My history of watching the World Cup only extends back to 1994, but I think this is (so far) easily the best I've ever watched out of those.
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The 2013-2014 Football Thread
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I can remember watching TV highlights in 1954 West Germany won.
I would love to have watched football in the 50s, to see the way the game has changed. I just finished reading Jonathan Wilson's Inverting the Pyramid and that's the closest I'll get to it.
Players in the prime in the 1950's would have HATED the 2014 model Adidas Brazuca and Nike Ordem balls, thinking the modern ball have too much bounce and too much distance in flight compared to the balls they're used to back then.
Ahh the joys of trying to control a wet leather football in -1C on a muddy pitch. The almost guaranteed concussion from heading the ball, with a plus if you caught the laces in the ball, your forehead was badly cut up.
Baggie shorts to your knees, and boots till over your ankles, and woollen shirts, just great in the rain.
Can't wait for Brazil vs. Chile - I'm rooting for Chile all the way. I hope they at least scare the hell out of Brazil.
USA - haven't talked about them as much as I wanted to. Klinsmann is coming out of this with a lot of credit. Many of the players he brought through are playing key roles or at least getting the job done. Fabian Johnson, Jermain Jones and Kyle Beckermann are probably the standouts along with usual suspect Demspey (a streaky player but he is getting it done right now). Tim Howard, as usual, is probably my man of the tournament for USA. He is an absolute rock at the back and is unfazed by pressure.
Bradley is still not playing to his potential. I can't help but feel that if he was on-form we would have beaten Portugal, drawn with Germany and won the group. Fine margins.
There is a large contingent of USA fans who are completely hung up on Donovan. It's hard to say that the squad is stronger without him here, but we made it through the group without him and few of the pro-Donovan camp gave us a chance to do that. The Altidore injury means that the Donovan issue is not quite closed, of course - USA is struggling to link midfield and attack at the moment - but I'm thrilled with the way Klinsmann has the team playing and I just don't see the Donovan thing being the huge issue many thought it was. As soon as we go out of the tournament people will claim Donovan's presence would have kept us in, but that is a weak argument. We made it out of the Group of Death without him.
Not to mention the lack of defending in the modern sense. Things were different in those days!
USA - haven't talked about them as much as I wanted to. Klinsmann is coming out of this with a lot of credit. Many of the players he brought through are playing key roles or at least getting the job done. Fabian Johnson, Jermain Jones and Kyle Beckermann are probably the standouts along with usual suspect Demspey (a streaky player but he is getting it done right now). Tim Howard, as usual, is probably my man of the tournament for USA. He is an absolute rock at the back and is unfazed by pressure.
Bradley is still not playing to his potential. I can't help but feel that if he was on-form we would have beaten Portugal, drawn with Germany and won the group. Fine margins.
There is a large contingent of USA fans who are completely hung up on Donovan. It's hard to say that the squad is stronger without him here, but we made it through the group without him and few of the pro-Donovan camp gave us a chance to do that. The Altidore injury means that the Donovan issue is not quite closed, of course - USA is struggling to link midfield and attack at the moment - but I'm thrilled with the way Klinsmann has the team playing and I just don't see the Donovan thing being the huge issue many thought it was. As soon as we go out of the tournament people will claim Donovan's presence would have kept us in, but that is a weak argument. We made it out of the Group of Death without him.
Ahh the joys of trying to control a wet leather football in -1C on a muddy pitch. The almost guaranteed concussion from heading the ball, with a plus if you caught the laces in the ball, your forehead was badly cut up.
Baggie shorts to your knees, and boots till over your ankles, and woollen shirts, just great in the rain.
Not to mention the lack of defending in the modern sense. Things were different in those days!
Still not sure about Chile. It seems they need a lot of chances, while Brazil doesn't as much. Against NED, Chile was weakening in the defense and of the chances they didn't get one in. Then, they mastered an Italian defense (missed that match, because I had to drive my mother shopping). Brazil looked kind of "unorganised", not quite the right word.
I, too, want Chile to win, but think Brazil, so far has had much to much luck with a suboptimal playing and fear they will have luck again. I rooted for a 2:1 win for Chile, though. If it isn't Chiles day, a 3:0 win for Brazil would something I wouldn't find surprising, either. If Brazil has worked on their defense, a chile win might be only 1:0.
Then again, if Brazil keeps staying in their half, that might "seduce" Chile to forget their own defense and move to much forward in the Brazilian half, Brazil will then play very long balls on Neymar and that will give Brazil the 3:0 win. But they might be just to clueless to wait and let Chile come and instead spread out over the field, with big holes in between. Hm... now, if I think of it... 3:0 win for Chile?
OK, I bravely say 3:1 win for Chile.
(I have no clue)Edit: changed my mind again. I say either very close win for Chile (if Brazil doesn't create enough chances) or a clear to 0 win for Brazil (if Chile walks out with it defense to much.)
On the US, it seems the public is getting really interested in football (like SanctoGuy had also shown so nicely), but I wonder, if that will carry on after the WC. (Edit: Klinsmann just said in an interview, he thinks this time it is Germany winning the cup... hm... not sure).
