The matches start on Thursday at 4:00 PM EDT. The official schedule is found http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/groups/index.html Or, for a more mobile friendly site, try www.tapinguide.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 12

4 pm ET | Brazil vs. Croatia | Sao Paulo | TV: ESPN (USA)

FRIDAY, JUNE 13

12 pm ET | Mexico vs. Cameroon | Natal | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

3 pm ET | Spain vs. Netherlands | Salvador | TV: ESPN (USA)

6 pm ET | Chile vs. Australia | Cuiaba | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

12 pm ET | Colombia vs. Greece | Belo Horizonte | TV: ABC (USA)

3 pm ET | Uruguay vs. Costa Rica | Fortaleza | TV: ABC (USA)

6 pm ET | England vs. Italy | Manaus | TV: ESPN (USA)

9 pm ET | Ivory Coast vs. Japan | Recife | TV: ESPN (USA)

SUNDAY, JUNE 15

12 pm ET | Switzerland vs. Ecuador | Brasília | TV: ABC (USA)

3 pm ET | France vs. Honduras | Porto Alegre | TV: ABC (USA)

6 pm ET | Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina | Rio de Janeiro | TV: ESPN (USA)

MONDAY, JUNE 16

12 pm ET | Germany vs. Portugal | Salvador | TV: ESPN (USA)

3 pm ET | Iran vs. Nigeria | Curitiba | TV: ESPN (USA)

6 pm ET | Ghana vs. USA | Natal | TV: ESPN (USA)

TUESDAY, JUNE 17

12 pm ET | Belgium vs. Algeria | Belo Horizonte | TV: ESPN (USA)

3 pm ET | Brazil vs. Mexico | Fortaleza | TV: ESPN (USA)

6 pm ET | Russia vs. South Korea | Cuiaba | TV: ESPN (USA)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18

12 pm ET | Netherlands vs. Australia | Porto Alegre | TV: ESPN (USA)

3 pm ET | Spain vs. Chile | Rio de Janeiro | TV: ESPN (USA)

6 pm ET | Cameroon vs. Croatia | Manaus | TV: ESPN (USA)

THURSDAY, JUNE 19

12 pm ET | Colombia vs. Ivory Coast | Brasilia | TV: ESPN (USA)

3 pm ET | Uruguay vs. England | Sao Paulo | TV: ESPN (USA)

6 pm ET | Greece vs. Japan | Natal | TV: ESPN (USA)

FRIDAY, JUNE 20


12 pm ET | Costa Rica vs. Italy | Recife | TV: ESPN (USA)

3 pm ET | Switzerland vs. France | Salvador | TV: ESPN (USA)

6 pm ET | Ecuador vs. Honduras | Curitiba | TV: ESPN (USA)

SATURDAY, JUNE 21

12 pm ET | Argentina vs. Iran | Belo Horizonte | TV: ESPN (USA)

3 pm ET | Germany vs. Ghana | Fortaleza | TV: ESPN (USA)

6 pm ET | Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Nigeria | Cuiaba | TV: ESPN (USA)

SUNDAY, JUNE 22

12 pm ET | Belgium vs. Russia | Rio de Janeiro | TV: ABC (USA)

3 pm ET | Algeria vs. South Korea | Porto Alegre | TV: ABC (USA)

6 pm ET | Portugal vs. USA | Manaus | TV: ESPN (USA)

MONDAY, JUNE 23

12 pm ET | Netherlands vs. Chile | Sao Paulo | TV: ESPN (USA)

12 pm ET | Australia vs. Spain | Curitiba | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

4 pm ET | Croatia vs. Mexico | Recife | TV: ESPN (USA)

4 pm ET | Cameroon vs. Brazil | Brasilia | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

TUESDAY, JUNE 24

12 pm ET | Italy vs. Uruguay | Natal | TV: ESPN (USA)

12 pm ET | Costa Rica vs. England | Belo Horizonte | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

4 pm ET | Japan vs. Colombia | Cuiaba | TV: ESPN (USA)

4 pm ET | Greece vs. Ivory Coast | Fortaleza | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25

12 pm ET | Nigeria vs. Argentina | Porto Alegre | TV: ESPN (USA)

12 pm ET | Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran | Salvador | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

4 pm ET | Ecuador vs. France | Rio de Janeiro | TV: ESPN (USA)

4 pm ET | Honduras vs. Switzerland | Manaus | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

THURSDAY, JUNE 26

12 pm ET | USA vs. Germany | Recife | TV: ESPN (USA)

12 pm ET | Portugal vs. Ghana | Brasilia | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

4 pm ET | South Korea vs. Belgium | Sao Paulo | TV: ESPN (USA)

4 pm ET | Algeria vs. Russia | Curitiba | TV: ESPN2 (USA)

