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

[Norman Paperman]

In answer to the Germany question:

Spoiler

GDR is right for East. FRG was the West. German Democratic Republic and Federal Republic of Germany as I recall.

Now can you name the abbreviation used for the old Soviet Uniion?

-QG

CCCP

 

[DiStefano]

Don't the French still use Albion? Like in Perfidious Albion?

 

[Sinn Fein]

In answer to the Germany question:

Spoiler

GDR is right for East. FRG was the West. German Democratic Republic and Federal Republic of Germany as I recall.

Now can you name the abbreviation used for the old Soviet Uniion?

-QG

CCCPURS

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

In answer to the Germany question:

Spoiler

GDR is right for East. FRG was the West. German Democratic Republic and Federal Republic of Germany as I recall.

Now can you name the abbreviation used for the old Soviet Uniion?

-QG

CCCPThat's what they used for themselves, but I don't think FIFA did.

USR maybe?

 

[Sammy3469]

I'm not going to be shocked if the Ticos give Italy more than they can handle today.

 

[Sinn Fein]

I'm not going to be shocked if the Ticos give Italy more than they can handle today.

I won't be shocked either, but I also won't be shocked if, at some point in the game, Pirlo, lays his cigarette down on the field to take a free kick from about 25 yards out, puts the ball in the back of the net, and then picks his cigarette up, and calmly walks back to his end of the field.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Man, I can't pick fantasy players worth ####, but did I nail the fact that England is horribly overrated or what?

Not sure what you mean by horribly overrated. They lost games to Italy and Uruguay 2-1, and were never out of either game...and they can still go through

Don't think too many people had them going further than just out of the group

Pretty sure I follow way too many British writers and pundits on Twitter.

 

[NewlyRetired]

The Brasilian media is reporting that Bruno Alves (Portugal defender) missed practice today due to an injury.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Before the Cup started,

Italia: 13/10 to reach the quarterfinals

England: 6/4

Uruguay: 6/4

I think many in England thought they were favored to advance, but they really were not the odds on favorite - and this was probably a bigger group of death, at least in terms of a good team not making it through, than Group G

 

[NewlyRetired]

OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)

6/20/14, 9:00 AM

Joe Hart has saved just one of the six shots on target he has faced at the #WorldCup (4 goals + Jagielka clearance off line).

 

[NewlyRetired]

Before the Cup started,

Italia: 13/10 to reach the quarterfinals

England: 6/4

Uruguay: 6/4

I think many in England thought they were favored to advance, but they really were not the odds on favorite - and this was probably a bigger group of death, at least in terms of a good team not making it through, than Group G

It is still early but if CR is close to as good as they looked and Portugal is close to as bad as they looked, the Italy group is a much stronger group.

 

[El Floppo]

Cote D'Ivoire

It's stupid, but this annoys the hell out of me. You don't see Germany insisting they be referred to as Deutschland or Italy as Italia and so on.Boy that Ελλάδα v 日本 game was no fun to watch tonight.

Holland disagrees.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Cote D'Ivoire

It's stupid, but this annoys the hell out of me. You don't see Germany insisting they be referred to as Deutschland or Italy as Italia and so on.Boy that Ελλάδα v 日本 game was no fun to watch tonight.

Holland disagrees.

Sure, but what about the Netherlands, or the Dutch, or the Oranje ?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Almost a week between games for the U.S.? Do they think this is football or something?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I'm not going to be shocked if the Ticos give Italy more than they can handle today.

I won't be shocked either, but I also won't be shocked if, at some point in the game, Pirlo, lays his cigarette down on the field to take a free kick from about 25 yards out, puts the ball in the back of the net, and then picks his cigarette up, and calmly walks back to his end of the field.

He might pause to make himself an espresso first.

 

[Sammy3469]

I'm not going to be shocked if the Ticos give Italy more than they can handle today.

I won't be shocked either, but I also won't be shocked if, at some point in the game, Pirlo, lays his cigarette down on the field to take a free kick from about 25 yards out, puts the ball in the back of the net, and then picks his cigarette up, and calmly walks back to his end of the field.

