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

[Sand]

Costa Rica playing 60 minutes a man down and still winning was awesome.

And they were dead men running too. They had to give every last ounce they had to keep that level. Campbell is going to be walking funny tomorrow.

Very very impressive that they then buried all 5 pk's.

All were very well taken. Even the Greek miss wasn't a bad shot - it was a heck of a save.

It has been a long time since I've seen someone as wrung out as Campbell at the end of that game. What yeoman's work to hold down his position and be effective 1 on 3 for the last hour(!!) of the match. Man of the match, IMO.

 

[onionsack]

Robben has been setting the ref up for that call all game career.

 

[Steve Tasker]

####### love Bryan Ruiz. What a player.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Sounds like Vermaelen might be slightly ahead of Jozy in the recovery process. Last we heard from Jozy he was jogging with no ball work.

A Belgian side already dealing with injuries to key players saw Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini leave the training field early in the final session before the Red Devils' departed to Salvador for Tuesday's Round of 16 match against the USA (4 pm ET on ESPN and Univision).

Belgium manager Marc Wilmots says that Fellaini is merely dealing with a knock to the calf, a similar injury that fellow midfielder Moussa Dembele is also carrying. But both should be ready to go against the USMNT, according to Wilmots.

Reports from Belgian reporters at training on Sunday also confirmed that Vincent Kompany (groin) and Anthony Vanden Borre (broken fibula) sat out the session, while Thomas Vermaelen (hamstring) trained on the side.

As for Vermaelen, Wilmots indicated he has noticed progress in his recovery -- "He's doing better, but we have to wait," he said -- but Kompany is a different story.

"Kompany is doing better and we'll wait to see if he can train [Monday]," Wilmots said. "But that's still a question mark as far as his participation in the match against the USA.

"Kompany has to be at 100 percent," he continued, according to David De Myttenaere of La Derniere Heure. "If not, there are other solutions. We can't just think about this match, but also long-term. We'll make the best decision."

 

[Steve Tasker]

Watching the local news. Sports guy butchered the names of dos Santos, Robben, and Huntelaar.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Watching the local news. Sports guy butchered the names of dos Santos, Robben, and Huntelaar.

How do you butcher dos Santos?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Watching the local news. Sports guy butchered the names of dos Santos, Robben, and Huntelaar.

makes you miss Ed Kilgour?

 

[Guest]

I think the endings to many of these WC matches have played very well to American audiences.

American sports fans like their "good" games to come down to the wire.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Costa Rica playing 60 minutes a man down and still winning was awesome.

And they were dead men running too. They had to give every last ounce they had to keep that level. Campbell is going to be walking funny tomorrow.Very very impressive that they then buried all 5 pk's.

All were very well taken. Even the Greek miss wasn't a bad shot - it was a heck of a save.

It has been a long time since I've seen someone as wrung out as Campbell at the end of that game. What yeoman's work to hold down his position and be effective 1 on 3 for the last hour(!!) of the match. Man of the match, IMO.

I thought Ruiz was a revelation to me. I suck at noticing players but he was very impressive as well working his butt off.

-QG

 

[Sand]

I think the endings to many of these WC matches have played very well to American audiences.

American sports fans like their "good" games to come down to the wire.

3 goals at the 87+ minute mark today was pretty awesome.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I think the endings to many of these WC matches have played very well to American audiences.

American sports fans like their "good" games to come down to the wire.

The crazy finishes have been awesome. It's funny that the announcers still haven't gotten the memo and start talking about things as if the game is already over once it hits the 80-85th minute. Today at about the 82nd minute the Mexico/Holland announcers said that Costa Rica would have a chance to be the 2nd Concacaf team through to the quarterfinals in the next game.

 

[Eephus]

Costa Rica playing 60 minutes a man down and still winning was awesome.

And they were dead men running too. They had to give every last ounce they had to keep that level. Campbell is going to be walking funny tomorrow.Very very impressive that they then buried all 5 pk's.

All were very well taken. Even the Greek miss wasn't a bad shot - it was a heck of a save.

It has been a long time since I've seen someone as wrung out as Campbell at the end of that game. What yeoman's work to hold down his position and be effective 1 on 3 for the last hour(!!) of the match. Man of the match, IMO.

I thought Ruiz was a revelation to me. I suck at noticing players but he was very impressive as well working his butt off.

