Football (real)

[dario2099]

And zlatan just scored 2 goals back to back!! Not over, just 1 more to go!

Over now. No WC for Zlatan.

[betiko]

Ukraine 2-0 France.

betiko are you alright?

EAT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE FUCKIN GOING TO BRAZIL TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[benga]

Congratz!

BTW Brazil are 11th cause they haven't been playing any competitive matches for a long time.

They didn't play qualifiers.

[betiko]

Congratz!

BTW Brazil are 11th cause they haven't been playing any competitive matches for a long time.

They didn't play qualifiers.

well they played the confederation cup this summer that they won, which obviously gave them tons of points. And they did lose many of their friendly games.
Anyway, let's cut the crap: after their first leg games scoring 5 goals each, there is no doubt that mexico and uruguay are the last 2 teams; so even if it's not official, here are the teams qualified with aproximate fifa rankings to imagine what the draw could do:

Group 1:
Brazil
Spain
Germany
Argentina
Columbia
Belgium
Uruguay
Switzerland

Group2:
Netherlands
Italy
England
Chile
USA
Portugal
Greece
Bosnia

Group 3:
Ivory Coast
Croatia
Russia
France
Ecuador
Ghana
Mexico
Costa Rica

Group 4:
Algeria
Nigeria
Honduras
Japan
Iran
South Korea
Australia
Cameroon

my favorite pick for france: switzerland/usa/france/australia
my worse pick for france: brazil/netherlands/france/south korea

[nagerous]

There's the potential for some proper bastard groups there.

[betiko]

There's the potential for some proper bastard groups there.

Group 4 is very sloppy though. There are many very decent teams in the group 3, most groups will have 3/4 teams with great chances.

[nietzsche]

And Mexico advances.

Basically FIFA gives 4 tickets to CONCACAF. So basically Mexico can't do anything to avoid going to the WC.

Portugal eliminated Sweden, and though I was rooting for Ibrahimovic, I finally realized after the first half Sweden has nothing to do in the World Cup, they are worse than Gillipig's taste in women.

ANd it's good that France advanced because we would have had a sad betiko for 4 years here.

[betiko]

And Mexico advances.

Basically FIFA gives 4 tickets to CONCACAF. So basically Mexico can't do anything to avoid going to the WC.

Portugal eliminated Sweden, and though I was rooting for Ibrahimovic, I finally realized after the first half Sweden has nothing to do in the World Cup, they are worse than Gillipig's taste in women.

ANd it's good that France advanced because we would have had a sad betiko for 4 years here.

It s good because we will kick some mexican ass. Maybe we will be in the 4th group of the draw because of some shady fifa rules. Whoever gets us as 4th will have a hell of a group.

Soplapollas!!

[sempaispellcheck]

And...the US gets the Group of Death.
Because of course we do.

I want a framed photograph of Ronaldo's face if we beat Portugal.

sempai

[gordon1975]

im having a punt on Belgium,14/1 good odds,and a very good team

[gordon1975]

only brazil,spain,argentina and germany have a better chance with the bookies in the uk

[nietzsche]

betiko super happy and nagerous not so much.

[Timminz]

For those who don't feel like googling it...

GROUP A: Brazil, Cameroon, Mexico, Croatia

GROUP B: Spain, Chile, Australia, Netherlands

GROUP C: Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Greece

GROUP D: Uruguay, Italy, Costa Rica, England

GROUP E: Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras, France

GROUP F: Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina

GROUP G: Germany, Ghana, United States, Portugal

GROUP H: Belgium, Algeria, South Korea, Russia



The most interesting part to me (other than the group of death) is a rematch of the last finals in the group stage.

[Trevor33]

It's a bit bonkers to predict group standings now as you never know with injuries and form. If Ronaldo keeps playing the way he is Portugal will get out of their group and have a real chance of making the semis. If he gets injured or is burnt out, they won't make it past the group. Ghana are to good to lose against a Portugal side minus Ronaldo. Germany will win the group provided they don't get a bucket load of injuries.

