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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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The US has the proverbial two chances to get out of their group.
GO BOSNIA!
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 6, 2013 - 09:29pm PT
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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We know Brasil will be advancing to the quarterfinals, that's for sure. . .
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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By then end of the talking, Klinsmann and the rest had me convinced that the US might get out of the group. Likewise for England in their group.
I would love to see Chile go a ways, and that seems quite possible to me. I wouldn't want to be Australia, though.
I'm glad that two of group C are going on, I would love to see any of Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast or Japan advancing.
I hope either Ecuador or Honduras makes it to the second round past Switzerland or France, but that seems unlikely(?).
South Korea seems to have at least a 50/50 chance of advancing.
Finally, Spain/Nederlands in the first game is too good! I hope Nederlands has a strategy of playing football instead of planting their feet, cleat first, in the chests of their opponents. But then again I'm still in doubt about Santa Claus's existence. Brutes!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Bloody 'ell, I deign to bless y'all with my infallible prognosis and CMac's
cheap sh!t server stiffs me? OK, once more...
Group A Duh, but being married to a CameroUnian I hope my bias is excused.
Croatia will certainly place at least third. Mexico? Don't get me started.
Group B The Dutch have played nicely in the past so we can hope. I do have
a soft spot for Chile but their soft spot is their defense.
Group C So much talent in Cote d'Ivoire and Colombia but so much organization
and fitness in Japan.
Group D I wouldn't want to be English. Wait, I'm 1/4 but I'm smarter than that.
Will they even finish third?
Group E Wake me when it's over. Worst of all there's nary a head-butter in the bunch.
Luckily for France they're still a de facto colonial power.
Group F Don't nobody call me or my particular friend Almer when Bosnia is
playing, ok? Nigeria, the Argentina of Africa, and equally mercurial,
especially on defense.
Group G Can the USA buy a vowel, or better yet, a ref? Pretty sure two
points will be a moral victory.
Group H Can the Russians sober up for a few weeks and pretend they're interested?
Can Belgium score 3 goals in 3 games? Can any of them match the Koreans' heart,
fitness, and discipline? Does it matter?
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 7, 2013 - 11:44am PT
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I'm thinking,
Group A
Brazil and Croatia. Mexico probably last and Cameroon could take Croatia's spot.
Group B
Spain and the Dutch. But the Dutch did play pretty shitty in the 2012 Euro Cup, however RVP and Arjen Robben are as good as any teams top two. Would like to see Chile too, over Spain cause personally Spain bores the hell outta me.
Group C
Columbia for sure, I'm leaning towards Greece, but Ivory and Japan could advance. Should be some good games in this group.
Group D
Italy and Uraguay. Sorry to the Queen's men, but Gerrard will see his Red's teammate Saurez do what he does best. Score and I don't think he will bite anyone on this stage.
Group E
France and the Swiss. I like the French and think they can make it to the Semis.
Group F
Argentina and for Reilly's sake Bosnia. Iran might have weapons of mass destruction though.
Group G
Germany and Portugal. Would love to see the US take Portugal's spot, but unless CR7 is injured or is busy styling his hair, we're f*#ked.
Group H
Belgium and Russia. Belgium beer is not my cup of beer, and Vodka? Always reminds me of Chong in Up in Smoke, "It's f*#king Vodka, man"
Semis
Germany, Brazil, Spain, France. France is my sleeper pick but they could easily be replaced by Argentina, Uraguay, Portugal, Italy, or Columbia. It all depends on who draws who in the knockout stages, so disregard the above semi prediction. I do think Germany will win the cup, due to their style of play, talent, and age. And cause I want them too, which gives them a great advantage.
I will erase this thread if I'm way off, to save myself the shame.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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TJI--I can't understand why you'd say Spain bores you--they
play a a beautiful game--control and one touch passing. Just amazing
to watch. I guess it's just my preference. . .
Darwin--you're so right about the Dutch--one of the dirtiest teams
I've ever seen play, except maybe all of Brasil's opponents when
Pele was playing. How he was manhandled. . .
