The 2014 World Cup thread

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With the season finished now (Apologies Orient et al)I am now getting in the spirit for the World Cup as I have very one since West Germany broke my heart in 1970. Absolutely love it.

Argentina for me, I also fancy France to do better than expected

[StraferJack]

Ditto about the loving it

One of my favourite sporting events - added bonus this year is unusual kick off times

Best moments usually involve being in a pub/club/restaurant/home of competing nations when a big match happens. The passion and camaraderie is unsurpassed

fancy England to get further than expected and generate a good vibe across the country too

[SteveUK1978]

I agree SJ.

The expectations are low for England, but I have a feeling we will do ok. I did the predictor thingo at the link below, to win the thing we may have to get past Spain, Argentina & Brazil. Not easy!

http://games.espn.go.com/world-cup-bracket-predictor/2014/en/bracket

[red devil]

The season's not over yet...C'mon Fleetwood! :)

[Mick Mac]

Yet another football thread.....

Love the world cup quids but it often fails to deliver the big finale. But with highs and lows in the earlier stages.

Looking forward to it. Just wish England had chosen a better manager and had dumped the old midfield.

Looking forward to the England group games and the finger biting. England will not go "further than expected" last 16 at best.

[Jah Lush]

This for me is the greatest sporting event in the calendar. I can't wait for it to start but I still think we'll be home before the postcards. That shall not stop me from watching every single game though. Brazil or Argentina for me.

[Mick Mac]

I'd love for once to see a final that befits the event. That's the icing on the cake. Can't remember a good final since Argentina Germany in the 80s maybe.

[maxxi]

Refusing to commit to a prediction until I have my wall chart.

Looking forward to this one more than the last two to be frank - despite Hodgson - as we seem to have shrugged off some of the crap that went with the old guard. Hope Lampard and Gerrard (yes I know some still rate him but he always seems such a whingeing Jonah playing for Engand) are peripheral at best and that young/new blood is given its head.

[PokerTime]

Gerrard and Lampard have never been effective together in midfield against the better teams.

I don't expect much from England. I think it's the first time I've felt like that about a World Cup, but will be pleasantly suprised if we do punch above our weight. And it's because of that low expectation that Hodgeson should definitely use the younsters, and give them a chance.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Ah, West Germany 1970. At the end of the sticker book is my memory.

[Alan Medic]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qq861/episodes/guide

BBC are showing all the official WC films. First 3 still available on Iplayer.

[MrBen]

Love it!

I hope I'm wrong but it's going to be England to be out after their second game and UK press to put it down to a "transitionary year" in which the "golden generation finally passed on the torch"...things can only look up etc.

I love the world cup. First memory was 7 years old watching the 1982 final on a black and white portable TV. Mexico 1986 saw Ferguson take Scotland to Mexico and I first saw the brilliance of Brazil, a team with seemingly magical names....Zico and Socrates. Overhead kicks and the Mexican wave.

This year I'm going on a mystery holiday first part in June so hoping that wherever it is is on a decent time zone or I'll miss England Italy...and the first 8 games.

[red devil]

MrBen Wrote:

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> This year I'm going on a mystery holiday first

> part in June so hoping that wherever it is is on a

> decent time zone or I'll miss England Italy...and

> the first 8 games.

I hear Southen...oops!

[MrBen]

Southend?

Do you know the fear that sets in when your fairer half books a mystery holiday RD? I'm terrified that it might involve a beach, or somewhere hardline that doesn't show sport. Like Iran. All I want in June is a shady bar with a fuzzy TV and some cold beers. Not happy.

[holloway]

quite fancy Belgium though Germany look ridiculously strong

[maxxi]

Okay - got my wallchart now (3 in fact - you wait ages for one to come along and then...)

Yes, Belgium look a good shout - but then they always do. The outcome of the Germany/Belgium/Portugal tussle could provide one of the finalists - Argentina & Brazil faves but quite fancy Chile as an outside bet.

[Lowlander]

MrBen Wrote:

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> Southend?

>

> Do you know the fear that sets in when your fairer

> half books a mystery holiday RD? I'm terrified

> that it might involve a beach, or somewhere

> hardline that doesn't show sport. Like Iran. All

> I want in June is a shady bar with a fuzzy TV and

> some cold beers. Not happy.

Iran's football crazy, and they're in Group F this year. Always fun watching them play the USA in a pub where Iranians congregate!

Although you'll have to keep your beer consumption discrete if you go out there.

[Parkdrive]

I've seen England win the world cup as a kid in 1966. Downhill ever since.

[Jah Lush]

Yeah, me too. I remember being gutted that Jimmy Greaves (my hero at the time) was injured for the final.

[Parkdrive]

I was all of 9 and the country was lifetd for weeks after the event

[Jah Lush]

I was eight.

[Mick Mac]

England are unlikely to get out of their group. That's because they have to outperform at least one team ranked above them in the world just to finish second in the group and get into the last 16.

Has any other team ranked in the world's top 16 been drawn with two teams ranked above them in the same group (I don't think so)

England have been dealt a raw deal I reckon.

[adonirum]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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> Ah, West Germany 1970. At the end of the sticker

> book is my memory.

Damn Peter Bonetti !!!!

[Mick Mac]

http://www.fanschedule.com/2014-fifa-world-cup

you can enter your predictions here...

[aquarius moon]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> http://www.fanschedule.com/2014-fifa-world-cup

>

> you can enter your predictions here...

Just sent you a PM