Official 2014 Brazil World Cup thread

[Monahan23]

I think Germany will win. They have a very deep team, top to bottom and a lot of chemistry. Very solid back four and the CDM's Schweinstager and Kroos are great tacklers. Klose and Ozil will net many goals and Müller and Reus will get a few helpers. They have one of the best keepers in Neuer and a deep bench with Gotze, Gomez and Podolski.

[cheevers]

Originally Posted by Monahan23

I think Germany will win. They have a very deep team, top to bottom and a lot of chemistry. Very solid back four and the CDM's Schweinstager and Kroos are great tacklers. Klose and Ozil will net many goals and Müller and Reus will get a few helpers. They have one of the best keepers in Neuer and a deep bench with Gotze, Gomez and Podolski.

Reus is out and Gomez was not picked. Hummels and Mertesacker might be the slowest centre half pairing in history, but both are excellent. Will be curious to see how they do against faster strikers and wingers.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Monahan23

I think Italy won't make it out. England has solid goaltending (Joe Hart), and a good mix of young and old players. They play with high tempo and good passing especially with the CDM's, Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere. Struidge and Rooney should score a bunch of goals too. I think the group goes

1. Uraguay - 7
2. England - 6
3. Italy - 4
4. Costa Rica - 0

Wilshere isn't first choice.

Perhaps starts against C.R to keep Henderson, Gerrard fit later on.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Monahan23

I think Italy won't make it out. England has solid goaltending (Joe Hart), and a good mix of young and old players. They play with high tempo and good passing especially with the CDM's, Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere. Struidge and Rooney should score a bunch of goals too. I think the group goes

1. Uraguay - 7
2. England - 6
3. Italy - 4
4. Costa Rica - 0

As much as I'd love to, I can't count out Italy. They probably have the best set of strikers, the best keeper, and the best midfield player in the group.

[The Big Chill]

It's a pretty wide open tournament. There isn't a single team that doesn't have a major flaw. Germany and Spain have no strikers, Brazil and Argentina are vulnerable on defence, the Dutch are weaker then usual.

I'd have to put Brazil down as favorites right now.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

It's a pretty wide open tournament. There isn't a single team that doesn't have a major flaw. Germany and Spain have no strikers, Brazil and Argentina are vulnerable on defence, the Dutch are weaker then usual.

I'd have to put Brazil down as favorites right now.

Don't underestimate Miroslav Klose. He becomes superman once he puts on a German National Team kit and he has been playing well for Lazio.

My two concerns about the Germans are that Low will go with the false 9 and Klose will never actually get a chance. And secondly that Lahm plays in midfield instead of at right back.

I also think that this tournament is Brazil's to lose and this is the least confident I've felt about the Germans' chances in a long time.

[SuperMatt18]

Could be a sleeper tournament.

Uruguay has a chance on South American soil and if they can win their group they have an easier path to the final 4 than others.

[troutman]

Albicelestes!

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Don't underestimate Miroslav Klose. He becomes superman once he puts on a German National Team kit and he has been playing well for Lazio.

My two concerns about the Germans are that Low will go with the false 9 and Klose will never actually get a chance. And secondly that Lahm plays in midfield instead of at right back.

I also think that this tournament is Brazil's to lose and this is the least confident I've felt about the Germans' chances in a long time.

Really? I've actually felt better about Germany in this tournament than I have in a long time specially one in Germany 06.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by PIMking

Really? I've actually felt better about Germany in this tournament than I have in a long time specially one in Germany 06.

I've got concerns about where the goals are going to come from.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Reus, Gomez, and Schmelzer are going to be seriously missed. Podolski and Klose need to channel their younger selves or there could be big problems scoring.

Plus having Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Khedira picking up knocks late in the season (or in the case of Khedira, only played 2 matches this season) leaves questions about the fitness of the team.

[You Need a Thneed]

Teams I'm cheering for:

Netherlands
Germany
Cote D'ivoire
Ghana

[troutman]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Teams I'm cheering for:

Netherlands
Germany

That's like cheering for the Flames and the Oilers. They tell Dutch jokes in Germany, and vice versa.

http://stuffdutchpeoplelike.com/2011...about-germans/

[polak]

Originally Posted by troutman

That's like cheering for the Flames and the Oilers. They tell Dutch jokes in Germany, and vice versa.

http://stuffdutchpeoplelike.com/2011...about-germans/

Pfft. I'm Polish and I'm cheering for Germany.

(Born in Germany)

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by polak

Pfft. I'm Polish and I'm cheering for Germany.

(Born in Germany)

same here. Born in Canada though. I just like their team.

[nik-]

Colombia (no chance)
Spain (chance)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Reus, Gomez, and Schmelzer are going to be seriously missed. Podolski and Klose need to channel their younger selves or there could be big problems scoring.

Plus having Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Khedira picking up knocks late in the season (or in the case of Khedira, only played 2 matches this season) leaves questions about the fitness of the team.

Pretty much, injuries and age are big concerns for this German team.

If the World Cup had been last year I'd have been much happier, but now we're seriously relying on Miro Klose to score.

[GirlySports]

I have a feeling that Uruguay, Italy and England will draw each other and all have 5 points. Depends on who beats up on Costa Rica the most.

I can also see Italy stupidly drawing Costa Rica and then desperately try to outdive Suarez in the last game.

That first game Italy-England in Manaus has 0-0 written all over it.

[SuperMatt18]

Cheering for Italy but don't like their chances. Just a team that doesn't seem to perform well in South America.

X-Factors for them will be Ciro Immobile and Marco Verratti. If those two young guys can take the next step, and the Mario Balotelli that showed up against Germany in 2012 shows up again this year they might be able to make some noise.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

It's a pretty wide open tournament. There isn't a single team that doesn't have a major flaw. Germany and Spain have no strikers, Brazil and Argentina are vulnerable on defence, the Dutch are weaker then usual.

I'd have to put Brazil down as favorites right now.

Are the Spanish playing a false 9 again?
Seemed to work for them last time around-- from 2010 I'd swap Busquets & Villa for Mata & Costa (honestly not totally certain if Costa can fit in with del Bosque's false 9). Michu hurt is another striking option lost.

Fabregas Costa Mata
Iniesta Alonso Xavi