OT World Cup Thread

It's finally here. Any predictions out there? I say US gets out of the group. Germany to win it. After the US, I'll be rooting for Spain.

I have Argentina doing the unexpected and knocking off Brazil in the Finals. At some point I think the Messi/Aguero generation wins one, and it will come at the expense of Brazil. I am very bullish on the U.S., predicting the good guys to both win the group (think both Germany and Portugal are vulnerable to due to injuries/fatigue from club play) and then make a run to the Semis after beating Algeria in the round of 16 and Bosnia in the quarters. I think it will be a poor showing for the European contingent in South America.

Pumped!! I'll say Germany wins it (I'm biased though). If not them then Argentina. I think Belgium and Japan make a little noise as well. I'll say USA will beat Ghana but not get out of its group.
A) Brazil, Croatia
B) Spain, Netherlands
C) Japan, Greece
D) Italy, Costa Rica
E) France, Honduras
F) Argentina, BH
G) ZEE GERMANS, Portugal
H) Belgium, Algeria

Ghana or Nigeria to surprise.

But hey, what really pisses me off is why doesn't the US have a team nickname? I mean everybody else seems to. Some are pretty lame, but others are incredibly cool, like Belgium's Red Devils, Tunisia's Carthage Lions, or South Africa's Bfanna Bfanna. OK, Eagles are spoken for. Nigeria has the Super Eagles, and somebody else has just generic Eagles. Flags are popular, with Ghana's Black Stars, Mexico's Tri Colores, and a few others I am forgetting. So if we can't come up with an animal (how about some indigenous lizard or something?) why not just the Stars and Stripes? England does OK with the Three Lions from their uniform crest, even if they always underperform, and Australia has two of them! The men are the Socceroos (which I kind of like) and the women are the Matildas (which I really liked when they posed for that nude calendar.)

Why can't we come up with something? Hell, even the Arrogant Imperialists who Everybody Hates would give us an identity.

I was in Jamaica about 12 years ago when their team was doing well. They were the Reggae Boyz. That was a cool name and the Jamaicans were totally pumped.

Yeah, boys are popular. Reggae Boyz, Socca Boys (Trinidad) Tico Boys (Costa Rica) and I understand Bfanna just means boys. They seem particularly popular in North America. So how about the Not-There-Yet-But-Improving Boys? Or we could name them after Congress and call them the Dysfunctional Boys. Or after the NSA and call them the All Knowing Boys. Hey, this is a big country full of clever and creative people. I am sure someone can come up with something good.

Yankee Boyz

Ive always heard their nickname as the Yankees.

So who made the most money from that first match: Neymar, the Japanese ref, or the Croatian goalie Pletikosa? Croatia gave quite the effort playing 13 on 10 there.

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Originally Posted by unclejohn

Yeah, boys are popular. Reggae Boyz, Socca Boys (Trinidad) Tico Boys (Costa Rica) and I understand Bfanna just means boys. They seem particularly popular in North America. So how about the Not-There-Yet-But-Improving Boys? Or we could name them after Congress and call them the Dysfunctional Boys. Or after the NSA and call them the All Knowing Boys. Hey, this is a big country full of clever and creative people. I am sure someone can come up with something good.

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Yeah Bafana in literal translation is go boys... Having a wife from South Africa mean I pick up some Zulu here and there... Surprisingly though Soccer isn't as big in South Africa as I thought it would be, Rugby FAR exceeds in popularity, that said their soccer team isn't all that great so there is that.

I am surprised. I thought soccer was big among the black community, and rugby was considered mostly a white sport. I did see the movie, and understand how Mandela tried to make Rugby the sport for everyone, and it is now not a disgrace for a black person to wear a Springbok jersey, but I thought soccer was more popular for much the same reason it has caught on around the world - it is easy and cheap to play. Maybe they just like blowing those damn horns.

Hey, how about the Liberty Boys! An outline of the statue, or just the top part, or just the torch, on the uniforms. Now that would be cool!

Haha those horns are ridiculous... And they did put on a good show for the 2010 World Cup, the stadiums are beautiful as I have seen many first hand. That said there was a rise in interest leading up to the World Cup again because they were hosting it, however much of what you said is correct that historically it was blacks for soccer and whites for Rugby, but it's shifted over time to something for all. Now I'd hardly say Soccer isn't popular, but Rugby is very big over there, I'm sure the fact that they are one of the worlds best teams helps. I've found the South African culture really fascinating, however thats another story for another day.

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Originally Posted by warriorfan4life

So who made the most money from that first match: Neymar, the Japanese ref, or the Croatian goalie Pletikosa? Croatia gave quite the effort playing 13 on 10 there.

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I am DVR delay, but that was one of the worst flops I have seen. That's part of what gives soccer a bad name.

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Originally Posted by Mucrisco

I am DVR delay, but that was one of the worst flops I have seen. That's part of what gives soccer a bad name.

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I've become a close follower of the EPL, so I am used to the diving. I will say that most English refs laugh off a flop like that and sometimes give out a yellow card for simulation.

Yeah. Should be a yellow.

I'll go Brazil over Spain. Argentina and Germany make semis. USA only musters 1 point in group play.

Big East refs...no doubt.

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Originally Posted by Mucrisco

I am DVR delay, but that was one of the worst flops I have seen. That's part of what gives soccer a bad name.

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The only way to eliminate flopping is to review the tapes after the games and start suspending the players (minimum of one game and increasing thereafter based on the player's theatrical history). That BS play literally cost Croatia the game (and the horrible goaltender)

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Originally Posted by WarriorNich

I'll go Brazil over Spain. Argentina and Germany make semis. USA only musters 1 point in group play.

