A Beautiful Thread for the Beautiful Game

Argentina's first-choice goalkeeper in the previous World Cup was Sergio Romero. He was pretty good, though I don't think he's ever played for any of the strongest clubs in Europe. Apparently he's in Monaco now, though only on loan. I expect he'll be good enough that if Argentina fail in this competition it won't be his fault.

Argentina's right-back will be Pablo Zabaleta. Zabaleta is also the reason why Sagna's apparent transfer to Manchester City makes little sense - Zabaleta is probably a little bit better at the moment. I don't know if I could pick another 3 for the starting-XI from Argentina's squad. Demichelis had a fairly poor season at Manchester City, and I don't know most of the others. Campagnaro is getting old but I suppose he'll probably play most or all of Argentina's games. So there's Argentina's weakness: their defence. Maybe they'll play Mascherano as a centre-back, in which case they shouldn't have much of a problem there at all.

Angel Di Maria will probably be a central attacking midfielder. I see that Ever Banega didn't make the squad - pity. I like him. Anyway, Argentina might have some trouble putting together a world-class midfield from what they have now, especially when it comes to defensive midfield. I won't even try to predict which of the registered midfielders will be in the starting-XI. Well, except Di Maria.

Messi will probably play as a centre-forward, so Higuain and Aguero will play in the flanks. I suppose they could frop one of these forwards to the midfield, making room for Palacio or Lavezzi.

So, yeah, maybe Argentina does have a weakness in defence. Their strikers, though, are probably the best in the competition.

edited 6th Jun '14 7:43:23 PM by BestOf

True, they have some of the best strikers, but Portugal has a relatively good and solid defense (and all goalkeepers seem capable of holding their own, if they don't commit any crass mistakes). So, if Argentina and Portugal ever meet, it's going to be a hard-fought match, at least.

Messi had a bit of an irregular season, while Ronaldo is still recovering (though he might be fully ready by the time Portugal possibly reaches the round of 16). What they will do will be very important to what both teams do in this World Cup.

Doublepost: Marco Reus is out of the World Cup.

This has always been Argentina's problem, though - playing their big attacking talents out of position in order to get them all into the starting 11. That said, Sabella has apparently been a bit more ruthless in leaving people out if they don't fit into his game plans.

Poor Germany They're missing Bender, Schmelzer, and now Reus too.

Part of me is hoping Neuer won't make it either – because I think Weidenfeller is better, but Löw will never pick him if Neuer is available.

Anyway, predictions:

GROUP STAGE

Group A: 1. Croatia – 2. Brazil – 3. Mexico – 4. Cameroon
Group B: 1. Spain – 2. Netherlands – 3. Chile – 4. Australia
Group C: 1. Colombia – 2. Japan – 3. Ivory Coast – 4. Greece
Group D: 1. Uruguay – 2. England – 3. Italy – 4. Costa Rica
Group E: 1. France – 2. Switzerland – 3. Ecuador – 4. Honduras
Group F: 1. Argentina – 2. Nigeria – 3. Iran – 4. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group G: 1. Germany – 2. Portugal – 3. Ghana – 4. United States
Group H: 1. Belgium – 2. Algeria – 3. South Korea – 4. Russia

ROUND OF 16

Croatia – Netherlands
Colombia – England
France – Nigeria
Germany – Algeria
Spain – Brazil
Uruguay – Japan
Argentina – Switzerland
Belgium – Portugal

QUARTER FINALS

Croatia – Colombia
France – Germany
Brazil – Uruguay
Switzerland – Belgium

SEMIFINALS

Croatia – Germany
Uruguay – Belgium

3RD PLACE

Croatia – Belgium

FINAL

Germany – Uruguay

In other news, it's almost time for the annual unveiling of Nike's latest horror story. This year, the new Celtic strip strongly resembles a packet of cheese and onion crisps◊.

That is a fucking abomination. No offence, but I think we've got you beat here.

—

World cup sponsor Sony want an investigation into the Qatar bid.

