FIFA 2014 World Cup - Official Discussion Thread

[Keystone Phil]

Yeah, I'm starting this now. So what? We're 129 days until the first match kicks off but look at it this way: we're only four months away from the biggest sporting event on the planet.    And we even have the official World Cup song already - http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/24/sport/football/world-cup-song-jennifer-lopez-football/

Use this thread to post/discuss news, rumors, analysis, predictions, etc. about the 2014 tournament. Feel free to throw in some banter, too. You know I certainly will. Also, since International Friendlies will be starting soon (cue to U.S. fans nitpicking about this in three, two...) and they're generally seen as a warm up for the Final tournament, feel free to discuss those international matches here as well.

Please keep all club related discussion to our club thread located on this board as well.

Also, for the real nerds like myself that know the Euro 2016 Qualifying Group Draw is coming up in a few weeks: I think limited discussion about that draw is fine here since it's an international competition but it really should be limited. This thread is really for the World Cup and news related to it.

Enjoy the games! It should be a great tournament!

[Keystone Phil]

The tournament runs from June 12-July 13th.

The Group Stage





The defending champions are Spain. The Netherlands were the runners up in 2010. Bosnia are the only debutants in the 2014 tournament.

Also, see here for further information about the tournament - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/

[Keystone Phil]

Since I wasn't here until fall 2010, I assume this is a separate thread from Lewis's tipping game?

Correct. Hugh has run that in the past as well. This is for discussing the tournament. We have always had separate discussion threads.

[Keystone Phil]

On behalf of all Cubans I apologize for his existence.

Ok now we just need you to apologize for yours and we'll be set.

[Keystone Phil]

Hugh has the trolling down early. Nice!

[Keystone Phil]

I posted my predictions in the qualifying thread but I guess they should go here, too. I'll post the bracket at some point but for now:

Italy over Portugal in the Final

[Keystone Phil]

I see Phil's getting his trolling on early.

Italy won't get to the semis, let alone the final. Portugal might fluke a run to the final, but against any of the teams that could get there they'd be toast.

Please get over your bitterness. "Italy is just horrific, obviously, in every way." That's based on nothing but your personal loathing. Without Googling right now, you couldn't give me more than a point of substance about the current squad. So just stop.

My Italy vs. Spain Euro 2012 Final prediction (made well before the tournament began) was "trolling," too, I guess and look who got to the Final.

I'm glad we agree on one thing: against any team in the Final, Portugal are toast. Congrats on the fifth star, Italia.

[Keystone Phil]

The draw is at noon in France/6 AM here. Being a true fan and nerd, I'll be following it. Use this thread to temporarily discuss the group draw for the qualifying round.

[Keystone Phil]

Hoping Italy and Austria are in the same group.

[Keystone Phil]

Remember: with an expanded tournament, the top two teams of each group and the best ranked third place team qualify directly. The remaining third placed teams go to the playoff.

Austria has a real chance of being there in 2016. In fact, I'd be kind of surprised if a smaller team like Austria didn't make it.

[Keystone Phil]

Italy and Malta. Good for travel.

[Keystone Phil]

Italy and Malta. Good for travel.

...and then we get Azerbaijan.

[Keystone Phil]

That Group B might be one of the biggest jokes ever. Ever.

[Keystone Phil]

No bad for Tender!

[Keystone Phil]

Belgium just qualified for Euro 2016.

[Keystone Phil]

And we round out our group with our perennial pain in the ass: Croatia.

[Keystone Phil]

Group F is an even bigger joke than B, IMO.

Also, LOL Serbia and Albania in the same group.

Oh, yeah. Wow. Huge opportunity for Romania and Hungary to finally return to the Euros. Maybe even Northern Ireland.

[Keystone Phil]

Get your own thread, Eurotrash.

It would be a waste to create a thread just for the draw then for qualifying later this year so that's why I stressed the need for limited discussion here. It only took up about a page so that's fine.

[Keystone Phil]

Bosnia vs. Iran

What a barn burner that will be.

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[Keystone Phil]

Round 3 to be better... Euro 2012 and FIFA Confederations Cup.

We will win. Mark my words.

[Keystone Phil]

Round 3 to be better... Euro 2012 and FIFA Confederations Cup.

We will win. Mark my words.

Hey, losing in the quarterfinals isn't that bad.

(or the round of 16, i have high hopes for Ivory Coast)

This could be a lot like '94: sneak past an African side, beat Spain in the Quarter finals and meeting Brazil at some point later.

[Keystone Phil]

The Azzurri officially unveiled the World Cup kit today. I'm a fan. It will get its match debut this Wednesday against Spain.

[Keystone Phil]

Ukraine vs. U.S. should be interesting for everything-but-Soccer reasons.

[Keystone Phil]

I tweet about the horrible Spain alternate kits and they score a minute later.

[Keystone Phil]

In other news, one of the biggest pieces of garbage will be returning to his garbage team after the World Cup: Guus Hiddink will be the next coach of The Netherlands.