World Cup 2014

[MC KAos]

Never minds it did it on its own!

 

[joseephuss]

Distraction for Brazil?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27406730

Brazil boss Scolari faces tax fraud inquiry in Portugal

A criminal case has been opened in Portugal against Brazil's football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari weeks before Brazil hosts the World Cup.

He has been named as a formal suspect in a tax fraud investigation but he has not been arrested or charged.

Mr Scolari, 65, was Portugal's head coach from 2003 to 2008. The case is thought to be linked to his time there.

 

[jterrell]

I haven't forgiven them for being pansies since ww2

and for being rude schmucks perhaps?

 

[jterrell]

Meh, they will get scoring from their midfield, and guys like Muller and Podolski can strike. Goals will be plenty for them.

until they face brazil or spain, lol.
germany's problem is they don't surprise anyone.
they just execute.

 

[jterrell]

I agree wholeheartedly with the top 4 of those odds, but I'd put Italy and Uruguay as more likely winners than Belgium

Belgium is a bit more complete side.
They are very good at all levels.
GK, D, **, ST all elite groups.
Not as deep as Spain or Brazil but you only play 11 at once and the Belgian top 14 is about as good as it gets.

Uruguay has some issues outside striking, Italy has one good striker who is plum crazy.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I haven't forgiven them for being pansies since ww2

and you seem to have forgotten without their assistance, your silly rebellion of 1775 would not have resulted in a country

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

spain and germanys downfall will be their backlines. Both weak down the middle IMHO. Hummels and Mertasacker are poor vs quick teams. Spain has no puyol anymore and struggle to score goals ( they hold the ball great ) but if you can score first it makes them very vunerable.. I would be suprised if Brazil doesnt win the entire thing. Sleeper is Colombia.

 

[RastaRocket]

spain and germanys downfall will be their backlines. Both weak down the middle IMHO. Hummels and Mertasacker are poor vs quick teams. Spain has no puyol anymore and struggle to score goals ( they hold the ball great ) but if you can score first it makes them very vunerable.. I would be suprised if Brazil doesnt win the entire thing. Sleeper is Colombia.

Errr..... Hummels, Howedes, Boateng, Mertesacker is easily one of the deepest back lines in the world, if not the deepest. They will be outstanding and if you're that worried about pace you can start Boateng. Not to mention they have the best RB in the world, Philipp Lahm. Then they have the best GK in the world (Neur) who will be backed up by Weidenfeller.

 

[joseephuss]

spain and germanys downfall will be their backlines. Both weak down the middle IMHO. Hummels and Mertasacker are poor vs quick teams. Spain has no puyol anymore and struggle to score goals ( they hold the ball great ) but if you can score first it makes them very vunerable.. I would be suprised if Brazil doesnt win the entire thing. Sleeper is Colombia.

Ramos and Pique are fine at CB. They lack depth behind them. Their weakness is at their left and right fullback. Azpilicueta is probably their best defensive fullback, but he hasn't played a lot with the national team. They prefer the guys that can move forward and provide some offense such as Jordi Alba. Alba however isn't a good defender and is easily overpowered because of his small stature. Their best defense is their ability to hold the ball in the midfield and limit the opponents opportunities. Iker Casillas may be a slight question mark even though he is good. He just hasn't played a lot over the last couple of seasons due to his managers at Real preferring to go with Lopez in goal.

 

[jterrell]

Ramos and Pique are fine at CB. They lack depth behind them. Their weakness is at their left and right fullback. Azpilicueta is probably their best defensive fullback, but he hasn't played a lot with the national team. They prefer the guys that can move forward and provide some offense such as Jordi Alba. Alba however isn't a good defender and is easily overpowered because of his small stature. Their best defense is their ability to hold the ball in the midfield and limit the opponents opportunities. Iker Casillas may be a slight question mark even though he is good. He just hasn't played a lot over the last couple of seasons due to his managers at Real preferring to go with Lopez in goal.

Azpi will play well for them. He is exactly the kind of CB they love. He can and will attack but he is also rock solid on the back line when he needs to be.
I've watched him play a lot and went form questioning why he started every game to lauding him.
Spain's only concerns are being a target for so long and only having one ball so guys with talent used to possessing it a lot won't(which diminishes their effect).

