FIFA 2014 World Cup - Official Discussion Thread

[Keystone Phil]

The horrible ref from Italy vs. Uruguay has been chosen for Brazil vs. Germany. The fix is in.

Lief might end up regretting all of those jokes about how Suarez didn't deserve punishment...

[King]

The horrible ref from Italy vs. Uruguay has been chosen for Brazil vs. Germany. The fix is in.

Lief might end up regretting all of those jokes about how Suarez didn't deserve punishment...

Well, if he likes Uruguay, odds are he hates Brazil.

[Keystone Phil]

The horrible ref from Italy vs. Uruguay has been chosen for Brazil vs. Germany. The fix is in.

Lief might end up regretting all of those jokes about how Suarez didn't deserve punishment...

Well, if he likes Uruguay, odds are he hates Brazil.

The point is that he can be easily influenced to make horrible calls. I wonder who that will favor...

[Lief 🗽]

The German team will be ready to dive, simulate, cynically foul, and cheat if they need to do. Fire must be fought with fire. The ends justify the means. Brazil must not be allowed to steal this tournament.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Obviously the ideal is a Germany-Argentina final. The other two dirty bastard teams must not be allowed a chance at the trophy.

[Tender Branson]

A good omen for the SA teams:

In WC history, no European team has ever won against a South American team on South American soil.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

A good omen for the SA teams:

In WC history, no European team has ever won against a South American team on South American soil.

Netherlands-Chile? Switzerland-Ecuador?

[Tender Branson]

A good omen for the SA teams:

In WC history, no European team has ever won against a South American team on South American soil.

Netherlands-Chile? Switzerland-Ecuador?

I have read it again: The statistic is only for the knockout-stage.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

A good omen for the SA teams:

In WC history, no European team has ever won against a South American team on South American soil.

Netherlands-Chile? Switzerland-Ecuador?

I have read it again: The statistic is only for the knockout-stage.

Not very impressive when considered that there was (the final and third place match apart) no knockout phase in 1978, only semi finals and the final in 1930 and none at all in 1950. Which leaves only this year and 1962 (where 6 UEFA teams made the quarterfinals).

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Ah, a classic football statistic then. Meaningless, but oft quoted by those who wish to be seen as very wise. Mind you, football doesn't really lend it self well to stat nerding: it is not cricket.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Ah, a classic football statistic then. Meaningless, but oft quoted by those who wish to be seen as very wise. Mind you, football doesn't really lend it self well to stat nerding: it is not cricket.

The classic one of this genre is 'no European country has won the world cup in South America/The Americas' (until 2010, it was 'outside Europe'). With this is true, it's really only been true by chance at this stage.

[minionofmidas]

Anyone aware of any precedents for this type of pre-penalty goalkeeper substitution?

Yes. Been done a couple of times in the German cup over the last five years.

Most memorably here. That's the only time he touched the ball in that game, poor sod.

[minionofmidas]

RIP Alfredo di Stefano

One of the greatest players ever to never disgrace himself by taking part in a FIFA World Cup.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

RIP Alfredo di Stefano

One of the greatest players ever to never disgrace himself by taking part in a FIFA World Cup.

IIRC he was part of the Spanish squad in 1962 but never played due to injury.

Anyway RIP.

[minionofmidas]

You're right. Meh. I was just looking for a nicer-sounding reason for putting this here than "didn't want to start a new thread" and remembered having read that tidbit somewhere someplace.

[Keystone Phil]

He also played for three different national sides.

[Lief 🗽]

RIP Alfredo di Stefano

One of the greatest players ever to never disgrace himself by taking part in a FIFA World Cup.

He merely disgraced himself by playing for Franco's Real Madrid.

[Keystone Phil]

Germany's first match after the World Cup? A September Friendly against Argentina. You just know they're going to meet in the Final now.

[minionofmidas]

Le sigh... the Franquistas' club was Atletico. And still is. (It gets slightly more complex because, obviously - obviously if you're a rightwing Castilian - the club beloved by Castilian varmint Reds is still preferable to those traitorous Basques and Catalans.)

[Tender Branson]

LOL, the Kronen Zeitung had to censor itself after one of its columnists used Nazi-style wording in his column today:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

"I belive in German football, I love it. Its strength and passion. Its rearing-up in seemingly hopeless situations. Its flashes of genius. Its black-red-gold unity. Its German chivalry in 11 players. Therefore: Today the Brazilians and tomorrow the whole Football-World. With an Endspielsieg in Rio."

http://derstandard.at/2000002793426/Jeannee-hofft-auf-deutschen-Endspielsieg

"Endspielsieg" is of course a modified version of the Nazi "Endsieg" ...

[Tender Branson]

 

LINE-UP:

Neuer, Höwedes, Hummels, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Özil, Klose, Müller, Lahm (c), Kroos, Boateng

...

 

LINE-UP:

Julio Cesar, David Luiz (c), Fernandinho, Marcelo, Hulk, Fred, Oscar, Dante, Luiz Gustavo, Bernard, Maicon

https://twitter.com/FifaWorldCup

[bore]

Hopefully Klose scores.

[minionofmidas]

Hopefully Klose scores.

This is kind of weird, but I'm guessing Klose will not score today, will not score in a potential final, but will score in a third place match provided he gets enough playing time.

[minionofmidas]

Wow, Bernard is tiny.

[King]

Germany better not sit on this. Brazil has an equalizer in them.