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Brazil 2014--The FIFA World Cup Thread
- Thread starter MarkW
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MarkW
Senior Member
So far ten matches are in the books, and 34 goals have been scored. That's a pretty high scoring rate; by contrast, in 2010 there were a mere 16 goals in the first 10 matches, while in 2006 there were 23 goals in that period. If the ESPN announcers during the France-Honduras match were correct, this is the most goals scored in the first ten matches since the 1958 World Cup.
MarkW
Senior Member
There have been three, to be precise--it may seem like more because two of them have been in very high-profile situations.
Thomas II
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Best goal so far...Robin Van Persie!
Underseer
Contributor
Well, today is America's best chance at a victory in this group. Unfortunately, it's also Ghana's best chance at a victory, so they'll be just as scrappy and desperate as our team. Theoretically, we're ranked higher and should be able to pull this out, but I'm still nervous.
Jimmy Higgins
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Some good stuff so far. Uruguay loss was unbelievable. Costa Rica didn't just win, they won the game outright. Missing Suarez hurt a lot. I don't know who is a bigger dark horse, Belgium or Switzerland. Belgium I think are being given a chance of winning it, so that would make the Swiss the dark dark horse. The Swiss scored on a brilliant last second counterattack after Ecuador blew a good chance of their own.
Ghana v US up next. I see the US winning this game, short of a ref fart like we saw in the Brazil game.
Ghana v US up next. I see the US winning this game, short of a ref fart like we saw in the Brazil game.
So far? Maybe ever. That was incredible! Keeper did the right thing and Van Persie still makes him pay. Maybe the Dutch have a shot at finally winning this year. Their win was incredible.
Thomas II
Contributor
I agree. Van Persie is one of my favorite players. Check this out...He's a wizard! Enjoy!
Underseer
Contributor
That's just it: we're expected to win this game because we're actually ranked higher than them. This is new territory for me, and I don't think I liked it. I liked it better when every single win was a surprise; now, if we lose I will be that much more disappointed and if we win it won't feel as special because I was expecting it. Bah.
Underseer
Contributor
Did Pepe really deserve that red card?
The German player fouled Pepe, then acted like the victim, rolling on the ground in dramatic fashion. That head butt Pepe gave him was probably unintentional, and he got ejected for it? Yeesh.
That's it. That's the game. Portugal is not going to be able to come back from this. No way. This is bad for the US because we play Portugal next after Ghana, and they're going to be angry and looking for someone to take out their frustrations on.
The German player fouled Pepe, then acted like the victim, rolling on the ground in dramatic fashion. That head butt Pepe gave him was probably unintentional, and he got ejected for it? Yeesh.
That's it. That's the game. Portugal is not going to be able to come back from this. No way. This is bad for the US because we play Portugal next after Ghana, and they're going to be angry and looking for someone to take out their frustrations on.
Jimmy Higgins
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I wouldn't say we are favorites because of any ridiculous FIFA ranking system. I just feel that the US team is in a different place right now. I think 4 to 6 points is possible.
They won't have Pepe now.
Underseer
Contributor
Is our offense good enough to capitalize on that, though?
doubtingt
Senior Member
Pepe thew back his hand to push the guy back off the ball, which is a foul. The German then embellished the foul like all futbol players always do. Then everything that followed was all the fault of Pepe and clearly an intentional act of post-play contact, taunting, and aggression. He deserved a red.
Given badly Portugal did the rest of the match, I'm not too worried about their ability to exact revenge on the US in their next game. If the US loses to them it will be because the US isn't good enough to even beat a hampered Portugal team.
Germany looked like a probable semi-finalist, at the least.
Given badly Portugal did the rest of the match, I'm not too worried about their ability to exact revenge on the US in their next game. If the US loses to them it will be because the US isn't good enough to even beat a hampered Portugal team.
Germany looked like a probable semi-finalist, at the least.
MarkW
Senior Member
Between Portugal losing by a large margin, Pepe being suspended when the US plays them, and Ghana having to keep two of their best players out of the starting eleven today (Essien and Boateng), the US has a golden opportunity to advance. Whether they will be up to taking advantage--I just don't know.
MarkW
Senior Member
Well, that one was a nail biter for fans of the US today. It was almost a heartbreaker, but John Brooks justified his inclusion on the US roster with his late game-winner. What was surprising to me was that the US was able to win despite getting such a weak game from their ostensible best player, Michael Bradley.
Bacillus anthracis
Member
USA! USA! USA!
Even as an American that chant use to annoy me. That is until I found out just how much Europeans hated it. Now I love it.
Even as an American that chant use to annoy me. That is until I found out just how much Europeans hated it. Now I love it.
Underseer
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I hope Altidore is OK. Beating Germany or Portugal with Altidore will be hard enough, but without him? Yeesh. What a costly victory.
Jimmy Higgins
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I'm not one to say I told you so... oh wait... yes I am. Told you so! This is a team. It feels like '02 again.
Jimmy Higgins
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I'm not worried about that. What matters is the team. An individual player doesn't make a team. These are all pretty good individual players. They need to put themselves into a circumstance that can lead to victory and then take advantage. Our chances of getting out of the group stage didn't hang on Donavon and they don't hang on Altidore.
The Portugal game will be very interesting, being in a Rain Forest and all. Fitness will have a big hand in the game.