World Cup 2014 Thread

[10spro]

I thought the Japanese team played very well for about 55 minutes and Honda's goal was top class stuff. With Drogba coming into the game, the Asian team kind of stopped believing in their strategy and were pushed back. Didier made a big difference for the Elephants.

[RobVarak]

At one point in the second half 8 of the 11 players on the field for England were from either Liverpool or Everton which was pretty neat.

Speaking of Everton, Roberto Martinez continues to absolutely kick ass as a studio commentator. Sensational tactical analysis and a great personality.

ESPN is doing a great "last call" bit that looks cheesy, but works beautifully. The panel sits around a faux veranda and has a relatively unstructured conversation about the day's events. Martinez, Lalas and Ballack were the pundits tonight and it's a tribute to them that they made Mike Tirico look good. To his credit, he was more than willing to lay back and let them drive the conversation. Speaking extemporaneously on live TV is rough and having a panel do so without jumping the rails is even tougher. This was surprisingly compelling stuff.

By way of illustration, they spent a good 4-5 minutes just discussion how brilliant Pirlo is and the tactical problems created by trying to neutralize him. They went into the risks involved with having a forward drop back to handle him, the reason that so few teams want to man-mark him, the way he is able to buy time for himself despite not being a spectacularly athletic player etc. Real soccer nerd stuff. Love it!!!

[Jimmydeicide]

That i s interesting Rob but do you think Roy knew that or just wasn't smart enough to handle Pirlo
I would like to check that out because he is a special player and that dummy he did to set up Italy's first goal although a simple task to execute he did it with a brush stroke and a color palate in his hand. The time and space he made for Marchisio well... ok that's enough gushing from me.

Not happy with espn ABC at all really they have a shitty HD feed and other than Lalas and Martinez most of the rest have been terrible.
Must admit i am glued to everything Martinez has to say and i wish he had called Uncle Roy at half time to tell him about the threat down the right side.

Let me know how the last call is when Gilberto is on.
I'm not that interested with the minutiae around the game mostly but Martinez always keeps me from switching over to Beavis and Buttheads half time shows class act. Thank goodness we have a mind as bright at Anfield couldn't stand the fall out on my Facebook otherwise.


Oh yeh and Macca thanks for my Gif, its ok I didnt need it he did one live, it was beautiful

[RobVarak]

Bigger minds that Roy have failed to stop Pirlo.

Surprised to hear you say that about the signal quality. I think both the ABC and ESPN HD feeds look spectacular, even if the level of detail is sub-optimal for a few of the presenters (cough) Julie Foudy and Ruud van Nistlerooy (cough).

[Jimmydeicide]

Actually it is much better today, 34 said his was bad also but still not as good as it should be.

Funny though whenever i see a shot of fat people on the beach playing footy in speedo's the feed switches to ultra HD

[XXXIV]

Funny though whenever i see a shot of fat people on the beach playing footy in speedo's the feed switches to ultra HD

Whats wrong with that?

[pk500]

Ballack is terrible in the studio, even worse than Gilberto Silva. He offers little insight, and his massive ego forces him to interrupt anyone who has the audacity to speak before him.

Martinez is magic. Agree with all here.

[10spro]

The technology is there and still no one knows how to use it? Benzema's goal is legit as the goal crosses the line on the second attempt. What's all the fuzz?

[Jimmydeicide]

Finally the technology comes into play, not bad in the end but laughable the Honduras coach is still protesting it

[Jimmydeicide]

OMG Keller your as big a moron as the Honduras coach what a tit. Its a goal because the tech is in place not what the ref called IDIOT!!

[XXXIV]

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/goal-li ... e-honduras

[Macca00]

The technology is there and still no one knows how to use it? Benzema's goal is legit as the goal crosses the line on the second attempt. What's all the fuzz?

Yup, commentators calling it a 'controversial'goal - the tech showed the ball crossed the bloody line, what's so 'controversial' about it? Idiots.

[XXXIV]

The technology is there and still no one knows how to use it? Benzema's goal is legit as the goal crosses the line on the second attempt. What's all the fuzz?

Yup, commentators calling it a 'controversial'goal - the tech showed the ball crossed the bloody line, what's so 'controversial' about it? Idiots.

They are the only thing thats controversial by calling it controversial.

[XXXIV]

Break out that goal line "technology" again.

France be crazy.

[XXXIV]

Oh and sweet win by the Swiss in the last minute of stoppage time.

[wco81]

A bunch of cameras is technology?

[XXXIV]

A bunch of cameras is technology?

It took them decades to implement it. So yes. For FIFA it sure is.

[Jimmydeicide]

A bunch of cameras is technology?

I dunno how many is in a bunch?

[XXXIV]

I know these are bunches...

[RobVarak]

Ballack is terrible in the studio, even worse than Gilberto Silva. He offers little insight, and his massive ego forces him to interrupt anyone who has the audacity to speak before him.

Martinez is magic. Agree with all here.

He's definitely a megalomaniac, but he was frank and insightful about the trouble that Germany had with Pirlo throughout his career.

[10spro]

Can't wait for my boys to take over Copacabana. Ole, Ole, Messi, Messi...

[XXXIV]

This is the game Ive been waiting for today.

Good Luck 10s!

[RobVarak]

This game is way too blue.

[XXXIV]

This game is way too blue.

Since you mentioned it...

I dont like the person who designed Argentinas uniform. The numbers blend in with the stripes making em pretty hard to read for old people.

As for the game itself. All I can say is that Im glad Argentina is winning.

[10spro]

Not much to see in this half. Argentina looks tight to me, in fact the chosen formation by A. Sabella is a bit on the conservative side. Considering that on paper both teams are to advance to the next round, maybe he decided to add more weight in the middle by playing M. Rodriguez instead of their usual 4-3-3 formation with Higuain up front. They caught a break on the own goal by the Bosnian player, Messi looks a bit lonely out there.

One way to score for the underdogs is go through the air, Bosnia players are quite tall and their best chance was indeed thru a header.

One thing that never changes is the support from #12 that follows the team everywhere in the world. Loud and vibrant, if only you guys could understand the chants...