FIFA 2014 World Cup - Official Discussion Thread

[Lief 🗽]

A World Cup this year? The last was recent, wasn't it?

Between three and five years ago, yeah.

[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.

[Franzl]

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.

Perhaps it's a moderate exaggeration, but things really aren't looking great for us at the moment. As said, though, mediocre German teams often go further than good ones. Think of 2002...

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

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.

[Hamster]

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.

[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.

[Tender Branson]

Austria vs. Iceland friendly test game tonight @ home in Innsbruck.

I think we'll win this one 3-0.

[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.

[Phony Moderate]

I'm going to a bash on the day of the England vs. Italy game and apparently it'll be shown there. Probably a good thing, since I'll need a few to sit through that.

[afleitch]

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

[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.

[bore]

There's actually been a disappointing lack of "ENGERLAND ARE GOING TO WIN END 48 YEARS OF HURT!1!!!!!" - the press seem to have finally realised that they're not that good.

[Lief 🗽]

There's actually been a disappointing lack of "ENGERLAND ARE GOING TO WIN END $* YEARS OF HURT!1!!!!!" - the press seem to have finally realised that they're not that good.

Ironically, the English squad is much better this year than they were in 2010.

[afleitch]

There's actually been a disappointing lack of "ENGERLAND ARE GOING TO WIN END $* YEARS OF HURT!1!!!!!" - the press seem to have finally realised that they're not that good.

Ironically, the English squad is much better this year than they were in 2010.

2010 was hilarious. I just think Italy have re-hit form and I expect Uruguay to make it into the next round at England's expense.

[Phony Moderate]

ENGLAND CAN WIN AND IF ENGLAND WINS WE CAN RESTART THE EMPIRE.

[BaconBacon96]

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

[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.

[Gustaf]

I'd say England has a worse squad than either Italy or Uruguay. It'd be silly to say they can't progress, it should be close, but I'd predict them 3rd right now.

I'm curious about the idea that they are better compared to 4 years ago. Just glancing now I'm not sure I buy that. Goalkeeper-wise, sure.  But then?

They lost both Cole and Terry in defence. Johnson and Cahill are the only English defenders from top teams this season.

In midfield I feel Lampard and Gerrard are past their prime even if they are experienced. The rest is pretty young and apart from Wilshere not too impressive.

In offence Rooney also feels less strong now compared to 4 years ago. Sturridge I could see putting above Crouch or Defoe.

Still, overall I feel the team had what it took in theory in 2010. This year I have a much harder time seeing them prevail, honestly.

[Keystone Phil]

Rossi not called for the World Cup. So sad.

[Keystone Phil]

Falcao left out of the Colombian squad.

[Gustaf]

Sucks for Colombia. Lol that Klose is Germany's only official forward. Hope he gets the record this time.

[Lief 🗽]

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

[minionofmidas]

Sucks for Colombia. Lol that Klose is Germany's only official forward. Hope he gets the record this time.

He probably won't be playing much, either.

Yeah, "last 16" is a silly prediction. Portugal and Ghana are much easier to be eliminated by than anybody in the Belgian group, and Germany have never lost a last 16 match. Group stage or quarter final it will be.

[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).

[Tender Branson]

Not related, but Austria beat the Czech Republic yesterday abroad with 2-1.

There's some hope for us that we could finally end up at an EURO again, with the way we are playing right now.

Austria is now unbeaten since the last 5 games (beat the US, Czech Republic and Faroer Islands and tied Uruguay and Iceland recently).

The next stop is Sweden on Sept. 8, when the EURO 2016 qualifiers start.