World Cup 2014

[m8son666]

tbh i think the problem with england is we don't have an amazing stand out player that we can get the ball too and they will do the rest liek a lot of the other countries do

[AxeD]

I'd definitely say Spain's bad performance is due to del Bosque not making new selections and I agree he probably left it in the hands of the players too much. Something van Gaal would never do up until the actual game.

The reason for England not making it is a bit shadier for me. Although I didn't expect them to.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think England ever beat Brazil or Spain in a world cup.
Italy?

Lost in 1950 and drew 0-0 in '82 with Spain, I think... the last competitive match we had with them was the 1/4 Final of Euro '96 though and we beat them on penalties. (I think it was 0-0... I just remember Hierro hitting the bar)

I can't think of an England win against Brazil... they've definitely beaten us at least three times and there was a draw in the 50s (54 or 58, I can't remember)

Italy have beaten us at least three times at finals. We've only ever beaten them in qualifying, I think.

When you put it like that....

Yeah good one. So to me it seems people expect a lot from a team that hasn't really performed that well in previous world cups. Although England obviously won one, Netherlands never did.

[hubb]

tbh i think the problem with england is we don't have an amazing stand out player that we can get the ball too and they will do the rest liek a lot of the other countries do

It's not bad thinking but you have to remember that the general ego of english players wouldn't allow such a systematic approach.
Their egoes are catered to way too much and they are too proud, even in shit clubs.
Hodgson tries to have utility players, like Ferguson did in united and that's part of why it's impressive that the offensive link up play actually worked a bit this time because some of them suck.
But take the dutch, even though they are a lot better at everything, they still manage to let a coach do his work and just take a place in a system.
Even to the point of looking unattractive.
Ofcourse there's the fact that a coach like that is usually a tyrant and that doesn't get the best reception in english press, despite Capello being probably the best coach they've had, but that's some of the difference.

[magma]

So to me it seems people expect a lot from a team that hasn't really performed that well in previous world cups. Although England obviously won one, Netherlands never did.

Have Netherlands ever hosted out of interest? I don't think you have, have you?

Out of the 8 nations to win the World Cup, 6 have done it on home soil.

1930 - Uruguay win in Uruguay
1934 - Italy win in Italy
1966 - England win in England
1974 - (West) Germany win in Germany
1978 - Argentina win in Argentina
1998 - France win in France

I think I'm gonna have a punt on Brazil and I'd suggest you lot get talking to Sepp about 2026.

[AxeD]

No we never hosted, but we can just win this one anyway.

[DrGatineau]

This is why I want Argentina to beat Brazil in Brazil.

Hoping for some riots.

[Johoosh]

England should build around Wilshere.

We didnt build around Paul Scholes when he was running tings & despite his injuries + somewhat unpopular reputation Wilshere's probably the closest we have to a CM who can boss a game, shouldnt waste it and build around someone else.

I think the fact he doesnt score many goals is the other biggest drawback to him being rated consistently in the England 1st XI but fucking hell, Xavi, Iniesta, Pirlo etc are hardly goal machines

[NickUndercover]

It's Anschluss time

[Molzie]

LOL

[AxeD]

Oh my god, Brazil.... Crazy weak defense and Germany's strong fast passing game
Feel sorry for those crying people in the audience though.

[Muncey]

Germany going on like this is Poland 1939

4 goals in 6 minutes.. waaaaahhh this has to be the craziest World Cup match in history.

[NickUndercover]

4 goals in 6 minutes..

Blitzkrieg

[bABGzus]

[Riddles]

well well wellllllll (JME voice)

[Riddles]

heatmap so far

[SignalRecon]

So fucking happy to see the German juggernaut plow through such a horrible dive team. The thought of them drinking from the rivers of Brazilian tears fills my heart and soul with glee.

[bABGzus]

[scspkr99]

How much did PSG pay for Luiz

[Forum]

How much did PSG pay for Luiz

I was about to say, surely a worse waste of money than Torres

[Muncey]

heatmap so far

David Luiz heatmap