The World Cup 2014 Thread

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Unless there are shenanigans, it's totally by chance. The draw is done live on TV. That's how you end up having death groups where some countries end up in somewhat easy groups.

So Argentina got lucky and the US got it with no Vaseline. Now if someone could explain to me why sometimes two players brush jerseys and it's a foul and other times it's ok to flatten someone and no foul. And sometimes it looks like legs get tangled and it's a foul. I'm thinking incidental contact like the NFL. Another thing, if you don't follow the sport, you don't know which team is which by their jerseys. Chile was in white, all their fans were draped in red like their flag. Australia wore green and yellow and looked like Brasil. As a n00b, i think it's confusing. And they don't show many close ups like they do in most sports here, maybe because the field is so big? Again, I'm used to the NFL, NHL, NBA, baseball, golf........

I'm making an honest attempt to learn about the game and get a better understanding of it. I enjoyed Chile vs Spain and Germany vs Portugal. I just hope Brasil advances so I don't have to listen to my wife.

[Karee 4,190]

So Argentina got lucky and the US got it with no Vaseline. Now if someone could explain to me why sometimes two players brush jerseys and it's a foul and other times it's ok to flatten someone and no foul. And sometimes it looks like legs get tangled and it's a foul. I'm thinking incidental contact like the NFL. Another thing, if you don't follow the sport, you don't know which team is which by their jerseys. Chile was in white, all their fans were draped in red like their flag. Australia wore green and yellow and looked like Brasil. As a n00b, i think it's confusing. And they don't show many close ups like they do in most sports here, maybe because the field is so big? Again, I'm used to the NFL, NHL, NBA, baseball, golf........

I'm making an honest attempt to learn about the game and get a better understanding of it. I enjoyed Chile vs Spain and Germany vs Portugal. I just hope Brasil advances so I don't have to listen to my wife.

The thing I like most about the matches is that they only last 2 hours.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I don't understand how some fouls are called and others aren't. It all seems to vary from one play to another. Brazil should advance, so you can relax.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I don't understand how some fouls are called and others aren't. It all seems to vary from one play to another. Brazil should advance, so you can relax.

I'll never forget watching the rescue of the Chilean miners live online. When Mario came up, he started running around chanting Chi chi chi le le le. I thought of him and the rest today while watching the game. That's why I posted the video on the previous page. I thought the was so cool, a rescue that involved countries from all over the world and most everything was donated.

I hope Brasil advances, I like seeing her wearing her Neymar Jr. jersey, thong and heels while cooking a potato dinner.

[Pooky 3,784]

So it's totally by chance? No attempt is made at balance?

Unless there are shenanigans, it's totally by chance. The draw is done live on TV. That's how you end up having death groups where some countries end up in somewhat easy groups.

It's not totally by chance.

They split the teams into four pots, basically four seeding levels, and each group gets one team from each pot. This ensures that you don't get a group with four great teams, or four hapless ones.

For the whole story, read this http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-05/the-world-cups-bizarre-groupings-process-demystified-dot-well-sort-of-dot

Go Croatia.

My wild card team got over getting robbed by Brazil and got the job done.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

It's not totally by chance.

They split the teams into four pots, basically four seeding levels, and each group gets one team from each pot. This ensures that you don't get a group with four great teams, or four hapless ones.

For the whole story, read this http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-05/the-world-cups-bizarre-groupings-process-demystified-dot-well-sort-of-dot

Go Croatia.

My wild card team got over getting robbed by Brazil and got the job done.

I'm sorry, to this n00b that sounds quite fvcked up. This is definitely not a new fan friendly sport. That and some of the points I brought up earlier today make it downright confusing. I still don't understand fouls or faults or penalties. You breathe on your opponent, it's a yellow card. Run up behind him and elbow him in the back, no foul. Accidentally touch your opponents when going for the ball or worse yet, get your legs tangled, there is hell to be paid. It's a sport where you run around really fast and kick a ball, so it seems to me, lots of people are going to get kicked accidentally. You have the ball, I come in to try to take it away from you, you move just as I start to kick at the ball, I touch your leg, FOUL!! I have a lot to learn. Australia has a flag with red, white and blue and wears yellow and green uniforms like Brazil. Chile flag is largely red, so they wear white uniforms. The camera hardly ever zooms in on the players so I have no idea who is who. Not n00b friendly.

[Pooky 3,784]

I'm sorry, to this n00b that sounds quite fvcked up. This is definitely not a new fan friendly sport. That and some of the points I brought up earlier today make it downright confusing.

If you want confusing, try looking at American Football from a Brit's perspective. For a start, why is the sport called football, when 99% of each game is played with the hand?

I still don't understand fouls or faults or penalties. You breathe on your opponent, it's a yellow card. Run up behind him and elbow him in the back, no foul. Accidentally touch your opponents when going for the ball or worse yet, get your legs tangled, there is hell to be paid.

The sport has indeed been wussified since the 1960's.

It's a sport where you run around really fast and kick a ball, so it seems to me, lots of people are going to get kicked accidentally. You have the ball, I come in to try to take it away from you, you move just as I start to kick at the ball, I touch your leg, FOUL!! I have a lot to learn.

Play the ball! you're usually good. Play the man, that's a foul. Get suckered trying #1 and end up with #2 and that's a foul. Get caught falling over, or diving, and you're in trouble.

Australia has a flag with red, white and blue and wears yellow and green uniforms like Brazil. Chile flag is largely red, so they wear white uniforms. The camera hardly ever zooms in on the players so I have no idea who is who. Not n00b friendly.

As for team colours, you're on your own.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Go Uruguay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

I'm sorry, to this n00b that sounds quite fvcked up. This is definitely not a new fan friendly sport. That and some of the points I brought up earlier today make it downright confusing. I still don't understand fouls or faults or penalties. You breathe on your opponent, it's a yellow card. Run up behind him and elbow him in the back, no foul. Accidentally touch your opponents when going for the ball or worse yet, get your legs tangled, there is hell to be paid. It's a sport where you run around really fast and kick a ball, so it seems to me, lots of people are going to get kicked accidentally. You have the ball, I come in to try to take it away from you, you move just as I start to kick at the ball, I touch your leg, FOUL!! I have a lot to learn. Australia has a flag with red, white and blue and wears yellow and green uniforms like Brazil. Chile flag is largely red, so they wear white uniforms. The camera hardly ever zooms in on the players so I have no idea who is who. Not n00b friendly.

If you play for a Mediterranean or latin American team the slightest touch to your body will leave you rolling around on the floor clutching some body part worthy of gaining an oscar for your acting.

If you play for a team like England or Holland then you know how to take a tackle and there's less play acting.

If you play for Honduras then all players on the opposition team are targets and you should try to break as many of them as you can.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Viva Italia !!!

[Jacque67 7,328]

Nippon cha cha cha Nippon!

[Jacque67 7,328]

Viva Italia !!!

Rocky?

[JohnR! 5,495]

It's not totally by chance.

They split the teams into four pots, basically four seeding levels, and each group gets one team from each pot. This ensures that you don't get a group with four great teams, or four hapless ones.

For the whole story, read this http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-05/the-world-cups-bizarre-groupings-process-demystified-dot-well-sort-of-dot

Go Croatia.

My wild card team got over getting robbed by Brazil and got the job done.

Thanks for keeping me honest!!!

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

England v Uruguay next... nervous!

England expects that every man will do his duty- Nelson

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Nice win for Columbia. Congrats to those who support Columbia. Until they play a team I like better.