2014 FIFA World Cup

[rams80]

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

I'll use British lingo when I'm British.

[VictoriaGooner]

My bracket is done

[VictoriaGooner]

Cheers Torin

[NEW.ERA]

I got this.

Semis

Brazil over France

Argentina over Uruguay

Finals

Argentina over Brazil

HEARTBREAK EVERYWHERE

[DS729]

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

I feel he was more picking on your fake British dialect.

EDIT: He basically said the same thing.

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

Starting a fight wasn't my intention, a member escalated that to a whole new level. Giving me all the blame for that is a little unfair IMO. I may have loaded the clip, but he pulled the trigger.

Saying "we" when referring to the team you support is basically a shortened version of the "The team I support" except we saves a ton of time, and is a lot easier to read out.

[sportsfan0518]

Got my bracket done. The more I think about it, and I'm sure this has been mentioned on this thread already. If the US can beat Ghana and Portugal and Germany tie, that would be the best case scenario for the United Sates. Traditionally all you need to get past the group stage is at least 4, but maybe in this group it is 5. But to have a 3 points initially and let Germany and Portugal share 1 point each would be huge.

[dfwabel]

The ESPN announce teams through June 19 (All times Eastern).

June 12 (Thur.): Brazil vs. Croatia, ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET (Ian Darke and Steve McManaman).

June 13 (Fri.): Mexico vs. Cameroon, ESPN2, 11:30 a.m. (Fernando Palomo and Alejandro Moreno).

June 13 (Fri.): Spain vs. Netherlands, ESPN, 2:30 p.m. (Jon Champion and Stewart Robson).

June 13 (Fri.): Chile vs. Australia, ESPN2, 5:30 p.m. (Daniel Mann and Kasey Keller).

June 14 (Sat.): Colombia vs. Greece, ABC, 11:30 a.m. (Adrian Healey and Taylor Twellman)

June 14 (Sat.): Uruguay vs. Costa Rica, ABC, 2:30 p.m. (Jon Champion and Stewart Robson).

June 14 (Sat.): England vs. Italy, ESPN, 5:30 p.m. (Ian Darke and Steve McManaman).

June 14 (Sat.): Ivory Coast vs. Japan, ESPN, 8:30 p.m. (Derek Rae and Efan Ekoku).

June 15 (Sun.): Switzerland vs. Ecuador, ABC, 11:30 a.m. (Adrian Healey and Alejandro Moreno).

June 15 (Sun.): France vs. Honduras, ABC, 2:30 p.m. (Daniel Mann and Kasey Keller).

June 15 (Sun.): Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, ESPN, 5:30 p.m. (Derek Rae and Roberto Martinez).

June 16 (Mon.): Germany vs. Portugal, ESPN, 11:30 a.m. (Jon Champion and Stewart Robson.)

June 16 (Mon.): Iran vs. Nigeria, ESPN, 2:30 p.m. (Derek Rae and Efan Ekoku).

June 16 (Mon.): Ghana vs. United States, ESPN, 5:30 p.m. (Ian Darke and Taylor Twellman).

June 17 (Tues.): Belgium vs. Algeria, ESPN, 11:30 a.m. (Adrian Healey and Efan Ekoku).

June 17 (Tues.): Brazil vs. Mexico, ESPN, 2:30 p.m. (Fernando Palomo and Alejandro Moreno).

June 17 (Tues.): Russia vs. South Korea, ESPN, 5:30 p.m. (Daniel Mann and Kasey Keller).

June 18 (Wed.): Australia vs. Netherlands, ESPN, 11:30 a.m. (Jon Champion and Stewart Robson)

June 18 (Wed.): Spain vs. Chile, ESPN 2:30 p.m. (Ian Darke and Steve McManaman).

June 18 (Wed.): Cameroon vs. Croatia, ESPN, 5:30 p.m. (Derek Rae and Kasey Keller)

June 19 (Thur.): Colombia vs. Ivory Coast, ESPN, 11:30 a.m. (Adrian Healey and Alejandro Moreno)

June 19 (Thur.): Uruguay vs. England, ESPN, 2:30 p.m. (Ian Darke and Steve McManaman).

June 19 (Thur.): Japan vs. Greece, ESPN, 5:30 p.m. (Daniel Mann and Efan Ekoku).

[NEW.ERA]

I don't know what CBC is using. I hope Martin Tyler and John Helm are apart of it again.

