OT - USMNT: So you're saying we have a chance!

[DarthGrumpy]

Going to be really tough for an Argentine squad to win in Brazil.

EDIT: ha, I wrote this before I read your other post. I just don't see Argentina, of all countries, coming out on top down there. If they do, it might make Andres Escobar looking like a merciful outcome.

If Argentina wins the Cup in Brazil, the US will have to send in the 4th Fleet to get the USMNT and American tourists out of there. It will be a war zone before the sun sets. And that is still better than the thought of Ronaldo hosting the Cup.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

If Argentina wins the Cup in Brazil, the US will have to send in the 4th Fleet to get the USMNT and American tourists out of there. It will be a war zone before the sun sets. And that is still better than the thought of Ronaldo hosting the Cup.

I was tending bar in London in the summer of '98 when England was eliminated by Argentina on penalties. I'm Italian and could be (and was) mistaken for an Argentine. As the punters rioted and looked for people to kill, it was the only time I can honestly say I've feared for my life.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I was tending bar in London in the summer of '98 when England was eliminated by Argentina on penalties. I'm Italian and could be (and was) mistaken for an Argentine. As the punters rioted and looked for people to kill, it was the only time I can honestly say I've feared for my life.

You should have been wearing red ,white and green.
Ironically When it comes to World Cup ,most Europeans stick together against those hated South Americans.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I was in Brussels for the 2000 Euro Cup. Was on a train between Bruges and Brussels the same day as the opening game between Belgium and Sweden. My friends and I look at the size of the Swedish fans and then the size of the Belgium fans and promptly sang Swedish drinking sings all the way back to our hotel. Two nights later at our hotel in Paris, we watched riot police water cannon the bar we went to in Brussels the night before. Europe takes its football seriously.

 

[CallMeBruce]

agreed but watching it in slow motion makes it even more dramatic... I wonder how Brasil will respond if Argentina wins the WC some how IN BRASIL! I think Brasil will implode, they are the most bitter rivals

Yeah, I'm kind of pulling for this just to see the fallout.

 

[intlzncster]

I was in Brussels for the 2000 Euro Cup. Was on a train between Bruges and Brussels the same day as the opening game between Belgium and Sweden. My friends and I look at the size of the Swedish fans and then the size of the Belgium fans and promptly sang Swedish drinking sings all the way back to our hotel. Two nights later at our hotel in Paris, we watched riot police water cannon the bar we went to in Brussels the night before. Europe takes its football seriously.

And that's only about half as seriously as South Americans!

 

[Jerry1714]

Just got back from Brazil, the new stadium in Salvador looks great. Not sure where all the money went in the renovations for Maracana stadium in Rio, but it does not appear it went to renovating the stadium.

Strikes going on all the time, only one of the public transportation strikes had any affect on me. For those going to the WC this could be a huge pain.

It will be interesting to see how everything goes, their infrastructure needs a lot of work.

Great country and people, hope everything goes smoothly.

 

[intlzncster]

Just got back from Brazil, the new stadium in Salvador looks great. Not sure where all the money went in the renovations for Maracana stadium in Rio, but it does not appear it went to renovating the stadium.

Strikes going on all the time, only one of the public transportation strikes had any affect on me. For those going to the WC this could be a huge pain.

It will be interesting to see how everything goes, their infrastructure needs a lot of work.

Great country and people, hope everything goes smoothly.

Graft. The corruption in Brazil, especially involved in this world cup, is out of this world. That's one of the reasons they are seeing all these strikes and rioting.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Graft. The corruption in Brazil, especially involved in this world cup, is out of this world. That's one of the reasons they are seeing all these strikes and rioting.

Wait until the next 2 Cups in Russia and Qatar, they will refine the word graft; but, of course, in those two countries, the people are STRONGLY discouraged from protesting.

 

[patrick]

Anybody else going to the Ireland vs Portugal game on the 10th at metlife stadium?

I'm thinking Ireland MIGHT have a chance!

 

[intlzncster]

Wait until the next 2 Cups in Russia and Qatar, they will refine the word graft; but, of course, in those two countries, the people are STRONGLY discouraged from protesting.

Can't underestimate Brazil's political corruption though. They have pretty much the most impressive collection of natural resources in the world, yet can't seem to pull themselves into the first world economically. This is a country that calls itself a democracy too.

Specific to this WC, here's a couple of articles I read recently:


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-...ame-for-some-brazil-world-cup-cost-rises.html
http://www.ibtimes.com/brazilian-wo...rceived-corruption-their-beloved-game-1586666
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...g-facts-about-world-cup-corruption-in-brazil/


Side note: Platini calling for Qatar revote. There's some groundswell behind this too. FIFA mum of course:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/05/michele-platini-fifa-world-cup-vote-qatar

 

[HooperScooper]

Side note: Platini calling for Qatar revote. There's some groundswell behind this too. FIFA mum of course:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/05/michele-platini-fifa-world-cup-vote-qatar

FIFA has to be the most corrupt sports organization in the world. And choosing Qatar might have been the worst of all the FIFA corruptness.

