World Cup 2014
jdip9
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Seems like Argentina has a cake walk to the knockout stage, but the other groups are fairly balanced....as expected, the U.S. draws the Group of Death, although Group D isn't too far behind. My Azzurri have their work cut out for them.
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I can't believe that country was even given the privilege of hosting the World Cup. If FIFA took it away from them now, would anybody care? I don't believe they have started construction on any of the new stadiums that might need to be built for it.
<< <i>Jumping ahead to World Cup 2022, it looks like they will be playing it sometime between November and January. I can't imagine that going over very well with the European leagues.
I can't believe that country was even given the privilege of hosting the World Cup. If FIFA took it away from them now, would anybody care? I don't believe they have started construction on any of the new stadiums that might need to be built for it. >>
WC 2022 was obviously just about money. Maybe Qatar paid more under the table or something. It is far enough into the future that they could still change their minds and not suffer too bad a hit in terms of PR or plain old planning.
<< <i>Jumping ahead to World Cup 2022, it looks like they will be playing it sometime between November and January. I can't imagine that going over very well with the European leagues.
I can't believe that country was even given the privilege of hosting the World Cup. If FIFA took it away from them now, would anybody care? I don't believe they have started construction on any of the new stadiums that might need to be built for it. >>
Actually, construction is already underway.
FIFA is probably the only athletic association in the world that can make the NCAA and IOC look like a bunch of choirboys. It's a little embarrassing to have to admit that I love this sport in spite of its governing body, but there you have it.
"The body tasked with organising the World Cup, the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, told the Guardian that work had yet to begin on projects directly related to the World Cup."
FIFA might actually garner some respect in the sporting world if they just decided to give it to England or, at the very least, some other country that more than 10% of the world population could find on a map in less than 30 seconds (I'm pretty sure I'd fail that test).
<< <i>I don't think construction has started, I believe they just unveiled designs 2 months ago, which still had to be approved....from the article:
"The body tasked with organising the World Cup, the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, told the Guardian that work had yet to begin on projects directly related to the World Cup."
FIFA might actually garner some respect in the sporting world if they just decided to give it to England or, at the very least, some other country that more than 10% of the world population could find on a map in less than 30 seconds (I'm pretty sure I'd fail that test). >>
I'm not sure what's going on- I believe workers are dying while working on some kind of project related to the WC, though whether it's directly related to the WC I can't say.
It's going to be interesting to see how this gambit for a winter WC plays out. Like you said, that will go over like a turd in the punch bowl with the European leagues, so I'm not yet convinced that this is actually how it's going to all go down. One thing I AM sure of, however, is that someone needs to show Sepp Blatter the door. This guy has been a disgrace to the game for years now, and the situation is clearly not getting any better. Oh- and I, too, would probably fail a test that made me find Qatar on a map, though I'm OK with FIFA putting the WC off in East Jesus somewhere so long as the daytime highs aren't 115+ degrees!
Cover Up!
good lord, I can only imagine the horror when the Brazilian and Spanish women show up in 2022....
Back to the original topic, 2 weeks away from the start of the World Cup!!
Why else do you think that the largest sporting event in the world was given to a country most people never knew existed prior to the announcement?
I don't think it is understatement to say that Qatar hosting a World Cup is biggest injustice in the history of sports. Nevermind the fact that 1,200 people have DIED building infrastructure related to the World Cup. Think about that for a minute.
On a related note, it seems close to 1,200 players have been injured just prior to this year's World Cup.
Go Germany!!!
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<< <i>Do you honestly think FIFA was going to allow Brazil to lose their opening game? >>
Oh no chance in hell, but that was a crap call.
Spain 1
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<< <i>I swear there is more acting in one soccer game than there is in six months worth of WWE wrestling entertainment programming. >>
But their cards aren't worth nearly as much.
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The flying Dutchman header is gonna be hard to beat as goal of the tourny. That was ridiculous.
Go Germany!
Must-win game for the US tonight.
<< <i>Great World Cup so far, already a bunch of highlight reel goals.
