World Cup 2014

[notredomer23]

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group of Death(1a): Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C: Columbia, Greece, Cote de Ivoire, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, Italy, England
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group of Death(1b): Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

Group A: Brazil, Croatia
Group B: Netherlands, Chile(Yes, No Spain)
Group C: Colombia, Japan
Group D: Italy, Uruguay
Group E: France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia
Group G: Germany, USA
Group H: Belgium, Korea

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

I will go

A: Brazil, Mexico
B: Spain, Netherlands
C: Columbia, Japan
D: Italy, England
E: France, Ecuador
F: Argentina, Nigeria
G: Germany, Portugal
H: Belgium, Russia

 

[Mr. Larson]

Match Schedule for the USMNT:

Monday, June 16th 6pm (eastern time)Ghana
Sunday June 22nd 3pm Portugal
Thursday June 26th 12 pm Germany

Dodged the June Saturday wedding conflict. Had to skip a good friend of mine's ceremony for the USA v. England match four years ago.

 

[notredomer23]

We think we got it bad, but I am sure we would feel even worse if we were in the place of Costa Rica or Australia

 

[Mr. Larson]

We think we got it bad, but I am sure we would feel even worse if we were in the place of Costa Rica or Australia

I'm thinking Australia's goal differential will be around (-15).

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Like the Frenchies deserved Group E... Hopefully they crash and burn miserably

 

[Golden_Domer]

Group A: Brazil, Mexico
Group B: Spain, Netherlands
Group C: Colombia, Ivory Coast
Group D: Uruguay, Italy
Group E: Switzerland, France (I'm wavering between Ecuador and France, though)
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia
Group G: Germany, Portugal
Group H: Belgium, Russia

 

[rikkitikki08]

I hate to say this but USA could easily finish with 0 points...and that really fuckin sucks

 

[koonja]

I've never watched a soccer game in my life, let alone a world cup.

Can someone explain what just happened and what it means?

 

[STLDomer]

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group of Death(1a): Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C: Columbia, Greece, Cote de Ivoire, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, Italy, England
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group of Death(1b): Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

IMO

A: Brazil, Croatia
B: Spain, Chile
C: Columbia, Greece
D: Italy, Uruguay
E: France, Honduras
F: Argentina, Bosnia
G: Germany, Portugal
H: Belgium, Russia

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

World Cup 2014

I've never watched a soccer game in my life, let alone a world cup.

Can someone explain what just happened and what it means?

All the countries drew sticks to see who got the longest one. The US drew the smallest stick possible and as punished must play in the same group with Germany, Ghana and Portugal. One loss and they can't be in the next 5 World Cups. Ties are worth 5 points and wins are worth 20. You need 100 points to advance.

 

[mgriff]

FUCK

 

[koonja]

All the countries drew sticks to see who got the longest one. The US drew the smallest stick possible and as punished must play on the same team with Germany, Ghana and Portugal. One loss and they can't be in the next 5 World Cups.

What does the 'longest stick' get you? In the weakest pool?

Do you play people in your pool, or are the people in your pool allies of some sort for this cup?

Is it a round robin deal? Or one loss and you're done?

 

[Cackalacky]

I hate to say this but USA could easily finish with 0 points...and that really fuckin sucks

You are not kidding. Our best team in years and we get this group. Fuck me running.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

What does the 'longest stick' get you? In the weakest pool?

Do you play people in your pool, or are the people in your pool allies of some sort for this cup?

Is it a round robin deal? Or one loss and you're done?

Sorry, I had a typo. See revised above.

 

[GreenSox04]

is messi even gonna get out of bed till the round of 8?

yeesh.

 

[koonja]

All the countries drew sticks to see who got the longest one. The US drew the smallest stick possible and as punished must play in the same group with Germany, Ghana and Portugal. One loss and they can't be in the next 5 World Cups. Ties are worth 5 points and wins are worth 20. You need 100 points to advance.

So USA is in same pool as Germany, Ghana, and Portugal?

Judging by the posts, you play against the people in your pool? And these 3 teams are really good?

How many times do you play each team in your pool?

 

[Cackalacky]

5 points will be excruciatingly tough to get and probably best case scenario. I think 6 points will be needed for us to advance.

 

[Emcee77]

What does the 'longest stick' get you? In the weakest pool?

Do you play people in your pool, or are the people in your pool allies of some sort for this cup?

Is it a round robin deal? Or one loss and you're done?

The bright side for the U.S. is that the ref tosses the smallest stick onto the field for every U.S. game, and, much like in Quidditch in Harry Potter, if any player finds it the U.S. gets 2000 points and wins the entire World Cup. We will dedicate two or three players just to that and just play defense with everyone else.

