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World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot Nov 20 2013 07:41 PM

Looks like all the teams are set with the final sports being determined this week. Mexico survived the two-game, home-and-home, play-in set with New Zealand (just a bit of travel involved there) so they'll be going despite their year-long turmoil. Was hoping to see Iceland make it, not for any particular reason except that it would have been kind of cool for a country with barely 1/4 million people living on a volcanic island near the arctic circle to make the cut, but they were bounced by Croatia for the final European slot. Most of the usual suspects seem involved although it sounds like there were a few close calls with France & Portugal ALGERIA - ARGENTINA - AUSTRALIA - BELGIUM BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA - BRAZIL - CAMEROON - CHILE COLUMBIA - COSTA RICA - COTE d'IVOIRE - CROATIA ECUADOR - ENGLAND - FRANCE - GERMANY GHANA - GREECE - HONDURAS - IRAN ITALY - JAPAN - KOREA - MEXICO NETHERLANDS - NIGERIA - PORTUGAL - RUSSIA SPAIN - SWITZERLAND - URUGUAY - USA

Mets – Willets Point Nov 20 2013 08:02 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I believe Bosnia-Herzegovina is the only first-timer. I suppose Bosnian players were on the Yugoslavian team back before the breakup.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 20 2013 08:27 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Belgium's a fashionable-- and dangerous-looking-- dark horse, with one of the game's best young keepers, Kompany and Vermaelen anchoring in back, and so, so much talent (Hazard, De Bruyne, Witsel, Chadli) AND physicality (Fellaini, matchup nightmares Benteke and Lukaku). But, yeah, unless something REALLY wacky happens-- and hell, it's a year away-- it's probably something like Germany/Spain and Brazil in the final.

Ashie62 Nov 24 2013 10:45 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I would be concerned about the political discord in Brasil leading to this event....

Frayed Knot Nov 27 2013 03:31 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well this isn't good: Two dead in WC construction accident Now here's the part that I don't get: Earlier this year, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke declared that all stadiums would have to be ready by December. The tournament is to be held from June 12 to July 13. I understand that you want everything done in plenty of time. But what's FIFA going to do if some of the construction misses the deadline? It's not like they're going to move the games somewhere else.

Ashie62 Nov 28 2013 04:06 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

When I think of Iceland I turn to Bobby Fischer v. Boris Spassky...

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 04 2013 12:03 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

World Cup draw pots revealed, with draw on Friday, 12/6. The Americans are in Pot 3 with the other CONCACAF teams and the CAF (Asian) qualifiers; multiple potential Groups of Death loom, as a spin on the World Cup Draw Simulator shows.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 06 2013 10:30 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 06 2013 10:32 AM

I'd gasp, "Good Lord," only he ain't been so good to us. Could be worse, I suppose; we could be Costa Rica, over in Group D. Or Australia. But, yoy... this'll be tricky.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 06 2013 10:32 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I guess the D is for Death? USA in for it though with Germany and Portugal to contend with. Is Ghana any good?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 06 2013 10:39 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Knocked us out of two straight World Cups, and should have made the semis over Uruguay last time around. Battle-tested, after a tough path through qualifying (and running riot over former Bob Bradley's Egypt squad in the two-leg playoff to clinch).

Frayed Knot Dec 06 2013 11:43 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

So I don't know a whole lot about this stuff, but it seems to me that the US just got stuffed iinto a bracket with two of Europe's perennial powerhouses, plus Africa's best squad, while the host country is nice enough to be handed a Bye into the knockout round. OK so that's probably an exaggeration, but getting out of the first round is going to be a toughie. GROUP A BRAZIL CROATIA CAMEROON MEXICO GROUP B SPAIN NETHERLANDS CHILE AUSTALIA GROUP C COLOMBIA GREECE COTE d'IVOIRE JAPAN GROUP D URUGUAY COSTA RICA ENGLAND ITALY GROUP E SWITZERLAND HONDURAS FRANCE ECUADOR GROUP F ARGENTINA BOSNIA-HERZ IRAN NIGERIA GROUP G GERMANY PORTUGAL UNITED STATES GHANA GROUP H BELGIUM ALGERIA RUSSIA SOUTH KOREA I suspect, though, that the fans of about 80% of the teams in each year claim that they got screwed in the draw - and that they probably get screwed every time.

metirish Dec 06 2013 11:54 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Some tasty groups there. USA could be 3 and done. England are in a tough group with the added mess of playing deep in the Amazon....they are not best pleased. France got an easy draw which them being French cold work against them.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 06 2013 12:45 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

See, that's what will make it all the more hilarious when France goes 0-1-2. And, hey, some supporters are more comfortable when their guys are going against the odds.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 06 2013 01:22 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Enter Spencer Hall (of Every Day Should Be Saturday), with a little calming wisdom about the American draw. Germany? Jurgen Klinsmann molded them. He knows their cheat codes, and has married this U.S. team's ability to produce mediocre rap albums with the precision of a German machine. He's our daywalker, a soccer Blade who knows how these sunless vampires work from the inside-out... Portugal's easy. They are beautiful, talented, and as fragile as elderly herons in a stiff breeze when adversity strikes.Our forefathers were ugly bastards with wooden teeth, syphilis, and smallpox scars, and our current national hero is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is not pretty: he is ruggedly handsome, he tried to save the world from the earnest tyranny of John Cena and he ruled Egypt as the Scorpion King. This war's over before it even started, Portugal. Call him anything but "Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson" and we'll alter the terms of your premature surrender to the harshest degree imaginable. Now go cry into pillows made of your chief export, cork, you beautiful, frangible Iberians.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 06 2013 01:23 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Did a perennial powerhouse ever get an easier draw? Argentina and Brazil in the finals.

Frayed Knot May 17 2014 10:45 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

So do any of you soccer-savvy dudes have any opinions on the preliminary U.S. roster? This 30 man list needs to be pared to 23 from what I understand by June 2. Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC) Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Frayed Knot May 17 2014 10:48 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

In other news, I saw some reports where the roof on at least one of the sites in Brazil is not going to be ready in time ... so they'll just finish it up after the tourney is over. Also gotta like FIFA Prez Sepp Blatter who apparently just came to the conclusion that it's going to be really hot in Qatar in the summer of 2022 (and with global warming who knows how much hotter still?) and therefore awarding them the games was "a mistake" (his) and so they're going to look into moving them to the winter of that year. If only there were ways to know this kind of information ahead of time. Oh, and the figures acknowledged by Qatar's gov't (meaning they could be a lot worse) say that nearly 1,000 (virtually all imported) workers have died to date working on WC venues, of heat stroke, heart attacks, accidents, and possibly suicides.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 17 2014 04:03 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Some mild surprises-- no Eddie Johnson or Brek Shea, yes on Timmy Chandler-- but no real shockers. Even those surprises make some sense; Johnson's been awful and has publicly criticized his teammates this year, and Shea has been shaky in limited time this year at Stoke and wearing the USA kit, while Chandler-- despite the LONG break from national action-- is just another potential right-back solution (as could be the superyoung, supertalented Yedlin). Boyd, Wondolowski, and possibly Johannson are likely playing for two (maybe one) spot. Gonzalez's injury could open the door for Chandler or the kid, if they perform during camp/friendlies.

Frayed Knot May 17 2014 04:59 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Is Tim Howard still the presumed keeper or is there real competition there for the #1 job?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 17 2014 05:08 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

For Brazil, it's Howard, Guzan, Rimando, in that order... and, supposedly in toto (Klinsmann took three keepers as German skipper, and has hinted he'll do the same here). Which means he's probably cutting 3-4 defenders, 2-3 midfielders, and 1-2 forwards.

metirish May 17 2014 06:15 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

As usual there will be a lot of big name players not making their countries provisional and final squads , none will be funnier than Nasri not making the French squad, his missus then goes ballistic on Twitter, French coach now apparently going to sue her,

Frayed Knot May 17 2014 06:19 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Three keepers seems odd for a tourney where most teams will play 4 games or fewer, but whatdoiknow.

Frayed Knot May 22 2014 05:11 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

All those heading to Brazil for the USA take one step forward ... Not so fast there Donovan! FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Aron Johannsson, Chris Wondolowski MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Brad Davis, Mix Diskerud, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi, Julian Green. DEFENDERS: DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, DeAndre Yedlin GOALKEEPERS: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 22 2014 06:47 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Sad, but... well, I can't see taking him over a young (and underused) supertalent like Aron Johannson, and it's hard to say no to someone who's demonstrated as much nose-to-the-grindstone as Wondo. And the kids-- Green, Brooks, Yedlin-- all stay. Bravely into the future, I suppose. I'd say Donovan's omission was an issue of "commitment to the cause" or some other shorthand for "You don't practice hard enough, old man," but, well... he took noted waverer Timmy Chandler, and he's an injury-recovery case. I'm thinking that the tough draw had something to do with this-- the possible thinking being that if you're unlikely to advance in this Cup, you might as well get as many new feet wet as possible. (He also had invited a bunch of younguns who aren't in play for Brazil-- the young keeper/Southhampton prospect Cody Cropper, e.g.-- to train with their elders for a fortnight at Stanford.)

Frayed Knot May 22 2014 07:09 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

With the usual caveat that I know very little of what I'm talking about on this subject, it seems to me that not taking Landon can be construed as a good thing in several ways. - that better younger players are challenging and pushing the preceding generation out - and that there wasn't some sort of push/overrule from within Soccer-USA (or whatever it's called) to take the "name" player simply for familiarity/marketing reasons. How long after the announcement of the final 23 do you think it took for ESPN to contact Donavan about TV work next month?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 22 2014 10:15 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

A millisecond or so. Thing is, though Donovan's not quite the player he once was, he's got something in the tank; he probably would've been on my squad, if just barely. Certainly over a guy like Brad Davis-- who's not exactly young himself, and basically contributes only with defensive effort (if not excellence) and a left foot for set pieces. (Then again, Klinsmann probably has a slightly-better-informed view on the matter.) The other thing is, these cuts are happening way earlier than expected. Klinsmann didn't have to do anything for another week-and-a-half; considering there are a lot of potential practice data-points (the team's only been running full-squad workouts for a couple of days) to accrue-- and two warm-up games-- in between now and then... well, Klinsmann must have been very sure.

Frayed Knot May 23 2014 06:18 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The other thing is, these cuts are happening way earlier than expected. Klinsmann didn't have to do anything for another week-and-a-half; considering there are a lot of potential practice data-points (the team's only been running full-squad workouts for a couple of days) to accrue-- and two warm-up games-- in between now and then... well, Klinsmann must have been very sure. It's like he's going all Herb Brooks on us. In MIRACLE Brooks/Kurt Russell hands assistant coach Craig Patrick {Noah Emmerich] his preliminary final roster after just one day of workouts, much to the chagrin of the hockey execs/mother hens looking over his shoulder. "But you've left off some of the best players" says Patrick. "I don't want the best players" Brooks replies, "I want the best team".

Mets – Willets Point May 23 2014 09:14 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I can see the argument for taking Donovan as an experienced veteran and wouldn't object if he'd made the cut, but I'm finding the fatalistic response from US soccer fans overblown. His skills have deteriorated, he lacks durability, and he sat out the WC qualifiers. I don't think he'd make a huge contribution to this years team and with the strength of the group round opponents it is probably a good idea to have young, fresh legs on the bench. Donovan can still go to Brazil to play the inspirational/cheerleader role but he doesn't need to be on the roster.

Edgy MD May 23 2014 11:39 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I think maybe Americans have more of a tradition of tolerance for a veteran player to coast on a roster spot at the butt end of a career, letting him play an elder-statesman/spiritual leader role. This seems do-able to me in the World Cup roster situation, when at least six (to my thinking) players never seem to get off the bench. But I think there is more of a tradition of these sorts of cold, cold cuts made by World Cup coaches for other nations. Ask Beckham. It's perhaps an important opportunity for coaches to show their authority. "This is the World F'ing Cup, not a thank-you tour. I cut Pele and I can sure as hell cut you too. Now get out there and bust your butts!" I sometimes wonder if great players like Klinsmann and Maradona are willing to take on the hassle of going into coaching after their career as a way of redeeming some knife a coach put into their hearts at the end of their runs.

Mets – Willets Point May 23 2014 12:33 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Interesting perspective, Edgy.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 23 2014 01:34 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But the team he's taking includes guys recently benched by their own MLS team for positional errors (Yedlin), guys with, like, one cap (Green, Brooks), and guys whose form for their clubs this season has been suspect (Altidore, Jones, and several others). That he didn't take Donovan is a surprise, but justifiable in and of itself, and understandable for one (or several) of several reasons. Taken in context-- that he also took other, less versatile older players (Evans), and much rawer young players over consistent, youngish vets (Parkhurst, Goodson)-- it makes less sense, unless you understand it as a look-to-the-future thing... or unless you think he's seeing something amazing this week out of each of the questionable players that wasn't evident in the prior year or so.

Edgy MD May 23 2014 01:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

And then there's the bizarre tweet from his kid, that makes it sound personal, as inclined as one is to think it isn't.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 23 2014 03:50 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yeah, that was... um... something. Mitigating the something-ness somewhat... the kid's fifteen, I think.

Edgy MD May 24 2014 11:01 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

OK, thought he was 19. Is he a player? Because if he's playing in the US, I imagine opponents are going to start coming at him hard, just 'cuz.

Frayed Knot May 24 2014 12:28 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Klinsmann's kid is a [u:10tg1cc2]17 y/o[/u:10tg1cc2] (so you were both half-right/half-wrong) goalie playing not only IN the U.S. but FOR some U.S. junior team.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 24 2014 06:54 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

He's Jurgen Klinsmann's kid and a national U-18 team prospect, so I'd imagine that opponents have been coming at him studs-up for quite some time. He's been slapped on the wrist publicly by Pops, but still, there's got to be something of the running in-family conversation there (something we'll never know, but still, something).

Mets – Willets Point May 27 2014 01:26 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: How long after the announcement of the final 23 do you think it took for ESPN to contact Donavan about TV work next month? Ding!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 12 2014 08:56 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Hurry the fuck up and join the CPF World Cup Fantasy Challenge: [url]http://y.ahoo.it/cTmtEsno password: hubiebrooks

batmagadanleadoff Jun 12 2014 09:19 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

The sign up's too complicated. Why do I need a password? It looks like I'm in just by clicking in. And the program assigned me a team name already, and I don't know hot to change it. Are we supposed to pick the margin of victory for each match as well, or just the winners/ties?

Edgy MD Jun 12 2014 09:28 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I'm in. Let's go, St. Vincent and the Grenadines!!