Must-win game for the US tonight. >>
Agree on both accounts. A tie vs Ghana isn't going to cut it, if they hope to get out of Group play.
<< <i>Great World Cup so far, already a bunch of highlight reel goals.
Must-win game for the US tonight. >>
Mission accomplished.
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Sure hope the Altidore injury doesn't hamper their chances going forward. Tim Howard was almost playing 1-man defense there for a while.
<< <i>Great win by the U.S., but I'm still not sure they get out of the group without Altidore. I suppose a 0-0 draw vs. Portugal gets it done (assuming Germany will beat Ghana), but unless they can capitalize on set pieces, I don't see how they are going to score. Johannson looked terrible, and the U.S. created almost no offensive chances through the midfield. I hope I'm wrong, but other than the result, there wasn't much in that performance to inspire confidence going forward. >>
It would also help if Bradley actually makes a play against Portugal. He looked terrible yesterday. He couldn't wait to get rid of the potato………………MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
It's going to be interesting if Germany beats Ghana and the US needs points against Germany.
All kinds of conspiracy theories will arise if the US needs and gets points against Germany with Klinsmann as coach for the US.
<< <i>Great win by the U.S., but I'm still not sure they get out of the group without Altidore. I suppose a 0-0 draw vs. Portugal gets it done (assuming Germany will beat Ghana), but unless they can capitalize on set pieces, I don't see how they are going to score. Johannson looked terrible, and the U.S. created almost no offensive chances through the midfield. I hope I'm wrong, but other than the result, there wasn't much in that performance to inspire confidence going forward. >>
I hate to say it, and I'll be rooting for them just like everyone else tomorrow night, but this just isn't a very good team. Their best player couldn't hack it at Roma, their (arguably) second best player couldn't hack it at Spurs, and the rest of them are either role players on a mid-table European side or playing in the MLS. And while the MLS has improved, the soccer is still really substandard.
I do think they 'can' beat Portugal, particularly now with Pepe and Coentrao out. But they don't have anyone who can hang with Moutinho (or CR7, it goes without saying), and Portugal is not going to let them counterattack, which means they will need to show some creativity in the final third. All told, I think it's going to be really difficult.
enough back four, and a keeper that doesn't make mistakes, then you have a chance against anyone.
England may have a little more talent than us, but their back four and keeper have really let them down.
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<< <i>Even more brilliant a goal by Portugal! This soccer thing is pretty exciting, LOL.. >>
What a fantastic game ol futbol. As a fan of the sport I couldn't possibly ask for more.
<< <i>It comes down to Thursday... >>
Both teams will play for a tie. I'd be shocked if either team went for the win.
Go Germany!
tough five minutes for the U.S...
this one stings...
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Also, Belgium is stacked and playing well. It would be far better to win the group and play Russia or Algeria next. Germany knows this.
It's pretty clear CR7 is nowhere near 100%, otherwise Portugal would have drubbed the U.S. Pepe's red card completely changed the group dynamic. If Portugal could have managed a 2-goal loss to Germany, things would be looking a lot different.
Although I don't think my Azzurri have a chance to win it all, I'd like see them get out of the group today.
<< <i>That Belgium squad is flying under the radar a little bit...they are impressive.
It's pretty clear CR7 is nowhere near 100%, otherwise Portugal would have drubbed the U.S. Pepe's red card completely changed the group dynamic. If Portugal could have managed a 2-goal loss to Germany, things would be looking a lot different.
Although I don't think my Azzurri have a chance to win it all, I'd like see them get out of the group today. >>
I think you're dead on re: the Portugal game. If Coentrao is at LB in that game there is no way Fabian Johnson runs riot down the right flank, and Pepe would doubtlessly have made a difference as well. WRT to the Italy/Uruguay game, I too will be pulling hard for the Azzurri, albeit for different reasons (my #1 objective for the WC is to see all Liverpool players leave the tournament uninjured). Go go you Fighin' Pirlos!
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Side note...Chiellini has pretty much always been a complete POS on the pitch. It bugs me that people will see him as a victim now.
