The Beautiful Game (The All Inclusive Soccer Thread)

[Angus]

Anyone like The Netherlands' chances?

If Robben keeps diving and the refs keep rewarding it, well yeah, they have a good chance.

[Electromatic]

I really hope Colombia beats Brazil, just 'cause it's kind of heartwarming to see Colombia doing so well after all this time.

And Colombia is Fun to watch!

[Jorge]

Colombia.

[Electromatic]

Colombia.

Sure them too.

[numbers]

No one is talking about France, who I think from game one through the round of 16 has looked the strongest.

[Heathen]

No one is talking about France, who I think from game one through the round of 16 has looked the strongest.

They got what was arguably the easiest group and have yet to face a strong team. They struggled against Nigeria and were lucky the ref didn't see a blatant foul in the box.

[VinylGuy]

I really hope Colombia beats Brazil, just 'cause it's kind of heartwarming to see Colombia doing so well after all this time.

And also because Brazil is awful and they deserve to be out.

Argentina have been the poorest of all the teams that are still in this thing. I'm torn because I'd like Messi to go as far as possible but Belgium deserves it more.

Agree. Argentina has yet to play a good game...yesterday was a little bit overwhelming.

[epilogue]

Congrats Belgium.

Hell of a game, Tim.

Thanks USA.

Soccer is so fucking great.

they advanced farther than the kc chiefs

You're goddamn right, they did.

[numbers]

No one is talking about France, who I think from game one through the round of 16 has looked the strongest.

They got what was arguably the easiest group and have yet to face a strong team. They struggled against Nigeria and were lucky the ref didn't see a blatant foul in the box.

Agreed about their group, but I wouldnt say they struggled anymore than anyone else in the round of 16 that won, really.

[Heathen]

No one is talking about France, who I think from game one through the round of 16 has looked the strongest.

They got what was arguably the easiest group and have yet to face a strong team. They struggled against Nigeria and were lucky the ref didn't see a blatant foul in the box.

Agreed about their group, but I wouldnt say they struggled anymore than anyone else in the round of 16 that won, really.

True, but I thought theirs was a weird kind of struggle. Before Nigeria totally gave up France didn't seem very dangerous despite the fact that their opponent had no defense at all. It seemed they could easily get near and inside the box but it seldom translated into real scoring opportunities. And things weren't looking great in the back either as soon as Nigeria sped things up a bit. Basically I find it hard to say what this team is really worth. Germany could have a blast if France's defense doesn't improve. Not that Germany's was that good either but it's at least partially because of the incredible pressure Algerian players were putting on them during the whole game.

[numbers]

No one is talking about France, who I think from game one through the round of 16 has looked the strongest.

They got what was arguably the easiest group and have yet to face a strong team. They struggled against Nigeria and were lucky the ref didn't see a blatant foul in the box.

Agreed about their group, but I wouldnt say they struggled anymore than anyone else in the round of 16 that won, really.

True, but I thought theirs was a weird kind of struggle. Before Nigeria totally gave up France didn't seem very dangerous despite the fact that their opponent had no defense at all. It seemed they could easily get near and inside the box but it seldom translated into real scoring opportunities. And things weren't looking great in the back either as soon as Nigeria sped things up a bit. Basically I find it hard to say what this team is really worth. Germany could have a blast if France's defense doesn't improve. Not that Germany's was that good either but it's at least partially because of the incredible pressure Algerian players were putting on them during the whole game.

I was really high on Germany heading into the tournament, but I havent really been impressed and I've seen all of their games except the Portugal one. France, who I didnt have much expectations of heading in, I've been pretty impressed with. When I filled out my bracket before the tournament I had an Argentina-Germany final, but I'm not really confident of that now.

[Heathen]

Germany definitely isn't the juggernaut everyone thought they were gonna be but I think they have what it takes to beat France and I hope they will.

[numbers]

Their back line is suspect, why they arent playing Lahm in the back is a mystery to me.

[bada]

If you're rooting for any team but Brazil aren't you kinda rooting for someone to die? I mean those folks seem to take this pretty serious. They lose someone is getting cut.

[numbers]

I'm not rooting for anyone really now that the US is out and my nation of ancestry isnt in the tournament, I just dont like to pick the hosts in a WC, they dont usually pull it off.

[Simple Torture]

I'm not rooting for anyone really now that the US is out and my nation of ancestry isnt in the tournament, I just dont like to pick the hosts in a WC, they dont usually pull it off.

Out of 20 host nations, 6 have won the tournament outright (1930: Uruguay; 1934: Italy; 1966: England; 1974: West Germany; 1978: Argentina; 1998: France). And of those 14 other hosts, they've been runners up just twice (1950: Brazil; 1958: Sweden); third place three times (1962: Chile; 1990: Italy; 2006: Germany); and fourth place just once (2002: South Korea).

So even though winning is certainly tough to pull off, 12/20 get to at least the semis. That's not too shabby! All the other hosts had the following result:

1938: France made it to the 2nd round (the tournament was knockout-only that year)
1954: The Swiss finished 2nd in their group but went down in the first knockout round
1970: Mexico finished 2nd in their group and then lost in the first knockout round
1982: Spain got through the first group stage as 2nd in their group, but was eliminated in the 2nd group stage
1986: Mexico won their group and made it to the 2nd round of the knockout stage before being eliminated
1994: The USA got through as third in their group, but lost in the first knockout round to Brazil
2002: Co-host Japan won their group but was eliminated in the first knockout round
2010: South Africa goes 1-1-1 in the group stage and becomes the first host nation ever to not move through the first stage

[Jorge]

Welllllll the 78 Argentina victory is... disputed, to say the least

[numbers]

Normally, the host nation is one with an elite team. They've gotten away from that in the last 20 years, but pre-94 the cup was always hosted by a nation that had a good shot of winning it. 6 out of 20 isn't good when you consider it's usually hosted by one of the worlds best teams.

[Simple Torture]

The home teams sometimes get the breaks ('66 as well).

[numbers]

Brazil has definitely already gotten their share.