***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (2 Viewers)

[TobiasFunke]

Steven Goff ‏@SoccerInsider

Recife field is soft but playable, handled rain better than expected. Match scheduled to start on time #usmnt

 

[MattFancy]

Is there a non-watchespn way to stream today's games? For some reason watchespn isn't accessible for DirecTV customers.

For some reason, I was able to watch matches on Watch ESPN the last couple of days without logging in to a service provider. Now, when I really want to watch it online for today's USA match, it's requiring me to login via a service provider. Since I have Direct TV, I can't, so I guess Univision is my only option.

I noticed for the other games, if there is a stream on ESPN3, you do not need to log-in to watch. It's only if you try to watch games that are using the ESPN or ESPN2 stream that you need to sign in for.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Is there really evidence that heavy rains decrease goal scoring? Seems like it would just make the games sloppier.

If there are puddles of water, the ball just stops in them. Pretty tough to score in those conditions.

It is also tough to defend and play keeper in those conditions.

actually easier to defend. have you ever tried kicking a ball sitting in a puddle of water?

I have a feeling this field will be in a little better shape than the fields we all remember from our youth, where the ball would get stuck in a puddle until everyone went kicking and plashing in to get it out...it will make short passes tough to weight properly though.

 

[Slapdash]

Last-minute odds from 538 and Oddschecker (538 listed first):

Germany win: 63% -- 57%

Draw: 22% -- 32%

USA win: 15% -- 11%

USA to advance 75.9% -- 78.7%

So oddsmakers have been forced to cut the odds on a draw -- probably a lot of money coming in on the result that helps both teams. And both sets have the US between 75-80% to go through.

sounds very unlikely to me

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Is there really evidence that heavy rains decrease goal scoring? Seems like it would just make the games sloppier.

If there are puddles of water, the ball just stops in them. Pretty tough to score in those conditions.

It is also tough to defend and play keeper in those conditions.

actually easier to defend. have you ever tried kicking a ball sitting in a puddle of water?

Just once, but it was an experimental time for me.

 

[B-Deep]

Is there a non-watchespn way to stream today's games? For some reason watchespn isn't accessible for DirecTV customers.

For some reason, I was able to watch matches on Watch ESPN the last couple of days without logging in to a service provider. Now, when I really want to watch it online for today's USA match, it's requiring me to login via a service provider. Since I have Direct TV, I can't, so I guess Univision is my only option.

for reasons i cannot explain i have more luck getting in through the espn3.com link

could be nothing but that's what i have found

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Is there really evidence that heavy rains decrease goal scoring? Seems like it would just make the games sloppier.

If there are puddles of water, the ball just stops in them. Pretty tough to score in those conditions.

It is also tough to defend and play keeper in those conditions.

actually easier to defend. have you ever tried kicking a ball sitting in a puddle of water?

I've played soccer on wet fields in the rain plenty of times. Offensive and defensive players fall down, the ball squirts in unexpected directions, goalkeepers have trouble holding on to the ball. People still score goals, they're just really ugly goals.My games didn't involve world class players -- most of the players sucked. I don't know whether the same would apply to a World Cup game. So far nobody has pointed me to any sort of study or whatever indicating there are fewer goals scored. Mostly it's just "hey, it's hard to kick in the rain."

 

[B-Deep]

Is there a non-watchespn way to stream today's games? For some reason watchespn isn't accessible for DirecTV customers.

For some reason, I was able to watch matches on Watch ESPN the last couple of days without logging in to a service provider. Now, when I really want to watch it online for today's USA match, it's requiring me to login via a service provider. Since I have Direct TV, I can't, so I guess Univision is my only option.

I noticed for the other games, if there is a stream on ESPN3, you do not need to log-in to watch. It's only if you try to watch games that are using the ESPN or ESPN2 stream that you need to sign in for.

good, it is not just me!

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

FGILC, I'm assuming the field conditions will be playable and the weather won't have a huge impact. Was just saying that water puddles are bad for scoring based on logic.

 

[charvik]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Ok guys, I'm busting out the all-white 1998 official kit over here. Speaking of busting out... it's oddly much smaller than when I won it in 1998.

Uniform

 

[TPW]

http://oneteam.azurewebsites.net/

Prediction time:

Germany 3 - USA 1

Ghana 2 - Portugal 1

Ghana wins goal differential and the Americans go home.

