2014 World Cup

I was going to go on to that point but I don't like typing long posts and got a bit bored with my last one. :smiley-laughing002:

I was going to say the idea at the minute is to promote football worldwide in countries where football isn't really engaged in by a lot of the population. I was going to say that by those countries qualifying, or almost getting there, it may spark interest back home to get more people involved - leading to a stronger future national team - more decent quality sides in Asia for example.

Of course, that is hypothetical, hence why I left it out of my post, but the US team will only get stronger. There's been a fair deal of interest in the States, with evidence of people getting more involved with football. They're one country that gets it easier, what with playing the likes of Jamaica and Canada and *.

I just don't think Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Norway, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and even Sweden would've been that more valuable to the tournament than any African/American side who qualified. Sweden bettered Ireland and Austria, but, were they really that good? Ireland and Austria are just average. Although it was only a WC warm up for them, we were 1-0 up v Costa Rica who had ten men and they still got a 1-1 draw out of it :smiley-laughing002:.

I like the WC how it is. Also I quite enjoy the qualifying campaigns. Good excitement competing with teams at a similar level for qualifying spots.

 

:eek2:

 

I also think that you have to look at how the Dutch and the Germans did in qualification. It's not as if other Europeans could stop them either. The Brazil match is obviously huge but their other two demolitions have been against fellow European "powers". I feel cheated that Sweden aren't in because I would love to see Zlatan 2014 in the WC one more time. They're just unlucky that they were in the same group as Germany, but they had their chance against a fairly impotent and poor Portugal side and they couldn't get it done.

I'd love to see Argentina win now. The only thing that could approach Argentina defeating Brazil in a WC final is Argentina defeating the team that defeated Brazil 7-1 in a World Cup final.

Anyways, I think Europe will be intriguing soon. I think some of the smaller nations are getting better because their players are getting more playing time at younger ages in their own domestic league. Playing in the Premier League is more valuable obviously than playing in Tippeligaen - but playing in Tippeligaen for four years and then transferring to the Bundesliga at 22 is better than playing in the reserve league for four years and then going on loan to Norwich or Fulham. Germany and the Netherlands (and Belgium for that matter) are countries that have given young players (of all nationalities) chances but combine that with having very good domestic leagues. I think that's why they're so far in front. Right now it looks like Germany/Netherlands------> Some South American sides/other top European sides-------->top of CONCACAF, depth European/CONMEBOL sides, the top African sides-------->Asia, depth African, depth CONCACAF.

 

Just goes to show what can happen when Brazil lost their cheating, diving * of a player in Neymar.
Come on Germany.
I bet £50 before start of tournament that Germany would win the World Cup.
Only Argentina or Holland to go.

 

On the point of how good teams are that get to the finals, i think that when making the actual qualifying draw, at least for Europe, there should be NO seeding. Teams take pot luck in who comes out of the draw.
Tried to find the actual Brazil 2014 qualifying draw online, in order to see who Scotland would have been up against if the groups were filled one by one without seeding.
Anybody help?

 

It'll also be interesting to see how the protests go now. The party atmosphere had drowned them out, but I'll bet that the anger gets pointed in that direction.

 

Brazil are lucky the Germans took their foot off the gas in the second half, or it could have been double figures in my opinion. It was probably the worst defensive display I think I've ever witnessed at that level of football. David Luiz is a very poor centre half, that was evident from his time at Chelsea, but last night he went to another level. It was schoolboy stuff from him at times.

Why Scolari persisted with Fred and Hulk is beyond me as well.

Fair play to Germany though, they completely dismantled Brazil. You can only beat what is put in front of you, and they done that with ease.

 

I just don't want referees favoring the hosts or paper giants. Let every continent be represented. Mexico looked so * good, yet they lost, sadly. Same with Chile and Colombia.

 

Good one, fits the occasion.

 

Best match i ever seen in terms of suprize and enjoyment in a World Cup,even better than when Germany thumped England 4-1!#
Brazil had it coming,they have been overrated for over well over a decade,and as for that army of middle class and upper middle class fans crying,tough *,you should never have had the event in the first place,all your huge very poor population could not get near the matchs!!

 

Yes there is. For one, getting Scotland to play a qualifier in New Zealand, only to be faced with a game against Angola in the next round is just stupid.

Secondly home advantage over such gigantic distances counts. Look at the Copa Libertadores. Your idea makes the distances travelled there (Rio to Mexico City is the same as London to Mumbai) look small. Yet, in that competition away wins are very rare, with distances, altitude and temperature all playing a part. That would be scaled up on the super world tour.

Of course home advantage is important now but your idea would make it ridiculous so. For ever ten home wins you might get one away.

This is a team who couldn't beat a poor Portugal team, who went out in the groups to that famous footballing hot bed, the good old' US of A :smiley-laughing002:

Thankfully international football hasn't reached that stage where you get in because of your name along. Sweden and Ibra weren't there because they didn't deserve to be.

 

Protesters where partying in Paulista Avenue in São Paulo after the result. That might put people off them.

 

National newspapers gives all the Brazil players - 0.

 

I think Germnay have been by far the most convincing team I have seen in this tournament(will add in at this point I missed the Ghana game).

Defence has been pretty tight. Having Lahm in the back-line has improved an already solid set-up. Neuer has shown his class.

Midfield has been the key, in times of pressure they've been able to maintain possession and find the right passes to get them out of trouble. Kroos has been outstanding and has contributed with goals, Schweinsteiger has come in and offered more in front of the defence and Khedira who was short of fitness prior was superb last night.

Muller has been immense. Working hard off the ball for his team and contributing with goals. His fitness levels have been unreal.

Loew has been very smart with his subs and tactics. Schurrle has come off the bench and contributed, his first touch and finisher the 7th goal last night was top drawer. Another example is his usage of Klose. A lot of pundits and the likes were openly questioning the playing of Muller upfront. Muller has answered that with his performances but in the latter stages Loew is able to use a "fresh" Klose as a main striker/forward. Loew and his coaching staff have managed this squad well and are reaping the rewards. Add to this the players missing in Reus,Gundogan and Co he could have had much more quality at his disposal.

Germany have been for me the most convincing team in the tournament. Lethal against Portugal and a similar but more spectacular showing against Brazil last night. They could have settled but went on and played the game at a consistent level throughout. In other games they haven't been as spectacular but have done what was required.

 

Klose = Legend.

Very simple there.

 

Seen a thing before the Brazil game, saying throughout his career only £3.3m has been spent on him. Mad to think.

 

Looking at his Wiki page. He has played more games for Germany than league games for any club he has been at. Also scored more international goals than league goals at any of his clubs.

Mental.