World Cup Thread

[TheRef]

Suarez cannot even set foot inside of a stadium for four months. Cannot practice at any team facility. He is banned from organized soccer for four months.

[TheRef]

FT: 1-0 Germany
FT: 2-1 Portugal

Final Group G Standings:

Germany 7 pts +5
United States 4 pts 0
Portugal 4 pts -3
Ghana 1 pt -2

Germany wins group. Faces Group H #2
United States advances to face Group H #1

[hacker]

anyone see the ghana player's package flopping around on live tv in slow motion for 10 seconds?

[hacker]

Looks like they are moving forward with this. http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/fifa-propose-move-2022-world-cup-qatar-to-usa-canada/

[DawgHouseUnited]

anyone see the ghana player's package flopping around on live tv in slow motion for 10 seconds?


Missed it, and I'm ok with that. That's gotta be awkward...

[mstatefan91]

My reaction after Portugal went up 2-1

http://www.blog.thehoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/anigif_enhanced-buzz-8134-1343763897-1.gif

[DawgHouseUnited]

Russia is up 1-0 over Algeria so far in group H play

[DawgHouseUnited]

South Korea is getting penetration against Belgium, but it looks like they don't know what to do with it...

[mstatefan91]

What do you guys think? Worthy of a red card?

[DawgHouseUnited]

Belgium down to 10 men thanks to a red card. Am I talking to myself?

[DawgHouseUnited]

What do you guys think? Worthy of a red card?

Announcers seem to think so. Replay looked like he did stomp on that guys leg just a little.

[Intramural All-American]

Absolutely worthy

[dickiedawg]

Korea can pull off an unlikely win against Belgium since they're down a man, but it won't matter unless Algeria can mount a comeback.

[hacker]

The penalty that drew that red card looked a lot more malicious than the one yesterday, IMO

[TheRef]

Algeria ties it up with Russia. 1-1.

If current scores hold: Belgium wins, Algeria is #2.

[mstatefan91]

If only South Korea had anybody that knew what to do with the ball in the upper third

[mstatefan91]

Welp, Belgium it is

[TheRef]

Welp, Belgium it is

Sadly, yes.....I hope we don't start the back line we did against Germany....we were HORRID on the back.

[DawgHouseUnited]

If only South Korea had anybody that knew what to do with the ball in the upper third

That's the truth. They look lost once they get in there.

[smootness]

Sadly, yes.....I hope we don't start the back line we did against Germany....we were HORRID on the back.

Disagree, thought the back line did fairly well in snuffing out attacks.

It's Germany, they're going to make us look worse than most other teams will.

[TheRef]

FT: Algeria 1-1 Russia
FT: 1-0 Belgium

Group H Final Standings

Belgium 9 pts +3
Algeria 4 pts +1
Russia 2 pts -1
South Korea 1 pt -3

Belgium faces United States
Algeria faces Germany

[TheRef]

Knockout Stage Bracket

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2014/06/WCBracket_Day15_GroupG_GermanyUSA1.png

[TheRef]

ESPN Bracket Challenge Standings

1. crc166 25 pts.

2. TheRef 24 pts.

3. DanglyGiant 21 pts
Rayburn8

5. ToddHinman 20 pts

6. It_Could_Happen 19 pts
jumbo
DawgHouseUnited
Pioneer Dawg
Jack

11. BulldogBear 17 pts
Brad Stevens
CadaverDawg

14. DudyDawg 16 pts

15. WeWonItAll(Most) 15 pts
Charlie_Sheen420

17. skb124 12 pts

[Dawg61]

So just beat Belgium, Argentina, Holland and Germany/Brazil/France and we win the World Cup. Shit we got this!

[DudyDawg]

Wow, for all my posts about soccer you'd think I could pick a bracket that isn't 4th to last

[DudyDawg]

So just beat Belgium, Argentina, Holland and Germany/Brazil/France and we win the World Cup. Shit we got this!

If we can beat em in a war, we can beat em in soccer

[CadaverDawg]

If we can beat em in a war, we can beat em in soccer

http://gifstumblr.com/images/if-you-can-dodge-a-wrench-you-can-dodge-a-ball_1297.gif

[TheRef]

Good news for you people who are sick of World Cup threads. No matches tomorrow. I declare that day "World Cup Sabbath".

[Dawg61]

http://gifstumblr.com/images/if-you-can-dodge-a-wrench-you-can-dodge-a-ball_1297.gif

Hahaha this was the exact quote I thought of and I scroll down and you've already got it posted!!

[hacker]

Good news for you people who are sick of World Cup threads. No matches tomorrow. I declare that day "World Cup Sabbath".

This makes me sad. Past 14 days have been awesome.

[TheRef]

This makes me sad. Past 14 days have been awesome.

It's okay. Now we get to the games that you won't see boredom for. No more ties. Everyone's going for the win.

