2014 World Cup - Group Stages

Group A:
BRAZIL , CAMEROON , CROATIA , MEXICO

Group B:
AUSTRALIA , CHILE , NETHERLANDS , SPAIN

Group C:
COLOMBIA , COTE D'IVOIRE , GREECE , JAPAN

Group D:
COSTA RICA , ENGLAND , ITALY , URUGUAY

Group E:
ECUADOR , FRANCE , HONDURAS , SWITZERLAND

Group F:
ARGENTINA , BOSNIA , IRAN , NIGERIA

Group G:
GERMANY , GHANA , PORTUGAL , USA

Group H:
ALGERIA , BELGIUM , KOREA REP , RUSSIA ,

Damn you Switzerland and your square flag!!!!!!

Just be glad Nepal didnt qualify

If Carlsberg did sponsor Chili..

brazil 4 - 0 panama. neymar making the show (his assis on the third goal was beautiful). I don't know why he doesn't take free-kicks at Barça.

it really begins at 1:30:

mongrel hawk wrote:brazil 4 - 0 panama. neymar making the show (his assis on the third goal was beautiful). I don't know why he doesn't take free-kicks at Barça.

it really begins at 1:30:

You've heard of Leo Messi? He takes all the decisions.

because scoring against keepers in europe isn't as easy as scoring against panama.

messiah wrote:because scoring against keepers in europe isn't as easy as scoring against panama.

Is Buffon good enough for you?

mongrel hawk wrote:

messiah wrote:because scoring against keepers in europe isn't as easy as scoring against panama.

Is Buffon good enough for you?

firstly no cause its the confed cup and second no because that's just shit keeping from buffon, how does he allow himself to get beat there.

neymar when take freekicks for us, when he puts in one good season and then messi may choose to allow him to.

Have to concur with Messiah here. That looked really poor from Buffon. Based on his reaction you would think Neymar had shot at 100 mph but it was a soft placed shot.

Mongrel
What do you think of Neymar's first season at Barcelona? I know you were a big supporter of him.

That was poor keeping, but it was still a pretty good free kick, even if not travelling particularly fast.

The main thing for me though was how Neymar "won" the freekick in the first place. Look at 30 seconds in, and he kicks the italian defender's leg and throws himself over. How much of that he is able to get away with in the world cup will directly determine how far Brazil go.

I understand. He should score against Getafe and Mallorca to prove himself as a good free-kick taker.   

@Super Progress

I think he was having a very good season until he was injured and the contract problem broke out. Then he was average. I also think he was worried about what the other players thought of him, especially Messi, which hindered his performances. I think he hasn't played 60% of his talent in Barça yet.

If Argentina or Spain win the WC, probably things will still be the same next season. However, suppose Brazil win this WC with Neymar having a very good WC, all his mates will look at him differently next season and he may even become Barça's most important player. You can see he's much more at ease in Brazil, where his talent is fully recognised by his team mates, than in Barça, where he's worried about proving himself.

That all sounds like probable reasons but I think the way Barca is set up doesn't suit him that well. Would love to see him in a counter attacking team where he could really let go. I suppose if Messi has another woeful WC while Neymar shines it could tip the balance a bit at the club. Supposedly Luis Enrique won't go for the old Barca style either.

Super Progress wrote:That all sounds like probable reasons but I think the way Barca is set up doesn't suit him that well. Would love to see him in a counter attacking team where he could really let go. I suppose if Messi has another woeful WC while Neymar shines it could tip the balance a bit at the club. Supposedly Luis Enrique won't go for the old Barca style either.

As long as Messi is there I don't think Neymar will always play second fiddle.

What is the "old Barca style" anyhow?

"I suppose if Messi has another woeful WC while Neymar shines it could tip the balance a bit at the club."

