quite possibly the worst attempt i have ever seen

12/7/2013 7:12:55 PM

This is just a clinic on how not to take PKs.

12/7/2013 7:14:03 PM

i watched 6 pks and missed two tds in the auburn game

12/7/2013 7:19:14 PM

but guys this is the world cup thread

12/7/2013 7:22:04 PM

Who's ready for Brazil!!!

[Edited on December 8, 2013 at 3:02 PM. Reason : GD it. Pic not working.]

12/8/2013 3:01:18 PM

So anyone seriously considering going? I believe we will have 4 or 5 people, including myself, going from Raleigh. From the prices I think Manaus to watch USA vs Portugal is the best bet. Fly into Rio from DC, Then fly to Manaus and then fly back. $1500 total for all three flights. Not bad at all.

12/27/2013 12:26:14 PM

what's the best Brazilian airlines nowadays? TAM, GOL, something else?

12/27/2013 1:06:45 PM

Not sure what the best is but those are the two biggest I believe.

12/27/2013 2:47:35 PM

tam is bad.

12/27/2013 3:52:06 PM

Wazzaaaa message me. I'm in

12/30/2013 12:47:47 AM

Falcao pwnt stay home???

1/23/2014 8:55:23 PM

I don't see how Germany loses this if they just play solid.

There are no weaknesses anywhere in that squad.

1/23/2014 10:18:48 PM

fuck falcao getting hurt thats some colombia state shit. should've been ronaldo.

1/23/2014 10:44:26 PM

2/26/2014 4:46:44 PM

A look at some redditor's redesigns of the world cup jerseys. Some are beautiful and some are horrendous, but it is worth a glance.

http://imgur.com/a/K6rkx#0

3/4/2014 3:42:14 PM

This is just cool as hell. Major props to Neymar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ly597xChs#t=33

3/6/2014 3:53:23 PM

i've got my vuvuzela ready

3/6/2014 3:56:54 PM

Official Song "We Are One (Ole Ola)":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W3sWiZ-iO8&list=PLCGIzmTE4d0gFI4T56s-40XbXXQw9rAhM

4/8/2014 9:37:58 AM

I think we really want to finish 2G.
1H
[56] 01/07
2G 56 01/07 17:00 Salvador 1H - 2G


in 1H is Belgium - Algeria Russia - Korea Republic

and then win that and play the day AFTER Americas birthday on a Saturday. EPIC.

60 05/07 13:00 Brasilia W55 - W56


or somehow get lucky win our group and then have a chance to play in the quarters on Americas birthday even more epic.

4/9/2014 2:37:32 AM

winning this group would be insane.

4/9/2014 9:51:10 AM

Lulz at England defense. Smalling, Johnson and Jones? Honestly they won't half a back line in the top 18 or so in the World Cup.

Glad they took Sterling though. He deserved it.

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 8:25 AM. Reason : Shocked not to see Cleverley in a hodgson 23...]

5/12/2014 8:25:12 AM

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 3:02 PM. Reason : Good looking squad. I see JK included Green]

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 3:03 PM. Reason : Corona could be an x-factor. I hope he plays half as well as he did last summer.]

5/12/2014 3:01:09 PM

Parkhurst, Brooks, Yedlin, Davis, Edu, Corona, and Wondo are my picks to be left off.

5/12/2014 3:52:47 PM

I'm in the Wondo camp. He's got to go imo.

He doesn't look good and people don't salivate over him, but the ball always ends up in the back of the net.

Found this blurb on him:

Quote :

"Over the past four seasons, Wondolowski has exploded for 73 goals in 124 appearances. This season, he has five goals in eight games. His 34 game-winning goals, in just 179 fixtures, rank third all-time in MLS history. Consider that Landon Donovan, long a U.S. national team staple, has 37 game-winners -- in 309 games. Since the last World Cup ended, no professional American soccer player, domestic or abroad, has scored more goals than "Wondo.""