Ceetar Jun 12 2014 10:22 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Hurry the fuck up and join the CPF World Cup Fantasy Challenge: [url]http://y.ahoo.it/cTmtEsno password: hubiebrooks fine. random statistical predictions appeals to me.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 12 2014 10:37 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I see Johann Cruyff on the Edge and Watching Grass Grow and A BOy Named Seo. So how do I pick my team name? Where the hell do I click? Because I already clicked every button there is to click on that stupid thing and I still didn't find it. I wish I knew how to write code. I think the people that design these things aren't doing the right things. If my grandmother can't figure out how to click her way through a web site, it's a dumb design. I got a new cell phone last week and the newest Android OS, I seem to be fighting through it. I had to make about half a dozen clicks to add a new telephone number to an existing contact. And that's after about 20 minutes or so of first figuring out the anti-intuitive steps needed. Of course, all of you other people figured out how to name your team, not that that's gonna stop me from ranting about this.

A Boy Named Seo Jun 12 2014 10:44 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

At the top left, there's a little icon of a gear next to your team name. Click that and you can change it.

Ceetar Jun 12 2014 11:36 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I wish I knew how to write code. I think the people that design these things aren't doing the right things. If my grandmother can't figure out how to click her way through a web site, it's a dumb design. I got a new cell phone last week and the newest Android OS, I seem to be fighting through it. I had to make about half a dozen clicks to add a new telephone number to an existing contact. And that's after about 20 minutes or so of first figuring out the anti-intuitive steps needed. [url]http://stilldrinking.org/programming-sucks Don't get me started. Part of the problem with Android is that it's open-source nature means that everyone wants a piece. The phone manufacturer makes their own edits and adjustments, and usually the provider too. So that means in addition to base Android, my phone has been altered by Samsung and Verizon. The "too many cooks spoils the broth" caveat applies to programming as well. And that's just the programming side of it. These things are often designed by non-programmers or former (read: bad) programmers. Then they're given to the programmer to create. Then they go to a testing guy who generally tries to re-design the software to be how HE thinks it should be. Then it goes back to the programmer, who makes the changes, and then the original designer gets pissy about the redesign. So then you have a big half-day meeting where you hammer out the details. That meeting will go something like this. [youtube]BKorP55Aqvg[/youtube] After all that you give it to the customer who will hate it and ask you to jerry-rig different things into it to make it work the way they want. see? you got me started. I guarantee someone had a clear edit button and some design genius said "No, we're going with a minimal text design here. just make it a gear." That gear icon is quickly becoming a catch-all icon for 'settings' btw.

metirish Jun 12 2014 01:51 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I joined but now what?, was i supposed to sign in under my account?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 12 2014 02:01 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I got no idea. Just fill out your picks and we'll see how we do against each other I guess

MFS62 Jun 12 2014 02:35 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Don't really care who wins, but we were just having lunch in a diner, and the big screen TV was showing the Opening Ceremonies. J-Lo can open my ceremonies any time she wants to. But the sound was off. So we're watching an event from Brazil , and the PA system in the diner was playing Country and Western music. It was very Kafka-esque. Later

Frayed Knot Jun 12 2014 03:05 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Brazil, holding the honor of opening the tourney as the home club, celebrating by scoring twice in the first half against Croatia. Unfortunately for the Brazilians they scored once in each goal. 1-1 at the half.

Ceetar Jun 12 2014 03:07 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: Brazil, holding the honor of opening the tourney as the home club, celebrating by scoring twice in the first half against Croatia. Unfortunately for the Brazilians they scored once in each goal. 1-1 at the half. crap, I picked them to win 3-0. struggling already.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 12 2014 10:09 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

If I were Croatian, I probably wouldn't be very happy today. Also, I'd be upset about how the opening match turned out.

Frayed Knot Jun 13 2014 06:02 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

So I'm seeing the highlights of the Croatian players and the Brazilian players arguing with the Japanese referee and wondering ... what language are they speaking? And, yeah, that seemed (to my amateur eyes anyway) like an awfully picky foul to warrant a PK late in a tie game. But, as the authors of the book SCORECASTERS discovered in their research, home field advantages may vary between sports but they tend to be very consistent within a sport and that those sports where the home field advantage is the largest are the ones where the officiating has the highest degree of subjectivity and also the highest potential for impact, namely soccer & basketball.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 13 2014 11:47 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

To the eyes of people with more experience watching the game... it was absolute horseflop. [Which is pretty much all that Fred will give them at striker, so... mission accomplished, Brazil?] I'm thinking that HFA has a lot to do with last night's result; the refereeing was more than a little iffy before AND after that, besides (including the third goal, in which Oscar's run sprang from a very yellow-able foul at midfield by Ramires).

Edgy MD Jun 13 2014 01:40 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Taking probably the weakest matchup of the tournament. Woo-hoo!

A Boy Named Seo Jun 13 2014 01:43 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

WOW. Gorgeous goal by van Persie. Holy shit. Edit: Vid ->>> https://vine.co/v/Mj3JDYzvW70

A Boy Named Seo Jun 13 2014 02:01 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Taking probably the weakest matchup of the tournament. Woo-hoo! http://ep.yimg.com/ay/floormats4less/viva-mexico-floor-mats-2.gif Ha. That sweet-ass logo is for a car floor mat! #chingon

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 13 2014 02:13 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

A Boy Named Seo wrote: WOW. Gorgeous goal by van Persie. Holy shit. Edit: Vid ->>> https://vine.co/v/Mj3JDYzvW70 wOw

A Boy Named Seo Jun 13 2014 02:36 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Dayum. NED's putting the beat down on España. #bracketbuster

metirish Jun 13 2014 05:26 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

A Boy Named Seo wrote: WOW. Gorgeous goal by van Persie. Holy shit. Edit: Vid ->>> https://vine.co/v/Mj3JDYzvW70 Blind likely wanted his superb raking pass to be for a volley chance , RVP tracking it then had to re-position his body for what is being described as a headed volley , it was just brilliant....a classic game ....Australia holding their own here against Chili , in fact they should be level but are down 2-1 with 70 min gone, getting plenty of chances.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 13 2014 08:13 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 13 2014 08:20 PM

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Dayum. NED's putting the beat down on España. #bracketbuster Good Lord, the prison-stare on Iker Casillas after that. My Spanish cousins are apoplectic after this-- half of them are suggesting wholesale lineup changes rational (Javi Martinez in for Pique, Koke in for the increasingly-decrepit legend Xavi, Casillas for United keeper De Gea) and irrational (should have played the "false 9" earlier, switch out the whole midfield/front for smaller attackers like Mata) and the other half are making wild pronouncements about "guts" and complacency. Having a family day tomorrow, but will get to watch the evening games out with family... starting with England-Italy, in my high-school hometown... which has an Italian sister city. LOTS of blueshirted "Italians" who've never been/don't speak a word of the stuff. If the young British legs can handle Pirlo/Verratti and poke holes in the increasingly-holey Italian backline-- one can only hope-- things could get very schadenfreude-licious.

Nymr83 Jun 13 2014 08:14 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

i was watching thanks to Mets rain delay, thought Australia had it even at 2 but the guy stuck the flag up... also, maybe i am missing something rules-wise but if the goalie is the last one to touch the ball before it goes out on a save isnt that a corner? Australia seemed to get robbed of one of those

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 13 2014 08:22 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yeah, it happens. It's a lot of pitch for three sets of eyes to cover.

metirish Jun 14 2014 11:00 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Really looking forward to the England game , Buffon is out injured.....big blow to the Italians

A Boy Named Seo Jun 14 2014 11:57 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Johan Cruyff on the Edge picked it 2-nil Colombia and was sitting pretty till that 3rd dropped in stoppage time... Things are tight at the top of the CPF WC table so far. I think this Uruguay/CR match is gonna be pretty fun. Suarez is actually hurt so we won't see him writhing around in fake pain. Then England/Italy on that sandy, shitty pitch in the Amazon. That'll be the first match at that venue, yah?

A Boy Named Seo Jun 14 2014 02:47 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Costa Rica, alright. Hell of a left foot on Joel Campbell. Call him up, Arsene! Here's that strike he fired against Man U in the Champs League this past year. Sorry, C. :) [youtube:e4u9y476]ATcwmXJYbDU[/youtube:e4u9y476]

MFS62 Jun 14 2014 04:48 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Was listening to the England-Italy match during the drive home today. The play-by-play of a soccer match on radio is more exciting than I thought it would be. Later

Frayed Knot Jun 14 2014 06:53 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

MFS62 wrote: Was listening to the England-Italy match during the drive home today. The play-by-play of a soccer match on radio is more exciting than I thought it would be. And more exciting than England was too. The TV announcers seemed to be getting on Wayne Rooney for his lack of defensive skills and/or effort. I suppose he's not in there for his defense but they implied on several occasions that he didn't seem to know where he was supposed to be - or did know and couldn't be bothered. Nice corner kick too hairpiece -- only 20 or 30 yards further to the left and it might have actually landed on the playing field. To be fair to him though, his crossing pass that set up the only England goal was effin' perfect.

metirish Jun 14 2014 06:59 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yeah, the dick that was hammering him(the color guy) Macca is Liverpool FC true and true, fucking hates United....he's a dick , plus playing Rooney out on the left and not up front is pointless, manager trying to fit him and the other strikers in the same team. Gerarrd and Henderson playing in central midfield in defensive roles couldn't do a thing to stop the ageless Pirlo ....

Frayed Knot Jun 14 2014 07:06 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

It struck me while listening to him that (even though I'm hardly an expert on British Isles regional accents) he sounds like he's from Liverpool.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 14 2014 08:35 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

The Beatles helped make the Scouse accent known worldwide.

Frayed Knot Jun 14 2014 09:41 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: The Beatles helped make the Scouse accent known worldwide. That's exactly how I recognized it. The lilt in his voice reminded me of one of those fab-four press-conferences from way back when.

A Boy Named Seo Jun 14 2014 10:12 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: Yeah, the dick that was hammering him(the color guy) Macca is Liverpool FC true and true, fucking hates United....he's a dick , plus playing Rooney out on the left and not up front is pointless, manager trying to fit him and the other strikers in the same team. Gerarrd and Henderson playing in central midfield in defensive roles couldn't do a thing to stop the ageless Pirlo .... Was a nice cross by Rooney, though. How many balls did Englad shank? Seemed like they had a few other decent opportunities. I was at a place with the sound off. Were they saying anything about the quality of the pitch?

metirish Jun 15 2014 09:38 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Nothing about the pitch, seemed fine ..England's back four were awful too

metirish Jun 15 2014 06:28 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

One thing I am loving about this WC is that the star players so far have shown up, playing a WC in Brazil is every players dream,,,,,it should be if it's not Messi [youtube:le0bgurq]pJHdd-ZMBMY[/youtube:le0bgurq]

batmagadanleadoff Jun 15 2014 06:33 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Why is the WC held only every four years? It ain't 1930 anymore. People these days can travel the world in commercial jets, ya know? Is it mostly because of tradition, or is there a logical reason for the four year wait?

metirish Jun 15 2014 06:44 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Tradition is a part of it, but the UEFA European Championship(2012 Spain are champs) is held in between, also every four years. as is the South American version

batmagadanleadoff Jun 15 2014 06:51 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

What do you think? I know very little about soccer compared to you guys, but if I was a big fan, I'd want a WC more than once every four years.

metirish Jun 15 2014 06:55 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Never going to happen though, the top players play to many games now in typical season , even more so in WC Euro years.....their clubs hate all the international games...

Edgy MD Jun 15 2014 07:01 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Fans get a cup-like tournament every year. There's the European Cup (along with their brethren on other continents), Champions Cup, Women's World Cup, World Cup Qualifiers, youth tournies, Olympics. It's like the climax of a quadrennial jingoist cycle. And of course, every nation's league play, which would scarcely be able to feel authentic in the shadow a World Cup every year. (OE: what the Irishman said.)

Frayed Knot Jun 15 2014 08:03 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Plus at least some of the intervening time is needed for all the regional qualifiers that whittle all the nations of the world down to the 32 that'll go to the WC. The month-long tourney itself may only be once every four years but that's really more like the cap on a process that goes on for a time leading up to that summer.

metirish Jun 15 2014 08:32 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Great point, to quilify is a two year slog

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 15 2014 08:57 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

So, I'm watching Saturday evening's action-- the latter two games-- at a big-tent/outdoor-bar setup adjacent to my high-school hometown's newish upscale-pub. I've got some family members there, friends of friends surrounding us, and a LOT of enthusiastic English (imports!) and Italian (not so!) fans filling in every available seat, table, and standing nook in the place. There are jerseys of nation and club (Napoli, United, Juventus, Chelsea); I'm wearing a vintage '90s Chelsea shirt myself, as I'm sorta rooting English. There's a lot of facepaint. In the case of some of the English English fans, there's body paint. It's loud and raucous, but almost-entirely convivial. YoungerPooper and the wife are even hanging out for a bit, too, toward the end of the first game. England-Italy ends, and I head toward the inside bar for an adult beverage refill... and I notice that some of the English English fans are flexing St. George's Cross-painted beer muscles and yelling toward the street. I follow their eyes, and see a large group of Italy fans-- apparently the domestic kind-- spilling out of the pizza place across the street... with three or four of them flashing fascist hand waves. For, like, a good 20-30 seconds. In, y'know, upper-middle-class-suburban New Jersey. And the small group of across-the-pond English fans were the only ones reacting. When I come back from the bar, I ask one of the Brits-- the one closest to the sidewalk/my path-- if I actually saw what I saw; he doesn't respond verbally, but gives me an odd look. I walk on, figuring he didn't hear me, and head back to my seat. He and his buddies make his way toward the parking lot, walking by our table to do so. I nod his way, and he stares me down. Hard. And he hisses "Cheeelsea" like it's an epithet. I nod, and shrug. He starts hitting himself in the chest, and yelling "UNITED!" I roll my eyes, then turn toward my cousin to chat. He gets louder, and gets dragged off by his friends, still yelling. That's about when my wife and kid leave. A taste of the Old World, eh?

metirish Jun 15 2014 09:16 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

English hooligans and Italian Ultras on display unfortunately ......hey, but lets drop Rooney, the hate among the England team and fan base for all things United is unreal.....goes back generations .....it is a regular thing to hear their fans chant during game "stand up if you hate United".....scum

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 15 2014 09:22 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well, yes. But Ultras and lager louts... in whitebread Jersey. I really do wish Rooney had done something to shut those morons up (as Messi did for his Argentine "supporters"); there's still time, if it is growing short. But, Lordy, Sterling and Sturridge sure are joys to behold in something other than red (or terrible, multicolored clipart) kits, ain't they?

metirish Jun 15 2014 09:26 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

True, hard to fault Sterling and his club mate but Rooney needs to play as a real #10 in the next game......I should say that the hatred goes both ways , United fans in general hate England, there is a reason why the United flag is a tri color...

