With the European play-off draw having taken place I thought now was a decent time for a main thread for the build-up to the tournament.
Portugal v Sweden
France v Ukraine
Greece v Romania
Iceland v Croatia
Croatia have been pants lately so I'd say Iceland have a great chance of qualifying. I'd fancy Sweden over the Portuguese so we could have a Ronaldo-less World Cup.
I'd love to see Iceland qualify, never realised until recently just how small the country is, 300k and only 20k registered footballers which includes everyone down to park football.
Hopefully Portugal, France, Romania and Iceland. Would love to see Croatia there ahead of every other play-off team except Iceland, never mind. Sad that one of Ronaldo and Ibra won't be there.
That's identical to my feelings on it. I want Zlatan at the World Cup but also Ronaldo needs to be there. I always want Croatia to do well but it would be amazing for Iceland to go, especially to see Eidur Gudjohnsen at a big international tournament.
I saw an idea on Football 365 which is mental and would never happen but could potentially be great fun just to think about.
A "my country didn't qualify" squad. Bale, Zlatan/Cristiano, Lewandowski, Vidic etc.
Pretty interesting draw - none seem like foregone conclusions. Portugal and France probably got the hardest draws they could without facing each other.
For nostalgic reasons Romania making it would be nice - they contributed a lot to the tournaments in the 1990s- but I don't much about their current squad and I always find myself rooting for Greece when they make a tournament so I'd be happy with either of those going through
It would be great to see Iceland make it but seems unlikely, they came through a fairly weak group. I like seeing a few new teams making the finals though - I was pleased Bosnia finally made it and Burkina Faso have a great chance. Hopefully Iceland can do it too
Uruguay and Mexico are the likely two remaining teams to quality which (according to a few sites) means these are the likely pots.
Pot 1
Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Uruguay*
Spain
Germany
Belgium
Switzerland
Pot 2
Japan
Australia
Iran
South Korea
USA
Costa Rica
Honduras
Mexico*
Pot 3
Chile
Ecuador
Ivory Coast
Nigeria
Cameroon
Ghana
Algeria
Russia
Pot 4
Netherlands
Italy
Bosnia-Herzegovina
England
Portugal
France
Greece
Croatia
Draw on Dec 6th. If we avoid Chile and Russia in Pot 3 it would have to be a pretty big cock up for us not to get through. Hope we get Ghana or Ivory Coast.
Ghana are apparently a very good side at the moment. They smashed Egypt 6-1 in the first play-off leg which suggests they must be alright.
New Zealand had ONE JOB to score five more goals than Mexico.
Stupid fucking kiwis.
It's absolutely adorable how excited the kiwi fans get whenever they touch the ball or complete a pass, though.
There's just something beautiful with the kiwi reaction to that penalty.
My lord kiwis have to be the most inherently happy people in the world.
Oh my god another goal. What an amazing people.
They could yet pull this off.... only need 6 more in the last 10 minutes!
Fucking Mexico.
I just hate Mexico so much. I don't want any Mexicans to be happy.
Racist. Going to call you Judas Griffin.
It's not racist, it's truth.
My favorite thing last World Cup was watching US v England, talking shit and getting into a giant Yanks v English "God Save The Queen" vs "My Country Tis of Thee" sing off and buying drinks for one another. It was brilliant.
US vs Brazil at the Confederation Cup, they tried to teach me how to dance.
Gold Cup against Mexico? Try to dodge the glass beer bottles that are hurled at you.
The Mexican team is disgusting and their supporters are somehow worse than that.
Fuck Mexico.
Oh my god I hate Mexico.
Mexico >>>>>>>>> USA
Mexico only scraped through to the PLAY OFF because the USA beat Panama in a meaningless game (for the USA) to end the qualifiers. If it wasn't for the USA, Panama would have played NZ instead...Originally Posted by Simon
And given that Mexico finished SIX points behind Costa Rica and Australia beat Costa Rica last night, I think we can safely say that Australia > Mexico.
