FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil

Fifa rankings don't take results beyond the past four years.

 

LYP - ultimate patriot. And should be the one to take the reigns once HMB retires from the KNT for WC22.

 

Technically, Japan can STILL progress with a Greece/IC tie. It's just that in that case, they need to make up the goal difference with IC... that means beating the Colombians by at least 2 goals. Quite a difficult task...

 

agreed, but just as long as starts are not dependent on whether or not you attended bible study.

 

Zacch dropped him because he sucked ballz vs IC and even admitted himself that he was broken psychologically.

 

whoa that's kind of intense...any link to the quote?

 

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/17/uk-soccer-world-jpn-kagawa-idUKKBN0ES2MU20140617

The translations from the Japanese interviews are starting to hit the English language feeds, but basically he admitted that he was beaten psychologically and that nerves got to him and his teammates. i have to give him props for his candor.

EDIT: gamsa mr. sir

 

If I'm not mistaken the restaurant is under Chinese ownership. They probably don't care if you're Korean.

 

Isn't Japas that karaoke bar?

 

Would have been better if he held the flag right side up.

 

Just went over the 경우의 수 stuff concerning all the group C teams to see how the game will be approached by each teams...

Colombia (6 points, 5 GF, 1 GA, +4 GD): Colombia has already guaranteed themselves a birth in the round of 16, and look likely for the 1st place in the group (which is important to avoid the likely group D winners, Italy, though we'll have to see what happens in their game against Costa Rica tm), but it is not guaranteed yet. In events where Ivory Coast wins big over Greece, they may possibly lose the 1st place spot to IC if they lose to Japan in the final match, so they can't necessarily totally dick around. A draw is enough for them to secure the 1st spot, so while there is a chance that they may give their frontline starters a rest, it's likely that they will keep their starters for defence. Considering that their bench is actually pretty deep, and that it'll be played in home-like atmosphere in their home continent they should feel pretty confident heading in.

Ivory Coast (3 points, 3 GF, 3 GA, 0 GD): Ivory Coast head into their game against Greece with nothing necessarily guaranteed yet, so they'll have to keep an eye on the scoreboard for the Colombia/Japan match. In case where Colombia is beating or tying Japan in that match, all IC needs is a draw to progress. Even if Japan starts beating Colombia by a single goal, they can still afford to tie Greece and progress. However, if at any point Japan starts beating Colombia by 2 goals or more, they'll have to start going for the win. They have no room to lose, however, as that means it'll be either Greece or Japan who will qualify over them. Overall, they'll likely start the match against Greece pretty cautiously (since a tie will be enough for them in most scenarios and they HAVE to avoid a loss) and only really start to push the envelop in case where Japan starts winning by 2 or more.

Japan (1 point, 1 GF, 2 GA, -1 GD): As mentioned earlier, Japan has no choice but to go for a win, but by how many really depends on what's going on in the other group match between IC and Greece... so they'll also be keeping an eye on the scoreboard to an extent as well. If Greece happens to be winning, very likely a one goal win over Colombia would be enough to stay ahead of the Greeks in GD (Unless Greece happens to be pulling off the improbable and go up by more than 3 goals against IC somehow...). If IC/Greece happens to be locked up in a tie, Japan will have to push for at least a 2 goal victory to make up their goal difference against IC. If IC is winning... they have no way of qualifying one way or another. Overall, I expect Japan to initially come out pretty balanced for the first half to see what's going on in the other game and to see how Colombia approaches the match towards them (as a carefully fought one goal win may be enough if Greece starts winning), but as the time runs out on them, they'll obviously have to push the envelope further to win. Expect them to eventually start throwing everything but the kitchen sink as the time goes on, searching for that 1 goal or multiple goal win based on whatever the situation happens to be.

Greece (1 point, 0 GF, 3 GA, -3 GD): I know a lot of people have already counted them out, but yes folks, they can still qualify too, and they may actually not be as doomed as they look. They'll definitely be keeping an eye on the scoreboard in the other game between Japan & Colombia, as if Colombia beats or tie Japan as they are favoured to, then all Greece needs to do is to plain beat IC without any concerns of GD at all. In events where Japan starts beating Colombia, however, the GD will start to come into play and not at all in their favour - they are 2 GD behinds Japan and will have to no choice but to go on a huge offensive at that point and go for a 3+goal victory, which would be really out of their comfort zone and open up holes in their defence... overall, they'll also likely start out in their usual defensive to shell in hopes that Colombia starts beating on Japan, looking to go ahead on a counter, but obviously if the time goes by without any goals they'll have to starting going more offensive too. On a side note, interestingly they were in this same 1 draw 1 loss after 2 games situation recently in Euro 2012 (albeit at that time they didn't have to deal with a -3 GD) and managed to come out of that group in the end, so they'll be hoping for the repeat of the same this time around...

So overall, I'm thinking that its likely that both Colombia/Japan and Ivory Coast/Greece games will start somewhat cautiously, with everyone involved (with exception of Colombia who have a decent margin of error) hoping for a result in the other game that helps them out. All IC needs in most of the scenarios is a draw and they likely won't be as aggressive as a result, so it may turn out to become a chess match of sorts of who pushes the offensive envelope first between two teams that NEED to win... Japan and Greece.

 

Upstairs from the Japanese restaurant 'East' on 26th & 3rd

 

Haha...he holds the flag upside down, he uses the wrong hand to cover his heart during the national anthem.

 

Colombia have already won the Babes WC

 

she needs a hug...