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

Having a friendly with my rum/coke in preparation for tomorrow
You just reminded me - I need to stock the bar for the matches.

Scooby, you are the resident cocktail expert - how about some cocktails from different countries that are 1. relatively tasty and 2. relatively easy to make. I'm sure you'd be good for 75% of the countries top of head, right? ;)

ETA - in case it wasn't obvious I meant from the 32 participating countries. I'm willing to just get hammered on Jameson and Bookers but I want to have the Scooby Ramsey Hunt Experience experience while watching the matches.
Many are easy to make, but you might need to buy some special liquor. Let's start with your two go-tos.

I have designated the Manhattan as the FFA's Official Cocktail for USMNT games. Here is my standard recipe. In a shaker filled with ice, pour:

2.5 parts rye whiskey (some people use Bourbon, but those people should be shunned like a Croatian making Nazi salutes);

1 part sweet vermouth (Carpana Antica if possible, I will accept Dolin Rouge or Vya);

Angostura bitters to taste.

Stir (never shake a cocktail made only with spirits) for about 45 seconds. Serve in a chilled glass (I use a stemless cocktail glass, but you can go with an old fashioned glass). You may garnish with a good brand of cocktail cherry (Luxardo is excellent or Bada Bing is a nice domestic brand), an orange twist, or go garnishless.

For games featuring Brazil or as your go to standard cocktail for this Brazillian world cup, I recommend the Caipiriniha. You will need Cachaca, which is the Brazilian national spirit. It's in most liquor stores now (Pitu is the most common brand I see).

In a tall rocks or highball glass, place half a lime that has been cut into four pieces.

Add 1 teaspoon of white sugar (or you can use a prepared simple syrup)

Muddle the lime (crush it using either a cocktail muddler or a heavy spoon.

Add 2 1/2 ounces of Cachaca.

Fill the glass the remaining way with ice.

 
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Hmm for England, I'd be tempted to make a Pimm's Cup. Some of those recipes are bit complex, so give me some time .

For Italy, how about a nice Negroni?

Equal parts gin, campari (Aperol would also work), and sweet vermouth. Just pour them straight into an old fashioned glass with ice and stir. You may wish to cut the campari a bit to find if you respond to the bitterness. Work your way up. Garnish is typically an orange or lemon twist.

They're completely mad about Gin and Tonics in Spain. But they call them Gin Tonics (no &) and they make them slightly different. The key is the glassware. Use a Red Wine glass, a big one, and fill that sucker with ice, put your garnish on the ice (I like a citrus peel of some kind as opposed to the fruit itself with juice, my most typical garnish is orange peel), then pour a good gin on top of the garnish. Finally top off with twice as much of a good tonic brand (I like Q and Fever Tree).

 
For games featuring Brazil or as your go to standard cocktail for this Brazillian world cup, I recommend the Caipiriniha.
Tony Bourdain was drinking the #### out of them in his last episode, it nearly motivated me to hunt out some Cachaca.

P.S. I like the idea of a stemless cocktail glass. There is no need to set down a glass.

 
:hifive: Scooby - I'll be making Caipriniha for sure as my wife likes those. Thanks and keep them coming.
 
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Can people even get Squirt? Could you substitute Fresca or something (I'm assuming nobody wants to use fresh grapefruit juice)?
Fresca is a bad alternative, there is a regional soda manufacturer in my general area that makes an excellent grapefruit soda. Jarritos is fairly common in the ethnic isle of the grocery store as well.

 
OK, I'm going to settle on a Pimm's Cup #1 made the simplest way I know how.

I recommend making yourself a nice pitcher of these at once. Sit down with the wife and watch the Three Lions properly.

Fill the pitcher with ice. Add 1 part of Pimms No. 1 and 2 parts of either a carbonated lemonade (I see it at Whole Foods all the time) or, in a pinch, 7Up. Now garnish that sucker to your hearts content. English cucumber slices are a must, IMO. As is mint. Maybe some lemon wheels and strawberries too. Pour into some iced high ball or old fashioned glasses. Classy!

 
OK, I'm going to settle on a Pimm's Cup #1 made the simplest way I know how.