Date/Time (ET) Home Away Venue
June 12 | 4 PM Brazil Croatia Arena Corinthians, São Paulo
June 13 | 12 PM Mexico Cameroon Arena das Dunas, Natal
June 17 | 3 PM Brazil Mexico Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza
June 18 | 6 PM Cameroon Croatia Arena Amazônia, Manaus
June 23 | 4 PM Cameroon Brazil Estádio Mané Garrincha, Brasília
June 23 | 4 PM Croatia Mexico Arena Pernambuco, Recife

still, should've been kicked away by Luiz easily

Marcelo looked surprised the ball even made it thru to him

Date/Time (ET) Home Away Venue
June 13 | 3 PM Spain Netherlands Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
June 13 | 6 PM Chile Australia Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá
June 18 | 3 PM Spain Chile Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
June 18 | 12 PM Netherlands Australia Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
June 23 | 12 PM Australia Spain Arena da Baixada, Curitiba
June 23 | 12 PM Netherlands Chile Arena Corinthians, São Paulo

Date/Time (ET) Home Away Venue
June 14 | 12 PM Colombia Greece Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte
June 14 | 9 PM Ivory Coast Japan Arena Pernambuco, Recife
June 19 | 12 PM Colombia Ivory Coast Estádio Mané Garrincha, Brasília
June 19 | 6 PM Greece Japan Arena das Dunas, Natal
June 24 | 4 PM Japan Colombia Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá
June 24 | 4 PM Greece Ivory Coast Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/japan-pokemon-plane-world-cup

But the internet is a better place if we believe it did.

Date/Time (ET) Home Away Venue
June 14 | 3 PM Uruguay Costa Rica Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza
June 14 | 6 PM England Italy Arena Amazônia, Manaus
June 19 | 3 PM Uruguay England Arena Corinthians, São Paulo
June 20 | 12 PM Costa Rica Italy Arena Pernambuco, Recife
June 24 | 12 PM Italy Uruguay Arena das Dunas, Natal
June 24 | 12 PM Costa Rica England Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte

June 15 | 12 PM Switzerland Ecuador Estádio Mané Garrincha, Brasília
June 15 | 3 PM France Honduras Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
June 20 | 3 PM Switzerland France Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
June 20 | 6 PM Ecuador Honduras Arena da Baixada, Curitiba
June 25 | 4 PM Honduras Switzerland Arena Amazônia, Manaus
June 25 | 4 PM Ecuador France Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

June 15 | 6 PM Argentina Bosnia-Herzegovina Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
June 16 | 3 PM Iran Nigeria Arena da Baixada, Curitiba
June 21 | 12 PM Argentina Iran Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte
June 21 | 6 PM Bosnia-Herzegovina Nigeria Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá
June 25 | 12 PM Nigeria Argentina Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
June 25 | 12 PM Bosnia-Herzegovina Iran Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Date/Time (ET) Home Away Venue
June 16 | 12 PM Germany Portugal Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
June 16 | 6 PM Ghana USA Arena das Dunas, Natal
June 21 | 3 PM Germany Ghana Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza
June 22 | 6 PM Portugal USA Arena Amazônia, Manaus
June 26 | 12 PM USA Germany Arena Pernambuco, Recife
June 26 | 12 PM Portugal Ghana Estádio Mané Garrincha, Brasília

...draw with Germany, win the group. Simple.

Portugal should not scare anyone

Date/Time (ET) Home Away Venue
June 17 | 12 PM Belgium Algeria Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte
June 17 | 6 PM Russia South Korea Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá
June 22 | 12 PM Belgium Russia Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
June 22 | 3 PM Algeria South Korea Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
June 26 | 4 PM South Korea Belgium Arena Corinthians, São Paulo
June 26 | 4 PM Algeria Russia Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

sub-question: is there anything more obnoxious that the ever-present cliche during these times, "no one understands the offsides rule"?

I'm willing to concede a shockingly high % of futbol fans don't understand the need for two people to be between ball and goal* (b/c it really only applies when a player is 1v1 with the goalie or on really odd goalmouth scrambles), but the "can't be heind the last man" thing is NOT HARD, AMERICA!


*aside -- I took a soccer PE class in high school once and this was emphasized and a paper test was given where I got it all wrong, thinking I understood offsides, but rest assured in all the manic obsessive soccer watching since then, I've sorted it all out, can spot it live easy. Shoot, I just passed Zach Loyd on the sidewalk today and recognized him, and he's an infrequent starter for the visiting team, something has definitely gone wrong.

Every so often there is a play where the goalkeeper is out of position, and the play is still called offside due to lack of a player between the opposition and the goal. I had to have it explained to me more than a couple of times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmC9JOcaofI

hilarious

They're coming

just ignore

i remember when i was trying to get into soccer and a friend told me to play FIFA on Playstation. so i was like, "aight cool, that helped with Madden" so i tried it. every time they blew the whistle and called me offside, i was so thoroughly confused. i was like, "why can't i pass it to him when he's wide open?". we're so used to trying to find the open man in sports like football and basketball that it takes some time to wrap your head around the idea of the soccer offsides rule.

at the time you could explain the rule to me and i'd get what it was, but i just couldn't get WHY it was against the rules. it took a long time.

as discussed in the buildup post doing separate threads for each group stage matchday works pretty well. Matchday 1 goes from 06/12 to 06/17

matchday 2 - 06/17-06/22
matchday 3 - 06/23-06/26

HAPPY WORLD CUP OPENING DAY Y'ALL

He perfectly explains how torn I am between excitement for soccer, and sadness at how awful FIFA and the Brazilian Government is.

Also has hilarious bits like how terrible Sepp Blatter is and the fact that FIFA is actually making a movie about itself ("where the business executives are the good guys!").

