slimdaddy: The World Cup

DominionMM1 12.09.13	murka will show its dominance by drawing with germany and ronaldo, and defeating ghana by 2 goals
joshieboy 12.09.13	I'm an Aussie and we got Spain, Holland and Chile. It will be the equivalent of a an alleyway gang rape.
MoosechriS 12.09.13	I'm english....... Lets face it, we're fucked hahaha
skeames1214 12.09.13	Ugh, it's gonna be really hard for us to get through. I think we've got a chance if we can beat portugal in the h2h, though. Go Sporting KC, by the way! I live in KC, and it's become one of the best soccer towns in America.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	Find it hilarious that the English media are calling their group a group of death. I reckon it will go to one of Argentina, Brazil or Germany. Excited to watch Belgium and Colombia too. And France. Still can't believe we managed to qualify from that playoff.
skeames1214 12.09.13	How do you bet against Brazil at this point?
anarchistfish 12.09.13	A year ago I'd completely ruled them out. They don't have a very strong squad compared to Germany or Spain. If they win it it'll be through grit and spirit, which you can't put past them at home.
skeames1214 12.09.13	I dunno, man. When they're on their game they look completely unbeatable. Remember the 3-0 win over spain in the confed cup?
anarchistfish 12.09.13	Who says they'll be on their game?
skeames1214 12.09.13	In front of a home crowd on the biggest stage in the world? I do. Rooting for the US hard, but Brazil plays some gorgeous soccer, and I'm excited to see them play.
skeames1214 12.09.13	The world cup is the best thing sports have ever produced. So very excited for next year.
Recspecs 12.09.13	Germany is winning it all
NightProwler 12.09.13	Well, if only Denmark would have made it, I'd be rooting for them. Seeing as they did not make it, I'll probably root for England or Holland
Recspecs 12.09.13	Chile is gonna win their group
skeames1214 12.09.13	Hahaha, chile over Spain and Holland? Nah. They'll be (very) lucky to get out of their group.
oresttt 12.09.13	Pretty sure that Chile will go through. Also, go Deutschland, we have to win this!
anarchistfish 12.09.13	I could see Chile slighting the Netherlands
skeames1214 12.09.13	Idk, Holland's midfield is just too good. Chile's gonna need to capitalize on set-pieces and win the counters if they're gonna have a chance.
heyadam 12.09.13	The US will get knocked out in the first round. Our first group is a really tough one this year
skeames1214 12.09.13	I hope not. But yeah, it does seem quite possible. We match up well against Portugal, though.
Recspecs 12.09.13	Chile will make it to the semifinals
Recspecs 12.09.13	Germany - Uruguay - Brazil - Chile semifinals
skeames1214 12.09.13	I'll cop to having not watched any Chile recently. What makes them so good?
anarchistfish 12.09.13	USA are the 4th best team in their group so I'd be surprised if they got out
skeames1214 12.09.13	Awh, c'mon. We're better than Ghana. It is a hellish group, though.
JamieTwort 12.09.13	"Brazil plays some gorgeous soccer, and I'm excited to see them play." They used to play gorgeous football but the current squad lacks a lot of the flare that made past Brazil teams so good to watch. There's quite a few teams that play more attractive football than the current Brazil team in this world cup, Chile being one of those teams.
Detritivore 12.09.13	Im chilean, and our team is a nightmare for every adversary manager. Full pressing, good team work, with some players at their top moments, but......we have only one solid player in each position, with any injury the team performance it down immediately. I think this group gonna win spain (for sure) and Holland and Chile will compete for the second place
skeames1214 12.09.13	Seriously, Jamie? The confed cup wasn't too long ago, and Brazil was playing out of their mind. I don't doubt that Chile is great, but Brazil is going to be very tough to beat.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc6UFAXhSJU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSbeTHjFv60
JamieTwort 12.09.13	They played really well in the Confederations cup, I'm not denying that but I still don't think their football is anywhere near as attractive as it used to be. Chile's passing game is beautiful to watch when they're on form even if it isn't always as effective as the current Brazil team's slightly more direct approach.
skeames1214 12.09.13	Different teams, fish. The US has looked really good this past year.
skeames1214 12.09.13	Fair enough, Jamie. I'll be sure to watch Chile when they play on your recommendation. I love me some beautiful football.
OmairSh 12.09.13	Italy really? There are plenty of stronger teams, Belgium, Columbia, Uruguay, Netherlands.
Recspecs 12.09.13	If Suarez is still scoring goals next summer the way he is now, Uruguay is guaranteed a semi-final spot
skeames1214 12.09.13	Graham Zusi can be a world class player. Really excited to see him in the WC. He'll need to step up.
