***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (1 Viewer)

[NewlyRetired]

no effin way. best WC ever yet?

I have seen this several times. What makes this one better than previous World Cups?J

More goals, lots of late goals, swings in momentum and some surprising results. The pace has been fast and teams aren't just bunkering down and playing defensive.

There's been more of that than in years past?J

The commentary mentioned Greece put 2014 at 145 goals which 2010 finished with.

So the over at 154.5 is looking good.

Yup. 12 games left not including what is left in this one.

I assume the goal awarded to the winner will count?

Doubtful for betting purposes.

In FIFA terms it goes in the books as a draw so there is no extra goal awarded to the pk winner.

 

[ffldrew]

Keeper: OK guys leave me the eff alone

 

[Spartans Rule]

Is it just me or is Greece a pretty crappy team?

They've had an easy draw and are only alive because their opponents have shot themselves in the foot.

That said, they somehow won Euro 2004 playing like this, so I guess there's some virtue in boring soccer.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

How regarded are the respective keepers?

J

Don't know much about the Greek keeper, but Navas on CR is one of the best in the Spanish La Liga

Thanks. So in pk time, would Costa Rica have edge? Or Greece? Or even?J

Its a crap shoot. Being the better keeper does not always translate to being better at stopping pk's.

The edge is statistically to the team who goes first. I thought it was something like 60/40 to the team who goes first

 

[Joe Bryant]

This is like sudden death? Each team gets to match pk?

J

 

[dickey moe]

Lol at the Greek with the trumpet.

 

[Spartans Rule]

This is like sudden death? Each team gets to match pk?

J

They each get 5.

If they're still tied after that, then it's sudden death.

 

[gump]

Nice start!

 

[sporthenry]

Costa Rica/Greece gonna show Chile/Brazil how to take PKs.

 

[Joe Bryant]

This is like sudden death? Each team gets to match pk?

J

They each get 5.

If they're still tied after that, then it's sudden death.

Thanks.

J

 

[otello]

Daggers!!

 

[Sinn Fein]

Freakanomics new book as a section on PKs - statistically right down the middle is the best place to put the ball.

 

[gump]

These guys look 100x times more relaxed than Brazil-Chile.

 

[Slapdash]

Is it just me or is Greece a pretty crappy team?

They've had an easy draw and are only alive because their opponents have shot themselves in the foot.

That said, they somehow won Euro 2004 playing like this, so I guess there's some virtue in boring soccer.

Boring pays

 

[dickey moe]

Freakanomics new book as a section on PKs - statistically right down the middle is the best place to put the ball.

So statistically the goalie should just stay put?

 

[sporthenry]

Freakanomics new book as a section on PKs - statistically right down the middle is the best place to put the ball.

And I just read an article that statistically, best place for goalie is to stand in the middle b/c he takes up the most space that way. It'll be interesting to see if the goalie not guessing ever takes hold.

 

[Slider6]

Apparently Mike Tirico just referred to Costa Rica as an island nation on Talking Heads. What an idiot.

Pretty sure Bob Ley did the same thing going into the game too.

 

[Fariq]

You're excited?

 

[Mr.Pack]

Why did the Greek HC leave the field?

 

[The Gator]

"Penalties are never saved, they are missed" Giorgio Chinaglia

 

[sporthenry]

Nice to see Campbell finish.

 

[otello]

Save!!!

 

[Christo]

Navas!

 

[chet]

Yes!!

 

[dickey moe]

Wow

 

[Spartans Rule]

Why did the Greek HC leave the field?

He was ejected.

 

[otello]

CR wins!!

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

CONCACAF!

 

[Christo]

TICOS!

 

[Fariq]

Geece lost

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Concacaf!!!!!!!!

 

[gump]

The Happiest Nation in the World!!!!!

 

[Doctor Detroit]

That's what you get for having chicks with hairy backs, Greece.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Awesome!

Concacaf was a couple of minutes away from a definite semi final spot.

 

[Raider Nation]

Why was CR making the quarters "near-impossible" as the announcer said? Were they expected to be terrible?

 

[Sinn Fein]

Great result! Happy for Ticos.

 

[Joe Bryant]

That was exciting. Nice.

J

 

[Short Corner]

Why did the Greek HC leave the field?

He got tossed

 

[Sinn Fein]

Why was CR making the quarters "near-impossible" as the announcer said? Were they expected to be terrible?

Ranked 28th in the world - so a big deal to win their group, and make it to the final 8

 

[TenTimes]

Add Greece to the list of powerhouses Costa Rica has eliminated

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Why was CR making the quarters "near-impossible" as the announcer said? Were they expected to be terrible?

I think they were like the 5th biggest longshot to win the World Cup.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Why was CR making the quarters "near-impossible" as the announcer said? Were they expected to be terrible?

They were in the most difficult group. No one gave them any shot of advancing over England, Italy and Uruguay, much less getting to the quarter finals.

 

[Raider Nation]

Can't tell you how much dough I've sent to Costa Rica to stake gambling accounts. I feel like a partner.

 

[gianmarco]

My link

 

[Slapdash]

"Group of Champions" shtick continues

 

[boubucarow]

Freakanomics new book as a section on PKs - statistically right down the middle is the best place to put the ball.

As an kid playing goalie I argued with my coach that I would rather react to what I see than guess a side. I figured most kids could not place a shot well enough if I took away the space I could cover in the middle.

I suspect that at the professional level you can't consistently do that since putting the ball in the corner is simple enough if you know you have the room to miss a bit inside. I do think that goalies should mix in not guessing though.

 

[otello]

July 5 - Quarter-finals

Costa Rica - Netherlands

 

[gump]

Freakanomics new book as a section on PKs - statistically right down the middle is the best place to put the ball.

As an kid playing goalie I argued with my coach that I would rather react to what I see than guess a side. I figured most kids could not place a shot well enough if I took away the space I could cover in the middle.

I suspect that at the professional level you can't consistently do that since putting the ball in the corner is simple enough if you know you have the room to miss a bit inside. I do think that goalies should mix in not guessing though.

The first PK lesson is to watch the shooters plant foot...and to react in that direction as he's kicking....but that probably loses it's meaning at around age 15.

 

[Eephus]

It's always a good day when Mexico and Greece lose

 

[Native]

Man I love the shots of the fans cheering in their native countries after big goals. The image of the Costa Ricans rejoicing after the winning penalty gives me goose bumps. So awesome.