impressed with. Djourou had a torrid season at Hamburg so I'd be shocked if he started, Senderos has barely played this season (he's pretty shit anyway) and Von Bergen seems to be the preferred choice by Hitzfeld anyways
- Offensive fullbacks, key players for their respective clubs. Both have produced impressive stats this season. Lichtsteiner (Juve) 2 goals, 8 assists. Rodriguez (Wolfsburg) 5 goals, 9 assists.
- Two experienced CMs in the middle (who also play together at Napoli). Dzemaili also plays with them and would be good enough to start anyways
- 3 young, attacking midfielders. Special emphasis on Shaqiri who is the brightest talent, but Stocker has been an important player for Basel aswell and the more experienced of the 3. Xhaka had a better second season at Gladbach, but still has a lot of room for improvement, and Hitzfeld seems to have faith in him. If it doesn't work out, he could always bring in Barnetta from the bench
- Drmic was the 3rd highest goal scorer in the bundesliga, which earned him a move to Bayer Leverkusen next season. For a while Hitzfeld has given Seferovic the responsability of leading the line, but doesn't seem to have impressed much, and has barely featured all season for Sociedad. Maybe he'll give Drmic the reigns to shine in the WC?

The team seems like a bit of unknown entity for a lot of people (you won't hear them mentioned much) but I think they're capable of playing attractive football this time round (they've had a reputation in past tournaments for being quite dull and defensive) and if they could manage to finish first in their group, they would in turn avoid Argentina and actually have a chance of reaching the last 8

One of the real underdogs. Every "expert" is going for Belgium as surprise team but all should know about Belgium now, Switzerland is able to win their group and make it to the quarterfinals in the best case. Lovely team.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Player A: Quit life for 4 months last year and goes to Cambodia. Comes back, does okay for club and kills it against shit carribean teams for country. Shit this year for club and country. Makes stupid comment about training. Was the best player the country has ever had

Player B: Absurdly high potential. Future of national team. Plays at one of the best clubs in the world. Lights it up for their reserve team. 1 first team appearance and probably would have made more if he hadn't separated his shoulder in national team debut.

Who do you take to Brazil?

I take B.

Every day of the week, and twice on Sundays.

 

[carpediem991]

my favourite table:

Brasil
Spain
Germany
France
Italy
Argentina
Belgium
Uruguay
Chile
Colombia
Netherlands
Croatia
Cote d'ivoire
Switzerland
Russia
England
Portugal
Japan
Mexico
USA
Nigeria
Algeria
Ghana
Bosnia i Crna Gora
Cameroon
Greece
Ecuador
Australia
Iran
South Korea
Costa Rica
Honduras

 

[yankspurs]

Every day of the week, and twice on Sundays.

Stoolie?

 

[cwy21]

This is the deepest I can remember a USA squad. Certainly a shame to have drawn the group they did.

 

[Shadydan]

Judging by the past couple of seasons I think that this could be 1 of the worst world cups ever. On 1 side we have the possession based tika taka etc which has been defeated recently by the initial high press, low block retreat tactics.

I think that these finals could be remembered more by what happens off the pitch (domestic politics) than what happens on it.

Can't be any worse than that monstrosity in South Africa.

 

[thinktank]

Chadli scores.

 

[nightgoat]

Can't be any worse than that monstrosity in South Africa.

Plus the games won't be played in the middle of a swarm of bees.

 

[tototoner]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27595622



Relive the best World Cup qualifying moments

 

[beats1]

There has been some more riots but this picture is amazing

There was protest from teachers union, students and native tribes in separate incidents. Police were shot with arrows whilst they fought back with tear gas.

I know its so sad, so sad, such sad sad situation but the sight of seeing native tribes clash fighting is an amazing sight.

 

[tototoner]

There will be a lot of riots during the world cup, let's just hope Brazil don't go out too early

 

[beats1]

There will be a lot of riots during the world cup, let's just hope Brazil don't go out too early

I was listening to a Brazilian journo and he said Brazilians don't really care about the footy as much as people think. However no doubt the country will support them when its starts but how much I think people may well be shocked

Though there has been some awesome graffiti aimed at the people upstairs