World Cup 2014 (SPOILERS, YO!)

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:42 pm

More like SWISS toast, ammirite?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:49 pm

Dumb jokes > Smart jokes

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:54 pm

The Swiss are done like a steak that has been slowly marinated in a pot of stewed tomatoes.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:29 pm

French radio

http://direct-radio.fr/ecouter-la-radio-en-direct" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

they're a tad excited.

"Fromage Suisse"
"Ribery? C'est Qui?"

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:32 pm

This is ridiculous.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:32 pm

Group of Joke

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:33 pm

Swiss ain't chard.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:39 pm

alright! comeback!

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:40 pm

Mexico coach defends gay slur chant by crowd

...The chant became popular during a Mexico-USA qualifying match for the 2004 Olympics.

ETA: a more thoughtful discussion of the issue.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:43 pm

Ok cameramen — less football, more swiss chicks in the stands.

Post by **brian** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:53 pm

I'm sure the Mexicans would also laugh it off if ten thousand people were chanting racial slurs for Latinos at them in the same situation.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:46 pm

howard wrote:
brian wrote:Pretty cool story right here.

The dog tags are part of the Commitment to Service initiative created by Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, who is focused on making a deeper connection between the military and sports leagues and stars.
Jesus fucking christ on a stick. Focus more on winning wars, less on domestic propaganda. The tying of militarism to my beloved sports deeply angers me. Letting servicepeople come to games, meet players, form friendships like this is great, I love it. But I cannot ignore or forget the bullshit from the brass, the cynical manipulation of public sentiment that is at the root of such 'focus'.

Agreed. I'm tired of the militarization/patriotism/jingoism of sports. Fucking propaganda.

Post by **brian** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:53 pm

govmentchedda wrote:
howard wrote:
brian wrote:Pretty cool story right here.

The dog tags are part of the Commitment to Service initiative created by Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, who is focused on making a deeper connection between the military and sports leagues and stars.
Jesus fucking christ on a stick. Focus more on winning wars, less on domestic propaganda. The tying of militarism to my beloved sports deeply angers me. Letting servicepeople come to games, meet players, form friendships like this is great, I love it. But I cannot ignore or forget the bullshit from the brass, the cynical manipulation of public sentiment that is at the root of such 'focus'.
Agreed. I'm tired of the militarization/patriotism/jingoism of sports. Fucking propaganda.

I think there's a line and this doesn't really cross it for me. I by and large agree with you though. Nothing chafes me more than going to a football game and having the team trot out of a serviceman to midfield between quarters and the rah-rah yay, America bullshit and you're not a patriot if you don't give the guy a standing ovation. (And don't fucking get me started on Fox Sports, I can only imagine how they're going to fuck up the World Cup coverage.)

This thing seems more like a really cool, pretty low-key way of honoring the military and giving the USMNT some more motivation (not that they should need it, but every little bit can't hurt).

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:55 pm

Chris Waddle is pissed

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:06 pm

I wanted to add to this

1966

Champions League: Real Madrid
La Liga: Athletico Madrid
Fulham Relgated
Team came back from 0-2 to win FA Cup
Eurovision: Austria
First Round Exit: Spain
World Cup: Host Country

Post by **brian** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:35 pm

Another great game. Honduras scores in the 31st minute and Ecuador equalizes in the 34th.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:36 pm

I think this is the non-US game I would most want to be at, from an atmosphere perspective

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:41 pm

BBC Documentary about soccer and Brazil

Hosted by Gary Linekar

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:47 pm

brian wrote:Another great game. Honduras scores in the 31st minute and Ecuador equalizes in the 34th.

It's not my tax dollars being wasted, so I can say that this World Cup has been awesome. The big games are still to come, but what a joy this past week has been.

The Ecuador game was really exciting. The absolute euphoria you see in some of these fans - and not the ones who jump up and wave when the camera's on them 0 is incredible. There were shots of Costa Ricans and Ecuadoreans today that looked as if their heads were about to explode with joy.