I think Super Progress is right. But there's a big IF here. IF Brazil win the WC (I'd say Brazil has a 25% chance of winning it) with Neymar being the best player, Barça would probably begin to play around Neymar. Neymar has a lot to grow yet. I guess this is just the beginning of a great player.

firstly. he will never become barca most important player once messi is on the pitch, secondly he will never become barca most important player until he develops some vision and top class passing ability to the way messi has over the years and how dinho was pretty much one of the best at both i have ever seen.

one can note the improvement in his performance once messi was out injured and the team player a more counter attacking game, he needs to learn to play with messi and messi with him, not to replace messi, he simply will never be that good. he wont even be as good as ronaldinho or any of the R's that came before him. that being said i think he will develop into being the best player in the world, once messi stops giving a fuck, which seems to happen to all south americans who are exceptionally, cant blame them though.

the only chance he has of replacing messi, was with rosell as president, because he wanted his player to be the foundation of the new barca.

I can see them selling neymar in 3-5 seasons if adama and delou develop the way one hopes and expects.

where he will go to a more counter attacking team and explode, he needs space to be his best, something due to how barca play he will never get, much like cesc who will be sold, because he hasn't learnt to play in less space.

winning the wc will help his case, but its the CL he needs to win, to start changing the dynamics within the team.

the WC is MEH, prestigious and all, but the CL is where the best football in the world is played and the players here know it

Jaime wrote:

Super Progress wrote:That all sounds like probable reasons but I think the way Barca is set up doesn't suit him that well. Would love to see him in a counter attacking team where he could really let go. I suppose if Messi has another woeful WC while Neymar shines it could tip the balance a bit at the club. Supposedly Luis Enrique won't go for the old Barca style either.

As long as Messi is there I don't think Neymar will always play second fiddle.

What is the "old Barca style" anyhow?

Barca's old style, is barca's new style. do I dont really get that either, but by all reports he will return to the barca model.

if anything neymar should have been more successful with tata, because he played a more vertical game, but tata was shit and couldn't implement it correctly

messiah wrote:I can see them selling neymar in 3-5 seasons if adama and delou develop the way one hopes and expects.

Yeah right is Adama gonna sell t-shirts and pose for magazine covers with Gisele?????

Jaime wrote:

messiah wrote:I can see them selling neymar in 3-5 seasons if adama and delou develop the way one hopes and expects.

Yeah right is Adama gonna sell t-shirts and pose for magazine covers with Gisele?????

No Rafinha will

Former national team boss Marcelo Lippi is confident that Italy will qualify from their World Cup group.

The current Guangzhou Evergrande Coach was in charge of the Azzurri for the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, and with that experience, is well-placed to give his opinion on the current squad.

“They will qualify,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “The last two friendlies, as far as I’m concerned, count for nothing.

“The point of those games was to mix things up and try different things.

“I personally think Italy will win their first game – we are stronger than the English. They still remember the beating we gave them in the Euros.

“That game went to penalties, but we completely dominated that match.

“Uruguay could be a trickier customer. Their Coach Tabarez always puts out a compact team and Suarez could well be fit at that point.”

If both England and Uruguay intend to park the bus / play it safe and compact, Italy will struggle against both. Italy are the most opportunistic team of all big teams, even more so than Brazil. Notorious slow starters they traditionally are, they'll have to be at 100% from the beginning this time.

On the plus side, the climatic challenges in Brazil actually suit them. Slowing down the tempo, absorbing pressure, playing it safe and being patient will most likely pay off in Brazil. If they manage to get out of the group, they'll go very far, maybe even win it.

Lippi should probably be a bit more humble though. It was him who was in charge last time, when Italy finished last in their group. Behind New Zealand.

Blut, have you actually watched Italy under Prandelli? opportunistics? absorbing pressure?  

Prandelli's always wanted to play attractive football and try and control the ball, and given that Italy's most talented players are in midfield and attack, and not in defence, this kind of game plan makes sense.

Being slow starters is only something historic (though in recent world cups, Italy havn't started slowly, they won the opening game in 2002 and 2006, and drew in 2010). But these historical tidbits are pointless. Afterall, Historically, Spain were sh!t at world cups, but that didn't matter one bit in 2010.

Yes, I have, and that still stands. Cosmetic changes don't really change anything about that.

Italy still struggle against deep defending teams, still struggle when they have to take the initiative. They still thrive when they can react instead of act.

If England and Uruguay concentrate on packing the defence and midfield, try to be opportunistic themselves, Italy will struggle, especially in the early stages of the tournament.

