Any matches with European winners? ...ah yes, missed the last two. On a separate note, how is Atletico Mineiro looking these days? The complete absence of Brazilian commentary on O Galo makes me think not so hot.
Irrelevant, A mexican team is expected to finish top 3. For example, if Leon was playing the world cup, I would expect them to reach the final. Like crap
I don't know Monterrey's current team so I'm looking foward to seeing them. Do you believe Monterrey can beat Mineiro in the semis or Bayern in the final (assuming. Bayern win their semi)?
I don´t think anyone can beat Bayern in the final I do think Monterrey has a chance of beating Mineiro.
Don't say that, Bayern have quite a few injured including Robben and Schweinsteiger and a few more that have just returned and are not fully fit.
All the team rosters were released yesterday: http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2013/pdf/FCWC_2013_SquadLists.pdf Atletico Mineiro is the only club without a single foreigner (Al Ahly has only one)
Ronaldinho sporting a Santa hat in club colors with the phrase, "Yes, We C.A.M." as Clube Atlético Mineiro left for Morocco Monday morning.
Wow, they left for Morocco already? What are they going to do there, they have more than a week before their first match. Bayern won't travel until next week as they still have two more matches to play in Champions League and Bundesliga
Train, train, train... This might be Galo's best achievement ever on international stage, so they might as well get as ready as possible for the tournament.
Wow, they take this very seriously, can't wait to see them in action next week, should be a great World Cup. Hopefully Bayern won't be too tired going into the matches, their recent match schedule has been pure murder.
Oh yes. Not only the players, but also the supporters. Check out this video. It's the players arriving to take the flight earlier today. There was a massive crowd at the airport to say goodbye:
Brazilian league was over the Sunday. So might as well be there. Brazilian teams always go early to acclimated.
On the upside the trip isn't very far for Bayern this year and they will have an extra of day rest between semis and final compared to CAM - assuming they make it. In the past it was always the reverse scenario, the Libertadores winners got the additional day of rest. So how many Galo (Rooster) fans are making the trip? Probably not as many as the close to 30,000 Corinthians brought last year, but surely a large number? Anyone know?
This is by far, the weakest CF Monterrey side in the last 4 years, I have no real expectations from them. The biggest issue is that they don't have any reliable 9. Past year's they had a really good Aldo De Nigris and a decent Carreño as back up, this time, both Marlón de Jesús & Guillermo Madrigal are too green to expect them to deliver with pressure.
There's a half-chance I might miss the final for a previous volunteer engagement - and I'm already sick at the possibility. On a general note: we won't be seeing this tournament in the U.S. anytime soon. Of course, Don Garber doesn't officially speak for the USSF; but given how close MLS and the Federation are, he's likely accurately echoing the sentiments of Sunil Gulati and co.
A bit over 24 hours to go... I'm traveling to Switzerland the day of the final but will be there just in time to catch it on ARD. Speaking of TV coverage, Fox Sports 1 & 2 will show every game live in the US except for the quarterfinal playoff. As for Don Garber's statement, seeing that he was on the CWC Organising Committee for several years, I don't believe the USSF "hasn't thought about that". Either they can't raise the funds or are still upset about 2022.
As have Guangzhou and Al Ahly. Bayern will travel on Saturday after their match against Hamburg. Speaking of Bayern, they lost their final UCL group stage match at home against Manchester City (but advanced as group winners). It was the first loss for Guardiola in charge since the German Super Cup loss to Dortmund. Signs of trouble or a needed wake-up call just in time for the CWC?