I recommend making yourself a nice pitcher of these at once. Sit down with the wife and watch the Three Lions properly.

Fill the pitcher with ice. Add 1 part of Pimms No. 1 and 2 parts of either a carbonated lemonade (I see it at Whole Foods all the time) or, in a pinch, 7Up. Now garnish that sucker to your hearts content. English cucumber slices are a must, IMO. As is mint. Maybe some lemon wheels and strawberries too. Pour into some iced high ball or old fashioned glasses. Classy!
Disappointment awaits

 
http://screamer.deadspin.com/three-days-out-the-world-cup-arena-in-manaus-is-a-disa-1589467690/+barryap

That photo up there is from Amazonia Arena in Manaus. The turf is patchy, sandy, and as acknowledged by the groundskeeper, in no way ready to host soccer, let alone a World Cup match. Too bad, because the crucial opener between England and Italy is on Saturday.

"Frankly, Manaus is in bad shape,"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...dition-for-Englands-opener-against-Italy.htmlsaid Carlos Botella, head groundsman
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...dition-for-Englands-opener-against-Italy.html. "We've started to implement an emergency plan to try to save the field and improve it as much as possible, but I don't think it'll be in good condition."
Botella blames the isolation of Manaus hundreds of miles from any other World Cup stadium and largely inaccessible by road. "All the machinery and materials had to be brought by ship," he said. "There's no fertilizer, no seeds. Everything has been complicated."

Manaus's location should make for some miserable soccer no matter the pitch. The temperature for Saturday's match is expected to be around 90, with the humidity appropriately oppressive for the middle of the ####### rainforest. The weather is believed to be a contributing factor in the sorry state of the grass.

From the beginning, critics said there was no need for a $229 million, 46,000-seat stadium in a city that doesn't have a first-division club. The deaths of three construction workers didn't help matters either. But no one expected that things might still be so bleak days before go time.

According to witnesses who have been inside the stadium this week, the ground is fully functional but not completely finished.
In and around the changing rooms, naked power cables could be seen dangling from the walls. According to reports, outside the stadium workers were still applying a final coat of asphalt, while several security doors could be seen in their packaging, still waiting to be fitted.
England is sending a staffer to inspect the stadium tomorrow, with a training session to be held on Friday.
US plays there in 11 days

 
Of course, you can also honor 007 with a classic martini. Bond ordered vodka martinis and gin martinis in somewhat equal measure throughout Fleming's novels. But we already know he was Philistine, because no man worth his salt would order a shaken martini (once again, if you're just using spirits, STIR!).

I like a gin martini made with 5 parts gin to 1 part dry vermouth (Dolin Blanc is excellent but Noilly Prat is fine). Once again stir in the shaker with LOTS of ice for a long time, 45 seconds or so. Dilution is part of the drink. Pour in a chilled cocktail glass. I love an olive garnish as much as the next guy, but don't discount a simple lemon twist. Cocktail onions make a Gibson. And who knows what country you'd be supporting then.

 
http://screamer.deadspin.com/three-days-out-the-world-cup-arena-in-manaus-is-a-disa-1589467690/+barryap

That photo up there is from Amazonia Arena in Manaus. The turf is patchy, sandy, and as acknowledged by the groundskeeper, in no way ready to host soccer, let alone a World Cup match. Too bad, because the crucial opener between England and Italy is on Saturday.

"Frankly, Manaus is in bad shape,"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...dition-for-Englands-opener-against-Italy.htmlsaid Carlos Botella, head groundsman
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...dition-for-Englands-opener-against-Italy.html. "We've started to implement an emergency plan to try to save the field and improve it as much as possible, but I don't think it'll be in good condition."
Botella blames the isolation of Manaus hundreds of miles from any other World Cup stadium and largely inaccessible by road. "All the machinery and materials had to be brought by ship," he said. "There's no fertilizer, no seeds. Everything has been complicated."

Manaus's location should make for some miserable soccer no matter the pitch. The temperature for Saturday's match is expected to be around 90, with the humidity appropriately oppressive for the middle of the ####### rainforest. The weather is believed to be a contributing factor in the sorry state of the grass.