[DudyDawg]

I'm really not happy about missing Colombia-Uruguay and Brazil-Chile tomorrow for work

[BulldogBear]

There's a pretty neat channel on UVERSE where you can interactively see all the standings, results, schedule and pertinent info. But it doesn't show anything past what's already happened on the schedule. Is there a delay before they continue (like NCAA hoops tourney)?

[TheRef]

There's a pretty neat channel on UVERSE where you can interactively see all the standings, results, schedule and pertinent info. But it doesn't show anything past what's already happened on the schedule. Is there a delay before they continue (like NCAA hoops tourney)?

There are no matches today. Next matches are tomorrow. Brazil v. Chile @ 11:00 and Colombia v. Uruguay @ 3:00

[TheRef]

Video of every goal during the Group Stage


https://vimeo.com/99346901

[TheRef]

Here we go, boys. It's Knockout Round time. We start off today with Brazil v. Chile at 11:00 AM CDT on ABC. After that, we have Colombia v. Uruguay at 3:00 PM CDT on ABC.

[TheRef]

Chile 1-1 Brazil so far....sorry for the late updates.

[TheRef]

HT: Chile 1-1 Brazil

As players are walking off the pitch, a few shoves are exchanged between two players.

[TheRef]

HULK ANGRY! A goal is called back by a hand-ball from Hulk! Wow...

[Pioneer Dawg]

If you get a yellow in the quarters and semis do you miss the finals.

[TheRef]

If you get a yellow in the quarters and semis do you miss the finals.

No. I believe the rule from the Quarterfinals onward is you have to have two yellows in one match to miss the next match. Yellows do not carry over, I believe.

[TheRef]

End of Regulation: Brazil 1-1 Chile

We will now play two 15-minute halves of Extra Time. If the score is still tied after these two halves, then we go to a penalty shootout.

[smootness]

No. I believe the rule from the Quarterfinals onward is you have to have two yellows in one match to miss the next match. Yellows do not carry over, I believe.

Yellows carry over through the quarters. So if you have two yellows total in any matches through the quarters, you sit out the next one. So you can sit out the semis. But they did that so that it resets after the quarters so that you have to get a red to miss the final.

[TheRef]

First half of Extra Time: Brazil 1-1 Chile

Fifteen more minutes to go until we have a PK Shootout.

[TheRef]

OFF THE CROSSBAR!!! OH MY GOD!

[TheRef]

BUCKLE UP! We're headed to PKs!

[CadaverDawg]

That was so close for Chile!

On to penalty kicks. What a match. Very physical.

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

Man. Chile was inches away from winning it! The players look exhausted.

[curmudgeon]

Video of every goal during the Group Stage


https://vimeo.com/99346901

48 games and its only an 8:00 video. More evidence that soccer sucks.

[TheRef]

Brazil hits the first of the PKs

1-0 Brazil

[TheRef]

The Chilean kick is SAVED!

1-0 Brazil

4 rounds to go

[TheRef]

Brazil's kick is WIDE!

1-0 Brazil

[TheRef]

Another save!!!!!

1-0 Brazil

3 rounds to go.

[TheRef]

Brazil again!!!!!

2-0 Brazil

[TheRef]

Chile hits!!!!

2-1 Brazil!

2 rounds to go

[TheRef]

SAVED!!!!

2-1 Brazil

[TheRef]

CHILE HITS!!!!!!!

2-2!!!!

ONE ROUND TO GO!

[TheRef]

NEYMAR!!!!!

3-2 Brazil!

[TheRef]

FT: BRAZIL WINS 1-1 (3-2)

Brazil plays winner between Colombia v. Uruguay

[DudyDawg]

48 games and its only an 8:00 video. More evidence that soccer sucks.
Thought you were staying off soccer threads? If you don't like it, don't type a message in a thread. No one gives a shit

[curmudgeon]

Also the fact that TheRef just replied to himself for two pages is evidence that people don't care.

[TheRef]

Also the fact that TheRef just replied to himself for two pages is evidence that people don't care.

I was doing PBP of the shootout. They were quick.

[DudyDawg]

Also the fact that TheRef just replied to himself for two pages is evidence that people don't care.

People do care. Don't be a grumpy old man and try to piss on a parade. Like I said, no one gives a shit. I'll never understand anyone who goes out of their way to try to ruin something that doesn't affect you that others enjoy

[DownwardDawg]

People do care. Don't be a grumpy old man and try to piss on a parade. Like I said, no one gives a shit. I'll never understand anyone who goes out of their way to try to ruin something that doesn't affect you that others enjoy

It's called misery, and it loves company. That's why it shows up when people are enjoying things.

[DownwardDawg]

I was doing PBP of the shootout. They were quick.

Thanks for the PBP Ref! I was stuck behind the computer. When they started the penalty kicks, I hauled ass to a tv!

[TheRef]

Okay....T-minus 11 minutes until kickoff between Colombia and the Biters (Uruguay).

