World Cup 2014 Thread

[10spro]

We are talking a minimum of an entire season wherever he plays and a maximum of up to two years.

[Murph]

I've heard this asked elsewhere and I understand why: Depending on what punishment is actually leveled, should Liverpool really have to be penalized for Suarez's stupidity in internatinal play? They're the ones who have the financial investment. I don't know, just wondering what you guys think.

[10spro]

My boys are about to face the stingiest team in the tournament. They have to play collectively better, Aguero, Di Maria, Pipa Higuain. They are already in the next round but I am worried more about their overall performance.

[JackB1]

I've heard this asked elsewhere and I understand why: Depending on what punishment is actually leveled, should Liverpool really have to be penalized for Suarez's stupidity in internatinal play? They're the ones who have the financial investment. I don't know, just wondering what you guys think.

It's an interesting question.

But Liverpool also needs to send a message to this lunatic that this behavior won't be tolerated. It's no different to other athlete's being penalized for their off the field behavior.

I don't think FIFA's penalty should effect Liverpool, but Liverpool should take some action on their own player on their own.

[RobVarak]

Twellman is a frat-boy knob who bothers me the more I watch him. Lalas, Keller and McManaman are the only tolerable members of ESPN's studio commentary team. Foudy is a token broad, Ballack and Van Nistelrooy don't say anything of substance, and Gilberto Silva is just there.

I like Twellman in the booth but not the studio. With Darke, he's quick on his feet and happy to give an actual opinion, something that's refreshing after the parade of generic English analysts you have to suffer with on EPL coverage.

We've already disagreed on Ballack and van Nistelrooy is good on the Dutch matches but pretty boring otherwise. Silva is awful.

You forgot Martinez, about whom I think we already agreed is superb.

A few clunkers for sure, but compared to the parade of awful they trot out in their MLB, NFL or NBA coverage it's positively stellar. If we're grading on a curve it's an A+, unfortunately. From what I gather it's also miles better than the UK coverage, which is being torn apart unmercifully online.

I also can't ring the bell enough for John Skipper at ESPN. This guy did more than make a business decision to promote soccer at the network. He has personally invested his professional reputation in an evangelical effort. Hell, it was just 8 years ago that we had limited matches on American TV and it was broadcast by baseball announcers with no experience. Now we have nearly around the clock coverage, every game live, and year-round coverage of the game all around the world. Sure ESPN has made boatloads, but he fought a cultural war at that network when he didn't have to. I've really admired what he's said about Fox picking up the mantle for the WC coverage and I think it laudable that he feels a responsibility for continuing to grow the game in this country.

On the other matter...

I can't imagine the FA, the EPL or LFC accepting anything near a season-long ban on Suarez. The only real comparison here for me is Cantona's attack, and that is several orders of magnitude worse than player-on-player violence on the pitch. In that case it was a domestic league match and Cantona was suspended by the team. The FA then extended the ban to 8 months. FIFA "confirmed" it to apply it to international football.

This took place during a FIFA event, and I don't think anyone quibbles with the fact that FIFA can impose an international ban. I expect it'll be 1 year, but maybe 2 so that it impacts the start of qualifying in COMNEBOL.

The FA would be inviting litigation by trying to ban the player for an act that didn't take place during a domestic competition. Moreover, where's the incentive for them? Suarez is either going to play for LFC and drive a ton of ratings or be sold to Spain for a boatload of money. Both events enrich the FA and its constituents.

Maybe public outcry is sufficient to make the old turds at the FA act against their self-interest, but nothing in their history suggests they would. Then again, maybe it's a price worth paying to get people off their backs about the England squad?

[10spro]

Much better performance by Di Maria who looks dangerous, Gago is patrolling well the midfield, the blue line still leaves me with some goose bumps and I am running out of superlatives to describe number 10.

[rhymes450]

Much better performance by Di Maria who looks dangerous, Gago is patrolling well the midfield, the blue line still leaves me with some goose bumps and I am running out of superlatives to describe number 10.

I thought Argentina looked very good going forward but a bit dodgy in defence at times. That incident when the central defender (Fernandez?) let a ball roll past him and then Mascherano took too much time and was dispossessed in his own box was almost comical. Nigeria looked better going forward than defending too. With Lavezzi, Higuain, Messi and Di Maria, Argentina are so well served up front that even the loss of Aguero could be absorbed if his injury keeps him out.

[10spro]

Much better performance by Di Maria who looks dangerous, Gago is patrolling well the midfield, the blue line still leaves me with some goose bumps and I am running out of superlatives to describe number 10.

I thought Argentina looked very good going forward but a bit dodgy in defence at times. That incident when the central defender (Fernandez?) let a ball roll past him and then Mascherano took too much time and was dispossessed in his own box was almost comical. Nigeria looked better going forward than defending too. With Lavezzi, Higuain, Messi and Di Maria, Argentina are so well served up front that even the loss of Aguero could be absorbed if his injury keeps him out.