Something could - maybe - come of this. £££ talks.

edited 8th Jun '14 4:16:29 AM by Achaemenid

We'll see if other big companies are willing to talk about these things. It would be good for their PR.

In other news, Roo, the psychic bulldog. And, of course, the dog had to predict a victory for England against Italy.

So then, it's possible that they'll lose enough legitimate sponsorship money that it can't possibly be recouped by their shady, corrupt vote buyout money? Or is something else at stake here?

Damn, I thought the World Cup would get its own thread.

Anyway, my predictions:

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

Group B: Spain, The Netherlands, Chile, Australia

Group C: Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Japan, Greece

Group D: Uruguay, England, Italy, Costa Rica

Group E: France, Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras

Group F: Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA

Group H: Belgium, South Korea, Russia, Algeria

RO 16

• Brazil > The Netherlands
• Spain > Croatia
• Colombia < England
• Uruguay > Côte d'Ivoire (though the inverse is surprisingly likely)
• France > Nigeria (seriously, who did France bribe?)
• Argentina > Switzerland
• Germany > South Korea
• Belgium < Portugal

Quarters

• Brazil > Spain (actually pretty interesting, but home support counts for a lot, plus La Roja aren't what they were)
• England > Uruguay
• France < Argentina (will probably be very boring, or somewhat exciting, given that both teams are equally boring)
• Germany > Portugal (WHY? Why do they always meet here?

Semis:

• Brazil > England
• Germany > Argentina

Third

England > Argentina

Final:

My heart says Germany. My brain says Brazil.

edited 8th Jun '14 12:01:31 PM by arcanephoenix

Scottish football fans, but I found this and its quality:

I'll do some World Cup predictions later.

I wouldn't like to meet Germany twice. I really, really wouldn't.

Meanwhile, Visa and Adidas joined Sony in demanding that claims of bribery be taken seriously.

edited 8th Jun '14 2:03:15 PM by Quag15

Hallo Portugal

GUTEN TAG

Of course, Portugal can always get its ultimate revenge on the Spanish and the Germans via Brazil.◊

edited 8th Jun '14 2:16:24 PM by Achaemenid

/ Very true.

edited 8th Jun '14 2:23:12 PM by MidnightRambler

Sepp Blatter bemoans a ‘storm against Fifa’ over Qatar World Cup.

...

Vicente del Bosque says champions Spain ‘are not tiki-taka Talibans’.

Interview with Philip Lahm.

Silly del Bosque. "Taliban" is a plural already. The singular is "Talib".

I do not follow football much but, it is noticeable just how badly Costa Rica (where I live) will do just over the news.

I mean, the team was finished and constituted only like one week before some pre-match against Japan. That is...just not how you do business...of any kind. Of course, being a latin country, football is a big thing, so people are puuuuuumped.

What is the great tragedy of Stepp Ladder? Is he sad about how he just had to put the World Cup in the Middle East? Knowing that the Middle East has no claim to civilisation, but for oil and consequent monies? Was his share too small?

Damn, man, they could've put it in India and it'd be better PR; at least we've hosted a few international tournaments (The 2011 Cricket WC, for example), even though our handling of the Commonwealth Games could've been much better; at least people won't feel so threatened.

You know you're doing badly when Glasgow can do it better

But yeah, India would be a good country to host: although the trouble with India is it's not seen as a big football country.

Not that Blatter can't benefit from the Qatar situation, of course. As it stands, the released information seriously damages potential rival for the Presidency Michel Platini and his allies in French circles, while Blatter can position himself as having been against Qatar's bid from the very beginning.

It's almost as if there's an election coming up...

If you ask me, the World Cup should be held in Australia.

edited 9th Jun '14 10:03:49 AM by TheBatPencil

Why Australia?

I just think they'd put on a good tournament. It's somewhere new, the infrastructure is already there and it's a big sporting country with a growing football support.

It also has the benefit of being a more neutral body in FIFA politics, with considerably less Human Rights crisis' going on.

edited 9th Jun '14 10:23:09 AM by TheBatPencil

Bet we could do it.