World Cup 2014

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/14 at 11:44pm

Anyone watching?
I've been glued to the matches. Both the ESPN English-language and the Univision Spanish-language feeds.
Thrilling play.

And some fabulous hotness.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/14 at 11:46pm

20 hottest players at the Brazil World Cup 2014

[clever name]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 12:21am

Helloooo Mats Hummels!

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 9:27am

FIFA is evil, the matches are rigged, the officiating sucks, and Ronaldo is THE WORST, but I am obsessed with the World Cup!
My better half lived in Spain for four years where soccer is a religion. So he has really gotten me into the game. I don't think I've ever been as riveted by a sporting even as I was by that US vs. Portugal match. Can't wait until Thursday!

Updated On: 6/24/14 at 09:27 AM

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 11:14am

US Goalie Tim Howard

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 11:20am

https://vine.co/v/MtAMWZ0JdJg Updated On: 6/24/14 at 11:20 AM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 2:28pm

I don't usually follow soccer, but I love the big occasions like this.

Thursday should be good, what with all the German connections on the US side - if I'm right, I think a draw would see both sides go through. I'm not questioning their integrity or anything, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

Apart from the US, I'm personally rooting for The Netherlands (and not just because Robin van Persie is the dreamiest player in the competition). With the group stages coming to a close, every game becomes a knockout, so the excitement goes up a notch. I know it's a completely arbitrary and unfair way to decide a game, but I do love a penalty shoot-out. Can't wait!

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 3:05pm

"... I think a draw would see both sides go through. I'm not questioning their integrity or anything, but it will be interesting to see what happens."

The integrity of the USA is beyond reproach, evidenced by our performance in qualifying. We had locked up our spot, and Mexico, our fiercest rival, was on the brink of elimination. We scored a late goal to defeat Panama, giving Mexico a spot in a playoff. Without our late goal, Mexico would not have even made it to Brazil.

That said, I think this will be a very competitive game for the first 80 minutes or so. If the game is tied at that point, I think both teams will be happy to play it safe.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 3:43pm

^ Well, the opposite happened this afternoon - with Italy playing it safe for the first eighty, a draw seeing them through, up until the 81st minute when Uruguay scored a shock goal. Only then did Italy actually try to play competitively, and now they're on their way home.

I didn't mean to suggest the US v Germany game would be a fix, far from it - but with five of our players born and raised in Deutschland, and obviously with Jurgen Klinsmann, the US coach, a former coach for Germany and actually having won the World Cup as a player....

It will sure be interesting pyschologically, I guess I'm trying to say.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 4:17pm

The US will be challenged to recover from the playing conditions in the Amazon. Everyone else who has played there has lost their following game, including Italy losing to Costa Rica, and Croatia wilting against Mexico. Plus the US will be playing on only three days rest, where Germany will have had four days rest.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 5:10pm

Suarez bit someone again! Three times now. He needs to be banned.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Posted: 6/24/14 at 5:14pm

banned, from life?

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 10:00am

World Cup fever is in high-gear in the office today!

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 10:06am

I'm recording the match so I'm going to have to go on radio silence after noon so I can watch it when I get home.
In other news...biter Luis Suarez has been banned from play for four months. He's out of the tournament.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 10:11am

Apparently, there have been torrential overnight rains in the Brazilian city where the US & Germany are playing. Major flooding, impossible traffic. Will be interesting to see how the field will hold up.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 11:26am

let's remember that the USA can still advance with a lose. If Portgual beats Ghana, we're bascially in unless one score is very lopsided(4-0, 5-1). If Ghana beats Portugal by 2 goals or more, we're out. if the Portugal-Ghana match ends up in a draw, we're in.
US World Cup scenarios

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 11:28am

"If Ghana beats Portugal by 2 goals or more, we're out."
Doesn't that all depend on how many goals we score against Germany?

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 11:34am

Nope. First tiebreaker is goal differential. We're currently +1, Ghana is -1. If we lose, we go to 0 (at best), so if Ghana wins by two or more, they go to at least +1.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 12:04pm

Yep.
The magic number is 2 goals.

No matter by whom or in which game they are scored, if the USA vs. Germany and Ghana vs. Portugal matches only see a total of two goals between them, the US will advance.

Ghana wins 2-0 and the US ties 0-0? We're good!
Portual gets 2? Fine.
The US and Germany tie 1-1? The US loses 2-0 and the other match ends 0-1? All good.

Here's hoping for two very low scoring games!

Updated On: 6/26/14 at 12:04 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 12:49pm

If the current scores at halftime stand, USA advances & Germany wins the group.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 2:10pm

Well, the numbers game can stop now. The knockouts will have my nails in shreds. Do we stand a chance against Belgium?

Updated On: 6/26/14 at 02:10 PM

[Hulmeman]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 2:49pm

I love that you are getting excited about the World Cup. The success of the USA team is brilliant. It also reminds me that I actually watched a World Cup qualifier USA v. Mexico in Fort Lauderdale way back in 1980!! I must have brought team USA good luck, they won 2 - 1. I'll be cheering you on against Belgium!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 6:10pm

I may be one of the only people on the planet who has absolutely zero interest in the World Cup. Never watched it and have no plans to do so.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 6:16pm

^ That's the spirit (...)

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/26/14 at 6:40pm

Our coach is kind of cool:


Klinsmann