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

[Sinn Fein]

This needs to happen before Suarez's next game

 

[butcher boy]

This needs to happen before Suarez's next game

Afraid he'll bite himself?

 

[Celph Titled]

Arbitrage opportunity on Suarez moving... one book has it 11/10 he leaves, one has it 5/4 he goes. Will close soon I'm sure, but a thousand on both bets would net you 100 or 250 -- can't lose.

ETA: Heh. Took about 90 seconds for someone to eliminate that.

Books are reeeeeeeeally vigilant against people doing this. I believe they share information or have some sort of system in place to detect arb'ers, and they cancel bets if they find that they're arb'ed together.

Hard to make any money doing it, too.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

it is escaping me. Who scored from Scotland?

I don't know either, but Samaras, currently a free agent, played for Celtic last year. I assume his goals just don't count in that list.

I think Ted is likely using who ever they played for last (which makes sense) and not who they are currently signed with, else Villa might have gone under MLS instead of La Liga as I think Ted correctly put him.

In that case SPL should have 2. And I didn't realize that was a hand-compiled list. Ted's doing some awesome work then.

Ted is a boss. I love self compiled stats. Ted, any comment on the SPL goal(s)?

Certainly could have mismapped a goal at some point. Who else from SPL scored?

 

[The Gator]

Awaiting Soulfly's update on Italy's next round matchup

 

[Eephus]

it is escaping me. Who scored from Scotland?

Samaras today (technically a free agent, but I gave Celtic the goal)

the last SPL player to score in the World Cup finals was Japanese Bhoy Shunsuke Nakamura in 2006

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

it is escaping me. Who scored from Scotland?

Samaras today (technically a free agent, but I gave Celtic the goal)

the last SPL player to score in the World Cup finals was Japanese Bhoy Shunsuke Nakamura in 2006

20 rated passer in FM.

 

[Eephus]

it is escaping me. Who scored from Scotland?

Samaras today (technically a free agent, but I gave Celtic the goal)

the last SPL player to score in the World Cup finals was Japanese Bhoy Shunsuke Nakamura in 2006

20 rated passer in FM.

Japan could have used him this trip

 

[Mario Kart]

Just saw the Suarez thing. I think Nevada needs to take his boxing license away.

 

[Spartans Rule]

it is escaping me. Who scored from Scotland?

I don't know either, but Samaras, currently a free agent, played for Celtic last year. I assume his goals just don't count in that list.

I think Ted is likely using who ever they played for last (which makes sense) and not who they are currently signed with, else Villa might have gone under MLS instead of La Liga as I think Ted correctly put him.

In that case SPL should have 2. And I didn't realize that was a hand-compiled list. Ted's doing some awesome work then.

Ted is a boss. I love self compiled stats.Ted, any comment on the SPL goal(s)?

Certainly could have mismapped a goal at some point. Who else from SPL scored?

My mistake actually. I thought I saw Samaras scored both goals, but apparently Greece also has a Samaris.

 

[Mario Kart]

Was hoping Ivory Coast would get through. Bummer.

Just saw the penalty... WOW... WOW... unreal.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

it is escaping me. Who scored from Scotland?

I don't know either, but Samaras, currently a free agent, played for Celtic last year. I assume his goals just don't count in that list.

I think Ted is likely using who ever they played for last (which makes sense) and not who they are currently signed with, else Villa might have gone under MLS instead of La Liga as I think Ted correctly put him.

In that case SPL should have 2. And I didn't realize that was a hand-compiled list. Ted's doing some awesome work then.

Ted is a boss. I love self compiled stats.Ted, any comment on the SPL goal(s)?

Certainly could have mismapped a goal at some point. Who else from SPL scored?

My mistake actually. I thought I saw Samaras scored both goals, but apparently Greece also has a Samaris.

keep me honest!

What I've enjoyed most about tracking the goals by league (Flop mentioned it above) is that it has dovetailed nicely into a pretty reasonable power ranking of leagues. It's not perfect to be sure but it's not that far off either imo.

