Official World Cup 2014 Thread

[Senser81]

Nigerian goalie reminds me of the goalies in the original FIFA '94 for Sega Genesis. Truly awful stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxphXDl7aBU

 

[spursup]

Tim Howard is the only reason the game is going to extra time.

 

[MrBill]

That missed goal at the end of regulation was our best chance to win. Belgium has looked like the better team all day with the exception of a brilliant game by Howard.

 

[MrBill]

15 saves for Howard, the most in over 50 years of World Cup play....

 

[Trmszczykowski]

15 saves for Howard, the most in over 50 years of World Cup play....

All that good it did you. Death to America!

 

[spursup]

Am I the only one who felt like USA could get another chance with a reasonable amount of stoppage time? 1 minute was less than Belgium took on their last substitution.

 

[MrBill]

Am I the only one who felt like USA could get another chance with a reasonable amount of stoppage time? 1 minute was less than Belgium took on their last substitution.

Maybe they could but the wasted goals they had all throughout the game were the bigger issue from my vantage point.

 

[Senser81]

Maybe they could but the wasted goals they had all throughout the game were the bigger issue from my vantage point.

LOL at this. Did you even watch the game? Belgium has 27 shots on goal and 19 corners, and you think the big issue is the wasted goals the US had "all throughout the game"?

Since the US has been eliminated, I assume your token appearance in this thread will be your last...but come on!

 

[SethMode]

LOL at this. Did you even watch the game? Belgium has 27 shots on goal and 19 corners, and you think the big issue is the wasted goals the US had "all throughout the game"?

Since the US has been eliminated, I assume your token appearance in this thread will be your last...but come on!

He combined that with a quality post in the chatbox that basically was: If the US didn't have a great goalkeeper, Belgium would have scored 4 or 5 more goals.

Thrilling stuff.

I thought that the game was exciting enough, given Howard's play and my personal investment. Color me shocked that Julian Green of all people was the loan goal scorer for the US. Because I didn't expect the US to get out of their group originally, let alone escape whomever they were set to play in the round of 16, I think the more interesting story at this point is Belgium. For such a talented team, they've played much worse than their goal differential would indicate. Argentina hasn't looked so hot either, so maybe we'll have another 120 minute match on our hands?

 

[calgaryballer]

Belgium always had weaknesses in their side, but flashy names cover it up.

Mertens was wasteful yesterday, Fellaini is still only good at the odd chest control and the defence struggled. Like Germany, I'm not sure playing four centre backs can make a solid defence.

On that note, I am crazy nervous about France vs Germany. Hopefully Hummels is back as the Boateng/Per partnership was not great.

With Mustafi out I hope it means Lahm goes to RB as he made the team look much better there. That would allow Kroos/Schweni/Khederia to play in midfield. Howedes still terrifies me, but he has been OK so far.

The pace and trickery of the whole French team is scary.

 

[DDRGuido]

Totally agree on the flashy names. They have the 2nd most BPL players. I was at the match last summer in Cleveland when Benteke steamrolled the US. The damage would of been worse had he not been out.

I find Evra/Pogba/Cabaye easy to root for so I'll pull for them against Germany. Would of been a good storyline if Ribery was fit to see him up against his Bayern club.

 

[Senser81]

On that note, I am crazy nervous about France vs Germany. Hopefully Hummels is back as the Boateng/Per partnership was not great.

With Mustafi out I hope it means Lahm goes to RB as he made the team look much better there. That would allow Kroos/Schweni/Khederia to play in midfield. Howedes still terrifies me, but he has been OK so far.

The pace and trickery of the whole French team is scary.

Looking at their roster, I thought France would have flamed out by now. I guess they haven't really played anyone, but they've played better than I expected. I still think they are missing a playmaker like Ribery/Zidane, and maybe leaving Nasri off the squad will end up costing them against Germany.

 

[MrBill]

LOL at this. Did you even watch the game? Belgium has 27 shots on goal and 19 corners, and you think the big issue is the wasted goals the US had "all throughout the game"?

Since the US has been eliminated, I assume your token appearance in this thread will be your last...but come on!

I watched every second of the game. By wasted goals, I meant wasted opportunities of which the US had several but the attempted pass would be off mark (slightly or greatly) or the ridiculous corner kick attempts where it looked like the person kicking didn't realize they were trying to set up a teammate to get a shot.

 

[Senser81]

I watched every second of the game. By wasted goals, I meant wasted opportunities of which the US had several but the attempted pass would be off mark (slightly or greatly) or the ridiculous corner kick attempts where it looked like the person kicking didn't realize they were trying to set up a teammate to get a shot.

An attempted pass that would be off mark...was this your first time watching soccer? Serious question

 

[calgaryballer]

Looking at their roster, I thought France would have flamed out by now. I guess they haven't really played anyone, but they've played better than I expected. I still think they are missing a playmaker like Ribery/Zidane, and maybe leaving Nasri off the squad will end up costing them against Germany.

So far I think Valbuena has been that spark. It's a more muscular side than usual from France but Pogba and Cabaye can pick a pass.

From Germany's point of view, Debuchy and Evra could be weak points to attack. Midfield is going to be interesting as both teams are quite solid in there. Would have liked Matuidi to be sent off as while Sissoko is talented he can also be taken out of the games.

Also, battle of the two best sweeper keepers. Neuer is a beast but Lloris is pretty damn good

 

[Anthony]

I love the US love fest. I mean we won what... 1 match the entire tournament? We're like the opposite of England supporters.

 

[Senser81]

I love the US love fest. I mean we won what... 1 match the entire tournament? We're like the opposite of England supporters.

It was 1 more match than I thought the US would win. England supporters are pretty awesome..."With Capello as coach and Robert Green in goal, how can we NOT win the World Cup?"

 

[Pitty]

It was 1 more match than I thought the US would win. England supporters are pretty awesome..."With Capello as coach and Robert Green in goal, how can we NOT win the World Cup?"

Let him pretend he's English, the reality is we were termed lucky to get a single point after the original group draw.

 

[Anthony]

Let him pretend he's English, the reality is we were termed lucky to get a single point after the original group draw.

It has nothing to do with being English or not. Somehow managing to get out of the group does not hide the fact that we played terribly. Were it not for the efforts of Tim Howard, we never would've made it out of the group. The point is that English fans throw massive hissy fits when England does things like... manage to only win one match in a major tournament, where as US fans are over the moon with that same result. I wouldn't expect you to understand, you're like the BigBucs of the footie forum.

 

[SethMode]

It has nothing to do with being English or not. Somehow managing to get out of the group does not hide the fact that we played terribly. Were it not for the efforts of Tim Howard, we never would've made it out of the group. The point is that English fans throw massive hissy fits when England does things like... manage to only win one match in a major tournament, where as US fans are over the moon with that same result. I wouldn't expect you to understand, you're like the BigBucs of the footie forum.

That point is pointless and irrelevant though. Of course US fans are "over the moon" with "making it out of the group". Our expectations were to not win a single game, let alone make it out of the group and have a chance to advance out of the round of 16. I'm equally not surprised that that isn't good enough for England. If there was an international American Football tournament and the US team only won one game, I'm pretty sure it'd be a big deal in a bad way in the US.