Official World Cup 2014 Qualifying Thread (Blame It On RIO)

[Mango]

Wow. Hounduras is definitely not a push over.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Mango

Wow. Hounduras is definitely not a push over.

Definitely not but there were in turmoil in the previous round as you know and Canada has a chance to knocked them out in Toronto. But they failed and once back in Honduras for that fateful day and then also today, they are firing on all cylinders.

[browna]

Canada had their chance to take the Hondurans out, and I was on record with, if they slipped into the last group, they'd make it to the WC.

My reasoning was that the story would playout as exactly as Honduras did today. Playing loose, getting taken for granted from the soccer powers and get a shocking result.

Suddenly, brimming with confidence, and after getting a couple good bounces turning into surprise results, holding the fort on for a semi-surprising draws, could be right there at the end, needing just one more result to reach the WC.

Still a long way to go for Honduras of course, but just reminds me of that last Canadian qualification loss, and how it was pure devastation for one of the best chances in almost 20 years for qualification, and that it has set the program back another 4 years or more given the ease of the preliminary draws they had.

[Montana Moe]

Jamaica earns a draw vs. Mexico. A fine performance by GK Donovan Ricketts. They honestly could have won 2-0.

[GirlySports]

Panama and Costa Rica drew 2-2.

[cam_wmh]

lol chelsea is ridiculous.

Their current/future CB, Cahill has a brainfart of epic proportions in giving the ball away.

But their central midfielder, & loyal blue, that they intend to discard like yesterday's trash? Yeah, he's still scoring. Look at that lean back, perfectly placed volley. Precision.

[cam_wmh]

hahaha wow.

Joey Barton twitter

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2. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
   ...and he never got a kick. I just refuse to believe the hype. #showpony
   
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3. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
   Neymar was playing after all against Cahill and Smalling, no disrespect to them but their not exactly Baresi and Beckenbuer...
   
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4. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
   Thats enough enlightenment from me for you all today. Good day xx
   
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5. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
   Its good to give opinions and listen to others opinions but always be mindful that everyone has one and everyone can't be correct.
   
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6. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
   I you can't live with that, it won't be very long until you are blown over.
   
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7. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
   ..way there is some validity to their observations. What people have to remember is, the tallest trees always catch the most wind.
   
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8. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
   ..the other hand its another joiner or someone with some credibility in that field, you might not agree but it also might be correct. Either
   
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9. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
   If you a joiner and a guy who isn't qualified criticises your work, you'd just dismiss it, probably utter 'What do you know!' Now if on..
   
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10. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    ..players for performance or attitude but when another player does, its deemed incorrect or not in the spirit of the game. Its perverse
    
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11. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    Football is a game of opinions. If you don't like that, this is not the game for you. I don't get how people accept journalists calling out
    
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12. 6h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    Looks like Neymar wasn't happy with what I said about him. Just that I read and saw all this hype about him and expected something more...
    
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13. 22h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    Does that mean if you are a Satan worshipper, you can you sacrifice live animals on the pitch? #turnitin If you wanna pray, do it at home!
    
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14. 22h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    It really annoys me when footballers start praying on the pitch. Why would a God, if he existed give a #### about the outcome of a match!
    
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15. 22h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    Trying to work out who ha the worst hairdresser, Gerrard or Milner? Who'd do you all think? #sackyourbarber
    
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16. 22h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    Great finish from Lampard...
    
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17. 22h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    I wouldn't pay the £40-50 million there asking for Neymar. Not a chance. #showpony
    
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18. 22h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    Wilshere showing his class here in first half. If only him and Gerrard could of played together in SG's pomp. We might of had a chance...
    
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19. 22h Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton
    This Neymar fella is massively overrated. Not in the same street as Messi or Ronaldo.
    
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[SuperMatt18]

He is right. Neymar has proven nothing yet, and while he still can be the best player in the world in the future, he should not be talked about in the same sentence as Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi etc.

These young Brazilians get over hyped just because they are Brazilian and make flashy plays on the pitch.

Honestly though who was the last Brazilian player to have a real impact in Europe...Ronaldinho? Kaka?

Yet how many young players have been hyped as the next best thing only to flame out in the last 5 years. Pato, Nilmar, Robinho, Elano, Fabio, Coutinho etc have not lived up to the hype they had around them when they first came over from Brazil.

In my opinion Italy and Brazil are the two traditional world powers that are not developing nearly as much talent as they did 10, 20 years ago.

[Locke]

Yeah, Neymar has never really struck me as 'best in the world' type material either.

Brazil and Europe are just very different styles, but I think we're going to see an interesting resurgence from Brazil under Scolari. They really put some steel in their backbone under him.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

He is right. Neymar has proven nothing yet, and while he still can be the best player in the world in the future, he should not be talked about in the same sentence as Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi etc.

These young Brazilians get over hyped just because they are Brazilian and make flashy plays on the pitch.

Honestly though who was the last Brazilian player to have a real impact in Europe...Ronaldinho? Kaka?

Yet how many young players have been hyped as the next best thing only to flame out in the last 5 years. Pato, Nilmar, Robinho, Elano, Fabio, Coutinho etc have not lived up to the hype they had around them when they first came over from Brazil.

In my opinion Italy and Brazil are the two traditional world powers that are not developing nearly as much talent as they did 10, 20 years ago.

The last Brazillian player to make an impact is still probably Fat Ronaldo. Best striker I've ever seen.

Explains why Brazil exited in the quarterfinals the last 2 world cups, unacceptable.

[SuperMatt18]

On the international stage Ronaldo is for sure the last Brazilian to make a real impact.

Domestically in Europe you have to look at Kaka and Ronaldinho, and those two had their best years at least 5 years ago now.

[d_phaneuf]

Thiago Silva has been a top 3 defender in the world the last 3-4 years...

[GirlySports]

Brazil has defenders?

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Brazil has defenders?

Yep. Two of them. They look exactly the same, and don't get invited. As a United fan I'm happy about it though.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Yep. Two of them. They look exactly the same, and don't get invited. As a United fan I'm happy about it though.

one of them would be if it weren't for 2 of the best RBs in the world being in the Brazil set up the last decade

the other is Fabio....

[GirlySports]

Those aren't really defenders

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

one of them would be if it weren't for 2 of the best RBs in the world being in the Brazil set up the last decade

the other is Fabio....

Another few years, and I think they get called up more often as maicon/alves age on.

[rubecube]

Surprised no one mentioned it here, but FIFA has finally decided to not be completely useless and will implement goal line technology at the next World Cup. Apparently they're going to be testing it at this year's Confederations Cup.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Surprised no one mentioned it here, but FIFA has finally decided to not be completely useless and will implement goal line technology at the next World Cup. Apparently they're going to be testing it at this year's Confederations Cup.

woohoo!

Here's the lineup for this year's Confederations Cup

Brazil
Spain
Italy
Uruguay
Tahiti
Mexico
Nigeria
Japan

Which of these teams does not belong

[Locke]

Go Tahiti! You can do it!