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Hope you're right. That is what I have in my company's pool. Winner gets 250 euros.

That Dutch goal was certainly something.

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Originally Posted by TheSultan

That Dutch goal was certainly something.

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Which one? I sure wasn't expecting a blowout!

VS

That was the soccer equivalent of San Antonio blowing out Miami.

Wow, when was the last time Spain was dominated like that?

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Originally Posted by Mucrisco

Wow, when was the last time Spain was dominated like that?

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The Spanish Armada?

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Originally Posted by pbiflyer

The Spanish Armada?

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That made me chuckle.

The analysts were dead on with this Chile team. They're fun to watch as they push forward and take a ton of chances. They also dont have any "traditional" full backs which helps them on the offensive end but not on defense (proving there's still value for the big uncoordinated center backs ;)). Austraila isnt very good, but supposedly Chile can beat anyone or lose to anyone.

If Arturo Vidal is healthy and can be his usual menace, I think Chile wins group B. I do not trust the Dutch 3 man back line, and well Spain is major trouble with their goal differential. Now, David Silva could go crazy against Chile, but that Spanish team flat out gave up after the third Dutch goal and could be overwhelmed by Chile's pressing style.

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Originally Posted by warriorfan4life

If Arturo Vidal is healthy and can be his usual menace, I think Chile wins group B. I do not trust the Dutch 3 man back line, and well Spain is major trouble with their goal differential. Now, David Silva could go crazy against Chile, but that Spanish team flat out gave up after the third Dutch goal and could be overwhelmed by Chile's pressing style.

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While Chile can certainly play with anyone, I was really disappointed with their back line. I think Spain will beat them bc of this weakness.

Late with my prediction but here we go:

Teams from Europe have a hard time winning it all when a European nation is not hosting the tournament (if I remember correctly, never has happened). Tempted to take Germany over Brazil in the semifinals....but will stick with the home side Brazil. Argentina over Uruguay in the other semis. Brazil over Argentina in the Finals. USA advances out of round play finishing 2nd in the group behind Germany. USA loses to Argentina in the Quarterfinals, making it the farthest the USA has advanced since 2002.

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Originally Posted by MUFAN2003

Late with my prediction but here we go:

Teams from Europe have a hard time winning it all when a European nation is not hosting the tournament (if I remember correctly, never has happened).

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Only once...Spain in South Africa.

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Originally Posted by TheSultan

Only once...Spain in South Africa.

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Of course....the last World Cup, should have remembered that.

There have been seven World Cups in the Americas...South American teams have won all of them. (With European teams losing in the final games in the last five.)

There have been ten in Europe...European teams have won nine, with Brazil winning in Sweden the only exception. (Only one other South African team has even gotten to the final game when played in Europe - Argentina lost to West Germany in Italy in 1990.)

Brazil won in Asia. Spain won in Africa.

The Ticos proved to be quite formidable, and I would enjoy if Uruguay rebounds and both England and Italy get knocked out in the group stage.

I'm too old to enjoy soccer of any kind :)

Why is ESPN twisting Jurgen's words? He states that it's not realistic for the US to win the World Cup. There is nothing false about that. He also states that if they get out of the group, then anything can happen. So, they are taking it one step at a time and concentrating on Ghana. Why is everyone making him out to be anti-American? When I coach my team and we are clearly underdogs, I tell them,"We are not expected to win, but all the pressure is on them, not us. Anything can happen." That is what Klins is telling them. Once again, the media is creating this story to create controversy and more of an audience. Fake outrage...

Yep. On the news this morning they said "he's being criticized for not being optimistic." What? Is he supposed to blow smoke up everyone's butt?

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Originally Posted by Mucrisco

Why is ESPN twisting Jurgen's words? He states that it's not realistic for the US to win the World Cup. There is nothing false about that. He also states that if they get out of the group, then anything can happen. So, they are taking it one step at a time and concentrating on Ghana. Why is everyone making him out to be anti-American? When I coach my team and we are clearly underdogs, I tell them,"We are not expected to win, but all the pressure is on them, not us. Anything can happen." That is what Klins is telling them. Once again, the media is creating this story to create controversy and more of an audience. Fake outrage...

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So which is it? Either "it's not realistic for the US to win the whole thing" or "anything can happen when they advance past the group stage?" There's a complete disconnect between the two statements - he's talking out of both sides of his mouth.

As far as what you are telling your kids - I have no problem with that, completely fine. However, what you are telling your kids "we are underdogs and not expected to win, all the pressure is on them, etc" is far different than "it's unrealistic to think we can win." If my coach were to tell me "it was unrealistic for us to win," I would turn to my teammates and say why are we even here?

I don't see it as an either/or. He is saying IF they get out of the group, then they have beaten the top teams, so they can beat anybody. Look at the Vegas odds. The US is a longshot to win it. So, why set your sights on winning the whole thing? Instead, take a look at the game in front of you. If you listen to his comments, that is what he says. They do not feel they are the underdogs to Ghana. They will take it to them. Hopefully they get the results and they will take it from there.

So, if his team is pissed off at him for saying they won't win the World Cup, why are they even looking that far ahead? I wouldn't want them to do that. That's how many of the favorites bow out early. They put pressure on themselves to win the whole thing and they lose sight of the game in front of you.

Germany 4-0 Portugal. Huge result for the US. Pepe sent off, Coentrao and Almeida injured, Ronaldo forced to play the full 90. If they can beat Ghana, advancing from this group is a real possibility.

IF they beat Ghana...