JamieTwort 12.09.13	Personally I can only see 3 teams winning it; Spain, Germany or Brazil. Argentina might have a chance of getting to the final if Messi is in top form (although at the moment I'm not sure how much football he's gonna play between now and the world cup what with his injury problems).
oresttt 12.09.13	Damn, I hate Suarez.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	yeah Italy aren't going anywhere "The US has looked really good this past year." yeah but who have they played other than some mediocre central american teams and a B side germany
OmairSh 12.09.13	Messi's body is finally feeling the exhaustion. Germany chokes every time. Spain is slowing down, it should be interesting to see how they play with Costa though. The teams are pretty good now, will be very competitive.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	Germany have the best squad for sure. If they don't win it this time they should definitely win it in Russia
skeames1214 12.09.13	Sure, they haven't played any great teams, but they've won pretty handily against weaker competition. I think they've got potential. Not saying they're gonna win the cup, but if they can make it through the group stage, i don't think quarters are out of the question.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	Ronaldo and Özil are gonna spitroast you
AliW1993 12.09.13	I'm English, but I'm anything but patriotic so I'm not really bothered how we do. I think we'll get out of the group stages, (aside from Suarez and Cavani, Uruguay are pretty average) but not much further. I haven't a clue who'll win. I fancied Brazil at first, but their draw after the group stage looks tough. Argentina should coast to the quarter finals but I'm not sure about them after that. Spain, Germany and possibly Italy will all be dangerous. I just hope it's a great tournament, the last world cup was awful.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	I can see the USA becoming a force over the next 20-30 years though
skeames1214 12.09.13	One player doesn't make a team, esp. in the world cup. Recent history bears that out.
skeames1214 12.09.13	Yeah, a lot of our athletes who would normally become (american) football players are probably going to switch to soccer as football falls out of favor.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	Hate to break it to you... but Spain is going to destroy everyone once again. Germany mayybe has the better sqaud, but the team lacks the certain oomph in the deciding matches (which is partially the fault of their coach, because he does not get along well with players who have the right personality to shine under pressure). We also lost Khedira already, which is a pretty crippling blow. Brazil will do well, but their team is very incosistent, very reliant on their individual super stars to perform (Oscar, Neymar). Maybe they can string together a great tournament at home though, can't rule them out completley. People don't talk enough about Italy though. They are a bunch of bruised and battered veterans, but their coach is a really great tactician, they also may have the smartest player (pirlo) when it comes to football brains. Balotelli is a wildcard for sure, but he usually does play pretty well for the national side. France and England have no chance this time around... I also highly doubt that Argentina will do well. I think Japan is a good pick to do better than expected. Their group is very managable. They got a great mentality. They got Honda and Kagawa and a whole bunch of players who play in germany (Okazaki, Uchida, Hasebe etc.)
anarchistfish 12.09.13	have you even seen Germany's squadsheet lately. it's disgusting and Portugal tend to get stuck into the main competitions after the meal they always seem to make of the qualifiers
zakalwe 12.09.13	Let's face it is us English are the biggest bunch of wankers to ever put boot on ball. Germany to win it.
skeames1214 12.09.13	No, I have no delusions about us beating Germany. They're a better team. Portugal is beatable, though, especially with the style the US plays.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	@skeames
anarchistfish 12.09.13	pepe is gonna merk you
skeames1214 12.09.13	probably, but I've still got hope.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	"Let's face it is us English are the biggest bunch of wankers to ever put boot on ball." what does this even mean
JamieTwort 12.09.13	"One player doesn't make a team, esp. in the world cup. Recent history bears that out." No but one player can often make a big difference to a team. Teams like Argentina and Portugal will be reliant on that to some extent.
OmairSh 12.09.13	I don't think Spain will "destroy" everyone (I hope they do, but i doubt they will be that interesting to watch). Germany is more deadly than last time since the younger players have been groomed in their leagues. Italy may have the tactics but they don't have the players, especially with such quick teams in the competition now, it's going to be pretty difficult for them.
oresttt 12.09.13	Radical has a point though, we keep fuckin it up in deciding matches...
skeames1214 12.09.13	Absolutely, Jamie, but a good 50% of the time that reliance on a single player actually works against a team. Argentina in the '10 world cup is a good example.
Dunwich 12.09.13	Fellas, watch out for Bosnia.