 

[B Maverick]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQnFN1vTQ9s

I dont know guys, but a soaked pitch seemed to help Torres in his time of need....

 

[TenTimes]

Cocktails at noon? Who doesn't pregame?

You futbol guys could learn a thing about drinking from the football guys, at least the west coast ones

Drinks at noon? The early games are half over by then, why start so late?

 

[The Gator]

Cocktails at noon? Who doesn't pregame?

Does bailey's in my coffee right now count?

 

[B Maverick]

Did everyone see this trash written by Ann Coulter?

Awful Announcing crushing her - http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/ann-coulters-column-about-soccer-is-the-worst-thing-ever-written.html

Edited to remove offending article to not give clicks to a troll

 

[TenTimes]

Is there a non-watchespn way to stream today's games? For some reason watchespn isn't accessible for DirecTV customers.

For some reason, I was able to watch matches on Watch ESPN the last couple of days without logging in to a service provider. Now, when I really want to watch it online for today's USA match, it's requiring me to login via a service provider. Since I have Direct TV, I can't, so I guess Univision is my only option.

for reasons i cannot explain i have more luck getting in through the espn3.com link

could be nothing but that's what i have found

I think it has to do with whether the games are on ABC or ESPN. Just assuming

 

[charvik]

Link to "story": http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28023882

 

[B Maverick]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

just saw 9 international matches and 4 months of any soccer related activity

 

[SmoovySmoov]

http://oneteam.azurewebsites.net/

Prediction time:

Germany 3 - USA 1

Ghana 2 - Portugal 1

Ghana wins goal differential and the Americans go home.

Suck it, you commie!

 

[Guest]

Wouldn't long passes be tougher than short passes in poor weather/field conditions?

 

[Sammy3469]

Wouldn't long passes be tougher than short passes in poor weather/field conditions?

They're actually preferred since complete multiple short passes ends up being much harder. Basically it decreases the chance of any pass being successful, so you end up being better off just trying multiple low percentage ones anyway.

 

[Premier]

http://oneteam.azurewebsites.net/

Prediction time:

Germany 3 - USA 1

Ghana 2 - Portugal 1

Ghana wins goal differential and the Americans go home.

Eat ####.

 

[TPW]

http://oneteam.azurewebsites.net/

Prediction time:

Germany 3 - USA 1

Ghana 2 - Portugal 1

Ghana wins goal differential and the Americans go home.

Suck it, you commie!

LOL!

- Germany has scored 42 goals in its last 12 matches.

- Every team which has played in Manaus has lost its next game (USA & Portugal played there last)

- Ghana eliminated the US from the 2006 and 2010 World Cup.

Those are the facts and facts don't take sides. I'll be happy to be wrong.

 

[NewlyRetired]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

just saw 9 international matches and 4 months of any soccer related activity

Roughly how many EPL games would he miss?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

So nine game ban from Uruguayan team, and can't play for Liverpool until October?

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

LOL!

- Germany has scored 42 goals in its last 12 matches.

- Every team which has played in Manaus has lost its next game (USA & Portugal played there last)

- Ghana eliminated the US from the 2006 and 2010 World Cup.

Those are the facts and facts don't take sides. I'll be happy to be wrong.

Also don't forget the Ghana Witch Doctor and his amazing talents.

 

[The Gator]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

just saw 9 international matches and 4 months of any soccer related activity

Roughly how many EPL games would he miss?

10 I think

 

[mr roboto]

Why doesn't a guy biting someone else get arrested?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

just saw 9 international matches and 4 months of any soccer related activity

Roughly how many EPL games would he miss?

8-10?

 

[charvik]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

just saw 9 international matches and 4 months of any soccer related activity

Roughly how many EPL games would he miss?

10 I think

Might miss CL games too...

 

[JMon348]

Tweet I'm reading says:

9 EPL games

3 Champions League games

 

[Sinn Fein]

Did everyone see this trash written by Ann Coulter?

Awful Announcing crushing her - http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/ann-coulters-column-about-soccer-is-the-worst-thing-ever-written.html

Actual Article - http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2014-06-25.html

She is just a #### trying to cash in on soccers popularity by writing an article that is sure to get lots of clicks by fans and haters alike.

When the WC is over she'll forget about soccer, but she'll still be a ####.