Brazil are in a group with 3 very poor sides and will win with 9 points, maybe 7 if they mess around with players in the last game. Either way whoever gets second is going out next round... Brazil against either Holland, Chile or Spain will be a cracker and i really hope Chile win their group to avoid Brazil. Only European team that can win it is Germany, Spain are getting old and Chile are a young side with enough experience from 2010 to cause some serious shocks.

Brazil and Chile to reach the last 8.

Colombia are one of the best and most underrated teams in the world, they have the best striker in the world who is not playing in Europe this season so will be super fresh for Brazil. Other 3 sides in group are just ok, hope Ivory Coast can get second but it's anybodies... team who does get second has a serious chance in the last 16.

Because, Uruguay, England and Italy are not good teams and all beatable.

Colombia into the last 8 with anyone of 5 teams, i'll take a punt on England.

Group E = Yawn. Again no stand out team with 2 of France, Switzerland and Ecuador going through. France have the quality to make it but often not the mentality. While Ecuador struggle to score and are probably the worse S. American team at the world cup. Saying that i can't see Switzerland scoring many either, France and Ecuador - just.

Argentina tops this easy group with i would love to see Bosnia go through with them. Bosnia vs Nigeria to decide second spot.

Argentina and a shock win for Bosnia over France sees them in the last 8.

As i said, Germany to win the group and a fit Ronaldo Portugal second.

Another pretty boring group, another 3 possible teams. On the fact that Russia are coking suckers Belgium and S. Korea go through. S. Korea as group winners.

Germany and Portugal into the last 8.

last 8 head picks - Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Portugal and Argentina.

Heart picks - Chile and Bosnia.

Flip of the coin picks - England. Could as easily be Uruguay, Italy, Ivory Coast, Greece (please no) or Japan.

VAMOS COLOMBIA!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Trevor33]

im having a punt on Belgium,14/1 good odds,and a very good team

They don't have the experience, at major finals or playing in S. America. Colombia @ 25/1 and Chile @ 100/1 are my two outsiders. Chile are in the group of death, not USA as the US press would have you believe. For the simple reason that unlike Ghana and the States, Chile, Spain and Holland are all good enough to reach the final. Both finalists 4 years ago and a team who have been improving greatly, beating England away and almost beating Spain away. They are probably the most attractive team at the world cup. Them and Bosnia play some excellent football to watch.

The only problem i have is that S. American teams find it really hard to win away at other S. American teams... so i'm hoping Brazil get dumped out by Spain or (more likely) Holland in the last 16 to give Colombia a better chance in the quarters.

Bet of the world cup - Colombia @ 1/4 to reach the knockout phase... they're 8/13 to win the group (which they will) but 1/4 to only qualify from that crappy group is handing out money. As long as Flacao stays fit.

[nietzsche]

It's a bit bonkers to predict group standings now as you never know with injuries and form. If Ronaldo keeps playing the way he is Portugal will get out of their group and have a real chance of making the semis. If he gets injured or is burnt out, they won't make it past the group. Ghana are to good to lose against a Portugal side minus Ronaldo. Germany will win the group provided they don't get a bucket load of injuries.

Brazil are in a group with 3 very poor sides and will win with 9 points, maybe 7 if they mess around with players in the last game. Either way whoever gets second is going out next round... Brazil against either Holland, Chile or Spain will be a cracker and i really hope Chile win their group to avoid Brazil. Only European team that can win it is Germany, Spain are getting old and Chile are a young side with enough experience from 2010 to cause some serious shocks.

Brazil and Chile to reach the last 8.

Colombia are one of the best and most underrated teams in the world, they have the best striker in the world who is not playing in Europe this season so will be super fresh for Brazil. Other 3 sides in group are just ok, hope Ivory Coast can get second but it's anybodies... team who does get second has a serious chance in the last 16.

Because, Uruguay, England and Italy are not good teams and all beatable.

Colombia into the last 8 with anyone of 5 teams, i'll take a punt on England.

Group E = Yawn. Again no stand out team with 2 of France, Switzerland and Ecuador going through. France have the quality to make it but often not the mentality. While Ecuador struggle to score and are probably the worse S. American team at the world cup. Saying that i can't see Switzerland scoring many either, France and Ecuador - just.

