2014 World Cup Thread

[Computron]

Since this thing is just about ready to get started, we may as well have a thread on it.

Before talking about the teams though I did want to briefly mention one thing regarding Brazil. My Mom is from Brazil. I love Brazil. Beautiful country, amazing people and food.

Terrible choice for the Cup and for the 2016 Olympics.

It's all over the news, but stadiums aren't complete, costs are ridiculously over estimates, corruption is rampant, and all this money could have been used on addressing the rampant poverty but instead it'll go into stadiums being built in the jungle that'll never be used again.

It's depressing really.

But anyways...

So Group G. I know this year there are multiple Groups of Death, but for the U.S., we have an awful, just awful, set of matches ahead of us. Ghana, Portugal and Germany.

We have to beat Ghana. It's not even an option to lose or tie. We have to beat Ghana and at least split the difference against Portugal and Germany and hope one of those two teams just beat the crap outta Ghana.

We have a really young, relatively untested team, but we've also made a lot of strides recently. Doing well in CONCACAF is becoming a regular occurrence rather than an exception. We beat Mexico in Mexico, which we hadn't done in ever. Also beat Italy, so the talent is there.

I of course want the U.S. team to go far in the tourney, but more importantly, I don't want this to be a repeat of 2006 where we got obliterated. I want it to be more like 2002 where we got to the Quarterfinals and surprised everyone. This time, let's go even further.

[Best First]

England will win.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

what?

[Computron]

http://fivethirtyeight.com/interactives/world-cup/

You have a 34% chance of winning and a 63% of making it outta the group rounds, so not bad!

I don't even want to comment on the U.S.'s chances =(

[Best First]

never tell me the odds kid

[Professor Smooth]

Holy ****! America!

[Computron]

I think I need to see a cardiologist after that game!

Ok, first, WOW. So glad we won. That initial Dempsey strike was brilliant and was a much needed morale boost.

The next 80 minutes were gut wrenching though. I know we took a lot of injuries, but we have to maintain some offense. We did not have nearly enough possession.

Also we should be counting our blessings that we have Tim Howard.

But Brooks! That goal!

I'm still shaking.

We gotta beat Portugal now!

[Brendocon]

Never score in the first minute.

Like seriously, it's never a good game plan.

Haven't seen the rest of the match though.

[Computron]

Never score in the first minute.

Like seriously, it's never a good game plan.

Haven't seen the rest of the match though.

Skip to the 80 minute mark and watch from there.

Although Howard does make some spectacular saves prior to that point and Dempsey got a broken nose for his efforts as well.

Anyone else cheering on Algeria at the moment? I'm trying to understand why the Belgian player decided pulling down an Algerian inside the box, in full view of the ref was a good idea.

So far this World Cup seems to be having a lot of underdog moments, which I am loving.

[Shanti418]

Adios Spain

[Computron]

Heartbreaking, but we're out.

Still, MVP for Tim Howard. 16 saves, most in a WC game since 1966 apparently. Everton are lucky to have him.

I really do wonder how losing Altidore hurt us. Having a higher quality striker on the front end would have helped tremendously. I also think having Donovan on the field would have helped Bradley tremendously. But those are all what ifs.

What's more important is that it seems Team USA has stabilized as an entity that can compete and win against the traditional powerhouses. It's a huge change. In addition, WC viewership in the U.S. is breaking records all over the place. They had to open Soldier Field in Chicago so that people could view the games.

I gotta give it to Klinsmann. I still think we needed Donovan, but my word has that man been able to squeeze every drop of talent out of our team and then some. Now it is just a matter of keeping people healthy (Seriously why so many hamstring injuries?), building up a tighter offense and telling our backs to stiffen up so that Howard doesn't have to single-handedly save our bacon everytime. I hope we either have a brilliant keeper waiting in the wings, or that Howard is still able to play at an international level in another 4 years.

[bumblemusprime]

DEUTSCHLAND