Football 2014 FIFA World Cup

[goldb]

Just less than 2 weeks before the tournament gets under way in Brazil. I'm sure we're looking forward to some incredible matches, rising stars and there's sure to be some memorable sporting moments.

Predict and discuss anything related to the tournament in this thread. I'll try to update the thread with results and stats as often as possible. Poke me if I forget .

Let's have fun!
​

Group Stages

Group A

• Brazil
• Croatia
• Mexico
• Cameroon

Spoiler: Fixtures

12 June 2014
Brazil v Croatia, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 21:00

13 June 2014
Mexico v Cameroon, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00

17 June 2014
Brazil v Mexico, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00

18 June 2014
Cameroon v Croatia, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00

23 June 2014
Cameroon v Brazil, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 21:00
23 June 2014
Croatia v Mexico, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 21:00

Group B

• Spain
• Netherlands
• Chile
• Australia

Spoiler: Fixtures

13 June 2014
Spain v Netherlands, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 20:00

13 June 2014
Chile v Australia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00
18 June 2014
Spain v Chile, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 20:00
18 June 2014
Australia v Netherlands, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00
23 June 2014
Australia v Spain, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 17:00
23 June 2014
Netherlands v Chile, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 17:00

Group C

• Colombia
• Greece
• Ivory Coast
• Japan

Spoiler: Fixtures

14 June 2014
Colombia v Greece, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00
15 June 2014
Ivory Coast v Japan, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 02:00
19 June 2014
Colombia v Ivory Coast, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00
19 June 2014
Japan v Greece, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00
24 June 2014
Japan v Colombia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 21:00
24 June 2014
Greece v Ivory Coast, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 21:00

Group D

• Uruguay
• Costa Rica
• England
• Italy

Spoiler: Fixtures

14 June 2014
Uruguay v Costa Rica, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00

14 June 2014
England v Italy, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00

19 June 2014
Uruguay v England , Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 20:00

20 June 2014
Italy v Costa Rica, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 17:00

24 June 2014
Italy v Uruguay, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00
24 June 2014
Costa Rica v England, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00

Group E

• Switzerland
• Ecuador
• France
• Honduras

Spoiler: Fixtures

15 June 2014
Switzerland v Ecuador, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00

15 June 2014
France v Honduras, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00
20 June 2014
Switzerland v France, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 20:00
20 June 2014
Honduras v Ecuador, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 23:00

25 June 2014
Honduras v Switzerland, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 21:00

25 June 2014
Ecuador v France, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 21:00

Group F

• Argentina
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Iran
• Nigeria

Spoiler: Fixtures

15 June 2014
Argentina v Bosnia-Hercegovina, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 23:00

16 June 2014
Iran v Nigeria, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 20:00

21 June 2014
Argentina v Iran, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00

21 June 2014
Nigeria v Bosnia-Hercegovina, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00
25 June 2014
Nigeria v Argentina, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00

25 June 2014
Bosnia-Hercegovina v Iran, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 17:00

Group G

• Germany
• Portugal
• Ghana
• USA

Spoiler: Fixtures

16 June 2014
Germany v Portugal, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 17:00

16 June 2014
Ghana v United States, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00
21 June 2014
Germany v Ghana, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00
22 June 2014
United States v Portugal, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00

26 June 2014
United States v Germany, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 17:00
26 June 2014
Portugal v Ghana, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00

Group H

• Belgium
• Russia
• Russia
• Korea

Spoiler: Fixtures

17 June 2014
Belgium v Algeria, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00

17 June 2014
Russia v South Korea, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00

22 June 2014
Belgium v Russia, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 17:00

22 June 2014
South Korea v Algeria, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00
26 June 2014
South Korea v Belgium, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 21:00

26 June 2014
Algeria v Russia, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 21:00

Second Round​

Spoiler: Fixtures

28 June 2014
Second-round 1:
Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B
Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00

28 June 2014
Second-round 2:
Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D
Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 21:00

29 June 2014
Second-round 3:
Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A
Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 17:00

29 June 2014
Second-round 4:
Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C
Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 21:00

