World Cup 2014

[betiko]

I'd like to see an unexpected team win it all, naturally.


--Andy

any team winning that isn't brasil is an unexpected team. otherwise, if you expect a team like costa rica or USA to win, it's probably because you drank way too much tea.

Outside of Brazil there's maybe 3 teams that people 'expect' to win, Brazil, Argentina and Germany... anything other than that would be a surprise team.

Shit that my two favorite teams have to play Brazil to reach the semis... or each other if Chile shock Brazil, which I seriously doubt, they never beat Brazil. Even at home they suck vs Brazil.

yup: but what I meant, is that the other 3 favorites would be "unexpected", no other team can win (maybe netherlands, france or colombia could be a secondary list but it's impossible for the other 8 teams to win)

[Pirlo]

I'd like to see an unexpected team win it all, naturally.


--Andy

any team winning that isn't brasil is an unexpected team. otherwise, if you expect a team like costa rica or USA to win, it's probably because you drank way too much tea.

Outside of Brazil there's maybe 3 teams that people 'expect' to win, Brazil, Argentina and Germany... anything other than that would be a surprise team.

Shit that my two favorite teams have to play Brazil to reach the semis... or each other if Chile shock Brazil, which I seriously doubt, they never beat Brazil. Even at home they suck vs Brazil.

yup: but what I meant, is that the other 3 favorites would be "unexpected", no other team can win (maybe netherlands, france or colombia could be a secondary list but it's impossible for the other 8 teams to win)

I don't see Netherlands as a surprise.. in fact, they are the strongest so far. I think I said Germany are always superpower in their first match, and they are not as strong in the rest of games. Someone in this thread mocked me, I don't remember who, but I'm not saying they are not strong or not favorite.. They are just not as scary as the first impression they gave.

On the other hand, Brazil, as usual, start shit and gets stronger every game. If the game and FIFA were fair, Brazil wouldn't have won their opener, and Neymar would have seen red, which could have meant Brazil out, but alas, that cannot go in conformity with the nature of business we have. Now their way to semi-finals is kinda paved as they play familiar neighbors, and they keep developing in the advanced stages, which means they can be the strongest soon as the tournament proceeds!

If I have to bet (provided the game is perfectly fair) Netherlands would be my favorite... If I have to do it considering the FIFA business, it would be Brazil or Messi!

[nietzsche]

If I have to bet (provided the game is perfectly fair) Netherlands would be my favorite... If I have to do it considering the FIFA business, it would be Brazil or Messi!

please bitch, Netherlands is going home on Monday.

[JBlombier]

I can always appreciate a good optimist.
Hang in there, nietzsche!

[Pirlo]

If I have to bet (provided the game is perfectly fair) Netherlands would be my favorite... If I have to do it considering the FIFA business, it would be Brazil or Messi!

please bitch, Netherlands is going home on Monday.

Sorry niet.. I know Mexico are a very solid and tough team, but this game will probably be decided by little details, and Robben and RVP are capable of making the difference. Everything is possible in football though, let's see the epic tomorrow!

[Serbia]

Click image to enlarge.

Bollocks.

[nietzsche]

If I have to bet (provided the game is perfectly fair) Netherlands would be my favorite... If I have to do it considering the FIFA business, it would be Brazil or Messi!

please bitch, Netherlands is going home on Monday.

Sorry niet.. I know Mexico are a very solid and tough team, but this game will probably be decided by little details, and Robben and RVP are capable of making the difference. Everything is possible in football though, let's see the epic tomorrow!

The difference between this and previous national teams for Mexico is that many of these guys have won something in sub-17 or sub-21 teams. The mentality is different and they are pushing towards the final, I kid you not they (the players) say they will be in the final. I'm not so sure they'll pass over Holland, I have hope, but certainly the dream and vision is there.

Many (southamerican) analysts see Mexico with a real shot at winning. They have to attack though, Holland's weakest part is defense. Other than Robben, Van Persie, De Jong and Sjneider, I don't see a super team like Germany is.

As I said against Brazil, expect an upset: Mexico in extra time.

[Gillipig]

If I have to bet (provided the game is perfectly fair) Netherlands would be my favorite... If I have to do it considering the FIFA business, it would be Brazil or Messi!

please bitch, Netherlands is going home on Monday.

please homer boy, Mexico is going home on Monday.

[betiko]

there are definitely going to be a couple of upsets in these 1/8th of finals. chile? nigeria? mexico? usa? at least one of these will make it.

[oVo]

Chile & Brazil have the knockout stage off to a good start,
with lots of good scoring chances. 1-1 half

[Timminz]

Definitely an entertaining first half.

Is Neymar going to be the next Ronaldo? He sure likes to make a meal out of every challenge he faces.

[nietzsche]

Chile doesnt want to modify, keep risking the balll.

Brasil playing intense but I still don't like it, there's too much talent to play that way.

[nietzsche]

Definitely an entertaining first half.

Is Neymar going to be the next Ronaldo? He sure likes to make a meal out of every challenge he faces.

He's more like Ronaldinho.

[Serbia]

Go Chile!

Bollocks.

[Army of GOD]

Brazil losing would be awesome

[Army of GOD]

That should be a red

[DiM]

Brazil losing would be awesome

amen

[DiM]

That should be a red

both neymar and thiago silva should have gotten a red, but they were spared. do you really think a brazilian player will get a red card? especially when the score is tied?

[Serbia]

And that's why it's TOTALLY STUPID to play the entire extra time for penalties. If Chile would have just gone for it, they could have won and avoided penalties. Weren't Brazil always going to win, AT HOME, on penalties? Poor strategy.

Bollocks.

[nietzsche]

And that's why it's TOTALLY STUPID to play the entire extra time for penalties. If Chile would have just gone for it, they could have won and avoided penalties. Weren't Brazil always going to win, AT HOME, on penalties? Poor strategy.

Bollocks.

No. They will lose eventually.

[DiM]

damn it. that 120th minute crossbar would have been a great goal for chile.
then at the last penalty they hit the post

[Serbia]

And that's why it's TOTALLY STUPID to play the entire extra time for penalties. If Chile would have just gone for it, they could have won and avoided penalties. Weren't Brazil always going to win, AT HOME, on penalties? Poor strategy.

Bollocks.

No. They will lose eventually.

In the tournament, yes. In this game, against Chile? They were not going to lose on penalties. Just wasn't going to happen.

Bollocks.

[Trevor33]

What a game of football... best so far for me. Sooooo close for Chile, watched a lot of the game standing up and my throat is a little sore now, need a couple of hours break for Colombia.

They weren't playing for pens, Chile were done after the first half of extra time, they just didn't have anything left to throw forward, Brazil would have killed them on the break. But who had the best chance in extra time? Chile, so shut up Serbia.

[oVo]

Mosquitoes go wild as Brazil collectively breathes a sigh of relief. Chile could not have come any closer to knocking them out. The crossbar shot... OMG!

Chile had a great chance in the extra time,
but Brazil had many blown opportunities.

[Serbia]

What a game of football... best so far for me. Sooooo close for Chile, watched a lot of the game standing up and my throat is a little sore now, need a couple of hours break for Colombia.

They weren't playing for pens, Chile were done after the first half of extra time, they just didn't have anything left to throw forward, Brazil would have killed them on the break. But who had the best chance in extra time? Chile, so shut up Serbia.

Chile did have the best chance, I don't deny that. Calm your Irish temper dude. Chile also wasn't going forward in numbers. Chile was sitting back. Ian Darke even said they were playing for penalties, so shut up, trevie.

Bollocks.