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We are 100 days out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
I'm pretty excited. Even though USA is in a group of death if we can make it out we have a good shot of going beyond the first round of elimination. We've got a strong team and a good chance of doing better than any other cup.
Yeah, but they have been getting better defensively of late. They allowed the second fewest goals in South American qualifying, granted Brazil wasn't involved, but I think it still counts for something.
If their defense holds up okay, and Aguero, Messi, and co. play as well as they are capable, I see Argentina being a bigger threat than Brazil. Unless Brazil improves drastically from their confederations cup performances, they aren't going to win the World Cup bar good luck, or home field advantage from refs. Admittedly I'm slightly biased towards Spain, but I thought in the Confed. Cup final the Brazilian players basically kicked the spanish players into submission and the ref did nothing about it. Had the ref called a tighter match, they probably wouldn't have been able to dominate.
You guys are all too caught up in reputation. Watching all these people recently and home advantage I will confidently say here. You're all wrong, Brazil is going to win.
Rooting for Drogba and the Cote'd'Ivoire, but moneys on brazil to win this one. Its at home and pretty much all their players are in great form. Gonna be an intresting one. Germany looking strong as well.
Never seen anyone seem so confident about a World Cup pick before. Also I doubt you watch RPL or Ligue 1. They have incredible talent and some players who are very in form, but it is far from a guarantee
There are a lot of teams in very good form for you to say Tht with that much confidence. Brazil is definitely a favorite don't get me wrong. But you have to include Germany and Spain. You would be stupid to disregardthem.
Not disregarding germany. Spains good but not a fan.. Spain and Germany are good, but Brazil are just as good, plus they get home advantage, which is why I think they're a step ahead.
Spain are fantastic in games where they control the pace and possession. Brazil has too many players that are box to box and it will allow them to counter-attack and press Spain into conceding. Germany is definitely number 2 for me but I think the Brazilian defence is talented enough to shut down their chances and as long as Lahm is controlled I think the pace and agility of the Brazilian offence will poke holes in their defence one way or another.
All conjecture at this point. And Brazils outside backside are HIGHLY questionable. Idk where you have ever watched them be top class defenders. Yah they're great in attack but honestly id take about 10 other outside backs over them.
This this this. Spain has moved away from their tiki-taka play at times when the situations call for it. Thiago and Pedro will RUIN the day for Marcelo and Alves if they meet. They are both quick and aggressive. Xabi Alonso, who was not healthy for the Confed. Cup if I recall, will also add the stability and composure needed. The Spanish players off the bench can also make all the difference in the world.
Brazil is in no way a clearcut favorite. No one is in soccer. All it takes is one goal.
Germany has more of this type of player than Brazil, and of higher quality, too. Germany has a much better chance of containing Spain than Brazil does.
If Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Gotze, Lahm, etc. stay healthy, yes. Way too many variables at this point in time with many league and CL games still going on.
Additionally, their defensive depth is what worries me. They have two very good CBs, Hummels and Mertsesacker. After that, I am not sure who else I would play there. Boateng is decent, but I think he could have problems with players like Ronaldo in the early group games. Thankfully, they have an embarrassment of riches at the outside back positions with the Dortmund boys and Bayern boys.
Germany also needs to find a true striker. I dont rate Gomez that high, nor do I think Klose is young enough any more to play a full 90 day in and day out. Reus can sometimes play up top, but I do not know if Low will play him there or on the rings.
Joachim Low will have one of the hardest jobs pre-WC, picking his squad.
brazil will win it. at home they can beat anyone. if the tournament was held in Europe or the states etc i would hands down give it to Germany but with the heat and humidity as well as the home support brazil have to be favourites. if anyone watched the confederations cup last year you would see why. i think Belgium is worth a cheeky bet i can see them getting to the quarters or semis.
MotivePursesif anyone watched the confederations cup last year you would see why.
I watched the confed. cup last summer and was very underwhelmed with Brazil's performance. The only game they looked at all good was against Spain, but in that game the ref was letting them get away with a lot of bad tackles and some very chippy play. Had the ref called the game tighter and not let the Brazilian players kick the crap out of the Spanish ones whenever they had the ball, who knows what would have happened.
