TheBucsFan
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|  #1 Posted on 12.6.14 0749.12
Reposted on: 12.6.21 0751.41 | So here we go again. Not having a TV anymore, I'm not sure the World Cup is going to take over my life for a month the way the past two editions have, but I'll do my best to let it.
Some predictions:
- The US will finish fourth in their group.
- The poor showing will spark public anger and make Klinsmann regret the incredibly, incredibly stupid decision to not include Donovan. Not that Donovan would have made them able to get out of the group, but he certainly has a lot more to offer than a couple of teenagers with basically no senior-team experience. I can't see it as anything other than a petty, egotistical decision from Klinsmann.
- Brazil will not win. Nor will Spain. Too much pressure on two teams that are not as great as their past successes are leading people to assume.
- English people will complain about their team's showing no matter how they perform.
(edited by TheBucsFan on 12.6.14 0850) | Promote this thread! |             | The Goon
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|  #2 Posted on 12.6.14 1011.30
Reposted on: 12.6.21 1013.34 | I think the cool pick people are making is Belgium, so a run by them would be great.
Hope you're wrong about the USA, as I'd love to see them upset Portugal. I can dream, can't I?
For the final, I'll stick with my regular World Cup hope of Anybody But Italy.
| TheBucsFan
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| #3 Posted on 12.6.14 1031.29
Reposted on: 12.6.21 1034.42 | I hope I'm wrong too. If the team somehow qualifies from this group, it will be the total opposite of everything I said. Klinsmann will look like a genius and with the young players filling out this roster, expectations would be sky high for the following four-year cycle. It would be great, but I don't see it. A win against Ghana in the first game though, and anything's possible.
I'd probably still be bitter about Donovan's exclusion though.
(edited by TheBucsFan on 12.6.14 1132) | lotjx
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|  #4 Posted on 12.6.14 1113.41
Reposted on: 12.6.21 1115.46 | | I have the USA in the Semi-finals against the eventual winner Italy in my ESPN Bracket. I am more concerned about the security at this thing. Brazil has been playing hardball with its people over this thing. I fear a lot of the people going to this. | dMr
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|  #5 Posted on 12.6.14 1823.26
Reposted on: 12.6.21 1829.01 | Originally posted by lotjx
I fear a lot of the people going to this.
You mean fear *for* right? Because otherwise, wow.
Anyway, I thought you'd written off this soccer lark as a fad that would never take off.
Originally posted by The Goon
I think the cool pick people are making is Belgium, so a run by them would be great.
The Belgian squad is just insanely good in a lot of positions but I worry they're a bit too fashionable as a dark horse now. They've got a couple of weak links and I'm not sure how they perform in the heat of Brazil.
I kinda fancy Argentina, except for the bit where they always seem to wind up being coached by men with precisely no idea how to coach soccer teams.
Originally posted by TheBucsFan
Nor will Spain.
I thought Spain looked awful in the Confed Cup and I don't think their high pressing, all energy game works for them in Brazil. Love the way they play but don't see them pulling it off.
Originally posted by TBF
English people will complain about their team's showing no matter how they perform.
It's maybe just due to my proximity to them but a vocal and sizeable number of English fans continually come off as the most insular, arrogant, entitled bunch of A-holes on the planet. Worse than Cowboys fans even.
Which is to say your prediction is pretty much certain to come true.
| dMp
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|  #6 Posted on 13.6.14 0806.54
Reposted on: 13.6.21 0807.35 | The Dutch situation is possibly the reverse of the English then.
It's almost funny, after the 2010 finals, everyone was sure we'd kick ass at the Eurocup where the team pretty much failed.
So right now, everybody agrees that we're doomed from the get go. Though you do feel this flicker of hope that if we make ourselves this much of an outsider, the team might overcome things and have another decent run.
I think it could happen, it all depends on how hard the group is willing to work and believe in themselves. But not beyond the semi finals.
This is Brazil's tournament to lose.
Spain is still a strong contender and so is Argentina.
But as dmr said, somehow they always seem unfocused or unbalanced at these tournaments.
| TheBucsFan
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| #7 Posted on 13.6.14 0948.51
Reposted on: 13.6.21 0949.10 | I don't think they'll win, but I'm definitely pulling for the Dutch to win the tournament (well, after the US of course, but ... yeah). It's a crime that they haven't won one yet, it's not because they haven't had worthy sides. Tonight's rematch between them and Spain is the most exciting matchup of the group stage to me, hopefully without the pressure of it being the final the teams will play with the flair and confidence that they normally do and it's a more exciting affair.
I never like to predict winners in these tournaments because so much depends on knockout stage matchups. But I'd rank the teams' chances of winning in approximately this order, based on form and such:
Germany
Brazil
Spain
Netherlands
But I think the pressure heaped on Brazil and a combination of age/complacency/their luck finally running out will doom Spain. But I also don't know who else can win. It would be great if we saw a country win for the first time though.
In order of how much I'd like to see them win:
Netherlands
Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
I'm sick of Spain and I'm sick of Bayern Munich, which means I'm basically sick of Germany. Until I moved to Denmark in 2011, the Netherlands were my team in Europe. Now they'll have to settle for No. 2 on that list. Please console your compatriots.
(edited by TheBucsFan on 13.6.14 1135) | pieman
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| #8 Posted on 13.6.14 1136.48
Reposted on: 13.6.21 1139.15 | Originally posted by The Goon
For the final, I'll stick with my regular World Cup hope of Anybody But Italy.