Frayed Knot Jun 16 2014 06:32 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 16 2014 02:41 PM

Maybe it’s because I’m further removed than most from any ‘old country’ — over a century/4 generations on one side, up to ten generations/300 years on the other — but I’ve always found the concept of U.S. natives waving one’s ethnic lineage about as if it is the defining characteristic about them to be a bit odd, particularly as the bulk of European immigration into this country is now 90-125 years in the rearview mirror. I understand that it’s going to be a bit different for those whose international heritage is more recent, but I think a whole lot of folks like to latch on to an ethnicity (however far removed or diluted) as a kind of identity so as to seem less bland. IOW, the scene LWFS describes in "whitebread New Jersey" isn't odd to me but rather is happening because it’s in whitebread New Jersey. Now obviously the straight-out-of-England crowd is a whole other story and I don’t pretend to fully understand all the inter-club feuds going on [maybe Irish can explain that United 'tricolor' flag thing a bit more]. But I’m guessing many of the Italian fans in that scene are neither full-time soccer followers nor have a connection to Italy beyond having (some but probably not all) grand or great-grands born there a century or more ago. The WC simply gives them a reason to flaunt a kind of opportunistic tribalism by going all in on “their” a team, a move that is at the same time temporarily empowering and, because it’s generally known in advance that the squad has a good chance of faring well, low risk.

Edgy MD Jun 16 2014 08:49 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

It'd be a damn shame if the decades-in-coming full American adoption of soccer/futbol finally takes root only because folks who couldn't get down with the ties and the low scoring and elusive strategic engagement finally get in board because, in the tenuous tolerance of drunken jingoist mob violence, they've finally found the part of futbol culture that's their in.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 16 2014 11:03 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Portugal out there embarrassing themselves. Down three goals to Germany with only ten players.

Frayed Knot Jun 16 2014 11:22 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

"If you had the Iberian Peninsula for a strong showing in the opening games ... YOU LOST!!!"

metirish Jun 16 2014 01:04 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: Now obviously the straight-out-of-England crowd is a whole other story and I don’t pretend to fully understand all the inter-club feuds going on [maybe Irish can explain that United 'tricolor' flag thing a bit more]. well there is certainly some different theories on this, not even sure when the flag was introduced, the city of Manchester has a long tradition of immigration from Ireland , they were the first English side to sign an Irish pro back when united were known as Newton Heath,over the years there has been a perception, especially in the 50's onward that Manchester United were the catholic club in Manchester , a lot of their early support came from the Irish enclaves of Manchester.....even to this day when United play Glasgow Rangers(protestant club) the animosity is unreal.....yet when they regularly play Celtic it's a party...United have bought and sold players with Celtic over the years, rarely if ever with Rangers..... then there is this http://therepublikofmancunia.com/the-re ... -mancunia/

metirish Jun 16 2014 05:21 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

USA have been on the back foot since Dempsey's very goal.....Ghana all over then in the second half and look like scoring ....

metirish Jun 16 2014 06:10 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well, Ghana did score but the USA came back to take the lead from a set piece , great stuff form them, good game....hard to fathom how Altidore who absolutely sucked at Sunderland is apparently USA most important player according to the awful Darke and Twellmam tandem.

Ashie62 Jun 16 2014 06:21 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

USA 2 GHANA 1

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 16 2014 06:25 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Jun 16 2014 10:05 PM

It's not that he's great, Irish-- it's the hold-up play. Who else can play up top in a 4-3-2-1/4-2-3-1 kinda thing? Even WITHOUT the goal, Brooks (one potentially-terrible mistake aside) played hisself a ballgame off the bench. Whaddaya know, we've got a center-back pair all of a sudden. Well, as long as the fullbacks, y'know, play defense next time around. Also, I don't know if I've ever seen Jones play a better game in a US shirt. Dude was an animal out there.

Nymr83 Jun 16 2014 06:28 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well, that was fun. If you assume Germany beats everyone we just need to tie Portugal and count on their now terrible goal differential to advance.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 16 2014 10:00 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

"HOLY SHIT!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!"

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 16 2014 11:07 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I managed to stay ignorant of the US game till watched it on DVR finishing just now. Wow!

metirish Jun 17 2014 06:53 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I managed to stay ignorant of the US game till watched it on DVR finishing just now. Wow! wow...good stuff. Dempsey's goal was one of the best so far...RVP, Messi, Dempsey????

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 17 2014 07:18 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I have only 1 TV and a wife, couldn't start the broadcast till 11, barely awake, but was so jacked up afterward I couldn't get to sleep.

Ceetar Jun 17 2014 07:20 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

So I guess they won?

metirish Jun 17 2014 07:23 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I can imagine how deflating it was when Ghana scored?, wtf did I DVR this for....and then Brooks..... props to Klinnsman for not trying to park the bus, and who could blame him if he did, but instead trying to push forward, he got rewarded...

Mets – Willets Point Jun 17 2014 08:50 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Darke and Twellman were saying that the US should be okay settling for a draw just before Brooks' goal. Reminded me of Madden saying the Patriots should take a knee and go to overtime against the Rams in the Super Bowl.

metirish Jun 17 2014 09:23 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Twellman then with the co commentators faux pas of screaming yeeeeees before catching himself when Brooks scored, there is not a moment's silence he won't fill.

Frayed Knot Jun 17 2014 09:47 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: ... there is not a moment's silence he won't fill. A reminder of why hockey's Mike 'Doc' Emerick is so good (as pointed out by Phil Mushnick in a column this weekend): After calling the OT Cup-winning goal for LA, he allowed nearly two minutes to go by before he said another word; just let the scene speak for itself.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 17 2014 10:26 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: ... there is not a moment's silence he won't fill. A reminder of why hockey's Mike 'Doc' Emerick is so good (as pointed out by Phil Mushnick in a column this weekend): After calling the OT Cup-winning goal for LA, he allowed nearly two minutes to go by before he said another word; just let the scene speak for itself. Just like Vin Scully after Mookie's grounder went through Buckner's legs.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 17 2014 10:32 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

The Magnificent Bastards of Algeria go up 1 on Belgium on a penalty. The first goal for Algeria in the World Cup since 1986.

Frayed Knot Jun 17 2014 10:56 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: ... there is not a moment's silence he won't fill. A reminder of why hockey's Mike 'Doc' Emerick is so good (as pointed out by Phil Mushnick in a column this weekend): After calling the OT Cup-winning goal for LA, he allowed nearly two minutes to go by before he said another word; just let the scene speak for itself. Just like Vin Scully after Mookie's grounder went through Buckner's legs. The good ones know both what to say and when not to say anything. Most of the others are too insecure to allow so much silence and are therefore under the impression that their particular stamp on the game is needed at all times.

metirish Jun 17 2014 11:28 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Belgium equalize with a beauty of a cross from Kevin De Bruyne and guided perfectly into the top corner header from Fellaini ..

metirish Jun 17 2014 11:37 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Great tackle wins the ball for Belgium who go on a great counter attack, ball ends up with Mertens who put the laces right though the ball to blast it into the goal....thrilling stuff......

Frayed Knot Jun 17 2014 12:49 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: Dempsey's goal was one of the best so far...RVP, Messi, Dempsey???? Would have to go with Van Persie's of the ones I've seen so far. Dempsey's was just so stunning because of the timing. A US squad with some doubt going in and knowing they have a tough road in front of them, gets started off with recent nemesis Ghana in a situation where a tie probably won't be good enough. A goal in the first 30 seconds under those circumstances is so huge.

metirish Jun 17 2014 01:03 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Of definitely RVP's goal is the best so far, I had Dempsey's sitting third......his touch to get past the player was exquisite ...

Mets – Willets Point Jun 17 2014 01:13 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: Of definitely RVP's goal is the best so far, I had Dempsey's sitting third......his touch to get past the player was exquisite ... #21 on Ghana looked so befuddled as Dempsey just cruised right around him.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 17 2014 03:19 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Guillermo Ochoa puts his body in front of several shots by Brazil and Mexico manages a draw.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 17 2014 04:17 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Positively Lundqvistian by Mr. Ochoa, there. The Mexicans are looking like a great bet to advance... and close to a 50-50 bet to do so without allowing a goal.

Frayed Knot Jun 17 2014 04:30 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The Mexicans are looking like a great bet to advance... and close to a 50-50 bet to do so without allowing a goal. Not bad for a team that seemed in total turmoil for much of the year. Seemed like they were on the coach-per-week plan there for a while.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 18 2014 11:14 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Australia up 2:1 on Netherlands. I'm loving this World Cup. Oh, it's 2:2 as I write this. Still, Australia is doing better than Spain.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 18 2014 11:50 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Netherlands win 3-2. What a great game!

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 18 2014 12:00 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Moral victories stink. Congratulations, you awesome, dirty, diving Dutch.

Edgy MD Jun 18 2014 12:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Damn, Tim Cahill. That was one-touch madness. That was the weakest part of my weak weak game in soccer. Mike Gallagher would put a cross right onto my foot, and rather than courageously and confidently whaling on the ball in the general direction of the goal, I'd try to trap it and tee it up and absolutely fail to get it under control. Tim Cahill, you are my idol.

Frayed Knot Jun 18 2014 02:46 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Hi we're Spain, we'll be your NON-repeating champions in this your's tourney as you can see by our 0-2 record and -6 goal differential. * barring a miracle comeback vs Chile - currently 2-0 Chile with only minutes left

metirish Jun 18 2014 06:58 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

And wasn't that Cahill's "weak" foot?, we have seen mostly great games and goals this time around...a joy to watch, love this Chile team, they will be hard to beat.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 18 2014 07:09 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

The Chileans are pretty damn fun, style-wise... and they're so hard to stop.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 19 2014 11:29 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

The ESPN crew are fixated on Didier Drogba in a Brett Favre/LeBron James kind of way. Not quite Jeterian though. Colombia up 2-0 on the Ivorians.

Frayed Knot Jun 19 2014 12:17 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

ESPN, in case you didn't already know this, is an extremely star-driven outfit. Rumor had it that their entire enterprise was on the verge of going belly-up back when Tim Tebow lost his job, but it looks like Johnny Manziel stepped up as a replacement just in time to save their business model.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 19 2014 12:18 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Tuning out of this thread and the whole world until I can catch up with England-Uruguay when I get home

metirish Jun 19 2014 12:40 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Tuning out of this thread and the whole world until I can catch up with England-Uruguay when I get home can't watch online at espn watch?

Mets – Willets Point Jun 19 2014 02:33 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Liverpool 1:1 Manchester United

Mets – Willets Point Jun 19 2014 02:40 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Make that Liverpool 2:1 Manchester United.

metirish Jun 19 2014 07:16 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

England were piss poor, could not believe the nonsense after the Italian game with the media claiming they actually played well, and please Rooney was not the problem, Gerard and Henderson were awful but the back four were just terrible, missed Terry for sure.

Frayed Knot Jun 19 2014 07:52 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

"Did you ever score a World Cup equalizer? ... I have." Just an awful goal to lose it on. And let's just say that Gerrard was certainly not the best Liverpool player out there today.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 19 2014 09:39 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: England were piss poor, could not believe the nonsense after the Italian game with the media claiming they actually played well, and please Rooney was not the problem, Gerard and Henderson were awful but the back four were just terrible, missed Terry for sure. I thought they gave 2 fun games to watch anyway. Just devastating way to go down tonight but they deserved it! Japan-Greece game wasn't as much fun. Greece down a man but still has Japan badly beat in overall weight and height.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 20 2014 12:57 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Jun 20 2014 02:20 AM

Frayed Knot wrote: ESPN, in case you didn't already know this, is an extremely star-driven outfit. I love how Ian Darke's call of the Rooney equalizer was, essentially, "ROONEY FINALLY SCORED IN A WORLD CUP!" instead of "ENGLAND IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE" or "URUGUAY FINALLY GAVE!" metirish wrote: England were piss poor, could not believe the nonsense after the Italian game with the media claiming they actually played well, and please Rooney was not the problem, Gerard and Henderson were awful but the back four were just terrible, missed Terry for sure. Yyyyyyep-- everyone but Cahill will remember it well, because Lord knows, they watched the ball enough. Having a left back who can actually, y'know, man-mark would 'ave 'elped, too. Roy Hodgson's done some interesting work on a budget in the (increasingly-distant) past, but his roster-selection for this England squad was on par with his, um, Liverpool best. COLOMBIA, though. Yepes and the kids play some defense, and the counterattack has barely missed Falcao; considering that they're likely facing beatable-looking Italy or Uruguay (or Costa Rica?) in the next round, this team's a great bet to go through the quarters... and honestly, I'm not sure I don't take them over the hometown boys, either.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 20 2014 01:47 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Oh, and about that Uruguay-England match... the handling of the Pereira knee-to-head knockout-- teammate slapping him/jostling his head to "check" his condition, trainer/coach allowing him to come back in-- was pretty damn appalling.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 20 2014 10:45 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Los Ticos up 1-0 on Azzuri. I love this World Cup.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 20 2014 11:10 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Almost as surprising as the goal itself? The fact that it was totally not against the run of play. Plus, holy hell-- they're actually pressuring Pirlo aggressively when he's got the ball, and denying him opportunities to do so when he doesn't. I was under the impression after the England game that teams weren't allowed to do that this World Cup.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 20 2014 11:58 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Costa Rica holds on for the win. England sent home

metirish Jun 20 2014 11:58 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Amazing, best WC for a long time......

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 20 2014 12:42 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Colombia and Costa Rica are jockeying hard for my favorite-team-that-isn't-one-of-my-teams this go-round.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 20 2014 01:16 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

The French are finding holes in the Swiss defense and lead 2-0.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 20 2014 02:25 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Ok, this game is boring. 4-0 to the Frenchies.

Frayed Knot Jun 20 2014 03:17 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 20 2014 03:34 PM

Mets – Willets Point wrote: The French are finding holes in the Swiss ... That's a pretty cheesy line.

Ashie62 Jun 20 2014 03:27 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

GO USA!

metirish Jun 20 2014 05:47 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

This Honduras V Ecuador game just might be the hardest tackling no nonsense game of the WC , tough as nails this lot.

metirish Jun 21 2014 06:30 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I think this is the most enjoyable WC since maybe 1986......or maybe 98......there has been one dud of a game , Iran today played their hearts out and deserved a draw, but they won a lot of friends.....Germany V Ghana was just fucking brilliant ....Nigeria V Bosnia featured some bad ref work....if there is anything bad to say about this WC it's the refs....but they are human. USA V Portugal Sunday , can't wait......when you hear the likes of Jim Rome bad mouthing the game you just know he's on the wrong side on this.....I imagine the viewing numbers will be huge.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 21 2014 08:54 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Iran basically played the game Mexico did against Brazil, only without the result. My God, that Ghana-Germany game.

metirish Jun 22 2014 11:45 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Belgium finally get the break though in the 87th minute, Russia never really seemed to have anything going forward and would have been happy with the . Hazard up until a few minutes before the goal was having a quite game but like all the great players he came alive .....

Ashie62 Jun 22 2014 04:14 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I believe I heard 18 million TV clickers after Portugal scored five minutes in...

d'Kong76 Jun 22 2014 04:26 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Your remote clicks? You need an upgrade!

Ashie62 Jun 22 2014 04:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I think you know what I mean.. funny guy lol.. That goal was deflating... I am watching...

Ashie62 Jun 22 2014 05:25 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

1-1 yeah!