I'm reposting here from the other post:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJEt2KU33I

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/222762/milwaukee-bar-constructs-fake-brazillian-slum-for-yuppies-to-enjoy-the-world-cup-in/

Brady Street's turned so douchey

edit: and lmao at all the apologetic comments, like this gem:

I can understand the indignation for the use of words like "shanty town" or "favela", but if you look at the pictures of the patio they've put together, it's very clear they're not celebrating poverty or crime or the myriad disadvantages and exploitation that people in the developing world experience. They're making a fun, festive, welcoming environment for people to enjoy a fun, festive, multicultural global sporting event. I

I'll say that before clicking the link I thought it would be even worse...because this was posted on my fb page, and the picture was one of the actual favela pictures, and I thought the bar had actually hired actors to be the 'SWAT team member' and the 'unfazed passerby'

---------------------------------------
<< Seattle by moonlight...

at least until the Rd of 16 I think

i'm rolling with it until the KO rounds ... then i scramble.

plus, spanish announcers!

The way they said "CherOOOOONdulo" was great

first of all, I'm quote-working-unquote from home
but usually, I actually do work harder when I'm home

not today
I cannot focus on anything non world cup related at all

though I'm not doing shit tomorrow. hit the bar at noon I think.

I'm going to be recording most of the games during the week. But I'm getting fucked up during the weekend

like plopping down a 3rd grader in an AP physics class

wish we gave him a shot instead of that clown moyes,

Really glad they've got Martinez again.

Happy to see Rae back on my TV as well.

Was so glad to still see him there

That was sorry defending

They are really attacking Alves and Marcelo down the flanks

Not only dug out the ball vs two defenders but then calmly releases Neymar with a slight flick. Looked like Neymar scuffed that shot but it had a seeing-eye evidently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0yxuMwxfmc

after all of 7 starts for them

in playing

I'd bench his ass in the 2nd half.

But not so much in getting back

uugggh, HT show on mute status already

They should just have Roberto do the entire half-time and show tactics/ adjustments....lol, that's my dream at least.

Croatia played really tight, stopping Brazil from having space to play. They looked good on the counter attack.

Brazil were a bit nervous in the first 10 minutes, but they had a spark after that own goal and started putting on the pressure - it paid off with a goal.

So far Oscar and Rakitić both look like the best players on the field.

Bring on the 2nd half.

There's some guys on the bench I know are good.

If Costa was healthy, he'd surely be starting.

unless theres another costa out there.

I dunno why I always think he's a Brazilian

My understanding is that Brazilians were fairly pissed off when he picked Spain.

>I dunno why I always think he's a Brazilian

lol, me too.

The higher defensive work-rate, getting challenges in, geting his hands (feet?) dirty.

The rare time the CONCACAF is ahead of the game.

If that's a penalty, then you can have 4-5 a game...easily.

Terribly taken penalty too...Neymar is very fortunate. If the keeper gets a flat palm, he has to parry that aside.

any ref worth a penny knows that was nothing. if it was anything, it should have been a yellow on the Brasilian for simulation.

too bad. totally ruined this game.

was it though?

seriously, yes, I'm seriously asking

obviously, I'm not a soccer head

but I do get into the WC

I'm sayin'

he grabbed Fred by both of his shoulders and pulled him back

yes Fred flopped, but that's what soccer players do right?

and it was smart, but I'm not convinced that it wasn't a foul

Fred knew where he was, knew it was a foul, and made sure the ref saw it

I have more of a problem with this play being the story

did we really expect there to NOT be a flop?

the ref plea cop in all sports really gets on my f'n nerves

it was a foul, yes?

>it was a foul, yes?

No.

it wasn't a smart thing to do as a defender, because it gives the flopper a clear cut opportunity, but if the refs called foul for this type of thing, they would basically be whistling on any given play

the short version is what Buck said: no, it wasn't a foul

Fred went down too easily. Goalkeeper should of saved it.

If Croatia lose this game, I don't think they should feel down; they've played quite well, especially in defense.

You have a lead, are hard done by the ref, and have multiple free header chances from good header players....you can't not feel down imo regardless of the positive play.

Remember that when Altidore is getting kicked in the nuts with impunity on monday

The average american sports fan finds that disgusting and it keeps soccer on the fringes of americam consciousness

Although with footy, you can argue that due to the scarcity of goals, a refereeing decision is often more impactful than the other sports.

which is why they should definitely allow video replay on PK calls
or at least be more systematic about retroactive suspensions...Fred should be dismissed for a game or two now; wouldn't make up for the goal, but it would be something

And I dont think youre so dense as to have not understood that

diving is not the reason why Americans don't care about soccer
that may the reason people are giving when asked about it, but that's not the real reason
and I don't think you're dense enough to believe it is

The general American sporting consciousness has been conditioned to admire the guys who put their heads down and play thru pain and injury.

The guys who hit the deck every time theres contact and then act like they hit a land mine inspire contempt.