[AnythingChicago]

Expanded/revised predictions:

Group A

Brazil - 9 pts. (CRO: W 3-0, MEX: W 3-0, CMR: W 2-1)

Cameroon - 5 pts. (MEX: W 2-1, CRO: D 1-1, BRA: L 1-2)

Croatia - 5 pts. (BRA: L 0-3, CMR: D 1-1, MEX: W 3-2)

Mexico - 0 pts. (CMR: L 1-2, BRA: L 0-3, CRO: L 2-3)

Group B

Netherlands - 7 pts. (ESP: D 2-2, AUS: W 4-0, CHI: W 2-0)

Spain - 5 pts. (NED: D 2-2, CHI: D 1-1, AUS: W 3-0)

Chile - 4 pts. (AUS: W 3-1, ESP: D 1-1, NED: L 0-2)

Australia - 0 pts. (CHI: L 1-3, NED: L 0-4, ESP: L 0-3)

Group C

Colombia - 7 pts. (JPN: W 1-0, CIV: D 0-0, GRE: W 2-0)

Côte d'Ivoire - 5 pts. (GRE: D 1-1, COL: D 0-0, JPN: W 3-2)

Japan - 4 pts. (COL: L 0-1, GRE: W 1-0, CIV: L 2-3)

Greece - 1 pt. (CIV: D 1-1, JPN: L 0-1, COL: L 0-2)

Group D

Uruguay - 7 pts. (CRC: W 4-0, ENG: W 2-1, ITA: D 1-1)

Italy - 5 pts. (ENG: D 0-0, CRC: W 3-0, URU: D 1-1)

England - 4 pts. (ITA: D 0-0, URU: L 1-2, CRC: W 5-0)

Costa Rica - 0 pts. (URU: L 0-4, ITA: L 0-3, ENG: L 0-5)

Group E

France - 7 pts. (ECU: W 3-0, SUI: D 2-2, HON: W 2-0)

Switzerland - 7 pts. (HON: W 3-1, FRA: D 2-2, ECU: W 3-2)

Ecuador - 3 pts. (FRA: L 0-3, HON: W 1-0, SUI: L 2-3)

Honduras - 0 pts. (SUI: L 1-3, ECU: L 0-1, FRA: L 0-2)

Group F

Argentina - 9 pts. (IRN: W 4-0, NGA: W 4-1, BIH: W 3-2)

Bosnia and Herzegovina - 6 pts. (NGA: W 4-3, IRN: W 2-1, ARG: L 2-3)

Nigeria - 3 pts. (BIH: L 3-4, ARG: L 1-4, IRN: W 1-0)

Iran - 0 pts. (ARG: L 0-4, BIH: L 1-2, NGA: 0-1)

Group G

Germany - 9 pts. (POR: W 2-1, GHA: W 3-0, USA: W 3-1)

Portugal - 4 pts. (GER: L 1-2, USA: D 1-1, GHA: W 3-1)

United States - 4 pts. (GHA: W 2-0, POR: D 1-1, GER: L 1-3)

Ghana - 0 pts. (USA: L 0-2, GER: L 0-3, POR: L 1-3)

Group H

Belgium - 9 pts. (RUS: W 3-0, KOR: W 4-1, ALG: W 2-0)

South Korea - 4 pts. (ALG: W 2-1, BEL: L 1-4, RUS: D 1-1)

Russia - 4 pts. (BEL: L 0-3, ALG: W 1-0, KOR: D 1-1)

Algeria - 0 pts. (KOR: L 1-3, RUS; L 0-1, BEL: L 0-2)

Round of 16

Brazil 2, Spain 1

Colombia 0, Italy 0 (ITA 5-2 wins on penalties)

France 5, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2

Germany 3, South Korea 0

The Netherlands 3, Cameroon 1

Uruguay 2, Côte d'Ivoire 1

Argentina 3, Switzerland 2

Belgium 2, Portugal 2 (Belgium wins 5-4 on penalties)

Quarterfinals

Brazil 1, Italy 0

France 2, Germany 4

The Netherlands 1, Uruguay 3

Argentina 2, Belgium 2 (Argentina win 6-5 on penalties)

Semifinals

Brazil 2, Germany 0

Argentina 3, Uruguay 2

Third place

Germany 1, Uruguay 0

Final

Brazil 3, Argentina 1

---------

If I find time later on, I'll add summaries for each team in the group stage, and match recaps for each Knockout Stage fixture.

[VictoriaGooner]

I believe CBC will be using the World feed from the World Cup, with that it should be Martin Tyler and John Helm.

[TorinK92]

I'm just going to mirror here what Connor did.