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 7, 2013 - 11:57am PT
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Steve, they do play a perfect control game and have so much depth and talent. What I don't like is they play six midfielders and no strikers a lot. I like teams that are agressive to score, like a Saurez or CR7 attacking mindset and Spain lacks this. Germany can control it like Spain, but have the attacking speed and quickness I prefer.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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TJI--I'd agree to a point, but sometimes Spain has injuries or poor
performance. Missing David Villa to injury and Fernando Torres performance
since his injury might have some bearing on that.
No doubt Suarez (if he wouldn't be so racist) & Forlan are some
of the most gifted players, as are some of the African futballers are.
Look at Argentina when they're on--talk of excitement. But during
the cup it seems they lose the ability to play. . .
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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I love the world cup!
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 9, 2013 - 05:54pm PT
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Steve I agree about Argentina, it's gunna be a fun cup to watch.
Here's the current FIFA rankings
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/
Rank Team Pts +/- Pos
1 Spain 1507 0 Equal
2 Germany 1318 0 Equal
3 Argentina 1251 0 Equal
4 Colombia 1200 0 Equal
5 Portugal 1172 9 Up
6 Uruguay 1132 0 Equal
7 Italy 1120 1 Up
8 Switzerland 1113 -1 Down
9 Netherlands 1106 -1 Down
10 Brazil 1102 1 Up
11 Belgium 1098 -6 Down
12 Greece 1055 3 Up
13 England 1041 -3 Down
14 USA 1019 -1 Down
15 Chile 1014 -3 Down
16 Croatia 971 2 Up
17 Côte d'Ivoire 918 0 Equal
18 Ukraine 907 2 Up
19 France 893 2 Up
20 Mexico 892 4 Up
21 Bosnia-Herzegovina 886 -5 Down
22 Russia 870 -3 Down
23 Ecuador 852 -1 Down
24 Ghana 849 -1 Down
25 Denmark 831 1 Up
26 Algeria 800 6 Up
27 Sweden 793 -2 Down
28 Czech Republic 766 -1 Down
29 Slovenia 762 1 Up
30 Serbia 752 -2 Down
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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^^^^^ That's some funny shite there! The oddsmakers in England and Italy
are gonna make bank based on that.
And here is why the USA will never win the World Cup:
It was a dark and stormy day in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city
on earth as well as the windiest. It was raining and blowing with the wind
chill about 40F. Young 'Lionel' here did not see me watching him. He was
diligently working on his shot, alone, the weather be damned. Ever see the
likes of this in the USA?
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 9, 2013 - 06:12pm PT
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Haha, we're to busy playing world cup on Xbox. And we call it Soccer.
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 10, 2013 - 01:03pm PT
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Elcap, I can see Belgium goin far too. They were ranked 5th until world cup qualifying was over. Don't know why they went down so far and Portugal who barely qualified went up so much.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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May 23, 2014 - 03:41pm PT
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Man, that was shocker when I opened the paper this morning. WTF? Klinsman
thinks some 20 year old punk is gonna create more chances than Donovan?
Perhaps more importantly I think Juergen did not really analyze the psychological
implications of this. Yesterday I was telling the wife "We'll be lucky to
tie Ghana." Today I think it will take more than luck - time to bust out
the Voodoo dolls! We're so hosed. IMHO US football has been in a death
spiral since the '94 cup. Yeah, we beat Portugal in S Korea but that was
a total fluke although IIRC Donovan played a rather large role in that.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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May 23, 2014 - 03:52pm PT
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France could win it. I think they are getting overlooked as contenders and have a very strong and organized squad. Lloris is a beast of a sweeper keeper, Ribery could have won player of the year, and they have no shortage of talent aside from maybe a big target man striker (cause we all know Giroud sux, fitting since he plays for Le Arse...who suck).
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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May 23, 2014 - 04:06pm PT
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Viva Espagna!!!!
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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May 23, 2014 - 04:13pm PT
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I have to post my Son, Sasha's favorite video. This is the video that earned Russia the host nation for WC 2018.
Sasha Never Sleeps. He'll be 8 in 2018. How perfect.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
TJI, someday I 'll tell you about being in Germany during WC 1998. Classic.
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