[Dawg61]

Exciting match between Brazil and Chile, questionable handball call

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

Two of the top strikers in the world play for Uruguay and Columbia. And neither of them are playing for the entire tournament. This will still be a good game, but there's so much more potential!

[CadaverDawg]

Exciting match between Brazil and Chile, questionable handball call

Obvious handball bruh

[TheRef]

Viva Colombia!!!!!

1-0 Colombia 28'

[TheRef]

HT: 1-0 Colombia

[DudyDawg]

James Rodriguez, go to Real Madrid please.


Wow. What a strike

[TheRef]

Rodriguez AGAIN!!!!

2-0 Colombia.

[Dawg61]

Colombia is better than I gave them credit

[TheRef]

Ummm...I haven't ever seen this before but the ref gives a yellow to someone on the bench. He will now miss the next match with two yellows through the games so far. Wow.

[TheRef]

FT: 2-0 Colombia

Colombia will face off against Brazil on July 4th at 3:00 PM CDT on ESPN.

[mstatefan91]

FT: 2-0 Colombia

Colombia will face off against Brazil on July 4th at 3:00 PM CDT on ESPN.

I've got Columbia winning. Brazil just isn't that great

[mstatefan91]

Ummm...I haven't ever seen this before but the ref gives a yellow to someone on the bench. He will now miss the next match with two yellows through the games so far. Wow.

Happens quite often at the high school level. Don't usually see it at the professional level.

[DownwardDawg]

I immediately thought of the Ann Coulter article while I was watching the penalty kicks. Talk about a pressure situation while the whole world is watching you. Yes I'm a conservative but that bitch is embarrassing to my party. She needs to iron my shirt and fix me a sandwich.

[TheRef]

Round of 16, Match Day 17: June 29, 2014

Netherlands v. Mexico 11:00 AM CDT ESPN

Costa Rica v. Greece 3:00 PM CDT ESPN

[TheRef]

Wow...that's a quick substitution.

9' in and a veteran (de Jong) has to be taken out for some reason.

[TheRef]

WOW! Clear call on a tackle that took down van Persie and the ref goes over there, puts the whistle to his mouth about to call the foul, then puts it back down and lets play resume. This ref is horrible now.

[TheRef]

HT: Netherlands 0-0 Mexico

[TheRef]

EL TRI!!!!!!!! 1-0 MEXICO!

[CadaverDawg]

EL TRI!!!!!!!! 1-0 MEXICO!

Whoa! This could be a huge upset. The Dutch have been unreal lately.

How bout a USA vs Mexico semifinal? Ha

[TheRef]

Ochoa with a MAN save. I mean one of the best saves I've seen.

[TheRef]

NETHERLANDS!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!! 1-1

[MadisonDawg]

That was buried

[Pioneer Dawg]

BOOM!!!

1-1

[TheRef]

Sneijder is a MAN!

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

Goal Netherlands!! Did the guy who headed it off the corner mean for it to go to Sneijder or was that an accident that worked out?

[Pioneer Dawg]

Penalty!

[TheRef]

AND HE MAKES IT!!!! 2-1 NETHERLANDS!

[Pioneer Dawg]

Icing the PK man right now

[TheRef]

FT: 2-1 Netherlands

[camsu]

MX blew it again, poor 2nd half

[DownwardDawg]

MX blew it again, poor 2nd half

Very sloppy play late by Mexico. You just knew that Netherlands was gonna score. The ball stayed down at that end the entire 2nd half. Did Mexico have a single corner kick in the 2nd half? Netherlands seemed to have about 10!

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

Was anyone else surprised about who took the penalty for the Netherlands? Maybe that guy is good, but I was fully expecting Robben or Van Persey or Snijder to be the kick taker

[Pioneer Dawg]

Was anyone else surprised about who took the penalty for the Netherlands? Maybe that guy is good, but I was fully expecting Robben or Van Persey or Snijder to be the kick taker

Huntelaar came on for RVP

[camsu]

The color guy said it all 2nd half, MX subbed wrong and in the end he was correct. MX had no O and even though their GK has played his best FB ever not enough against the high scoring Dutch.

If you going to coach ManU you know who can do what and he put the right person in for the PK.

I tell you what, that Ref worked. Having done that for 26 yrs in highest level youth in CA, I could not have called that game, what a job. Now go USA

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

Huntelaar came on for RVP

I missed that. I don't think I saw RVP the entire second half. He didn't do much

[Dawg61]

Mexico choke

[TheRef]

HT: Costa Rica 0-0 Greece

[TheRef]

Costa Rica!!!!!! A slow dribbler to the far side gets a goal! 1-0 52'

[TheRef]

Oscar Duarte gets his second yellow of the game and he's sent off! Costa Rica down to 10 men! 1-0 CRC at 66'

[Pioneer Dawg]

Greece ties it in the 90th!!!!

[TheRef]

GREECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1-1 in stoppage time!