I've always loved the USA team. They're all typical American 110% give it there all playing for the badge types. Never seem to have any divers either. I might get the strip.
Thanks for your contributions to this thread Judas. Your soccerball knowledge is excellent.
I'm glad you appreciate my biting commentary and extremely detailed analysis.
Ever since the days of Reyna I've had a bit of a soft spot for the yanks team. Captain america was stunning for us. I always wanted bedoya to get run of games as he always looked like he had potential to be brilliant
Robbie Findlay was, and no doubt still is, dogshit.
But he runs really fast!
Also lol @ Croatia for being a bunch of demonstrative Nazi supporters. Again. If anyone has an issue with it, "That's their problem."
Last edited by Judas Iscariot; November 21st, 2013 at 4:56 AM.
One of their players is a born and raised AustralianStupid European countries poaching some of our best through ancestry
It's like when Rossi decided to play for Italy. Forever may he be cursed.
I assume it makes Aussies twitch when Aussie-born players go off to play for their "homeland" too?
Hey kurac, you're Australian. Odi u picku materinu. Ubit cu te, pa te mrtvog jebat.
Ajmo.
Last edited by Judas Iscariot; November 21st, 2013 at 5:39 AM.
Aye that's Simunic, has the most caps for them. He was the one sent off after getting THREE yellows and was running around flashing Nazi salutes and getting the crowd to get in on the Ustace Nazi chant.One of their players is a born and raised Australian
What sort of prison colony are you running down there, Grim?
And what sort minority segment of any particular nation takes pride in being historically used by the Nazis to exterminate human beings?
My girl and her family, especially because her mother grew up as a Croat on the Serbian side of the border, absolutely despise it. But she's got cousins where I look at them and I'm like, "What the fuck?"
Everybody think Spain have had their day? They've not looked at all convincing lately. I can't look past Brazil, on quality alone I'd probably have them behind Germany but you can't ignore those lunatics that support them. It will be a cauldron for opponents.
I don't know, Spain still have the strongest team and squad around. They maybe lack a truly great attacking player at the moment, with Villa on the wane and Torres a disaster, but they still have some very good forwards. It must be tough for them to keep winning and they have to go all around the world to play friendlies, it's bound to take its toll on the squad. I think when it comes to the challenge of retaining the World Cup and winning it outside of Europe, in Brazil especially, they'll be inspired by that.
Germany for me still have problems with their defence and are too open, Spain have the ability to kill a game off. Germany had a pretty easy group but their games against Sweden home and away showed the problems they have with how open their play is. They will give chances to the opposition. Brazil I think have problems in midfield and are probably going to rely on Neymar, the pressure on him will be intense. The pressure on the whole team might be unmanageable, especially with the recent civil unrest and general anger at the tournament organisation and how it fits in to the country's social/financial inequalities. If the team doesn't do well and win in style, it could get very ugly for them.
Argentina obviously have weaknesses in their team in defence too but attacking-wise, you can't argue with Messi, Aguero, Higuain, di Maria, Lavezzi and Lamela. There's no better attacking line-up around. Messi and Aguero especially can score against anyone.
Totti is going to come out of retirement again and bang Italy to victory I reckon. And if he doesn't, he'll just keep playing until the next World Cup.
It would be glorious to see. I suppose you can never discount the Italians, they are winners as a footballing nation. If Rossi is fit it will be interesting to see him and Balotelli together, on paper it looks like a great partnership.
No European team has ever won it when it's been held in South America - are we pretty much accepting that will change next year?
Not really, Argentina and Brazil are up there as possibilities for sure. You would assume it would be out of them, Spain and Germany.
There's a couple of other interesting South American teams as well. Uruguay's partnership of Cavani and Suarez has two of the in-form players in Europe over the past couple of years and they complement each other well. Columbia too are getting a lot of hipster praise, particularly for having James Rodriguez and Falcao. Of course underdogs never actually win the World Cup but there's always the hope something weird will happen if a team does sneak its way to the semis.
