I know there are 'FIFA and Tournaments' forum, but I think the tournament will be fully discussed here and it would be nice have a specific thread. This thread will be open to discuss on the players, squads, friendlies, predictions, bookmarks, History and certainly all the 64 matches of the 2014 World Cup. I like to read your opinions about everything surrounding the World Cup. Hopefully there is valuable discussions here.
The Complete History of the World Cup by Robert Fielder @comme http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Complete-History-World-Cup-ebook/dp/B00K9URA7M/ref=zg_bs_362884031_12
23-name list defined: Honduras, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Japan, England, Switzerland, France. Preliminary: Bosnia and Herzegovina (30 names), Iran (28 names), Nigeria (30 names), Germany (27 names), Russia (24 names), Algeria (30 names), Ghana (26 names), Cameroon (28 names), Ecuador (30 names), Costa Rica (26 nomes), United States (30 names), Uruguay (25 names), Spain (30 names), Côte d'Ivoire (28 names), Belgium (24 names), Chile (27 names), Portugal (30 names), Italy (30 names), Colombia (30 names), Netherlands (30 names), Argentina (30 names), Australia (30 names), Croatia (30 names), Greece (30 names). The final list of 23 players per national team will be submitted to FIFA by 2 June 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_squads
Good idea (and thanks for the plug). I've enjoyed the Guardian's series looking back at some World Cup memorable World Cup moments of the past. This one is an extract from Philippe Auclair's excellent biography of Thierry Henry which is out now. http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/15/world-cup-stunning-moments-france-implode
Odds for the tournament: Brazil 3/1 Argentina 9/2 Germany 5/1 Spain 6/1 Belgium 16/1 France 20/1 Italy 22/1 Portugal 22/1 Colombia 22/1 Holland 28/1 Uruguay 28/1 England 33/1 Chile 33/1 Russia 80/1 All from Ladbrokes (there are better prices out there for some teams).
Top scorer odds: Messi 8/1 Neymar 10/1 Cristiano Ronaldo 14/1 Suarez 14/1 Aguero 16/1 Higuain 20/1 Fred 20/1 Diego Costa 20/1 Van Persie 25/1 Falcao 25/1 Lukaku 28/1 Torres 33/1 Balotelli 33/1 Muller 33/1 Benzema 33/1 Rooney 40/1 Klose 40/1
I hope that everyone with a ludicrously easy draw will fail to attain success. Just to give FIFA some headaches. Apart from own NT, I rout for Belgium (which is for 25% my own), Italy, France, Portugal, Chile.
So obvious starting questions: Who are going to end up winning it and why? Who is going to finish topscorer?
Spain will not repeat their previous triumphs. Brazil will go very far. Argentina will go very far too, thanks to their draw, location (home base) and attack, but chances are big they'll bow out when they face a 'real' opponent. With a bit of luck they will face their first good opponent in the final. My wish is that Italy or France (I feel one of those two can surprise, the squads are quite balanced anyway) can make Joachim Low sad. Belgium will be eliminated against the first tactically astute and prepared team. Netherlands will not survive the first group stage. Colombia, until recently enormously hyped by the machineries, will become a laughing stock. In my opinion, there is no way that Suarez or C. Ronaldo become topscorer. Messi scoring 8 goals in the group stage is something that can happen. Neymar taking a head-start in the first four games is possible as well.
FourFourTwo has a list of 50 greatest World Cup games. Very debatable ofc, and invariably the hugely overrated (in terms of 'errors' and objective quality of the game) Italy-Brazil 1970 game will end up very high, but these are the first 25: 50. Germany - Austria 1982 49. Senegal - Uruguay 2002 48. East Germany - West Germany 1974 47. USSR - Colombia 1962 46. England - USA 1950 45. England - Belgium 1954 44. USSR - Belgium 1986 43. Slovakia - Italy 2010 42. Bulgaria - Germany 1994 41. USA - Iran 1998 40. North Korea - Italy 1966 39. USA - Colombia 1994 38. Hungary - Brazil 1966 37. Chile - Italy 1962 36. Scotland - Holland [sic] 1978 35. Holland [sic] - Brazil 1994 34. Croatia - Australia 2006 33. France - West Germany 1958 32. Brazil - Denmark 1998 31. Brazil - Poland 1938 30. Argentina - Cameroon 1990 29. Brazil - France 1986 28. South Korea - Italy 2002 27. Germany - Italy 2006 26. West Germany - England 1990 They complete the top 50 on the next month. Was revealing that they don't put Germany vs England from 1990 somewhere in the top 10.