[TheRef]

End of Regulation: Costa Rica 1-1 Greece

Once again, we will have two 15-minute halves of Extra Time. Buckle up.

[DudyDawg]

Unfortunately missed the first game and all of the Greece one until now. Got home right as extra time did. Has it been a typical defensive game from the Greeks? And what happened with the red card?

[TheRef]

Unfortunately missed the first game and all of the Greece one until now. Got home right as extra time did. Has it been a typical defensive game from the Greeks? And what happened with the red card?

Greece has been playing their textbook. Gave up a goal at 52'. CRC had a player get the red for two yellows during the game. Greece scored on a good rebound at 90+1'

[TheRef]

First half of Extra time: Costa Rica 1-1 Greece

15 minutes until shootout.

[DudyDawg]

Greece has been playing their textbook. Gave up a goal at 52'. CRC had a player get the red for two yellows during the game. Greece scored on a good rebound at 90+1'

Heard the Mexican coach saying the referee has caused their exit. Was the penalty a bad call in that one?

[TheRef]

Heard the Mexican coach saying the referee has caused their exit. Was the penalty a bad call in that one?

Robben did flop in stoppage time to get the penalty. Law of averages worked out because there were 3 or 4 other times that a PK should have been called in favor of Netherlands.

[TheRef]

HERE WE GO!!!! PK shootout time!

[TheRef]

And the Greece coach has been sent off!

[TheRef]

Costa Rica hits the first!

1-0 Costa Rica

[TheRef]

Greece hits it!

1-1 tie

4 rounds to go

[DudyDawg]

Two perfect shots from the Costa Ricans

[TheRef]

Costa Rica hits it again!

2-1 Costa Rica

[TheRef]

Greece with the response!

2-2 tie

3 rounds to go

[TheRef]

Costa Rica keeps hitting!

3-2 Costa Rica

[TheRef]

This is the true meaning of a shootout!

3-3 tie

2 rounds to go.

[TheRef]

Costa Rica is not missing!

4-3 Costa Rica

[TheRef]

DENIED!!!!!

4-3 Costa Rica

1 round remaining!

[TheRef]

COSTA RICA HITS IT!

Final: Costa Rica 1-1 (5-3)

Will face Netherlands in the Quarterfinals!

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

Good riddance, Greece. They boring

[TheRef]

Match Day 18: June 30, 2014

France v. Nigeria 11:00 AM CDT ESPN

Germany v. Algeria 3:00 PM CDT ESPN

[TheRef]

This France v. Nigeria match is exciting. Not really any boring moments thus far during the match. Both have had multiple shots and multiple close calls.

[DawgHouseUnited]

This France v. Nigeria match is exciting. Not really any boring moments thus far during the match. Both have had multiple shots and multiple close calls.

Nigeria was so close to a goal, what- half a body length offsides?

[TheRef]

Nigeria was so close to a goal, what- half a body length offsides?

Yupp...very close. Also if Pogba hits the ball square France has a goal on the other end.

[TheRef]

HT: France 0-0 Nigeria

[DudyDawg]

Credit to the Nigerians. Thought they would come out and park the bus but they've made quite a game out if it

[TheRef]

Credit to the Nigerians. Thought they would come out and park the bus but they've made quite a game out if it

I'm patiently waiting for Drogba to come in.

[DudyDawg]

I'm patiently waiting for Drogba to come in.

He plays for Ivory Coast.....

[TheRef]

He plays for Ivory Coast.....

Well I guess I would be waiting for a while! Haha...silly me.

[DawgHouseUnited]

Onazi down after a painful looking challenge.

[TheRef]

Jozy has been confirmed as ACTIVE for tomorrow's match vs. Belgium.

[DudyDawg]

Onazi down after a painful looking challenge.

Yep. Rolled over that ankle pretty bad. Wouldn't be surprised if he tore something. Those hurt like hell

[DudyDawg]

Jozy has been confirmed as ACTIVE for tomorrow's match vs. Belgium.

Good news. Would expect us to start a similar lineup to Portugal, with Jozy available for twenty minutes or so off the bench at the end.

[TheRef]

How did that France ball NOT get in the goal? HOW????

[DawgHouseUnited]

I would not have guessed that it would be 0-0 with 15 minutes left... Nigeria is stronger than I gave them credit for.

[TheRef]

I would not have guessed that it would be 0-0 with 15 minutes left... Nigeria is stronger than I gave them credit for.

Nigeria is a VERY strong squad. After seeing them in the Group Stage, I'm not surprised to see them doing so well.

[DawgHouseUnited]

Off the crossbar!

[TheRef]

This Nigerian GK is earning his pay. Very good to be keeping a clean sheet thus far.

[DawgHouseUnited]

France with a goal!

[TheRef]

Just as I say that. France scores off the corner. 1-0 France 80'

[DudyDawg]

This Nigerian GK is earning his pay. Very good to be keeping a clean sheet thus far.

