WC 2014: What big team(s) will croak in the first round and really let down this fans this summer?

I think a lot could depend on the weather, especially for European teams. In the north, were it is most humid a possession game will be a must. The high pressing style that is being used a lot tactically now cannot be utilised for 90 mins. Whatever big European teams that don't adapt or who are not very good in possession could really suffer and we could see some World Cup '02 type upsets. Watching Japan v Italy in the confeds last year, the Italians kept saying after the match they were exhausted after 60 mins. And they are from a much warmer climate than a lot of Europe and can play a good possession game when ready. Many others will not have Italy's tools and the experience of the Confeds. So I expect a few teams big teams will be caught out in the 2nd half of games that are based in the North.

 

Missed my paragraghs damn it lol

 

June/July in Brazil is the winter. In Manaus, yes, it will be hot and humid, but in most other places it won't be too much of a problem.

 

Fortaleza, Recife and Natal along with Manaus should all be pretty hot and humid, no?

Also, to a lesser extent, Brasilia and Cuiaba.

 

That does not bode well for Germany and Italy who will be caught in the northeast heat

 

Usa too. They should be practicing in San Diego or miami. To their credit brazil will have to go through fortaleza twice in route to the final, but they're probably use to the heat.

 

You're probably right about that, but I don't know. I've been to all three cities but decades ago; my recollection is not great, but while I was there in the summer, I believe (I remember going repeatedly to the beaches), I don't recall these cities being particularly muggy not even in the summer, so, I'd assume in the winter it's even less of a problem. I've never been to Manaus.

Someone who lives there or has been to these cities more recently might clarify this issue for us. I hope another poster can shed more light into the matter.

 

Not San Diego. San Diego has no humidity at all, and rarely gets hot. It might have the most perfect weather in all the world.

 

I don't think there is much of a winter. None of these cities are more than a few hundred miles from the equator.

This site gives some pretty good summaries of the weather at each venue, and other information:

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/dec/06/complete-travel-guide-brazil-world-cup-2014-cities

 

A real shock would be if Brazil, Spain, Argentina or Germany fail to progress. The Italy/England/Uruguay group means it won't be surprising that one fails and even Portugal (as has been tipped buy some) would be a surprise but not a major one, about on par with France getting knocked out.

Brazil: Are playing at home 0.1% of getting knocked out.
Argentina: Playing in South America with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nigeria in the group. A good outside bet.
Germany: Have a tough group of Portugal/Ghana/USA but would be really surprised if they don't even finish second.
Spain: A group similar to Argentina's with Chile and Netherlands as the threats. A good outside bet.

My prediction (with bias) Spain as a good bet (taking in the odds). As there narrow 0-1 become draws or narrow defeats (hopefully).

 

Training in Stanford, then going to play Nigeria in Florida, and Turkey somewhere in the northeast (forgot where). I think our Brazilian base of operations is in Sao Paulo. Can't remember. Wish they had moved it.

We do have experience playing in vaguely similar conditions considering we have to play qualifiers away in 4+ Central American sites per cycle (Mexico, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica, along with usually 1 or 2 amongst Guatemala, El Salvador), so it won't be something new. Some South American nations will be used to it (I think Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador to name a few) and of course Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica, perhaps a West African team or two, but we've certainly got a ton of experience playing in brutal Central American conditions in terms of temperature, elevation, and humidity, not quite Manaus, but pretty brutal (unfortunately our track record down there sucks historically, in Costa Rica, and Mexico, but is better w/everyone else).

We should be okay, and better off than either Germany or Portugal in terms of handling it. I don't know who'd have the advantage between Ghana and us, as Ghana is pretty brutal in terms of weather, but how much time do the players spend in Ghana these days? Doesnt seem like much. Ditto ours in regards to playing in Latin America. Only Beasley and Corona play in Latin America for their club sides, everybody else has their experience exclusively in reference to roadies into Central America.

 

Trying to figure out the best bet's.

For now it looks like:

Germany (4-1 at my local casino)
R16-Defeat Russia/S. Korea QF-Defeat France/Nigeria SF-Defeat Brazil

Spain (6-1 at my local casino):
R16-Defeat Mexico/Croatia QF-Defeat Italy/Uruguay SF-Defeat Argentina/Belgium

Italy (15-1 at my local casino)
R16: Defeat Japan/I. Coast/Colombia QF-Defeat Spain SF-Defeat Argentina/Belgium

France (18-1 at my local casino)
R16: Defeat Nigeria/Bosnia QF-Defeat Germany SF-Defeat Brazil

Portugal (20-1 at my local casino)
Either Germany's path to the final or:
R16: Defeat Belgium QF: Defeat Argentina SF-Defeat Spain/Chile/Italy/Uruguay

You can't get nice odds on Argentina or Brazil because of the locality angle, and I'm taking a pass on Colombia and the Netherlands because I figure neither have a shot and their odds are ridiculous considering their liklihood of winning it all, versus teams with similar odds (Italy, France, and <cough> England which is just to counterbalance the homer bets on England).

 

Those odds on Italy and France are mighty attractive.

 

I really hope Spain will crash and burn.

 

All those who chose Spain, raise your hand....

 

Well, I picked Spain and England. I actually had both Uruguay and Costa Rica advancing from the group. I'm starting think that was a big mistake with the Suarez injury.

 

Yep, present, post #339

 

Those of us who picked England or Spain are looking pretty good now. Although I picked England to flame out, and possibly drop points to Costa Rica, they've actually looked better than what I was expecting. They've been quite a bit unlucky, but yeah, they're also not that great. They'll be better in '16.

 

Are you aware that since 1966 (a Cup they won with some degree of cheating and with the home advantage), they'll always "be better" next time... and then, when next time comes, they aren't?

As long as England continues to have a league shock full of foreign players and opens little space for domestic talent, they'll be what they've been forever, except for anomalous 1966: mediocre and pedestrian.

 

I'm afraid Brasitusa is right. We always think we'll be better in the next tourney, but we've been a quarter final team for a long time. And this time, not even that (I'd rather we didn't go through via Italy winning their two next matches and England beating Costa Rica, we've lost two, we deserve to go home).

I remember in 06 when the so called "golden generation" were coming through and some hitting their peaks. Lampard, Gerard, Ashley Cole, Ferdinand, Terry, Rooney mixed with the experience of the likes of Beckham and Gary Neville, who could possibly compete with such a solid core of players? We played ok and a petulant Rooney ruined our chances some what, but that was it, we were just "ok".

We've actually played a hell of a lot better than 4 years ago, but we're always marginally worse than the big guns, and that means whenever we meet them, the best we ever do is a draw, and we don't do penalties.

Still, England til' I die!

 

I was not expecting England to be coming home so early

 

England has definitively earned its tickets back home

 

Uruguay or Italy will soon be joining them.

 

This means that till now, at least 3 former WC champs are going to be eliminated at group phase.