But who knows, maybe the refs will be incredibly biased towards Brazil through the whole tournament and let them do whatever they want and hand them the win.
I'm going down to watch a match, Ivory Coast v Greece, a friend had a spare England ticket, but getting flights to where it is was impossible. Just looking forward to the atmosphere, I'm not a big football fan really, but I was passing through Brazil anyway so it seemed silly not to stop for a few days to catch a game.
I wouldn't bet against Brazil to win, home advantage means a lot.
.MASSHOLE.I will be shocked if the US makes it out of the group stages.
Germany or Spain should make the final. Both have mastered youth development.
They are going to lose to germany and they can beat everyone else. Portugal are going to rely too hard on ronaldo.
.MASSHOLE.Agreed they are a dark horse, but if Fellaini plays like he has for Man U, no chance. He needs to turn up.
They aren't going to lose if Fellaini plays bad, he isn't that good even when he plays well. If Kompany has an off game, then they could potentially lose a game or two.
I think Germany has the best over all squad, so much depth.
Brazil has the starting 11 to win it, except maybe a world class number 9 - it's a shame Diego Costa chose Spain over them. Playing at home will be huge too.
Spain has to be the other favourite.
I just hope some dark horses can make a serious run, like Belgium or one of the African team.
MotivePursesbrazil will win it. at home they can beat anyone. if the tournament was held in Europe or the states etc i would hands down give it to Germany but with the heat and humidity as well as the home support brazil have to be favourites. if anyone watched the confederations cup last year you would see why. i think Belgium is worth a cheeky bet i can see them getting to the quarters or semis.
Right, even though it will be winter down there the heat and humidity will be a huge factor. Gotcha.
The Confederations Cup last year featured some very weak teams to be frank. And the loss of Xabi Alonso in the MF for Spain is bigger than you seem to realize. Brazil can win it, but are they a shoe in? Hell no. I dont think Brazil has the defense to cope with German or Spain wingers. Alves? Old and really reckless. Marcelo? Too attacking. Best defender they have is Thiago Silva. Dante, Luiz, and Rafinha are too mistake prone.
Thankfully Hulk has had a resurrection of sorts recently. Could bode well.
*JDBP*They are going to lose to germany and they can beat everyone else. Portugal are going to rely too hard on ronaldo.
They aren't going to lose if Fellaini plays bad, he isn't that good even when he plays well. If Kompany has an off game, then they could potentially lose a game or two.
Beat Ghana or Portugal? No way.
Ghana is too big and athletic for the US.
Portugal may rely on Ronaldo too much, but it worked against Sweden. Besides, players like Nani, Moutinho, Meireles and Carvalho are quite a bit better than the best American player.
I would be shocked if the US won more than a game. Ties? Sure. Wins, doubtful.
.MASSHOLE.Right, even though it will be winter down there the heat and humidity will be a huge factor. Gotcha.
The Confederations Cup last year featured some very weak teams to be frank. And the loss of Xabi Alonso in the MF for Spain is bigger than you seem to realize. Brazil can win it, but are they a shoe in? Hell no. I dont think Brazil has the defense to cope with German or Spain wingers. Alves? Old and really reckless. Marcelo? Too attacking. Best defender they have is Thiago Silva. Dante, Luiz, and Rafinha are too mistake prone.
Thankfully Hulk has had a resurrection of sorts recently. Could bode well.
Beat Ghana or Portugal? No way.
Ghana is too big and athletic for the US.
Portugal may rely on Ronaldo too much, but it worked against Sweden. Besides, players like Nani, Moutinho, Meireles and Carvalho are quite a bit better than the best American player.
I would be shocked if the US won more than a game. Ties? Sure. Wins, doubtful.
I really think that we can grind a win Ghana. They have a few good players but no the supporting cast, which opens up holes that Sgt. Dempsey will plow through.
I am also ignorantly optimistic that this is the year that we can break through the groups.
*JDBP*I really think that we can grind a win Ghana. They have a few good players but no the supporting cast, which opens up holes that Sgt. Dempsey will plow through.
I am also ignorantly optimistic that this is the year that we can break through the groups.
As long as it is not the Dempsey from the Fulham loan this year. He never even sniffed the field for 95% of that loan.