 

[The Z Machine]

FIFA's disciplinary code allows action to be taken retrospectively via video evidence even if the incident has been seen by the referee.

Article 77 of FIFA's disciplinary code states the disciplinary committee is responsible for "sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention" and "rectifying obvious errors in the referee's disciplinary decisions".

Just brutal for a Liverpool fan. He's a genius on the field and obviously carried the team to the CL again after several years out. But he's also a complete POS and it's basically impossible to cheer for the guy now.Pains me to say, but I hope they offload him for what they can get at this point.

Now that's dumb. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just hope he can carry y'all to some hardware now.

 

[jon_mx]

Japan is already working on stealing a new coach for 2018.

 

[Christo]

FIFA's disciplinary code allows action to be taken retrospectively via video evidence even if the incident has been seen by the referee.

Article 77 of FIFA's disciplinary code states the disciplinary committee is responsible for "sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention" and "rectifying obvious errors in the referee's disciplinary decisions".

Just brutal for a Liverpool fan. He's a genius on the field and obviously carried the team to the CL again after several years out. But he's also a complete POS and it's basically impossible to cheer for the guy now.Pains me to say, but I hope they offload him for what they can get at this point.

Now that's dumb. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just hope he can carry y'all to some hardware now.

QPR will take him off their hands. He and Joey Barton would make a fine pair.

 

[Sammy3469]

The FIFA rankings are actually pretty straight forward - they are weighted for 4 years current year = 100% - and WC finals have the highest importance - 4

The federations you play are each weighted slightly differently - Euro and CONMEBOL teams are weighted 1, CONCACAF 0.88, AFC and CAF = .86, and Oceania = .85. When teams from different federations play, the coefficient is averaged - so a win against a Euro team is worth more than a win against an AFC team.

Here are the rankings with a little tool that allows you to see how many points they have accumulated since the last ranking.

Have to think/hope those weights may get changed slightly for the next 4 years.

 

[NewlyRetired]

it is escaping me. Who scored from Scotland?

I don't know either, but Samaras, currently a free agent, played for Celtic last year. I assume his goals just don't count in that list.

I think Ted is likely using who ever they played for last (which makes sense) and not who they are currently signed with, else Villa might have gone under MLS instead of La Liga as I think Ted correctly put him.

In that case SPL should have 2. And I didn't realize that was a hand-compiled list. Ted's doing some awesome work then.

Ted is a boss. I love self compiled stats.Ted, any comment on the SPL goal(s)?

Certainly could have mismapped a goal at some point. Who else from SPL scored?

My mistake actually. I thought I saw Samaras scored both goals, but apparently Greece also has a Samaris.

keep me honest!

What I've enjoyed most about tracking the goals by league (Flop mentioned it above) is that it has dovetailed nicely into a pretty reasonable power ranking of leagues. It's not perfect to be sure but it's not that far off either imo.

I bet it closely tracks how many players from each league are in the WC too.

 

[DiStefano]

FIFA will investigate the Suarez incident, calling Italians and Uruguayans to testify, having the coaches make declarations, speaking to lawyers, etc. and the day after the WC is over, they will render their judgment from Mt. Olympus. They will ban him from playing in the World Cup. Take that, Suarez! Don't mess with FIFA!

 

[The Z Machine]

Exactly. Fifa will investigate and give judgement after the WC is finished, or Uruguay is eliminated.

 

[JMon348]

favorite one so far

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

ESPN had a piece not too long ago where Wright Thompson investigated the apocryphal story of a teenaged Suárez, back in Uruguay, headbutting a referee, who was later killed by the mob for not rescinding the young player's punishment.

Thompson finds out that in large part, the story was true; Suárez did receive a red card that would've left him out of the championship-deciding match, and for which he pushed and headbutted the referee in retaliation, though Thompson never found out what happened to the ref.

The whole piece at Deadspin is worth a read if you don't know about Suarez's full exploits.

 

[Premier]

Possible Columbia - Brazil quarter. My lord.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Possible Columbia - Brazil quarter. My lord.

There might be some yellow in the stadium.

