[WC] World Cup 2014 - General Talk Thread (19 Viewers)

[Bianconero81]

2008 was 6 years ago Brah. A lot of the players are older now, and the new generation doesn't look that promising. Conditions are going to play a part, and I feel you are the least equipped team in the group to handle the heat and humidity.

Also, mental toughness and fortitude is not something the Dutch teams are traditionally renowned for.

 

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[Trezegol17]

I pointed out that anything can happend bro
Heat should not be an excuse as it wasn't in south Africa. And the new generation is only playing in the defence and that's always our weakest line.
I'm hoping for Sneijder and Robben for this one, if we grab a point vs Spain, our selfbelieve will grow and we have mister vGaal ofcourse

 

[Bianconero81]

I really hope you knock those Spanish cunts out, possibly injuring a couple of their players in the process. Seeing Holland and Chile go thru would be nice

 

[Alen]

The favorite is Spain, again. Six whole years after their Euro 2008 win, they still have the best team. One might question their desire after so many trophies, but this is the World cup and they will be motivated.
No team is as gelled as theirs, and no team has so much quality, depth and experience in knockouts (be it at club or NT level) as Spain.

This one goes to Europe again.

 

[Bianconero81]

 

[Azzurri7]

The favorite is Spain, again. Six whole years after their Euro 2008 win, they still have the best team. One might question their desire after so many trophies, but this is the World cup and they will be motivated.
No team is as gelled as theirs, and no team has so much quality, depth and experience in knockouts (be it at club or NT level) as Spain.

This one goes to Europe again.

How's Crotia's squad compared to the one in Euro's? Any chance in their first match?

 

[Dostoevsky]

Brazil is strong but they are filled with new players, I'm not sure they've got enough experience to cope with the tournament. Holland is probably going to be the biggest let down, at least this WC, but not in the future. At least I think so, as their team is filled with new players and kids usually coming from their league.

I think Italy can do quite well, as they are stronger than 4 years ago while they have a good coach as well.

Spain is a big threat, like always, their squad is massive. However, I do believe Germany can wipe them out and I see them as contenders for the finals.

 

[Alen]

How's Crotia's squad compared to the one in Euro's? Any chance in their first match?

It's more or less the same team, only more experienced. We won't have Mandzukic vs Brazil due to suspension.

It's an ok team, but nothing special. The midfield with Modric, Rakitic and Kovacic is the strongest part of the team. Mandzukic and the forever lasting Olic are the attackers, as well as Eduardo. Srna is again on the wings. Corluka is another well known player, while the others are ok players.

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I'd hate it if they win it, too. But lets be real, they are still the best. Not just the top quality, but the depth is amazing. No team ever had this quality+depth in midfield:

Javi Martinez or Busquets
Xavi or Xabi Alonso
Iniesta or David Silva
Fabregas or Mata

+Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Koke.

 

[Azzurri7]

It's more or less the same team, only more experienced. We won't have Mandzukic vs Brazil due to suspension.

It's an ok team, but nothing special. The midfield with Modric, Rakitic and Kovacic is the strongest part of the team. Mandzukic and the forever lasting Olic are the attackers, as well as Eduardo. Srna is again on the wings. Corluka is another well known player, while the others are ok players.

I hope at least they can pull a draw.

I want Brazil and Argentina (I see them going far, very easy group no pressure) choking and most importantly Spain too but like you said earlier, they're still favorites.

 

[Bianconero81]

Italy are not winning the World Cup

 

[Azzurri7]

Italy are not winning the World Cup

I hope they do, I'm not expecting them to win it anyway. I wouldn't mind any other team other than Argentina Brazil and Spain. It's like I'm watching La Liga when I see them.

 

[ZoSo]

Spoiler

Round of 16:
Brazil
Chile

Colombia
Uruguay

France
Bosnia

Germany
Korea

Spain
Croatia

Italy
Japan

Argentina
Switzerland

Belgium
Portugal/Ghana

Spoiler

Quarter Finals:
Brazil
Uruguay

France
Germany

Spain
Italy (they will finally win vs Spain)

Argentina
Belgium

Spoiler

Semi Finals:
Brazil
Germany

Italy
Belgium

Spoiler

Final:
Germany
Italy

Spoiler

Reality - Semi Finals:
Brazil
Germany

Spain
Argentina

 

[Fred]

It's more or less the same team, only more experienced. We won't have Mandzukic vs Brazil due to suspension.

It's an ok team, but nothing special. The midfield with Modric, Rakitic and Kovacic is the strongest part of the team. Mandzukic and the forever lasting Olic are the attackers, as well as Eduardo. Srna is again on the wings. Corluka is another well known player, while the others are ok players.

