World Cup is OVER - let's share out thoughts together
JuliusBorisov
Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,725
And the World Cup has ended!
It's been the real festival of football. In this thread we can discuss everything related to the WC.
Let's rendezvous right here in 4 years!
It's been the real festival of football. In this thread we can discuss everything related to the WC.
Let's rendezvous right here in 4 years!
Post edited by JuliusBorisov on
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I'll probably have to watch it as I live in Europe and most of my friends will talk about nothing else.
(Let me flail about volleyball World Championship, though. In four months. In Poland. Aw yeah.
As much as I dislike football, other sports are awesome!)
@FinneousPJ
Nice to meet you:)
Among other soccer fans here are (from my knowledge):
@booinyoureyes @Heindrich @Metalloman
Who else? Maybe @Flashburn (because of the football gif posted in the Adventure Y thread)?
It seems @Blackraven is somehow interested (a "like" to the OP) although I don't know if he's a fan or not:)
Let us gather a team before venturing forth!
What do you think are the most interesting teams of the WC? I think Belgium and Japan could be real surprises.
As some here know, while my first love is Roma, my favorite Spanish and English sides are Atleti and Chelsea respectively.
So the good news is I will have a dog in the fight in Lisbon for the final
The bad news is one of them have to lose tonight
I'm supporting Atletico since this is might be the only chance we get at this after our miracle season (after which the team will probably break up). However, I do think Chelsea has the better chance of beating that other stupid team from Madrid that no decent human being would support! Though Atletico did beat them in the league this year away, and should have won at home, they did beat us in the Cup pretty handily.
I love the game. First I've got to say that I've become disenchanted with European club football (soccer), ever since money came to completely rule the game.
Nowadays, I feel that success is simply bought. Let's say there's about 10 teams that decide amongst themselves who's Europe's best. Examples of Europe's "great" club football:
- Bayern = FC Germany (they buy all the best German players),
- Real Madrid has a debt of 500-600 million euros but happily spend another 90 million on Gareth Bale,
- Internazionale won the Champions League a few years back with zero Italians in their squad until Materazzi got on the pitch as a substitute in the 80th minute,
- Chelsea have been able to spend about 1 billion(!) euros on players ever since Abrahamovich arrived ten years ago (before that time they were nobodies), and they still have the nerve to play a cowardly, ultra-defensive game...
If you can no longer compete financially, you're out. See teams from my country such as Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV, teams that have become completely irrelevant internationally in the past 10-15 years. See also legendary teams like Benfica, Porto (the last "black sheep" to win a CL in 2004), Arsenal and more recently AC Milan. If you want to get into the elite, you need a rich investor (PSG, Monaco) or a lot of luck. Money rules and Platini's Financial Fair Play isn't doing anything yet, so I'll have to wait and see if that's going to change anything.
Therefore, if we're talking Champions League here, like some of us did above, I have only limited interest, for the reasons mentioned above... I'll always totally support the underdogs. Last year Borussia Dortmund; this year Atletico Madrid.
The World Cup, thankfully, is much less likely to be spoilt in the same way, because countries can't buy other players
My expectatations of "my" country (don't even live there) aren't very high this year. The coach, Louis van Gaal, has introduced mostly very young, inexperienced players into the squad, so nerves, lack of experiences and possibly lack of quality could give them a very hard time in their group with Spain and Chile, which are two very good teams. And even Australia's very physical style of play could be difficult for the "Clockwork Orange" to deal with. Of the previous generation's leading players only Robben and Van Persie (currently injured) remain to be international top players. If they end second in their group, behind for example Spain, they'll likely be up against Brazil in the second round which, in spite of Holland's reasonable track record against Brazil, would mean an early exit I fear. We'll have to see, maybe they'll do better than I had expected.
But that doesn't really matter. I'll still follow and enjoy the Cup if Holland are out. I find it difficult to single out one favorite for the title. Most people will mention Brazil, Germany, and Spain I think. I'd like to add to that list Argentina, who've been pretty solid lately.
