World Cup 2014 thread

[Cuthbert]

Jay Rodriguez has done his ACL and is out for 6 months. Will miss the World Cup.

The cruciate curse continues...

[IvanMC]

It's difficult to guess what will come out of England v Uruguay or England v Italy; you won't have it pretty easy indeed... I don't feel like yapping away as if I was a huge expert or a kind of "footie connoisseur" though I'll only say Uruguay aren't the same Uruguay that got the 4th place in South Africa. Footie can still be hugely fickle and unpredictable. And indeed I'll be hooked on the TV watching those games! As for Messi's team: they'll crash out of the cup a lot sooner than expected. South American teams seriously leave lots to be desired nowadays, not to fall back on the term "suck".

[Cuthbert]

I'm confident that we will beat Italy. Uruguay I have no idea but we will piss all over Costa Rica.

Even if it is true about South American teams (you will know more than me), they are basically at home for this.

I'd mention South Korea from 2002, but:

Korean miracle spoilt by refereeing farce - Telegraph

Those two matches against Italy & Spain prove there is corruption of football.

[FRED HALE SR.]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

I'm confident that we will beat Italy. Uruguay I have no idea but we will piss all over Costa Rica.

Even if it is true about South American teams (you will know more than me), they are basically at home for this.

I'd mention South Korea from 2002, but:

Korean miracle spoilt by refereeing farce - Telegraph

Those two matches against Italy & Spain prove there is corruption of football.

I wouldn't be so sure about them beating Italy or Uruguay, two teams which have fared well in the last two tournaments honestly. I'd even give Costa Rica a shooters chance. They're actually alot better then you think, having watched them in the CONCACAAF.

[Cuthbert]

Italy couldn't beat us in the last competition and we were worse then. We won the last game against them. No reason why we can't beat them, like I say I'm confident.

Costa Rica's recent results against Mexico (2-1, WC qualifier) USA (3-1, WC qualifier) and Paraguay (1-0, friendly) are decent but they could only stick one past Belize and they are absolutely shit. They were all at home as well.

I'm familiar with Oviedo at Everton but nobody else. We will win comfortably.

[IvanMC]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

I'm confident that we will beat Italy. Uruguay I have no idea but we will piss all over Costa Rica.

Even if it is true about South American teams (you will know more than me), they are basically at home for this.

I'd mention South Korea from 2002, but:

Korean miracle spoilt by refereeing farce - Telegraph

Those two matches against Italy & Spain prove there is corruption of football.

I didn't remember this! I'm not surprised, though: footie has been smeared with corruption for some really long time! In 1998 Italy was on the verge of being defeated by non-existent Chile (Zamorano and Salas days)... but the farce had already been alive and kicking for a long time. I'd be overjoyed if some underdog pulled it off and lifted the world cup. It happened in 2004 (there was Greece's amazing win of the Euro Championship)... it might happen again, right?

[Cuthbert]

I am confident it will happen, with England.

I keep seeing this advert on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwxdEECNpZY

>>>

[Cuthbert]

So after being ruled out initially, Falcao may go after all.

Falcao expected to go to World Cup - Goal.com

Radamel Falcao is unlikely to be fully fit for the start of the World Cup, according to the surgeon who carried out his knee operation, but he could still make the Colombia squad for the tournament.

The 28-year-old has been out of action since suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in the Coupe de France game against Chasselay in January.

Falcao - who scored nine goals in 17 Ligue 1 appearances prior to his injury - is facing a race against time in his rehabilitation as he battles to be selected for the World Cup.

No doubt he'll be risked but doesn't seem wise imo. Not really an injury you want to rush the recovery for.

[IvanMC]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

I am confident it will happen, with England.

I keep seeing this advert on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwxdEECNpZY

>>>

Come off it; England are not underdogs at all! I think you guys will finish either 3rd or 4th this time, after Germany, Spain or Brazil. I'm still astounded not to feel any kind of pre-world cup atmosphere whatsoever here... how's the situation over there? Is everyone looking forward to the big day or is everyone hooked on Liverpool's upcoming title?

[Cuthbert]

Liverpool's title mate, once the semis of the CL start that is when Nike will push their advertisements for the WC very hard & obviously when the squads are announced then we'll go into overdrive with excitement, atm there are a lot of issues like takeovers & relegation going on with our teams (Villa, West Brom & Birmingham City) in Birmingham so people are more concerned with those.

I would absolutely take 4th in this World Cup btw.

Have you seen much of Raheem Sterling? Scored two yesterday and set up the other, we won't miss Walcott