5/12/2014 3:57:40 PM

^^ Jones is the best Center Half prospect England has, I don't understand what is so bad about him starting? Jones has been good when not hurt.

England is unfortunately well off at LB (Cole, Gibbs, Baines, Shaw) but the only RB England has that is any good is Johnson. I would be more worried about Jagielka in defense than Jones. I would have actually liked to see John Stones make it over Smalling but Smalling is probably in there because not one other person can play RB.

The more worrying aspect is that Hodgson hasn't taken any defensive mids. What the hell is he thinking? Lampard and Gerrard again? For the umpteenth time that has failed and it will fail again. Lampard has no right to be going to Brazil. Gareth Barry and Michael Carrick both should have been in. Hodgson is probably going to go with a midfield duo of Lampard and Gerrard, fail miserably and get fired for it.

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 4:20 PM. Reason : /]

5/12/2014 4:07:18 PM

^^ yeah, he scores in MLS but the all time MLS scorer list is littered with guys that couldn't cut it at the international level - Taylor Twellman, Edson Buddle, Jason Kreis, Kenny Cooper and Brian Ching to name a few. And I'm not immediately dismissing him because he plays in MLS, I just haven't been impressed with him in a US shirt.

We're only talking about the 4th striker position which won't play a huge role but I personally think Boyd has more upside as a late game substitute. Not a big deal either way though.

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 4:13 PM. Reason : .]

5/12/2014 4:12:33 PM

We live in a world where Mamadou Sakho is in the French World Cup squad and Samir Nasri is not. He must be a giant cunt to not be selected.

Also, Falcao made Colombias provisional, which is great news. Hope he gets to play...

Quote :

"@_Anara_: Fuck france and fuck deschamps! What a shit manager!"

Lol at Nasri's gf...

[Edited on May 13, 2014 at 4:36 PM. Reason : X]

5/13/2014 4:35:43 PM

We also live in a world where soccer is played with defenders too. What a dumb comment.

5/13/2014 4:40:52 PM

And Sakho won't see a minute of field time.

I'm not even trolling. He's not very good. Nasri would be there best AM and second best MF in general behind Ribery.

Also surprised Evra made it. He's been trash for a year and a half now.

Maybe I'm being critical but the Dutch squad looks wholly unimpressive. If RVP isn't healthy I could see them crashing out in the group believe it or not. Chile probably my favorite out of Group B to take second.

5/13/2014 4:48:44 PM

Nasri not making it has absolutely fuck all to do with Sakho.

Guess you missed their WCQ against Ukraine too if you think Sakho won't contribute for this team.

5/13/2014 4:50:14 PM

I don't recall it but I know he scored a goal or two in a big game. With Giroud as first choice striker someone needs to score goals for them.

5/13/2014 4:52:46 PM

Okay so then you don't really know what you're talking about. Got it.

5/13/2014 4:56:43 PM

I watched a lot of Sakho at Liverpool and I know he isn't a top level CB. I also know Koscielny got sent off and didn't play the return leg of that playoff otherwise Sakho probably doesn't play.

I was really just trying to talk shit about Nasri to be honest but you don't honestly think Sakho will play over Koscielny, Varane or possibly Mangala do you?

[Edited on May 13, 2014 at 5:01 PM. Reason : Ugh was talking about digne to someone...]

5/13/2014 5:00:03 PM

I'm not saying he's a lock to make the team. But they're clearly not very deep in defense and considering Sakho can also play LB and has contributed for the team in WCQs, it makes perfect sense he's in the squad.

I think Sakho is a very capable CB but I don't feel like arguing semantics over world class, elite, or top level.

5/13/2014 5:03:27 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/15/sport/football/world-cup-slogans-football/

5/15/2014 9:38:22 AM

Quote :

"Maybe I'm being critical but the Dutch squad looks wholly unimpressive."