Thats a significant hurdle to entry for most American sports fans.

but ppl haven't stopped paying attention to the NBA during the Heat's run despite the flopping and histrionics and they wouldn't pay that much more attention to soccer if there were none. There are a lot of other factors, I'm not sure why you want to rationalize it through this one (while sounding, at least on the surface, somewhat smug about it)

Americans keep watching the NFL even after Urlacher came out and admitted players were faking injuries all the time

they don't watch soccer because
1- the US are not good at it (bit of chicken/egg situation)
2- there's not enough scoring
3- it requires a different attention span than all American sports (the closest would be hockey, and that's the least popular of the major sports)

diving/cheating is just the easiest answer

So in that instance, the governing body is taking action against it

Granted the fine amounts are a pittance compared to what players earn but still its an action.

In the NFL, yes play stops if a guy goes down holding a fake injury. But games dont turn on flopping and diving. The comparison is not very good.

I'm not even talking about the amount of money, I'm talking about the number of flops that go unpunished. The fines have done nothing to curtail the flopping and it's actually becoming more rampant...all the NBA does is fine the completely ridiculous ones, that doesn't account for 95% of the other flops that go on consistently.

because "simulation" is a cardable offense and a FK is awarded against the team with the diving player. If a player were to receive a 2nd yellow card for simulation, they could be ejected from the game. The problem is you rarely see referees actually pull a card for diving, because the fact is the players are really good at it and it's difficult for one person to be able to determine with 100% accuracy during a live match.

Should also be noted that MLS is doing, actually has been doing for the last two years, same as the NBA, retroactive discipline for simulation. It's been just about as effective as the NBA's efforts in actually curbing the behavior, but hey -- if knowing guys get slapped on the wrist for it makes you feel better, that does happen.

but they're definitely not systematic enough with it
Fred should get suspended for the rest of the group stage...he probably won't be though

when's the last time someone got retroactively fined/suspsended for diving in a EUFA league? MLS is giving out fines and suspensions every week. if someone else regularly enforces it, i don't hear about it much.

>The comparison is not very good.

.

Mourinho must be smiling

to me he clearly went straight up and for the ball, he was there earlier than Cesar

They are more than likely gonna protect the keepers in that situation.

in this instance, he was a step late, Olic got his head on the ball before the contact...not a foul imo, especially when you royally fucked up 10 minutes before

So I can understand how that was called a foul

Croatia got jobbed so bad overall

and secondly, does the lead official know the penalty was a dive until he sees it after the game?

don't know if they have a jumbotron in that stadium, prolly not

but what should have happened is, somebody should have let 4th ref know, and he should have told all his 3 guys 'ayo...we fucked up. bad. let's do a make up call first chance we get'

>but what should have happened is, somebody should have let 4th
>ref know, and he should have told all his 3 guys 'ayo...we
>fucked up. bad. let's do a make up call first chance we get'

That's already funny but imagining that scene in Japanese has me dying.

So many chances

Croatia defended well but their attack was almost non-existent today until the last 5 minutes.

they were as dangerous as, if not more than Brazil in the first half
it was counters, they didn't hold the ball, but they had the better chances (that Olic header in particular)

they did step down in the second half...but mostly, they got jobbed

Cross to the far-post, right over the out of position Alves (shocking, I know)...completely clean header from 7 yards...really needs to be on net at least and it goes 3 yards wide. Croatia was pretty damn good in the first 15 mins going forward , they were killing Marcelo and Alves.

until the final 8 mins or so.

So in 90 mins they basically had maybe a handful of decent chances.

To a -2 GD

Damn.

all three of these goals have weird asterisks

now that he knows he blew he's not calling anything.

Dude was on that dial-up modem steez....such lag time on that reaction.

the toe poke Ronaldo scored in the 20O2 World Cup.

MOTM: Oscar.

nobody deserved to win this game.

watching this game at work? What times does the games start for you guys?

In England (UK) it's going either 5pm, 7pm or 11pm for kick off. Ivory Coast vs Japan will the only late game - with a 2am start!

today was 4pm cause they took forever to start.

I fucking loved being up all night for Japan/Korea in `02.

and watch before work

If it works anyone wanna tryit out for fun?



1. Rank teams 1-32

2.In the group stage teams receive the same number of points as they do in pool
3perW
1perD
0perL

(maybe add some multiplier here based on seeding?)

3a. If a team wins the Round of 16game you get 1 pt + whatever rank you have them.
i.e. Brazil wins and they're you;re #1 ranked team you get 1pt for W+ 1pt for seeding.

3b. If a team wins the Round of 16 game you get 1 pt + the "inverse?" of what you ranked them.
i.e Brazil wins and they're you;re #1 ranked team you get 1pt for W+ 32pt for seeding.

4a. If a team wins the qtrfinal game you get 8 pts + whatever rank you have them.
i.e. Brazil wins and they're you;re #1 ranked team you get 8pts for W+ 1pt for seeding.

4b. If a team wins the qtrfinal game you get 8 pt + the "inverse?" of what you ranked them.
i.e Brazil wins and they're you;re #1 ranked team you get 8pts for W+ 32pt for seeding

5a. If a team wins the semifinal game you get 16 pts + whatever rank you have them.
i.e. Brazil wins and they're you;re #1 ranked team you get 16pts for W+ 1pt for seeding.