Chile must have a shout. Two top class players in key positions and excellent form under a new coach.
Everyone always touts these teams with a couple of class players but it never happens - it's all well and good talking about Sanchez, Suarez, Falcao etc, but that ignores the mediocre elements of the team. If someone said "Oh England have got a chance, look at Rooney and Gerrard" then we'd rightly laugh in their stupid, probably fat, faces.
I'd be stunned if anyone outside the four I mentioned won it, even Italy and Holland seem to have fundamental flaws that will prevent them from going beyond the semis at absolute best.
Australia are going to win it.
Talking about Cavani and Suarez or Falcao and Rodriguez is a little different to talking about Gerrard and Rooney I would argue, and that would be true even talking about Gerrard and Rooney 5 years ago. I don't think the rest of the teams could be called poor, either, the point is that decent teams with a couple of great players can win games at a tournament.
Last edited by El Capitano Gatisto; November 22nd, 2013 at 7:32 AM.
Colombia also have Jackson Martinez who has scored a billion goals at Porto and Bacca going from a bucketload of goals at Club Brugge to scoring regularly in La Liga. That's some decent depth just up front that you wouldn't say England have either.
In previous tournaments I would have agreed with you - Brazil 2002 being a notable example, Greece in 2004 at the Euros as well. But the standard is so high at the top level now with Spain raising the bar that I don't think it's enough to have a couple of superstars any more. If you want to look at a team with a weird mix of superstars up front and fairly mediocre players further back in the team, Argentina are a far better bet than Uruguay, Chile or Colombia. I'd have a ridiculous team like France as more likely winners than any of those, simply because IF they managed to pull it together, the quality in the side is unreal. It's all or nothing with them really, abject failure in the groups or it all clicks and they smash their way into the semis or further.
Interesting also that after all the hype about Belgium being dark horses, they got filled in twice over the international break and now everyone has forgotten about them. Apparently Japan were fantastic against them (won 3-2), and they got a draw against Holland too. Should be a laugh watching them.
Last edited by Simon; November 22nd, 2013 at 7:40 AM.
Yeah Columbia have more than just those two players, it was just to illustrate the point. Jackson Martinez has looked brilliant in the CL for Porto, it seems unlikely he'll be there past this season. He is a bit like Falcao at Porto actually, waiting for someone to take a punt and stump up the transfer fee for him.
Any team with match-winners can win a knock-out game on a given day. The level of consistency Spain have shown is something new, but no team looks invincible. Pretty much every tournament I've seen in my lifetime has seen a fairly average or under-rated/under-appreciated team go far with a couple of great players (Argentina in 1990, Sweden and Bulgaria in 1994, Brazil and Italy were workman-like teams pulled along by Romario and Baggio in 1994, Czech Republic in 1996, Croatia in 1998, Germany in 2002, Greece in 2004 etc. etc.) and it's not a stretch to say a team could do it once they get to the semis. Uruguay got there last time, I think Suarez and Cavani are better players since then and the team has won a Copa America in the interim too. Argentina have these great attacking players but have enough vulnerability about them to be hurt by other teams. Same goes for Germany and Brazil. Players like Suarez and Cavani can exploit any vulnerability in a team because they are superb. The argument against it is that the same 4 teams (Brazil, Italy, Germany and Argentina) tend to win the World Cup but it's not to say it can't happen. The tournament only happens every 4 years so surprises are obviously going to be rare, but the chances are a strange winner will happen at some point and having fantastic attacking players can carry a team pretty far.
Well I hope you're right as I'd love to see a team win it from left-field, but I can't see it happening just yet. I just think that the standard of those four teams is way above anyone else. Maybe the fact that it's in South America will play into the likes of Uruguay and Colombia's hands, if the weather is too much for the Europeans and the pressure is too much for Brazil.
Japan are part of the WC furniture now. Head and shoulders above every other team in Asia with some brilliant players. Can't wait to see Honda step up a level at AC Milan come the new year.