I will obviously be supporting the United States and Greece, but I don't think either have much of a chance to even escape from their groups. The States had a disaster drawing not only Germany and Portugal but Ghana, who eliminated us from the past two World Cups. I think this Ghanaian team is a bit weaker but it doesn't matter... we still have to top Portugal and Germany, which is not happening.
Greece has it a bit easier, especially since my boy Falcao isn't playing for Colombia, but Cote d'Ivoire is no joke and has plenty of talent (including my new darling Gervinho who has had a monster of a season with Roma this year) and Japan is a nightmare matchup for Greece even if the two sides have comparable talent.
After that I will support whatever side has more footballers that I admire (ie whoever fields the most Roma players at any given moment, or failing that Chelsea/Atleti players).
I do agree with @FinneousPJ that Belgium will be very interesting. I said two years ago when looking at their young talent that they would surprise. They are still young now, but many of their players have great experience. When you look at it, pretty much every top side in Europe has a Belgian. Thibaut Courtois may be my current favorite footballer after Totti, and he is definitely one of the world's best keepers. When your backup is Mignolet, you know you have talent and depth in the side!!! They also have the PFA Young Player of the Year in Hazard, plus a strong pair of centerbacks with Kompany and Vermaelen/Vertonghen, though they will probably play Van Buyten there and move Vertonghen to the left. This leaves Vermaelen out of the loop which is a shame, considering his talent (certainly a better player than error-prone Van Buyten). They also have Lukaku and Mirallas who have been great up front for Everton, and may be joined by Bentenke if he regains his fitness and form. On top of it all: they have a strong young midfield! I'd kill to have Dembele or Mertens on Roma, and Witsel plays well. Fellaini is a good player as well, despite disappointing this year (sorry @bengoshi ) and de Bruyne is good too. I am still pissed they probably wont start Nainggolan from Roma this year, despite him playing so well.
Honestly, that talent is comparable with any side in the world. The only reason I don't think they are likely winners is because they are young in key areas. I do think they will cause some teams headaches.
Favorites
-Germany: always in the mix, great talent. Bayern and Dortmund's successes may do wonders for them the way that Barcelona's did for Spain in the past decade)
-Brazil: best defense in the world, attackers that would make anyone jealous AND playing at home? Clearly they are contenders if they don't blow it. Only weakness is their young attack and their lack of a really dominant striker, which makes them giving up Diego Costa such a head scratcher
-Spain: Many predict them to disappoint, but they can still win. I do agree that their magic is starting to wear off, and they really need Diego Costa to play well. They can still win though. They can also disappoint, but you can't not put them among the favorite
Dark Horses
-Belgium: Explained earlier. Only problem is youth and lack of proper fullbacks. Alderweireld has played really well this year though! (shameless plug)
-Italy: surprised everyone last Euro. Great manager. Have a good defense with Chiellini and Buffon leading them. If Rossi is healthy, they have two great options up front with him and Balotelli (who is incredible but also very problematic due to his mentality). However, if they play De Rossi (my boy!) Pirlo and Thiago Motta, one or two other players will need to step up and create opportunities or else poor Pirlo will have to pull rabbits out of his wonderful hair (which is actually possible). Balotelli will need service if they are to win.
-Colombia: No Falcao, but a good defense with very quick players in defense and attack. Wingbacks will be a problem against slower teams. James Rodriguez also kinda disappointed in Monaco from what I hear (never actually watched them play this year, to be honest). They do have some impressive strikers besides Falcao, since Bacca and Jackson Martinez have both had incredible season. Not the smartest team though, and could blow it with lapses in their defense. Also have like 3 different idiots all vying for the goalkeeping spot. I have a lot of Colombian friends, so if they advance along with Greece I might support them (which is a big deal!!! lol)
-France: much talent. Strong everywhere. I don't put them among the top three teams I mentioned earlier, but of the four dark horses I'd say they are most likely to go on a run and win it all. Kinda surprised how little people expect of them. Most likely their poor performances in recent competitions has marred their image, but they were very underrated in the qualifiers. They only finished three points off of Spain in a tough group.