5b. If a team wins the semifinal game you get 16 pts + the "inverse?" of what you ranked them.
i.e Brazil wins and they're you;re #1 ranked team you get 16pts for W+ 32pt for seeding..

6a. If a team wins the final game you get 32 pts + whatever rank you have them.
i.e. Brazil wins and they're you;re #1 ranked team you get 32pts for W+ 1pt for seeding.

6b. If a team wins the final game you get 32 pts + the "inverse?" of what you ranked them.
i.e Brazil wins and they're you;re #1 ranked team you get 32pts for W+ 32pt for seeding..

in these tournaments?

but I thought it might be different between Mexico and USA - since a lot Mexicans do live in the US.

then they can just sit back, relax and watch Mexicans play some really pretty futbol to set up countless chances and waste them all

Marquez v Blanco

From what I got from the announcers since the defender touched it first the Mexican player became offside?

since a Cameroon player touched it, offsides shouln't be possible, no?

>From what I got from the announcers since the defender
>touched it first the Mexican player became offside?

no, precisely because the defender touched it, they should not have been called offside

unless I'm missing something

Hopefully they break it down at halftime.

>>From what I got from the announcers since the defender
>>touched it first the Mexican player became offside?
>
>no, precisely because the defender touched it, they should not
>have been called offside
>
>unless I'm missing something
>

Yes, you're right. It was mistake by the assistant ref.

The only thing I could possibly understand is if the assistant ref saw the ball coming off the attackers head. Then, the ball would have been considered a pass and possibly offside. Any other call is just plain wrong.

>if the
>assistant ref saw the ball coming off the attackers head.

Fuck Mexico.

they also gave Cameroon some iffy free kicks
fuck me though, this is not what I had picked

Mexico really deserved that win - probably should have been 3-0.

think I might skip ESPN for all the Central/South American teams. Heck even Spain-Holland while we're at it

this truly starts the world cup for me

I realize now I'm totally rooting against my pick here

I thought I wouldn't care because I don't have much love for this dutch generation, but I really would enjoy seeing Spain fall flat on their face, and it's taking over

http://www.troll.me/images/grinning-emperor-palpatine/goooooood-let-the-hate-flow-through-you.jpg

the dutch defense needs to stop slide tackling all reckless in the box, I was surprised Costa didn't look for the foul

but I guess this one was tricky to spot.
we need video replay on every PK call, man. we've been needing it.

this game is a wrap now.

I thought Costa caught Vlaar's legs.

if you slide on a fake and make contact, they're always giving it to the attacking player
in this instance, there was actually no contact at all...

but that's what you get for a dumb slide tackle attempt, good defenders stay on their feet

Defender is sliding away from Costa and Costa sticks his left leg onto the defender's foot...penalty. C'mon.

but that's on the defender for sliding in the box
you don't do it unless you're a 100% sure you're getting the ball first...in this instance, he had almost no shot at the ball, so that was really stupid

But I think you'll agree that the referee has to be better

but yeah, you would hope the referee on the spot was better than me watching tv
mostly, I'm mad at the lack of video replay

FIFA looking real bad right now, on many levels.

Reading up about him I don't blame them. But I am now hoping we see a Brazil/Spain matchup in the knockout phase, ideally with Costa scoring the game winner.

damn, that was sweet
and I hate Van Persie

Silva almost put the game away, and then boom, tie. go marinate on that for 15 minutes, bitches.

Heres to many RVP & LVG celevrations in the next year

The run, the ball, the impeccable finish by RVP.

Lol Ramos lol...not sure if he was trying to play the high line but he let RVP go right off his shoulder and Pique played him in by 3 yards.

>the impeccable finish by RVP.
>

if he chests it, he's likely to get to close to Casillas and give him a much better chance in the 1-on-1
he saw him come up from the corner of his eye and made up his mind to go for the lob in a split second

goal scorer's sixth sense

That's a recipe for leaking chances

Time to get the fuck home

of a ball.


And what was Casillas thinking?

definitely has had his share of mistakes this season. Might need to reconsider my stance on Espana being almost underrated this tourney

>And what was Casillas thinking?

he was coming out to close the angles, as most players would have tried to score on two touches in this situation
this was just a stroke of genius from RVP

fuck my pick

I hate Robben too, but that's another outstanding goal. gotdamn.

2-0 Spain you say? Someone must've hacked my Yahoo account

after they scored first, I really thought it was a wrap, but for some reason they're not dominating possession like they usually do

and now things could get worse for them because the dutch are traditionally a great counter team

>and now things could get worse for them because the dutch are
>traditionally a great counter team

that would have been a third gorgeous goal
dutch need to chill though, Silva was close again

2 great assists

Could have been a lovely goal.

much more of a foul than yesterday on Julio Cesar
more shitty officiating

When RVP went into Casillas and completely negated his punch of the cross. This officiating man....impossible to get any kind of feel.

still, they should play De Gea. they likely won't.

jeez, brutal day for Iker

in a group that may very well end up in a 3-way 6 points tie, it matters a lot

He is also loud as fuck to his defenders, might have helped with some of their terrible positioning.
-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilariou

Casillas running and tripping after Robben was hilarious

actually Kawhi Leonard kinda sounds like a name you'd see on the Dutch squad

Not gonna get out of the group playing like this. Shit defense, shit goalkeeping, shit finishing.