Ashie62 Jun 22 2014 06:02 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

F--K

metirish Jun 22 2014 06:11 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Great game, we would have taken a draw before the game, still, a punch in the gut.....a draw is no good for Portugal.....Germany game has meaning now

d'Kong76 Jun 22 2014 06:12 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

That sucked

d'Kong76 Jun 22 2014 06:12 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

That sucked

Frayed Knot Jun 22 2014 07:02 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Amazing how retaining possession for just another second or two would have sealed the win. But they turned it over giving Portugal one last run and the worst thing that could happen did. Latest equalizing goal in WC history EVAH (or so sez the folks on my TV set) So I know a Portugal/Ghana tie moves the US on regardless. As, obviously, does a win against Germany. Other than that I guess the US is rooting for a Portugal win but by a small margin. If that happens then anything other than a pasting by Germany would get us through.

Ashie62 Jun 22 2014 07:07 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

A cockpunch non-loss...

Frayed Knot Jun 22 2014 07:13 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

True, but probably not a fatal one.

metirish Jun 22 2014 07:14 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish Jun 22 2014 07:16 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 22 2014 07:16 PM

Germany can't be looking at this game as a gimmie , #USA are for real, great spirit in this team. Klinsmann is pushing all the right buttons. and you just know when the pool was picked he was wishing for this scenario....

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 22 2014 07:16 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Was so confident they'd cling to that lead I got up to pee and missed the equalizer. I don't care how they spin it, that was devastatingly bad for the USA. I thought they were more or less happy with a 1-1 tie.

metirish Jun 22 2014 07:21 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Previous USA coaches wold have tried to settle for the tie, but klinsmann is far more progressive , players have to love that ....that kid he brought on for extra cover was bombing forward....be surprised if he doesn't start.....Jermaine Jones looks a very good player yet it was his careless turnover that coughed up the goal.

Frayed Knot Jun 22 2014 07:28 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Portugal was definitely the more desperate squad as a loss would have killed them and even the tie leaves them hanging by a thread. I don't think the US settled for the tie but the Portugese were the ones throwing everything but the sink out there at the end.

metirish Jun 22 2014 07:34 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yeah, even when they scored they didn't celebrate, they know the gig is up........it's a cock punch but there are so many positive things for the #USA to take into the German game ....should be a cracker

Edgy MD Jun 22 2014 10:04 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I had four separate commitments today and didn't see one second of US/Portugal. Stopped to grab a bite at a Latin deli, though, and they had Russia/Belgium going and I though it was a lovely game. Neither team is a top side perhaps, but the action was end to end.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 22 2014 11:01 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 23 2014 07:52 PM

Watched it in another big pub with family and a couple hundred strangers... the vibe of that last little bit felt a little like Wainwright-to-Beltran. Up until then, raucous and noisy and fun (American Outlaw chants/songs, booing Cristiano Ronaldo like he was a Saturday serial villain), and the kid learned/learned to love "I Believe That We Will Win." I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure, just from the way that they've played so far, that sometime during the last week of US training camp, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley must have reached for an enchanted water bottle at the same time, and ended up doing an 80's-high-concept-comedy-style body-switch. Jones has played his finest two games in an American shirt at the same time that Bradley has played 180 good-work-rate minutes rife with muffed through-passes and weird on-ball judgement (yesterday's game, though, was a FAR sight better than that Ghana one). A draw between Germany and the Americans would suit both pretty well. But... the fact that the second-place team in this group is likely set up to play Belgium, while the winner could get Algeria... well, that's reason enough for play-to-win come Thursday, innit?

metirish Jun 23 2014 07:50 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

true stroy, met my neighbors in the elevator after the game, I asked them if they watched the game....what game?, explained what happened, wife was aghast that they didn't keep playing until someone scored. Ties?draw is a hard concept for non soccer liking Americans to accept.

Ceetar Jun 23 2014 07:54 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: true stroy, met my neighbors in the elevator after the game, I asked them if they watched the game....what game?, explained what happened, wife was aghast that they didn't keep playing until someone scored. Ties?draw is a hard concept for non soccer liking Americans to accept. That says a lot about Hockey in this country too methinks.

Frayed Knot Jun 23 2014 09:16 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Of course for the majority of the 20th century until around the 1980s or so, Americans dealt with ties in pro football, college football, and NHL hockey - so it's not like ties are a totally foreign concept over here. But, yeah, the idea of a tie as a conclusion--and sometimes a well-earned and satisfactory one--is tough for some to grasp onto, particularly given the large percentage of soccer games that end that way. Thing is, given the tricked-up and/or random ways that have been dreamed up by the NFL/NHL/NCAA for breaking ties, I'm not so sure that going all out to have a winner declared is always the best solution.

Ceetar Jun 23 2014 09:25 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: Of course for the majority of the 20th century until around the 1980s or so, Americans dealt with ties in pro football, college football, and NHL hockey - so it's not like ties are a totally foreign concept over here. But, yeah, the idea of a tie as a conclusion--and sometimes a well-earned and satisfactory one--is tough for some to grasp onto, particularly given the large percentage of soccer games that end that way. Thing is, given the tricked-up and/or random ways that have been dreamed up by the NFL/NHL/NCAA for breaking ties, I'm not so sure that going all out to have a winner declared is always the best solution. I think it's more that the US isn't used to the pool format for tournaments, and really unless you knew it was a pool you'd be puzzled anyway. The whole point of a World Cup is to determine a single winner and how are you going to do that with a tie? 2 15 minute bonus periods and a penalty shootout apparently.

Frayed Knot Jun 23 2014 11:03 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well, in the later rounds they don't permit ties but in the preliminary ones they do - something that's as much for time/scheduling/player exhaustion reasons as much as anything else. But, in general, I'm talking more about the concept of ties in soccer in general whether within a short tourney or during longer seasons. With such a low scoring game they happen so often that I think American tastes find that ... well, a bit un-tasteful.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 23 2014 11:58 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Group B complete - "flat and below sea level" joins "long and skinny" in the knock-out rounds. "Tilting at windmills" and "That's no island it's a continent!" go home

metirish Jun 23 2014 12:58 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

This is getting old, there are plenty of hardcore fans over here, by all accounts they have the largest traveling support in Brazil http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... mainstream

Ceetar Jun 23 2014 01:18 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: This is getting old, there are plenty of hardcore fans over here, by all accounts they have the largest traveling support in Brazil http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... mainstream I'm not into soccer, but I know I could easily be convinced culturally if it started becoming a thing and i had friends into it. I don't understand why they haven't formed ticket deals to drag people out to the Red Bulls stadium (nice place when I was there for something else)? Buy a 4-pack of Mets tickets, get 4 tickets to a Red Bulls game, and vice versa? Like I said, if someone said to me "Hey, I've got a ticket to the game, want to come?" I'd come. I like sports and competition, even if it doesn't hold a candle to baseball. Same goes for the WNBA. I mean the Liberty actually play in exactly the same place. Give Knicks fans free tickets to the Liberty and some will show up, and a few might even become real fans. I mean, the NBA season ends, you're a basketball fan, and you have these tickets to more basketball games that are still going on and it's in the same place and your same routine can apply and you wouldn't go?

metirish Jun 23 2014 01:46 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

This though is an article that makes an appearance every four years....the media it seems has an obsession with "soccer" getting huge in the #USA.

Ceetar Jun 23 2014 01:49 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: This though is an article that makes an appearance every four years....the media it seems has an obsession with "soccer" getting huge in the #USA. "I have to write about soccer and I don't know what to write oooh maybe I'll write about ratings and how it's big now but not big and then I can secretly talk about other sports"

batmagadanleadoff Jun 23 2014 02:03 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Is it as odd to you as it is to me that the first tiebreaker between two teams in group play isn't the result of their head to head matchup? http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_26 ... stem-works

Mets – Willets Point Jun 23 2014 02:30 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mexican fans laying on the homophobic slurs heavily today.

Frayed Knot Jun 23 2014 02:46 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Is it as odd to you as it is to me that the first tiebreaker between two teams in group play isn't the result of their head to head matchup? http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_26 ... stem-works Head-to-head results are often inconclusive in short preliminary rounds like this one. Not only are head-to-head ties likely but so are three-way ties where you can get into a situation with teams all being 1-1 against each other or some other mixed result. Soccer also likes to use goal differential so as to not encourage defensive, low-scoring games. The loser for instance (assuming there is one) of the US/Germany match on Thursday has to guard against the winner of Ghana/Portugal winning big and catching them on GD.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 23 2014 03:45 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

If you're nation starts with the letter "C" your team is getting a beat-down this afternoon.

metirish Jun 23 2014 04:33 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Most watched soccer game ever on US TV, 25 million viewers .......this WC is the biggest event in social media ever....

Frayed Knot Jun 23 2014 04:46 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: If you're nation starts with the letter "C" your team is getting a beat-down this afternoon. Damn, and I had Cambodia in the pool!!

metirish Jun 23 2014 05:32 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

My bad, Jones did not lose the ball it was Bradley, but as Ballack and Lalas said in breaking down this play so brilliantly he lost it in the Portugal half and there was 6 #USA players in the US half at that moment.....and as Ballack points out 4 of them were ball watching .....great stuff.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 23 2014 08:02 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Fair point. Bradley (or Gonzalez, or Beasley, for that matter) also could have fouled. Y'ever notice how averse the American-born folk are-- Beckermans notwithstanding-- to a nice, smart 'professional foul?' (The Joneses and Johnsons, on the other hand... not so much. An academy training thing?)

Mets – Willets Point Jun 24 2014 08:20 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

You think that England have nothing to play for in today's final group match? Think again! Costa Rica are the current holders of the Unofficial Football World Championship, and England can snatch that title away with a win today.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 24 2014 09:29 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Now I get it. you're a guy Uruguay. Weren't you in last place a few days ago, with like, no correct scores? [fimg=733:3g4p5ezl]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/14496569694_61754b00ef_b.jpg[/fimg:3g4p5ezl]

Ceetar Jun 24 2014 09:41 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I've picked 0 correct scores so far. I feel like that's tough to do.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 24 2014 09:45 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Ceetar wrote: I've picked 0 correct scores so far. I feel like that's tough to do. You could hedge your guesses by disabling Java on your browser. This would allow you, for example, to pick Italy over Uruguay in this afternoon's match, but pick a final result where Uruguay outscores Italy. This might come in handy if you're at the top of the standings near the end of the tournament.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 24 2014 09:47 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

batmagadanleadoff wrote: [fimg=733]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/14496569694_61754b00ef_b.jpg[/fimg] Those names are hilarious. Too bad I missed the sign up.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 24 2014 11:15 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

There are no more discouraging words in international football than "Italy only needs a draw."

Mets – Willets Point Jun 24 2014 01:34 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Next big World Cup contest is who fires their coach first: England, Italy, or Spain?

Frayed Knot Jun 24 2014 01:47 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

So apparently Luis Suarez taking a chunk out of an opponent isn't a new phenomenon? ... and it appears that he's done so again today. 'You'll Never Bite Alone'

seawolf17 Jun 24 2014 02:08 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Next big World Cup contest is who fires their coach first: England, Italy, or Spain? Italian coach already resigned, sez the Internets.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 24 2014 03:53 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

A last minute penalty allows Greece to advance to knock-out rounds at the expense of Côte d'Ivoire!

metirish Jun 24 2014 05:43 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

What is there left to say about Suarez?, he is absolute scum

Frayed Knot Jun 24 2014 06:36 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: A last minute penalty allows Greece to advance to knock-out rounds at the expense of Côte d'Ivoire! I especially like the play where the Greeks wheeled out that huge horse and then surprised the goalie when their striker popped out of it unmarked.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 24 2014 07:29 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: A last minute penalty allows Greece to advance to knock-out rounds at the expense of Côte d'Ivoire! I watched that game, which I had guessed at a 1-1 draw for the pool. I was counting my four points right until the last minute of stoppage time. ABNS scored it right (2-1 Greece). That was an eight point swing.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 24 2014 08:35 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Giorgio Samaras' nickname at Manchester City-- "Tragedy"-- is one of my favorites of all time. And, appropriately enough, our household's faces were frown masks after that penalty. Man, a third straight narrow first-round exit for Drogba, the Toures, and Cote D'Ivoire's "golden generation".... that's depressing stuff right there.

Frayed Knot Jun 24 2014 08:42 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: What is there left to say about Suarez?, he is absolute scum Not only is that disgusting and abhorrent, but it's just so freaking weird. I mean, who over the age of about five bites people? ... and even when I was a kid I don't think I ever did it because I don't think it ever occurred to me to do so. But this guy, allegedly an adult, is doing it on a regular basis while he knows he's on camera fer crissakes!!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 25 2014 06:53 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Our together, never-wears-a-tie, modern go-getter CEO just sent a companywide memo: USA-Germany game to play on TVs in boardroom & lobby, free pizza. Come on by!

metirish Jun 25 2014 07:13 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Our together, never-wears-a-tie, modern go-getter CEO just sent a companywide memo: USA-Germany game to play on TVs in boardroom & lobby, free pizza. Come on by! that's very cool....

Ceetar Jun 25 2014 07:28 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Our together, never-wears-a-tie, modern go-getter CEO just sent a companywide memo: USA-Germany game to play on TVs in boardroom & lobby, free pizza. Come on by! one of our consultant/temp/something is going to be here working on a project for a while and I think has convinced the boss that we should go to Stout in Midtown for the game tomorrow. This job really drives me to drink.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 25 2014 07:31 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Our together, never-wears-a-tie, modern go-getter CEO just sent a companywide memo: USA-Germany game to play on TVs in boardroom & lobby, free pizza. Come on by! that's very cool.... You're welcome

seawolf17 Jun 25 2014 07:49 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Oh, that's a good idea. You have to figure that's happening somewhere on campus, right? I'm going to ask around.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 25 2014 10:25 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

"I'll meet you guys in a few minutes for lunch and the Nigeria-Argentina game. I just want to finish this spreadsheet first. Besides, nothing ever happens in the first five, anyway."

Mets – Willets Point Jun 25 2014 10:29 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: "I'll meet you guys in a few minutes for lunch and the Nigeria-Argentina game. I just want to finish this spreadsheet first. Besides, nothing ever happens in the first five, anyway." Sad trombone.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 25 2014 11:10 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: "I'll meet you guys in a few minutes for lunch and the Nigeria-Argentina game. I just want to finish this spreadsheet first. Besides, nothing ever happens in the first five, anyway." Nothing ever happens in the first five minutes of the second half, either.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 25 2014 11:41 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

9 goals in the the two games played today thus far.