He might pause to make himself an espresso first.

Take a morning constitutional as well?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I'm not going to be shocked if the Ticos give Italy more than they can handle today.

I won't be shocked either, but I also won't be shocked if, at some point in the game, Pirlo, lays his cigarette down on the field to take a free kick from about 25 yards out, puts the ball in the back of the net, and then picks his cigarette up, and calmly walks back to his end of the field.

He might pause to make himself an espresso first.

Take a morning constitutional as well?

We'll know if we see piles of gold on the pitch.

 

[[icon]]

Huh.. didn't know we were this big of dogs vs Portugal? Guessing the Altidore news plays into this a bit?


USA +290
Portugal -120
Tie +285

 

[jonessed]

Huh.. didn't know we were this big of dogs vs Portugal? Guessing the Altidore news plays into this a bit?

USA +290

Portugal -120

Tie +285

Portugal is a much better side. I don't think those odds should surprise anyone.

 

[[icon]]

Huh.. didn't know we were this big of dogs vs Portugal? Guessing the Altidore news plays into this a bit?

USA +290

Portugal -120

Tie +285

Portugal is a much better side. I don't think those odds should surprise anyone.

Gotcha... I'm fairly ignorant on this... so portugal is considerably better than ghana then?

Realistically, the US is going to be in good shape to walk with a draw?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

538 has it...

US win 34%

Portugal win 37%

Draw 29%

US with a 68% chance of getting out of the group (basically chances of winning or drawing Portugal).

ETA: 538 seems to be beating the bookies so far where I've noticed huge 538/oddschecker disparities.

 

[culdeus]

-120 is nothing. That's less than a field goal in the nfl.

but yeah I realize soccer odds are messed up w the draw.

Is there a goal line like beisbol?

 

[Slapdash]

-120 is nothing.

"Very Unlikely"

 

[[icon]]

-120 is nothing.

"Very Unlikely"

I love me some Chet, but that was funny as hell.

 

[[icon]]

-120 is nothing. That's less than a field goal in the nfl.

but yeah I realize soccer odds are messed up w the draw.

Is there a goal line like beisbol?

Not that I've seen. Bet sides/draw or totals (O/U 2.5 Goals for US/Portugal)

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Huh.. didn't know we were this big of dogs vs Portugal? Guessing the Altidore news plays into this a bit?

USA +290

Portugal -120

Tie +285

Portugal is a much better side. I don't think those odds should surprise anyone.

Gotcha... I'm fairly ignorant on this... so portugal is considerably better than ghana then?

They are rated significantly higher in FIFA and most other rankings. With all the limitations that entails.

Portugal did not win their UEFA qualifying group (Russia did). Portugal drew with both Northern Ireland and Israel (twice!) in that group, in games that mattered. But their world ranking improved from their playoff wins over Sweden and some good pre-WC friendly results (although they did draw Greece without Ronaldo).

Portugal is a better team than the US, assuming Ronaldo is healthy. Having a player who can single-handedly win a game is always an advantage. Remove that factor, and Portugal has several players with better pedigrees, but I'm not sure it's a better team considering style and form.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Just realized that some of the guys on the US team have accents. Not as homegrown as I had pictured in my head, I guess.

 

[Slapdash]

The Brasilian media is reporting that Bruno Alves (Portugal defender) missed practice today due to an injury.

Is Fabio confirmed out?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

-120 is nothing. That's less than a field goal in the nfl.

but yeah I realize soccer odds are messed up w the draw.

Is there a goal line like beisbol?

It gets difficult in the knock out rounds, when draws don't exist so bets are based on 90 minutes.

 

[Sinn Fein]

So, if the US were to actually get the WC in 2022 - where would it be staged:

Brazil is using 12 stadiums, South Africa used 10, in 1994 US used 9 stadiums, for 24 teams.