Only player who wasn't embarrassing himself was alba. And I guess Cesar and Xavi. Give de gea a start, replace Xavi Alonso with Martinez, and silva with cesc or something. Fuck balls. Guess you have to go through Brazil eventually if you want a chance to win, just didn't want it to be so early. Then again, play even half fs badly against chile, and you'll lose again. Fuck.

Chile can beat anybody in that group, including the dutch
goal average will matter, and it's going to be tough to recover from this total bed shitting

Xavi's too.

Real Madrid looking fucks fucking up. Fuck all of this.
-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilariou

Also, this ref really needed to learn the advantage rule. And protect goalies. And I'm fucking mad.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilariou

Obvs it doesn't have quite the same disparity between the teams in terms of reputation, but the size of this beatdown is unbelievable

w/the 25 passes goal
but yeah, you're probably right in terms of shock factor

don't think he's going to stay w/Ajax for too much longer if he keeps sonning entire teams like this

>don't think he's going to stay w/Ajax for too much longer if
>he keeps sonning entire teams like this


Not that there was any way ajax was going to hang onto him in the first place, but I was at least hoping for another year there. It's prolly gonna happen this summer

this is what happens. Their midfield is flabby and sick... there is no way a Ramos/Pique partnership can withstand that lack of protection. They weren't "tired" at the Confederations Cup lol. I don't know why that old, old man with the trophies he has won doesn't turn a new leaf.. it could only further his legacy.

Xavi and koke arent comparable in terms of position (koke is waaaaaay too attacking oriented to replace xavi. Thiago woulda been the option, but he's hurt) and xavi wasnt the problem. He handed costa three primo chances. It was the backline and dmfs.

Im still mad.
-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilariou

https://vine.co/v/Mj33tT016zl

MY DUDES!!!

KICK ROCKS SPAIN!

Looking forward to watching the Chileans this year.

Just saw the score? WTH?????

I hope no one decided to skip this match lol.

Good for Cahill, I've always liked dude.

Australians are playing better than I thought they would, but still

he's my pick for revelation of the tournament

>he's my pick for revelation of the tournament

That goal is a "goal of the tournament" contender. Nice play altogether.

>That goal is a "goal of the tournament" contender. Nice play
>altogether.

but definitely top 5 celebration contender

https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/1ED2DAE2821089629590399410176_22e41746936.0.3.3859960844915758240.mp4?versionId=NTL3h6aDjo4LNdZqwjRbJceWXvJ7hrFh

>but definitely top 5 celebration contender
>
>https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/1ED2DAE2821089629590399410176_22e41746936.0.3.3859960844915758240.mp4?versionId=NTL3h6aDjo4LNdZqwjRbJceWXvJ7hrFh

You guys didn't think that was a good goal?

Yep, nice celebration.

the first Van Persie and first Robben ones
or even with the second Chilean goal

and it's still early, so I don't think it's going to be anywhere near the top of the list at tournament's end

>the first Van Persie and first Robben ones
>or even with the second Chilean goal
>
>and it's still early, so I don't think it's going to be
>anywhere near the top of the list at tournament's end

I see, no problem.

and oversized soda

"Damn, he almost stopped that....wait, I can still stop it!" *ball rolls across line*

maybe 3.9 if he wasn't having to dribble a ball

that is if they could peel themselves away from the US Open

It sounds to me like the Univision dude keeps saying "tiro de quina" for corner kicks instead of "tiro de esquina". Am I hearing wrong or is that a common expression?

escuela = e~cuela

pescado = pe~cado (actually, it's more like pe~cao)

And that ~ is a subtle, brief kinda back-of-the-throat breathing out/"hawking" sound, so "de esquina" turns into "de~quina".

We all saw Iker with Spain yesterday

he went down in the box kind of instinctively after pushing the ball too far, but immediately signaled there was no foul
ref didn't give a yellow card

if only it could go down like that every time

he's an MLS ref, so for those of us that watch MLS a lot, that's a bit surprising (tho to be fair he's one of the better MLS refs).

that's a top shelf player

Tough game for Greece to start with, but if that header had gone in...

they don't look too fit

Knows the game extremely well, will speak on player strengths and weaknesses, game tactics, and will be bluntly honest.

It will really take something to make for a better save than that one in this tournament, imo

n/m

England and Italy might need to watch out too

>England and Italy might need to watch out too

http://i.lv3.hbo.com/assets/images/series/curb-your-enthusiasm/episodes/5/43/the-christ-nail-02-1024.jpg

Played without fear, really went for that 3rd goal too

I fux with Campbell. Bring him back and send Sanogo out on loan for a year

D

Holland kinda started it, but I'm all for the homies on the bench getting some

how you gonna melt down in the first game like that?

I want to go out and watch the Italy/eng game at a bar and gets some food with a couple of friends. But while there are a lot of good soccer focused bar in Chi, they're always ridiculously packed and standing room only - especially for an England game. Go to a standard bar and there's the risk of haggling to get it on the big TV vs. a white sox game or some shit.

