WC 2014 - Bits and Bobs

[Big Foot]

Interesting then that you reference the Dutch side of 78 - which final did they win?

Winning a world cup is neither necessary nor sufficient to be a great side.

I don't decide the criteria, I'm just assuming what they are given the teams that people actually talk about.

Could it be that nostalgia is the biggest part to play in "gr8 sides"? Might explain why the latest example you use is from the 80s?

[Ouroboros]

Absolutely.

Hard to judge the truth of it, not having seen those sides.

[Big Foot]

The sides you've mentioned are the ones who get mentioned time and time again, but for instance, I watched a BBC documentary on the 1978 World Cup the other week and the players look absolute bobbins - perhaps it's where the game has moved on over the last 30-40 years

In my lifetime (born 89), the best World Cup winning side that I can remember was France in 98. Brutally beat up Brazil in the 3-0 win in the final and then carried on their form to Euro 2000 as well. 2002 was the worst defence of a World Cup that I've seen yet though, even eclipsing Spain this time round.

I think the current Germany side have the potential to be a "great" side - the way they announced themselves last time round with the youthfulness, the energy and the reinvention of their side that had largely been laughed off was admirable. They've started this World Cup with a bang, ok it stalled a bit on Saturday vs Ghana. Plus there's the subplot of Miroslav Klose, who could rightfully become the leading WC scorer of all time. Thomas Muller is only 24 and already has 8 WC goals, so we could also be looking at the next leading WC scorer of all time, too.

[Ian Royal]

Agree, if Germany win it, I think they could become one of the greats. They play such a good game.

I dislike France intensely, but from what I've seen they look devastating too. So I'd disagree with our Rob about there being no great team to win the competition.

Also if one of the likes of Argentina or Brazil kicks into gear and wins, with their huge talisman players they could also be hailed.

It's great we've got teams like Costa Rica and Chile looking good too. This is the best WC I've seen. It's got everything.

[Ouroboros]

Yes, also I don't think Germany's credentials were too dented by the Ghana game - at least they entertained and came away with a satisfactory result. Ghana are no mugs.

My worry for them is that the record of this group is poor against the best sides in the latter stages. I suspect another semi or final defeat. I'd like to see then rewarded for their talent and endeavor, though.

[Royal Ginger]

I think what will make this a classic world cup is that good attacking play is getting results rather than water tight defenses.

[Starfish]

I would be genuinely surprised (shocked, really) if Germany win this WC. Löw is not a winner - he's a 'well, we're happy with third' sort of guy. Germany have never ever beaten Italy or Brazil in a serious game of football (they've only ever played Brazil once, tbf - 2002 final), but you can see from the last past few tournaments that Löw sends his team out positively in group stages or against teams that he is not afraid of, but when they were faced with Spain or Italy ... he changes his tactics ... and that's it. Out. Germany will lose to France if they face them in the Q-Fs. They'll lose to Italy every time they play them (under this manager) because the pressure is too much and Löw can't take that, and against Brazil he'll have the perfect excuse to fail again. Germany should have come come much much closer to winning the last three tournaments (that Spain won), but their manager managed to keep them in check.

Lose in the last 16, Löw will be sacked and Germany will win (or come very very close to winning) the next EC. The World Cup in 2018 too if the German FA can convince Klopp to take the job on.

But I would love to be wrong. It's so much easier to pick up drunk German girls on the back of victory.

[Brum Royal]

http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/23/doh-hapless-world-cup-souvenir-sellers-confuse-barack-obama-with-englands-chris-smalling-4772252

D’oh! Hapless World Cup souvenir sellers confuse Barack Obama with England’s Chris SmallingMetro Sport Reporter
Monday 23 Jun 2014 11:42 am


Oops: Barack Obama mistaken for England defender Chris Smalling (Picture: REX)
He may be the leader of the free world, but that didn’t stop a bumbling souvenir company mistaking Barack Obama for England player Chris Smalling on a memento mug.

The unnamed (embarrassed!) company were keen to go top of the league with a range of merchandise for the World Cup, but when they unpacked the 2,000 mugs featuring the faces of our under performing heroes, it was clear someone’s footballing research skills were strictly non-league.

Upon realising their mistake – in a move which wouldn’t be out of place in Only Fools and Horses – they turned to Dorset-based clearance re-sellers Wholesale Clearance UK to try and shift the stock.


Unlikely England line-up: Featuring Barack Obama (Picture: REX)


Here’s who you should’ve had: The real Chris Smalling (Picture: Rex)
Karl Baxter MD for Wholesale Clearance explains: ‘The Dorset company in question was given the seemingly easy job of sourcing royalty free pictures of each England squad player to use on the England mugs – along with other accompanying items such as England coasters, England mouse mats etc.

‘They passed this onto to their young, bright eyed and bushy tailed new apprentice. The designs were proofed and signed off by their boss, who had clearly had a heavy night with the lads playing poker and before he’d had his first vat of coffee the following morning.

‘They immediately contacted us and 2,000 of the England items was dispatched to our warehouse. We eagerly unpacked them and, indeed it turned out that the Chris Smalling cup had Barack Obama’s head on instead of Chris’s.’

[Royalclapper]

I find that surprising about Low, the one thing I've thought about this current Germany side is there seems to be a lot of ego's to keep happy and accommodate rather than him not handling the better opposition. Lahm in midfield for instance? Surely has to play in defence at full back given the already overloaded choice of midfielders.

Of the other European contenders, it's hard to judge Belgium & France just yet as they were both drawn in weaker groups and haven't really been 'got at' as such yet. Louis van Gall has made his tactics pretty clear from the off and won't be changing them, make themselves awkward and tough in midfield/defence then launch his main weapons Robben & van Persie.

You never know with Italy, it doesn't appear that they have quite enough quality in their squad, yet they've been the wiliest and most successful European team at World Cups over the years.

[paultheroyal]

Someone else do the honours please!

[Royal Ginger]

I'm officially calling bullshit.

[genome]

I always thought the England team were a bunch of mugs.

[soggy biscuit]

[Green]

How times change eh?

[soggy biscuit]

Fabregas kicked out of training
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2sURa1jrKS4

[jd82]

Those Mexicans sure know how to party

[leon]

Fabregas kicked out of training
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2sURa1jrKS4

I like the bit where he rides off on his bike...?!!

[sputnik]

Those Mexicans sure know how to party

Mexicans?
Lucky enough not to be back in the motherland...
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/2014/06/23/Iran-arrests-two-over-World-Cup-video.html

[Royal Ginger]

Greece's goal makes this the first World Cup since 1998 where every team has scored.

[sputnik]

^good trivia