My first guess was 12 cities/regions:

Miami

Washington

Boston

New York

Chicago

Dallas

Kansas City

Atlanta

Los Angeles

San Francisco

Seattle

Denver

Official Cities used in Bid:

Spoiler

Philadelphia - Lincoln Financial

Tampa - Raymond James

Boston - Gillette

Washington - FedEx Field

New York - MetLife Stadium

Miami - Sun Life Stadium

Atlanta - Georgia Dome

Baltimore - M&T

Houston - Reliant Stadium

Kansas City - Arrowhead

Indianapolis - Lucas Oil

Dallas - Cotton Bowl and Cowboys Stadium

Nashville - LP Field

San Diego - Qualcomm

Seattle - Husky Stadium and CenturyLink

Phoenix - U of Phoenix Stadium

Denver - Mile High

Los Angeles - Rose Bowl and Memorial Coliseum

Only real surprise for me is nothing in Chicago - seems like a natural place to host games. Also, not sure where FIFA is with FieldTurf - a number of stadiums have it - did see that Georgia Dome was listed as being able to install grass field, I suppose like Detroit did.

 

[roadkill1292]

Just realized that some of the guys on the US team have accents. Not as homegrown as I had pictured in my head, I guess.

The world is getting smaller. Everybody has an accent now. Or nobody does, one of the two.

 

[Sammy3469]

The Brasilian media is reporting that Bruno Alves (Portugal defender) missed practice today due to an injury.

Is Fabio confirmed out?

Yes, for the rest of the WC. This would mean 3 of their defenders are out for Sunday. Not sure who would even start for them at this point. I would guess Almieda, Neto, Costa, Periera, but who knows.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Just realized that some of the guys on the US team have accents. Not as homegrown as I had pictured in my head, I guess.

Jermaine Jones, John Brooks, Fabian Johnson, and Tim Chandler are all born-and-bred Germans. Mix Diskerud is born-and-bred Norwegian.

Julian Green and Aron Johansson were both born in the US but raised elsewhere (Green in Germany; Johansson in Iceland).

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

As Ramsay points out... the threat Ronaldo puts on his Luis Suarez cape and carries his team to victory aside, there's not much difference in the two sides in terms of results. 538.com's up to the minute power index has it:

Brazil 91.1

Argentina 89.9

Germany 89.4

Chile 87.8 (538 loved Chile and Colombia before the tournament)

Colombia 87.5

France 86.9

Netherlands 86.1

Spain 85.7

Belgim 81.8

England 81.5

Uruguay 81.4

Bosnia 80.6

Italy 80.1

Ecuador 79.9

Croatia 79.6

Ivory Coast 79.5

Switzerland 79.5

Portugal 79.1

USA 78.4

Mexico 78.4

Russia 78.3

Costa Rica 77.5

Ghana 76.3

Nigeria 74.9

Greece 74.2

Japan 73.3

South Korea 72.5

Iran 70.8

Austrailia 70.1

Cameroon 69.4

Honduras 68.1

Algeria 64.3

 

[[icon]]

Huh.. didn't know we were this big of dogs vs Portugal? Guessing the Altidore news plays into this a bit?

USA +290

Portugal -120

Tie +285

Portugal is a much better side. I don't think those odds should surprise anyone.

Gotcha... I'm fairly ignorant on this... so portugal is considerably better than ghana then?

They are rated significantly higher in FIFA and most other rankings. With all the limitations that entails.

Portugal did not win their UEFA qualifying group (Russia did). Portugal drew with both Northern Ireland and Israel (twice!) in that group, in games that mattered. But their world ranking improved from their playoff wins over Sweden and some good pre-WC friendly results (although they did draw Greece without Ronaldo).

Portugal is a better team than the US, assuming Ronaldo is healthy. Having a player who can single-handedly win a game is always an advantage. Remove that factor, and Portugal has several players with better pedigrees, but I'm not sure it's a better team considering style and form.

Great post here.. thanks. Not excited about squaring off vs Ronaldo, even if it's the 29yo version.

 

[The Gator]

The Brasilian media is reporting that Bruno Alves (Portugal defender) missed practice today due to an injury.

Is Fabio confirmed out?

Yes, for the rest of the WC. This would mean 4 of their defenders are out for Sunday. Not sure who would even start for them at this point

if Alves is out...my guessRB- Joao Pereira

CB- Rui Costa

CB- Neto

LB- A Almeida

 

[The Gator]

Huh.. didn't know we were this big of dogs vs Portugal? Guessing the Altidore news plays into this a bit?