Still hunting for some in between shit

gotta work in the morning, so I can go from work to a spot to watch, or just head home, but I'm already caught in the same bind -- either huge crowds, chintzy corporate spots, or the tiny bar that still hasn't bought a flat screen. Might just settle on the couch so I will have as few distractions as possible.

on the other side Joe Hart is trying his best to uphold the proud tradition of English keepers at the WC

what's the name of the yellow boots Pirlo's (and other players) wearing?

Sturridge/Sterling/Welbeck is a nice change from previous years, and Cahill/Jagielka looks solid.

Italians fell asleep after their goal tho

what the fuck is wrong with that country's football culture...

act like you been there before Subjects of the Queen!

it's a fucking sandlot that they painted green. literally.

Would like to see what Immobile does against this staid English defense

weird that they didn't show the goal-line replay, but I guess it wasn't as close as it seemed

shocking "cover" by Cahill on that play tho

https://static-secure.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2011/10/28/1319832557115/Mario-Balotelli-006.jpg

or could it be Rooney is grossly overrated?

He just has a lot less spark and energy than the other three guys up front. Seemed like in the past even if he played poorly he at least played with energy.

Maybe the better lineup is to swap Milner or somebody in as the second holding mid, move Gerrard up a bit, and play with 3 up front?

n/m

those pasty, fish + chip fed drunks look like they're having the time of their lives in Manaus right now

while politely checking her watch to see how long until she can leave

Pirlo fully deserved for that one to go in

http://www.thefootballramble.com/images/blog/hi-res-163286081_crop_650x440.jpg

http://kasekinney.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/the-hound.jpg

You guys watching this?

alls I gotta say is that dude was a MONSTER for me when I signed him in FM12

I always sign Honda

15 comes out in a couple months.

I mean I love all the added features but I miss some of the simplicity of 99 and 00.


It seems like all the newer versions end up buggy and you cant score goals or score too many goals.


The idea of it is fun, but the gameplay gets frustrating quick.

May spring for 15 when it arrives. Usually skip a year between releases.

10 is my sweet spot, before you had to deal with agents or convince players to tutor or any of that crap.

highly entertaining.

I'm not a soccer head, but almost every time I watch an African team,
I hear some variation of that statement

or I hear that statement in reference to a black player on any team


ESPN just shared a stat that African teams are 4-47-11 when conceding the first goal.
as evidence of them being front-runners who lack the mental toughness to battle adversity

my first thought is, how many of these teams were favored to win?
the underdog would get scored on first and usually loses

are even

two glancing headers within like 5 mins of each other

lots of experienced good to great players on that team, plus they gotta be hungry because this whole generation has been underachieving up to now and it's their last shot

that said, it was a bit of a weird point to make about 'African' teams
I'd like to see the stats of all teams conceding a goal first, for balance

group that entire continent together like that

they did throw in a funfact that CIV was the last african team to come back from that deficit

but yeah, something about that whole narrative was strange, IMO

and Bob said one of the biggest, most fundamental things he needed to get in place was keeping the players from reacting so emotionally to any kind of adversity, drilling into them that they need to trust in a system that will create chances and opportunities for a result, even if the team falls behind. He said that was by far the biggest thing he had to do, drilling a resilient mindset into the players and trying to get them playing less emotionally.

Obviously it's ridiculous to take that and apply it to the whole continent, but I think that's where the generalization comes from.

for example

in the NBA playoffs, some repeated stats

MIA hasn't lost back to back games in the playoffs since the formation of the Big 3

MIA hasn't lost a home playoff game this year, etc...

being a US sports fan, I'm use to stats being more relevant to the club, than geography

you wouldn't hear those same examples give in the narrative of

NBA teams in FLA, or NBA teams in the Eastern Conference, etc...

the stats are more relevant to the team

i.e., DIV's record when giving up the first goal is _____

that's why I found it strange

Bob Bradley's experience aside, the danger is putting that label on an entire continent

especially when the team that your applying that stat to, is actually the team that has overcome that stat

so yeah, just strange

would you hear a stat like that for North America? I couldn't see there being a parallel between MEX and the US that folks wouldn't think was a reach.

at the half

not European countries are ____ when leading at the half

another strange thing about the African countries stat

was that for all African countries all-time

the reason I ask, is I believe this is CIV 3rd straight WC

and hence being termed their golden era

it would be more relevant to have stats on that team and not a continent, IMO

I thought Ivory coast deserved to be in the lead with all those chances, but Japan were organised and defended well.

I like both teams, so I'm not too bothered who wins. I draw would be good for me though ;)

very results oriented soccer -- need to minimize mistakes, capitalize on all opportunities.

Prandelli showed some great flexibility dealing with the late injuries, and the players certainly seemed committed. Will be interesting to see how they deal with stronger pressing on Pirlo, but I'm guessing young Marco could take up more of the slack (hopefully he avoids the silly fouls that have been his trademark at PSG). And if they need more speed against the likes of CRC they can put Insigne on

>(hopefully he avoids the silly fouls that have been his
>trademark at PSG).

I precisely hope he gets a red card at some point, and if he doesn't, I hope he tries one of his trademark dribbles out of his own box and gets pick-pocketed.

I mean, they're good and pleasant to watch and Prandelli is a classy dude, but they're still Italians. so fuck them.