It's a fairly bizarre list (I have the magazine as well), with lots of strange criteria. Hence the inclusion of USA-Iran ahead of numerous much more significant, exciting and enjoyable alternatives.
Well, World Soccer and the Blizzard for subscriptions, but I get most issues of FourFourTwo and Champions. Not that I have time to read them all.
I bet just the obvious. There will be no team winning for the first time. Two Europeans teams in semifinal. I think Germany is one of the favorite and the other team... I think it may be Italy or France (same opinion of Puck). France is a mystery, I see many betting on a bad campaign and few believe they can go far. Funny to see how Belgium is well appreciated in the odds. And it is impressive how they have so many talented players. Four South Americans in Round 16 and three in the quarter-finals. Argentina has many chances. I think it's a certain team in the semis. But Brazil has a very difficult path. The Scolari's team is best under specific conditions, such as scoring the first goal and keep the result, but I have not seen Brazil at a disadvantage against big teams and need to reverse the situation. The team looked uncomfortable against Uruguay in the Confederations Cup semifinal. I like Colombia and think they can do a good tournament even without Falcao Garcia. A great player who made a great season will disappoint in the World Cup. My bets are Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa (who may not play the World Cup because of injury). I think both are very intense in the season and and may suffer physical problems in Brazil. Messi will play his best World Cup. I do not believe he will be the top scorer, but I think he will be the Golden Ball and assists leader.
ESPN Films: 30 for 30 Soccer Stories Maradona 86 Barbosa: The Man Who Made Brazil Cry Mysteries of the Jules Rimet Trophy The Myth of Garrincha The Opposition - Politics changed the outcome of a World Cup qualifier between the Soviet Union and Chile in 1973. Ceasefire Massacre - In 1994, as Ireland played in a World Cup match in New Jersey, terrorists attacked fans at a tiny bar in Ireland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izUeAIlHzME
With Diego Costa you also have the issue of fitting him into the Spanish side. He will have had barely any game time to be integrated into the team and his current injury could hinder any preparations they had planned pre-WC. Spain could also easily revert back to a false nine which leaves him sitting on the bench and if they wanted to make an impact substitution he would be competing with the experience of Villa and the aerial threat of Llorente. He could conceivably barely feature even if fit.
Another from FourFourTwo... Top 10: Most Memorable World Cup Goals 1. Michael Owen - England x Argentina, 1998 2. Carlos Alberto Torres - Brazil x Italy, 1970 3. Gerry Armstrong - Northern Ireland x Spain, 1982 4. Dennis Bergkamp - Netherlands x Argentina, 1998 5. Archie Gemmil - Scotland x Netherlands, 1978 6. Geoff Hurst - England x West Germany, 1966 7. Gerd Muller - West Germany x Holland, 1974 8. Ray Houghton- Republic of Ireland x Italy, 1994 9 and 10. Diego Maradona - Argentina x England, 1986 http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/top-10-most-memorable-world-cup-goals Pelé? Bergkamp's goal is my favorite. I love the goal of Junior against Argentina in 1982 and Nelinho against Italy in 1978.
Are factors to consider. But it also shows how he can be essential and ahead of Villa, Negredo, Torres and Llorente. Even being Brazilian, without identification with Spain and playing a few minutes, he is highly considered to be the main striker.
IMO, By the book (betting) and by their reputation (with assuming their team to go deep QF min) 1- Messi (ARG) 2- CR7 (POR. he could be #1 but Portugal have slim chance to pass SF - by the book) 3- Suarez (URU - similar to CR7) 4- Fred (Bra - Fred will have to share with Neymar and co in goals so less chances) 5- any "surprised name" (a la Schilliaci 90, Salenko 94, Klose 06 or Forlan 10)
Pele goal vs Sweden (WC winner goals) as 17yrs old with a new trick to show the world (side step dribbling) will always be in TOP10. Much better then Owen (another youngster of 18yrs old) but his goal was in 2nd group 16 - easier Berkamp's goal in 98 was also memorable with great control and beautiful (but it was NOT at WC final)
Quite a biased list. @PuckVanHeel can you link me to a site that shows the paths of each team. For example Winner of Group A plays second place team of Group B and so on. ?
http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/copa-do-mundo/simulador.html Tell me if it works for non-Brazilian.