Jinxed him. Really bad play on that goal. If you come, you have to get it away.

Have to say that goal was coming sooner rather than later though. Ton of pressure from the french

[TheRef]

Jinxed him. Really bad play on that goal. If you come, you have to get it away.

Have to say that goal was coming sooner rather than later though. Ton of pressure from the french

Correct. He should've punched that one away instead of trying to just palm it. Silly mistake by the GK.

[DawgHouseUnited]

Jinxed him. Really bad play on that goal. If you come, you have to get it away.

Have to say that goal was coming sooner rather than later though. Ton of pressure from the french

They were banging on the door, bound to happen eventually.

[DudyDawg]

Other than that, he's been perfect. I feel bad for him because it doesn't look like Nigeria will score and he will be the culprit for their exit, even after all he's done today

[DawgHouseUnited]

Looks like that goal took the wind out of the Nigerian sails. They've been on their heels since.

[TheRef]

France scores AGAIN! 2-0 France 90+1'

[DudyDawg]

Goal, France. Own goal. France are certainly a candidate to win the WC. They've looked really dominant in most of the games.

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

I'm patiently waiting for Drogba to come in.

Edited: Someone's already corrected you

[TheRef]

FT: 2-0 France

Will play winner of Germany v. Algeria match.

[DudyDawg]

Luis Suarez has admitted to his bite in a round about way. "It'll never happen again". Like anyone will believe that

https://twitter.com/grantwahl/status/483663318595690497

[DawgHouseUnited]

Luis Suarez has admitted to his bite in a round about way. "It'll never happen again". Like anyone will believe that

https://twitter.com/grantwahl/status/483663318595690497


Love one of the comments- "He doesn't so much admit a bite as that Chiellini happened to run into his mouth."

[TheRef]

US getting some respect from our friends across the pond.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrWAfP-CIAAcqzI.jpg

[smootness]

US getting some respect from our friends across the pond.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrWAfP-CIAAcqzI.jpg

Boom.

England has some serious problems they need to address within their national team. I don't know if it's a problem in development or that their top players simply don't play as well for the national team as they do for their club, but they're at a dark point.

I like a lot of their young players, but I also thought they were ready to compete now, and they clearly aren't.

[CadaverDawg]

US getting some respect from our friends across the pond.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrWAfP-CIAAcqzI.jpg

How bout that shit

[DudyDawg]

Boom.

England has some serious problems they need to address within their national team. I don't know if it's a problem in development or that their top players simply don't play as well for the national team as they do for their club, but they're at a dark point.

I like a lot of their young players, but I also thought they were ready to compete now, and they clearly aren't.

Sturridge is still young, and he played a decent WC. The only real young guy that stood out was sterling. Other than that, both the young and old players, were all just kinda there. No impact from most of them.

[DawgHouseUnited]

Algeria is really pressuring the Germans so far.

[DudyDawg]

If you're not watching Germany Algeria, you should be. Germany is lucky that it's 0-0. Algeria is dominating the last five minutes, just put one wide by a foot and scored but were ruled offsides (correctly). Thought it would be a blowout but Algeria is really making it an interesting one.

[TheRef]

HT: Germany 0-0 Algeria

[sandwolf]

If you're not watching Germany Algeria, you should be. Germany is lucky that it's 0-0. Algeria is dominating the last five minutes, just put one wide by a foot and scored but were ruled offsides (correctly). Thought it would be a blowout but Algeria is really making it an interesting one.

The ESPN GameCast makes it look like Germany is dominating.....shows them with 70% possession and with 12 shots (6 on goal) to Algeria's 5 shots (1 on goal). Is that misleading?

[TheRef]

The ESPN GameCast makes it look like Germany is dominating.....shows them with 70% possession and with 12 shots (6 on goal) to Algeria's 5 shots (1 on goal). Is that misleading?

Second half has been dominated by Germany thus far. First half was much more even on the pitch.

[DudyDawg]

The ESPN GameCast makes it look like Germany is dominating.....shows them with 70% possession and with 12 shots (6 on goal) to Algeria's 5 shots (1 on goal). Is that misleading?

For the most part, yeah, I would say so. The second half has been German dominated, but in the first most of the German chances were pot shots from distance and they really only had one great chance. Most of the Algerian shots have been very good chances

[DudyDawg]

This is easily the best 0-0 game I've ever seen

[TheRef]

Muller with a Not Top 10 moment on a free kick. Fell over himself doing a fake run up.

[TheRef]

I hope every soccer coach is recording this game to show your kids exactly what to do as a GK. This Algerian GK is amazing.

[DawgHouseUnited]

I hope every soccer coach is recording this game to show your kids exactly what to do as a GK. This Algerian GK is amazing.

I've been amazed at how much the German keeper has run out to play a ball.

[TheRef]

End of Regulation: Germany 0-0 Algeria

We will now have two 15-minute halves of Extra Time. You know the drill, guys.