 

[Premier]

Possible Columbia - Brazil quarter. My lord.

There might be some yellow in the stadium.

I think so, yes.

Columbia has looked the best of any team here IMO. Would love to see them win it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

https://mobile.twitter.com/InsoliteFoot/status/481504551389130753/photo/1

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Possible Columbia - Brazil quarter. My lord.

Brazil's road to the Cup could be terrible. Might have to go through Chile, Colombia, Germany and Argentina to win it.

 

[Celph Titled]

Way too many South American teams bunched up there.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I would tack on two months to any suspension he gets for this answer

"These are just things that happen out on the pitch," Suarez said. "It was just the two of us inside the area and he bumped into me with his shoulder, and that's how my eye got like this as well. There are things that happen on the pitch and you should not make such a big deal out of them."

 

[DiStefano]

Possible Columbia - Brazil quarter. My lord.

DC is not in this game. Nice district, but not a country.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Awaiting Soulfly's update on Italy's next round matchup

Still a very underrated team I guess.

 

[Spartans Rule]

FIFA's disciplinary code allows action to be taken retrospectively via video evidence even if the incident has been seen by the referee.

Article 77 of FIFA's disciplinary code states the disciplinary committee is responsible for "sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention" and "rectifying obvious errors in the referee's disciplinary decisions".

Just brutal for a Liverpool fan. He's a genius on the field and obviously carried the team to the CL again after several years out. But he's also a complete POS and it's basically impossible to cheer for the guy now.

Pains me to say, but I hope they offload him for what they can get at this point.

Impossible to cheer for NOW? This was the third bite, in addition to all the other stuff. If you looked past all that and kept supporting him, what's one more incident?

 

[Mjolnirs]

I just skipped over the last 20 pages. Did I miss anything?

Thomas Muller broke his leg in a training accident.

Easy now!

Possible Columbia - Brazil quarter. My lord.

South Carolina? Go Gamecocks!

 

[Premier]

Colombia, Columbia, cocaine, cucaine

 

[The Z Machine]

Eh, if I were a scouser, I wouldn't have a problem pulling for him.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Wow, so it's still possible for Greece to win the World Cup without beating a single UEFA or CONMEBOL team.

Their path could be:

Rich Coast

Mexico

United States

Nigeria

That -2 goal differential for advancement is a record in the 32-team era, correct?

On a different road, Brazil could end up facing CONMEBOL teams in every round:

Chile

Colombia

Argentina

Ecuador

It is possible for all 4 CONCACAF sides to end up on the same bracket - and a quarterfinal with:

CRC vs MEX with the winner taking on the winner of

USA vs HON in the semi-finals (okay Honduras has a lot of work for that one).

Still about how mostly terrible Greece has been and get through and get to play an unheralded (but very tough) Rich Coast is the round-of-16. The game is up north, though, which should be an advantage for the Ticos.

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

This lineup keeps our best players on the field but returns Bradley to a spot he has been so good for us in and might be more comfortable in. If you had asked me about this lineup 2 months ago I would have shot it down instantly but with Jones playing out of his skull, this might work and puts Dempsey in a spot where he won't get the hell beat out of him but can still get forward as much as he wants.

...............................Howard

Fab..............Cam.............Besler.............DMB

........................Bradley............Becks

...Zusi....................Dempsey....................Jones

............................Wondo

 

[QuizGuy66]

As for Columbia, they have a different path - first they have to take on Brown, followed by Dartmouth, with a possible semifinal vs Princeton. If they win that they could face Oxford.

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

That -2 goal differential for advancement is a record in the 32-team era, correct?

Yes I think it is. 3 teams (including the US) have advanced with a -1 GD, but Greece is the first since the expansion to 32 to advance with a -2 gd.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

That -2 goal differential for advancement is a record in the 32-team era, correct?

Yes I think it is. 3 teams (including the US) have advanced with a -1 GD, but Greece is the first since the expansion to 32 to advance with a -2 gd.

Cradle of Mediocrity.

