i have algeria as the 2nd team
The Belgium, Russia, Korea and Algeria group is actually tough to call. You expect the Belgians to top it but it could swing any way.
Russia have the experience of Capello leading them in addition to some neat players like Dzagoev. Korea are a well drilled technically good team and Algeria have a couple of decent players too in addition to being in a rich vein of form.
I want to watch Algeria, The last time they were in the world cup they put up a superb showing with the Europeans colluding to keep them out of the knockout stages which led to FIFA changing the rules.
Iran should be an interesting country to watch. They have Carlos Quieroz at the helm. Don’t expect much from them at all but it could be interesting watching their style of play.
What’s everyone think of the Swiss?
Argentina - Iran has to be the worst mismatch in the tournament.
watch out for bosnia book it quarters
Agreed, Expect the Argies to run riot. This is sport though and heart can make up for a lot of things. Playing for redemption on Earth’s biggest stage? Anything can happen
Solid team. In Rodriguez and Steiner probably two of the best wing backs in the world. Shaqiri is a great young talent. They’ll get out of the group mostly before loosing in the round of 16.
They will tie all their games. 0-0.
I saw a few nights ago ESPN’s 30 for 30 on Maradona (mostly about the 1986 world cup). Really fascinating. His quarterfinal performance vs England has to be one of the greatest in World Cup history. Everyone talks about the hand of God goal, but his second one was pure beauty. Messi is not in his league. That 1986 team that Maradona carried on his back was mediocre at best.
This is soccer, not hockey.
I’ve never seen England’s fans so down on their team before a world cup. I bet England will surprise, a talented team, IMO.
Everybody jeered at me when I predicted this…!
^
England have a nice team. The best teenager in the world in Sterling and probably one of the purest no 9’s out there in Sturridge. They have flair and pace throughout. If they had a manager who would give them a template to express themselves i would have placed an outside bet on them to go all the way.
With Roy in charge i think they could get out of the group, maybe scrape past the round of 16 before crashing out to a better prepared team in the quarterfinals. Apparently Sterling is in line to start at the tip of the diamond. That would be a brilliant move and if he benches Rooney and starts maybe Oxlade or Barkley they could be a very exciting team to watch.
“What Predictive Modelling can tell us about World Cup 2014”
http://www.cgma.org/magazine/news/pages/201410243.aspx
“The authors of the report built a stochastic model to generate a distribution of outcomes for the tournament’s 64 matches… The predictions for each game are based on a regression analysis that takes into account the results of all of the competitive matches the teams have played since 1960. From there, the probabilities of each nation winning the championship were calculated. Brazil emerges as the clear favourite with 48.5, followed by Argentina (14.1), Germany (11.4), Spain (9.8), and the Netherlands (5.6).”
We have watched JLo shake her fat ass, Heard Sepp Blatter spout some jibberish, sat through the abomination that is Pitbull.
We have civil discontent with Brazilians in Sao Paolo asking Dilma to take it up the ass but as we all know around the world, wherever you are watching. IT IS TIME.
Fun idiotic drinking game : Take a shot everytime the commentator mentions the word ‘Samba’. Should be drunk after 20 min.
Croat team out. Modric Rakitic and Kovacic starting. Brave move, Watch out for Kovacic. One of the best young passers of the ball.
Do they have any DM’s? I’d play 2 against a team like BRA.
You did not get the joke.
^ I did. And added another joke that apparently you need to be a fervant hockey fan to understand.
Bet you some lucky fucker is out there laughing all the way to bank after taking a punt on first goal being an own goal.
I got both jokes.
One of the men I trust the most when it comes to soccer predictions made his predictions public last night.
He has:
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Brazil
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Argentina
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Germany
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Spain