[DudyDawg]

I've been amazed at how much the German keeper has run out to play a ball.
It's worked, but is realllly risky. I never like him. Think he's too risky and plays with the ball too much. Too cocky for his own good at times. That being said, it's all worked for him tonight, and he would be getting a lot more love if it weren't for the brick wall that is the Algerian keeper. Well until now

[DawgHouseUnited]

Germany!!

[DudyDawg]

1-0 Germany. Andre Schurrle. Very good touch to finish. Nothing keeper can do. Defender needs to get in front there.

[TheRef]

1-0 Germany. Schurrle 92'. Will still have to play both 15-minute halves regardless.

[TheRef]

Half of ET: 1-0 Germany

Algeria has 15 minutes to score or go home.

[TheRef]

GERMANY SEALS IT!

2-0 Germany 119'

[Pioneer Dawg]

Ozil wins it for Germany

Germany v France in the quarterfinals

[TheRef]

ALGERIA!!!! 2-1 Germany

[Pioneer Dawg]

2-1!!

Germany gets lazy

[DudyDawg]

Unfortunately a case of too little too late. Algeria had been great though. Nothing to be ashamed of

[Pioneer Dawg]

DAMN! They had a legit shot to tie it there

[TheRef]

FT: 2-1 Germany

Germany will face France in the Quarterfinals.

[TheRef]

Match Day 19: July 1, 2014

Switzerland v. Argentina 11:00 AM CDT ESPN

United States v. Belgium 3:00 PM CDT ESPN

Team Pancakes

[hacker]

team eggs, grits, and bacon

[DawgHouseUnited]

team eggs, grits, and bacon

Team Cracker Barrel!

[DudyDawg]

Swiss Argentina game off to a pretty slow start. Both teams just feeling each other out

[TheRef]

HT: Argentina 0-0 Switzerland

[DudyDawg]

Not a terrible exciting game so far

[smootness]

Not a terrible exciting game so far

There have been some pretty good chances, just some terrible shots. I think we see a few goals in the 2nd half the way it started to open up, especially with Argentina's offense combined with their lack of defense. It's very dangerous for Switzerland to start pushing forward more.

[DudyDawg]

There have been some pretty good chances, just some terrible shots. I think we see a few goals in the 2nd half the way it started to open up, especially with Argentina's offense combined with their lack of defense. It's very dangerous for Switzerland to start pushing forward more.

As a neutral, I'm really hoping for a Swiss goal. It will force Argentina to attack and press forward and open up Swiss counters. This game needs a goal to ratchet it up a bit

[DawgHouseUnited]

As a neutral, I'm really hoping for a Swiss goal. It will force Argentina to attack and press forward and open up Swiss counters. This game needs a goal to ratchet it up a bit

Argentinian win fits my bracket.

[DudyDawg]

Me too. That's just the scenario that would open the game up the most

[DudyDawg]

This one is picking up in intensity. Looks like it is headed for extra time too

[TheRef]

This one is picking up in intensity. Looks like it is headed for extra time too

Good news for us for the QF.

[TheRef]

Argentina loses Rojo for the next match due to yellow card accumulation. More good news.

[TheRef]

End of Regulation: Argentina 0-0 Switzerland.

[smootness]

Well, nevermind on my prediction. I still think it's a matter of time before Argentina scores, but we'll see.

[DawgHouseUnited]

Argentina loses Rojo for the next match due to yellow card accumulation. More good news.


All we have to do is beat Belgium...

[TheRef]

HT of Extra Time: Argentina 0-0 Switzerland

[hacker]

wow, GOAL!

[DudyDawg]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL ANGEL DI MARIA. 1-0 Argentina. 118'

[DawgHouseUnited]

Argentina scores!

[hacker]

it took 118 minutes, but it was worth it!

[TheRef]

Wow....just wow

[DudyDawg]

Switzerland of the post and out!!!!!!!! God I love soccer. Wow.

[DawgHouseUnited]

The Swiss aren't giving up though... Crazy pressure at the end.

[hacker]

Switzerland has their goalie on the other end of the field. lol. I'm guessing he can't use hands outside of the box?

[DawgHouseUnited]

Switzerland has their goalie on the other end of the field. lol. I'm guessing he can't use hands outside of the box?


No- outside of his box he's just another player.

[DudyDawg]

Switzerland has their goalie on the other end of the field. lol. I'm guessing he can't use hands outside of the box?

Correct. He's just another player

[DudyDawg]

Dangerous free kick for the Swiss. And the wall blocks it for the last kick of the game!! Argentina escapes 1-0

[TheRef]

End of Extra Time: 1-0 Argentina

Argentina will face the winner of the USA v. Belgium match

[Pioneer Dawg]

Switzerland has their goalie on the other end of the field. lol. I'm guessing he can't use hands outside of the box?

