The 2014 World Cup thread

[El Pibe]

I got your point jeremy, but if pele and co had turned up in mobility scooters I'd still describe them as a great team!

[Jeremy]

And compared to England they probably would be

[Otta]

Really?

I'm with Jezza, Spain were awesome, now they're not.

England never have been and very likely never will be.

[Otta]

the "really" was to EP's last post.

[Jeremy]

Otta Wrote:

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> England never have been and very likely never will be.

True. But they have had decent teams at various times in the 90s and 2000s where they could probably give anyone a good run for their money, and could turn up to a tournament feeling that at least they're in the mix.

[Otta]

Absolutely, and we will probably have decent teams again with one or two players that can make something happen. But we'll never go back to the drawing board and do what Germany have done because our tabloid "culture" won't allow it.

[StraferJack]

I'll take a great, entertaining World Cup over one with one or two "great teams" any day

Spain were an awesome team at last World Cup. But the tournament was flat

[El Pibe]

interesting analysis of who supported whom as the tournament progresses.

A quick glance proves us to be the Miwwaw of international footie.

Christ we could only muster 25% in Britain!!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/12/upshot/how-fan-loyalty-changed-during-the-world-cup.html?_r=0

[????]

Very intteresting but if you look at the data collection methodology that they used it could be hypothesised that it shows that Britain (inc Wales, Jocksetc)was more engaed and interested in OTHER teams OTHER than just England, so were making comments on more games other than the ones featuring England......

[????]

ie we are more open and less jingoistic than all them bleedin' foreighners :)

[aquarius moon]

To all you neutrals watching games from the start:

Did you not find yourselves one third/halfway/3/4 way through a game hoping the ball would go into/miss the net?

I did, even though I couldn't have cared less at start of match.

It all came down to who impressed me most & which teams I actually 'liked' from my viewing experience.

Quarter-finals: I wanted France to beat Germany. They lost :(

I wanted Columbia to beat Brazil. They lost :(

I wanted Belgium to beat Argentina. They lost :(

I wanted Costa Rica to beat Holland. They lost :(

So now I've totally lost interest in my Dream Team & predict addict so not playing anymore.

Semi-finals: I wanted Brazil to beat Germany. They lost :(

I wanted Argentina to beat Holland. THEY WON!!!!!!!!! :)

3rd place: I wanted Brazil to beat Holland. They lost :(

Final: I wanted Argentina to beat Germany. They lost too!

So this post basically sums up my whole world cup experience :(

[Otta]

Cam you do me a favour throughout the coming season and just post who you WANT to win each match each week.

Ta

[aquarius moon]

Not really relevant is it Otta?

You can't really compare the World Cup with the premiership (where in all honesty I really don't care who wins because I support Millwall!)

[Otta]

Quiote right AqM, and I was being completeloy serious too.

[DulwichFox]

aquarius moon Wrote:

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> Not really relevant is it Otta?

>

> You can't really compare the World Cup with the

> premiership (where in all honesty I really don't

> care who wins because I support Millwall!)

Millwall :)

So do I.

Something's Never change

Dulwichfox

[maxxi]

aquarius moon Wrote:

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> in all honesty I really don't

> care who wins because I support Millwall!)

Applicable whatever the league surely? B)

[aquarius moon]

maxxi Wrote:

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> aquarius moon Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > in all honesty I really don't

> > care who wins because I support Millwall!)

>

>

> Applicable whatever the league surely? B)

I assumed Otta was referring to the premiership which is why I made that comment because Millwall aren't in the premiership.

(Yet!) ;-)

[El Pibe]

another funky interactive infographic thingy, who played where http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/20/sports/worldcup/how-world-cup-players-are-connected.html

[Mick Mac]

Celtic represented 4 times :)

[malumbu]

Great rounds 1 and 2

Pretty dreadful quarters and semis (the Brazil Germany match was only special due to the score).

Surprisingly great Final

My views are influenced by 8 days in Manaus where I saw a rather dull Croatia match, and then a more classic USA Portttugal (note the very hard T).

Yank fans were young, colledge educated, very postive (as was their team) and could show us a thing or two about dressing creatively for a match. A tad annoying at times.... The Aussies, Croatians and Colombians were similarly amiable. Some of the tail end of the English fans I met were still thugs but just very old thugs. Some had tried to pick fights with the yanks in the square, after picking fights with the Brazillians at the England/Itie game.

Stadium was fab, if a bit over designed (and will be forever empty!).

There was a buzz in the air, and always seemed to be some sort of excuse for a festival, but totally and utterly chaotic with near zero info for fans.

Having been involved in London 2012 there were so many hoops that we had to go through with the IOC. I doubt whether Fifa had visited Manaus. The promised mass transport system was not never delivered and they seemed to be making up things as they went along. Accommodation was the pits (and I have stayed in plenty of downmarket accommodation) + massively inflated.

No rioting and not sure how it compared with other venues and cities. Brazillains we met were great and I posed for many photos. The World Cup hardly affected the average person in Manaus and as a rainbow nation it is sad to see that most Brazillian fans were white.

Not going to either Russia or Kuwait for obvious reasons. Germany 8 years ago had brilliant organisation and fair prices, but a totally different atmosphere.

All done on the cheap, flying to Guyana and travelling in Brazil by coach (a very comfy coach too).

[????]

Sounds like a great trip malumbu, i envy you.

[Alan Medic]

Me too and well described to give a feeling for what it was like to be there.

[Otta]

Me three. And doing the journey that way sounds like a real adventure.

[Jah Lush]

That makes four of us. I'm rather jealous of that trip. Must have cost a fortune.

[malumbu]

Thanks guys.

Came to around ?2.2 k including a rather expensive flight to a waterfalls in Guyana and probably being overcharged in the jungle. The original idea of doing overland from Guyana proved impossible. In retrospect would have been nice to come back via French Guiana or better still Guam. I've just realised how fleeced I was changing money...

I am whispering this, but I actually enjoyed seeing England play in Bangalore 12 years ago more fun - cheap flight to Goa, a couple of days in Hampi, onto Mysore then back to Bangalore. Whole thing cost less than a grand in today's money, and I spend about a third of the time travelling. I said bye bye to the barmy army in a pub, "I am going home now". Rickshaw to hotel. Hotel to bus station. Overnight bus. Panicked a little and got of bus early to get another Rickshaw to the airport. Flight back. Train from Gatwick to East Croydon, then to Norwood Juntion and a late taxi home. Over 24 hours later. Now there is just popping home from the pub.