USA +290

Portugal -120

Tie +285

Portugal is a much better side. I don't think those odds should surprise anyone.

Gotcha... I'm fairly ignorant on this... so portugal is considerably better than ghana then?

They are rated significantly higher in FIFA and most other rankings. With all the limitations that entails.

Portugal did not win their UEFA qualifying group (Russia did). Portugal drew with both Northern Ireland and Israel (twice!) in that group, in games that mattered. But their world ranking improved from their playoff wins over Sweden and some good pre-WC friendly results (although they did draw Greece without Ronaldo).

Portugal is a better team than the US, assuming Ronaldo is healthy. Having a player who can single-handedly win a game is always an advantage. Remove that factor, and Portugal has several players with better pedigrees, but I'm not sure it's a better team considering style and form.

Great post here.. thanks. Not excited about squaring off vs Ronaldo, even if it's the 29yo version.

The 28/29yo version this year has been the best player on the planet

 

[[icon]]

For folks asking if the World Cup is more or less significant than other events.

Portugal Doctor Tells Ronaldo to not play in World Cup : Injury is career threatening if he continues to play

Portugal’s World Cup started off disastrously.

Now, it very well could be over after doctors have reportedly told Cristiano Ronaldo his career will be at risk if he continues playing at the World Cup.

TSN first reported Wednesday that the world’s best player is suffering from a knee injury.

Ronaldo was photographed with an ice pack on his left knee after a Portuguese training session Wednesday in Sao Paulo but he still participated with his teammates.

Later in the day reports indicated that Ronaldo’s doctor wants him to pull out of the World Cup because of the injury. The doctor is suggesting Ronaldo could risk tearing the tendon in his knee, an injury that could put his future in soccer at risk.

Although he declared himself 100% fit coming into the tournament, Ronaldo was struggling with a knee injury before leaving for Brazil. He missed regular training sessions and two warm-up matches.

The Portuguese, who were trounced 4-0 by Germany last week in Salvador, play the United States here in the Amazon Sunday.

They’ll also be without veteran centre back Pepe, who was sent off against Germany, as well as striker Hugo Almeida and defender Fabio Coentrao.

The U.S. is suffering from its own injury bug.

Clint Dempsey sustained a broken nose in the Yanks’ 2-1 last-gasp win over Ghana in Group G action over the weekend.

And striker Jozy Altidore departed early with a hamstring injury.

— with files from Morris Dalla Costa

 

[cheese]

538 has it...

US win 34%

Portugal win 37%

Draw 29%

US with a 68% chance of getting out of the group (basically chances of winning or drawing Portugal).

ETA: 538 seems to be beating the bookies so far where I've noticed huge 538/oddschecker disparities.

Those number relative to each other are surprising. I would say it's more likely that we don't get a pt vs Port and still advance than we get a pt vs Port and don't advance by a good amount. Regardless of what they think the odds are of us getting a point, I think the odds to advance need to be higher than our odds to get a point vs Portugal.

edit: what I'm trying to say is if I actually believe USA is 63% to get a point, I would have them advancing more like 75-80%.

 

[Sinn Fein]

The Brasilian media is reporting that Bruno Alves (Portugal defender) missed practice today due to an injury.

Is Fabio confirmed out?

Yes, for the rest of the WC. This would mean 4 of their defenders are out for Sunday. Not sure who would even start for them at this point

if Alves is out...my guessRB- Joao Pereira

CB- Rui Costa

CB- Neto

LB- A Almeida

Seems that if Portugal is as depleted as they appear, the US should install a game plan of running them into the ground. I doubt we change line-ups, other than replacing Jozy, but Green would make an interesting late sub if we are chasing a goal - not that he is particularly fast, but he has the ability to take on defenders, and tired defenders tend to leave their legs out a bit more, increasing the chance of drawing a penalty.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

For folks asking if the World Cup is more or less significant than other events.

Posted earlier, but dubious IMO. If it was this risky they'd have taken him out at the half down 3-0 and playing with 10 men.