From the beginning, critics said there was no need for a $229 million, 46,000-seat stadium in a city that doesn't have a first-division club. The deaths of three construction workers didn't help matters either. But no one expected that things might still be so bleak days before go time.

According to witnesses who have been inside the stadium this week, the ground is fully functional but not completely finished.
In and around the changing rooms, naked power cables could be seen dangling from the walls. According to reports, outside the stadium workers were still applying a final coat of asphalt, while several security doors could be seen in their packaging, still waiting to be fitted.
England is sending a staffer to inspect the stadium tomorrow, with a training session to be held on Friday.
US plays there in 11 days
We're used to playing on garbage pitch - it's a staple of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. I think it'll be more of a detriment to Portugal.

-QG

 
Wow, it's tough to find a German cocktail. But fans of Max Von Sydow applauding Pele will know that the Victory #9 Cocktail can serve as a Mexican AND German themed cocktail. I got this recipe from the Bayless brother who isn't an a******.

  • 1/2ounces Oaxacan mezcal
  • 1ounce Aperol
  • 3/4ounce fresh lime juice
  • 1/2ounce simple syrup
  • 5drops Peychaud’s bitters
  • 1 1/2ounces medium-bodied Mexican beer (Victoria is preferable)
  • 6 to 10 ice cubes (about ¾ cup)
  • A 2-inch strip of lime zest (removed with a vegetable peeler)
n a 10-ounce rocks glass, combine the mezcal, Aperol, lime juice, simple syrup, bitters and beer. Stir for about 10 seconds to mix everything well. Add the ice, garnish with the strip of lime zest and serve immediately.

 
Actually, I think the only way to get the analysts to stop talking about Landon is if he's sitting right there next to them - assuming he's diplomatic about it.

Twellman: "Brad David has been unimpressive so far, and it has a lot of people questioning whether the team wouldn't be better off with Landon Donovan on the roster."

Donovan: "Well, as Landon Donovan, I have a lot of experience with the things that Landon Donovan brings to the table, and I can tell you that Brad Davis is a better fit for this team."

Twellman: "Okay, moving on then..."

 
OK, I'm going to settle on a Pimm's Cup #1 made the simplest way I know how.

I recommend making yourself a nice pitcher of these at once. Sit down with the wife and watch the Three Lions properly.

Fill the pitcher with ice. Add 1 part of Pimms No. 1 and 2 parts of either a carbonated lemonade (I see it at Whole Foods all the time) or, in a pinch, 7Up. Now garnish that sucker to your hearts content. English cucumber slices are a must, IMO. As is mint. Maybe some lemon wheels and strawberries too. Pour into some iced high ball or old fashioned glasses a pimp cup. Classy!
Fixed.

 
Someone brought this up earlier, so I crunched the numbers for the advancement rate by results for games 1, 2, and 3.

Since 1998:

Game 1 win: 39 advanced, 7 did not

Game 1 tie: 21 advanced, 15 did not

Game 1 loss: 4 advanced, 42 did not

Game 2 win: 35 advanced, 9 did not

Game 2 tie: 21 advanced, 19 did not

Game 2 loss: 8 advanced, 36 did not

Game 3 win: 36 advanced, 11 did not

Game 3 tie: 18 advanced, 16 did not

Game 3 loss: 10 advanced, 37 did not

Advancement based on points in the group stage 1998-2010:

9 points (trivial): 10 advanced, 0 did not

7 points (trivial): 16 advanced, 0 did not

6 points: 11 advanced, 0 did not

5 points: 15 advanced, 0 did not

4 points: 11 advanced, 12 did not

3 points: 1 advanced, 17 did not

2 points: 0 advanced, 7 did not

1 point (trivial): 0 advanced, 17 did not

0 points (trivial): 0 advanced, 11 did not

If you include the 6 groups in 1994 and split them based on top-half vs bottom-half finish and add to the above you get:

9 points (trivial): 10 top-half, 0 bottom-half

7 points (trivial): 18 top-half, 0 bottom-half

6 points: 16 top-half, 2 bottom-half

5 points: 17 top-half, 0 bottom-half

4 points: 14 top-half, 15 bottom-half

3 points: 1 top-half, 19 bottom-half

2 points: 0 top-half, 8 bottom-half

1 point (trivial): 0 top-half, 19 bottom-half

0 points (trivial): 0 top-half, 13 bottom-half

So there you go :)

-QG

 
9 points (trivial): 10 advanced, 0 did not

7 points (trivial): 16 advanced, 0 did not

6 points: 11 advanced, 0 did not

5 points: 15 advanced, 0 did not

4 points: 11 advanced, 12 did not

3 points: 1 advanced, 17 did not

2 points: 0 advanced, 7 did not

1 point (trivial): 0 advanced, 17 did not

0 points (trivial): 0 advanced, 11 did not
So basically...