 

[sammydabiz]

Every four years I get "somewhat" pumped for the World Cup, but my god how do people watch/love this year round? It might be the most boring sport to watch.

Worldwide, I know I'm in the minority, but I guess that's why I love being from the USA, bc if not, I'd prolly go nuts w/o bball, football & baseball

Soccer's for the birds...... But "fun" every four yrs

 

[intlzncster]

FIFA has to be the most corrupt sports organization in the world. And choosing Qatar might have been the worst of all the FIFA corruptness.

Yup, pretty much.

 

[elduderino]

FIFA has to be the most corrupt sports organization in the world. And choosing Qatar might have been the worst of all the FIFA corruptness.

They make the NCAA look rational.

 

[SubbaBub]

Every four years I get "somewhat" pumped for the World Cup, but my god how do people watch/love this year round? It might be the most boring sport to watch.

Worldwide, I know I'm in the minority, but I guess that's why I love being from the USA, bc if not, I'd prolly go nuts w/o bball, football & baseball

Soccer's for the birds. But "fun" every four yrs

Watch the Premier League on Sat/Sun mornings next fall on NBCSports. You'll get into it.

 

[Waquoit]

Every four years I get "somewhat" pumped for the World Cup, but my god how do people watch/love this year round? It might be the most boring sport to watch.

I'll tell you how. First, you have to develop a rooting interest, become a fan of a certain team. Preferably, in a top English team. That way you'll be able to follow all the games on TV. I settled on Liverpool because I saw them play at The Rent and had an incredible time. When you have a rooting interest, any sport is watchable (like the Winter Olympics). The more you watch with interest, the more you understand the game. The more you understand the game, the more you appreciate what's going on. The level of skill just starts to pop out at you. The ball doesn't have to go into the net for the game to be exciting. Before you know it, you get hooked. The only downside is you run into soccer snobs that were big fans years ago and they don't hesitate to tell you how great they are and how stupid you are. Just laugh at them like I do.

 

[CallMeBruce]

I became a soccer fan by playing FIFA. That's serious. That's how I learned to understand the game better. it's a lot less boring when you learn to recognize the attacking build up.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

According to Juergen, we cannot win. Even if multiple upsets would be required, how does a coach/manager allow himself to make such a statement?

 

[intlzncster]

I'll tell you how. First, you have to develop a rooting interest, become a fan of a certain team. Preferably, in a top English team. That way you'll be able to follow all the games on TV. I settled on Liverpool because I saw them play at The Rent and had an incredible time. When you have a rooting interest, any sport is watchable (like the Winter Olympics). The more you watch with interest, the more you understand the game. The more you understand the game, the more you appreciate what's going on. The level of skill just starts to pop out at you. The ball doesn't have to go into the net for the game to be exciting. Before you know it, you get hooked. The only downside is you run into soccer snobs that were big fans years ago and they don't hesitate to tell you how great they are and how stupid you are. Just laugh at them like I do.

You get this at every level. Patriots fans who start every sentence with "I've been a diehard since the the 70s." Good for you pal.

 

[intlzncster]

According to Juergen, we cannot win. Even if multiple upsets would be required, how does a coach/manager allow himself to make such a statement?

While maybe not the best form, but there is no point in being delusional. He's got that classic cold/calculated/analytical German mentality; the gulf between the best teams and the US is ginormous - for instance, not a single US player would start for Brazil, nor likely make their bench. It would take several (many) gifts from whatever god you like for the US to bring home the WC.

 

[pepband99]

Soccer > hockey

Anything > golf.

GFY

 

[CallMeBruce]

While maybe not the best form, but there is no point in being delusional. He's got that classic cold/calculated/analytical German mentality; the gulf between the best teams and the US is ginormous - for instance, not a single US player would start for Brazil, nor likely make their bench. It would take several (many) gifts from whatever god you like for the US to bring home the WC.

Howard would definitely start for Brazil, but if you're talking field players, that's pretty accurate.

 

[pepband99]

Even for you, a pretty big , this is really douchey

OK Mr Tough Guy. I can count the number of posters I've been generally antogonistic towards on one hand. Namely:

• NelsonMuntz - do i need to explain?
• Whaler11 - because he takes far too much joy in ratting on our fanbase and predicament. That being said, he's come back to pack, recently. Maybe we all dropped to his level. Either way, he barely blips on my radar anymore.
• You, barely. I've only called out a couple of pretty silly statements you've made in the past, and nothing terribly out of line.

But right, I'm a "pretty big " for not liking soccer, or NelsonMuntz. Guess you hate about 80% of this country, too.

 

[pepband99]

Just so it's clear - Mr AwesomeMan above is mad at me because....

1) I was didn't think UConn was a lock into the NCAA's if we lost our last few games (see #2, I was likely right)
2) I didn't think SMU was a lock if they lost out in their last 2. I was 100% right.
3) I didn't think Shabazz being named an NBCSports Hardees Red Robin Waffle House AA was a "big honor"