World Cup 2014 Super Thread copyright warning #1645

shadowcomplex wrote: »

Is Pirlo better than Xavi ever was?

If anything I think Pirlo's contributions have improved with age whereas Xavi's haven't.

A lot of people reckon one of the reasons for Barca's and Spain's declining dominance is the fact the midfielders are getting on.
Xavi and Iniesta have played some amount of football over the last 6/7 years.

IMHO Xavi does not stand out as much as he has been part of a very talented midfield where there is large amount of short intricate passing.

Pirlo on the other hand appears to be singular stand out and the go to man who can move it short or often spray the ball distance.

I would say Xavi's workrate tracking would have been a lot more impressive than Prilo's.

x43r0 wrote: »

What really blows my mind about the opening game is that the Japanese ref didn't speak any English

How can you competently officiate a game if you can't communicate with the players?

and before anyone says it, I refuse to believe that he speaks both Portugese AND Croatian

He didn't speak either nor English or Spanish (fair few of the players based in England or Spain at some stage).
Makes the mind boggle what the players made of him when he gave out.

Usual bout of madness from Pepe,Muller did make a bit of a meal of it.

Anyone like Pizza?

Dominos have a World Cup app. They give money off vouchers to the first thousand people who click a button on it after each goal. But it doesn't seem like anyone is using it as I just claimed Mueller's hat-trick goal half an hour after he scored it to claim a €20-off voucher.

I was going on a diet tomorrow too...

On the way back from the Honduras game I think. Football Manager fans will find this pretty cool.

Ardillaun wrote: »

So what's with all the goals? Another sinister FIFA directive?

Does this add any value to the thread?

miralize wrote: »

Does this add any value to the thread?

Well now, the average number of goals per game is, so far, much greater in this World Cup than in the last. I think that is a matter worthy of discussion in a thread about the World Cup. Is it a statistical blip or do ye think it will be sustained? Why are teams less conservative this time?

Can anyone explain why Brazil and Mexico will have played two matches before Russia and South Korea have played one? Horrible TV scheduling from a Russian point of view with their game starting at 2am in Moscow, maybe I little more favorable for Korean viewing.

P.S On the PEPE incident....couldnt have happened to a nicer fella.

intellectual dosser wrote: »

Can anyone explain why Brazil and Mexico will have played two matches before Russia and South Korea have played one? Horrible TV scheduling from a Russian point of view with their game starting at 2am in Moscow, maybe I little more favorable for Korean viewing.

P.S On the PEPE incident....couldnt have happened to a nicer fella.

I suspect they didn't want the hosts' match to be kicking off at midnight in Europe.

It's an interesting point. In the past big teams would often pace themselves in the Group Stages, instead we have Holland putting 5 past Spain and Germany putting 4 past Portugal.

Germany did pace themselves yesterday, they had it won at half time and it showed in the second half, they completely took their foot off the gas! You dont win the tournament in the group stages, but you could sure as hell compromise your risk of winning it if Germany were to go their usual 100mph 90 minute gun ho in that heat with the travel involved. Its been well documented that Germany, have possibly the worst conditions for matches. From bbc and I have read it in other papers... The Germans as ever, will be meticulous in their preparation and strategy!

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27187741

Argentina were the big winners of the draw, and not because they line up in their group matches against Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria - but because they will play the entire tournament without once having to confront the heat of the north east.
At the other end of the scale are Germany. Not only are Portugal, Ghana and USA tricky group opponents but the Germans have 13:00 kick-offs in Salvador and Recife either side of a 16:00 start in Fortaleza.
Even if, as predicted, they make it through safely to the knock-out round, they will surely have paid a price for such prolonged exposure to the conditions. Their athletic capacity will have been drained.

mike65 wrote: »

Still no draws! Still averaging over 2.5 goals per game. Its great.

Nigeria vs Iran

Maxi Pereira has only been suspended for 1 game, That's very strange.

I don't think Didi drew the short straw. Eamon forced him to take the Algeria team.

The opening round of games threw up some stellar matches but I think this week's matches are going to be a bit weaker.

Spain Chile, Uruguay England and USA Portugal are probably the pick of the bunch.