Guy, I'm very curious to know your feelings about Suarez. What do you do when one of the most amazing talents to come into a beloved team turns out to be half a psycho?
<< <i>I have such conflicted feelings. I'm not sure I like watching any striker in the world more than Suarez but this is too much.
Side note...Chiellini has pretty much always been a complete POS on the pitch. It bugs me that people will see him as a victim now.
Guy, I'm very curious to know your feelings about Suarez. What do you do when one of the most amazing talents to come into a beloved team turns out to be half a psycho? >>
It's just a total nightmare- on three different levels. Consider:
1) I have a reasonably large social circle, and just about every male I socialize with on even a semi-regular basis is a fairly committed futbol fan. When I'm out at a bar, for example, I would say that over 80% of my socializing concerns events in the world of soccer. Thus, there's simply no way for me to escape this kind of thing; I heard it for months after Evra-gate, then for months after the dust-up with Ivanovic, and now I'm going to hear about this one for Christ-knows-how-long. My only hope is that the Barca deal pushes through, LFC gets something like 25m+Sanchez in return, and I can wash my hands of it. But my guess is that the Barca transfer is off, which means I have an entire year of lukewarm vampire/zombie jokes to look forward to.
2) Then there's the psychological dimension. One thing I don't think non-football fans understand is just how much time a supporter mentally commits to his team's best players (or, to be more accurate, those players' public persona). Obviously the season lasts nine months, so a player of Suarez's stature is never far from the thoughts of the LFC faithful during the EPL campaign. The offseason, however, offers zero respite, since you're compelled to spend the summer months considering the verity of the myriad transfer rumors. Compare this to, say, a Colts fan's relationship with Andrew Luck, where you root for the guy from August through (hopefully) January, and then get to forget about him for seven months. That option does not exist in the world of association football, where your team is either playing (during the season) or its best players are angling for a transfer to a bigger club (the off season). In the last 2+ years I don't think I've had four solid days where I've been relieved of thoughts concerning Luis Suarez. He's always 'there', somehow, in some recess of my consciousness; I live with him like I live with the memory of childhood friends, or dead grandparents. I was already weary of him two weeks ago, when the most recent volley of Barcelona rumors were fired off by the Catalan press. This latest incident is not likely to relieve me of that weariness.
3) Lastly, there's a great difficulty in coming to grips with the sheer weirdness of it. If he was just a violent goon I don't think I'd find it nearly as disorienting. After all, we live in a violent culture, and most of us have learned how to process and compartmentalize acts of violence. Consider the situation with Ray Rice: I don't think virtually any Ravens fans will feel terribly conflicted by rooting for him this fall (I'm nearly sure I wouldn't have any trouble doing so if I were a Ravens fan), since most of us have learned how to rationalize- or at least ignore- violent behavior from athletes. But what do you do about biting? I mean, what if Ray Rice wasn't punching girlfriends, but instead was caught on three different occasions sneaking into retirement homes and stealing random grandmothers' panties from their rooms while they were off playing bingo in the cafeteria? What is a man supposed to do with something like that? If Suarez was kicking guys in the nuts, or boxing their ears, I could deal with that- on some level it might even make me like him more. But biting? I'm not sure what do with that. I'm just totally out of ideas.
So- onward we march. I was watching the game in the basement with a friend of mine whose also a die-hard LFC fan, and both of us were just hoping for an uneventful Azzurri win. I guess we should have done a better job of hoping!
I probably would have warmed up to Liverpool sooner, except for Suarez (and to a lesser extent, Sturridge). Suarez is undoubtedly one of the top 5 strikers in the world (maybe top 3?), but he is absolutely nauseating to watch. The constant diving/embellishing/complaining to refs is unbearable (Sturridge is a rung or two below him in this category, and don't get me started on the arm-waving thing). And now, to have bitten a THIRD player during his playing career, he joins the short list of athletes that I hate. Whatever suspension he gets will likely not be long enough for my taste.
<< <i>likely not be long enough for my taste.
<< <i>
Nor his.
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......