FIFA World Cup Football 2014 Official Thread

[Uzumaki HAri]

anything can happen..........its fifa ya know

 

[Memento Mori]

some here underestimating spian Lol

We just can't guess who is gonna win the Cup atleast untill the end of group stages performances.....AND knockout games,they are miracles(Sometimes)

 

[Caliburn]

What's up with the Belgium obsession? They sure have good keepers and great players, but they do lack strength. Plus the their setup may look good at first sight, but having both Vertonghen & Lombaerts (← especially left) in their defense is eventually going to be their biggest mistake. I won't put too much trust in them if I were you, rather why won't you root for the Netherlands or Portugal? <_> ;p

Because the reality is that Belgium has much more quality than the Netherlands on paper and in fact also more than Portugal if you would look at the average player. Portugal has a few that majorly stick out like Ronaldo, while Belgium is more balanced. For the record the entire top 7 of Premier League has Belgian players in their ranks that in most cases played crucial roles the past season.

They have the 6th most expensive team present on the WC. Their place on the FIFA world rankings has increased rapidly during the course of this qualification, they even ended up in the top 7 at one point, resulting in them getting the status of 'head' when they sorted the groups out for the main tournament. I also just read that the Belgian team has the highest average height of all the participating teams. So the comment about them lacking strength is a joke when you see people like Kompany, Lukaku, Van Buyten and Fellaini. Not to mention Benteke, who is a real battering ram, though he isn't participating due to an injury.

Our backs aren't indeed our strong point, however we have two central defenders who can also play on the flanks. Also both Lombaerts and Vertonghen are solid values for Zenit and Tottenham, which aren't really the weakest teams you can come across. What does The Netherlands have there? Largely a bunch of young players of Feyenoord. Then Lombaerts and Vertonghen are much more impressive than that.

Face it for the first time in a very long time Belgium has simply a better team than The Netherlands. Strength, speed, technique and stamina and above all most of them are still quite young. We have got everything. So yeah for everyone who likes surprises and roots for the underdog, Belgium has one of the highest chances to achieve something. Of course there are many factors that are involved, just having a good team doesn't even remotely guarantee success, but yeah Belgium is a very small country, hasn't achieved anything in a long long time and then almost out of the blue brings forth a young team consisting almost entirely of world class players that can bring nice football. So yeah it's not illogical that the neutral football fan has some expectations of them. Their only real weak point is that they, outside one player and the coach, have never played on the World or Euro Cup and thus haven't gotten any experience with such a situation even when most of them have participated several times by now in the Champion's League.

I mean our 2nd keeper is the 1st keeper of Liverpool, who ended 2nd this year in the Premier League.

 

[Xarpius]

Well, everybody is talking about Ronaldo and about how he's not ready because of the injury. While he's assuring everyone that he's OK, I'm sure he's hiding the fact that he isn't ready even from himself. He doesn't want to disappoint and he wants to carry his team and hiding an injury and not being ready is a very big deal. I know he's not the only player in Portugal, but he is their main player and they very much depend on him performing above average.

Regarding Netherlands, well, they just don't have it. Their main players are Van Persie and Robben while most of the others not that well known and I'm afraid their main problem might be their youngster goalkeeper. Without much experience on very high level play like a WC I'm sure there will be a lot pressure on him and I'm sure mistakes will happen.

I'm obsessing over Belgium because we were in the group with them and I've seen what they're capable of. I've watched their games and I love their fast, swift and fluid play. They transform amazingly well and have a deadly counterattack. They have a large number of upcoming young players that are starting to take main roles in their clubs and I'm sure they're confident enough. If you check Belgium's FIFA ranking all you see is a positive rise for months now. I'm sure it's just going to continue.

@Bold; take that back tho, Spain is going to have it tough with The Netherlands as their first opponent. Because in those sentences you were forgetting Wesley Sneijder (← How could you forget? He was all over the news 4 years ago. o-o)
Together with Robin van Persie & Arjen Robben they are the Golden triangle. (←Guess who gave them that name? It was Martinez from Bayern München, a obvious friend of Robben.) And not only him. The world knows how good they are. So, don't underestimate them.