 

[jterrell]

Errr..... Hummels, Howedes, Boateng, Mertesacker is easily one of the deepest back lines in the world, if not the deepest. They will be outstanding and if you're that worried about pace you can start Boateng. Not to mention they have the best RB in the world, Philipp Lahm. Then they have the best GK in the world (Neur) who will be backed up by Weidenfeller.

I'd rather have Brazil's(Alves/Maicon/Marcelo/David Luis/Luis...) backline but the GK difference is definitely to Germany.
If Lahm is making plays they are very difficult to beat but all in all they are more tactical then anything and that can cause them to stagnate versus the rest of the best.
Wonder if they play Lahm more as holding ** like Munich does.

 

[RastaRocket]

I'd rather have Brazil's(Alves/Maicon/Marcelo/David Luis/Luis...) backline but the GK difference is definitely to Germany.
If Lahm is making plays they are very difficult to beat but all in all they are more tactical then anything and that can cause them to stagnate versus the rest of the best.
Wonder if they play Lahm more as holding ** like Munich does.

I disagree with you when you say Germany is more tactical than anything. Germany is as skilled and talented as any team in the world. You're forgeting Silva with Brazil's backline... They should start Maicon/Silva/Luiz(or Dante)/Marcelo, and I agree they have the best back line.

 

[MC KAos]

I disagree with you when you say Germany is more tactical than anything. Germany is as skilled and talented as any team in the world. You're forgeting Silva with Brazil's backline... They should start Maicon/Silva/Luiz(or Dante)/Marcelo, and I agree they have the best back line.

Pretty sure maicon is dead...

Edit:never mind it was a different maicon that died

 

[joseephuss]

I disagree with you when you say Germany is more tactical than anything. Germany is as skilled and talented as any team in the world. You're forgeting Silva with Brazil's backline... They should start Maicon/Silva/Luiz(or Dante)/Marcelo, and I agree they have the best back line.

Alves will start over Maicon. Maicon hasn't looked that good the last couple of seasons. He did nothing for ManCity last year. Maybe it is because he is a zombie.

Pretty sure maicon is dead...

Edit:never mind it was a different maicon that died

 

[RastaRocket]

Alves will start over Maicon. Maicon hasn't looked that good the last couple of seasons. He did nothing for ManCity last year. Maybe it is because he is a zombie.

Maicon is having an outstanding season at Roma... Alves will probably start, but I prefer Maicon. Alves basically plays forward. I would start Maicon/Silva/Dante/Marcelo or Maicon/Silva/Dante/Alves.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Brazil should be favoured as it is at home.

Euro teams never win outside their hemisphere/timezone

 

[RastaRocket]

Brazil should be favoured as it is at home.

Euro teams never win outside their hemisphere/timezone

I don't think there is anything to that myth... The last World Cup in South America was in 86' and Germany was in the final. A European has made the final in every single World Cup across the pond except for 1930 and 1950. Talent will prevail as it always does. Obviously Brazil has a great shot at winning but you can pretty much guarantee somebody from Europe will be in the final.

 

[daschoo]

I don't think there is anything to that myth... The last World Cup in South America was in 86' and Germany was in the final. A European has made the final in every single World Cup across the pond except for 1930 and 1950. Talent will prevail as it always does. Obviously Brazil has a great shot at winning but you can pretty much guarantee somebody from Europe will be in the final.

Germany v Argentina final

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I don't think there is anything to that myth... The last World Cup in South America was in 86' and Germany was in the final. A European has made the final in every single World Cup across the pond except for 1930 and 1950. Talent will prevail as it always does. Obviously Brazil has a great shot at winning but you can pretty much guarantee somebody from Europe will be in the final.

How is it a myth if a European team has never won outside its timezone. Brazil won in Japan/Korea in 2002, in US in 1994

Spain won in Africa in 2010 so technically in Southern Hemisphere but was basically same timezone

 

[joseephuss]

How is it a myth if a European team has never won outside its timezone. Brazil won in Japan/Korea in 2002, in US in 1994

Spain won in Africa in 2010 so technically in Southern Hemisphere but was basically same timezone

Brazil in 1994 would still be in roughly the same time zone.