Group A:

1: Brazil - 7 Pts

2: Mexico - 5 Pts

3: Croatia - 4 Pts

4: Cameroon - 1 Pts

Group B:

1: Spain - 6 Pts

2: Chile - 6 Pts

3: Netherlands - 4 Pts

4: Australia - 1 Pts

Group C:

1: Cote D'Ivoire - 5 Pts

2: Colombia - 5 Pts

3: Japan - 3 Pts

4: Greece - 1 Pts

Group D:

1: Italy - 7 Pts

2: England - 6 Pts

3: Uruguay - 2 Pts

4: Costa Rica - 1 Pts

Group E:

1: Switzerland - 7 Pts

2: France -6 Pts

3: Ecuador - 4 Pts

4: Honduras - 0 Pts

Group F:

1: Argentina - 9 Pts

2: Bosnia-Herzegovina - 6 Pts

3: Nigeria - 3 Pts

4: Iran - 0 Pts

Group G

1: Germany - 9 Pts

2: Ghana - 4 Pts

3: Portugal - 2 Pts

4: USA - 1 Pts

Group H

1: Belgium - 5 Pts

2: Algeria - 4 Pts

3: Russia - 4 Pts

4: South Korea - 1 Pts

Round of 16:

Brazil 2 - Chile 2 (Brazil on Penalties 4-3)

England 2 - Cote D'Ivoire 1

Switzerland 0 - Bosnia-Herzegovina 3

Germany 4 - Algeria 0

Spain 3 - Mexico 1

Italy 1 - Colombia 1 (Italy on Penalties 3-1)

Argentina 4 - France 3

Belgium 2 - Ghana 2 (Belgium on Penalties 4-2)

Quarterfinals:

Brazil 3 - England 1

Bosnia-Herzegovina 1, Germany 2

Spain 2, Italy 0

Argentina 2, Belgium 2 (Belgium on Penalties 5-4)

Semifinals:

Brazil 2, Germany 1

Spain 3, Belgium 0

Third Place Game:

Germany 2, Belgium 1

Finals:

Brazil 2, Spain 1

Extra Predicitions:

Golden Boot: Diego Costa, Spain (7 GP: 7 Goals, 2 Assists) - Scores two goals in crucial semi-final against depleted Belgium.

Player of the Tournament: Miralem Pjanic, Bosnia (5 GP: 0 Goals - 4 Assists). - With great defensive presence and great play-making, he helped Bosnia reach the quarterfinals in their first ever tournament.

Player to Wilt Away: Robin Van Persie, Netherlands (3 GP: 1 Goal - 0 Assists) - After scoring a goal in the opener, the Dutch striker seemed to become victim to the heat and age as he doesn't come close to the back of the net again as the Netherlands don't get out of their group.

Breakthrough Young Player: Jordan Ayew, Ghana (4 GP: 3 Goals - 3 Assists) - Scores in each of Ghana's first three games to help them Escape the group of death. Adds two assists and converts a shot in the penalty shootout in the round of 16, but Ghana valiantly bows out to Belgium on spot-kicks.

Tournament Winning Goal for Brazil: Jo. (7 GP: 2 Goals - 0 Assists) After Neymar opens in the 12th minute to ignite the crowd at Maracana, Brazil frustrates Spain and finds ways to disrupt their Tiki Taka. Substitute Fernando Torres finally finds the back of the net for Spain in the 75th minute, but a dozen minutes later at the 87' mark, Fernandinho lobs a ball into the box and an open Jo is there to tap it in to win the world cup for Brazil on home soil.

Just for fun, of course

[VictoriaGooner]

Excellent job on the predictions by both AC and Torin! I will post mine soon as well.

[TorinK92]

I'm also going to throw in my predictions for the team of the tournament (in 4-1-2-1-2)

GK: Iker Casillas, Spain - Let in just 5 goals in the tournament, including just 2 in the knockouts to guide Spain to the final.

RB: Philipp Lahm, Germany - Had a solid defensive tournament, and scored the winning goal vs Bosnia to lead Germany into the final 4

CB: Thiago Silva, Brazil - Helped play the ball up the field for Brazil, and was responsible for 15 tackles in the final.

CB: Sergio Ramos, Spain - Sat out Spain's loss to Chile, but only saw 3 goals go into the net in his 6 games.

LB: Leighton Baines, England - Carried on his strong league form while England only let in 6 goals from 5 games, including 2 CS.

CDM: Miralem Pjanic, Bosnia - A pivot for the Bosnian team's success, saw his name pop up 4 times on the scoresheet for assists.

RM: Angel Di Maria, Argentina - Scored twice in the groups, nearly beat two contenders in the knockout before going out to Belgium.

LM: Eden Hazard, Belgium - Star player for Belgiums run at 4th after Benteke sat out the tournament, and subpar play from Lukaku.

CAM: Mario Gotze, Germany - Kept up his stellar 2014 national form, finding the net 4 times and helping the strikers score more goals.