-QG

Some guys play better as the star man for their national sides than for their club teams. Ruiz is similar to Gervinho in that he's given a lot more freedom when he plays for the Ticos. Both had their problems with the physicality of the Premiership. I recall Ruiz' work rate was criticized at Craven Cottage as well.

 

[Joe Bryant]

American sports fans like their "good" games to come down to the wire.

That's not unique to American sports fans is it?J

 

[chet]

Anyone who wants to change their avatar to a half naked futbol player but hasn't done so can find some pics here.

 

[Joe Bryant]

This may be an old joke but it was new to me today. I was at the doctor's office and the nurse was from England. Looked like Mrs Doubtfire so no pics.

She said, "What's the difference between a tea bag and the English Soccer Team?"

"The tea bag stays in the cup longer."



J

 

[BobbyLayne]

Anyone who wants to change their avatar to a half naked futbol player but hasn't done so can find some pics here.

man of the match

 

[Christo]

I think the endings to many of these WC matches have played very well to American audiences.

American sports fans like their "good" games to come down to the wire.

The crazy finishes have been awesome. It's funny that the announcers still haven't gotten the memo and start talking about things as if the game is already over once it hits the 80-85th minute. Today at about the 82nd minute the Mexico/Holland announcers said that Costa Rica would have a chance to be the 2nd Concacaf team through to the quarterfinals in the next game.

They have their biases. If I had to guess, I think a lot of these late goals are a combination of mental fatigue due to the heat and lack of practice. While you do see late goals in domestic/club competitions, it's not nearly as prevalent as it's been here.

 

[jon_mx]

All these late goals are really just a conspiracy to get non-soccer fans to believe that soccer is an exciting game.

 

[Norman Paperman]

Adios Amigos.

Dutch plane operator KLM has apologised for sending out a tweet from its official account making a joke of Mexico's defeat to the Netherlands at the World Cup.

Within minutes of Holland's 2-1 stoppage-time win, the firm published a picture of an airport departures sign under the heading Adios Amigos.

Next to the word Departures was a man with a moustache and sombrero.

The post went viral but was deleted shortly afterwards.

Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal tweeted to tell his two million-plus followers that he would never fly with the carrier again and hundreds of other people complained.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Today's games are gonna suck, right? Feels like both African teams are gonna get stomped.

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

So, the second soccer game I have ever watched (not including my sons U-8 games) was the Netherlands v. Mexico. To the unschooled observer, namely me, Mexico got jobbed.

 

[Guest]

American sports fans like their "good" games to come down to the wire.

That's not unique to American sports fans is it?J

I don't think it's unique, but has to help the American sports fan get into soccer. All these goals in the last 10 minutes of play versus a goal in the first 15 minutes and 0 for the remaining 75.

I consider myself a pretty typical American sports fan, and this WC has been a lot of fun.

 

[The_Man]

Ramadan isn't going to help Algeria, for those players who fast.

 

[JaxBill]

Today's games are gonna suck, right? Feels like both African teams are gonna get stomped.

I wish the African nations were switched.

Nigeria’s speed would give Germany a bit of a hard time and Algeria playing France would be like France A team playing France B team with something to prove.

 

[[icon]]

Today's games are gonna suck, right? Feels like both African teams are gonna get stomped.

I hope you're right re: african teams getting stomped... and if so It will be entertaining for me personally as I have some loose ties / rooting interests for both France and Germany.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Watching the local news. Sports guy butchered the names of dos Santos, Robben, and Huntelaar.

How do you butcher dos Santos?

Really hard "a" sound. Like how you would pronounce Anthony or Andrew.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Today's games are gonna suck, right? Feels like both African teams are gonna get stomped.

I wish the African nations were switched.

Nigeria’s speed would give Germany a bit of a hard time and Algeria playing France would be like France A team playing France B team with something to prove.

Nigeria doesn't have Ghana's strength in CM (so long as Muntari was playing). And Germany is just a better team when Schweinsteiger plays. So I'm not sure that Musa, Moses, and Eminike alone would really trouble Germany much.

Algeria would play France exactly how they're likely to play Germany. Parkez la bus.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Adios Amigos.

Dutch plane operator KLM has apologised for sending out a tweet from its official account making a joke of Mexico's defeat to the Netherlands at the World Cup.

Within minutes of Holland's 2-1 stoppage-time win, the firm published a picture of an airport departures sign under the heading Adios Amigos.

Next to the word Departures was a man with a moustache and sombrero.

The post went viral but was deleted shortly afterwards.

Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal tweeted to tell his two million-plus followers that he would never fly with the carrier again and hundreds of other people complained.

lol that's hilarious.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have strangely little stress about the US game. It feels like playing with house money in a way.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here is an interesting article about how the US has let the state changes (change in scores) in the games affect its play too much.

http://www.espnfc.us/blog/tactics-and-analysis/67/post/1921151/prolonged-possession-a-must-for-us

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Leaving aside a shock run by the USA...this would be pretty tasty...

Brazil v Colombia

Germany v France

Netherlands v Costa Rica

Argentina v Belgium

Brazil v Germany

Argentina v Netherlands

Brazil v Argentina (this was my dream final before the tournament started)

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Leaving aside a shock run by the USA...this would be pretty tasty...

Brazil v Colombia

Germany v France

Netherlands v Costa Rica

Argentina v Belgium

Brazil v Germany

Argentina v Netherlands

Brazil v Argentina (this was my dream final before the tournament started)

Blech. I want upsets. USA-Algeria is my dream final.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

While I think that its true that the US has let (mostly positive) state changes lead to defending too deep and conceding too much possession, I think a huge part of that is because of Jozy's injury.

Costa Rica has shown that you can still create chances while playing mostly defensively and attacking without a lot of numbers so long as you have a guy who can really work to win balls and hold them up. For about 70 minutes or so, Campbell could do that yesterday and Costa Rica was probably more likely to score a second than concede an equalizer. But after losing a man (meaning they had trouble even breaking with 3) and Campbell getting tired, they lost the ability to really threaten the counter effectively.

I thought Mexico had the same problem after removing Gio in the first game. They quit contesting in midfield and gave the lone striker (Peralta and then Chicharito) nobody to break with. Once Holland didn't really have to worry about the counter, the equalizer just felt inevitable to me.

For the US, the solution might be to go to Yedlin sooner. Maybe closer to the 65th minute rather than after the 75th minute. That could peg the Belgian LB back (Vertonghen has been getting forward, but they might need him in the center anyway, but whoever) and leave Hazard without an overlap option.

 

[Sinn Fein]

So, the second soccer game I have ever watched (not including my sons U-8 games) was the Netherlands v. Mexico. To the unschooled observer, namely me, Mexico got jobbed.

Not really - Mexican player put himself in position to have the ref make that call. Trying to think of a different sport analogy - think long pass, defender gets too close to the receiver, inadvertent contact, legs get tangled, receiver goes down - ref has to make a call. Sometimes its a no-call, but sometimes it goes against the defender. Mexican player lunged and stuck his leg in the path of Robben - every single world-class striker will go down in that circumstance. Its not always going to get a call, but it does often enough that the defender knows he should not have committed like that.

 

[Sammy3469]

So, the second soccer game I have ever watched (not including my sons U-8 games) was the Netherlands v. Mexico. To the unschooled observer, namely me, Mexico got jobbed.

Not really - Mexican player put himself in position to have the ref make that call. Trying to think of a different sport analogy - think long pass, defender gets too close to the receiver, inadvertent contact, legs get tangled, receiver goes down - ref has to make a call. Sometimes its a no-call, but sometimes it goes against the defender. Mexican player lunged and stuck his leg in the path of Robben - every single world-class striker will go down in that circumstance. Its not always going to get a call, but it does often enough that the defender knows he should not have committed like that.

Yeah that's a penalty the vast majority of the time. Yeah Robben sold it, but even if he just falls he's going to get that call.

 

[Sand]

Adios Amigos.

Dutch plane operator KLM has apologised for sending out a tweet from its official account making a joke of Mexico's defeat to the Netherlands at the World Cup.

Within minutes of Holland's 2-1 stoppage-time win, the firm published a picture of an airport departures sign under the heading Adios Amigos.

Next to the word Departures was a man with a moustache and sombrero.

The post went viral but was deleted shortly afterwards.

Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal tweeted to tell his two million-plus followers that he would never fly with the carrier again and hundreds of other people complained.

Sore losers.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

So, the second soccer game I have ever watched (not including my sons U-8 games) was the Netherlands v. Mexico. To the unschooled observer, namely me, Mexico got jobbed.