Argentina tops this easy group with i would love to see Bosnia go through with them. Bosnia vs Nigeria to decide second spot.

Argentina and a shock win for Bosnia over France sees them in the last 8.

As i said, Germany to win the group and a fit Ronaldo Portugal second.

Another pretty boring group, another 3 possible teams. On the fact that Russia are coking suckers Belgium and S. Korea go through. S. Korea as group winners.

Germany and Portugal into the last 8.

last 8 head picks - Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Portugal and Argentina.

Heart picks - Chile and Bosnia.

Flip of the coin picks - England. Could as easily be Uruguay, Italy, Ivory Coast, Greece (please no) or Japan.

VAMOS COLOMBIA!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you are underestimating Mexico a bit. Mexico has qualified in the last 5 WC, losing only 3 games in the group stages in those 5 WC. Mexico has beaten Brazil 8 times (including friendlies) and tied twice since 1996.

And lets be honest, Brazil is not the same Brazil that was in the past, the strenght of Brazil is being the local team, take this WC to a neutral country and Brazil is out of my top 5 to win it.

Mexico will advance, and lose in the 4th game if the rival is Spain or Holland, and will receive 4 or 5 goals, because of the style of play of the new coach. If Mexico goes against Chile, I'm not so sure.

And good point about Falcao, he will be fresh for the WC, that will make him even more dangerous.

[Trevor33]

Mexico are lucky to be at the world cup, i hope they can get it together for but they've been really poor for the past 2 years. I can see them getting second because of experience and the fact they might be more used to the conditions but Holland, Spain and Chile will be to strong for them in the last 16. Chile are awesome, Spain are an old side who won't be able to keep up with them and Holland aren't anything special but they will frustrate teams who like to attack like Chile by defending with 9 men. This could be the downfall of Chile against Holland but i still think Chile will win the group. 11/2 to win the group are excellent odds, imo.

You're wrong about Brazil btw, they're quality. It's hard to play a bunch of friendlies for 4 years and see the best of a side but in the past year they've been coming together. Trouble is if Both Brazil and Colombia win their group i think they play each other in the last 8, so bye bye Brazil

[betiko]

haven't read everything yet but wtf trevor... brazil will have a hard time! cameroon is shit, probably the weakest of all african teams this year. croatia and mexico will give brazil a very hard time. not only this, but the group they will face if they make it through will be another very difficult match. Brazil's draw is terrible, i'm sure their odds of winning dropped drastically before and after the draw.

And germany can do well provided they don't have too many injuries? lol, they have a few "star" players, but they don't rely on any of them. They can easily get 5-6 of their top players down they will still have a huge team. not to mention that germany in group stage always kicks ass. they will win their group easy. The second place will be a great fight. Portugal, Ghana, USA.... quite even chances. In a world cup anything can happen.

[benga]

Can't wait for it to start!

And what and honor to start in opening match!

[betiko]

forecasts:


GROUP A:
Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon


GROUP B:
Netherlands
Spain
Chile
Australia


GROUP C:
Colombia
Greece
Ivory Coast
Japan


GROUP D:
Uruguay
Italy
England
Costa Rica


GROUP E:
Switzerland
France
Ecuador
Honduras


GROUP F:
Argentina
Nigeria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Iran


GROUP G:
Germany
Portugal
Ghana
United States


GROUP H:
Belgium
Russia
South Korea
Algeria

1/8th of finals:
Brazil-Spain
Colombia-Italy
Switzerland-Nigeria
Germany-Russia

Netherlands-Croatia
Uruguay-Greece
Argentina-France
Belgium-Portugal

1/4 finals
Brazil-Italy
Switzerland-Germany

Netherlands-Uruguay
Argentina-Portugal

1/2finals
Brazil-Germany

Uruguay-Argentina

Finals
Brazil-Argentina

And Pelé cries. And Messi laughs. And someone reminds Maradona what a shit coach he is.

[Trevor33]

haven't read everything yet but wtf trevor... brazil will have a hard time! cameroon is shit, probably the weakest of all african teams this year. croatia and mexico will give brazil a very hard time. not only this, but the group they will face if they make it through will be another very difficult match. Brazil's draw is terrible, i'm sure their odds of winning dropped drastically before and after the draw.