ST: Diego Costa, Spain - Public enemy #1 in Brazil, won the golden boot scoring 7 goals to help Spain reach the final.

ST: Gonzalo Higuain, Argentina - A brace in the opener allowed him to take a spot on the starting XI, finished with 5 goals, 3 Assists.

Just missed the cut:

GK: Thibault Courtois, Belgium - Won two consecutive penalty shootouts saving 5 penalties, as he was a rock in net for Belgium.

CDM: Andrea Pirlo, Italy - Provided great leadership for Italy in his last WC, scored goal of the WC from almost 50 yards vs Colombia.

CM: Arturo Vidal, Chile - Speedy CM contributed with 2G and 4A for La Roja as they cleared their group only to lose to the champions on penalties

ST: Neymar, Brazil - Silent in group stage, but caught fire in the knockout stages. Converted against Chile in the shootout, and scored once in every one of the next and final 3 games.

ST: Moroslav Klose, Germany - Only scored 2 goals in the tournament, but got the GWG against Belgium in their final game of the WC and captured the all time goals record

[Berlin Wall]

1. Lahm will most likely play as a defensive midfielder in this tournament. Actually a bit like a Libero. Beckenbauer and Matthäus calling!

2. Jordan Ayew can not get the youth player award. That can only get players born in 1993 and after.

[Berlin Wall]

Just finished my bracket. Surprisingly, England will get to the final!

[crashcarson15]

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

I still maintain that a win and a draw isn't going to be enough to advance.

For this logic to hold, it's probably going to be a win over Ghana and a draw against Portugal. It also assumes that Germany's going to run the group.

I don't think the US will beat Ghana worse than Portugal would, considering Ghana would have nothing to play for in that last game against Ghana.

5 points would probably do it, though if Germany and Portugal draw, I'd be nervous about that working for the same reason.

Going to come back here with ten "£10 bets" I'd make if I were putting £100 on placement for the World Cup to see how it goes in lieu of predicting everything...

[crashcarson15]

I'll go ahead and put my "money" on...

• 4/1 on Argentina to win the World Cup
• 11/10 on Brazil and Croatia to advance from Group A
• 5/6 on Chile to advance from Group B
• 3/1 on Côte d'Ivoire to win Group C
• 9/4 on Uruguay and England to advance from Group D
• 4/1 on France to win all three group stage matches in Group E
• 3/1 on Nigeria to finish bottom in Group F
• 11/4 on Ghana to advance from Group G
• 9/5 on Belgium to finish 1st and Russia to finish 2nd in Group H
• 12/1 on Sergio Agüero to win the Golden Boot

Let's see how this goes.

[wonderbread]

cool stats from ESPN http://espn.uol.com.br/infografico/censo-copa/index-en.html?ex_cid=espnsoc

[Muggens]

Group A

1. Brazil

2. Croatia

3. Cameroon

4. Mexico

Group B

1. Spain

2. Netherlands

3. Chile

4. Australia

Group C

1. Ivory Coast

2. Colombia

3. Japan

4. Greece

Group D

1. Italy

2. England

3. Uruguay

4. Costa Rica

Group E

1. France

2. Ecuador

3. Switzerland

4. Honduras

Group F

1. Argentina

2. Bosnia and Herzegovina

3. Nigeria

4. Iran

Group G

1. Germany

2. Portugal

3. Ghana

4. United States

Group H

1. Belgium

2. South Korea

3. Russia

4. Algeria

Round of 16

Brazil d. Netherlands

England d. Ivory Coast

France d. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Germany d. France

Spain d. Croatia

Italy d. Colombia

Argentina d. Ecuador

Belgium d. Portugal

Quarterfinals

Brazil d. England

Germany d. France

Spain d. Italy

Argentina d. Belgium

Semifinals

Germany d. Brazil

Spain d. Argentina

Third Place

Brazil d. Argentina

Final

Spain d. Germany

[VictoriaGooner]

I'll go ahead and put my "money" on...

• 4/1 on Argentina to win the World Cup
• 11/10 on Brazil and Croatia to advance from Group A
• 5/6 on Chile to advance from Group B
• 3/1 on Côte d'Ivoire to win Group C
• 9/4 on Uruguay and England to advance from Group D
• 4/1 on France to win all three group stage matches in Group E
• 3/1 on Nigeria to finish bottom in Group F
• 11/4 on Ghana to advance from Group G
• 9/5 on Belgium to finish 1st and Russia to finish 2nd in Group H
• 12/1 on Sergio Agüero to win the Golden Boot

Let's see how this goes.

I think I would put my money on this too...I just think I might do that tonight