Already prejudging our keeper, lol lets see if they can get through our trio first.
@Underline; I lol'd

 

[McRazor]

@Bold; take that back tho, Spain is going to have it tough with The Netherlands as their first opponent. Because in those sentences you were forgetting Wesley Sneijder (← How could you forget? He was all over the news 4 years ago. o-o)
Together with Robin van Persie & Arjen Robben they are the Golden triangle. (←Guess who gave them that name? It was Martinez from Bayern München, a obvious friend of Robben.) And not only him. The world knows how good they are. So, don't underestimate them.

Already prejudging our keeper, lol lets see if they can get through our trio first.
@Underline; I lol'd

Exactly. Sneijder is not what he used to be. Also, you're forgetting the fact that this are all speculations and opinions and I'm not changing mine. I don't think Netherlands is anything special but neither seems Spain this year, still as the current champions I give them the edge. Certainly, we can expect a very good match and I can't wait for the kick-off.

EDIT: As Caliburn also said, they're not known because they're mostly playing in the Dutch league and smaller clubs. Nothing to lol about there. The same way I'm fanboying over Belgium right now, you're doing with Netherlands. The only difference being, I'm objective because I'm not Belgian, while from your talk I can see that you're from the Netherlands.

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[-Punk-]

Dat Ref tho .......what a shame .

 

[Xarpius]

Exactly. Sneijder is not what he used to be. Also, you're forgetting the fact that this are all speculations and opinions and I'm not changing mine. I don't think Netherlands is anything special but neither seems Spain this year, still as the current champions I give them the edge. Certainly, we can expect a very good match and I can't wait for the kick-off.

EDIT: As Caliburn also said, they're not known because they're mostly playing in the Dutch league and smaller clubs. Nothing to lol about there. The same way I'm fanboying over Belgium right now, you're doing with Netherlands. The only difference being, I'm objective because I'm not Belgian, while from your talk I can see that you're from the Netherlands.

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I didn't realize it? I've become a fanboy._. I don't even like football? :|
But this is different, those who misjudge will be punished as soon as the same starts.

The Netherlands came so close 4 years ago and on top of that after their lose they got a super coach!
They will definitely make it till the end. About Sneijder that part is true. They all became so oooold. Boohoo.

Yeah right!

---

Just to get some things straight:
And I'm clearly not rooting for The NL just because I'm Dutch, its just that I like the way they play/handle things so easily.

@Caliburn:

Because the reality is that Belgium has much more quality than the Netherlands on paper and in fact also more than Portugal if you would look at the average player. Portugal has a few that majorly stick out like Ronaldo, while Belgium is more balanced. For the record the entire top 7 of Premier League has Belgian players in their ranks that in most cases played crucial roles the past season.

Apologies, I just looked it up after reading McRazor's post. Although I'd give it a "meh" I do think they will stand a chance towards Japan maybe. (← dat arrogance, shame on me.)But don't be hasty by putting them on the same line as The Netherlands. You may not know but Louis van Gaal knows what he is up to. While you and lots of other fans are daydreaming about Belgium going through the first round, this coach of ours is already with his head in the finales. ;p

---

They have the 6th most expensive team present on the WC. Their place on the FIFA world rankings has increased rapidly during the course of this qualification, they even ended up in the top 7 at one point, resulting in them getting the status of 'head' when they sorted the groups out for the main tournament. I also just read that the Belgian team has the highest average height of all the participating teams. So the comment about them lacking strength is a joke when you see people like Kompany, Lukaku, Van Buyten and Fellaini. Not to mention Benteke, who is a real battering ram, though he isn't participating due to an injury.

Our backs aren't indeed our strong point, however we have two central defenders who can also play on the flanks. Also both Lombaerts and Vertonghen are solid values for Zenit and Tottenham, which aren't really the weakest teams you can come across. What does The Netherlands have there? Largely a bunch of young players of Feyenoord. Then Lombaerts and Vertonghen are much more impressive than that.

We will see about that. I shouldn't have prejudged Belgium that much.

And yes we have a large amount of young Feyenoords.___. But they won fair and have proven to be worthy players. So they won't let us down, plus; again Louis van Gaal knows what he is doing. He knows.

Our faith is in his hands.