We have no technical skill compared to the rest of these teams. The Africans may not be great, but they are better than us.
if they can get a win against ghana it will really help there chances of moving on. but in all honesty i see them tying ghana and dropping the games against portugal and germany
Bakerpowif they can get a win against ghana it will really help there chances of moving on. but in all honesty i see them tying ghana and dropping the games against portugal and germany
Realistically that is going to happen, but at the sametime I feel like people still don't take us seriously so we can pose a threat in the underdog/ darkhorse kind of way.
*JDBP*Realistically that is going to happen, but at the sametime I feel like people still don't take us seriously so we can pose a threat in the underdog/ darkhorse kind of way.
We are 0-4 against Ghana in the history of the sport to be honest...
The ball is round though so anything can happen. Its the same story every year though with the United States.
We get a "shitty" draw, every US fanboy says "I think we can be a dark-horse this year and prove some problems" then we get knocked out in the group stages. We have made it out of the group stages once in the last 4 World Cups.
I may come off as pessimistic with US soccer, but most non-American soccer fans would tend to agree with me.
We shouldnt be taken seriously yet either. We are inconsistent. Klinsmann has spent the last few years trying to find a lineup that works. Look at what happened with Man U and Moyes when he experimented with that this year, no consistency. I wish Klinsmann would find a team and premier lineup and stick to it.
People do not, and will not take the US seriously because the US doesn't deserve to be taken seriously. They have a terrible international record, and no accomplishments to stand behind. Its extremely likely that they will lose all 3 matches and be done.
The country I'm most interested in and curious about is mine, France. Definitely underrated the last few years, but they've actually got an extremely impressive squad coming into this. One to look out for
fujaromeThe country I'm most interested in and curious about is mine, France. Definitely underrated the last few years, but they've actually got an extremely impressive squad coming into this. One to look out for
If by "underrated" you mean "underperformed," then yes. France have consistently had a good squad the last 3 years, but have sucked over and over again up until a few months ago. Should they be able to do well at the world cup this summer? Yes. Will they? No idea. They've been really awful at the last three big tournaments, so it's hard to say what will happen with them.
And Masshole: That the U.S. is 0-4 against Ghana is completely irrelevant to this world cup.
WattsIf by "underrated" you mean "underperformed," then yes. France have consistently had a good squad the last 3 years, but have sucked over and over again up until a few months ago. Should they be able to do well at the world cup this summer? Yes. Will they? No idea. They've been really awful at the last three big tournaments, so it's hard to say what will happen with them.
And Masshole: That the U.S. is 0-4 against Ghana is completely irrelevant to this world cup.
No, they are underrated. They have an entirely different team since the last WC, one that is quite young and no one seems to consider due to the fact most of these players are stuck in Ligue 1.
3/4 of those games are irrelevant, but the last one, in 2010, is not. That squad is quite similar to the one in this WC, and they, if I recall correctly, dominated us both physically and technically. Our squad is aging, Donovan and Dempsey are not they players they once were.
.MASSHOLE.No, they are underrated. They have an entirely different team since the last WC, one that is quite young and no one seems to consider due to the fact most of these players are stuck in Ligue 1.
3/4 of those games are irrelevant, but the last one, in 2010, is not. That squad is quite similar to the one in this WC, and they, if I recall correctly, dominated us both physically and technically. Our squad is aging, Donovan and Dempsey are not they players they once were.
Nobody who knows anything about soccer underrates them. On paper they are, and have been, a very good team the last three major tournaments, but every time they show up and play horribly. If people DO underrate them, it's probably due more to that than anything else. They obviously have potential to go far in the world cup, but that's very different from actually doing it, and recently France have proved time and again that they aren't capable of performing when it matters most.
Even 2010 is irrelevant for me. 4 years is a long time in professional sports. Donovan and Dempsey are 4 years older now than 2010, but so are all the Ghanian players, and, like you said, their team is very similar to their 2010 team.
WattsNobody who knows anything about soccer underrates them. On paper they are, and have been, a very good team the last three major tournaments, but every time they show up and play horribly. If people DO underrate them, it's probably due more to that than anything else. They obviously have potential to go far in the world cup, but that's very different from actually doing it, and recently France have proved time and again that they aren't capable of performing when it matters most.
