2014 FIFA World Cup Thread

[Motley01]

The field is really wet right now from all the rain. That will affect play, but will it hurt or help the Americans?

[nevets88]

Talking heads on ESPN are saying not much diff, but slower is better for US I think.

[Motley01]

Talking heads on ESPN are saying not much diff, but slower is better for US I think.

Will the goalies have a hard time with skipping balls? Or are they used to it?

[late347]

Is the game gonna start in the next 22 minutes or so? GER vs USA soccer match I gotta make a quick stop at the grocery store for some snacks and beverage ;-)

[Motley01]

Is the game gonna start in the next 22 minutes or so? GER vs USA soccer match

I gotta make a quick stop at the grocery store for some snacks and beverage

You better hurry up man, its starting soon!

[nevets88]

U S A! U S A! U S A!

[RJH999]

Alright lets kick some ass.

[Motley01]

Alright lets kick some ass.

This right here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nevets88]

Do a job USA.

[Chilli Dipper]

These teams will fight hard for the first 45 minutes, but if this match is tied at halftime, I think both teams will settle for the draw. That's not collusion, that's playing it safe. Especially in these conditions.

[RJH999]

Everyone keeps talking about Brad Davis' left footed set pieces. That shit better be like Jesus walking on water then.

[FarawayFairways]

The idea that American interest will over commercialize the sport is ridiculous.  I get that there really are not commercial breaks.  The idea though that the purity of the game is somehow still in tact and is in danger of being corrupted by Americans is just typical of parts of the world and silly to be honest

If you can find anything, anywhere, in any of my posts to suggest I was presenting to you the picture of some pure sporting spectacle then well done. Clearly I'm very disenchanted with the way the game has gone and is continuing to go  " Football is already consuming itself through commercial greed". Whereas I'm sure that's the direction of travel and it will get even worse, I'm equally sure that process will be accelerated with American involvement. I think you could argue that if this is the way football is going to go, then American interference and influence won't make any difference. I'd probably accept that. It might accelerate the process, but that's all. Remember that prior to the 1994 World Cup American television networks lobbied FIFA to make the goals bigger so that they could have bigger scorelines because they were fearful that the American public wouldn't 'get' results like one-nil, and certainly not nil-nil. Mind you, they could have made the goals the size of California and it wouldn't have assisted Diana Ross!!! They also tried to introduce time outs as well. These sorts of things will fundamentally change the entire nature of the sport (I use the word sport loosely, as its clearly more of an industry). The frightening thing today is that if someone paid the plutocrats at FIFA enough money they'd probably agree now!!!

The argument about attendances is just a reflection on populations though. If you're going to invoke that, then frankly you'd also be able to say that India with its population approaching 1 billion, ensures that cricket is more popular than baseball, and certainly will have once everyone there has got electricity and television

We've certainly seen an influx of American ownership in the Premiership in the last 10 years, and I somehow doubt this has got anything to do with football. These clubs could have been picked up for busking money only 30 years ago if the likes of the Glazers, Randy Lerner, Stan Kronke, Hicks and Gillete or New England Sports Ventures were interested then. The bottom line is that football, and English football in particular by dint of its history, is a global brand that travels much more so than any franschise that is restricted largely to a single market (albeit a very sizeable one). Actually talking of franchises, that's another thing that some of these anti competitive American owners have mooted, and that's the abolition of traditional relegation and promotion so as to protect their financial interests above the very fabric of the club game that allows teams like Wimbledon and Wigan to rise from the amateur ranks in the 1970's and play in the top league (both have also won an FA Cup now of course too). I suspect this too will happen eventually, albeit it's likely to be a pan European venture which becomes a closed shop. We've also seen talk a few years ago of taking a 39th game to the far east? sound familiar? well its the same thing as the NFL does when it rocks up at Wembley every year or so

[Chilli Dipper]

Germany's going tiki-taka at the start. This is shaping up as a low-scoring possession battle, which helps us in goal difference.

[RJH999]

Brad Davis needs to get his shit together

[RandallT]

Germany's going tiki-taka at the start. This is shaping up as a low-scoring possession battle, which helps us in goal difference.

Agreed. Germany is controlling this very steadily with a couple potential chances. It took us 10 minutes just to get some possession on the attacking side of the pitch. Advantage Gernany so far clearly.

[Chilli Dipper]

The pace is starting to pick up; that could give is some counter-attacking opportunities. Ghana just made a huge save on a Ronaldo header. Still no score in Brasilia.

[nevets88]

Good attempt by Zusi. Howard is doing a good job.

[FarawayFairways]

These teams will fight hard for the first 45 minutes, but if this match is tied at halftime, I think both teams will settle for the draw.

That's not collusion, that's playing it safe. Especially in these conditions.

I tend to agree actually. Neither team needs to risk going hell for leather with one eye on the future and potential injuries and yellow cards. Even if someone does make the allegation of collusion, there is an obvious rebuke to it!!! I'd also be interested to know how many other countries if confronted with a similar situation wouldn't do exactly the same? At the end of the day, both teams have earned the right to dictate how the game might pan out. Peru chucking 6 goals against Argentina however when they were out of contention themselves, is altogether more devious

Conditions look fine to me. Seen much, much worse. Strong wind is normally more disruptive. Many grounds are routinely watered before a match anyway just to help the ball slide through more quickly. Injuries will normally occur on a firmer surface, albeit a heavier surface might bring fitness into play. I expect both teams to be amongst the fittest in the tournament though