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

[rubecube]

England won the U-17 Euro Championship. 2022 here we come!!!

[GirlySports]

in a penalty shootout!!

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Addick

All of the WC Kits with grades and teacher comments.

muy decepcionado in the Colombian jerseys

[Mango]

Landon Donovan doesn't make the 23-man US squad for Brazil:

http://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/469...557376/photo/1

Seems crazy, since he has over 150 caps and has always performed well at the World Cup. Looks like JK is going with a younger roster.

[troutman]

Bosnia (home and away): You may feel like you've played Sunday league against these guys but you haven't.

Cameroon's Animal Cracker inspired home shirt so it's probably best ignored.

Spain (away): Why not combat the stifling heat of Brazil with an all-black kit?

USA (home): Part country-club chic, part suitable golf club attire, part PE teacher at a barbeque

Portugal (home): this kit looks like a TV that's on the blink.

England (home): As ever, England can't seem to decide if the kit is designed for the players or someone watching the game in their local Wetherspoon's

Italy (home): With its buttoned collar and snug fit all this kit is missing is a skinny tie to round things off.

Nigeria (home): Nigeria play homage to the Republic of Ireland's shirt from the 1988 European Championships.

Japan (home): A return to military overtones in Japan's kit with the subtle imperial flag detailing behind the team crest

Chile (home and away): Chile make a play to be the Switzerland of South America with this simple but stylish effort. Soon to be found in the wardrobes of Californian skateboarders. Or on the floor, or wherever they keep their clothes.

Mexico (home): The design may be pretty hideous, but as the only country to use a lighning bolt the Mexicans deserve some respect.

Mexico (away): Their home strip features a lighning bolt, the away strip is emblazened with some sort of electrical current - the Mexicans are clearly trying to tell us something.

Portugal (away): It's hard to tell whether it's the blue and white vaguely nautical theme of Portugal's away kit or the fact that it's being worn by Raul Peireles that makes this look as if Popeye has wandered on to the set of Game of Thrones

Colombia (home): Top marks to Colombia for embracing the modern age by being the first World Cup shirt to feature a hashtag.

Brazil (home): It's a football shirt, but you can also wear it when you are (from left to right): giving directions, preparing for a fight, pretending to be American, praying, confused having slept until 2pm.

[scotty2hotty]

Anyone know if it's possible to watch via Apple TV this year?

I assumed there would be an app for purchase for all of the games, but I can't find anything. Surprising if nothing is available.

Thanks!

[GirlySports]

hmmmmm

1966
Champions League: Real Madrid
La Liga: Athletico Madrid
Fulham Relgated
Team came back from 0-2 to win FA Cup
Eurovision: Austria

World Cup: England

[agulati]

We should start a new thread for the World Cup!

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Mango

Landon Donovan doesn't make the 23-man US squad for Brazil:

http://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/469...557376/photo/1

Seems crazy, since he has over 150 caps and has always performed well at the World Cup. Looks like JK is going with a younger roster.

Yet they have Tim Howard, DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Jones, Brad Davis, Kyle Beckerman, and Clint Dempsey all as the same age or older . . . How did Donovan not make this team?? He's got the most caps and he's the top goalscorer in U.S. soccer history - and he's only 32.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Yet they have Tim Howard, DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Jones, Brad Davis, Kyle Beckerman, and Clint Dempsey all as the same age or older . . . How did Donovan not make this team?? He's got the most caps and he's the top goalscorer in U.S. soccer history - and he's only 32.

because he and Klinsman didn't see eye to eye

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

hmmmmm

1966
Champions League: Real Madrid
La Liga: Athletico Madrid
Fulham Relgated
Team came back from 0-2 to win FA Cup
Eurovision: Austria

World Cup: England

Or replace World Cup: England with World Cup: won by host country

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Yet they have Tim Howard, DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Jones, Brad Davis, Kyle Beckerman, and Clint Dempsey all as the same age or older . . . How did Donovan not make this team?? He's got the most caps and he's the top goalscorer in U.S. soccer history - and he's only 32.

I would have liked to see Donovan as a reserve, but he buried himself when he took the 4 month break. I don't understand why he didn't just wait until after the World Cup.

[GirlySports]

I don't think a guy like Donovan can be a reserve, he'll sulk and disrupt the team.

[troutman]

Good riddance. He is a diving diver that dives.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

hmmmmm

1966
Champions League: Real Madrid
La Liga: Athletico Madrid
Fulham Relgated
Team came back from 0-2 to win FA Cup
Eurovision: Austria

World Cup: West Ham

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Or replace World Cup: England with World Cup: won by host country

of if you're ever in East London and want to fit in...

[cam_wmh]

Bunch of warm-up to Rio friendlies today.

England vs Peru.

Roy surprised me. Playing a 4-2-3-1.

-------------- Sturridge
- Welbeck -- Rooney -- Lallana
----- Henderson - Gerrard
Baines - Jagielka - Cahill - Johnson
------------ Hart


I think Cahill is crap. Jones is still hurt with that shoulder injury, I'd prefer he were one of the starting CB's in Rio.

I wanna see Sterling & Barkley get a run today.

[browna]

Iran (home and away): Hipsters may queue up for a piece of this action

[Montana Moe]

The "New American Dream" is apparently a turkey leg. How appropriate.

[d_phaneuf]

Kfc! Kfc! Kfc!

[troutman]

Qatar World Cup: Bin Hammam 'acted like head of crime organisation'

Fall of Qatari construction magnate closely follows arc of Fifa's shattered reputation

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...mam-qatar-fifa

Australia's World Cup bid to be probed as whistleblower to testify in New York

http://www.theage.com.au/fifa-world-...602-39eum.html

Suspected fraud and corruption block Brazil’s World Cup goals

http://www.acfcs.org/suspected-fraud...orld-cup-goal/