Any team will struggle to break down a side who parks the bus. Not just Italy.

However, Italy do have players like Cassano, Pirlo and Verratti who are capable of providing that bit of genius that can unlock a tight defence.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:Any team will struggle to break down a side who parks the bus. Not just Italy.

However, Italy do have players like Cassano, Pirlo and Verratti who are capable of providing that bit of genius that can unlock a tight defence.

Insigne could be dangerous too

Have no idea what to make of England. In theory they look better than in the past and wondering if Sterling won't provide some excitement but then I have to recount that players tend to be a straightjacket when it comes to the national team. If it is the England of old then I expect a victory or maybe a 0-0.

Do you think Cassano will start?

Manaus is a sauna. That match is going to be very unpredictable. If England are smart, and I think they're at least that smart, they'll try to conserve energy and play anything but the 100mph EPL style of game. Play deep, give the Italians the initiative and wait for counter attacking opportunities where you can use the pace of your young players.

It'll be shit on a steaming stick, humid and unwatchable, but it's likely going to pay off for them.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote: Former national team boss Marcelo Lippi is confident that Italy will qualify from their World Cup group.

The current Guangzhou Evergrande Coach was in charge of the Azzurri for the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, and with that experience, is well-placed to give his opinion on the current squad.

“They will qualify,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “The last two friendlies, as far as I’m concerned, count for nothing.

“The point of those games was to mix things up and try different things.

“I personally think Italy will win their first game – we are stronger than the English. They still remember the beating we gave them in the Euros.

“That game went to penalties, but we completely dominated that match.

“Uruguay could be a trickier customer. Their Coach Tabarez always puts out a compact team and Suarez could well be fit at that point.”

This England  team look nothing like the Euro 2012 version. We were solid  with no pace.  442 with Parker and Gerrard playing it to Andy Carroll FFS .  I disagree with Blut,  England's best chance of beating Italy involves playing essentially like Liverpool  this season,  press hard,  play fast one touch  counter attacking football based off the Gerrard Henderson pivot. Blitz and then settle into keep ball.  Try and park the bus and we'll  get slaughtered,  our back line is pants and give Pirlo space under no pressure and he'll pick us off.

Woy needs to make full use of the pace and unpredictability of his bench: Sterling,  Ox and Barkley (given the heat ) alongside the more known talents of Fat Rooney,  Lallana and Sturridge. Italian defences make mincemeat of the predictable. Make them play against quick transitions by players they won't  have necessarily  become overtly familiar with and we have a chance as I genuinely don't see Italy as a particularly athletic side.

PS excuses about heat is for nonces. Conserve energy once you're winning 3-0 says I.

Super Progress wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:Any team will struggle to break down a side who parks the bus. Not just Italy.

However, Italy do have players like Cassano, Pirlo and Verratti who are capable of providing that bit of genius that can unlock a tight defence.

Insigne could be dangerous too

Have no idea what to make of England. In theory they look better than in the past and wondering if Sterling won't provide some excitement but then I have to recount that players tend to be a straightjacket when it comes to the national team. If it is the England of old then I expect a victory or maybe a 0-0.

Do you think Cassano will start?

I don't think so. For the first game, i think Prandelli will be conservative and go for a 4-3-2-1 (i.e. the same team that played Luxembourg).

Cassano did look great when he came off the bench against Ireland and Luxembourg and looks like he has dropped a few kilos.

Pressing hard and trying to "blitz" Italy in the sauna of Manaus will make your team gasping for air after 30 minutes. The Italians will absorb the initial onslaught and then finish you off easily. That would be a very foolish approach. Italy will not "slaughter" you if you play a compact and smart game, on the contrary.

blutgraetsche wrote:Manaus is a sauna. That match is going to be very unpredictable. If England are smart, and I think they're at least that smart, they'll try to conserve energy and play anything but the 100mph EPL style of game. Play deep, give the Italians the initiative and wait for counter attacking opportunities where you can use the pace of your young players.

Stupid idea. England will get tired from chasing the ball. Ball retention is key in those conditions, and it's something England have struggled with for years.