World Cup 2014 thread

[Mr. Charlie]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

Next up:

QF 1 - France vs Germany, Friday 5pm.
QF 2 - Brazil vs Colombia, Friday 9pm.
QF 3 - Argentina vs Belgium, Saturday 5pm
QF 4 - Netherlands vs Costa Rica, Saturday 9pm.

I've highlighted my picks to go through to the semis.

Can't disagree with your picks. Would love to see Colombia lift the cup personally.

[14232949]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

Agreed Manky, determination & grit can only get you so far. Eventually you'll come up against a better side, just one game too far for the US.

Next up:

QF 1 - France vs Germany, Friday 5pm.
QF 2 - Brazil vs Colombia, Friday 9pm.
QF 3 - Argentina vs Belgium, Saturday 5pm
QF 4 - Netherlands vs Costa Rica, Saturday 9pm.

I've highlighted my picks to go through to the semis.

I'm going to agree on three of four, I genuinely think we'll see Belgium go over Argentina.

[Goofle]

Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Netherlands.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by Goofle11

Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Netherlands.

I agree with you. Netherlands are considered a team that could win the cup.

[FRED HALE SR.]

Originally Posted by Goofle11

Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Netherlands.

+1. The US was outclassed to a certain degree but still had a shot even til the very end. I am disappointed but this is gonna be one hell of a quarterfinals to say the least. The US wouldn't have been able to get by Argentina and neither will Belgium.

[Cuthbert]

US should be happy tbh, played three cracking matches probably the most entertaining team in terms of the games they were involved in.

Ghana, Portugal and Belgium all brilliant matches. Plenty of excitable moments, the header vs Ghana, Jones & Dempsey vs Portugal and Green last night... that's more than we had to shout about.

Best single carnage moment of the WC so far is clearly Rooney vs Italy though. Ppl falling over rows of seats & railings >>>

[Unknown Soldier]

It's a pity England can't display any of the passion and work ethic of the US, but then again they never will while they believe themselves to be a major force in world football, especially since they believe that the really big teams shouldn't have to play strictly around a work ethic.

I've been watching England play in WC's and EC's since the early 1980s and to be fair nothing much has really changed, always a team of a couple of good players at the top level, surrounded by average to good players and after every competition the post-mortem was the same and that was we're just not as good as the foreign teams or there are too many foreigners in our league. The last point was always a joke as the French, Spanish and German leagues etc usually had loads of foreign players as well and they've always done alright.

In fact the best England team I've seen was the one at Italia 90 that reached the semis and even then they got slagged-off all through that world cup by the press here

[William_the_Bloody]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

It's a pity England can't display any of the passion and work ethic of the US, but then again they never will while they believe themselves to be a major force in world football, especially since they believe that the really big teams shouldn't have to play strictly around a work ethic.

I've been watching England play in WC's and EC's since the early 1980s and to be fair nothing much has really changed, always a team of a couple of good players at the top level, surrounded by average to good players and after every competition the post-mortem was the same and that was we're just not as good as the foreign teams or there are too many foreigners in our league. The last point was always a joke as the French, Spanish and German leagues etc usually had loads of foreign players as well and they've always done alright.

In fact the best England team I've seen was the one at Italia 90 that reached the semis and even then they got slagged-off all through that world cup by the press here

In Canada England is always hyped up because they're seen as the best football representatives for the Anglophone world, but as a soccer (football) fan, I just roll my eyes when the media begins speculating if this could be England's year.

The fact is they're are just not a world class team like the Germans, Brazilians, Italians, ect. They haven't made it to the semi finals in 24 years, the finals 48 years, and their recent WC record risks putting them on par with the United States.

I disagree with your comment on foreign players though, I do think the Premier League has crowded out young English talent in the last decade, the foreign players on the heavyweight teams are phenomenal in comparison to most German and French team leagues, so I imagine things will get worse before they get better.

The other problem with England is their population pool, it should be team United Kingdom, Gareth bale anyone...ah but sadly that will never happen, will it?

[14232949]

Bale would be the only person outside of England who'd get a game for a UK team.

As for excuses, the team and individually the players just aren't good enough. That's all, lol.

[Cuthbert]

The Premier League hasn't really crowded them out imo if you're good enough you'll likely play.

One thing I don't like is English players are just too ignorant to move abroad and get first team experience that way if they're not playing for their clubs. Plus the ones that do show some promise join clubs like Man. City and Chelsea who end up ruining them; Rodwell, Sinclair, Wright Phillips, Daniel Sturridge (thankfully worked out at a proper club for him), Steve Sidwell, Scott Parker etc... Now you've got Nathaniel Chalobah, Josh McEachran, Ryan Bertrand just wasting away at Chelsea... the list is endless. Something has to be done about Chelsea and their stockpiling/loaning.

We have a population of 50m which is more than enough to compete with the likes of Germany & Italy when you consider Uruguay and Costa Rica, but you are right with the UK team point. What I would do is compete in the World Cup and Euros as a British team and bring back the Home Championship instead of pointless friendlies.

Bale, Ramsey & Adam Matthews at Celtic would all make the squad and probably start. Darren Fletcher could have done a job before his illness and Scotland have Izzy Feruz coming through now... competing as individual nations helps nobody imo.

EDIT - I realise this would never happen by the way. I also think the domestic leagues should merge but that's another discussion.