Love Japan. They were actually pretty impressive at the last world cup and given they had quite a few young players people were already talking them up to do well this time around.
And it does seem that Colombia are legitimately dangerous now. Lots of very good players at high profile clubs in their prime. They're a settled side that play exciting football. Every reason for them to be the trendy "dark horse" pick.
..
Don't know if any of you cunts are aware but the World Cup draw starts in about twenty minutes. I would post the pots but tbh I don't fully understand them so I'll just put the fucking draw up as it happens.
Group A
Brazil
Cameroon
Mexico
Croatia
Group B
Spain
Chile
Australia
Holland
Group C
Colombia
Ivory Coast
Japan
Greece
Group D
Uruguay
Italy
Costa Rica
England
Group E
Switzerland
Ecuador
Honduras
France
Group F
Argentina
Nigeria
Iran
Bosnia
Group G
Germany
Ghana
USA
Portugal
Group H
Belgium
Algeria
Good Korea
Russia
Last edited by Simon; December 6th, 2013 at 1:16 PM.
What was wrong with the other thread you sliderule?
That was for the uh...build-up
The draw starts soon lads.
SUCK YOUR MUM
What time does it actually start? Seems like a lot of build up!
Brazil, Algeria, Iran and England in Group H please.
14 minutes lads.
Ahahaha group stage exit nailed on.
Ouch.
Ahaha. Absolutely brilliant. Manaus too. Will be great fun.
..
That's a rough draw for England, they'll be doing well to get out of that group. Italy can start slowly, but they'll fancy themselves to win after Euro 2012, and Uruguay will be a nightmare for England with Suarez and Cavani up front.
France are such jammy cunts. Their group is a poor state of affairs. Belgium got a favourable draw too.
Group of death is definitely: Germany, USA, Ghana and Portugal. Germany should top it, but second place is wide open, depending on how Ronaldo plays.
Spain, Chile, Holland, Australia is another interesting group (Australia are going to get shat on).
England will probably have to settle for a Europa league place.
(INSERT SIGNATURE HERE)
We are not getting out of that group but it will be a fun set of matches at least.
I'm sure France will still find a way to spectacularly crash out.
Love Group B. Three potentially super matches there (Spain/Chile in Maracana too).
..
Ouch tough draw for the US. Have to beat Ghana in the opener and have to do something against one of the other two to even have a chance to get out of that group.
I can already see England getting screwed. Draw with Italy and potentially Italy and Uruguay could manufacture a draw to knock us out.
Bloody foreigners.
Can we start the sweepstake for who gets blamed by the media for England's exit?
Suarez is nailed on to do something cheaty and awful.
a) Manager
b) Guy who misses the penalty
c) The bloke who got sent off
d) Ref
e) Foreigner(s)
Break Gerrard's leg in training during the last week of the season.
Suarez is gonna do something nuts before the end of the seaskn, get hounded out of the country before the World Cup and shove it right up us when we play them. Nailed on.
Meh. We generally get a decent draw and struggle, so why not get a good draw for a change, who cares?
Ha!
Who did Scotland get?
Don't care. I'm going to have a chuckle next summer
Bring on 2018.
It's tough for England but not impossible. We could sneak a 0-0 against Italy - a dull game in hard conditions but we'll all be too drunk to care about that - and then four points from the last two games would do it. If we go through you wouldn't fear anyone from group C.
Then there are two other really strong groups - Spain's and Germany's - which should make for a great start to the tournament
Cracking draw- really looking forward to the summer
If Australia score a goal I'll piss on my own face
QUOTED.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ule?CMP=twt_gu
Analysis on WC group strength. Australia with the toughest, apparently, wooo.
They'll still nick a goal for a bit of pissy face action.
I'm also glad they put a picture of Neymar on the graph. Necessary.
Was looking at Sturridge Scoring & assisting record this season and seen it's similar rate to Sergio Aguero this season.
