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		|  06-11-2014, 04:30 PM | #101 |  
	| Franchise Player | 
 
			
			I can't believe how many Dutch fans are in this thread, which is fantastic.  If you aint Dutch, you aint much.
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		|  06-11-2014, 06:29 PM | #102 |  
	| Marshmallow Maiden 
				 
				Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Calgary      | 
 
			
			My allegiance is with Croatia (when Canada isn't involved) and if they can make it to the knockout stages, I'll be a happy camper. A win against Mexico is critical and not a draw.
 I believe Germany will win.
 
 A lot of pundits are picking Brazil. If it is a South American nation, I don't think it'll be them.
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		|  06-11-2014, 06:46 PM | #103 |  
	| Franchise Player | 
 
			
			
	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by rubecube  Does anyone know formation Uruguay was primarily rolling with in qualifiers?  You'd think those three would merit some kind of 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, although didn't Liverpool run some 4-4-2 this year where Suarez found success? |    
they also used a 4-3-1-2 with Forlan behind Suarez/Cavani at times
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		|  06-11-2014, 07:34 PM | #104 |  
	| Franchise Player 
				 
				Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Calgary      | 
 
			
			
	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by Mango  My allegiance is with Croatia (when Canada isn't involved) and if they can make it to the knockout stages, I'll be a happy camper. A win against Mexico is critical and not a draw.
 I believe Germany will win.
 
 A lot of pundits are picking Brazil. If it is a South American nation, I don't think it'll be them.
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Against my better judgement, I back England.
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		|  06-11-2014, 10:30 PM | #105 |  
	| NOT breaking news 
				 
				Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Calgary      | 
 
				__________________ 
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		|  06-12-2014, 06:46 AM | #106 |  
	| Franchise Player 
				 
				Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Calgary      | 
 
			
			Happy opening day!
 I have brazil winning 2-1
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		|  06-12-2014, 07:49 AM | #107 |  
	| Franchise Player 
				 
				Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NYYC      | 
 
			
			I predict that the Belgians will be the surprise of the tournament.
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		|  06-12-2014, 07:57 AM | #108 |  
	| First Line Centre 
				 
				Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Calgary AB      | 
 
			
			^^ I think thats everyones pick for dark horse. They have a solid squad.
		 
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					Originally Posted by puckluck2  Well, deal with it. I wasn't cheering for Canada either way. Nothing worse than arrogant Canadian fans. They'd be lucky to finish 4th. Quote me on that. They have a bad team and that is why I won't be cheering for them. |  |  
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		|  06-12-2014, 08:01 AM | #109 |  
	| Franchise Player | 
 
			
			Ya Belgium is right up there with anybody on talent right now, I don't even think they are an underdog or unknown, they are one of the top teams talent wise, they just don't have much big tournament experience.  Still I think their fans would be disappointed with less than quarters for them.
 Hopefully Brazil opens with a bang tonight.  No disrespect to Croatia but having the home team go on a bit of a run is vital for a really great tournament.
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		|  06-12-2014, 08:20 AM | #110 |  
	| Scoring Winger 
				 
				Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Next to My Neighbour      | 
 
			
			
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					Originally Posted by troutman  Holland is a province in the Netherlands.  |  
Maybe I'm old school - my parents, both Dutch immigrants, always called it Holland when I was a kid.
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		|  06-12-2014, 08:29 AM | #111 |  
	| Powerplay Quarterback 
				 
				Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East London      | 
 
			
			
	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by GirlySports  what a joke. 250 million dollar stadium in Manaus  |  
To be fair, the pitch was in pristine conditions a little while back and its current state is due to over fertilization rather than a lack of preparation.
 
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					Originally Posted by Table 5  I predict that the Belgians will be the surprise of the tournament. |  
I was watching SoccerCentral yesterday evening and Bobby McMahon made an interesting point. Can we really pick a dark horse? Isn't a dark horse the one that comes out of the dark unknown and surprises people?
		 
				__________________ “Such suburban models are being rationalized as ‘what people want,’ when in fact they are simply what is most expedient to produce. The truth is that what people want is a decent place to live, not just a suburban version of a decent place to live.” - Roberta Brandes Gratz
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		|  06-12-2014, 08:37 AM | #112 |  
	| Lifetime Suspension | 
 
			
			Columbia doesnt seem to be getting much love, what does everyone think about there chances?
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		|  06-12-2014, 08:56 AM | #113 |  
	| Franchise Player 
				 
				Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Income Tax Central      | 
 
			
			
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					Originally Posted by Burke Salad  Columbia doesnt seem to be getting much love, what does everyone think about there chances? |  
They'd be a whole different story if Falcao was playing.
		 