Mexico has only itself to blame. No one around here is shedding any tears for them.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I've enjoyed watching the Ticos, but can never forgive Campbell for the Besler incident. Its one thing to embellish trying to earn a penalty or foul, but completely different (imo) to try to get an innocent player sent off. That's a special level of dooshbag in my book, and not something that I can put out of my mind, at least for now.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Becks Bradley

Zusi Mix Jones

Dempsey

Seems "loose" to me. I definitely don't trust Jones in front of Beasley and Mix's lack of steel/grit (as Sinn points out) compounds it. Also, throwing Mix into the #10 role for the first time in a big game is a little reckless for my taste.

Not a fan of it either, don't want Hazard running on the same side as Beckerman/Zusi. Rather have Bradley more central to help cover there. Beckerman's best role is central with help on both sides

Ives has his projected starting line-up as a 4-1-4-1 With Beckerman as DM, Zusi and Bedoya out wide, and Jones and Bradley in the middle.

 

[Sinn Fein]

I've enjoyed watching the Ticos, but can never forgive Campbell for the Besler incident. Its one thing to embellish trying to earn a penalty or foul, but completely different (imo) to try to get an innocent player sent off. That's a special level of dooshbag in my book, and not something that I can put out of my mind, at least for now.

I had forgotten about that incident #### the Ticos

 

[The Gator]

Becks Bradley

Zusi Mix Jones

Dempsey

Seems "loose" to me. I definitely don't trust Jones in front of Beasley and Mix's lack of steel/grit (as Sinn points out) compounds it. Also, throwing Mix into the #10 role for the first time in a big game is a little reckless for my taste.

Not a fan of it either, don't want Hazard running on the same side as Beckerman/Zusi. Rather have Bradley more central to help cover there. Beckerman's best role is central with help on both sides

Ives has his projected starting line-up as a 4-1-4-1 With Beckerman as DM, Zusi and Bedoya out wide, and Jones and Bradley in the middle.

:like:

 

[Jaysus]

Costa Rican girl with lips painted red white and blue > omg hi

http://imgur.com/xJXRdr4

 

[Sinn Fein]

Costa Rican girl with lips painted red white and blue > omg hi

http://imgur.com/xJXRdr4

Now I lay me down to sleep

 

[Jobber]

I've enjoyed watching the Ticos, but can never forgive Campbell for the Besler incident. Its one thing to embellish trying to earn a penalty or foul, but completely different (imo) to try to get an innocent player sent off. That's a special level of dooshbag in my book, and not something that I can put out of my mind, at least for now.

I had forgotten about that incident #### the Ticos

OMG that's the most ridiculous thing I've seen in sports. How can the ref card Besler when nodoby saw anything??! I hope the ref was punished after that one.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

These are great -- for anyone that thinks players in other sports don't take a dive.

 

[Guest]

I've enjoyed watching the Ticos, but can never forgive Campbell for the Besler incident. Its one thing to embellish trying to earn a penalty or foul, but completely different (imo) to try to get an innocent player sent off. That's a special level of dooshbag in my book, and not something that I can put out of my mind, at least for now.

I had forgotten about that incident #### the Ticos

WTF?

 

[NewlyRetired]

I've enjoyed watching the Ticos, but can never forgive Campbell for the Besler incident. Its one thing to embellish trying to earn a penalty or foul, but completely different (imo) to try to get an innocent player sent off. That's a special level of dooshbag in my book, and not something that I can put out of my mind, at least for now.

I had forgotten about

In the soccer thread we shared a bad word or two when this happened.

This caused Besler to be suspended for accumulated yellow cards.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I've enjoyed watching the Ticos, but can never forgive Campbell for the Besler incident. Its one thing to embellish trying to earn a penalty or foul, but completely different (imo) to try to get an innocent player sent off. That's a special level of dooshbag in my book, and not something that I can put out of my mind, at least for now.

I had forgotten about

If I remember this correctly, the ref did not see the play as his back was turned. You can see the ref asking on his head set to the far side assistant ref what happened who must have had a horrible angle or got a nice briefcase the night before.

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

Costa Rican girl with lips painted red white and blue > omg hi

http://imgur.com/xJXRdr4

Now I lay me down to sleep

Incredible imgur/reddit series there. Incredible work in this thread Jaysus. Can't thank you enough for all the gifs.

 

[Mjolnirs]

Just catching up in here.

Robben (who I hate) made sure the ref called the foul, but Marquez stepped on his foot and kept him from going past. Stone cold penalty. The flailing arms just helped convince the ref of what had already happened.

Robben is good at selling any touch, he did get stepped on, and he sold it.

I do wish the player fouled would be the one to take the PK though.

I like this idea.

Thanks for letting me ask all these dumb questions.

J

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