Only four points leaves your fate in any real doubt. Less and you're out, more and you're through.

 
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With Scooby's guidance (and a little Jaysus) I'm all set for Brazil (Caipirinha), Mexico (Paloma), US (Manhattan), and England (went Martini).

Germany seemed a little complex so I may settle for a German beer. Also, considering beer for Belgium unless somebody has a better suggestion.

 
First round of bets (Bovada):

Neymar Man of the Match +275

Penalty Kick scored: +350
Total of jersey numbers of all scorers (duplicates don't count twice): under 26.5
Brazil corners: under 7.5
Brazil to win to nil -110
 
Not been around much today. Did anyone post this gem?

Good god :(

As someone on Big Soccer humorously pointed out, playing away games in Concacaf may actually help the US here vs Portugal.

What a possible disgrace for the huge Italy England game.

Click on the link to see the field. The Office in Jamaica is starting to look good :)

Three Days Out: The World Cup Stadium in Manaus is a Disaster.

http://screamer.deadspin.com/three-days-out-the-world-cup-arena-in-manaus-is-a-disa-1589467690

 
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Having a friendly with my rum/coke in preparation for tomorrow
You just reminded me - I need to stock the bar for the matches.

Scooby, you are the resident cocktail expert - how about some cocktails from different countries that are 1. relatively tasty and 2. relatively easy to make. I'm sure you'd be good for 75% of the countries top of head, right? ;)

ETA - in case it wasn't obvious I meant from the 32 participating countries. I'm willing to just get hammered on Jameson and Bookers but I want to have the Scooby Ramsey Hunt Experience experience while watching the matches.
As the resident drunk I'll chime in here too.

Argentina's favotire cocktail is pretty simple. Fernet Branca and Pepsi.

Chile: Pisco Sour. These things are awesome, but you have it has the egg white difficulty factor. Funny thing about these is that Pisco is a city in Peru. They invented this damn thing, but Chile being the thieves that they are (don't get my started on them stealing Bolivia's beach) decided to try to patent the Pisco spirit as their own. Most wine maing countries make a "Psico" of sorts. It was traditionally made from the left over grapes and grape stems that didn't get used in the wine making. Think Grappa.

Germany: Want something simple? Apple Schnapps. The good stuff. Serve ice cold. I'd probably just go with a nice Pilsner like Bitburger, but it would be awesome to have the Schnapps on the side to sip on.

Spain: I'd go Sangria. Make a pitcher of white and a pitcher of red. Let the people decide.

France: Perfect if they have any of the morning games (haven't looked) Mimosas and Bellinis (Like a mimosa but with peach nectar instead of OJ) all around.

Russia: Too easy. Every hipster's favorite new cocktail, Moscow Mule. They are as delicious as they are trendy.

Japan: I don't every need an excuse to drink good Sake. If you do, use it now.

Portugal: Man Jizz. I hear it is Ronaldo's favorite sipper. NTTIAWWT

I 2nd the Negroni, Caipirinha, and Paloma calls. Those caipirinhas can be tricky. Juicy limes and liberal on the sugar are my tips there. And watch the #### out. They are strong like Hulk.

 
Talk to me like I'm not a lawn man (I pay a guy).

How does a turf that has never been played on look like that?
que no están equipados con las herramientas o elementos adecuados para poner juntos desde el principio

Oops, you said NOT a yard guy

 
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When I was living in Puerto Rico we used to drink something that I'm sure is Spanish. Liquer 43 and milk with some cinnamon. Don't knock it until you try. And don't knock after either please. You'll crush my fond fragile high school memories.

 

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