 

[[icon]]

For folks asking if the World Cup is more or less significant than other events.

Posted earlier, but dubious IMO. If it was this risky they'd have taken him out at the half down 3-0 and playing with 10 men.

Gotcha... sorry for repost.

 

[gianmarco]

FORZA AZZURRI!!!

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

538 has it...

US win 34%

Portugal win 37%

Draw 29%

US with a 68% chance of getting out of the group (basically chances of winning or drawing Portugal).

ETA: 538 seems to be beating the bookies so far where I've noticed huge 538/oddschecker disparities.

Those number relative to each other are surprising. I would say it's more likely that we don't get a pt vs Port and still advance than we get a pt vs Port and don't advance by a good amount. Regardless of what they think the odds are of us getting a point, I think the odds to advance need to be higher than our odds to get a point vs Portugal.

Really? Seems to me that if we don't get a point against Portugal our chances are incredibly slim. We would need to either beat Germany or rely on Ghana to beat Portugal and hope to squeeze through on goal differential.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

edit: what I'm trying to say is if I actually believe USA is 63% to get a point, I would have them advancing more like 75-80%.

It actually is 68% vs 63% for a point against Portugal. Basically losing to Portugal and needing a point against Germany leaves us in a bad way.

 

[Soulfly3]

Italy taking Costa Rica very seriously - which is refreshing to see from them.

Abate on the wing (extremely fast) to keep up w counterattacks, and starting Thiago Motta instead of Verratti to neutralize the midfield and have a more defensive approach.

Uruguay did Italy a major by getting spanked. Italy forced to respect their opponent more, and gameplan for it.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Just realized that some of the guys on the US team have accents. Not as homegrown as I had pictured in my head, I guess.

The world is getting smaller. Everybody has an accent now. Or nobody does, one of the two.

On the other hand there are tons of Hispanic named MLB players who were born in the states and have no accent.

 

[cheese]

538 has it...

US win 34%

Portugal win 37%

Draw 29%

US with a 68% chance of getting out of the group (basically chances of winning or drawing Portugal).

ETA: 538 seems to be beating the bookies so far where I've noticed huge 538/oddschecker disparities.

Those number relative to each other are surprising. I would say it's more likely that we don't get a pt vs Port and still advance than we get a pt vs Port and don't advance by a good amount. Regardless of what they think the odds are of us getting a point, I think the odds to advance need to be higher than our odds to get a point vs Portugal.

Really? Seems to me that if we don't get a point against Portugal our chances are incredibly slim. We would need to either beat Germany or rely on Ghana to beat Portugal and hope to squeeze through on goal differential.

Or tie Germany and have Ghana win/tie vs Port. None of those scenerios seems crazy especially if Germany has #1 wrapped up due to their ridiculous goal diff.

 

[The Gator]

The Brasilian media is reporting that Bruno Alves (Portugal defender) missed practice today due to an injury.

Is Fabio confirmed out?

Yes, for the rest of the WC. This would mean 4 of their defenders are out for Sunday. Not sure who would even start for them at this point

if Alves is out...my guessRB- Joao Pereira

CB- Rui Costa

CB- Neto

LB- A Almeida

Seems that if Portugal is as depleted as they appear, the US should install a game plan of running them into the ground. I doubt we change line-ups, other than replacing Jozy, but Green would make an interesting late sub if we are chasing a goal - not that he is particularly fast, but he has the ability to take on defenders, and tired defenders tend to leave their legs out a bit more, increasing the chance of drawing a penalty.

Yeah, they're already thin in the back and now they might have a MF covering LB.

Like I mentioned before..if Almeida is playing LB, I'd run Fab and Bedoya at him and Ronaldo all day. Makes Ronaldo track back causing him to run more and puts pressure on an out of position player.

 

[Soulfly3]

OFFICIAL XI: ITALIA: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, Darmian; De Rossi; Motta, Pirlo, Marchisio; Candreva; Balotelli.

Two natural fullback in Abate and Darmian. Motta for Verratti.

Italy 110% preparing for the fast counter. beautiful.