AliW1993 12.09.13	@RadicalEd I agree Japan are being underestimated. Everyone seemed to think USA were the team to avoid in that pot but Japan will be tricky opponents. They don't have much cutting edge up front, but technically they're one of the best sides in the tournament. I don't agree with your assessment of France, though. Aside from the pickle they got themselves in against Ukraine, they actually looked pretty good in qualifying - they were just unlucky to be in the same group as Spain. If they can maintain the spirit that got them through the playoff I think they'll do well.
OmairSh 12.09.13	Portugal I don't think will go far. Teams like Switzerland and Chile can cause a few upsets.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	I've been really impressed by how well France have played over the past couple of years when we really go for it
anarchistfish 12.09.13	So much better than that joke of a 2010 team
Dunwich 12.09.13	Japan were always killer on the pitch, really fun to watch and I'll be definitely cheering for them. They can go pretty far, with a little bit of luck.
zakalwe 12.09.13	Fish it means that when it comes to world football on the competitive stage the English are shown up as the overpaid, passionless, unskilled, overblown by Premiership marketing shit that we actually are.
skeames1214 12.09.13	France has a tendency to collapse when things start going against them in big games, though. They've lost to almost every good team they've played this year.
OmairSh 12.09.13	Ah this was a good match http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbeOkjkkb_w
osmark86 12.09.13	Enrique Iglesias is Spanish... Belgium is who I'm rooting for. I'd like to see some other team other than Spain take it home this time around.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	Spain won't walk away with this and it's naive to think that. People are starting to figure our that style of play and seeing how easily Brazil dismantled them in the Confederations cup leads me to think they won't be able to handle an all out onslaught like that. Even their Euro 2012 campaign wasn't a walk in the park.
AliW1993 12.09.13	The group I'm most looking forward to seeing is group C (Columbia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan). It's probably the only group where every team stands a realistic chance of getting through, and they're all decent teams with different styles. It'll be competitive. Spain are definitely contenders but I'll be surprised if they win this one. They've not been convincing at all this year, or in the past few tournaments.
skeames1214 12.09.13	The more I think about it the more I wish we (team USA) were in literally any other group. Like fuck. Two top five teams and one other really good squad. :/
anarchistfish 12.09.13	"France has a tendency to collapse when things start going against them in big games, though. They've lost to almost every good team they've played this year." That's cos we've been fielding weaker squads in friendlies. Last year we were beating the likes of Germany and Italy away and got that draw with Spain away. Getting that last minute equaliser against Spain, turning the playoffs around, almost qualifying directly despite the group, really not the signs of a team prone to collapse.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	We got so lucky with getting Group E too
skeames1214 12.09.13	Hmm, good point.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	Don't expect us to win it but I'd be disappointed with anything less than QFs
osmark86 12.09.13	Columbia have been pretty good though so I think they'll make it out on top there.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	Also why is everyone calling Colombia Columbia
AliW1993 12.09.13	Yeah I'd expect Columbia to make it out of the group, but the other place is completely up for grabs.
OmairSh 12.09.13	FALCAOOOOOOOOOOO
osmark86 12.09.13	force of habit :). used to live in Columbia, not Colombia.
skeames1214 12.09.13	I'm a resident of Columbia, MO, during the school year. :-]
RadicalEd 12.09.13	The french national squad has a pretty flimsy personality i feel. They've certainly got a lot of talent. And Ribery has got to be considered as one of the best, if not the best player in the world right now. But I feel they lack the determination and teamwork they had back in the era of zidane blanc and Viera
oresttt 12.09.13	Bist du Bayern Fan?
menawati 12.09.13	don't mind who wins as long as Brazil go out in the group stage and it shuts up all those yellow and green mother******s so that the commentators stop blithering on about 'carnival atmosphere' every 2 minutes
RadicalEd 12.09.13	I'll be rooting for Germany (of course), Japan and Kamerun. @ Ali. You may say Italy has not got the players, but I think they are underestimated for sure. They didn't make the finals 2012 with luck. They deserved it. And they just went toe to toe with germany in the last friendly again. And I think if you look at raw quality of the squads, you gotta consider germany as the best, most balanced team, going 1-1 against them has gotta be considered a good result.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	"But I feel they lack the determination and teamwork they had back in the era of zidane blanc and Viera" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PyiZ8fuE40 also Ribery wasn't even that great for France up until a year ago
AliW1993 12.09.13	They're not the team they were in the late '90s/early '00s but in terms of squad strength I'd put them in the top 5. They seem to have a bit of spirit now too, which can go a long way. Ribery still doesn't convince me, though. He can be infuriating to watch, far too inconsistent to be considered the best in the world, even if he's in the best form of his career.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	"Bist du Bayern Fan?" Nope. Ribery has earned the recognition still.
oresttt 12.09.13	Schade
RadicalEd 12.09.13	well there is no shortage of bayern fans out there, so you'll find some like minded guys^^.
