• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

"Official" 2014 World Cup thread and poll, now with 100% more vuvuzelas

Page 49 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Which group will the World Cup winner come from?

  • A

  • B

  • C

  • D

  • E

  • F

  • G

  • H

Results are only viewable after voting.
lupi said:
God only knows how the rest of the games play out for the US. When their offense is going they can pelt the net with balls. And they've mastered the bend but don't break defense. They just been so lax at getting he offense going that they are allowing those eventual goals against.
Click to expand...

The have one of the best fast break offenses I've ever seen in soccer... when it works. So please, work from here on out!
 
USA is going to win the first round in the knockout, Group H is complete shit.

Who should I be rooting for though, Argentina or Swiss?
 
lupi said:
God only knows how the rest of the games play out for the US. When their offense is going they can pelt the net with balls. And they've mastered the bend but don't break defense. They just been so lax at getting he offense going that they are allowing those eventual goals against.
Click to expand...

I think some of that is from Altidore being gone. They have had to switch to a single forward offense and have really been turtling. Hopefully, he comes back for the round of 16, otherwise we might be one and done.

momeNt said:
USA is going to win the first round in the knockout, Group H is complete shit.

Who should I be rooting for though, Argentina or Swiss?
Click to expand...
Belgium's FIFA ranking is 11, which is higher than the US. They are a good team. The rest of the bracket, is shit though.
 
Last edited:
Underestimating Belgium would be a really bad idea. They may not have looked good so far in the tournament but the quality is there and it just takes a moment or 2 of brilliance to make a difference.
 
so why didnt POR throw the game vs GHA?
their win was pointless.

With GHA winning, that would eliminate the US.
play the part of the spoiler...
 
momeNt said:
USA is going to win the first round in the knockout, Group H is complete shit.

Who should I be rooting for though, Argentina or Swiss?
Click to expand...

Once you get in the quarterfinals it doesn't really matter who you face - all are strong teams to have made it that far.
 
JEDI said:
so why didnt POR throw the game vs GHA?
their win was pointless.

With GHA winning, that would eliminate the US
Click to expand...

Because 1) Portugal had a chance to advance, if they beat Ghana by 4 and 2) A Ghana win wouldn't automatically eliminate the US and 3) intentionally throwing a game, especially in a highly visible bracket against a highly visible team with media that bitches even when they lose legit is a great way to get yourself banned from some international play. Portugal getting suspended from the next world cup would be an incredibly stupid thing to do and it would tarnish every player on that team.
 
JEDI said:
so why didnt POR throw the game vs GHA?
their win was pointless.

With GHA winning, that would eliminate the US.
play the part of the spoiler...
Click to expand...

it's obvious you have never been good enough at anything in your life to be competitive.

USA got RAPED in that game. they probably had possession for about 7 minutes total, and hardly any of it was even in reach of scoring a goal. they are going to have to step up big time if they want to do anything in the knockout round.
 
Last edited:
Kev said:
I wouldn't consider it backing in. It's 3 games, the order you win/lose doesn't really matter.
Click to expand...

the order, what? without the german blowout, the usa doesn't advance on the goal differential. they wouldn't have advanced without help (twice), and teams that need help get eliminated.
 
The Boston Dangler said:
the order, what? without the german blowout, the usa doesn't advance on the goal differential. they wouldn't have advanced without help (twice), and teams that need help get eliminated.
Click to expand...

The USA played better over their three games than Portugal or Ghana. That's the only thing that matters. You're basically throwing down the "you wouldn't have won if we had beaten you" argument. It's true, but it's meaningless. Ultimately it doesn't matter, because it's not like the US is going to make a deep run in the tournament, but don't act like it was sheer luck that got them through.
 
Only European team the US has beaten in the world cup is Portugal. If we want to beat Belgium, we'll have to bring our A game and play the whole game.
 
The Boston Dangler said:
the order, what? without the german blowout, the usa doesn't advance on the goal differential. they wouldn't have advanced without help (twice), and teams that need help get eliminated.
Click to expand...

Portugal and Ghana scored as many goals as USA in the round (4 goals). Based off this group, they are about even with Ghana and Portugal, which isn't a bad thing. Germany is just that good.
 
Going to be a fun Canada day off; Argentina-Swiss in the morning, then USA-Belgium in the afternoon! :awe:

KT
 
KMFJD said:
not sure why all the hate for Bradley, him and Jermaine Jones were one of the few US players that showed up.
Click to expand...

I think Jones showed up, as did Howard, Beckerman and Gonzalez.

IMO, Bradley was having poor touches and bad passes nearly all day. He finally starting clicking at the end though.
 
Atomic Playboy said:
The USA played better over their three games than Portugal or Ghana. That's the only thing that matters. You're basically throwing down the "you wouldn't have won if we had beaten you" argument. It's true, but it's meaningless. Ultimately it doesn't matter, because it's not like the US is going to make a deep run in the tournament, but don't act like it was sheer luck that got them through.
Click to expand...

While the Portugal thrashing by Germany helped, the US not getting thrashed by Germany helped just as well.

Both teams beat Ghana by 1 goal. And, a large defensive US mistake helped Portugal tie us, along with an own goal helped them beat Ghana. Germany beat the US and Portugal. The difference was that even with the US having zero offense, their defense held up extremely well. Germany had 9 shots on target and two thirds of the possession. Portugal got run over by the same team.

Had Germany only beaten Portugal 1-0 rather than 4-0, the US would still have maybe advanced. I think it would have actually been a drawing of lots then.
 
The better two teams from Group G qualify for the next round. To be honest, the quality of play in this group did not live up to the pre tournament hype. Consistent with this WC where some of the bigger name teams have been shown up.

As for the USA, they have a decent enough chance to match their best ever performance at WC - quarter finals in 2002.
 
Now that group play is almost over, do you think that the groupings were more balanced than initially assessed? Some favorites failed to advance, and Germany and France weren't perfect.
 
squarecut1 said:
The better two teams from Group G qualify for the next round. To be honest, the quality of play in this group did not live up to the pre tournament hype. Consistent with this WC where some of the bigger name teams have been shown up.

As for the USA, they have a decent enough chance to match their best ever performance at WC - quarter finals in 2002.
Click to expand...

hm.. Olympics have soccer, right?
so fifa made world cup every 4 years such that there will be world soccer every other year?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top