 

[Tony Jabroni]

Is there really evidence that heavy rains decrease goal scoring? Seems like it would just make the games sloppier.

If there are puddles of water, the ball just stops in them. Pretty tough to score in those conditions.

It is also tough to defend and play keeper in those conditions.

actually easier to defend. have you ever tried kicking a ball sitting in a puddle of water?

I've played soccer on wet fields in the rain plenty of times. Offensive and defensive players fall down, the ball squirts in unexpected directions, goalkeepers have trouble holding on to the ball. People still score goals, they're just really ugly goals.My games didn't involve world class players -- most of the players sucked. I don't know whether the same would apply to a World Cup game. So far nobody has pointed me to any sort of study or whatever indicating there are fewer goals scored. Mostly it's just "hey, it's hard to kick in the rain."

Mud ball games were the best. Attempting to kick the ball as hard you can, only to slip and slide 5ft past = Good times.

 

[NewlyRetired]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

just saw 9 international matches and 4 months of any soccer related activity

Roughly how many EPL games would he miss?

10 I think

Might miss CL games too...

Someone just posted in the soccer thread that he could miss 3 group stage CL games. This seems accurate if the CL group stage schedule is similar to last year.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Hmmm reading that the 4 month ban, also includes training at LFC - so the match ban will be a bit longer in practicality imo/

 

[jonessed]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

just saw 9 international matches and 4 months of any soccer related activity

Seems light, but this FIFA so at least they weren't stricken blind with wads of Uruguayan cash.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Did everyone see this trash written by Ann Coulter?

Awful Announcing crushing her - http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/ann-coulters-column-about-soccer-is-the-worst-thing-ever-written.html

Can you please delete the link to her article? She is a giant troll looking for a ton of clicks. It would be best not to encourage any traffic to that AW.

 

[NewlyRetired]

She is just a #### trying to cash in on soccers popularity by writing an article that is sure to get lots of clicks by fans and haters alike.

When the WC is over she'll forget about soccer, but she'll still be a ####.

Yup. People need to remember that every time you post the link to the story, you give her exactly what she wanted. Best to just ignore it.

 

[TenTimes]

Why doesn't a guy biting someone else get arrested?

I wonder this about football sometimes too.

15 or so years ago there was a high school basketball player in San Antonio who got jail time (5 years) for throwing a malicious elbow during a game.

http://www.democracynow.org/2000/4/10/latino_basketball_player_sentenced_to_five

 

[Joe T]

http://oneteam.azurewebsites.net/

Prediction time:

Germany 3 - USA 1

Ghana 2 - Portugal 1

Ghana wins goal differential and the Americans go home.

I'll take:

Germany 3 USA 0

Portugal 2 Ghana 0

Germany and Portugal move on.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Can Suarez Appeal?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Suarez can miss the first 10 games and still lead the EPL in scoring. he did it last year....

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

I predict:

US 12 Germany 0

Ghana 17 Portugal 8

US and Ghana move on.

 

[B Maverick]

Did everyone see this trash written by Ann Coulter?

Awful Announcing crushing her - http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/ann-coulters-column-about-soccer-is-the-worst-thing-ever-written.html

Can you please delete the link to her article? She is a giant troll looking for a ton of clicks. It would be best not to encourage any traffic to that AW.

She is just a #### trying to cash in on soccers popularity by writing an article that is sure to get lots of clicks by fans and haters alike.

When the WC is over she'll forget about soccer, but she'll still be a ####.

Yup. People need to remember that every time you post the link to the story, you give her exactly what she wanted. Best to just ignore it.

Yeah my bad....

 

[17seconds]

Ghana suspended 2 players before Portugal game. Good for US right?

 

[Sinn Fein]

Photo of field (from press box)

 

[Mjolnirs]

Ok guys, I'm busting out the all-white 1998 official kit over here. Speaking of busting out... it's oddly much smaller than when I won it in 1998.

'98? That was a terrible cup, burn that thing.

 

[B Maverick]

9 game ban for Suarez per BBC

also banned from all football for 4 months...

just saw 9 international matches and 4 months of any soccer related activity

Seems light, but this FIFA so at least they weren't stricken blind with wads of Uruguayan cash.

Looks like Suarez also fined $112,000 and will miss start of copa america

 

[NewlyRetired]

Ok, logging out for good now until after the game. I sense this thread is about to take a turn for the worse

Hope everyone enjoys the game!