World Cup Thread

[CrazyyAngel]

We shoulda won it, but at least we finished top of the group.

TFF Gerrard!

No ... actually in the second half, Sweden should have won it ... they had more chances, better chances and were the superior team.

But you are lucky that you finished first in your group, as you wouldn't have been able to get past Germany in the round of 16 ... same with Sweden. Germany will win on saturday. The real test will be Argentina in the quarter finals.

You'll of course beat Ecuador and will likely face the Dutch in the quarter finals (or Portugal on an outside chance) ... have fun

CA

 

[Lauren Hynde]

You'll of course beat Ecuador and will likely face the Dutch in the quarter finals (or Portugal on an outside chance) ... have fun

CA

Outside chance? How do you figure that one out? Portugal has beaten the Netherlands practically every time we played each other.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

In fact, I predict that Portugal will beat the Netherlands, England, and Spain - the same three we took out at the Euro, only in reverse order.

 

[plague]

what a great game

although we (well erm England) drew, what an nicely played game. very few fauls... great football both sides. Sweden were all over us leaving little opportunity.

Its great we escaped when it could so easily have gone the otherway. Shame Owen went off so quickly. I can't help wonder how it would have been otherwise.

Anhow. Fantastic football and sportingly played.

 

[CrazyyAngel]

Outside chance? How do you figure that one out? Portugal has beaten the Netherlands practically every time we played each other.

Portugal hasn't been that great so far (ok, neither have been the Dutch) and I seriously doubt you'll get past the Netherlands.

Either way ... Brazil will be on your side of the bracket (assuming both Brazil and Portugal finish first in their group) and it will be very hard to get past them.

CA

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Portugal hasn't been that great so far (ok, neither have been the Dutch) and I seriously doubt you'll get past the Netherlands.

Either way ... Brazil will be on your side of the bracket (assuming both Brazil and Portugal finish first in their group) and it will be very hard to get past them.

CA

Pfft. The way Brazil has been playing, they'll be lucky to get past Ghana, let alone Spain. Neither Portugal nor the Netherlands will have to worry about them.

 

[JamesSD]

Pfft. The way Brazil has been playing, they'll be lucky to get past Ghana, let alone Spain. Neither Portugal nor the Netherlands will have to worry about them.

The way Brazil has been playing, they'll be lucky to get past USA, let alone Spain. Neither Portugal nor the Netherlands will have to worry about them.

 

[R. Richard]

I have a feeling that I know what is happening with Brazil. I have no evidence and I don't have any access to Brazil's strategy. However, here is my reasoning.

If you have a number of games/trials in order to reach a championship by elimination, a good, normal strategy is to get by the earlier games/trials in as easy a fashion as practical. You don't wear yourself out against easier opponents.

In addition to taking it easy effortwise in the earlier rounds, you don't show much of your tactics. There is no reason to alert your later round opponents as to what you plan to do. Also, in World Cup soccer, you try to avoid red cards in the earlier rounds.

The strategy is to arrive in the round of 16 with minimal effort and with as little of your tactics as practical revealed. If the strategy works, you arrive in the final rounds with all of your players available and nobody injured. The danger is that you teach your team that lazy is OK.

If what I suspect is true, you will see a better Brazil team in each of the remaining rounds.

Just a hunch.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

POR-TU-GAL!

 

[OhMissScarlett]

POR-TU-GAL!

Whoop!

It's almost time.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

1-0!

There was a power outage 3 seconds before the goal (!) but the shouts from outside let me know right away what I was missing. lol

 

[neonlyte]

1-0!

There was a power outage 3 seconds before the goal (!) but the shouts from outside let me know right away what I was missing. lol

You did well yesterday!

 

[Lauren Hynde]

You did well yesterday!

I'm expecting to suck royally today, but if Portugal wins, it's OK.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

2-0!

That was a bit childish of Marquez...

 

[neonlyte]

Portugal 2 - 1 Mexico
Portugal should have had someone on the far post!

 

[Lauren Hynde]

That's an exciting match.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Ricardo is looking pretty weak on the crossings. No news there.

 

[neonlyte]

Great first half! Unfortunately have a meeting and will only see ten minutes of the second half. Portugal might be lucky to hold on, depends who has the most energy, wouldn't like them to try to hold onto a slim lead, think that might spell Argentina.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Think positive!

(Who was the genius that scheduled a meeting for today at this hour? lol)

 

[fieryjen]

I know it's late for this, but I was really happy with the way we played yesterday, I'm still dancing around.

I didn't realize until they mentioned it that Germany is the only team to stand there with their arms around each other during the national anthem. Such a nice change from the way our teams usually act. It's great to see that happen.

It's also great to see the nation finally have some faith in the team.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

I was really happy with the way you played too.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Oh, crap.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Woohoo!

 

[neonlyte]

Think positive!

(Who was the genius that scheduled a meeting for today at this hour? lol)

My accountant (Female)

 

[Lauren Hynde]

My accountant (Female)

Disgraceful. lol