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		|  06-12-2014, 09:16 AM | #114 |  
	| Franchise Player 
				 
				Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Income Tax Central      | 
				  
 
			
			
	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by Matty81  Ya Belgium is right up there with anybody on talent right now, I don't even think they are an underdog or unknown, they are one of the top teams talent wise, they just don't have much big tournament experience.  Still I think their fans would be disappointed with less than quarters for them.
 Hopefully Brazil opens with a bang tonight.  No disrespect to Croatia but having the home team go on a bit of a run is vital for a really great tournament.
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I think we're going to see a draw. 
 
People like to talk about the poor back 4 of Brazil, but I wonder how many watched Thiago Silva, hes one of the best CBs around. Sure Dante and Luiz arent the greatest help but they're not terrible either.
 
Actually, David Luiz is an extremely good CB when his head is in the game as we saw at the Confederations Cup, but getting his head into the game is practically impossible! 
 
Croatian goals are likely going to have to come from Mandzukic or Modric, I think Mandzukic will likely be marked out, but Modric might be able to get something from midfield.
		 
				__________________The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
 
 This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
 
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		|  06-12-2014, 09:22 AM | #115 |  
	| #1 Goaltender 
				 
				Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Calgary...Alberta, Canada      | 
 
			
			I'll stick with my hope for "Anybody But Italy or Portugal". 
 I will make more detailed picks based on photos of hot female fans in the stands.
 
				__________________We may curse our bad luck that it's sounds like its; who's sounds like whose; they're sounds like their (and there); and you're sounds like your. But if we are grown-ups who have been through full-time education, we have no excuse for muddling them up.
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		|  06-12-2014, 09:33 AM | #116 |  
	| Powerplay Quarterback 
				 
				Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East London      | 
 
			
			
	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by Locke  They'd be a whole different story if Falcao was playing. |  
I heard that the rest of the team is in fine form and they shouldn't be taken too lightly.
 
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					Originally Posted by The Goon  I will make more detailed picks based on photos of hot female fans in the stands. |  
Wise choice, can't be making uneducated decisions of such gravity.
		 
				__________________ “Such suburban models are being rationalized as ‘what people want,’ when in fact they are simply what is most expedient to produce. The truth is that what people want is a decent place to live, not just a suburban version of a decent place to live.” - Roberta Brandes Gratz
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		|  06-12-2014, 09:38 AM | #117 |  
	| Franchise Player 
				 
				Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Income Tax Central      | 
 
			
			
	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by Addick  I heard that the rest of the team is in fine form and they shouldn't be taken too lightly. |  
Sometimes having your star player go down galvanizes the team rather than breaks them, Colombia are still an excellent squad, but their goalscoring ability is now in serious doubt.
 
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					Originally Posted by Addick  Wise choice, can't be making uneducated decisions of such gravity.
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Indeed. However, this is Brazil so it shouldnt be a problem.
		 
				__________________The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
 
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		|  06-12-2014, 09:46 AM | #118 |  
	| NOT breaking news 
				 
				Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Calgary      | 
 
			
			
	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by Locke  I think we're going to see a draw. 
 People like to talk about the poor back 4 of Brazil, but I wonder how many watched Thiago Silva, hes one of the best CBs around. Sure Dante and Luiz arent the greatest help but they're not terrible either.
 
 Actually, David Luiz is an extremely good CB when his head is in the game as we saw at the Confederations Cup, but getting his head into the game is practically impossible!
 
 Croatian goals are likely going to have to come from Mandzukic or Modric, I think Mandzukic will likely be marked out, but Modric might be able to get something from midfield.
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Thaigo Silva will go crazy babysitting Luiz, Alves and Marcello who will all be bombing forward. The key to Brazil defense will be holding midfielder Luis Gustavo who has to cover for these guys.
 
Mandzukic is suspended.
		 
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		|  06-12-2014, 09:51 AM | #119 |  
	| Franchise Player 
				 
				Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Income Tax Central      | 
 
			
			
	Quote: 
	
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					Originally Posted by GirlySports  Thaigo Silva will go crazy babysitting Luiz, Alves and Marcello who will all be bombing forward. The key to Brazil defense will be holding midfielder Luis Gustavo who has to cover for these guys.
 Mandzukic is suspended.
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I didnt know he was suspended.
 
Very true, a lot of the defending is going to be done by Gustavo and Silva.
 
I have to say though, Marcelo and Alves as wingbacks brings back a lot of memories of watching Roberto Carlos and Cafu bombing up and down the wings.
		 
				__________________The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
 
 This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
 
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 If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
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		|  06-12-2014, 09:59 AM | #120 |  
	| Franchise Player 
				 
				Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: sector 7G      | 
 
			
			Not a huge fan of soccer, but I love this tournament. This is the one sport where I don't really have a team. I have an Italian friend who gets all worked up and has a great time, another from Portugal, a few from work are going for Nigeria and Ghana. Too bad Canada sucks hard at soccer. I have a Brasil national jersey I bought on the beach in Rio a few years ago. I honeymooned in Costa Rica years ago and enjoyed how much they loved the game. I don't know...
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