World Cup

[Trane]

Admins, I think this WC in Brazil should be bigger than whatever football/soccer private group discussion...

Sop outside the big (unavoidable) four : Spain, Germany, Brazil and Argentina.... who else sees another contender for the semi-finals??

[NogbadTheBad]

Belgium!! (And England of course to lose on penalties)

I don't see anyone outside those 4 listed making the semis this time

[Yves]

.... to lose on penalties

And herein lies one of the biggest problems with soccer. Deciding a World Championship on penalty kicks where the goalie has maybe a 5% chance of making a save?

[NogbadTheBad]

And herein lies one of the biggest problems with soccer. Deciding a World Championship on penalty kicks where the goalie has maybe a 5% chance of making a save?

The actual percentage made is only about 71% though those failures also include missing the target. But it is a stupid way to decide a game. I would personally prefer a system where the took a player off each team every 10 minutes to open up the field and make scoring easier and go sudden death.

[NogbadTheBad]

My picks

A Brazil, Croatia
B Spain, Holland
C Colombia, Ivory Coast
D England, Uruguay
E France, Ecuador
F Argentina, Nigeria
G Germany, Portugal
H Belgium, Russia

Brazil beats Holland
Spain beats Croatia
Uruguay beats Colombia
England beat Ivory Coast
France beats Nigeria
Argentina beats Ecuador
Germany beats Russia
Belgium beats Portugal

Brazil beats Uruguay
Germany beats France
Spain beats England
Argentina beats Belgium

Germany beats Brazil
Spain beats Argentina

Germany beats Spain

[Trane]

And herein lies one of the biggest problems with soccer. Deciding a World Championship on penalty kicks where the goalie has maybe a 5% chance of making a save?

Is that ratio any better in Hockey's shootout?

[Trane]

Belgium!! (And England of course to lose on penalties)

I don't see anyone outside those 4 listed making the semis this time

Not so sure about Argentina >> Messi has never been that good with his national team...
and it's been a long time since Brazil had a game for stakes



As for Belgium, despite their incredible climb in the last two years (but not meeting anybody stronger than Croatia), having an outstanding coach and some very talented players (most of them in the premier league or the superligua), I don't think they've got the experience (it's an awfully young team) yet to withstand pressure...

I see them fighting it out in 1/8ths against Portugal (a much stronger team than Croatia), but I don't expect them to go to quarters

I will expexct from them to reach semifinals in the 2016 Euro, though... especially that Anderlecht's baby class in their farm team has got some real gems (4 or 5 of them) coming up between age 16 and 19

[Yves]

Is that ratio any better in Hockey's shootout?

Yes... and the Stanley Cup is NEVER won in a shoot out. There is no shoot out throughout the NHL playoffs.

[Duncan Glenday]

Admins, I think this WC in Brazil should be bigger than whatever football/soccer private group discussion...

Okay to keep this in WOT

[Trane]

Uruguay beats Colombia

The more I think about it, one of these two (if not both) is likely to be a "surprise guest" in the semis...

[NogbadTheBad]

ARE YOU READY??

[Trane]

for what??

oh!! Whe,n does it start????


I guess so...

[walt]

I suppose i'll have to listen to Andres Cantor on computer, assuming(?) no radio stations in NYC area will simulcast his radio coverage. Los Angeles has radio coverage of Cantor.

I started watching/listening to Cantor over the last two World Cups.He had(has) panache.(no , i don't speak Spanish).

[JKL2000]

Hoping for lots of good hooliganism.

[Trane]

You'll get plenty of that from the Favellas inhabitants...

[Camelogue]

I see no other choice but Portugal.

[walt]

I suppose i'll have to listen to Andres Cantor on computer, assuming(?) no radio stations in NYC area will simulcast his radio coverage. Los Angeles has radio coverage of Cantor.

I started watching/listening to Cantor over the last two World Cups.He had(has) panache.(no , i don't speak Spanish).

93.1 FM in the NYC area simulcasts the radio coverage featuring Andres Cantor.Been listening all game.Good to have him back doing what he does so well.

[NogbadTheBad]

Ref jobbed the Croats

[nosebone]

What about the US?

[Trane]

Ref jobbed the Croats

Yup, it's not the first time the refs are whistling in favor of Brazil...

The other "favored" land is Germany...

[Trane]

The first major match is tonite

Spain - Netherlands (Go Spain - I work in Holland and am sick of the colour orange... )

[NogbadTheBad]

I find it hard to cheer for either of these teams so I guess I'll be rooting for a draw and multiple injured players

[polmico]

Not quite a penalty that led to Alonzo's PK goal.

What's the general view of the reffing in international soccer? And why don't the announcers express outrage at blown calls like that? Or does ESPN just use shitty announcers?

[NogbadTheBad]

Normally they are pretty unbiased, the 2 for this game are actually pretty good. I actually thought I was a penalty, just, close call but right. Gorgeous goal by Van Persie

[polmico]

That's why I asked. I wasn't sure, but it didn't look like a penalty to these untrained eyes.

I fell asleep after that. It was unrelated to the match, though. Just needed a nap, I guess.