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2014 08:14 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

9 Int'l match ban and 4-month total suspension Luis Suarez Obviously that hurts Uruguay for this tourney but, not knowing exactly how the schedule breaks out for future Int'l matches or the EPL, this sounds like it could be on the light side given both the offense and the recidivist nature of it. I'd have said: See you in a year sucker - and then if we're in a good mood we'll let you back in.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2014 08:22 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

My whole forecast for the tournament was based upon his not getting caught biting other guys.

metirish Jun 26 2014 08:49 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Not harsh enough for the prick....this kills his club , good, fucking hate them games he will miss for #LFC Aug 16: Liverpool v Southampton Aug 23: Manchester City v Liverpool Aug 30: Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool Sep 13: Liverpool v Aston Villa Sep 16: Champions League matchday 1 Sep 20: West Ham United v Liverpool Sep 27: Liverpool v Everton Sep 30: Champions League matchday 2 Oct 4: Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion Oct 18: Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool Oct 21: Champions League matchday 3 Oct 25: Liverpool v Hull City not allowed to train with them either, not allowed anywhere near the stadium.....

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2014 09:36 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I didn't realize EPL started that early so perhaps this isn't quite as lame as I first thought. But this still reeks slightly of the days when the NHL's idea of really coming down hard on a player was to suspend him for 10 days ... with pay ... IN JULY!!. -- exaggerating somewhat there but you get the idea

Edgy MD Jun 26 2014 09:51 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My whole forecast for the tournament was based upon his not getting caught biting other guys. I also went all in for Uruguay. I'm also pretty clueless. As amazed as I was to find out that a man had reached World Cup athlete status while being psychotic, I'm even more stunned to read reports now that Nosferatu is perhaps the third best player in the world.

MFS62 Jun 26 2014 11:19 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Never realized that "bite me!" is a soccer term. Incidentally, Germany just scored. Later

Ashie62 Jun 26 2014 11:51 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

US loses but backs into the finals...

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2014 11:58 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Edgy MD wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My whole forecast for the tournament was based upon his not getting caught biting other guys. I also went all in for Uruguay. I'm also pretty clueless. As amazed as I was to find out that a man had reached World Cup athlete status while being psychotic, I'm even more stunned to read reports now that Nosferatu is perhaps the third best player in the world. He literally is a remorseless animal. Pretty sure that's what it takes to be a top jock. I'm disappointed USA didn;t score today, even though the big picture yyy bbb....

metirish Jun 26 2014 12:40 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Was sure that effort at the end was going in until the damn German's slid to stop it.....good work today though, they must be knackered....I know this because the commentary team kept pointing out how many miles the #USA has traveled.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 26 2014 12:57 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

After today's game... all teams coming out of a game at Manaus (the "middle of the Amazon") are 1-5. (The only win? Portugal, today, against a shattered, disorganized Ghana squad.) So... this afternoon, we root for Algeria and South Korea, no?

Vic Sage Jun 26 2014 01:01 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

so did USA make it or not?

Edgy MD Jun 26 2014 01:04 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

USA advances to the knockout rounds, thanks to Ghana losing.

Ceetar Jun 26 2014 01:06 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: After today's game... all teams coming out of a game at Manaus (the "middle of the Amazon") are 1-5. (The only win? Portugal, today, against a shattered, disorganized Ghana squad.) So... this afternoon, we root for Algeria and South Korea, no? As usual we root for the country with the better beer.

metirish Jun 26 2014 01:27 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: After today's game... all teams coming out of a game at Manaus (the "middle of the Amazon") are 1-5. (The only win? Portugal, today, against a shattered, disorganized Ghana squad.) So... this afternoon, we root for Algeria and South Korea, no? yes, what is the scenario?. if the Belgians win we face them Tuesday?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 26 2014 01:30 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Belgians win or draw, they take the group and play the US. If they lose (to South Korea), they can be passed by Algeria for first with almost any win; we'd then play Algeria. Either Korea or Russia could sneak past Algeria for the second spot, but neither could pass Belgium to take the group.

metirish Jun 26 2014 01:39 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Thanks man......hoping it's Algeria then

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2014 01:40 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Survive and advance - doesn't really matter how. Ideally you'd like to see something better than a win, a tie, and a loss -- but considering that they were in what was widely tabbed as the 'Group of Death'; had the toughest schedule (by miles traveled) of any of the 32 teams; had the Altidore injury just minutes into Game #1; lost out on a win and an early advance via, literally, a last-second goal; and then had their toughest match of the preliminary round coming off short rest out of the jungle game; the 1-1-1 (0 +/-) record doesn't seem so bad.

Zvon Jun 26 2014 01:43 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Go right to 4:20 and check out the end. [youtube:3qceilyw]dAEYRNbKGu8[/youtube:3qceilyw]

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2014 04:28 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Belgium - 4:00 Tuesday

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 26 2014 07:06 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Belgium is beatable. But the idea of handling Hazard on one end and trying to get one past Courtois on the other end... this is not a comforting pair of thoughts.

Ashie62 Jun 26 2014 07:14 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I take it Belgium will be a big favorite?

metirish Jun 26 2014 07:17 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Belgium is beatable. But the idea of handling Hazard on one end and trying to get one past Courtois on the other end... this is not a comforting pair of thoughts. agree, not that big a favorite Ashie, USA are well organized and can counter, but you feel they are another injury away from disaster. Fellaini for all his trouble at Man United is having a fine WC , should be a good battle between he and Jones.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 26 2014 07:39 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I remember Fellaini performing well for Everton. There must be something about moving to Man U that diminishes Evertonians (see Moyes).

Frayed Knot Jun 27 2014 08:26 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Round of 16 (and you know because it's ESPN that someone is going to refer to it as the 'Sweet Sixteen') Saturday, 12 Noon (EDT) -- Brazil vs Chile Saturday, 4 PM -- Colombia vs Uruguay Sunday, 12 Noon -- Netherlands vs Mexico Sunday, 4 PM -- Costa Rica vs Greece Monday, 12 Noon -- France vs Nigeria Monday, 4 PM -- Germany vs Algeria Tuesday, 12 Noon -- Switzerland vs Argentina Tuesday, 4 PM -- United States vs Belgium

batmagadanleadoff Jun 27 2014 09:45 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Dumb soccer question about knockout round scoring: Suppose the two competing teams enter the shootout phase after their match is tied at 0-0 after regulation and the two overtime periods. Team A scores three times in the shootout phase and Team B scores twice. What's the final score of the match? A 3, B 2? A 1 B 0? Something else? P.S. I think that stoppage time is dumb, and creates the possibility of unfair clock management. Not that the refs can't act unfairly as things are. Why doesn't the clock just stop during those moments that are supposed to be added back in during stoppage?

seawolf17 Jun 27 2014 09:49 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I think that stoppage time is dumb, and creates the possibility of unfair clock management. Not that the refs can't act unfairly as things are. Why doesn't the clock just stop during those moments that are supposed to be added back in during stoppage? Because soccer is dumb.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 27 2014 10:05 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Dumb soccer question about knockout round scoring: Suppose the two competing teams enter the shootout phase after their match is tied at 0-0 after regulation and the two overtime periods. Team A scores three times in the shootout phase and Team B scores twice. What's the final score of the match? A 3, B 2? A 1 B 0? Something else? "0-0 [3-2]" or something similar. The goals aren't counted into the regulation/extra-time score. batmagadanleadoff wrote: I think that stoppage time is dumb, and creates the possibility of unfair clock management. Not that the refs can't act unfairly as things are. Why doesn't the clock just stop during those moments that are supposed to be added back in during stoppage? Because soccer is dumb. YOU AH, YA DUMB FACK! Yeah, stoppage time-- as opposed to a stopped clock-- is probably kinda dumb, and a bit of a relic, and an opportunity for bias/other error to creep in. (Then again, so is the whole umpires-judging-balls-and-strikes-subjectively thing, isn't it?)

seawolf17 Jun 27 2014 10:11 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I knew that would get a reaction. (I have nothing against soccer.)

Frayed Knot Jun 27 2014 10:29 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Dumb soccer question about knockout round scoring: Suppose the two competing teams enter the shootout phase after their match is tied at 0-0 after regulation and the two overtime periods. Team A scores three times in the shootout phase and Team B scores twice. What's the final score of the match? A 3, B 2? A 1 B 0? Something else? "0-0 [3-2]" or something similar. The goals aren't counted into the regulation/extra-time score. I find it a bit weird that when the NHL lists the score of say a 3-3 game won via shootout they do it as 4-3, and it's 4-3 regardless of whether the shootout was won 1-0 or if it took seven rounds to finally break a 2-2 deadlock. IOW, the winning team seems to get credit for scoring one goal (just as if the goal was scored in OT and never got to a shootout) regardless of how many successes and saves there were in the SO and despite the fact that the goals for individual players on the winning side won't add up to the final. I assume they keep a record for each player on how he does in the shootouts over the course of a season but those are most definitely not lumped in with his season scoring totals.

Vic Sage Jun 27 2014 11:27 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I find it a bit weird that when the NHL lists the score of say a 3-3 game won via shootout they do it as 4-3, and it's 4-3 regardless of whether the shootout was won 1-0 or if it took seven rounds to finally break a 2-2 deadlock. IOW, the winning team seems to get credit for scoring one goal (just as if the goal was scored in OT and never got to a shootout) regardless of how many successes and saves there were in the SO and despite the fact that the goals for individual players on the winning side won't add up to the final. I assume they keep a record for each player on how he does in the shootouts over the course of a season but those are most definitely not lumped in with his season scoring totals. In Tennis, when a set has a tie-breaker, they don't add those extra points to each player's credit; they just add 1 extra point to break the tie. Goals scored in a shootout, where a skater skates alone, going anywhere on the ice he wants to with the puck, to take on the goalie one-on-one, is not at all comparable to scoring a goal in the middle of an actual hockey game, with 10 other guys on the ice all trying to bash each other's heads in and obstructing and challenging each shooter before his shot ever gets to the goalie. The shootout is just a gimmick being used to give 1 team or the other the extra point it needs to break a tie. They could play rock-paper-scissors in the middle of the ice for the same purpose; the fact that they have these shootouts is more entertaining, and at least related to the sport, but i think it would be ridiculous to add goals scored in that context to a player's GS total.

Frayed Knot Jun 27 2014 12:34 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Vic Sage wrote: In Tennis, when a set has a tie-breaker, they don't add those extra points to each player's credit; they just add 1 extra point to break the tie. Right. A 6-6 set that goes to a tie-breaker is listed as a 7-6 win for whomever wins the TB using the shorthand of: 6-6 (7-2) with the exact TB results in the brackets. In effect they treat the tie-breaker as one game, just one which negates the 'win by two' rules that exist otherwise. Goals scored in a shootout, where a skater skates alone, going anywhere on the ice he wants to with the puck, to take on the goalie one-on-one, is not at all comparable to scoring a goal in the middle of an actual hockey game, with 10 other guys on the ice all trying to bash each other's heads in and obstructing and challenging each shooter before his shot ever gets to the goalie. The shootout is just a gimmick being used to give 1 team or the other the extra point it needs to break a tie. They could play rock-paper-scissors in the middle of the ice for the same purpose; the fact that they have these shootouts is more entertaining, and at least related to the sport, but i think it would be ridiculous to add goals scored in that context to a player's GS total. Agreed that they SHOULD and do treat SO goals differently than in-game goals as far as individual players are concerned. The odd part to me is how they treat the score of the game. If the Rangers & Islanders are tied 3-3 after regulation & OT, the winner of the shootout is credited with a 4-3 win no matter if the shootout was won 3 goals to 2, or 2-1, or 1-0, or even 7-6 for that matter. I think it would make more sense if they adopted the tennis version of short-handing the score rather than the current system where neither the winning nor (usually) the losing scores add up to the total of individual goals. A 4-3 score implies that seven goals were scored where there were really only six in regulation and anywhere between one and who knows how many via the SO process.

Frayed Knot Jun 27 2014 07:18 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: Not harsh enough for the prick....this kills his club , good, fucking hate them games he will miss for #LFC Aug 16: Liverpool v Southampton Aug 23: Manchester City v Liverpool Aug 30: Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool Sep 13: Liverpool v Aston Villa Sep 16: Champions League matchday 1 Sep 20: West Ham United v Liverpool Sep 27: Liverpool v Everton Sep 30: Champions League matchday 2 Oct 4: Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion Oct 18: Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool Oct 21: Champions League matchday 3 Oct 25: Liverpool v Hull City not allowed to train with them either, not allowed anywhere near the stadium..... Liverpool looking to sell off Suarez to Barcelona if they can get the right price - acc to the Daily Mail.

metirish Jun 28 2014 01:14 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well that was nerve wracking , I can't imagine the pressure involved in taking the penalties, feel for Chile ,especially the goalie Bravo and center half Medel...... really can't see Brazil winning the Cup though, not just their defense but also they are lacking in midfield, not to mention no natural goal scorer.

MFS62 Jun 28 2014 01:18 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Saw a picture of the World Cup today. Its not a cup! It looks like a gold ice cream cone, the scoop of ice cream is a globe. Hockey is better. You can drink beer out of the Stanley Cup. Later

Frayed Knot Jun 28 2014 01:19 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Y'know, these pre-game ceremonies in the WC with the anthems and the children and so on are nice and all, but where are the gifts for Jeter?!?!??

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 28 2014 01:25 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Good Lord, what a game for Medel. Square-headed, squat, bouncing all over the damn place... he's like Puck from Alpha Flight, only Chilean. With the upfield gegenpressing and the intermittent backline performance... well, Brazil is... entertaining. They just better milk the homefield advantage for all it's worth; if they don't step up or get very, VERY lucky again, they're not getting past Colombia OR Uruguay.

metirish Jun 28 2014 01:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Got to say Neymar leaves me cold, it's as if he is a manufactured superstar, Ronaldo(Brazil) and Ronaldino were authentic.....something about Neymar that just seems off.

Frayed Knot Jun 28 2014 01:43 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

It's the haircut

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 28 2014 02:30 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Holy Hell, Ha-mes-- THAT GOAL. There are going to be a lot of club teams calling Monaco to see if Mr. Rodriguez can come over to their houses to play this season.

metirish Jun 28 2014 02:33 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Holy Hell, Ha-mes-- THAT GOAL. There are going to be a lot of club teams calling Monaco to see if Mr. Rodriguez can come over to their houses to play this season. so , so beautiful, that touch with his chest?, pure magic, it was going in the moment foot met ball

Mets – Willets Point Jun 28 2014 04:00 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I'm glad we didn't have to find out what would happen in Brazil if their team exited prematurely. Colombia is making things look easy. They're set up for what could be an epic QF next week.

Frayed Knot Jun 28 2014 04:33 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: I'm glad we didn't have to find out what would happen in Brazil if their team exited prematurely. That crossed my mind too. A bunch of folks who are (rightfully) pissed off about the money spent and the whole FIFA elitism would suddenly find new reasons to get pissed off if their boys exited so soon.

metirish Jun 28 2014 06:18 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

On present form #Columbia will beat #Brazil.......Rodriguez best goal so far and easily the best celebration?

Ashie62 Jun 28 2014 06:37 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

5 of the 6 soccer guys at CBS pick the US to beat Belgium..

Frayed Knot Jun 28 2014 07:00 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

CBS has 'soccer guys'?

metirish Jun 28 2014 07:35 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

This could be huge for #USA and terrible for Belgium Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen doubtful for Belgium's World Cup 2014 last 16 clash against USA

Ashie62 Jun 28 2014 07:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: CBS has 'soccer guys'? Just what CBS considers to be experts....

metirish Jun 28 2014 07:46 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Boomer was the lone dissenter ....