Thought the same thing when I was looking at rosters yesterday. I am always on the Italian bandwagon, but I am liking their squad. Should have a favorable match up in the round of 16 as well.

5/15/2014 10:49:17 AM

I hate the way Italy plays

5/15/2014 11:01:11 AM

so does everyone on this site

5/15/2014 11:32:51 AM

I'll play devil's advocate: Italy doesn't really have a set style anymore. I know their defensive, catenaccio historical reputation, but that's the past.

Lippi went with three different strategies in their three world cup matches last time, none of them worked. With Pirlo injured, they didn't have a good playmaker, and that ruined them. They were a mess.

Then, in the Euro, Prandelli came in, Pirlo was healthy, and Italy played relatively fluid and attacking soccer before running into Spain in the final. Spain was amazing that day, they played well enough to crush anyone. But, before that match, watching Pirlo create chance after chance from deep was pretty enjoyable. Watch England-Italy from Euro '12 again and tell me which team was responsible for (and hoping for) 0-0.

In case it's the diving and not the defensive style you're talking about, almost everyone dives now.

5/15/2014 1:53:26 PM

No I was talking about the defensive style.

I get annoyed with their christmas tree formation and refusal to space the midfield and play on the wings. It makes for a lot of erratic possession and low scoring matches.

I appreciate what they accomplish, I just dont like watching it.

5/15/2014 2:23:32 PM

no gourcuff

what could have been

5/15/2014 2:52:14 PM

http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2014/schedule

Here is the best link I could find to the tv schedule in USA eastern time.

5/21/2014 3:16:45 PM

5/29/2014 10:20:21 AM

Visio is good for drawing these pics.

5/29/2014 10:26:25 AM

This is pretty awesome

http://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2014/may/30/-sp-world-cup-kits

5/30/2014 8:49:19 AM

that is pretty cool. and based on that, I think we can all agree that the 1994 kits were the ugliest across the board

5/30/2014 8:57:39 AM

I like them because of nostalgic reasons of course but honestly, I'd rather strike out with an attempt to create something iconic/different than settle for our generic white polo shirts this year.

5/30/2014 8:59:26 AM

Where is the countdown clock...thread needs more countdown clock.



Crazy prediction:

USA 2:1 vs Ghana, US scores 1 early, Ghana responds quickly, US scores winner around 60th min, and Timmy saves a PK around the 85th min.

USA 0:1 vs Portugal, US plays scared of CR, and goes ultra defensive, forgetting to play offense. CR scores around the 65th min. US makes a late push, and gets a goal called offsides late.

USA 1:1 vs Germany, Germany is on cruise control and plays a B game, while USA is able to manage a counterattack goal around the 30th min., and Germany ties right before the half.

Meanwhile:
Germany 3:1 Portugal - Germany holds down the 'truck' stick all game
Germany 3:0 Ghana - Germany's 'truck' stick is still jammed
Portugal 2:2 Ghana - Ghana needs the win, and must make-up the GD, and plays over their heads, while Portugal is over confident, knowing a win and a US loss or tie is likely, but falls behind early, and scambles to tie

Germany: 2-0-1, GD +5
US of A: 1-1-1, GD +0
Portugal: 1-1-1, GD -1
Ghana: 0-2-1, GD -4


That was fun... now I have to start actually working at work

[Edited on May 30, 2014 at 11:25 AM. Reason : ]

5/30/2014 11:24:08 AM

Welbeck over Sterling and Henderson over Barkley/Wilshere is exactly why England will not make knockout round.

At least Roy FINALLY stopped picking Cleverley so maybe he is just a slow learner..

[Edited on May 30, 2014 at 2:16 PM. Reason : Also Eng is stacked at LB and has utter shit at RB. Weird how that works.]

5/30/2014 2:14:05 PM

kevin ware

https://vine.co/v/MpzjniVJdLg

5/31/2014 3:54:17 PM