And germany can do well provided they don't have too many injuries? lol, they have a few "star" players, but they don't rely on any of them. They can easily get 5-6 of their top players down they will still have a huge team. not to mention that germany in group stage always kicks ass. they will win their group easy. The second place will be a great fight. Portugal, Ghana, USA.... quite even chances. In a world cup anything can happen.

No team can lose 5-6 top players and still have a chance. Agree that Germany are class and are the best European team but come on, they drew 3-3 at home to Paraguay without a few of their best players... have you any idea how bad Paraguay are at the moment? They would probably still win the group, or at least get second but i'm talking about winning the WC. Anything less is failure for them.

Croatia are poor, they lost to Scotland TWICE in 2013, in fact look at their results this year. they're lucky they drew Iceland in the playoff, anyone else and they wouldn't be in Brazil, worse European team there. Also Mexico, just made it to the playoff never mind the WC, had Panama beat the States they were out. The footballing powerhouse of Panama. They were lucky they got to play New Zealand, had it been 2010 they would have played Uruguay in the playoff and wouldn't have qualified.

Brazil are in the easiest group and will win it easily.

[nietzsche]

Mexico are lucky to be at the world cup, i hope they can get it together for but they've been really poor for the past 2 years. I can see them getting second because of experience and the fact they might be more used to the conditions but Holland, Spain and Chile will be to strong for them in the last 16. Chile are awesome, Spain are an old side who won't be able to keep up with them and Holland aren't anything special but they will frustrate teams who like to attack like Chile by defending with 9 men. This could be the downfall of Chile against Holland but i still think Chile will win the group. 11/2 to win the group are excellent odds, imo.

You're wrong about Brazil btw, they're quality. It's hard to play a bunch of friendlies for 4 years and see the best of a side but in the past year they've been coming together. Trouble is if Both Brazil and Colombia win their group i think they play each other in the last 8, so bye bye Brazil

Mexico did badly in the last year because of the coach. The style of game he wanted the players to play is good if you are Holland or Germany. They arrived to the rival area wanting to score quickly and with 1 touch per player. The style of Mexican players is not for that. As the time passed, they lost confidence in their ability to do it and when something went wrong they were down and couldn't respond. The national team was not a reflection of the real level of the best Mexican players. TO make things worse he expected them to behave like soldiers out of the field. The result was players without confidence and a group that was unhappy when on the national team.

The new coach gives them a lot of confidence and another style. It won't be the same Mexico that played the qualifiers, I assure you that.

Chile could be playing very good but in the WC you need experience and Chile doesn't have much, they will have to pay for that, I still think Spain and Holland are favorites in that group.

[Army of GOD]

Well at least the host country won't suck as much dick as South Africa did in the last one.


Also, not that I'm complaining because the US has no shot, even if they were to advance past the group stage, but I don't get how seemingly unbalanced the draws are. Looking at the FIFA Rankings, Brazi's group has Brazil which is #10, and then Croatia (16), nietzsche-land (20), and Cameroon 51.

How the f*ck do they base their rankings on, other than sucking the home country's dick?

[Trevor33]

Yeah i see that Mexcio had 6 wins from 6 in the previous round and had trouble with the coach, i hope they do well.

This is the same Chile side that played in S Africa, just 4 years older and 4 years smarter... granted their defense is poor because they push so many men forward but they have the ability to out score any team. The only European team that i rate is Germany the rest have holes, don't be surprised if Spain go out in the group phase.

[betiko]

Yeah i see that Mexcio had 6 wins from 6 in the previous round and had trouble with the coach, i hope they do well.

This is the same Chile side that played in S Africa, just 4 years older and 4 years smarter... granted their defense is poor because they push so many men forward but they have the ability to out score any team. The only European team that i rate is Germany the rest have holes, don't be surprised if Spain go out in the group phase.

What do you think of my forecasts? I bet there will be a brazil spain in the first round of knock out. Germany will be the only european reaching semis and will play brazil and lose.