World Cup 2014

[ACamp1900]

The football one doesn't fit... 32 points happens often enough... a hockey win by 11 goals??? That shit, does that EVER happen??

I don't really think the Navy one fits either just b/c Germany isn't Navy but aside from that it fits.

The closest I can figure that actually happened was that Orange Bowl a few years back where Clemson just got demolished by WVU. Of course that wasn’t on Clemson’s campus and it wasn’t a National Semifinal but that’s really the only one that comes to mind.

Move that game to Clemson, and make it a playoff game this year… there it is.

 

[Emcee77]

I texted my buddies last night that I had never seen anything like that game and I think I gotta stick with that assessment. There is really no comparison. The closest I can think of are some of the historic AFC and NFC championship game blowouts (Buffalo in 1991, NYG in 2000), but the home team won those games. For Germany to do what they did in the Maracana ... it's unthinkable.

McManaman was great during the telecast. He truly could not believe what he was seeing. Brazil just has way too many talented players to play like that. It looked as if they'd never played together before.

 

[gkIrish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>FIFA statement: "FIFA Emergency Committee has decided today to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect."</p>— Bryan Swanson (@skysports_bryan) <a href="https://twitter.com/skysports_bryan/statuses/486923463861739520">July 9, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[IrishLax]

Wait what happened with Nigeria?

 

[IrishLax]

Random hypothetical... if you pooled all the talent in CONCACAF into one international team, where would it rank in the world?

 

[Emcee77]

Random hypothetical... if you pooled all the talent in CONCACAF into one international team, where would it rank in the world?

That's fascinating to think about ...

but such a hard question because some incredibly talented teams have been inexplicably bad in this World Cup. What separates washouts like Spain and England -- or even Brazil, which, let's face it, was a bit lucky to get as far as the semifinal -- from teams like Germany and the Netherlands? They don't have better players. Based on pure talent, Spain is probably the best team in the world, right? But the Dutch routed them in the first game and they couldn't recover. Just hard to figure.

 

[ginman]

According to ESPN, here are the "equivalents" in the four major American sports:

Hockey- win by 11 goals
Baseball- win by 18 runs
Football- win by 32 points
Basketball- win by 58 points

I agree that the 32 is too low. My team regularly gets beat by that much and we no longer even blink (go raiders). Factor in the number of games which are played in baseball and hockey every season. You almost never hear of 11 goal and 18 run differentials.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

That's fascinating to think about ...

but such a hard question because some incredibly talented teams have been inexplicably bad in this World Cup. What separates washouts like Spain and England -- or even Brazil, which, let's face it, was a bit lucky to get as far as the semifinal -- from teams like Germany and the Netherlands? They don't have better players. Based on pure talent, Spain is probably the best team in the world, right? But the Dutch routed them in the first game and they couldn't recover. Just hard to figure.

We've already discussed the importance of youth development. I think the secret ingredient is national team cohesion, though. Spain, England and Brazil never played well together, which is why they've all crashed out. Germany and the Netherlands, however, have been very cohesive units, and will likely face each other in the final.

I don't follow Dutch soccer closely enough to comment on where their cohesion is coming from, but Germany's is pretty obvious. Half of the national team plays together year round at Bayern Munich, so they have a significant built-in chemistry advantage.

 

[ACamp1900]

It's kind of like how good would a Brittish team be rather than an English, Scottish, Irish, Welch, and Northern Ireland team...

I think a full CONCACAF would compete for WCs considered Mexico and USA are just on the outside looking in all by themselves. Hell just combining those two teams would be dangerous.

 

[ACamp1900]

We've already discussed the importance of youth development. I think the secret ingredient is national team cohesion, though. Spain, England and Brazil never played well together, which is why they've all crashed out. Germany and the Netherlands, however, have been very cohesive units.

I don't follow Dutch soccer closely enough to comment on where their cohesion is coming from, but Germany's is pretty easy to describe. Half of the national team plays together year round at Bayern Munich, so they have a significant built-in chemistry advantage.

Same with Spain and Barca though... sometimes it clicks and other times it doesn't.