30 June 2014
Second-round 5:
Winner Group E v Runner-up Group F
Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00

30 June 2014
Second-round 6:
Winner Group G v Runner-up Group H
Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 21:00


1 July 2014
Second-round 7:
Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E
Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 17:00



1 July 2014
Second-round 8:
Winner Group H v Runner-up Group G
Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 21:00

Quarter Finals

​

4 July 2014
Quarter-final 1:
Winner Second-round 5 v Winner Second-round 6
Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 17:00

4 July 2014
Quarter-final 2:
Winner Second-round 1 v Winner Second-round 2
Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 21:00

5 July 2014
Quarter-final 3:
Winner Second-round 7 v Winner Second-round 8
Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00

5 July 2014
Quarter-final 4:
Winner Second-round 3 v Winner Second-round 4
Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 21:00

Semi-Finals

​

8 July 2014
Semi-final 1:
Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 2
Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 21:00

9 July 2014
Semi-final 2:
Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4
Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 21:00

3rd Place Play-off

​

12 July 2014
Loser semi-final 1 v Loser semi-final 2
Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 21:00

FINAL



13 July 2014 ​

Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2
Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 20:00

​

All match times shown are British Summer Time (BST)
​

 

[Hardy]

I was thinking of doing a thread like this but I guessed someone actually relevant would do it, lol.

Are we gonna have a predictions league or something? This site is pretty cool and should be helpful for anyone feeling like sharing their predictions (I know I will, later).

Edit: In fact, f it, here's mine:

Spoiler

 

[goldb]

That's a really cool website, I like that idea. I tried to find something similar but a lot of the ones I came across you had to predict the scoreline too, and I'm not into that at all, but I guess with this, we can have a lot more to talk about besides the matches themselves.

Edit: I found one on ESPN, which I think is better imo. What do you guys think? In the end I don't really mind, though I have my preference. The ESPN Bracket seems a lot more straightforward.

I hope a lot of us will sign up and share their predictions. Shall we say the cut off whichever one we choose, cut off point for submitting the predictions/brackets is Sunday 8th June?

 

[Hardy]

Oh, I like yours a lot better, as I noticed that in mine whenever 2 teams had the same points, the one that had alphabetical priority would advance, lol. Overall, it's the same prediction, and either one of the 3 big teams in both Group B and D should be able to advance into the second round.

I objectivly can't see us winning this, and I see Germany 1 step ahead of every other team.

 

[Leoat12]

My predictions would be something like that: http://www.bloomberg.com/visual-dat...mb01nk,3flp,59fgel135fe15eg5,puqsomtruglrg1e1

 

[Hardy]

Mexico? Really?

Poor Chile and Ecuador btw, we should support our bros

Spoiler

Actually Chile's team kicks ass

---------- Post added at 12:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 PM ----------

Lol, just now I noticed that in yours you beat us in the finals, you bastard

 

[Leoat12]

Mexico? Really?

Poor Chile and Ecuador btw, we should support our bros

Spoiler

Actually Chile's team kicks ass

---------- Post added at 12:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 PM ----------

Lol, just now I noticed that in yours you beat us in the finals, you bastard

What's the problem with Mexico? It is the most troublesome team in our group, we have to be careful to not lose for them. The first Brazil trainings are already thinking of Mexico by what Felipão said in the trainings, Croatia will be a piece of cake.

I cannot support a team that has Spain and Netherlands in its group, sorry. Chile can be good, but the odds are against it, those two are better. XD
Between Ecuador and Switzerland, I pick the second, but I might be wrong.

I bet in you guys to reach the finals, be thankful.

 

[Hardy]

Nah dude, Mexico is garbage, they are in Honduras' and Costa Rica's tier. Getting to the 2nd round will be a miracle for them. They changed their coach like 7 months ago, lol. Croatia is a way bigger menace, they have quality players and their stars (Modric and Rakitic) just had a huge season.

I don't think too highly of Spain (never did tbh). Just like Barcelona, most of its players are showing a really poor level. I wouldn't be really surprised if they don't advance to 2nd round.

I haven't watched a lot from Switzerland, but I've seen Ecuador and I find them pretty solid (good defense, and 2 wings that could give a lot of trouble to most defenses). Also, if the local climate (high temperatures, but I guess you know this better than me) is gonna favour anyone, it'll be them.