Who Knows?
-Argentina: disappointed for the past 20 years as @CrevsDaak will attest to, and many pick them underperform as usual is Brazil. However, despite him being out of form, they have the best player in the world who can steal matches and an abundance of talent in attack. They usually have strong holding midfielders, but not this year, and a pretty weak defense, which is why I put them as Dark Horses rather than favorites. Unless Cambiasso magically gets four years younger, they will struggle against teams that are strong down the middle, like Spain or Germany. Their strength in attack and playing in South America prevents me from putting them in the likely to disappoint category, but it would not surprise me for them to go out early. Would also not surprise me if Kun Aguero uses his Atletico education to score 5 goals and help Messi bring them to the finals, and Higuain is the smartest striker off the ball I have ever seen.
Will Disappoint
-Portugal: reliant on one incredible player. Ronaldo will have to carry the entire load. He's capable of doing it often, but every game is asking a lot when you have no options for strikers. Their midfield is kinda overrated.
-Holland: talent is old. Defense is weak. Kevin Strootman was probably the best performing Dutchman this season and he will miss it. Van Persie isn't what he used to be, but still a star. However, their midfield has no standout performers. For some reason their usual array of talent playing across Europe is no longer there, and the few holdouts have gotten older (Robben, Van der Vaart) or just disappointed (overrated Sneijder is having a decent year... playing in Turkey!). Belgium is the new Netherlands.
-England: They are England
-Uruguay: most unbalanced side I have seen. Good keeper, a superb centerback in Godin and the standout striker in Europe this season with Suarez. Cavani is also an incredible talent. But.... who will play in midfield? Who will create? Unique team since they are incredibly strong in certain areas but utterly lacking in others. Can't see them going far unless someone has another miracle like Forlan did last World Cup (again, its that incredible Atletico experience...)
Plus when someone says "bollocks" I don't gasp as if it was taboo. I just chuckle, cuz the word sounds absolutely hilarious.
heheh... bollocks... hehehe
2nd round:
Brazil - Netherlands
Colombia - Uruguay
Spain - Mexico
Italy - Ivory Coast
France - Bosnia
Germany - Russia
Argentina - Ecuador
Belgium - Portugal
Quarters:
Brazil - Colombia
France - Germany
Spain - Italy
Argentina - Portugal
Semi-finals:
Brazil - France
Spain - Argentina
Finals:
Brazil - Argentina
For example, if Croatia beats Mexico your entire outcome might change.
Besides, clearly Greece is going to play the US in the final, don't be ridiculous picking all those underdogs
With a group of friends we used to do these predictions. Pool some money and have the winner invite the others for drinks or ice cream and keep the rest. Was good fun.
I kinda have my doubts about the Dutch (I think they might not even get out of their group, since Spain is as close to a sure thing as you will find and Chile is also really good) @Blackraven
We should have a topic here (or just do it on this thread) where we can predict outcomes. Winner gets to decide everyone else's forum profile pictures for a week!!!
I think it is hilarious that Argentina is the side I said could do anything from disappoint completely to win the whole tournament handily is the nation that our resident Lord of Chaos @CrevsDaak supports, lol!
Crevs always being the wild card
Now my prediction...
England will get to the second round earning plenty of revenue for the pubs and the alcohol industry in general, will then get some dodgy referee to rob us blind of a goal or send off a few of our players before we valiantly get to a draw after 120 minutes for us to then lose on penalties.
It has happened before. It will happen again.
...
Oh bugger that... LET THE THREE LIONS RUN RAMPANT ! ENGLAND FOR GLORY ! ENGLAND TO WIN ! ENGLAND TO BE CROWNED CHAMPIONS !
...
I'm going to be reduced to tears again... It happened 4 years ago...
Ahhh, no, sorry, I'm not interested in soccer, err, football...uhhh, this sport.
Its called soccer where I live but you can call our version of football "Hand-egg" if you'd like. All the British people do.
Sorry