---

Face it for the first time in a very long time Belgium has simply a better team than The Netherlands. Strength, speed, technique and stamina and above all most of them are still quite young. We have got everything. So yeah for everyone who likes surprises and roots for the underdog, Belgium has one of the highest chances to achieve something. Of course there are many factors that are involved, just having a good team doesn't even remotely guarantee success, but yeah Belgium is a very small country, hasn't achieved anything in a long long time and then almost out of the blue brings forth a young team consisting almost entirely of world class players that can bring nice football. So yeah it's not illogical that the neutral football fan has some expectations of them. Their only real weak point is that they, outside one player and the coach, have never played on the World or Euro Cup and thus haven't gotten any experience with such a situation even when most of them have participated several times by now in the Champion's League.

I mean our 2nd keeper is the 1st keeper of Liverpool, who ended 2nd this year in the Premier League.

Keep telling yourself that. It makes you stronger as fan. In spirit and mind. c: Keep rooting for your land, but don't expect too much from Belgium. I mean, sure they have good players (I won't judge, I've seen them now), but it only takes some moves from our talented and most experienced players to through their defense.

L ol and you just said things about our young new players, but in fair comparison we are both on the same page. /Cough; of course NL is a little further from that. c:

 

[Memento Mori]

Everyone is having their own Opinions about their respective teams...this thread is heating up for just one day of the start of the tournment.
#Fifa Miracles#

Next match is cameroon vs Mexico

 

[McRazor]

Everyone is having their own Opinions about their respective teams...this thread is heating up for just one day of the start of the tournment.
#Fifa Miracles#

Next match is cameroon vs Mexico

Should be an interesting match and I'll watch it carefully because those are both teams that we are playing next and we need to win both if we want to proceed further. They are great teams with great individuals as well as good teamwork and I'm sure we'll see an interesting match today. Still, the main event of the days is Spain vs Netherlands and everybody is eagerly awaiting that one.

 

[The Sach]

Because the reality is that Belgium has much more quality than the Netherlands on paper and in fact also more than Portugal if you would look at the average player. Portugal has a few that majorly stick out like Ronaldo, while Belgium is more balanced. For the record the entire top 7 of Premier League has Belgian players in their ranks that in most cases played crucial roles the past season.

The main factor here is they have quality 'on paper'. Even if all of their players are doing well in the premier league, we can't deny that National stage and pressure is entirely different from playing at league stage, something this talented team clearly lacks. The last time they played European tournament in 2000, returning after 12 years isn’t as easy as it looks on paper.
I doubt if they will be able to qualify for semis because we have four top teams which certainly look equal or stronger on paper than Belgium (Spain, Germany, Argentina and Brazil).

They have the 6th most expensive team present on the WC. Their place on the FIFA world rankings has increased rapidly during the course of this qualification, they even ended up in the top 7 at one point, resulting in them getting the status of 'head' when they sorted the groups out for the main tournament. I also just read that the Belgian team has the highest average height of all the participating teams. So the comment about them lacking strength is a joke when you see people like Kompany, Lukaku, Van Buyten and Fellaini. Not to mention Benteke, who is a real battering ram, though he isn't participating due to an injury.

Expensiveness can't be the direct measure of world cup winning chances of a team in opinion, especially looking at the way transfer market works in Premier league. I agree they did good in qualification phase, but this is world cup and unless and until you prove yourself as good as the ‘elites’, chances of having your hand on the world cup are pretty slim in my opinion.
I agree that defense looks solid with Kompany , Van Buyten and Thomas Vermaelen, but I doubt if I can say the same about Lukaku. He was impressive in premier league but 2 goals from 4 appearances on national level isn’t something that makes me enthusiastic about him. Fellaini was failed to impress me throughout the season for United. Benteke is already out due to injuries.

Our backs aren't indeed our strong point, however we have two central defenders who can also play on the flanks. Also both Lombaerts and Vertonghen are solid values for Zenit and Tottenham, which aren't really the weakest teams you can come across. What does The Netherlands have there? Largely a bunch of young players of Feyenoord. Then Lombaerts and Vertonghen are much more impressive than that.

I agree Belgium has better backs than Netherlands but you won’t win the world cup, unless and until you are capable of scoring goals. Someone has to fire them cylinders for you to grab the cup. I don’t think attack is as strong as defense and midfield, as I don’t see any big performer except Eden Hazard. Adnan Janujaz is simply too inexperienced to take that ‘mettle’. Netherlands have Van Persie, who can certainly take that responsibility of goal scorer.