 

[gkIrish]

Random hypothetical... if you pooled all the talent in CONCACAF into one international team, where would it rank in the world?

I think it would be the best team. Maybe 2nd to Germany. Depth would be unreal.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Same with Spain and Barca though... sometimes it clicks and other times it doesn't.

True. Spain is an outlier this year. Looks like youth development and chemistry are necessary to international success, but not sufficient on their own.

 

[Emcee77]

We've already discussed the importance of youth development. I think the secret ingredient is national team cohesion, though. Spain, England and Brazil never played well together, which is why they've all crashed out. Germany and the Netherlands, however, have been very cohesive units, and will likely face each other in the final.

I don't follow Dutch soccer closely enough to comment on where their cohesion is coming from, but Germany's is pretty obvious. Half of the national team plays together year round at Bayern Munich, so they have a significant built-in chemistry advantage.

Of course you are right about cohesion, but it has to be more than playing together for the same club team. If it was just that, England would have been better. Half their squad plays together for Liverpool, which nearly won the EPL this year.

EDIT: beaten to the same point by ACamp

 

[Emcee77]

It's kind of like how good would a Brittish team be rather than an English, Scottish, Irish, Welch, and Northern Ireland team...

I think a full CONCACAF would compete for WCs considered Mexico and USA are just on the outside looking in all by themselves. Hell just combining those two teams would be dangerous.

Oh yeah I'd like to raid that team. Guardado and Dos Santos alone would make a huge difference. We really could use a dynamic attacking midfielder/scorer like Dos Santos so Bradley could play a bit withdrawn.

 

[ACamp1900]

Add Emilo of Hondurus on our back line and maybe Campbell of CRC to the front with Jozy... Gimmie Dos Santos and use Chich. just like Mexico does currently, kind of like an upgraded Wondo.

That alone makes the team much better.

 

[Cackalacky]

Look at what Hodgson did with England and Liverpool this year. Did not work at all.

 

[IrishLax]

It's kind of like how good would a Brittish team be rather than an English, Scottish, Irish, Welch, and Northern Ireland team...

I think a full CONCACAF would compete for WCs considered Mexico and USA are just on the outside looking in all by themselves. Hell just combining those two teams would be dangerous.

Time for a 51st state?

 

[ACamp1900]

Time for a 51st state?

Let's add three or four... that way the Pres. can be right for a change...

 

[ACamp1900]

Seriously though... a British team would be sick... just adding to the competition pool would make many players better, and they would add at least a few starters... I think it's funny they are all viewed generally as 'the same' but most of the world... have that stupid union jack... yet can't agree to all play together, hell, they are often each other’s most bitter rivals.

 

[aubeirish]

I think it would be the best team. Maybe 2nd to Germany. Depth would be unreal.

It wouldn't be near as good as Germany. It would be a very good team, but this German team is special. I wouldn't replace anybody from that German roster with anybody from Mexico or USA.
Maybe 1-2 player could crack the roster...

 

[ACamp1900]

They already leaked the top 'youth players' in FIFA 15 (those with the highest potential) and Zelalem is in the top ten...

just sayin.

 

[Emcee77]

De Jong in the lineup for the Oranje! Holy shitballs.

 

[johnnycando]

C'mon oranje.

These little Argentinans have shitty little attitudes. I wanna kick one.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

So the winner of this game will have a day's less rest than Germany and will just have played an extra 30?

Congrats on your World Cup, krauts!

 

[notredomer23]

I can't stand watching the Dutch play. BORING. I've never seen so much standing on the ball.

 

[gkIrish]

I can't stand watching the Dutch play. BORING. I've never seen so much standing on the ball.

This has been an awfully boring game on both sides.

 

[notredomer23]

This has been an awfully boring game on both sides.

That's what happens when one side plays a 6-3-1...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Vlaar is a beast. Would like to see Bayern give him a hard look.

 

[notredomer23]

Vlaar is a beast. Would like to see Bayern give him a hard look.

His tackle on Messi around the start of the second was a thing of beauty.

 

[gkIrish]

Why didn't they bring in Krus? I thought they had one sub left...