That French Guy · Post by **That French Guy** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:16 am

Johnny Carwash wrote:
elflaco wrote:how is it England can't produce better players? the best players in teh world play there, yet England shows no creativity or innovation.
A few years ago I read Soccernomics, which incidentally was published in the UK as Why England Lose (I believe I first heard about the book here, btw, so others might want to elaborate). The author's thesis on England's recent struggles is that the more successful European teams (Spain, Italy, Germany) draw from all levels of society, while in England there is still a strong cultural idea that soccer is a working-class game, and young people from the middle/upper classes are either disinterested in pursuing playing careers or are made to feel unwelcome when they do. He pointed out that of the player's on England's recent rosters, only a handful came from middle-class or higher backgrounds.

A few days late to this topic but while I loved Soccernomics and highly recommend it, I'm not sure I buy this one theory completly. France, where everyone likes to think he's a philosopher, has the same attitude towards soccer, with most elite/educated people looking down to it and considering the fans and players as brainless morons (not that players are immune to it, with Ribery reportedly picking on Gourcuff every fucking time he saw him just because the guy was not sixth-grade smart. and maybe gay).
Same situation and while the recent years have seen their share of spectacular frog failure, overall the last 20 years were far more successful for us than our friends (ahaha!) across the Channel.

Like other swampers, I'd put most blame on top clubs buying spree and regularly filling in squads with 9 foreigners and a couple of 30+ english guys (as great as they are).

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:26 pm

Mo in west africa.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:29 pm

Not so much. Fun 20 mins coming.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:30 pm

Cracking second half.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:31 pm

I think Ghana would win the World Cup if there were never any subs

Post by **brian** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:38 pm

Group of Death for realz.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:48 pm

Like a pickup game now

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:55 pm

that collision...

Post by **brian** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 4:01 pm

Great game, I feel a lot better about our performance against Ghana. I knew instinctively that they're a damn good team and they proved it today. It wasn't a classic German performance, but it's not like the Germans played poorly. Need to step on Portugal's neck early tomorrow and then we can play for a draw against Germany and win the group.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 4:09 pm

brian wrote:Great game, I feel a lot better about our performance against Ghana. I knew instinctively that they're a damn good team and they proved it today. It wasn't a classic German performance, but it's not like the Germans played poorly. Need to step on Portugal's neck early tomorrow and then we can play for a draw against Germany and win the group.

Ghana played much better today. The game against the US, although they looked dangerous going forward, had too wayward passes, too many needless fouls and countless shots into Row Z. Today they were organized, battled for balls and won one-on-one battles instead of just sliding in. Muntari is still nuts though.

US can advance tomorrow, that's pretty crazy.

Post by **brian** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 6:22 pm

I would have bet anything Bosnia would have been the second team through in this group. And they got dicked on the disallowed goal but they've not really impressed despite that.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 6:51 pm

What huge save. Pretty much clinches 2nd place for Nigeria.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 7:21 pm

How to properly use referee's spray

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 7:37 pm

That second Ghana goal is exactly what the US spent 90 minutes trying to prevent.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:39 pm

brian wrote:I would have bet anything Bosnia would have been the second team through in this group. And they got dicked on the disallowed goal but they've not really impressed despite that.

Both teams pretty much looked like they have no business dreaming of the round of 16.

Post by **brian** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:34 am

I'm at the sportsbook looking at lines for the upcoming games and Cote D'Ivoire is somehow -1.5 goals at +105 to Greece. Am I missing something? With the way the Greeks defend isn't that a solid bet (Greece at -125). I might throw my winnings from the Kings in the Stanley Cup on that.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:46 am

I'd be careful.

1. Greece must win so they won't be defending as much. If CIV score first theyll throw everyone forward so that +1.5 will be in danger.

2. They gave up 3 against Colombia

3. Japan have been terrible this WC..no stamina

4. Their captain is suspended.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:50 am

brian wrote:I'm at the sportsbook looking at lines for the upcoming games and Cote D'Ivoire is somehow -1.5 goals at +105 to Greece. Am I missing something? With the way the Greeks defend isn't that a solid bet (Greece at -125). I might throw my winnings from the Kings in the Stanley Cup on that.

Greece is not good, but Cote D'Ivoire has not impressed and had to come from behind against that turrible Japan team.

Wouldn't bet the house on it, but would definitely throw a few drachmas on it.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 12:21 pm

Belgium look very ordinary. All perimeter play.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 2:22 pm

degenerasian wrote:Belgium look very ordinary. All perimeter play.

That was an hour long nap bookended by some lame soccer. That Capello is a big game master.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 2:32 pm

Great football by Algeria. Route one.

England should take notes. They should play like this.