Everyone is having their own Opinions about their respective teams...this thread is heating up for just one day of the start of the tournment.
#Fifa Miracles#

Next match is cameroon vs Mexico

As a Manchester United fan my eyes will be on Chicharito. I will bet my two cents on Mexico for sure.

 

[Memento Mori]

Should be an interesting match and I'll watch it carefully because those are both teams that we are playing next and we need to win both if we want to proceed further. They are great teams with great individuals as well as good teamwork and I'm sure we'll see an interesting match today. Still, the main event of the days is Spain vs Netherlands and everybody is eagerly awaiting that one.

Spain vs Netherlands clash is the one waiting too

 

[fiend]

Okay Mexico vs. Cameroon next, while my brain says mexico, my intuition says cameroon might win this won, they are a highly physical team, if they keep pressing cameroon might win, none of the aforesaid teams are qualifying from this group though.
Scoreline 2-1 in favor of cameroon or a 2-2 draw, with an exciting match

 

[-Punk-]

Memo Ochoa from Mexico one of the future best GK in the World .

 

[Anonn]

Heueheu tonight we are gonna own the place! The Netherlands!

 

[Escorpiius]

While I love seeing the posts, debating the chances of their team more fiercely...some parts were certainly lacking insight imo, with the main reasoning factor being the sheer fan belief rather than coherence in their team structure.

That apart, it's tough to compare Netherlands, Portugal and Belgium. Those teams are in different spheres of their own right now. Predicting the fate of each, is pretty tricky.

Netherlands are in a state of transition right now - with few very prominent popular footballers as experienced leaders surrounded by a crop of youngsters. Their situation is very unlike Portugal and Belgium. Only England and to some extent, France belong in the same boat. Overall, this blend of youngsters with the minimum stalwarts can prove to yield both excellent results or end up being a total fiasco. But when compared to England who are yet to find their fluidity, and France who lost an important player in Ribery, Netherlands certainly look better team on paper - with a solid coach, good WC experience and most importantly, they have the momentum of an amazing track record in the preliminaries round while England/France played in play-off.

Coming on Portugal, frankly, they are a bit of a second-tier team right that can nonetheless be an extraordinary team, thanks to the exploits of CR7. They rely on their star player, and in the current WC, few teams are like this. A CR7 in scintillating form, can make Portugal one of the hot contenders, just like he carried the team on his back in the Euro till the Semis. But given his injury suspects, if he isn't up to the level, Portugal could very well, also crumble in a highly difficult group - reminiscent of Holland's group stage in Euro 2012.

Belgium! Certainly THE team with a Golden Generation along with Germany. But unlike the latter, they lack that crucial experience of a competition like World Cups. But in eyes of any neutral, they certainly seem among the best underdogs to cheer out for along with Chile. I would place Columbia and Uruguay too. But Colombia lost Falcao and Uruguay already got serious WC pedigree now. But another point that I'd point against Belgium, is the lack of triumphs of recent Golden Generations of football nationalities in recent years. Spain took 4 years to oil well, and start winning all as from 2008. Germany are still choking with their Golden boys since 2006, despite so much promise. A team like England, who's now in a state of transition, used to have a Golden Gen. too with Becks, Scholes, Gerrard, Owen, Lampard, Rooney, Shearer, Ferdinand, Terry ect... Their failings are all the more infamous now. Remember 3 seasons ago, how Dortmund choked in Champions League in first year, before reaching the Final on next season. So yeah, despite so much promise on paper for Belgium, the lack of instant triumph for Golden Generations in World Cups make me more pessimistic than optimistic, but anything is possible in football. Though, I believe Belgium need more time but we shall see.

 

[Alice in Noodleland]

Team's hunger to win + skilled players + nice gameplan + LUCK = get The WC trophy

 

[Totsuka No Tsurugi]

2 Mexico goal ruled offside LOL

 

[-Punk-]

Second Mexican was not offside, it should have been obvious , This Refs man ......God help us all .

 

[The Sach]

2 Mexico goal ruled offside LOL

Yeah I was rather surprised by those decisions. The most eye-catching thing that I liked about first half was benoit assou-ekotto's smile.XD

 

[fiend]

Abysmal referring again, 2 dos santos goals ruled offside mexico playing against cameroon+ linesman