Hey hey, don't be disrespecting the people of my ancestors' home, young man. Come on, Doug, back me up here before your wife has to go over there and smack The Goon! | dunkndollaz
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| #9 Posted on 13.6.14 1317.18
Reposted on: 13.6.21 1319.52 | Originally posted by pieman
Originally posted by The Goon
For the final, I'll stick with my regular World Cup hope of Anybody But Italy.
Hey hey, don't be disrespecting the people of my ancestors' home, young man. Come on, Doug, back me up here before your wife has to go over there and smack The Goon!
Whattsamattafayou Goon !?!?
Everyone loves The Azzurri !!! | TheBucsFan
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| #10 Posted on 13.6.14 1555.30
Reposted on: 13.6.21 1555.36 | | Amazing performance by the Dutch, and Spain are just totally cast aside as World Cup contenders. That should have been 7-1 or 8-1. Van Persie delivered the most amazing headed goal you will ever see, that was just stunning to watch. Amazing ball in to him, and then the confidence and vision to head it when I think many would have tried to control it with their chest ... there aren't enough superlatives. | dMp
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| #11 Posted on 13.6.14 1624.56
Reposted on: 13.6.21 1624.56 | Yeah that was unreal.
When Spain went up 1-0 (btw, was that really a foul?) I figured we MIGHT tie it. The first 30-40 minutes were all Spain, and then things changed.
The header was a thing of beauty.
Going up and then score 3 more times to demolish the defending champ is unheard of.
But for the record, I don't think Spain is down & out yet at this point.
| TheBucsFan
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| #12 Posted on 14.6.14 0234.51
Reposted on: 14.6.21 0235.19 | I don't see Spain beating Brazil in the second round - and that's assuming they can even beat Chile to get second in the group, which is something I'm not so sure of. This match would have to be quite the outlier. The writing has been on the wall for Spain going back to that Confederations Cup romp by, of all teams, Brazil.
(edited by TheBucsFan on 14.6.14 0338) | Spank E
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| #13 Posted on 14.6.14 1637.05
Reposted on: 14.6.21 1642.01 | | Well, who saw Costa Rica putting three past Uruguay coming? That blows England's group wide open. I'm remaining in cautious optimism mode as I'm still not convinced by our chances, but I refuse to allow myself to get swept up in the usual hyperbole created by our national media who will no doubt turn on the team if/when things go belly up. | TheBucsFan
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| #14 Posted on 14.6.14 1800.46
Reposted on: 14.6.21 1801.55 | | What an amazing World Cup this is so far. Every game has been full of drama and excitement (unfortunately some of it unwanted). | Reverend J Shaft
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| #15 Posted on 14.6.14 2310.11
Reposted on: 14.6.21 2312.36 | Originally posted by Spank E
Well, who saw Costa Rica putting three past Uruguay coming?
I'm sorry, but Uruguay's keeper sucks. On Costa Rica's first two goals, the keeper didn't even react, like he thought someone else was to be responsible for keeping the ball out.
The Ivory Coast - Japan game was fun. I don't know if Drogba's presence was the difference but they seemed like a team possessed when he got in. | dMr
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| #16 Posted on 15.6.14 1556.44
Reposted on: 15.6.21 1556.44 | Originally posted by Reverend J Shaft
I'm sorry, but Uruguay's keeper sucks. On Costa Rica's first two goals, the keeper didn't even react, like he thought someone else was to be responsible for keeping the ball out.
You're kidding, right? The first one was hit so hard it was past him before he could react and the second he has to cover his near post. Haven't heard anyone blaming Muslera for either goal. | TheBucsFan
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| #17 Posted on 16.6.14 1241.46
Reposted on: 16.6.21 1242.55 | I'm probably being fickle, but after watching Germany tear Portugal apart (it's still going on actually), I'm now doubting the US will finish fourth. Portugal look terrible. And with Pepe and likely Coentrao out for the rest of the group stage at least, I wouldn't rule out them getting no points, Ronaldo or not. If the US can beat Ghana tonight, they're probably favorites to get the second spot behind Germany.
I'm trying to get that optimism out of my system. | JayJayDean
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| #18 Posted on 16.6.14 1310.59
Reposted on: 16.6.21 1312.48 | Originally posted by TheBucsFan
I'm probably being fickle, but after watching Germany tear Portugal apart (it's still going on actually), I'm now doubting the US will finish fourth. Portugal look terrible. And with Pepe and likely Coentrao out for the rest of the group stage at least, I wouldn't rule out them getting no points, Ronaldo or not. If the US can beat Ghana tonight, they're probably favorites to get the second spot behind Germany.
I'm trying to get that optimism out of my system.
All fans of the Von Trapps may be thanking Thomas Müller for putting that fourth goal home. | Zeruel
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| #19 Posted on 16.6.14 1312.00
Reposted on: 16.6.21 1316.01 | Originally posted by TheBucsFan
I'm probably being fickle, but after watching Germany tear Portugal apart (it's still going on actually), I'm now doubting the US will finish fourth.
I had us finishing behind Germany and Portugal but I firmly believe we can finish 2nd with 6 pts because of the Portuguese injuries and suspension.
Portugal looked thoroughly demoralized, deflated, and lost out there. That German defense is scary fast and tight. It could have been 5-0 because the Portuguese attack had to backpass so much that the keeper was out of position and misplayed the ball and almost allowed a goal.
Germany had a young and fast team 4 years ago, they look so much better this year that I will be shocked if they do not make the final game. | texasranger9
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| #20 Posted on 16.6.14 1909.00
Reposted on: 16.6.21 1912.00 | | Half way there! Miracle header for the win. |
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