 

[koonja]

The bright side for the U.S. is that the ref tosses the smallest stick onto the field for every U.S. game, and, much like in Quidditch in Harry Potter, if any player finds it the U.S. gets 2000 points and wins the entire World Cup. We will dedicate two or three players just to that and just play defense with everyone else.

Ok, I'm actually trying to learn about this sport and tournament, and you're playing jokes on me.

neg reps.

 

[Cackalacky]

The bright side for the U.S. is that the ref tosses the smallest stick onto the field for every U.S. game, and, much like in Quidditch in Harry Potter, if any player finds it the U.S. gets 2000 points and wins the entire World Cup. We will dedicate two or three players just to that and just play defense with everyone else.

The old 7-2-1 formation eh. Probably see us through alright.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

So USA is in same pool as Germany, Ghana, and Portugal?

Judging by the posts, you play against the people in your pool? And these 3 teams are really good?

How many times do you play each team in your pool?

Yes and yes. Ghana basically owns us, Germany is one of the best teams in the world and Portugal has the (arguably) best player in the world.

You play them until two teams gets to 100 points. That's why the tournament lasts all summer.

 

[koonja]

Yes and yes. Ghana basically owns us, Germany is one of the best teams in the world and Portugal has the (arguably) best player in the world.

You play them until two teams gets to 100 points. That's why the tournament lasts all summer.

Ok, thanks.

So you keep rotating against those teams in your pool, and only two come out obviously?

Pretty cool concept.

So this is just a 'qualifying tournament' FOR the actual world cup? And the 2 winners from each pool earn the right to play in the world cup?

 

[RuntheBall]

5 points will be excruciatingly tough to get and probably best case scenario. I think 6 points will be needed for us to advance.

Really, 6 to advance? Maybe, but if we can muster a draw vs. Portugal (or whoever the 2nd team is) the 2nd place side can't really get 6, right? If we lose to the 2nd place team, we obviously won't make it through (unless we win the other two and win the group with 6 pts and GD). I totally agree 5 is about a best case and absolutely necessary to advance though. The only thing I like is that we play the best side, IMO Germany, last. At the same time, anything besides 3 points versus Ghana will sink us (unless we have another Egypt).

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Ok, thanks.

So you keep rotating against those teams in your pool, and only two come out obviously?

Pretty cool concept.

So this is just a 'qualifying tournament' FOR the actual world cup? And the 2 winners from each pool earn the right to play in the world cup?

Yes you keep rotating. It is part of the World Cup, its just the first round. The two winners advance to the sudden death round where they play one match and the first team to get 10 goals advances to the semi-final round. Some matches can last for over 8 hours.... this is why Americans say soccer is boring.

 

[ACamp1900]

Yes you keep rotating. It is part of the World Cup, its just the first round. The two winners advance to the sudden death round where they play one match and the first team to get 10 goals advances to the semi-final round. Some matches can last for over 8 hours.... this is why Americans say soccer is boring.

The chained tigers liven things up though

 

[koonja]

Yes you keep rotating. It is part of the World Cup, its just the first round. The two winners advance to the sudden death round where they play one match and the first team to get 10 goals advances to the semi-final round. Some matches can last for over 8 hours.... this is why Americans say soccer is boring.

In that sudden death match, say USA and Germany make it out of their pool, they literally play one game until there's 10 goals? That's not split up at all over a number of games? CRAZY.

And the winner of that takes on other pool-winners? In another round robin type deal or how is the final team determined?

 

[IrishLax]

Yes you keep rotating. It is part of the World Cup, its just the first round. The two winners advance to the sudden death round where they play one match and the first team to get 10 goals advances to the semi-final round. Some matches can last for over 8 hours.... this is why Americans say soccer is boring.

They actually changed the rules for this year. Matches capped at 4 hours. Should speed up pace of play considerably.

 

[MPClinton22]

Another fact that sucks for the US is that we got the longest travel distance in the group stage (around 9000 miles), which is certainly a daunting amount. As well, the game against Portugal is basically in the Amazon rainforest. So not only did we get boned with the teams, but also with the locations of the games.

 

[Cackalacky]

Really, 6 to advance? Maybe, but if we can muster a draw vs. Portugal (or whoever the 2nd team is) the 2nd place side can't really get 6, right? If we lose to the 2nd place team, we obviously won't make it through (unless we win the other two and win the group with 6 pts and GD). I totally agree 5 is about a best case and absolutely necessary to advance though. The only thing I like is that we play the best side, IMO Germany, last. At the same time, anything besides 3 points versus Ghana will sink us (unless we have another Egypt).

I think 6 is the number to ensure a 2nd place finish. I am not sold on Portugal as a WC team (JMO). I think USA and Ghana play them tough to draws. We could possibly sneak in with 4 and goal differential but I would like to see 5 or 6. 3 won't cut it in this group.

I guess we will see what Klinnsman is worth.