"Official" 2014 World Cup thread and poll, now with 100% more vuvuzelas

[squarecut1]

It would be a shame if they ban him only technically and allow him to play in the WC because of procedural things. That would be their political way of ignoring his behavior because he is a big star

 

[sdifox]

wow 1-1 in the first five min of the game. Tha's faster than even hockey!

 

[KeithTalent]

Messi with 2! That's my boy. :awe:

KT

 

[AMDZen]

Go Bosnia, there is no way I would ever root for Iran in anything unless it was in a war with Iraq

 

[smackababy]

Can't see the game, but it looks like Messi is carrying them on his back, as usual.

 

[Anubis]

Can't see the game, but it looks like Messi is carrying them on his back, as usual.

its not just him. the whole team is carrying the play

Spoiler

first goal he got off a rebound, 2nd was a free kick

 

[smackababy]

That is good. Argentina might have a chance now!

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

haha the norweigan "bite bet" we were talking about yesterday is now front page on espn.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

yep and its fucking huge

in some fairness, the head butt was the result of provocation.

and i don't know why on earth you'd use spoiler tags in this thread.

 

[Anubis]

in some fairness, the head butt was the result of provocation.

and i don't know why on earth you'd use spoiler tags in this thread.

some people may watch the game on DVR?

 

[smackababy]

some people may watch the game on DVR?

In that case, they probably shouldn't be reading the world cup thread...

 

[Phanuel]

some people may watch the game on DVR?

Better not watch the news then, they spoil that shit as well.

 

[KLin]

 

[smackababy]

Bosnia really dominated Iran. Nigeria still advances despite the lose to Argentina. Can't wait for tomorrow!

I also expect France to outright dominate Ecuador to the point of them disbanding their team and country.

 

[BergeLSU]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but why is head-to-head not part of any tiebreaker for pool play?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but why is head-to-head not part of any tiebreaker for pool play?

head-to-head is, but it's a little down the totem pole.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2014/06/23/world-cup-tiebreakers-explained/

1. Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches.
2. Goal difference in all group matches.
3. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.
4. Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned.
5. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned.
6. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned.
7. Drawing of lots by the FIFA Organizing Committee.

Using group G as an example:
Germany: 4 points (1-0-1), 6 Goals, 2 against, 4 difference
USA: 4 points (1-0-1), 4 Goals, 3 against, 1 difference
Ghana: 1 point (0-1-1), 3 Goals, 4 against, -1 difference
Portugal: 1 point (0-1-1), 2 Goals, 6 against, -4 difference

To get to level 4 on the above tie-breaking totem for USA and Ghana tomorrow:

USA loses vs Germany (1-0)
Ghana beats Portugal (1-0)
1. 4 vs 4 points (both teams have 1-1-1 record)
2. 0 vs 0 goal difference (both teams have 4 goals for and against)
3. both teams have scored 4 goals
4. USA (3 points) beats Ghana (0 points)


At the 4th level, USA beats Ghana because USA beat Ghana in group play (3 points vs 0 points, head-to-head).

 

[Fire&Blood]

Just got home from work, watching the highlights vs. Iran. Makes the loss to Nigeria even harder. So bitter right now, wish we could have had these referees on Saturday...

We got into FIFA 18 years ago and have been trying to get into Euro/World Cup ever since so if history is any indication, I'll be an old man by the time they get to this stage again. Hopefully I'm wrong and the core of this team makes it into the next one with the Nigeria game in mind.

Yet Croatia, arguably a better and more experienced team went through eerily similar fate, faced staying powers in ARG & BRA and were handicapped by terrible referee decisions and finally, when it mattered the most, both failed to play to potential that may not have guaranteed a victory,

 

[smackababy]

I know it doesn't matter if France wins this or not, but come on... I know you guys can beat this shitty Ecuadorian scum!

 

[HN]

 

[AMDZen]

So the tiebreaker if our GD is the same as Portugals is pulling our name out of a hat? Since we tied Portugal? Really?

 

[smackababy]

So the tiebreaker if our GD is the same as Portugals is pulling our name out of a hat? Since we tied Portugal? Really?

No. If the GD is equal, the total number of goals is the tie breaker. If that is equal, then it is a hat drawing. Which means, the US is fucked. Fifa is corrupt enough to draw the team they think will draw the best crowd, which is Portugal.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Because of Portugal's GD and their recent performance, we really don't need to be concerned about them as much as Ghana anyway.

 

[smackababy]

Yeah. Best case scenario is a Ghana - Portugal tie.

I actually like what the US is going in the absence of Altidore. I think we could stand a chance against Germany, especially considering they tied Ghana. Our adjustments between Ghana and Portugal were pretty good. We only tied due to a mistake by a defender early game. We might have a chance to beat Germany, but I'd be happy with a tie.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Well, BEST case scenario is a US win.

But the worst best-case scenario is that if USA loses by no more than one, and Ghana wins by no more than one, the differential between the goals USA scores and Ghana scores in these matches isn't worse than -1.

I think the chart left that last part out.
USA 0-1 loss and Ghana 2-1 win = 4 USA group goals to 5 Ghana group goals = Ghana advances (#3 in the totem).

 

[The Boston Dangler]

No. If the GD is equal, the total number of goals is the tie breaker. If that is equal, then it is a hat drawing. Which means, the US is fucked. Fifa is corrupt enough to draw the team they think will draw the best crowd, which is Portugal.

the population of portugal is 10.5 million, less than half of the american viewership record set by the us-pt game (24.7M+). they'll do anything they can to keep fueling soccer's surge in popularity here in the states.