 

[Christo]

Dammit! I so want to dislike CR7 but he goes and does this.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

FIFA's disciplinary code allows action to be taken retrospectively via video evidence even if the incident has been seen by the referee.

Article 77 of FIFA's disciplinary code states the disciplinary committee is responsible for "sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention" and "rectifying obvious errors in the referee's disciplinary decisions".

Just brutal for a Liverpool fan. He's a genius on the field and obviously carried the team to the CL again after several years out. But he's also a complete POS and it's basically impossible to cheer for the guy now.

Pains me to say, but I hope they offload him for what they can get at this point.

Impossible to cheer for NOW? This was the third bite, in addition to all the other stuff. If you looked past all that and kept supporting him, what's one more incident?

My own distaste for the double standard the English have for foreign players and my belief that Evra's a complete b*tch had me leaning Luis's way on that one. I'm still not entirely convinced he 'abused' anyone (though I'm not convinced he's innocent either), but wouldn't really go to bat for the guy at this point.

And I think the handball villain stuff from the last WC was just silly -- I'd have done the exact same thing and giggled like a school girl when it worked. Accepting the red card and the PK in exchange for a chance to win a game that was otherwise lost was a great decision IMO.

Diving is crap, but if you start writing off every attacking player who dives you won't follow soccer anymore.

So that leaves the biting... I guess I believed he'd done some soul searching and changed after this last season when he was basically trouble-free. Obviously dumb, but there you have it. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me six times...

 

[The Z Machine]

Didn't Cantona have a screw loose too? The dude kung-fu'd some spectator. United fans didn't turn their back on him did they?

####, if 'pool wants to sell him to Atlético for under 20m, I'd gladly cheer him to a champion's league title.

 

[Ilov80s]

Dammit! I so want to dislike CR7 but he goes and does this.

Can't hate on perfection.

 

[Texas Football]

Didn't Cantona have a screw loose too? The dude kung-fu'd some spectator. United fans didn't turn their back on him did they?

####, if 'pool wants to sell him to Atlético for under 20m, I'd gladly cheer him to a champion's league title.

Exactly. Suarez has bit a few people. Not one of these bites is threatening any other players life.

If anyone has watched Chiellini play over his career he deserves to be bit. Tyson like. And I support Chiellini and the Italians.

Roy Keane broke a leg and admitted to it. Hoping to end a career. So many other worse offenses out there.

Suarez goes mental and likes to bite people. Could be worse.

Suarez is the best player in the EPL and top 3 in the world. As long as he is at Liverpool he will be supported there.

 

[The General]

Dammit! I so want to dislike CR7 but he goes and does this.

That is very cool.

 

[El Floppo]

As for Columbia, they have a different path - first they have to take on Brown, followed by Dartmouth, with a possible semifinal vs Princeton. If they win that they could face Oxford.

-QG

Roar, Lions roar.Wake the echoes round the Hudson Valley.

If only I'd known we were eligible for the World Cup, I mightve studied less and trained harder.

Eta.. and #### Dartmouth.

 

[Ilov80s]

Columbia looks good, they might win it all.

 

[El Floppo]

Didn't Cantona have a screw loose too? The dude kung-fu'd some spectator. United fans didn't turn their back on him did they?

####, if 'pool wants to sell him to Atlético for under 20m, I'd gladly cheer him to a champion's league title.

Exactly. Suarez has bit a few people. Not one of these bites is threatening any other players life.If anyone has watched Chiellini play over his career he deserves to be bit. Tyson like. And I support Chiellini and the Italians.

Roy Keane broke a leg and admitted to it. Hoping to end a career. So many other worse offenses out there.

Suarez goes mental and likes to bite people. Could be worse.

Suarez is the best player in the EPL and top 3 in the world. As long as he is at Liverpool he will be supported there.

Chiellini does tend to make a meal of things.

 

[El Floppo]

Columbia looks good, they might win it all.

Runners up in 83

 

[Christo]

Columbia looks good, they might win it all.

Just as much as a US run I'd love to see an outsider win it all. This may just be the year for that to happen.