FIFA 2014 World Cup - Official Discussion Thread

[Keystone Phil]

The 30 man provisional squads have been announced. Teams have to be narrowed down to 23 by some time in early June.

After a scare, Rossi made the cut for Italy. Now the drama will center around which forward won't make Prandelli's final selection. It's going to be a dramatic few weeks.

Other big news: Tevez didn't make the Argentina list and Nasri was left out of France's.

[Keystone Phil]

Blatter did "clarify" his remarks though.

[Keystone Phil]

Landon Donovan doesn't make the final cut for the U.S. team. And every idiotic Soccer bro's head explodes...

[Keystone Phil]

Welcome back to Lewis: here to see Germany fail. Again.

[Keystone Phil]

Welcome back to Lewis: here to see Germany fail. Again.

It would be hilarious to see Germany get third place a third consecutive time.

They will not. Brazil will take it.

[Keystone Phil]

IIRC Lewis is not really a big national team supporter anyway.

Also it's becoming pretty clear that Germany will struggle to qualify from the group. All the players are either injured, out of shape, or in mediocre form. And Löw is clueless as ever.

He isn't a huge fan of the national team but he's still a fan of the team (really, his point is that real fans of the game can't value the national team over their club) and the game.

Oh, and the German fans drastically playing down expectations here is too cute. Round of 16 the furthest they'll go? Please.

[Keystone Phil]

My inclination is that Portugal will top the group to force a Germany-Belgium match in the round of 16;

I hate agreeing with you but that's exactly what I predicted.

My inclination is that Portugal will top the group to force a Germany-Belgium match in the round of 16; beyond that I'd be silly to prognosticate just yet.

USA to place second in the group over Germany by a point. You heard it here first.

Just ban this guy already.

[Keystone Phil]

Italy vs. Ireland Friendly in London today. We'll probably lose or draw, as usual with these matches but it's decision day for Rossi. I'll probably never be this nervous for a Friendly again.

[Keystone Phil]

I have a feeling England might not make it out of the group stages this year.

Save the rhetoric for the campaign trail, Scot.

[Keystone Phil]

England have no hope in hell...just admit it already.

The Uruguayans are inconsistent. England definitely have a chance in progressing. I have them getting second.

[Keystone Phil]

Rossi not called for the World Cup. So sad.

[Keystone Phil]

Falcao left out of the Colombian squad.

[Keystone Phil]

FF: http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/story/1858950/giuseppe-rossis-grandfather-to-support-us-at-world-cup-after-italy-snub

This does nothing but hurt Giuseppe's case. It just makes him seem like his team picking was opportunism (even though it's his grandfather commenting. Pepito has obviously already said Forza Azzurri).

[Keystone Phil]

I predicted a 2-1 win in our Friendly against Luxembourg yesterday. It ended 1-1 after a late equalizer against Italy. Par for the course. Frustrating but a reminder:

Friendly against Haiti right before 2013 Confederations Cup: 2-2 draw

Friendly against Russia right before Euro 2012: 3-0 loss

Friendly against Ukraine and Switzerland right before World Cup 2006: 0-0 and 1-1 draws

[Keystone Phil]

Yeah Italy is generally slow to warm up. I still don't see them getting past the quarterfinals though.

Well get your eyes and brain checked.

[Keystone Phil]

Earlier today, the Cameroon team was on strike over wages and refusing to board the plane to Brazil. The situation has supposedly been resolved though.

[Keystone Phil]

Sticking with this. Yes, I still have Portugal in the Final. The semi-injured Cristiano will put the team on his back again but fail in the Final.


Group A

Brazil
Croatia

Group B

Spain
The Netherlands

Group C

Colombia
Ivory Coast

Group D

Italy
England

Group E

France
Switzerland

Group F

Argentina
Nigeria

Group G

Portugal
Germany

Group H

Belgium
Russia

Round of 16

Brazil vs. The Netherlands
Colombia vs. England
France vs. Nigeria
Portugal vs. Russia
Spain vs. Croatia
Italy vs. Ivory Coast
Argentina vs. Switzerland
Belgium vs. Germany

Quarter finals

Brazil vs. England
France vs. Portugal
Spain vs. Italy
Argentina vs. Germany

Semi finals

Brazil vs. Portugal
Italy vs. Argentina

Third place match

Brazil vs. Argentina

Final

Portugal vs. Italy

Italy score twelve goals total in the tournament.

[Keystone Phil]

That Brazil definitely isn't winning this tournament. Of course, teams can grow as time goes on but I'm feeling more confident in my prediction that they won't even get to the Final.

[Keystone Phil]

Bwahahahaha! Obliterated!

[Keystone Phil]

Buffon has a small ankle sprain. He might not start. This isn't real.

[Keystone Phil]

Buffon has a small ankle sprain. He might not start. This isn't real.

Isn't Sirigu your back up? He would walk into just about any other starting 11.

Yes but he's still not Gigi.

[Keystone Phil]

Buffon out.

[Keystone Phil]

What an annoying last minute goal! Cost me three points in the tipping competition...

Same here. A lot of us had 2-0.

[Keystone Phil]

Costa Rica leading! Two goals within minutes!

[Keystone Phil]

Stunner.