2014 World Cup - Brazil

I also hope they play well. Most dutch see belgium like our little brother. We like when they do well.

And with the very mediocre dutch team it would be nice if one team in the family plays well.

 

But Germany isn't the big brother?

 

the more the merrier

 

Who roots for the big brother?

 

Germany are probably the mean big brother that loves to give the little brother a punch here and there or a headlock or something else to remind the little brother who the big brother is. Just mean.

 

I have absolutely no faith in the Dutch team. We're going out in the first round. And if by some miracle we make it out, we'll come up against Brazil and no way we'll beat them on their home turf.

 

Didn't have the time to reply.

To your first comment: Yes, they've been playing together for four years.
But: This team is still incredibly young and the guys are no stars atm, most of them don't have too much playing time on the big stage(CL, EL,...), so this is fairly new to them.

They may have some automatisms, but when they are in a big tournament like the WC and a good opponent scores the 1:0, you'll know these youngsters could face problems with their nerves etc, as this would be new territory and they have no clear-cut leader that will control the pace and be vocal on the pitch.

A guy like Kompany sure is a help, but you'd like for them to have a proven veteran in the midfield to dominate the ball in tense situations(Schweinsteiger for Germany; Ribery for France; Gerrard, Lampard etc for England; Pirlo for Italy; Ronaldo, Moutinho, Meireles for Portugal; Boateng for Ghana; Sneijder, Robben, de Jong for Netherlands; Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso for Spain,...). I think you get what I'm trying to say.

They have been undefeated, but most of their games weren't really impressive and against subpar competition. France has their ups and downs and can be beaten by any team on a given day. Croatia and Serbia are mediocre, same with USA. They have to play multiple games vs. elite teams before you can judge them.

Give them a few years and their key guys like Hazard, de Bruyne, Lukaku, Mirallas will have plenty of International experience, then they'll truly be a team to fear.

 

Really a pity that Benteke is injured. Never like to see a guy get injured like that just before a major competition.

I'm afraid of this teams inexperience. For me they either go pretty far (Semi-finals) or they don't get out of the group at all.
Thankfully this squad has been to the semi-finals together already (Beijing Olympics).

For those who speak french, RTBF has done a similar documentary than ESPN called "Les Diables au Coeur", 60-min episodes every friday. Really gives you access into the players world and shows you how awesome some can be.

Vincent Kompany has quickly became my favorite player, and should be a role model to any kid growing up. He truly has the "heart of a champion". In the documentary, it shows the team doctor telling Kompany that he won't be aloud to play the next day against Scotland(? think it was Scotland). At 10 PM the night before the game, the doctor gets a text message from Kompany begging him to give him a last chance to see how he feels before the game and then take a decision. Really shows you he will not give up.
Just like when he got his nose broken and played the entire game:

Spoiler

http://static.foot01.com/img/images/650x600/2013/Jun/08/photo-kompany-joue-avec-le-nez-casse-et-un-orbite-fissure-bmmgd0gccaazfsj,59037.jpg[/Spoiler]

My ideal scenario would have both Belgium and USA go as far as possible.

Also, excited to see what Divock Origi and Adnan Januzaj do if they play.
Also excited to see the best goalkeeper in the world play!

[IMG]http://s4.thingpic.com/images/DY/f12zWaBfPCdvhcR7EGkk.jpeg

 

Argentina will probably fail as usual.

 

Gotta disagree w/ you saying the guys on the team aren't stars atm and that they don't have much playing experience on the big stage(CL, EL) or international experience.

Courtois is a star as of 2014. Kompany has been a star for a few years and Hazard can be considered a star as well. (For Courtois- if he isn't already a star, he will officially be one on Saturday. If by star we mean a player is known by the majority of Football fans that watch the various European leagues, maybe not religiously but enough to know the top players in the main leagues).

W/regard to them being down 1-0 and nerves, clear cut leader, pace, vocal, etc.
1. Kompany is the unquestioned leader and will calm his players down just like he has been doing for Belgium for years now and for City the last few years.
2. Setting the pace in midfield and the rhythm will be Axel Witsel. He isn't Iniesta, Pirlo, Gerrard or Schweiny but he does a good job at that for Belgium and for his club. He is the one that the other players know will take hold of the game and keep the tempo.


Van Buyten, Kompany and Vertonghen all have over half a century in caps. Belgium have 4 players that have over half a century in caps. Italy have 5. Germany have 6.
Maybe we can draw the line at 20 caps as being enough for international Football experience and not 50. If so then, Italy have about 15 players on their WC preliminary squad(not counting GK's and understanding Italy will cut 6 of them and be left w/9 ) that have under 20. Germany has 11 on their preliminary squad that have under 20 caps and will probably cut 4 of them and be left w/ 7. Belgium has 4 players w/under 20 caps. All 4 will probably be named to the 23 roster and will still leave Belgium w/less players with under 20 caps than Italy and Germany.

The Belgian players that have over 50 caps may not have the prior WC and various European championship experiences that the Italians and Germans w/over 50 caps have but regardless they have enough experience in international Football that they can be expected to perform on the big stage this summer and not use stage fright as an excuse.

Yes they haven't had the toughest opposition in matches over the last couple of years and they haven't played phenomenally well and they failed to qualify for the last WC and last EC but all that taken into account doesn't excuse them if they fail to do well in Brazil as they have the players and enough experience in international Football (even if not international tournaments) to perform well. No doubt they have the potential to be even better in two years after gaining more experience this summer but they are good enough and have enough experience at the moment to go far in Brazil.

Massive move by Wilmots in getting both Origi and Januzaj. Both will provide something dangerous if called upon off the bench. Dangerous subs right there.

 

^^
That kinda was my point, the really experienced guys are all defenders, don't know how much of an influence they'll have on a midfield that is quite inexperienced. Still think guys like the Hazard brehs, de Bruyne, Lukaku will get nervous in certain situations and try to do too much instead of sticking to the gameplan...

 

Good article on Belgium here

http://grantland.com/features/world...incent-kompany-eden-hazard-marouane-fellaini/

 

:grin: LOL!

You're right, but don't take us lightly, man. You will remember 2002...

Here are stats BEFORE head-to-head matches for every game between every team facing each other in the first round:

Statistical KIT

 

Actually picking Argentina to be a dark horse. Of course im rooting for Italy and i believe they will do well and will surprise people, But I got this feeling Argentina could win it all.

 

FIFA WORLD CUP Statistical Kit (PDF), containing all superlatives and firsts of all World Cups up until now.

Random fact:
From 1930 to 54, the opening and ceremonial game was played by random teams. Then it became tradition to have the host nation open the games from 58 to 70. Then it became customary to have the previous Cup winner open the games (Brazil, 1970 Champ) until France vs. Senegal at 2002 (Korea/Japan). From 2006 until now, it is the host nation again that plays the first game.

 

I'm ready to give my 4K some real action. I heard the final will be shot in 4K too.

 

Yeah, but will they broadcast it in 4K?

I'm thinking about getting one, too. Which model do you have and what is good out there?

 

JeffreyCarlisle Jeff Carlisle
Klinsmann on Tim Howard: "I think he was absolutely in the top 3 in the PL this year. I look at him in the top five in the world." #usmnt

 

What do you expect him to say?