Even 2010 is irrelevant for me. 4 years is a long time in professional sports. Donovan and Dempsey are 4 years older now than 2010, but so are all the Ghanian players, and, like you said, their team is very similar to their 2010 team.
Your first statement is key. I am willing to assume 99.9% of the people in the US do not follow soccer except for the during the WC tournament. The difference is between this team and last, is that they are very young, therefore people are expecting them to underperform like normal, as you said. That being said, I do not expect them to go far, but I do expect them to shine during certain games.
The difference between 4 years ago for the US and the Ghanians is that their team back then was EXTREMELY young. Essien, their most senior experienced player is a young 31. Muntari, Gyan, Boateng, Asamoah, and Ayew are all under 30, with Muntari being the oldest at 28. They now have WC and European league experience. They also have the most important advantage, team experience. Look at the US roster issues, they have been tinkering with their lineup for so long, and therefor have no cohesion at the international level.
.MASSHOLE.Your first statement is key. I am willing to assume 99.9% of the people in the US do not follow soccer except for the during the WC tournament. The difference is between this team and last, is that they are very young, therefore people are expecting them to underperform like normal, as you said. That being said, I do not expect them to go far, but I do expect them to shine during certain games.
The difference between 4 years ago for the US and the Ghanians is that their team back then was EXTREMELY young. Essien, their most senior experienced player is a young 31. Muntari, Gyan, Boateng, Asamoah, and Ayew are all under 30, with Muntari being the oldest at 28. They now have WC and European league experience. They also have the most important advantage, team experience. Look at the US roster issues, they have been tinkering with their lineup for so long, and therefor have no cohesion at the international level.
Okay, but then I wouldn't consider the opinion of any of those people as valid, or worth counting.
You're right, and the U.S. will also have a lot of players who weren't on the team last world cup and new, better coach. I guess I just think 4 years is too long in any sport to judge anything off of. I hate when people bring up world cup stats from decades ago as if they are relevant now. Like during Euro '08 when people were saying Spain wouldn't win because they had never won a major tournament before and had had good teams in the 80's not win, or how people talk about how the Dutch lost the final in '74 despite being the better team, and therefore will do so now in the 21st century.
WattsOkay, but then I wouldn't consider the opinion of any of those people as valid, or worth counting.
You're right, and the U.S. will also have a lot of players who weren't on the team last world cup and new, better coach. I guess I just think 4 years is too long in any sport to judge anything off of. I hate when people bring up world cup stats from decades ago as if they are relevant now. Like during Euro '08 when people were saying Spain wouldn't win because they had never won a major tournament before and had had good teams in the 80's not win, or how people talk about how the Dutch lost the final in '74 despite being the better team, and therefore will do so now in the 21st century.
I dont think 4 years in soccer is too much. Spain won the Euro in 08, then in '12. And a WC in between those. When teams are young it is not a lot.
I am not saying the US has zero chance of winning, but I would be shocked if they came away with more than 1 or 2 wins. I dont think 1-2 wins will be enough to get out of the group either.
Needless to say, I am SO excited for the WC coming up, and next weeks legs for the CL. Should be fantastic games for both. Chelsea or Atletico need a goal, and Bayern needs to gamble, and with Bale and Ronaldo hopefully both healthy, should be an epic match up with the potential for lots of goals.
fujaromeThe country I'm most interested in and curious about is mine, France. Definitely underrated the last few years, but they've actually got an extremely impressive squad coming into this. One to look out for
I have to say, as a Liverpool fan, I've developed a megolithic man crush on Sakho.
Ok I know i'm gonna sound butthurt inferiority complex here but what the hell was up with David Luiz in that ad? He skies a shot to the moon, gives the ball straight to Rooney for a goal, gives away a penalty. those are all things people make fun of him for
The cantona commercials were always my favorite. Although I loved the Adidas +10 campaign from 2006 too, the one with the little kids imagining themselves playing with stars
Can't wait to go to Brasil. The only group game(I think) we're going to see is France vs Switzerland. Also Germany has slimmed their roster down to 30.
While we're on the topic of jerseys, I really want a Croatia one but I can't justify ~$85 on it. Considering picking up some teams training tops though, a lot of them are better looking than the jerseys and are also cheaper
