Ivory Coast will not make it past the knock outs
Who will win the World Cup ?
- Thread starter Raoul
- Start date
Ivory Coast will not make it past the knock outs
Time will tell, could come back to my post in 4 weeks and it will be bang on, gonna have saver on Belgium v Holland, & Chile vs Belguim.
Brazil still the major favourite. They started off exactly how teams that win these kind of tournament do most of the time. Not too impressive, even a bit lucky. Holland and Germany may have gotten off to a flying start, but that usually doesn't end well. Holland's too poor overall anyway.
Spain seems past it. Argentina is Brazil's biggest competitor, but they don't seem to great defensively either.
Spain seems past it. Argentina is Brazil's biggest competitor, but they don't seem to great defensively either.
Hard to read much into things this early on. Didn't Spain drop points in their first game in 2010 ? I expect the Argies and Brazilians to improve gradually, and get the sense France and Italy will also go deep into July.
so far I have been impressed by Holland, Germany, Italy and to a lesser extent Argentina.
I still think Argentina will win it...but the 3 European nations will push them.
I still think Argentina will win it...but the 3 European nations will push them.
Looks like Italy v Holland/Brazil semi final and
Argentina/France v Germany semi final
..sort of
Argentina/France v Germany semi final
..sort of
Brazil or Italy will win it I guess..
I picked the Argies to win it. They are going to have to improve in midfield, and Aguero and Di Maria need to step it up if they are going to proceed to the semis or beyond.
I still have Brazil as favorites as they are the home nation and will most likely finish first in Group A. They will improve as the tournament goes on. Similar could be said of Argentina, except they only have the advantage of being in the same continent, and their defense, particularly the goalkeeper, is a concern.
Germany will probably be knocked out late in the competition as usual. Possible dark horses: Colombia, Belgium, and Croatia. (maybe even Bosnia at a stretch)
Germany will probably be knocked out late in the competition as usual. Possible dark horses: Colombia, Belgium, and Croatia. (maybe even Bosnia at a stretch)
or South American dream of Argentina v Brazil.
But saying Brazil or Italy is reasonable.
But saying Brazil or Italy is reasonable.
good dark horse call. I was impressed with them.
Argentina are my pick too. They did enough...but Bosnia were very impressive.
Good World Cup so far....beside my usual frustration with the England team and even more frustration with England supporters.
I'm sticking with Espana. Until they get knocked out.
I just now realized Russia are in the world cup.
you are a sound man Moriarty.
Spain's pride has been hurt and that doesn't bode well for the teams they've yet to play. People are drooling over Argentina but once that Spanish team clicks, they'll be unstoppable.
I'm sure Spain will bounce back, but its unlikely they will go through because of goal difference. They need the Chile to draw with Holland, as well as Spain beating Chile (and the Aussies). Not impossible, but an uphill climb.
if they show the character...which they surely must have...winning the last 3 major tournaments in a row, yes...they will be unstoppable. Their match against Chile will be highly anticipated I'm sure.
Is it goal difference or head to head results which decides?
I think its goal difference.
The one concern I suppose is Casillas. He looks short on confidence.
surely he should be dropped at this rate. But I suppose that may be even more demoralizing for the team.
More than likely. Maybe he'll be "unfit" for the next game. Wonder if De Gea would get the nod or Reina.
the world cup is bubbly along nicely. I am enjoying this one a lot more than the last one. One of the reason is that I hated those vuvuzelas...
ohh bloody ell....
They were terrible. They tried to pass them off as some ancient cultural bollocks didn't they? I hear the Brazilians have banned them.
thank god.
They were nothing less than utter shit. I'm glad we're not hearing them through our TV's.
You really can't count out the Italians once they pass the round of 16. 9 times out of 10 they get to the semis. They're always so freaking efficient.
You were impressed by Italy? I think England were the better side. Some better finishing and a spot of luck and we'd have won that game. That's with Gerrard handing them the midfield and Baines allowing Candreva to do whatever he wanted.
I think Balotelli have a chance at winning the WC
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/16/mario-balotelli-panini-italy-facebook-world-cup
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/16/mario-balotelli-panini-italy-facebook-world-cup
Italy controlled the game. They could have raised it any time they wanted...and they did to win the match.
Italy controlled the game? Not sure what match you were watching. Controlling the game isn't letting Rooney have an easy chance that he missed, or allowing Sterling to tear them apart time and time again only for some poor delivery. They had lots of possession if that's what you mean but for the most part did little with it.
Perhaps because we looked useless last 30 minutes it looked like they had control, but really it was just because we'd thrown it all at them and were extremely tired and lacking ideas at that point.
We could easily have got a draw, or even a win with a bit of luck our way. No way were they in control of that game. Raised it ay any time they wanted? Both their goals were in periods when we were dominating the match and the superior side. Stupid defending gave them the first goal and the second, well like I said Baines handed Candreva everything on a plate.
At times we tore through that defense.
you don't understand.
Sterling was controlled after initially surprising England. Control comes from midfield. Pirlo and De Rossi had Gerrard and Henderson in their pockets. Sure we had the occasional chance. They simply raised the game at will. We were never winning that match...certainly not playing Rooney out of position. Absolutely stupid by Roy. The best I had hoped for was a draw.
Shots (on target) Posession
England 18 (5) 45%
Italy 13 (4) 56%
[Apologies for the horrible presentation]
I know that statistics don't always tell the story, but Italy by no means controlled the game. A Pirlo masterclass (and a Rooney miss) was the only thing that kept them from embarrassing themselves by drawing against a poorly managed England team.
England were poorly managed...we can agree on that.
I don't understand what? I don't get this idea that they had some great control. Chiellini was being made in to mincemeat on that left hand side, time and time again. Most people would agree with me that the game was very even and I don't think many people would say Italy dominated or had real control over the game. I haven't seen the stats but I'd be very surprised if they showed Italy dominating the match.
I agree about your midfield point. They had control over that area but that doesn't necessarily mean they had control over the whole game. Wouldn't agree Henderson was in anyone's pocket, in fact he was decent, sadly Gerrard didn't offer him any support.
We were NEVER winning that match? Can you honestly not see any scenario in which we win? Sterling was not "controlled" until pretty late on when he was clearly fatigued. Agree Rooney being played out of position was a stupid decision, shoehorning him in just because of his name. If you're going to play him, at least put him where he won't be useless.
I was impressed with our performance. Move Rooney back where he belongs, let Ox come back in to the side and honestly start Shaw over Baines if he continues to perform like that and we have the ingredients for a good side. Never going to control the game against a top side, but a ton of pace on the counter that will cause issues for any team.
I think we can all agree on that. Hodgson's tactical ability extends to chucking on some highly rated youngsters randomly at the end to see if they can do something, no method to it whatsoever.
It's a shame, with a decent manager we could go far with a bit of luck.
Embarrassing themselves is a bit harsh. We might be poorly managed but it'd hardly be shameful to lose to us, disappointing sure.
any match is won or lost in midfield. its that simple in my books. we were never winning the match with that midfield.
Sorry England are several steps below the likes of Italy and Germany.
I'm glad you were impressed...each his own. It hurts to say it. We are just not good enough. We will qualify though....cause we surely must beat Costa Rica and Uruguay are dross.
Sorry England are several steps below the likes of Italy and Germany.
I'm glad you were impressed...each his own. It hurts to say it. We are just not good enough. We will qualify though....cause we surely must beat Costa Rica and Uruguay are dross.