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I'd hate it if they win it, too. But lets be real, they are still the best. Not just the top quality, but the depth is amazing. No team ever had this quality+depth in midfield:

Javi Martinez or Busquets
Xavi or Xabi Alonso
Iniesta or David Silva
Fabregas or Mata

+Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Koke.

It really looks scary when you pile these names together.

Their bench would probably start in most NT's.

 

[Salvo]

Spain still has a fantastic team and have good young players coming through. Italy can always be a surprise package, they could go all the way or go out early. Brazil's team is not bad, not great I dont think but they have the home backing (added pressure also). I sort of don't fear Germany as I did. It will be an interesting tournament. The dark horses will be the South American's, the "smaller sides" like Columbia and Uruguay. Argentina....Well you never know but I don't rate their defence or mids really.

 

[Bianconero81]

Revised Predictions:

Spoiler

Round of 16:

Brazil 3 vs Spain 2 (AET)
Chile 2 vs Croatia 1
Colombia 2 vs Uruguay 2 (Uruguay win on penalties)
Italy 3 vs Japan 1
France 2 vs Nigeria 0
Argentina 2 vs Switzerland 1
Germany 3 vs South Korea 1
Belgium 1 vs Portugal 1 (Portugal win on penalties)

QFs:

France 1 vs Germany 1 (France win on penalties)
Brazil 2 vs Uruguay 1
Argentina 3 vs Portugal 2 (AET)
Italy 2 vs Chile 1

SFs:

France 1 vs Brazil 3
Argentina 3 vs Italy 2 (AET)

Final:

Brazil 3 vs Argentina 2 (AET)

 

[Zacheryah]

The favorite is Spain, again. Six whole years after their Euro 2008 win, they still have the best team. One might question their desire after so many trophies, but this is the World cup and they will be motivated.
No team is as gelled as theirs, and no team has so much quality, depth and experience in knockouts (be it at club or NT level) as Spain.

This one goes to Europe again.

ROFL

yes it goes to europe

no, spain doesnt have the best team. No xavi, no nothing. Lets see how iniesta performs without xavi. probably still damn good, but not like before

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Spain still has a fantastic team and have good young players coming through. Italy can always be a surprise package, they could go all the way or go out early. Brazil's team is not bad, not great I dont think but they have the home backing (added pressure also). I sort of don't fear Germany as I did. It will be an interesting tournament. The dark horses will be the South American's, the "smaller sides" like Columbia and Uruguay. Argentina....Well you never know but I don't rate their defence or mids really.

Fantastic ?

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Javi Martinez or Busquets
Xavi or Xabi Alonso
Iniesta or David Silva
Fabregas or Mata

+Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Koke.

LOL

Martinez is awesome, but spain will want to play tiki taki, so take busquets, who is crap in duels. good luck versus good teams.

Xavi is finished, Alonso is finishing

Iniesta is better then silva offcourse, but iniesta thrives under tiki taki, wich brings the other issue back i mentionned before

Fabregas and Mata are fine players, but inferior to what spain used to come up with

the other players are offcourse fine, but usually, suited for different gameplans


If you look at just names, oh yes, spain has a great list. But its about their prefered gameplan.

The better players need very different styles to perform, and the engine is going away.


Here is the deal. if spain adapts a bit of madrid(both) football wich is not tiki taki, they remain a WC favorite.

But they wont. they'll insist on tiki taki and the decaying players, and it will be their downfall

 

[PedroFlu]

The only team I see Brazil winning by a big margin is Cameroon. Brazil is just a solid team, it's not even so much more talented than Croatia.

And there's a huge possibility Brazil falls in the first knockout, to either Chile or Spain. It's a 50-50 possibility IMO. Very tough and unpredictable games.I guess it will be against Spain.

 

[zizinho]

Martinez is awesome, but spain will want to play tiki taki, so take busquets, who is crap in duels. good luck versus good teams.

Xavi is finished, Alonso is finishing

Iniesta is better then silva offcourse, but iniesta thrives under tiki taki, wich brings the other issue back i mentionned before

Fabregas and Mata are fine players, but inferior to what spain used to come up with

the other players are offcourse fine, but usually, suited for different gameplans


If you look at just names, oh yes, spain has a great list. But its about their prefered gameplan.

The better players need very different styles to perform, and the engine is going away.


Here is the deal. if spain adapts a bit of madrid(both) football wich is not tiki taki, they remain a WC favorite.

But they wont. they'll insist on tiki taki and the decaying players, and it will be their downfall

i agree except for Iniesta and Fabregas. Iniesta is a fantastic player in any system. as a CAM in a fast and direct 4-2-3-1 he would be amazing too. and Fabregas isnt suited for their tiki taki bullshit. he would be muuch better in another system and if he was in the EPL still or in Real (Mourinhos and now Ancelottis) he would be one of the best playmakers in the world...

 

[Klin]

How can you fuck up saying tiki taka FFS?

 

[Raz]

tiki taki sounds fun though