Yeah, I'm thankful, but you guys have no chance against us, sorry

 

[Saintz0r]

I don't think Brasil will end up the champion this year... and in every WC hosted in America, the champion was from south-america, so...

Go Chile/Equador/Colombia!


(I honestly think Argentina will win, but more often than not I'm wrong)

 

[Leoat12]

Nah dude, Mexico is garbage, they are in Honduras' and Costa Rica's tier. Getting to the 2nd round will be a miracle for them. They changed their coach like 7 months ago, lol. Croatia is a way bigger menace, they have quality players and their stars (Modric and Rakitic) just had a huge season.

I don't think too highly of Spain (never did tbh). Just like Barcelona, most of its players are showing a really poor level. I wouldn't be really surprised if they don't advance to 2nd round.

I haven't watched a lot from Switzerland, but I've seen Ecuador and I find them pretty solid (good defense, and 2 wings that could give a lot of trouble to most defenses). Also, if the local climate (high temperatures, but I guess you know this better than me) is gonna favour anyone, it'll be them.

Yeah, I'm thankful, but you guys have no chance against us, sorry

Very uncommon way of thinking by what I heard about Mexico...

Spain doesn't convince me either, but I guess they will get by Quarter-Finals at least.

Coincidentally, the temperatures has been very low lately here. IF it continues, we will have a "cold" (20º~25ºC is cold) World Cup. Since almost everybody plays in Europe, it will not be a advantage for anyone, the high temperatues I mean.

pff

 

[FrostyMouse]

No, Leoat, Mexico are garbage right now. They actually shouldn't be in the WC, but the US did them a favor and won a game that they had no stake in. If the US took a draw or something, Mexico would've been out.

 

[MiyamotoMusashi]

I just love how everyone outside of Germany is overrating them while we in Germany always underrate them

My guess, though just made on the spur of the moment, http://www.bloomberg.com/visual-dat...4hui8r,2fk6,57fgel1spfe1plpg,pd43b9crdglrgrrl

 

[Leoat12]

I stopped to read in the tie between Brazil and Croatia.

 

[MiyamotoMusashi]

You overrate Brazil and underrate Croatia

 

[xi0]

Nah dude, Mexico is garbage, they are in Honduras' and Costa Rica's tier. Getting to the 2nd round will be a miracle for them. They changed their coach like 7 months ago, lol. Croatia is a way bigger menace, they have quality players and their stars (Modric and Rakitic) just had a huge season.

Following 2010 I've said a few times that I thought Mexico could be a legit dark horse in 2014. But they fell off so hard this qualification round, and yeah, they were lucky to get in. And if you have to be lucky to get in through CONCACAF qualifying, then you have no shot at winning anything. It even bums me out a bit. We were a lot more dominant in qualifications but they get a slightly weaker group than us.

---------- Post added at 01:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:37 PM ----------

Edit: I found one on ESPN, which I think is better imo. What do you guys think? In the end I don't really mind, though I have my preference. The ESPN Bracket seems a lot more straightforward.

I hope a lot of us will sign up and share their predictions. Shall we say the cut off whichever one we choose, cut off point for submitting the predictions/brackets is Sunday 8th June?

Can we create our own league for pick 'em? I remember we did it via Yahoo Sports in 2010, I think.

 

[Leoat12]

You overrate Brazil and underrate Croatia

Me and the rest of the world.
Let's see in 12 days.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Pat set something up for the 2012 Euros, Gary, but I don't remember where it was located.

 

[xi0]

I'm fairly certain it was Yahoo as well. Well, it's up to Bob or whoever sets the league up, but Yahoo seemed pretty reliable.

 

[Leoat12]

What do you guys think about the contusions that occured today? Will they influence something?
Every WC is the same, I don't know why they do friendly match on week before WC yet.

 

[Hardy]

Montolivo is a huge deal for Italy, he's a key player for them. I'm not gonna say that their chances of advancing to 2nd round are significantly inferior now, but it certainly won't be easy.

These kind of matches are needed for the teams, to gain some... rhythm? But yeah crap like this can happen.