2014 World Cup

[IronRain]

Well that was unexpected.. Nice game

 

[dgatsoulis]

Beautiful game, the Netherlands were a pleasure to watch. I won't shed too many tears for Spain though, at least not until I see how they do on their next match.

 

[MattBaker]

First knockout round: Brazil vs Spain. It's happening!:thumbup:

 

[sorindafabico]

First knockout round: Brazil vs Spain. It's happening!:thumbup:

Brazil vs Chile. :thumbup:


The chilean crowd is being awesome, looks like a Libertadores Cup match, and it's already 2-0. Go Chile!

 

[Codz]

Looks like it's gonna be a long day for Australia.

 

[thor36]

I never doubted Chilean supremacy for this game, but I sure did expect more effort from Kangaroos. Right now it looks more like Netherlands and Chile to me.
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Oh well, better late than never =)) Chile fell asleep too quickly

 

[Codz]

Beautiful header from Australia!

---------- Post added 06-14-14 at 04:00 PM ---------- Previous post was 06-13-14 at 10:37 PM ----------

Greece vs Colombia is about to start.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Spain's loss can be easily explained by the failure of Barcelona's tiki-taka over the past two years against other teams with various tactics now used to break the short pass rhythm (look at how Barcelona got thrashed by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last year or the failure of Bayern Munich against Real Madrid this year to see why), yet the national team somehow still plays this using an older team against an under-rated Netherlands side. Add in unexpected defense blunders and you got 1:5. That could spell real trouble if the last-time-champions don't try other ways of playing. :dry:

About today - I have to give up about England, which time after time falls under expectations in the World Cup and European Championships, and even more so with a shakey back four and the strikers in poor shape (Rooney :facepalm. Italy (and Uruguay later) should be able to beat them - for today Italy should win by 2:1.
Also my favorite Asian team Japan is playing too - here's hoping that their well-done set plays can do well against the quite OK Ivory Coast side. :ninja:

 

[Fabri91]

...Italy (and Uruguay later) should be able to beat them - for today Italy should win by 2:1.
...

We'll see about that in half an hour!

---------- Post added 15-06-14 at 00:36 ---------- Previous post was 14-06-14 at 23:36 ----------

A promising start, 1:0 for Italy!

---------- Post added at 00:37 ---------- Previous post was at 00:36 ----------

I should learn to shut up. 1:1

 

[tl8]

I never doubted Chilean supremacy for this game, but I sure did expect more effort from Kangaroos. Right now it looks more like Netherlands and Chile to me.
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Oh well, better late than never =)) Chile fell asleep too quickly

Here in Australia, no one seriously expects a win, yet alone moving past the group stage. In fact that we got a goal means we will have done OK. (Good is to draw a game and Great is to win one).

 

[MattBaker]

for today Italy should win by 2:1.

Alright, where's your time machine? I want that time machine.

Seriously, Spain, Uruguay, England. This feels like Vince McMahon made a World Cup and wants every favorite to lose their first match...

 

[MaverickSawyer]

There's a small faction of footballers at the Home Depot store I work at, including a husband-wife team I am friends with. They actually went so far as to set the break room TV to the local Univision station and then hid the remote.

Best part? No one's complaining. It's a damn sight better than the usual junk on the TV. You should have heard the break room when Costa Rica got that goal off that header...

"What the? WHY DID THE GOALIE JUST STAND THERE!!!!"
"GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!"
"What'd I miss?????" (From someone just coming into the room)
"NICE!"

I have high hopes that this will help spur interest in the local club. They've already started on their first stadium, and their games are all sold out. Sacramento is very much a football (and baseball) town, and has missed having a team, even if the last one was an indoor soccer team.

 

[Codz]

You mean the USL team, Sacramento FC?

 

[MaverickSawyer]

You mean the USL team, Sacramento FC?

That's them!

 

[Codz]

That's them!

Yeah, they put up a good effort against San Jose earlier this week in the US Open Cup. I'm also rather excited that Atlanta will finally be joining MLS soon. It's great to see the sport finally growing in popularity in the US.

 

[sorindafabico]

The first eight matches saw 3.5 goals/match. The first eight matches in 2010 had 1.6 goals/match.

Good job, goalscorers!

 

[MattBaker]

If that average would stay at 3.5 it would be the highest since the 50's.

 

[Codz]

Defense? What's defense?

 

[thor36]

What a game by Costa Rica Well maybe I should say what a poor performance by Uruguay rather, but Costa Ricans had a lot of courage too to capitalize on this big time. Good thing I gave up on sports betting in high school I quite expected Italy to win though, but I wouldn't mind owning that time machine of Galactic Penguin !

 

[jedidia]

Oh dear, Bosnia vs. Argentina coming up. If Bosnia should win due to some inconceivable circumstances, there's no way my kids will be able to sleep through the night... :shifty:

Even the most normal, frustrated, unpatriotic, unpracticing Muslims (chill, it's an ethnical term over here) are hanging the rather provocative combination of the bosnian flag, the turkish flag and the bosniac lilac from their balconies.
There's been burnings of bosnian flags after croatia lost to brazil. Just goes to show that the people here are really on edge, and the only way they know how to release frustration is political antagonism. Things could get hot here during this championship. In the unlikely event that both croatia and bosnia go into the next round and meet each other, there will be deaths. I'm not kidding.