Yeah I wonder why we haven't seen the play where the goalie carries the ball all the way down the field and dives into the goal all World Cup**

[DawgHouseUnited]

Yeah I wonder why we haven't seen the play where the goalie carries the ball all the way down the field and dives into the goal all World Cup**

Went to a soccer camp as a kid where the coaches played vs the kids on the last day. They did a trick play where the goalie stuffed the ball into another coach's shirt & he jogged up the field into the goal...

[Pioneer Dawg]

Does anyone else wish Wright Thompson would just go away.

[hacker]

Does anyone else wish Wright Thompson would just go away.

no

[DudyDawg]

Yeah I wonder why we haven't seen the play where the goalie carries the ball all the way down the field and dives into the goal all World Cup**

Hahahaha nice

[TheRef]

After the United States loss to Belgium in Extra Time, here is your World Cup Bracket:

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2014/07/WCBracket_Quarters_Belgium.png

Next matches will be on July 4th

[TheRef]

Current ESPN Bracket Challenge Standings:

1. TheRef 44 pts

2. crc166 41 pts

3. ToddHinman 40 pts

4. jumbo 39 pts
WJ/ Pioneer Dawg
Jack

7. Brad Stevens 37 pts
Rayburn8

9. Charlie_Sheen420 35 pts
DawgHouseUnited
DanglyGiant

12. skb124 32 pts

13. WeWonItAll(Most) 31 pts
It_Could_Happen

15. DudyDawg 30 pts

16. CD 29 pts

17. BulldogBear 25 pts

[CadaverDawg]

Clint Dempsey will be back in 4 years, correct?

So who all will we lose? Jermaine Jones and Tim Howard? Is that it?

[TheRef]

Clint Dempsey will be back in 4 years, correct?

So who all will we lose? Jermaine Jones and Tim Howard? Is that it?

He's 31....I could see him coming back at 35

[DudyDawg]

Clint Dempsey will be back in 4 years, correct?

So who all will we lose? Jermaine Jones and Tim Howard? Is that it?

I doubt it. Maybe he could, as a sub, but with Johannson, Altidore, and other young guys who weren't even there this time, I highly doubt we need him. Its hard to be worth the roster spot at that age unless you are a really great player and a guy who doesn't rely on athleticism to score. So no, I would bet on him not being back.

[DudyDawg]

Here are the names we will definitely lose due to age.
Howard, Jones, Beckerman, Beasley, Dempsey, Davis, Wondolowski. Now, one or two MAY try to make the team and eventually get cut, but I suspect most of them are moving on.

I won't say anything about who I think will or won't make it, those are just the ones that I think are done from WC play. Maybe they could play in the Gold cup, but not the WC in four

[smootness]

That is a heck of a quarterfinal. All of these matches have the potential to be classics.

In regard to the 2018 roster, it doesn't really work that way. It's not just about who will be too old, the roster will likely look drastically different from this one because that's generally the way it works. No one could have ever predicted 4 years ago that Beckerman, Cameron, Wondolowski, Fabian Johnson, etc. would have been on this team. Guys will emerge that no one knows about, and there will be a bunch of young guys.

The only current players I'm confident will still be around are Bradley, Altidore, Green, and Yedlin. Fabian Johnson will probably still hang on as well. But even Yedlin could develop slowly while someone else emerges at that spot.

I think we'll be a lot younger in 2018. We were actually one of the older rosters this year.

[DudyDawg]

Yeah, this year we seemed to have a lot of guys 24 and under and a lot of them 29 and up. Next time the WC rolls around the young guys will be in their primes and then we will have some younger ones, but we won't have as many 30+ guys.

And yeah, wasn't trying to say that those guys that are young will all make it, just that the ones I listed will not due to age alone. Its really hard to predict this stuff, especially four years away. Hell, four months ago we didn't predict Julian Green to be on the team

[smootness]

Yeah, this year we seemed to have a lot of guys 24 and under and a lot of them 29 and up. Next time the WC rolls around the young guys will be in their primes and then we will have some younger ones, but we won't have as many 30+ guys.

And yeah, wasn't trying to say that those guys that are young will all make it, just that the ones I listed will not due to age alone. Its really hard to predict this stuff, especially four years away. Hell, four months ago we didn't predict Julian Green to be on the team

Yep. We'll have more guys with dual nationalities come over as well. Last World Cup, Fabian Johnson, Arron Johansson, John Brooks, Timmy Chandler, and obviously Julian Green weren't even in the US pool.

I'm hoping Zelalem switches over pretty soon, once his dad becomes a citizen. If that happens, our potential becomes much greater. That would be two guys not yet 20 already on elite teams who would contend to become starters for those teams by the next WC. If we had an Arsenal #10 and a Bayern Munich winger, that would be an amazing thing for the growth of the national team and the growth of the sport as a whole.

[DudyDawg]

Yup, and the fact that Zelalem dropped off Germany right before a tournament, the u-21 championships I believe, gives me hope that he wants to play for us.

