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2014 WORLD CUP THREAD


RIPPA

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I´m going to say it now. Even considering how many problems teams have getting good fullbacks, Dani Alves is still pretty crap for the level of competition he plays at. Happy Cameroon got a goal, simply because I have this weird sentiment that I want every team to score at least once at the World Cup finals.

 

EDIT: Cameroon seems to win every header in the Brazilian box, which is quite the feat considering Brazil have Luiz and Silva, both of which are tall and good at that part of th game.

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Croatia v Mexico looks like a grudge match.   What you want in a mutual elimination game, really.  They're desperate and nasty, getting in each others' faces and yelling at each other after tackles.  Fun!

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Too bad Ronaldo isn't actually hobbled as he's been moving around just fine.. but I guess we can grant that excuse.

You watch a lot of Ronaldo, yeah?

Actually, yes. I watch more than you would expect, especially the elite clubs. He wasn't hobbling around as you claimed.

 

Then I presume you noticed the lack of final-third acceleration he normally has that would just so happen to coincide with reports of his being injured (to the point where there were questions as to whether he would play the first two group matches for Portugal).  Hobbled in the context of a player like CR7 doesn't necessarily equate limping around as though his leg had been kicked out of his leg.

 

 

Stop moving the goalposts and give the U.S. some fucking credit. This thread was 90% "U.S. isn't going to do shit in that group!" before the cup started. Only a few of us gave them a shot.  :lol:

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Too bad Ronaldo isn't actually hobbled as he's been moving around just fine.. but I guess we can grant that excuse.

You watch a lot of Ronaldo, yeah?

Actually, yes. I watch more than you would expect, especially the elite clubs. He wasn't hobbling around as you claimed.

 

Then I presume you noticed the lack of final-third acceleration he normally has that would just so happen to coincide with reports of his being injured (to the point where there were questions as to whether he would play the first two group matches for Portugal).  Hobbled in the context of a player like CR7 doesn't necessarily equate limping around as though his leg had been kicked out of his leg.

 

 

Stop moving the goalposts and give the U.S. some fucking credit. This thread was 90% "U.S. isn't going to do shit in that group!" before the cup started. Only a few of us gave them a shot.  :lol:

 

 

"Ronaldo wasn't hurt."

 

"Yes he was."

 

"Why do you hate America?"

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Too bad Ronaldo isn't actually hobbled as he's been moving around just fine.. but I guess we can grant that excuse.

You watch a lot of Ronaldo, yeah?

Actually, yes. I watch more than you would expect, especially the elite clubs. He wasn't hobbling around as you claimed.

 

Then I presume you noticed the lack of final-third acceleration he normally has that would just so happen to coincide with reports of his being injured (to the point where there were questions as to whether he would play the first two group matches for Portugal).  Hobbled in the context of a player like CR7 doesn't necessarily equate limping around as though his leg had been kicked out of his leg.

 

 

Stop moving the goalposts and give the U.S. some fucking credit. This thread was 90% "U.S. isn't going to do shit in that group!" before the cup started. Only a few of us gave them a shot.  :lol:

 

 

"Ronaldo wasn't hurt."

 

"Yes he was."

 

"Why do you hate America?"

 

 

 

That's not actually how it went...  I said he wasn't hobbled and he wasn't. BUT WHAT ABOUT HIS THIRD GEAR. The guy was moving around well enough to be a factor. But keep creating excuses. Go ahead. Give me some more... 

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The contrast between coaches Kovac and Herrera could not have been greater

 

EDIT:  speaking in terms of sideline disposition/personality.  Not necessarily actual tactics/coaching

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I don´t know if I was giving the US much of a chance in that group, but I am certain I have never seen a Group of Death playing out exactly like people thought it would beforehand. Just a few examples from the top of my head:

 

1996 EUROS had a group of Germany, Italy, Russia and the Czech Republic. Germany was coming from a surprise quarterfinals elimination in the 1994 World Cup, Italy were runners up in that very tournament, Russia were considered dark horses of the tournament and the Czech Republic were thought to be the underdogs in the group. Italy and Russia went home, while Germany and the Czechs advanced.

 

EURO 2000 had the group of Germany, England (who seemed on the verge of regaining their lost football superpower status), Portugal (who had the golden generation of Figo and Co) and Romania (Hagi´s last spring). England and Germany were the teams eliminated from the group, Portugal winning all three matches and Romania beating England on the final matchday with a 3-2 scoreline.

 

Basically every EURO since the EUROs became 16 team tourneys had one amazingly tough group, and quite often the "weak" team of the group performed well, sometimes even advancing.

 

Even World Cups had those group of death surprises:

The 2002 World Cup had the group of England, Argentina, Nigeria and Sweden. Nigeria was held in high regard, it was expected it was either them or Cameroon to perform big for Africa in that tournament. England qualified after the legendary 5-1 win in Munich and were considered a tournament favourite aswell as Argentina. Sweden was the team to deliver the points to everyone, but still considered tough opposition to the others. Sweden ended up winning the group, England advanced alongside them. Group of Deaths often aren´t what you´d thought they´d be in the beginning of a tournament.

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