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 28 2014 10:04 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

The more I think about today's matches... the more I'll really, really, really miss Chile's ballsyness in this little tourney of ours. metirish wrote: This could be huge for #USA and terrible for Belgium Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen doubtful for Belgium's World Cup 2014 last 16 clash against USA Even before this, they've been without real fullbacks, playing four guys who regularly play centerback across their backline; VandenBorre was the only guy with real wingback experience among them (and he apparently broke his leg during that last group-stage match). If I were in Klinsmann's seat, and this were true, I'd be tempted to gamble on, say, two forwards up top (Johannsson with Dempsey?) and/or starting speedy Yedlin as an attacking right mid. (Hell, you could always bring in Zusi if it falls flat.)

seawolf17 Jun 29 2014 07:38 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I went to ESPN to check when the Belgium game was -- the date was listed as "1/7/14." I stared at it for a few seconds in confusion, then clicked over to the master schedule page and realized they were doing it in date/month order like the rest of the world.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 29 2014 08:15 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: If I were in Klinsmann's seat, and this were true, I'd be tempted to gamble on, say, two forwards up top (Johannsson with Dempsey?) and/or starting speedy Yedlin as an attacking right mid. (Hell, you could always bring in Zusi if it falls flat.) You know that Altidore has been cleared to play this game too, right?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 29 2014 08:46 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I've heard. "Very optimistic" and such. Do you expect him to start? I'll be shocked if he plays more than a handful of minutes.

metirish Jun 29 2014 11:07 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Just what this game needed...#MEX with a goal take the lead....I guess we are getting s taste of what the WC will be like in Qatar with the heat in this stadium.....except by all accounts a lot hotter

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 29 2014 12:35 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Not shocked at that shocking outcome, you could tell the way NED was banging on the door they'd eventually come in.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 29 2014 01:44 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

A shame. Just like England always loses on penalties in the knockout stages, Mexico always plays this sort of match in the first knockout round.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 29 2014 03:40 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: A shame. Just like England always loses on penalties in the knockout stages, Mexico always plays this sort of match in the first knockout round. 6th straight elimination in the Round of 16 for Mexico, which is remarkably consistent all things considered.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 29 2014 05:34 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Los Ticos keep CONCACAF's hope alive in a dramatic - albeit sometimes boring - win on penalties over Greece. The biggest drama came when Greece equalized in added time and when Costa Rica's keeper Keylor Navas stopped a penalty that lead to the win.

Frayed Knot Jun 29 2014 05:55 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Good tourney so far for CONCACAF - and at the same time when it's decidedly NOT a good one for Europe and some of their Titans. Be nice if this results in some more respect for North & Central American teams in future tourneys though I suspect the entrenched powers aren't about to give up ground too easily.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 29 2014 06:14 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Tweet of the day: "That felt like the longest game ever, but stay tuned to ESPN for Red Sox-Yankees."

batmagadanleadoff Jun 29 2014 06:20 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: Good tourney so far for CONCACAF - and at the same time when it's decidedly NOT a good one for Europe and some of their Titans. Be nice if this results in some more respect for North & Central American teams in future tourneys though I suspect the entrenched powers aren't about to give up ground too easily. Even so, four of the five South American knockout teams are all crammed into the same quarter of the bracket. I don't know enough to know whether that's good or bad for them. They're gonna cannibalize each other, but at least one SA team is guaranteed a semi-final spot. There's still enough of a Eurpopean presence that you can't rule out European soccer powers advancing.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 29 2014 07:30 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

The 2002 tournament also had a lot of surprise wins by underdogs, but then the final was contested by Germany and Brazil (at the time the teams first and second in most World Cup championships).

Frayed Knot Jun 29 2014 07:55 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

seawolf17 wrote: I went to ESPN to check when the Belgium game was -- the date was listed as "1/7/14." I stared at it for a few seconds in confusion, then clicked over to the master schedule page and realized they were doing it in date/month order like the rest of the world. What a bunch of dorks! Wouldn't be surprised if they do that because they cut a deal with FIFA that requires them to do that and/or because they think it makes them sound oh so Euro. When doing the British Open golf they always refer to it as just 'The Open' because that's what the British call it. And while I was just going to say that they wouldn't do that if they didn't have the rights to televise it all, that's pretty much unnecessary because if they weren't televising it (as they won't starting in 2018 as FOX bought the rights going forward) they wouldn't even acknowledge that it was even going on.

Frayed Knot Jun 30 2014 05:38 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Good tourney so far for CONCACAF - and at the same time when it's decidedly NOT a good one for Europe and some of their Titans. Be nice if this results in some more respect for North & Central American teams in future tourneys though I suspect the entrenched powers aren't about to give up ground too easily. Even so, four of the five South American knockout teams are all crammed into the same quarter of the bracket. I don't know enough to know whether that's good or bad for them. They're gonna cannibalize each other, but at least one SA team is guaranteed a semi-final spot. There's still enough of a Eurpopean presence that you can't rule out European soccer powers advancing. South America is a separate region from CONCACAF which is comprised of the North & Central Americans teams The only teams even to win a WC have come from either SA or Europe and as a result those regions get the most slots reserved for them (13 teams in this cup were from Europe, 6 from SA) while the hopefuls from CONCACAF along with Africa & Asia fight for the remainders - so one could claim that the SA/Europe domination is both cause and effect of the field’s makeup. Anyway, the point about CONCACAF is that, despite only placing four teams in the tourney (and Mexico had to win a play-in series vs New Zealand just to make it that many) plus less than favorable draws and/or schedules in the minds of some, three of them reached the knockout round (all but Honduras). Now Costa Rica has moved forward, Mexico failed to advance by the narrowest margin (and bad reffing in their view) and the US still could. Meanwhile only six of Europe’s 13 squads qualified for the round of 16, which I believe I read ties a WC low. Theoretically these results could mean more respect for the North & Central American region in the future, although with Europe being FIFA’s power base there could always be, how you say, mitigating circumstances.

Frayed Knot Jun 30 2014 07:23 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Couple of questions for you soccer-heads out there 1) When ordinary free kicks are awarded often the player will just put the ball down and resume play as quickly as possible so as to continue whatever momentum his team had before being fouled. Other times there will be the whole production number of the ref marking the spot for the ball to be kicked and not allowing play to resume until he makes sure every one is set and that the offending team has had time to set up their wall, yadda, yadda. So my question is: Are there specific conditions/locations as to when the ref allows things to continue the casual way as opposed to when it becomes a big production number, or is it more of a discretionary thing? Obviously I’m talking here about other than those in-the-box fouls resulting in a PK 2) Is there ever any talk, officially or just among fans, of using a 2nd ref in either WC or for league matches? Not talking about the side judges with their offside flags but a 2nd on-field ref with co-powers of the one guy now It just seems like such a big field for only one person and two eyes to handle. I know the NHL resisted it for years usually citing the idea that one person in charge meant a consistency within a game on subjective calls that two clashing guys might not. They eventually gave in and I think they probably wonder now why it took them so long. 3) And most importantly: How will all of this affect LeBron's decision to 'opt out'?

MFS62 Jun 30 2014 07:52 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: 3) And most importantly: How will all of this affect LeBron's decision to 'opt out'? Can't answer this right now. ESPN is gearing up for when the World Cup is over, so they will be able to give us riveting 7 X 24 coverage of Johnny Manzeil. It will be riveting, I tell you, riveting. Later

Mets – Willets Point Jun 30 2014 08:42 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Today's Round of 16 matches see the only two surviving African teams face off against former European colonial powers (albeit not facing off against the specific colonizers in these matches). Algeria has a chance to gain revenge on Germany who colluded with Austria in 1982 to eliminate Algeria from advancing from group play.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 30 2014 08:45 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: Couple of questions for you soccer-heads out there 1) When ordinary free kicks are awarded often the player will just put the ball down and resume play as quickly as possible so as to continue whatever momentum his team had before being fouled. Other times there will be the whole production number of the ref marking the spot for the ball to be kicked and not allowing play to resume until he makes sure every one is set and that the offending team has had time to set up their wall, yadda, yadda. So my question is: Are there specific conditions/locations as to when the ref allows things to continue the casual way as opposed to when it becomes a big production number, or is it more of a discretionary thing? Obviously I’m talking here about other than those in-the-box fouls resulting in a PK I don't know for sure, but there are indirect free kicks (the player taking the kick cannot shoot at the goal, but must pass to a second player first) and direct kicks (the player taking the kick can aim straight at the goal) so that may account for the difference.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 30 2014 10:59 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Good tourney so far for CONCACAF - and at the same time when it's decidedly NOT a good one for Europe and some of their Titans. Be nice if this results in some more respect for North & Central American teams in future tourneys though I suspect the entrenched powers aren't about to give up ground too easily. Even so, four of the five South American knockout teams are all crammed into the same quarter of the bracket. I don't know enough to know whether that's good or bad for them. They're gonna cannibalize each other, but at least one SA team is guaranteed a semi-final spot. There's still enough of a Eurpopean presence that you can't rule out European soccer powers advancing. South America is a separate region from CONCACAF which is comprised of the North & Central Americans teams I knew that. Frayed Knot wrote: The only teams even to win a WC have come from either SA or Europe and as a result those regions get the most slots reserved for them (13 teams in this cup were from Europe, 6 from SA) while the hopefuls from CONCACAF along with Africa & Asia fight for the remainders - so one could claim that the SA/Europe domination is both cause and effect of the field’s makeup. I did not know that. ___________ Another dumb soccerball question: Which team gets priority as to choice of uniform? And by uniform, I mean kit. If both teams prefer to wear a light uniform, which is required to wear their second choice?

Mets – Willets Point Jun 30 2014 11:43 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Teams are assigned as "home" and "away" during the draw at the same time they're assigned to groups. The home team is listed first when showing the score following the European convention just to confuse us Americans who list the home team second.

metirish Jun 30 2014 12:11 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Right, it's Phillies at Mets ,......I still often write the date in that format...doesn't help that the medical equipment we use is German and the date is european format.

Frayed Knot Jun 30 2014 02:29 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Couple of questions for you soccer-heads out there 1) When ordinary free kicks are awarded often the player will just put the ball down and resume play as quickly as possible so as to continue whatever momentum his team had before being fouled. Other times there will be the whole production number of the ref marking the spot for the ball to be kicked and not allowing play to resume until he makes sure every one is set and that the offending team has had time to set up their wall, yadda, yadda. So my question is: Are there specific conditions/locations as to when the ref allows things to continue the casual way as opposed to when it becomes a big production number, or is it more of a discretionary thing? Obviously I’m talking here about other than those in-the-box fouls resulting in a PK I don't know for sure, but there are indirect free kicks (the player taking the kick cannot shoot at the goal, but must pass to a second player first) and direct kicks (the player taking the kick can aim straight at the goal) so that may account for the difference. Yeah, I remember direct and indirect kicks from my days of playing soccer in gym class, but I don't remember the specifics of what fouls produce which. On the other hand, once you're a certain distance away from the goal that distinction becomes less meaningful anyway and nobody is going to bother setting up a wall to alter a direct kick from 3/4 of the field away.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 30 2014 07:58 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yes, the favorites won today... but Good Lord, was that the best pair of matches in the knockout round so far. (Honestly, I still don't know how Algeria didn't score in that first half.) If this World Cup is any indication, any time you have a chance to catch Germany face a half-decent African team, you should do everything short of selling a child to watch, because it's bound to be nutballs.

Mets – Willets Point Jun 30 2014 08:25 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I'm perfect in my predictions for the Round of 16 thus far. Hope that holds through the end of the day tomorrow.

Frayed Knot Jun 30 2014 08:51 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

MFS62 Jul 01 2014 07:15 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

There was a very funny Monty Python routine about a telethon to select an insult for Belgians. I found it, but somehow when I cut and paste the address here, it doesn't work. Can someone please give it a try? Thanks, Later

Frayed Knot Jul 01 2014 07:24 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I was just thinking of that one. [youtube:2uo8mdx3]PrvXoin9NcA[/youtube:2uo8mdx3]

MFS62 Jul 01 2014 07:34 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Great minds think alike. Thanks. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 01 2014 07:47 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Checking out of this thread and the world until I get home from work.

metirish Jul 01 2014 12:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

What an absolutely bonkers last 5/6 minutes in the AEG - SUI game...ARG take the lead in the 118 minute....nice run and pass from Messi for Di Maria to slot home beautifully...and then the SUI pile on the pressure.....it was unreal..they hit the upright at the death...heartbreaking

Frayed Knot Jul 01 2014 01:26 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

What is it with these games which seemingly have more chances, more near-misses, and more goals in the final five minutes than they had in the previous 115? I suppose the simple answer is increased desperation towards the end, although I think it might be a bit better if at least some of the players got a little bit more desperate a little bit earlier. But still, that Pass--Head--Post--Foot--Near-Post sequence was a killer

metirish Jul 01 2014 05:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well, that was something else in extra time...hard to fathom how Klinsmann went 4 3 3 but then USA retreated and tried to defend all game...maybe Johnson getting pulled didn't help.....still , some great signs with the youth getting playing time....Klinsmann is not just building a team but a whole org that will pay off ......USA now belong rightfully so in the top tier of teams.

seawolf17 Jul 01 2014 06:18 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Does this mean President Obama has to send the King of Belgium (or whoever) a box of Buffalo wings, a cheeseburger, and a ball of Hobby Lobby yarn?

Frayed Knot Jul 01 2014 07:41 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

If the Belgian keeper had been made to play while handcuffed and hog tied I bet the U.S. could have pulled out at least a tie. Score of that game should have been about 10-1

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 01 2014 08:42 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

It was a great game anyway. USA just to get through 90 minutes not down by 2 or more goals was a victory, then they had a few chances in the final minutes, you can't ask for more. To watch this I had to avoid all devices for hours, walked past a million bars while getting the Pail from camp, then of course the DVR cuts out because EStuPidN only schedules enough time in the DVR thingy for a regulation broadcast length, so I made Wifey find a replay which we rejoined (and taped since we made the Pail go to bed) making me miss the entire Mets game too.

Edgy MD Jul 01 2014 08:47 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Tim Howard was like an MISL goalie out there, making as many saves with his feet, seemingly, as with his hands.

metirish Jul 01 2014 08:57 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It was a great game anyway. USA just to get through 90 minutes not down by 2 or more goals was a victory, then they had a few chances in the final minutes, you can't ask for more. To watch this I had to avoid all devices for hours, walked past a million bars while getting the Pail from camp, then of course the DVR cuts out because EStuPidN only schedules enough time in the DVR thingy for a regulation broadcast length, so I made Wifey find a replay which we rejoined (and taped since we made the Pail go to bed) making me miss the entire Mets game too. You are my hero this WC.....can we now put to bed the old nugget that American's don't get soccer?, the various images of places like Soldier Field jam packed with fans today are all over the world......my twitter feed from Ireland and England was people rooting hard for #USA.....Klindmann is building a real force in the game....ten years from now will be very exciting times for US soccer ....