Not sure why, maybe it's the vague Italian lineage in my fam but I've never disliked them. Even after '06. I don't root for them or anything silly like that but I have no problem with them

I mean, isn't "unless completely in disarray that year, always in the conversation of likely winners" a more descriptive phrase?

well, ok, i know chiellini. wait, he's playing LB?

anybody have the story on this makeshift italian back 4?

Says he'll be back for the next match.

They look a lil suspect in the back, hopefully they can hold on

CONCACAF = no joke.

Donovan

not a whole lot of action, and down 1 at the half

sub in your country's most beloved futbol player

and the team comes alive!!!

(no, I'm not comparing Drogba to Landon, just the situations)

I get the rationale behing JK's decision

but I do think he went a step too far with it (something about it feels like spite and not 100% based on soccer)

props to the Swiss dude for playing through the foul, too.

can we take 2018 from Russia and give it again to Brazil?

All my colonialist assumptions are blown. I don't know what to think anymore.

saving his team + starting counterattack

Fuck Palacios tho

>Fuck Palacios tho

Fantastic flopping.

flopping, fouling, parking the bus
it might get better now that they're down 1...might

GOOD JOB, FRENCH CROWD

I haven't.

now that they're down 1, they're just going to try to avoid a full blown spanking
can't really blame them

I just need Costly or *somebody* to put them on the board.

or just rooting for Central and South American countries in general?

but I save a little hate for France for shyts and giggles.

the Univision guy keeps calling Benzema 'El Gato'...is that an official nickname for him in Spain/Latina America?

I like it.

And it pissed him off.

I'm not watching Univision because they got Carlos Pavon doing color. That would just be cruel hearing GOOOL GOOOOL GOOOL in his presence.

https://twitter.com/search?q=el%20gato%20benzema&src=typd

I had hope.

if we're going to do anything of significance, he's going to be part of it

and motherfucking crew
Garrido could have taken Blaise's knee out on that foul

Argentina, here we go!

He got That One Goal years ago and been been trying to live that up ever since as a "specialist." Ugh.

Costa Rica is Costa Rica, Honduras is Honduras...and the FUCK YEAH CONCACAF talk was a massive cyse.

Not really familiar w/ them at all.

they may try to pack it in if stays tied late, but they will take their shots early
they have Dzeko, who's probably in the top 15 strikers in the world, and Pjanic, who can be very creative and is a constant scoring thread on free kicks

so I'd say Argentina's got their hands full

I waited all weekend for this? Was hoping they'd come out guns blazing in Rio. Palacios and Pipita aren't fit... Tevez sitting at home. Nice.

Very nice finish by Muller. Team is looking very sharp with the combinations early, will be interesting to see how the heat affects them. Very glad to see Khedira fit.

not trolling, just wondering

My aunt and uncle lived there for 30+ years (uncle was a doctor at the army medical base), and I visited 4 times while growing up so that was my first influence.

____________________

Behold my works,ye mighty

:)

That zonal defending for Portugal really biting them...I just had Arsenal flashbacks.

where i predicted Germany to win the pot

good lord ronaldo is surrounded w/ nothing.

____________________

Behold my works,ye mighty

like clockwork

5-0?

GOOD! BLOW EM OUT
____________________

Behold my works,ye mighty

Why would you even think a pseudo head-butt is appropriate. Cotdamn

Almeida takes his sweet time and loses the ball with CR7 being 1v1 against Mertesacker.

ID: Look at Cristiano's reaction!
SR: He has every right to give Almeida a go. 1v1 vs Mertesacker and Almeida takes far too long to attempt a pass. What an opportunity.

Love the no nonsense approach. Shut all these manufactured headlines down Stewart!

I'm pretty sure that's Jon Champion.

I know, I know all Brits sound alike...

http://goo.gl/r9SEUe

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***
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He is really bearing down and attacking on those corners...need to get leverage on him earlier.

>

Huge gap between the cb and rb, zero pressure on the ball. Ozil times his run, in on net, needs to just blast it rather than passing it into the net...dunno if I've ever seen a dude who loves passing as much as him.

Portugal is such a mess today

Hopefully he'll be back and fit on or around the 25th of June.

Almeida with the hammy and Coentrao with the groin

He kinda has that newborn giraffe gangly awkwardness to him but cotdamn does he know how to play and finish. Always puts himself in dangerous positions. To think he has at least 2 more WC's in him + the rest of this one.

ive loved the german system.

Whe they went through their mini reboot a couple cups ago (around 2004)--all roads led here. This style of play is the most entertaining/effective styles of play in all recent cups.
Way better than that Tiki Taka Barca/Spanish shit imo.

The movement, overlapping from midfield and defense, and ability to switch defense to offense is great to see.

Im reminds of Spurs.
But yea German consistent Dominance of WC soccer the past 20 years is rivaled only bt Brazil imo (though I could see arguments for Italy).

It looks so silly. I can't believe that's what they came up with as a "cool" introduction.

It looks so silly. I can't believe that's what they came up with as a "cool" introduction.

,

nobody dont wanna sift t hru a 500 post behemoth

like 3 people watching this one.

Score you bastards.

all that possession, set pieces and chances...not one goal!