AliW1993 12.09.13	Yeah Italy are definitely dark horses. They don't have many standout players but technically they're excellent. Pogba could be one of the stars of the tournamemt. Excellent manager too.
anarchistfish 12.09.13	Pogba's French
RadicalEd 12.09.13	pogba is french though? or was that unrelated to italy?
AliW1993 12.09.13	Shit, yes he is. Mixed up because he plays for Juve.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	pirlo is still the best deep lying playmaker on the planet right now. His ability to play pinpoint passes over 70 yards is incredible.
AliW1993 12.09.13	But yeah, I'm pretty certain Italy will top our group, and no one will want to draw them after that. They control games and keep the ball really well.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	so sputnikers who is the weakest team? Who will get mauled? My money is on Honduras. Also pretty weak: Costa Rica, Algeria, Iran
joshieboy 12.09.13	Brazil and Spain are the top 2 nations without a doubt. It will be an achievement if Australia score a goal and have a goal difference of less than -10
anarchistfish 12.09.13	there aren't any walkovers
anarchistfish 12.09.13	except for australia who we destroyed 6-0 a few weeks ago
RadicalEd 12.09.13	Australia >> Honduras or Iran imo.
treeqt. 12.09.13	wanna shoot everyone who associates germany with rammstein
AliW1993 12.09.13	I'm not sure they're the weakest team but I think Australia will get absolutely shat on in their group. Costa Rica have been drawn a short straw too, I'll be surprised if they get a point. I think Iran and Algeria are probably the two weakest teams, but they've both got more favourable draws. I'd be amazed if either of them got through though.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	wanna shoot everyone who associates germany with rammstein [2]
oresttt 12.09.13	"wanna shoot everyone who associates germany with rammstein" Haha, was waiting for you to get here and say that.
joshieboy 12.09.13	I associate Germany with Mesut Ozil. Assist king.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	fuck mesut özil. He's the perfect example for the german problem. All the talent in the world. Not enough drive to perform against really good opponents.
oresttt 12.09.13	Overrated player, super inconsistent.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	belgium will do well I believe. Their squad is actually insane. Lukaku, Hazard, Mirallas, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Vermaelen, Courtois. Fuck they almost look better than the Netherlands right now.
Sleaper 12.09.13	group of death is certainly the one listed. in aus we have the media going on and on at how our group is unfair and we got ripped off. Chile aint a very good team, so we at least have a chance at coming 3rd.
JamieTwort 12.09.13	wtf, Chile are a really good team. Especially with Alexis Sanchez who is gonna be one of the players to watch at this tournament.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	vidal is good as well. I think the australian group is way harder than the american. Ghana and Portugal aint thaaat good. Portugal is just Ronaldo and a few decent supporters. Ghana is not better than chile.
AliW1993 12.09.13	Nah sorry, barring a miracle that's not going to happen. Chile are excellent. I quite fancy them to finish second ahead of the Netherlands.
AliW1993 12.09.13	Fernandez is an excellent player too.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	I'm interested if south korea can upset russia... russia seems to be declining...
Chrisjon89 12.09.13	was anyone talking about Chile at all before they beat an under strength England in a friendly? and Sanchez's good run of form? they're certainly a chance to get out of the group but I can't see them going too far. I'm more interested in Belgium though as an 'outsider' team. don't think they'll win but they're really on the up. they should be even stronger in 2018 cos you'd think Lukaku and Hazard etc will be in their prime at that stage also yay no vuvuzelas.
RadicalEd 12.09.13	we're just saying they are probably better than Ghana and certainly better than Australia. No one fancies them over Belgium. They also not only won against england, but they barely lost to Brazil as well. They also got to the Ro16 last time.
AliW1993 12.09.13	"was anyone talking about Chile at all before they beat an under strength England in a friendly?" Yes, although there's certainly been a bit of bandwagon-jumping since then. It's not like they're a new proposition, Spain only sneaked past them 2-1 in the last world cup, and only finished ahead of them on goal difference. Sanchez is obviously their most high profile player, but they're far from a one-man team.
Chrisjon89 12.09.13	yeah they're better than Australia. i dunno what to make of Ghana, or any of the African teams. all my favourite African players are getting older. dunno how France landed such a favourable group.
JamieTwort 12.09.13	Based on their recent form Chile have been as good as anyone recently. They drew 2-2 with Spain not long ago and had plenty of comfortable wins against other teams (all be it over lesser opposition) in the last year.
