2014 FIFA World Cup

[Soarindude]

Sucks that Germany is loosing so many good players, but I still see them getting out of their group on top, especially if Ronaldo doesn't play.

Just curious, how many people think/hope that Ghana can just squeeze out of their group?

With Ronaldo being injured, the US playing well against Nigeria (for most of the game anyway) and Germany with a plenty of injuries, that entire group is really up for grabs. I didn't have much hope for US until lately, and it should be easily the most exciting group in the World Cup group stages.

[wonderbread]

All we need is a win and a draw to advance, i like our odds

[Billy B]

Barring a complete collapse or about 5 more starters going down, Germany should win the group. The chances of Ghana and the United States are both very dependent on what happens in their opening match. A draw there and both teams will need a minor miracle to sneak through. Even with a win in the first match, that team will have a lot of work to do to still make it through. And Ronaldo started training already, he'll be playing.

[HedleyLamarr]

The Ghana game is a must-win game for the United States. I don't like the US's chances of winning against Portugal and a pissed-off Ronaldo (assuming they lose to Germany)....need to hope for a draw. Don't quite see the US beating Germany if Germany has something to play for. (However, if Germany's clinched a spot in the knockout round, they may rest a couple guys.) I think the US can get to 4 points, but that may not be enough. Especially if it comes down to goal differential and Portugal possibly running it up on Ghana in their third game.

[VictoriaGooner]

I don't even seeing US getting four points. I think the most I can them getting I'd three points in the group. It's all dependent on their match with Ghana, win or draw. I don't seeing the Americans getting anything out of the Germany and Portugal matches. Just from a player pool and Klinsmann tactics point of view.

[JQK]

American tactics, Germany with the injury bug... and Ronaldo being a bit gimpy going in...
...I can see the US winning the group, which i wouldn't have said 6 months ago.

We must beat Ghana, though.

(yes... i'm drinking the funny Kool-Aid... let me dream, damn it!)

[TorinK92]

I think that Ghana can get the US 3-peat, the Germans will beat Portugal in the first game, and the US can draw Portugal. Maybe, just maybe, US can also draw the Germans on a good day where the Germans underestimate the Americans.

DEU - 9 or 7 GHA - 4 POR - 2 USA - 1 or 2

Of course now that I said it, the exact opposite of that will happen

[VictoriaGooner]

We can all dream...including all US supporters lol

[rams80]

We can all dream...including all US supporters lol

Fans.

[Still MIGHTY]

[DS729]

Finally got around to re-doing my March Bracket:

Group A:

1. Brazil 9 PTS, 4 GD (2-1 CRO), (2-0 MEX), (2-1 CAM)

2. Croatia 4 PTS, 1 GD (1-2 BRA), (3-1 CAM), (1-1 MEX)

3. Mexico 4 PTS, -1 GD (3-2 CAM), (0-2 BRA), (1-1 CRO)

4. Cameroon 0 PTS, -4 GD (2-3 MEX), (1-3 CAM), (1-2 BRA)

Group B:

1. Spain 9 PTS, 9 GD (2-0 NETH), (2-1 CHI), (4-1 AUS)

2. Chile 4 PTS, 0 GD (2-1 AUS), (1-2 ESP), (1-1 NETH)

3. Netherlands 4 PTS, -1 GD (0-2 ESP), (2-1 AUS), (1-1 CHI)

4. Australia 0 PTS, -5 GD (1-2 CHI), (1-2 NETH), (1-4 AUS)

Group C:

1. Colombia 7 PTS, 4 GD (3-1 GRE), (2-2 IVC), (2-0 JAP)

2. Ivory Coast 4 PTS, 0 GD (2-1 JAP), (2-2 COL), (0-1 GRE)

3. Japan 3 PTS, -3 GD (1-2 IVC), (2-0 GRE), (0-2 COL)

4. Greece 3 PTS, -3 GD (1-3 COL), (0-2 JAP), (1-0 IVC)

Group D:

1. Italy 7 PTS, 4 GD (2-2 ENG), (2-1 COR), (3-0 URU)

2. Uruguay 6 PTS, 2 GD (4-0 COR), (1-0 ENG), (0-3 ITA)

3. England 2 PTS, 1 GD (2-2 ITA), (0-1 URU), 2-2 COR)

4. Costa Rica 1 PT, -5 GD (0-4 URU), (1-2 ITA), (2-2 ENG)

Group E:

1. Switzerland 5 PTS, 1 GD (1-1 ECU), (0-0 FRA), (1-0 HON)

2. France 4 PTS, 1 GD (2-1 HON), (0-0 SUI), (1-1 ECU)

3. Ecuador 2 PTS, -1 GD (1-1 SUI), 2-2 HON), (1-1 FRA)

4. Honduras 2 PTS, -1 GD (1-2 FRA), 2-2 ECU), (0-1 SUI)

Group F:

1. Argentina 9 PTS, 5 GD (2-0 BOH), (2-1 IRA), (3-1 NIG)

2. Bosnia-Herzegovina 6 PTS, 0 GD (0-2 ARG), (1-0 NIG), (1-0 IRA)

3. Iran 1 PT, -2 GD (2-2 NIG), (1-2 ARG), (0-1 BOH)

4. Nigeria 1 PT, -3 GD (2-2 IRA), (0-1 BOH), 1-3 ARG)

Group G:

1. Germany 7 PTS, 3 GD(2-1 POR), (1-1 GHA), (2-0 US)

2. Portugal 6 PTS, 3 GD (1-2 GER), (3-2 US), (2-0 GHA)

3. Ghana 2 PTS, -2 GD (2-2 US), (1-1 GER), 0-2 POR)

4. United States 1 PT, -3 GD (2-2 GHA), (2-3 POR), 0-2 GER)

Group H:

1. Belgium 7 PTS, 4 GD (3-0 ALG), (2-1 RUS), (1-1 SK)

2. Russia 6 PTS, 3 GD (2-0 SK), (1-2 BEL), (3-2 ALG)

3. South Korea (0-2 RUS), (1-1 ALG), (1-1 BEL)

4. Algeria 1 PT, -4 GD (0-3 BEL), (1-1 SK), (2-3 RUS)

Round of 16:

Brazil over Chile (3-1)

Colombia over Uruguay (2-2, 4-2 PEN)

Switzerland over Bosnia-Herzegovina (1-0, ET)

Germany over Russia (4-1)

Spain over Croatia (2-0)

Italy over Ivory Coast (2-1, ET)

Argentina over France (4-2, ET)

Portugal over Belgium (3-2, ET)

Quarter-Finals:

Brazil over Colombia (2-0)

Germany over Switzerland (1-0)

Italy over Spain (4-3, ET)

Argentina over Portugal (5-2)

Semi-Finals:

Brazil over Germany (3-2)

Argentina over Italy (1-0)

Third Place:

Germany over Italy (3-1)

Finals:

Brazil over Argentina (4-1)

[Still MIGHTY]

So Italy is going to lose in the Semis, Third Place, and Final?

That's impressive...

[DS729]

So Italy is going to lose in the Semis, Third Place, and Final?

That's impressive...

What are you talking about?

[Still MIGHTY]

So Italy is going to lose in the Semis, Third Place, and Final?

That's impressive...

What are you talking about?

Now you change it. (Knew I should have quoted it )

[DS729]

So Italy is going to lose in the Semis, Third Place, and Final?

That's impressive...

What are you talking about?

Now you change it. (Knew I should have quoted it )

It's quite flattering how you try to notice the smallest things to bring me down.

If you have a problem with me, (which I know you do) sort it out through a PM, don't attack my posts like that.

[Still MIGHTY]

So Italy is going to lose in the Semis, Third Place, and Final?

That's impressive...

What are you talking about?

Now you change it. (Knew I should have quoted it )

It's quite flattering how you try to notice the smallest things to bring me down.

If you have a problem with me, (which I know you do) sort it out through a PM, don't attack my posts like that.

Relax. It's nothing like that. (To be honest, I hardly even notice you anymore.)

If anyone had done that I would have pointed it out. Don't fret.

[VictoriaGooner]

rams80...football supporters not fans. Fans are fanatics...we support our clubs and national teams.

[TorinK92]

Some people just get their knots in a bunch about the whole "we" vs "them" or "fans" vs "supporters" thing. Often just a nuance of grammar, I play team sports and I always say stuff like "we won" or "we need to improve our defense" and it just sticks sometimes to teams you [are a fan of (?)] when you aren't paying that much attention to a two letter word in your everyday speech. It's somewhat annoying that some people take it too seriously tbh

Edit: And on a separate note.

And why does almost everyone on this board seem to want to pick a fight these days?

[VictoriaGooner]

I wasn't trying to pick a fight Torin, sorry if it seemed like I was. I didn't mean it. I guess I came across the wrong way. It's all based on how you were brought up. I was brought up in a European family with a German father and Irish mother with football, rugby and cricket the sports of choice in my upbringing. My family only used the word "supporter" not "fan". It's just a matter of habit. Don't mean to pick a fight.

[TorinK92]

I wasn't trying to pick a fight Torin, sorry if it seemed like I was. I didn't mean it. I guess I came across the wrong way. It's all based on how you were brought up. I was brought up in a European family with a German father and Irish mother with football, rugby and cricket the sports of choice in my upbringing. My family only used the word "supporter" not "fan". It's just a matter of habit. Don't mean to pick a fight.

I actually wasn't talking about you that last part. Mainly I was referring to DScruggy a couple of posts above you, and the entire thing that's been going on in the NHL playoff thread for nearly a month now. And to lesser extent, everyone initially correcting people on the whole us vs them thing.

Sorry you took that the wrong way