Sturridge 13(2) games, 13 goals, 3 assists
Aguero 15(1) games, 15 goals, 5 assists
That's pretty incredible when you think about it. Those statistics just can't be ignored. Its surprising how he is going under the radar to some extent. Its a world cup year and he is English, I thought the media would be all over him.
Surely him upfront with Rooney behind him.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...razil-kit-2014
New England kit has been unveiled after FIFA asked that teams play in one colour kits for some wanky reason. It's another story to get the tournament back on the radar though.
I was putting together my squad of 23 and couldn't come up with a single decent choice for even third centre-half in the squad let alone fourth. It's not like the first two are much good either. Other than that though I'm quite liking the look of England at the minute.
Think I'd go:
Hart
Foster
Forster
Johnson
Jones
Baines
Cole
Jagielka
Cahill
Caulker
Gerrard
Carrick
Wilshere
Henderson
Lallana
Stirling
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Barkley
Rooney
Sturridge
Welbeck
Rodriguez
Lambert
Could be persuaded to squeeze Milner and Carroll in there for Barkey and Lambert.
Last edited by Beefy; March 31st, 2014 at 8:36 AM.
I would take Milner ahead of every midfielder you've mentioned.
Goalkeepers
Hart, Forster, Foster
Defenders
Cole, Shaw, Cahill, Jagielka, Caulker, Jones, Johnson
Midfielders
Gerrard, Carrick, Henderson, Wilshere, Milner, Lallana, Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley
Forwards
Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck, Carroll
Nothing particularly controversial in my list other than Baines not making it. Just never been in the least bit convinced by him at international level for whatever reason, Shaw looked more at home in 45 minutes against Denmark than Baines ever has. Carroll ahead of Lambert as his size offers something that even the best defenders will struggle with, and I think Barkley and Sterling are essentials now, not necessarily as starters (Sterling should IMO but I would understand the logic of using him as an impact sub) but they have that added bit of class that you're just not going to get from Townsend, Rodriguez, Adam Johnson if he's still in the reckoning.
First eleven is more difficult to call. The spine of the team is pretty much set in stone, but picking two from Lallana/Welbeck/Sterling on the wings is difficult as they all have different but worthy reasons for being picked. For me left back simply depends on who we're playing - Shaw against inferior sides (so basically Costa Rica
Hart
Johnson - Cahill - Jagielka - Cole
Carrick - Gerrard
Lallana - Rooney - Welbeck
Sturridge
I disagree with you Biffo on third choice centre back - I think Caulker is class, and is doing more than anyone to help keep Cardiff up, not only defending superbly but captaining the side and popping up with regular goals. It's a shame he's only got one cap so far as I think once he's established he will easily be good enough to be a regular in the squad if not the first eleven...but God help us if Jones gets any playing time at centre back. I agree that we suddenly have reasonable strength in depth for the first time in a while, with young players like Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley and Shaw likely to be on the bench but more than ready to make an impact if needed. Just a shame that after twenty years of lacking almost everywhere but, it's now our defence that looks ropey. Cahill/Jagielka is fine but it's hardly Ferdinand/Terry/Campbell/King/Carragher. There doesn't seem to be much on the horizon either - Caulker will go on to be class (we're already linked with getting him back, which we absolutely should do if possible) but beyond that very little. I believe Lascelles at Forest is very highly rated and expected to go right to the top, but beyond that ther'es nothing really is there? Wisdom at Derby?
Last edited by Simon; March 31st, 2014 at 9:01 AM.
Honest to god I don't think Caulker is anything special at all. Don't think he's smart enough to play regular international football either.
Think Liam Moore at Leicester looks a good shout for the future.
Harry Maguire might do alright too.
John Stones although not a CB could be an important player down the line.
If Roy takes Townsend as well fucking hell that would be some move as he looks like a nothing player. Prepared to be proven wrong on that in the summer
I'd have no issue with having Milner in the squad. I like him. But I think we have enough players of enough quality whereby we don't need him. He's barely playing nowadays.