[DudyDawg]

So, after a day off, the World Cup is back with Germany and France playing in the Maracana

[DudyDawg]

GOALLLLL GERMANY!!! Mats Hummels makes it 1-0 early

[DudyDawg]

HT: Germany 1 - France 0

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

The French never seemed to have a sense of urgency about them

[DudyDawg]

FT: Germany 1- France 0. Germany to the semi finals

[smootness]

That match was terrible...stinking Europeans. I'm expecting far more from Brazil-Colombia.

[smootness]

This match is wiiiiide open, and Brazil looks completely on. They're so fun to watch when they play like this.

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

This match is wiiiiide open, and Brazil looks completely on. They're so fun to watch when they play like this.

It's been much more exciting than the 1st game today

[Dawg61]

This thread is fuxking awesome!! 50 pages and counting

[smootness]

It seems like there should be at least 4 goals already. I think it's going to open up even more as some of these defenders tire in the 2nd half.

[Dawg61]

Too much complaining and fouling during this match but otherwise it was an entertaining close final 20 minutes. Brazil survives and advances to take on Germany but will be without one of their best players Silva who picked up a stupid yellow when he knocked down the goalie attempting to clear it. Brazil 2 Colombia 1. Colombia's James Rodriguez finishes with 6 goals in this WC and becomes the 2nd youngest player (Pele) to have done so.

[DudyDawg]

Neymar also got stretchered off and went right to the hospital. So maybe his injury is worse than people thought

[DudyDawg]

Breaking news. NEYMAR HAS A BROKEN VERTEBRA AND IS OUT OF THE WC

[Dawg61]

Breaking news. NEYMAR HAS A BROKEN VERTEBRA AND IS OUT OF THE WC

Wow that sounds really serious, he took a knee straight to his lower back. Hope he recovers fully from this soon.

[CadaverDawg]

Brazil is toast without Neymar. Not just bc of his help on the field, but bc it will devastate that team mentally knowing he's out

[Quaoarsking]

I got curious about ages and made these charts:

This is the average age of each team, weighted by minutes played.
AVG COUNTRY
24.9 South Korea
25.3 Ghana
25.5 Switzerland
25.6 Nigeria
25.7 Belgium
25.8 Algeria
25.9 Australia
26.1 France
26.3 Bosnia-Herzegovina
26.3 Germany
26.4 England
26.5 Netherlands
26.5 Costa Rica
26.6 Chile
26.8 Cameroon
27.0 Colombia
27.1 Argentina
27.2 Brazil
27.5 Ecuador
27.7 Japan
27.8 Uruguay
27.9 Mexico
27.9 Spain
28.0 Russia
28.1 Croatia
28.4 Italy
28.5 Greece
28.7 Portugal
28.8 Iran
28.9 United States
29.0 Ivory Coast
29.2 Honduras

This is the average age weighted only by goals scored:
AVG COUNTRY
22.0 Cameroon
22.9 Switzerland
23.7 Belgium
24.0 Ecuador
24.1 Colombia
24.7 Nigeria
25.0 South Korea
25.2 Brazil
25.2 Costa Rica
25.2 Germany
25.5 Italy
25.7 Argentina
25.8 France
25.9 Algeria
26.0 England
26.0 Ghana
26.0 Iran
26.0 Ivory Coast
26.5 Chile
26.7 Greece
26.8 United States
27.0 Russia
27.2 Netherlands
27.3 Bosnia-Herzegovina
27.3 Uruguay
28.0 Croatia
28.0 Japan
28.3 Portugal
28.6 Mexico
30.0 Spain
31.0 Honduras
32.3 Australia


Is this bad news for the USA going forward? All you hear about is how the future looks bright, but with the 3rd-highest average age of any team there, is it?

[C_Rich22]

I think the numbers can be a little disconcerting, however, most soccer players are in their "prime" in their late 20's. Also you have to consider tim Howard and nick Romando are 35 and Beasley was 32. Here's a tweet that should make us feel a little better:
@MenInBlazers: Here's your 2018 WC starters America: Guzan Yedlin-Gonzalez-Besler-Johnson Cameron-Bradley-Mix Zelalem-Aron-Julian Green

[DudyDawg]

The promise everyone is talking about tho isn't just for the WC roster. It's for guys who didn't make it who are younger who we think will be very good players

[DudyDawg]

FT: Argentina 1- Belgium 0. Argentina advances to the semi finals

[TheRef]

FT: Argentina 1- Belgium 0. Argentina advances to the semi finals

First loss for the GK for Belgium in an International match. He was unbeaten in the 22 previous.

[TheRef]

For the first time in World Cup history, Brazil, Germany, and Argentina are in the Semifinals together. History is being made in so many ways during this World Cup.

[Dawg61]

Unfortunately one of my two favorites left will get eliminated next. I've gotta pull for the underdog here. Go Costa Rica!!