On 50ies football: yes, and 22 men staying and looking around were to pass the ball, till they finally play it.
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Brazil's defense is error-prone and can be caught out of position. If Chile can rattle them and put away a few goals it could be very interesting.
Every single WC has resulted in more and more interest in the US. This time it's really obvious. Much more TV coverage, much more general interest. I'm interested to see if this results in increased attendances at MLS matches over the rest of the season, as people go to see some of the guys who played un the WC play for their club teams.
Every single WC has resulted in more and more interest in the US. This time it's really obvious. Much more TV coverage, much more general interest. I'm interested to see if this results in increased attendances at MLS matches over the rest of the season, as people go to see some of the guys who played un the WC play for their club teams.
Good take away article on the US going thru.
http://m.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2014/06/27/how-team-usa-escaped-from-the-group-of-death/?hpid=z5
And I agree wih Klinsmann. I see Germany winning this thing.
http://m.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2014/06/27/how-team-usa-escaped-from-the-group-of-death/?hpid=z5
And I agree wih Klinsmann. I see Germany winning this thing.
Whew, a long slog of a match that was.
It was very close, but Brazil did not deserve that win at the end of the day in my opinion. They were sloppy, their forwards didn't finish chances and they won through pure luck at the end of the day,
The penalties were painful to watch...everyone was hitting it down the middle apart from Chile's third. Kudos to Chile, I think they just deserved the win. But the football gods will never let Brazil go out that early.
It was very close, but Brazil did not deserve that win at the end of the day in my opinion. They were sloppy, their forwards didn't finish chances and they won through pure luck at the end of the day,
The penalties were painful to watch...everyone was hitting it down the middle apart from Chile's third. Kudos to Chile, I think they just deserved the win. But the football gods will never let Brazil go out that early.
Heh, Brazil was better than in the group, but still not good or interesting to watch.
In the penalties Chile's players seemed to have concentration issues, due to being exhausted.
I liked how some single Chile players moved the ball between their legs, when oppressed nearby or how they managed to steel the ball away from attacking players with their foot tip elegantly.
Interesting that scene before the end, where a Chile player offered Neymar to hold up his leg, when he was cramping in front of the Chilian box before a corner and Neymar refused.
In the penalties Chile's players seemed to have concentration issues, due to being exhausted.
I liked how some single Chile players moved the ball between their legs, when oppressed nearby or how they managed to steel the ball away from attacking players with their foot tip elegantly.
Interesting that scene before the end, where a Chile player offered Neymar to hold up his leg, when he was cramping in front of the Chilian box before a corner and Neymar refused.
What a golazo by James Rodriguez for Colombia.
In USA news, Jozy Altidore may be fit to play against Belgium, though unless the injury is less severe than it looked I can't see him starting. Also, Michael Bradley has done more running than any other player in the WC so far. He's a bit off-form but he's still working hard, and he still has time to stamp his mark on the tournament.
In USA news, Jozy Altidore may be fit to play against Belgium, though unless the injury is less severe than it looked I can't see him starting. Also, Michael Bradley has done more running than any other player in the WC so far. He's a bit off-form but he's still working hard, and he still has time to stamp his mark on the tournament.
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Not sure, if I translate that right... flipping posts as in "idiot posts"?
Edit: or was that re the washingtonPOST article?
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Oops. My bad english came out there.
'Flipping' is basically British for 'freaking' or more explicitly 'f-word(ing)'
Should've said flipping goalposts or freaking goalposts instead, to be clearer.
Colombia beating Uruguary, and the fantastic goal from James Rodriguez, more than made up for Brazil beating Chile on penalties.
Last night an off-duty firefighter was struck by lightning just outside Crew Stadium a short time before Columbus were scheduled to play their home match against Dallas. He nearly died, but paramedics revived him and he is currently in critical condition in the hospital. Hopefully he will make a full recovery.
The game has been postponed until 2pm today, with temperatures hitting a Manaus-like 89F with high humidity.
I know England have a reputation for eating their own, but this is ridiculous....
The game has been postponed until 2pm today, with temperatures hitting a Manaus-like 89F with high humidity.
I know England have a reputation for eating their own, but this is ridiculous....
Yes, please go. I even rather see Robben weeping for joy again than see Mexico in the quarterfinals.
I know it's blasphemy, but I really like watching El Tri play. Only about 10 min left...
Spoke to soon: Sneider
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BS call on Marquez.
Mexico 1 Netherlands 2
Luck and Robben got us through although we really didnt deserve it.
The only point in our defense we didnt let our heads hang when we went one down, we kept trying.
Luck and Robben got us through although we really didnt deserve it.
The only point in our defense we didnt let our heads hang when we went one down, we kept trying.
and so they won't the netherland's.
So, exciting this WC's 1/8th finals, seems as if everything is possible (even a lucky Switzerland win against Argentina and a US win against Belgium).
I heard a joke yesterday (but not about the WC): obviously Switzerland is better than Austria, look at their flag, one has a plus, the other a minus. (Sorry, I know, stupid humour, but I liked it.)
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