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 01 2014 11:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It was a great game anyway. USA just to get through 90 minutes not down by 2 or more goals was a victory, then they had a few chances in the final minutes, you can't ask for more. To watch this I had to avoid all devices for hours, walked past a million bars while getting the Pail from camp, then of course the DVR cuts out because EStuPidN only schedules enough time in the DVR thingy for a regulation broadcast length, so I made Wifey find a replay which we rejoined (and taped since we made the Pail go to bed) making me miss the entire Mets game too. You are my hero this WC.....can we now put to bed the old nugget that American's don't get soccer?, the various images of places like Soldier Field jam packed with fans today are all over the world......my twitter feed from Ireland and England was people rooting hard for #USA.....Klindmann is building a real force in the game....ten years from now will be very exciting times for US soccer .... What'll be REALLY impressive is when everybody's getting up for Early Fucking Breakfast At The World Cup in 2018. Honestly, though? The gameplan was kind of... um... cowardly. Short of extreme defensive effort/extreme luck and a smash-and-grab win via shootout or freak goal, the only way the US would have taken this was to dictate (or at least rein in) the pace with possession/smart-but-potent counterattacking. They did a little-- a little-- attacking early on, but didn't commit any supporting bodies forward when doing so, presumably for fear of the Belgian counter; this doomed not only their offense, but kneecapped their defensive effort as well. (30 Belgian offensive chances. 30!) Even before the Johnson injury (after which they OBVIOUSLY had no intent to do Belgium any real harm until PKs), they were playing from a fearful, CYA, clutch-and-grab-and-foul-and-get-lucky kind of place. A Bob Bradley kind of place. Almost from the opening whistle, they were aiming for a shootout... against Stretch Armstrong in a keeper shirt Thibault F*cking Courtois (the second time he's killed my team's tournament this year). Klinsmann's much-maligned personnel choices-- Yedlin, Brooks, and even Green-- proved more prescient than most anyone expected (though Donovan or Boyd STILL would have been a better fit than Wondolowski/Brad Davis)... but he put the lie to his "American Style" BS with this game AND the German one (look at the beginning of the Algeria-Germany game yesterday, and compare to ours). Granted, the future is bright (especially given the flood of young talent in the u-17/u-20 ranks waiting to step up), and the USMNT's results this time around still constitute an achievement, but I'm not sure that calling this "going out fighting" is the most accurate way to paint it. Frankly, it was a shitty way to go out; that some great defensive efforts and flat-out superheroism from Tim Howard bailed Klins out for nearly 100 minutes-- and that the desperate last minutes almost got them all the way back-- doesn't change that.

metirish Jul 02 2014 06:36 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Cowardly might be harsh but I get what you are saying. Like I said on FB he didn't trust his players ....Ballack , who is quite excellent once you get past the accent made the point that the USA players are inferior to the Belgians and that is the next hurdle for the game here, they have good defensive midfielders but not attacking ones. The story of how Belgium reorganized their structure around 2002 is well known and has produced this golden generation of players. Look at their bench....wow

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 02 2014 06:54 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

"Cowardly" might be harsh; "timid" might be more to the point. Klinsmann caught a lot of crap for his "un-American" realism regarding US prospects this WC, but the odd thing is, the more optimistic his words got this fortnight, the more fearful and conservative his tactics/team selection got. Funny thing about Ballack's point: at the u-21 and u-17 levels, the attacking-prospect bag is full-to-bursting with "interesting" far-from-ready projects training abroad (Joe Gyau, Jesus Flores, e.g.) and improving overage MLS options (Nagbe, eventually, e.g.)... but not much in the close-to-grown "potentially elite" tier. (Which is a big reason why Green was a big get, and why we should be crossing our fingers that the soon-to-naturalize Arsenal boy Gideon Zelalem does make his way stateside, internationally; the German-Ethiopian-eligible kid has pretty much put a stop to his German youth-squadding, which seems like a big positive indicator.)

Mets – Willets Point Jul 02 2014 07:23 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Definitely more positive play against stronger opposition than in 2010 in the group stage. The strategy for the Belgium game was a regression.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 02 2014 07:32 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I don't understand soccer strategy nearly well enough to weigh in on an opinion other than it appeared to me that the overarching issue was a talent deficit, and that to the extent USA adjusted its strategy it was because that was what it anticipated, no?

Edgy MD Jul 02 2014 07:33 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I think Weeping Baseballhead speaks some truth. He speaks of the Jerry Manuel Principle. Playing conservatively may be meant to protect your players by not exposing them to their limitations, but it also undermines and demoralizes them, by constantly telling them they are limited. Kids aren't stupid. They see what we do. They see what we do, Jorgen! But here's a compromise for the narrative that so offends WBBH: "The US Men's National Team went down fighting. Their German coach, not so much."

Mets – Willets Point Jul 02 2014 07:36 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I don't understand soccer strategy nearly well enough to weigh in on an opinion other than it appeared to me that the overarching issue was a talent deficit, and that to the extent USA adjusted its strategy it was because that was what it anticipated, no? I don't really know enough either, but they seemed to play more aggressive attacking style against Portugal and Germany who are putatively more talented than Belgium. Yeah, they had to do a lot of defending against those teams too, but it seemed that they were defending by choice against Belgium, rather than trying to make something happen offensively.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 02 2014 07:48 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well Belgium was punishing them for even trying, that ginger freak was flying down the lines all night.

metirish Jul 02 2014 07:57 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Knockout games tend to be conservative anyway , the knockout games so far have been cautious affairs ....I think is fair to say the group games were better as teams needed the points and were "going for it"...

metirish Jul 02 2014 05:01 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Sec. of Defense Hagal called Howard today for a chat......that's kind of cool....

Frayed Knot Jul 02 2014 06:58 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: Knockout games tend to be conservative anyway , the knockout games so far have been cautious affairs ....I think is fair to say the group games were better as teams needed the points and were "going for it"... That makes soccer coaches a bit like basketballs coaches who I swear sometimes would rather lose a game 72-71 than win one 115-110 because in the latter one they don't get credit for doing any coaching. But by losing the low-scoring game they get all kinds of respect from their peers and props from the media for every move they make and timeout they call. France - Germany -- Friday Noon (EDT) Brazil - Columbia -- Friday 4PM Argentina - Belgium -- Saturday Noon Netherlands - Costa Rica -- Saturday 4PM

Mets – Willets Point Jul 02 2014 10:39 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I predicted 7 of the 8 Round of 16 correctly (sadly USA was my only loss). For the quarterfinals, I predict Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, and Argentina will advance to the semifinals. I will be rooting for Costa Rica as they carry the banner for underdogs and CONFACAF. I've also grown fond of Colombia, who if they get by Brazil may just win the whole damn thing.

metirish Jul 03 2014 06:32 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: I predicted 7 of the 8 Round of 16 correctly (sadly USA was my only loss). For the quarterfinals, I predict Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, and Argentina will advance to the semifinals. I will be rooting for Costa Rica as they carry the banner for underdogs and CONFACAF. I've also grown fond of Colombia, who if they get by Brazil may just win the whole damn thing. Agree on Columbia....it would be really great if either Holland, Costa Rica or Columbia won....not really feeling this Brazil team at all..... great article from Ken Early on Messi http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sp ... t_how.html

Ceetar Jul 03 2014 07:12 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I'm 3rd of 6 in our little pick-em league despite not having picked a correct score yet. (stupid late USA goal)

Mets – Willets Point Jul 03 2014 08:17 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Costa Rica winning the World Cup would be the most unlikely and awesome thing ever!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 03 2014 08:41 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Lunchpail has picked a Costa Rica-Brazil final. I think he has Brazil winning.

metirish Jul 03 2014 12:29 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

German squad hit by a flu outbreak the coach confirms... Seven players are slightly ill with flu symptoms. It is not that bad at the moment and it could be partly about air conditioning, the travel, temperature differences. I do not want to make a drama of it. We hope the situation will ease. Loew

metirish Jul 04 2014 09:52 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

John Champion just set this game up beautifully as he talked while the teams got setup in the tunnels ....

metirish Jul 04 2014 12:15 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Pity the teams didn't give us a game like Champion was waxing lyrical about , Germany were efficient.....

Ceetar Jul 04 2014 12:50 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 04 2014 05:57 PM

metirish wrote: Pity the teams didn't give us a game like Champion was waxing lyrical about , Germany were efficient..... ich trinke BIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Frayed Knot Jul 04 2014 03:29 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Did France try to set up a Maginot Line of defense against Germany again? They should have learned by now that those haven't been very successful in the past.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 04 2014 08:31 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

France and Germany. No history between those two.

Frayed Knot Jul 04 2014 08:39 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Brazil's Neymar out for the rest of the WC w/back injury.

Frayed Knot Jul 05 2014 06:00 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Interesting strategy by the Dutch swapping out their keepers right on the verge of the shoot-out -- but it worked.

metirish Jul 05 2014 08:00 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: Interesting strategy by the Dutch swapping out their keepers right on the verge of the shoot-out -- but it worked. never seen anything like it....Van Gaal Krul and the coaching staff knew this plan but not the regular goalie...genius from LVG..... FIFA to open an investigation on the Neyar injury...what utter nonsense from them.....

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 06 2014 02:11 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

That means he reserved a substitution through 120 minutes just for the Krul move. The balls-- and foresight-- on Van Gaal. (Wilmots, on the other hand... Origi for Lukaku, keeping Van Buyten on? Hazard getting no support as he was marked out of the game, then getting subbed off while they're pressing for an equalizer? De Bruyne wandering around like a guy in search of the next pub on the crawl? Playing longball during most of the second half? I know they were great in qualifying and four games is a small sample, but... man alive, how can you get so little out of so much talent? Honestly, after that Di Maria injury, for both sides, that game was pretty much like a bizarre Who Wants It Less challenge.) But anyways, about LVG... like I said to my United-loving cousin a month or so ago, Irish, you guys finally got your new Fergie... only it's more like a new Mourinho. This PL season's going to be fun.

metirish Jul 06 2014 09:58 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yeah, felt bad for Hazard , under a lot of pressure plus getting compared to Robben etc., he's not that type of player though, he's the guy who feeds the likes of Robben....thought they would throw the dice and bring on Januzaj for some with and someone to run .....Lukaku should have started, in fact he should always start.... These are exciting times indeed for us #MUFC fans...I love the unity in the Dutch squad, RVP gets taken of the previous game, no problem, the coach wants to win he says...the goalie subbed yesterday was hugging LVG and Krul...bigger picture....looks like Vidal is on his way too.....looked a real player for Chili, can play and has some bite in him, not since Keane have we had such a player.

Frayed Knot Jul 06 2014 10:54 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Speaking of all of that, I noticed on bookshelves a few days ago that Alex Ferguson has an autobiography newly out. Not something I'd be plugged-in enough to read, but some others here might want to check it out.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 06 2014 11:05 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: These are exciting times indeed for us #MUFC fans...I love the unity in the Dutch squad, RVP gets taken of the previous game, no problem, the coach wants to win he says...the goalie subbed yesterday was hugging LVG and Krul...bigger picture....looks like Vidal is on his way too.....looked a real player for Chili, can play and has some bite in him, not since Keane have we had such a player. Waitwaitwait... you're getting Vidal? At that price? If, so, well... Dammit. I've been lusting after him in Blue for, like, 2-3 years now. (The idea of a Matic-Vidal or Matic-Pogba pairing in our midfield, destroying everything in its path, gives me a footie-rection just thinking of it.)

metirish Jul 06 2014 11:10 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yeah £40m plus Nani....fans are having a whip around to pay Nani's flight over.....as regards Fergies book...I've no interest, spends a good time bashing Roy Keane.....now his book due out and written by Roddy Doyle should be a page turner.

Mets – Willets Point Jul 07 2014 07:10 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Three former champions and a perennial runner-up left. Not much to root for if you support the underdogs.

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2014 02:30 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Oxygen Magnesium! ... WTF is going on?!? A couple of close-in shots by Klose plus a few crosses to Kroos and the rout is on.

Mets – Willets Point Jul 08 2014 02:34 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

HOLY SHIT!!!!

d'Kong76 Jul 08 2014 02:39 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Brasil playing their wurst in this German sauer-rout!

Edgy MD Jul 08 2014 02:42 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

You know, I remember a team that was down 5-0. It was in a little film called Victory. Perhaps you've heard of it.

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2014 03:27 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Well sure, but the Brazilians don't have Sylvester Stallone on their side. And I don't want to say this game is getting out of hand or anything, but I think Angela Merkel just scored.

Mets – Willets Point Jul 08 2014 03:31 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Deutschdown.

Edgy MD Jul 08 2014 03:38 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I'm pretty sure Brazil just put in Jay Witasick.

metirish Jul 08 2014 06:22 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

What an utter shambles, step forward Silva and let us not forget your beyond stupid yellow card in the last game that ruled you out of this one.....likely more important to the team than Neymar....

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2014 06:50 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Lead announcer (is that Darke?): [Brazilian forward] Fred hasn't been having a good World Cup tourney this year Color Voice: You're being kind

metirish Jul 08 2014 06:56 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Yep Ian Darke and Steve McManaman , I like them as a team but prefer John Champion and Stewart Robson.....what I like about McManaman is that even though he's Liverpool and English through and though he hammers them while doing color if that is what he is seeing.

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2014 07:08 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 08 2014 07:31 PM

Darke gets all dramatic during big (and sometimes not so big) moments in the same way (the also English) Phil Liggett does doing Tour de France on TV (NBCSN). Most people don't hear Ligget so they're going to have to trust me on this one - but I think that style works well in these top-flight international events. I've heard several U.S. sports guys (half of whom are just discovering the World Cup) who have been so impressed with Darke that they joke about wanting him to narrate their life for them just to make it seem more exciting: Oh and look at way Frayed Knot stands up out of his chair!!!

metirish Jul 08 2014 07:23 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Liggett is an amazing voice from my youth when cycling was huge in Ireland, Sean Kelly and Stephen Roache were superstars in that sport. NBCSN has cycling on recently and Liggett was the voice....Darke was more known in the UK/Ireland as a boxing commentator which probably sounds about right to you FK in the way you describe him....when SKY got the EPL Darke came on board a a commentator .....

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2014 07:34 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

I believe Roche's kid Nicholas is still racing. Not sure if he's in this year's TdF or not.