Recspecs 12.09.13	I have Ghana edging out Portugal in the group of death
Drummerboy123 12.09.13	England will yet again get to the quarter finals and then be destroyed.
lobstah 12.09.13	Definitely Ireland in the final! Oh wait, we didn't even qualify for the World Cup....
InfamousGrouse 12.09.13	"dunno how France landed such a favourable group." they didn't exactly get a bad one in south africa and we all know how that panned out..
anarchistfish 12.09.13	we got a shit qualifying group so I'd say it's fair
DrMaximus 12.09.13	Germany is winning it all [2]
qiblas 12.09.13	USA fans gotta stop acting like pussies! USA going for gold baby!!!!!!!!!!
InfamousGrouse 12.09.13	Germany don't have a chance, sorry
TheSupernatural 12.09.13	Belgium is the dark horse. I wouldn't be surprised if they made it to the semifinal or even won the whole thing. Their team is so damn strong right now.
InfamousGrouse 12.09.13	Belgium are good, though their wingers are not particularly great outwith Hazard. I think they'll definitely reach the knock-out stages, after that it really depends on who they draw from then on.
slimdaddy 12.09.13	Hazard is a lord of soccer, but I don't think he can win it for belgium
VisionsFromTheDarkSide 12.09.13	Belgium are ridiculously over-hyped, just because they have a strong set of players, doesn't necessarily mean they'll do all that well, just like how England have a good team but never do well in tournaments. If they get past the quarter finals then I'll eat my words
AliW1993 12.09.13	Yeah from what I've seen Belgium are less than the sum of their parts. I'd expect them to get out of their group, but not much further.
VisionsFromTheDarkSide 12.09.13	Perhaps, since qualifying I've said Germany and I'm sticking with them. Failing that either Brazil or Argentina. Uruguay as dark horses for me
VisionsFromTheDarkSide 12.09.13	I really don't know about Italy, I don't think they've improved since Euro 2012, and even then they got battered 4-0 in the final (albeit by Spain)
Recspecs 12.10.13	"Germany don't have a chance, sorry" You're a fucking idiot
InfamousGrouse 12.10.13	^ clearly you're just drawing your conclusions on some preconceived notions set about by FIFA or the bookies favourite. if you'd actually watched germany in the last 6 months you'd be fully aware of their defensive ineptitudes under Low who is about as much a tactician as i am jesus reincarnate. they certainly have the players for it, myself watching bayern on a weekly basis for the last 5 seasons, and often dortmund etc. but for me, they won't make it. my best guess would be brazil themselves will take it on home soil.
slimdaddy 12.10.13	USA USA
anarchistfish 12.10.13	Belgium have a sick squad but they won't win it (semis at absolute best) and they won't be favourites in 2018 cos Germany will be
RadicalEd 12.10.13	clearly you're just drawing your conclusions on some preconceived notions set about by FIFA or the bookies favourite. if you'd actually watched germany in the last 6 months you'd be fully aware of their defensive ineptitudes under Low who is about as much a tactician as i am jesus reincarnate." If the play with Lahm - Mertesacker Boateng - Jansen. I'd say they can get enough defensive stability. Although I agreew with your assessment of Low, I'd say you would be hard pressed to find a defender who is as good as Lahm and also to find two Centre backs who are considerably better than Mertesacker and Boateng (Hummels is very good as well) who are both cornerstones at Arsenal and Munich respectively.
Recspecs 12.10.13	"if you'd actually watched germany in the last 6 months you'd be fully aware of their defensive ineptitudes " Are you fully aware that a Lahm - Hummels - Mertesacker - Boateng back line is fucking raw
menawati 12.10.13	"if you'd actually watched germany in the last 6 months you'd be fully aware of their defensive ineptitudes under Low who is about as much a tactician as i am jesus reincarnate" Maybe, but I just love watching them play, exciting passing football at a good pace and not afraid to mix it up and take risks. With a bit of luck they will win it and it will be another nail in the coffin for yawn inducing tikitaka 4-6-0. England haven't got a cat's chance in hell. A brave manager would realise that and play the kids (would love to see Ravel Morrison out there nutmegging Italian defenders) but Roy will just play the old has-beens and bore his way out of the group stage with a few battling but clueless 1-0 losses.
ShitsofRain 12.10.13	wanna shoot everyone who associates germany with rammstein [3]
Recspecs 12.11.13	"Roy will just play the old has-beens and bore his way out of the group stage with a few battling but clueless 1-0 losses." Steven Gerrard
InbredJed 12.11.13	Argentina