Yeah, Aguero's injury worries me a bit. He's been off pretty much playing for City during the season and I don't think he's 100%. Fernandez is a liability and I would even try Demichelis in the next game, because things are going to tighten up in the round of 16 and you can't have gaffes like they did today. Mascherano has to be quicker distributing the ball, he's been through thick and thin with this team, a veteran so I don't think Sabella would play Biglia in his position.

Zabaleta also worries me, because he doesn't have a Nasri in this team that allows him to flow freely on the wing, instead he gets caught easily on the 2 on 1's when Gago and Mascherano play too much in the middle.

On the positive side, Nigeria has been tight in the back in this tournament and Argentina could have easily scored 2-3 more if it wasn't for Enyeama.

Di Maria was much better today and I am still hoping that Higuain gets it going, you know the one that shines in Napoli and took over Raul's place when he was playing for Real.

[Macca00]

Along with his pending FIFA ban for Internationals, Suarez' additional punishment will be from the loss of sponsorships (apparently some Online Poker site is withdrawing their sponsorship of him, I don't think they'll be the only ones), that he's invited the British tabloid press to jump all over him again, and the fact that he's utterly let down his country because without him Colombia are going to rip Uruguay a new one. Hopefully, that last one sinks in (see what I did there ) because I think that's the one that will hurt him the most. What a dumbass.




I meant to post it yesterday but James Rodriguez' goal for Colombia yesterday was marvelous - great first touch, left the defender on his ass (literally) and chipped the keeper. What a goal!

[JackB1]

OK, time to get ready for tomorrow's big game(s)!

So what's everyone's gameplan, since most of us will be at work?
I am going to watch the 1st half of US/Germany on Watch ESPN on my computer at work,
while simultaneously watching the Ghana/Portugal game on my Ipad with the Watch ESPN app.
Then I plan on going to lunch after the 1st half and go watch the 2nd half of the USA match
at a sports bar right down the street from the office. I will bring my ipad s I can continue
to monitor the Ghana/Portugal game.

GO Team USA!!!!!

[RobVarak]

I plan to rock back and forth on my couch like Leo Mazzone on a coke bender from about 15 minutes prior to kickoff until I eventually pass out from emotional fatigue...somewhere around the 20 minute mark.

Between the end of the LFC season, the Stanley Cup playoffs and the WC thus far, I'm pretty much emotionally wrung out at this point.

[fsquid]

I plan to rock back and forth on my couch like Leo Mazzone on a coke bender from about 15 minutes prior to kickoff until I eventually pass out from emotional fatigue...somewhere around the 20 minute mark.

my wife mentioned that I was moving like Leo during the Portugal match.

[mixdj1]

OK, time to get ready for tomorrow's big game(s)!

So what's everyone's gameplan, since most of us will be at work?

American Outlaws is hosting a viewing party at a local brewery here in Huntsville. I'm taking tomorrow off to go watch there. We had 300 at the brewery on Sunday.

[Aristo]

I've heard this asked elsewhere and I understand why: Depending on what punishment is actually leveled, should Liverpool really have to be penalized for Suarez's stupidity in internatinal play? They're the ones who have the financial investment. I don't know, just wondering what you guys think.

My opinion in all cases of player suspensions is that they should hurt the teams, too. This encourages the teams to be part of solving the problem instead of ignoring it. So yeah, there is a downside for paying an asshole to be a part of your team.

I think this applies to steroids even more, as some people have clamored to let teams get out of contracts with players that get caught. But that just incentivizes teams to sign those players, as they reap all of the benefits and then get to to walk away when they get caught. Penalize teams when their players act up, and you will see more teams address issues.

[XXXIV]

[Aristo]

[fsquid]

sadly, at work on a monitor.

[pk500]

You're right on Martinez, Rob. He's superb in the studio. I forgot about him -- stupid me!

[Macca00]

Ghana self-destructing before the match:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... -suspended

Nothing like pride in playing for your country eh? It's not like these guys are bus drivers and farmers either - they're millionaires playing for teams like Milan, Juve, Udinese, Schalke etc.

[fsquid]

Evidently monsoon like rains have made getting to the stadium in Recife almost impossible.

[JackB1]

Ghana self-destructing before the match:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... -suspended

Nothing like pride in playing for your country eh? It's not like these guys are bus drivers and farmers either - they're millionaires playing for teams like Milan, Juve, Udinese, Schalke etc.

That's good news for the USA! All we need to advance is Portugal winning by less than 4 goals.

[fsquid]

I still think Ghana runs through Portgual

[JackB1]

Evidently monsoon like rains have made getting to the stadium in Recife almost impossible.

Don't they still have about 3 hours to get there?

[JackB1]

[rhymes450]

Unless Portugal start well against Ghana, they might well capitulate to a heavy defeat. The first goal looks crucial in that match.

The obvious candidate for Global Football Ambassador, Jose Mourinho (hmmm), is doing a bit of work on the side at this WC and has opinions to share on Germany v US and more:

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football ... -mourinho/

Looks like serious rain in Recife. Will the match go ahead?