MFS62 Jul 09 2014 06:17 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Brazil's goalie has made their national dodgeball team. Later

Mets – Willets Point Jul 09 2014 07:17 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Can't really blame Julio Cesar. The defenders let him down. Some of those German goals were basically penalty kicks.

metirish Jul 09 2014 08:21 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Puts paid to the idea that Luiz is a top class player....... Metro, Brazil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 09 2014 11:41 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Can't really blame Julio Cesar. The defenders let him down. Some of those German goals were basically penalty kicks. If Brazil were more Hammurabian, Cesar would get to punch each and every member of his backline in the stomach. I wish David Luiz the best. I also thank the heavens for Chelsea's no-returns-with-or-without-receipt policy. (Say what you will about Luiz, though, but he was actually trying; guys like Marcelo, Dante, and Luiz Gustavo-- as well as the leisurely-jogging-back forwards-- gave embarrassing effort.)

metirish Jul 09 2014 05:31 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Germany and Argentina will play for the Cup , in a defensive display Argentina won on penalties , and no Krul was not in goal. Vlaar was excellent for the Dutch while Mascherano was the standout player on the other side. Ill remember this WC for the brilliance of the Group play games.

Mets – Willets Point Jul 10 2014 07:56 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Let's hope there's some goal scoring and a result within 90 minutes in the final. I don't really have strong feelings for either team as I tend to go with underdogs and they're both multiple Cup winners, but I'll lean towards Argentina for Lionel Messi's sake. He does get a lot of hype but is probably the best player of his generation and odds are this will be his best chance to win.

Frayed Knot Jul 10 2014 08:13 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

So what percentage of the Argentine squad do you suppose has genetic roots that go back to Germany? ... if you know what I mean.

Mets – Willets Point Jul 10 2014 08:17 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: So what percentage of the Argentine squad do you suppose has genetic roots that go back to Germany? ... if you know what I mean. According to the always factual Wikipedia, 8% of Argentians have German heritage, and in small group like a football team that could be even higher. And yes, I know what you mean.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 10 2014 08:46 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Germany and Argentina will play for the Cup , in a defensive display Argentina won on penalties , and no Krul was not in goal. Vlaar was excellent for the Dutch while Mascherano was the standout player on the other side. Ill remember this WC for the brilliance of the Group play games. Coupla things: 1) Vlaar taking the penalty? Vlaar taking the first penalty? It stinks, but the guy played maybe the game of his life, and all he'll really remember is that last bit. 2) Does Van Gaal get as much criticism for NOT saving a sub for the Krul/PK ninja move this time around as he got praise the last time? (Considering the in-game injuries, I'd say no... but still.) 3) Will Mascherano actually remember the tackle he made on Robben today? Will he remember playing yesterday today? Messi's great. Messi's transcendent. But you can shut down Messi. More specifically, these guys have shut down Messi. (TooLongDidn'tClick version: 2/3 of the German side are Bayern players-- or Madridistas-- who've done it, and can do it again, especially without Di Maria or a fully-functional Aguero making runs down the opposite side to spread the defense/receive on-target passes.) I'm feeling great about this Final-- either my literal fatherland (Der Mannschaft) wins, or we take home $200 or so in BetterHalfer's office pool (Team Peron).

batmagadanleadoff Jul 10 2014 09:21 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: So what percentage of the Argentine squad do you suppose has genetic roots that go back to Germany? ... if you know what I mean. According to the always factual Wikipedia, 8% of Argentians have German heritage, and in small group like a football team that could be even higher. And yes, I know what you mean. Do youse mean that this World Cup Finals pits the country that gave us Nazis against the country that gave us a Nazi haven?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 10 2014 09:25 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Mets – Willets Point wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: So what percentage of the Argentine squad do you suppose has genetic roots that go back to Germany? ... if you know what I mean. According to the always factual Wikipedia, 8% of Argentians have German heritage, and in small group like a football team that could be even higher. And yes, I know what you mean. Do youse mean that this World Cup Finals pits the country that gave us Nazis against the country that gave us a Nazi haven? Plus, there'll be, like, millions of Boys from Brazil watching.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 10 2014 09:29 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: So what percentage of the Argentine squad do you suppose has genetic roots that go back to Germany? ... if you know what I mean. According to the always factual Wikipedia, 8% of Argentians have German heritage, and in small group like a football team that could be even higher. And yes, I know what you mean. Do youse mean that this World Cup Finals pits the country that gave us Nazis against the country that gave us a Nazi haven? Plus, there'll be, like, millions of Boys from Brazil watching. Oooh. That was a good one. When I was a kid growing up, about the only pop culture reference to Argentina a person would ever come across went something like this: "He's alive and well, and living in Argentina". - and this is the key -- it was always, I mean always, spoken in an Americanized heavy German accent. Hell, it was probably written in an Americanized heavy German accent.

Frayed Knot Jul 10 2014 10:36 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Mets – Willets Point wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: So what percentage of the Argentine squad do you suppose has genetic roots that go back to Germany? ... if you know what I mean. According to the always factual Wikipedia, 8% of Argentians have German heritage, and in small group like a football team that could be even higher. And yes, I know what you mean. Do youse mean that this World Cup Finals pits the country that gave us Nazis against the country that gave us a Nazi haven? I was talking about the ones who may have emigrated to Argentina during the era of 1945 to 1945

Vic Sage Jul 10 2014 12:57 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: So what percentage of the Argentine squad do you suppose has genetic roots that go back to Germany? ... if you know what I mean. This was the first thing i thought of when i heard who the finalists were. is there some connection between a country's ability to field a great soccer team and its history of Nazism? Now, since i don't give a shit anyway, i can just root for injuries.

themetfairy Jul 10 2014 01:21 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

From the end of Yellow Submarine - Chief Meanie: Max. Max: Yes, your Blueness er, your newness? Chief Meanie: It's no longer a blue world, Max. Where could we go? Max: Argentina?

Mets – Willets Point Jul 10 2014 01:29 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Vic Sage wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: So what percentage of the Argentine squad do you suppose has genetic roots that go back to Germany? ... if you know what I mean. This was the first thing i thought of when i heard who the finalists were. is there some connection between a country's ability to field a great soccer team and its history of Nazism? Now, since i don't give a shit anyway, i can just root for injuries. Curiously enough, Nazi Germany had a crappy World Cup soccer team and crashed out the 1938 finals in the first round, even after they had annexed Austria and absorbed most of their best players on the team.

Ashie62 Jul 10 2014 06:48 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Maybe Germany just has the best team in 2014

batmagadanleadoff Jul 12 2014 06:00 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

You say change kit. I say alternate uniforms. Which kits will Germany and Argentina wear in the World Cup final? By Ryan Rosenblatt @RyanRosenblatt on Jul 11 2014, 3:14p [fimg=433]http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35491256/Screen_Shot_2014-07-11_at_11.49.03_AM.0_standard_783.0.png[/fimg] We won't see Argentina's blue and white striped shirt in the final. SB Nation's 2014 World Cup Final Preview The World Cup final feature will feature Germany in their traditional white tops with white shorts and Argentina in blue tops and blue shorts. Germany is the designated home team for the match so they get the choice of which kit to wear and because they wear white, Argentina have to wear their change kit. In past World Cups, Germany wore black shorts with their white kits, however FIFA have required that they wear light colored shorts with their white tops so they have worn white shorts with their white tops this tournament. Argentina's blue change kits used to feature white shorts at times, but they have been asked to wear dark shorts with their change kit so they are in all blue now. Germany wore their white kits for their first two matches of the group stage, a win over Portugal and a draw against Ghana, and their first two matches of the knockout stages, wins over Algeria and Belgium. They wore black kits with red horizontal stripes for their other two matches. Argentina will be wearing their change kits for the first time. They have worn their classic light blue and white striped shirts for each of their six matches so far. The only thing that has changed is whether they wear white or black shorts. http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/7/1 ... ts-jerseys

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 12 2014 07:01 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

What an absolute shit effort from Brazil. No creativity, no discipline (gotta love Thiago Silva putting the lie to the Thiago-Silva-was-the-real-difference-making-absence post-hoc theorizin'), and, worst of all, no sweat. I mean, honestly, you can't get it up for a pride-only matchup in front of your home crowd, three days after being humiliated before the same?

Mets – Willets Point Jul 12 2014 07:35 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Maybe futbol is just not Brazil's thing in anymore. Perhaps MLB should try to interest them in baseball.

metirish Jul 12 2014 07:39 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: What an absolute shit effort from Brazil. No creativity, no discipline (gotta love Thiago Silva putting the lie to the Thiago-Silva-was-the-real-difference-making-absence post-hoc theorizin'), and, worst of all, no sweat. I mean, honestly, you can't get it up for a pride-only matchup in front of your home crowd, three days after being humiliated before the same? just watched the extended highlights , absolutely what you say here, brilliant article here from the Irish Times Ken Early , worth a read http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sp ... would.html

smg58 Jul 13 2014 05:40 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Or maybe the Brazilian team just wasn't that good.

Frayed Knot Jul 13 2014 06:01 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Maybe futbol is just not Brazil's thing in anymore. Perhaps MLB should try to interest them in baseball. It actually is a place into which MLB is trying to make a push, and there are two Brazilian-born players currently active

Ashie62 Jul 13 2014 01:54 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Very much enjoying the game... 3 offside scores... Germany looks like the better team.. One half to go...

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 13 2014 03:24 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Wow

Frayed Knot Jul 13 2014 05:02 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

- at least it didn't go to PKs. I had no particular rooting interest here, but I did want there to be goal(s) scored and the one here that was was not only dramatic but artful as well - I've read a number of things over the last month-plus about how Messi was respected but never really embraced by Argentina. This Cup, and his string of no goals at all in the knockout round, won't help. - I'll bet that there are some losing MMA fighters who don't look or feel as bad after a total ass-kicking as that Schweinsteiger guy is going to tomorrow morning. Dude's going to think he was in a car wreck. - when the concussion discussion involving youth sports here crops up via the 'soccer mom' crowd, it tends to focus on how to reduce heading the ball. But it's those mid-air, head-to-head collisions (or head-to-shoulder, or elbow, or whatever) that are the real problem at the higher levels. There were some wicked shots out there, most of them accidental it seems but still ...

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 13 2014 05:54 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Frayed Knot wrote: - I've read a number of things over the last month-plus about how Messi was respected but never really embraced by Argentina. This Cup, and his string of no goals at all in the knockout round, won't help. Any Argentinian who blames Messi for this is... well... como se dice "ignorant, or just a complete fucking idiot"? (Or maybe just thinking of things other than soccer when they think about Messi.) As any smart team would, every team they played in the knockouts surrounded him with 3-4 men every time he had the ball. When he had competent support-- read: a healthy Di Maria-- they scored, and looked good (see: Switzerland, early against Belgium); when they didn't, they might as well have been playing for penalities. Apart from the first half against Belgium, Higuain looked like hot manure in a sky blue shirt for the entirety of the tournament (check out the messes he made of the 2-3 chances he was gifted today), Aguero didn't look right from the outset (the injury?), and nobody else-- Senor Rat-Tail, Enzo Perez, Lavezzi-- seemed able to help much either (offensively, at least; Mascherano and the backline could've gotten co-Golden Ball honors, to be honest, if they wanted to honor the runners-up). That said, no matter what we think about Messi, or Argentinian fans, or Brazil's real chances to win, we can all agree, I think, that a bearded Mario Gotze-- the goal-scorer-- looks like a creepy Kewpie doll that someone left under a mossy porch for a decade or so.

Frayed Knot Jul 13 2014 06:23 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Not that they'd [u:3ubq3l5z]blame[/u:3ubq3l5z] Messi for not winning, only that between him going off to Europe and Barca's academy at such a young age and his comparatively low-wattage personality, especially when contrasted to Maradona, Argentine fans just haven't embraced him in the way you'd normally think when a world's best player type is one of your own. The one saving grace, according to one account I read, was that at least he still speaks his Spanish with an Argentine accent. If he had lost that to the point where he spoke like a European then the locals would feel like that makes him one step further removed. Now add in him not winning here and not playing the hero role like Maradona did back in his day just keeps the unfettered love thing tamped down a bit longer.

metirish Jul 13 2014 06:45 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Maradona, Tevez and Juan Román Riquelme are beloved for many reasons, one is that they came from the slums(all three played for Boca Juniors ) Messi not his fault came from the suburbs and a relative comfort and as mentioned has lived most of his life outside his country...how they could have done with Tevez .....there were riots when he was left out of the squad .... Germany are worthy champions, best team overall and good to see a great goal win it

Ashie62 Jul 13 2014 07:20 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Oompah!

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 13 2014 09:35 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

metirish wrote: Maradona, Tevez and Juan Román Riquelme are beloved for many reasons, one is that they came from the slums(all three played for Boca Juniors ) Messi not his fault came from the suburbs and a relative comfort and as mentioned has lived most of his life outside his country...how they could have done with Tevez .....there were riots when he was left out of the squad .... As there should be when you leave an in-form, world-class scorer/finisher with a tireless engine off your squad in favor of... what? Lavezzi? Palacio? Without knowing whatever personal stuff exists between Tevez and the squad/manager... it certainly seems like a missed opportunity. (Same for Javier Pastore, whose linkup play/high-energy pressing might have helped.) Germany are worthy champions, best team overall and good to see a great goal win it Fantastic service from Schurrle, and an even better first touch/finish from Gotze. Just... great.

Elster88 Jul 13 2014 11:02 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

This is a really good thread. This was a great tournament.

Ceetar Jul 14 2014 07:14 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Catch you again in 4 years soccer..except with the time difference it should be easier to ignore you.

MFS62 Jul 15 2014 07:41 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

Does every soccer team have the same fight songs and cheers, or did they play the same crowd noise track for every game? This really seems to be the case after watching a few EPL games. Later

Mets – Willets Point Jul 15 2014 08:13 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

If you've been bitten by the soccer bug, the American Outlaws have a comprehensive list of the tournaments the US teams will participate over the next four years.

seawolf17 Jul 15 2014 08:26 AM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

And by "soccer bug," we specifically mean this one. http://nesn.com/2014/07/james-rodriguez ... kick-goal/

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 15 2014 06:43 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

MFS62 wrote: Does every soccer team have the same fight songs and cheers, or did they play the same crowd noise track for every game? This really seems to be the case after watching a few EPL games. Some of the chants/taunts are common to all English crowds, but most are unique to the clubs (and some unique to certain matchups, like, say, Arsenal songs about how much Tottenham sucks), even if their tunes are mostly borrowed. Being in-stadium-- even for a friendly, say, at Yankee Stadium-- or watching at a place with a great sound system (like, say, the Football Factory at Legends Bar) tends to change one's perspective on the matter.

Frayed Knot Jul 15 2014 06:48 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

And some of those songs have lyrics that are even repeatable in polite company.

metirish Jul 15 2014 07:11 PM Re: World Cup 2014 - Brasil

[youtube:6z97robr]d49t7vuydAk[/youtube:6z97robr] Lots of grudge songs, lots of historic songs but dammit a lot of humor too, Man United fans sang this for the great Park Ji SUng , this works too as it takes digs at scoucers(Liverpool) Park, Park, wherever you may be, You eat dogs in your home country! It could be worse, you could be a Scouse, Eating rats in your council house! Park, Park, wherever you may be, You eat dogs in your home country! It could be worse, you could be a Scouse, Eating rats in your council house! Park, Park, wherever you may be, You eat dogs in your home country! It could be worse, you could be a Scouse, Eating rats in your council house!