Townsend did do well in those last couple of games in Qualifying but, again, there's enough players playing better and playing more in the Premier League every week that I don't see how he can take a space in the squad.
Based on what? He's an immobile lump.
Back to kits, looks like if FIFA did ask for teams to play in one colour then we're about the only side doing it.
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/kits/...up-photos.html
Last edited by Beefy; March 31st, 2014 at 9:41 AM.
I've been impressed with his positioning and ability under a high ball. That said I know it's league one but thought he did well in the FA Cup against higher league opposition. I don't think he's better than Caulker for example but think he's someone who may get a move sooner than later.
So many tasty kits for the World Cup in that list. Argentina, Holland and Brazil always come up with the goods. Brazil and Argentina's away kits and Germany's home kit are the balls as well. Ours doesn't look bad at all, it's just boring to have the same kit every year. I'd be alright with having similar home kits if we tried something different with the away kit every now and then.
Milner will definitely go, I'd expect him to start the two difficult group games too.
Baines seems a certainty too and I'd expect Cole to edge out Shaw given the relative youth likely to go on the wings and up front.
Wouldn't be surprised to see Townsend go no matter how shit he is.
Wilshere might not be fit, in fact I'd say he's a serious doubt considering his record and our pathetic record of predicting when he'll be back. Gerrard and Carrick would be torn apart, need a bit of pace and drive in the deep midfield role. Not sure Ox is ready for it but he might be a shout.
I don't see England winning a game in all honesty.
Townsend isn't outright shit, he's just incredibly predictable. He's still probably enough of an unknown quantity (despite being three years older he's played half as many top flight games as Sterling) that his direct running would put the shits up a few defences...but he's easily the weakest of the realistic options we have on the wings, so hopefully he won't go.
Forgot about Henderson, he's been class. Fuck it, just try and recreate the Liverpool team. Gerrard and Henderson deep, Sturridge, Rooney and Sterling switching positions all the time and Lallana vaguely hugging a wing or playing off the front. That might be exciting though, no chance we see that from Roy.
I think we might just surprise a few people if Hodgson shows a bit of bottle and takes the handbrake off. Not 100% convinced that Lallana will transfer his Premier League class to the international stage, but I honestly think Sterling and Sturridge could massively enhance their reputations this summer. Sterling is improving so quickly it's insane, in the space of a few months he's changed from a direct winger without much in the way of intelligence or diligence into a really hard working, clever player who is happy moving centrally and playing between the lines. He's lightning quick (not far off Walcott I would say?) and stronger than he looks. I didn't pay much attention to the hype when he first came onto the scene, a bit jaded by the talk of previous wonderkids who never made anything of themselves...but Sterling looks the real deal to me.
Sadly in all likelihood we'll play with Sturridge on the right doing fuck all and Sterling sitting on the bench if he goes at all. But if Hodgson shows a bit of sack I think contrary to every previous tournament over the past 16 years, our best bet would be to play attacking football - the defence isn't up to scratch and we have some genuine quality in various areas in attack, so why not have a fucking go?
I think that might be the first "third" international kit I've seen. Well done Brazil on making a bit more cash.
Even if Wilshere is fit in time he shouldn't go based on his performances this season. Sadly just like Lampard he's probably guaranteed a spot.
John Stones is a CB....
Id have him on the plane for Brazil if they are looking at some younger lads. Hes going to be brilliant in a few years.
Henderson is no good deep, he needs to be further up the pitch defending from the front and generally being awesome:
Hart
Johnson - Cahill - Jagielka - Cole
Gerrard - Carrick
Henderson - Rooney - Sterling
Sturridge
Right back at Barnsley wasn't he? When he was signed there was chat about looking at John Brayford and someone else at same time.
I assumed he was Coleman's heir apparent if you cashed in
Thought he was only in cb due to injuries very interesting. He's a big boy too
Reply With Quote
