Post by maxgregor on Jun 3, 2014 12:06:19 GMT -5
Just nine days for the World Cup to start.
I'm aware many of the members are from North America and not very interested in football, but this is the biggest sporting event in the world. Yeah, the olimpics are bigger but lacks of passion and nobody cares about McKayla Maroney once everything is over. World Cup is where the true legends are, unless you are Jesse Owens.
USA is playing in a difficult group against everytime favourites Germany, Ballon d'or team Portugal and always-unpredictable-because-african Ghana. If they win the Black Stars on the opening game, they'll have a very good chance to advance since Cristiano Ronaldo might not be fit to play for Portugal and they are a shitty team without him.
Other favourites are Brazil, of course, not because they have a very good team but they are solid and play at home. Spain, current world and euro champions, much respected and the best technical side in the world. Argentina, they have Messi and other attacking stars (Agüero, Di Maria, Higuain, ...) but lack of defense and self confidence. Germany, they could play with some seniors and win matches.
Here you can find an Excel spreadsheet with all the fixtures, in case you want to simulate as I just did.
www.excely.com/football/2014-fifa-world-cup-schedule.shtml
A. Brazil and Croatia. México are pretty weak. Cameroon will depend on their aging stars.
B. Spain and Netherlands. First and second will be decided on the very first game (June 13th), this is crucial as the second on the group may face Brazil on 1/8. Chile and Australia have very small chances, but the south americans have good players.
C. Fun Group. My bet is on Côte d´Ivoire and Japan. Super striker Falcao is not playing for Colombia.
D. Difficult to predict anything. Uruguay and Italy are always competitive, but England... Well, no, nothing.
E. Very easy group for the french. Ecuador might have a chance against Switzerland.
F. Argentina and Nigeria should be on next round.
G. USA, Ghana and Portugal have equal chances to go through. I would love to see another african team on 1/8.
H. Anything can happen, but russians are more competitive, and Korea have showed some skills in the past. They will take their chances against Belgium.
With this results, first teams of every group would face in 1/4 finals like this:
BRA - ITA (very difficult 1/8 for both teams)
FRA - GER
SPA - URU
ARG - USA (if they defeat Russia in 1/8)
But, let's be honest, the best thing about this World Cup is going to be LA TORCIDA.
I'm aware many of the members are from North America and not very interested in football, but this is the biggest sporting event in the world. Yeah, the olimpics are bigger but lacks of passion and nobody cares about McKayla Maroney once everything is over. World Cup is where the true legends are, unless you are Jesse Owens.
USA is playing in a difficult group against everytime favourites Germany, Ballon d'or team Portugal and always-unpredictable-because-african Ghana. If they win the Black Stars on the opening game, they'll have a very good chance to advance since Cristiano Ronaldo might not be fit to play for Portugal and they are a shitty team without him.
Other favourites are Brazil, of course, not because they have a very good team but they are solid and play at home. Spain, current world and euro champions, much respected and the best technical side in the world. Argentina, they have Messi and other attacking stars (Agüero, Di Maria, Higuain, ...) but lack of defense and self confidence. Germany, they could play with some seniors and win matches.
Here you can find an Excel spreadsheet with all the fixtures, in case you want to simulate as I just did.
www.excely.com/football/2014-fifa-world-cup-schedule.shtml
A. Brazil and Croatia. México are pretty weak. Cameroon will depend on their aging stars.
B. Spain and Netherlands. First and second will be decided on the very first game (June 13th), this is crucial as the second on the group may face Brazil on 1/8. Chile and Australia have very small chances, but the south americans have good players.
C. Fun Group. My bet is on Côte d´Ivoire and Japan. Super striker Falcao is not playing for Colombia.
D. Difficult to predict anything. Uruguay and Italy are always competitive, but England... Well, no, nothing.
E. Very easy group for the french. Ecuador might have a chance against Switzerland.
F. Argentina and Nigeria should be on next round.
G. USA, Ghana and Portugal have equal chances to go through. I would love to see another african team on 1/8.
H. Anything can happen, but russians are more competitive, and Korea have showed some skills in the past. They will take their chances against Belgium.
With this results, first teams of every group would face in 1/4 finals like this:
BRA - ITA (very difficult 1/8 for both teams)
FRA - GER
SPA - URU
ARG - USA (if they defeat Russia in 1/8)
But, let's be honest, the best thing about this World Cup is going to be LA TORCIDA.
