Pre World Cup chat (take mind off things)

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I put 30 quid on Germany about 15 months ago at 6.5, thought it was a good bet at the time.

Looks like they're still the same odds. So, not so good a bet...

 

[Pesam]

I had £500 on Germany @ 7.2 about 4 months ago but traded out at 6.4 because I'm not convinced about them. As things stand I'm +£40 on any winner which is a decent start.

The reason I'm not convinced about Germany is their forward line, how the hell is Klose STILL their best option. If you had to name the best 25 midfielders in the world at least 6 or 7 would be German (Kroos, Goetze, Gundogan, Schweinsteigger, Reus, Ozil, Bender, Draxler etc), their goalie is amongst the best and their defence is decent BUT they have no goal poacher who can nick a goal to settle a tight semi-final/quarter/final etc.

I think they'll do well but am not yet convinced they'll win it.

 

[Fabio]

I had £500 on Germany @ 7.2 about 4 months ago but traded out at 6.4 because I'm not convinced about them. As things stand I'm +£40 on any winner which is a decent start.

The reason I'm not convinced about Germany is their forward line, how the hell is Klose STILL their best option. If you had to name the best 25 midfielders in the world at least 6 or 7 would be German (Kroos, Goetze, Gundogan, Schweinsteigger, Reus, Ozil, Bender, Draxler etc), their goalie is amongst the best and their defence is decent BUT they have no goal poacher who can nick a goal to settle a tight semi-final/quarter/final etc.

I think they'll do well but am not yet convinced they'll win it.

Their attacking options all score goals though. Reus, gotze, schurrle, kroos, muller. All not shy of the goal.

Also got some young(er) strikers coming through. It's not outside the realms of possibility

 

[Judge Jules]

Coutinho's been left out of the Brazil squad BTW, as has Lucas.

 

[jason]

The best thing that could happen to England (other than Roy quitting) is Rooney getting injured, almost every other player there suits a fast breaking counter attacking style, he's way too slow & scores way too few goals in tournaments to complement that.

Lallana behind Sturridge with Rodwell/Henderson in front of Stevie & that central spine looks boss.

Pace down both wings, solid centre backs & keeper, two class full backs, a boss dm who can actually play, two central midfielders who can run all day to choose from, a link up player who turns the ball quickly & provides as well as anyone in the premiership & a class striker having the season of his life.

With a top manager that side could get to at least the quarters, the only weak links imo are Johnson (& that's arguable, his international form is usually better than club, possible due to the pace of the game, I'm unsure) & Rooney, who I'd leave out.

I'd rather have Andy Carroll, than Roomey any day. He's geordieus.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Watched a World Cup countdown program on Dave last night, some English comedian from Mock the Week and German bloke, was a good watch, they were in Uruguay exploring the culture of the country, had people talking about that never say die attitude that we see from Suarez every week along with them meeting and having a kick around with Paolo Montero (Juventus), if you watched the Italian football back in the day on channel 4 you will most likely remember him.

They also met Alcides Ghiggia, the player who scored the winning goal in the Maracana in the 1950 final v Brazil, funnily enough hes the only surviving member of the team.

He was saying when they were presented with the trophy that the stadium was silent (200k attendance) and when he looked closely the majority of the fans were sobbing and he actually felt a bit bad about it.

They are in Argentina next, its definately worth keeping an eye out for if you like all that vintage World Cup stuff.

 

[Fabio]

Watched a World Cup countdown program on Dave last night, some English comedian from Mock the Week and German bloke, was a good watch, they were in Uruguay exploring the culture of the country, had people talking about that never say die attitude that we see from Suarez every week along with them meeting and having a kick around with Paolo Montero (Juventus), if you watched the Italian football back in the day on channel 4 you will most likely remember him.

They also met Alcides Ghiggia, the player who scored the winning goal in the Maracana in the 1950 final v Brazil, funnily enough hes the only surviving member of the team.

He was saying when they were presented with the trophy that the stadium was silent (200k attendance) and when he looked closely the majority of the fans were sobbing and he actually felt a bit bad about it.

They are in Argentina next, its definately worth keeping an eye out for if you like all that vintage World Cup stuff.

What channel is that on? Sounds boss

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Brazil for me, that squad has a lot of pace and strength, with the home advantage they will be tough to stop epecially if Neymar can get on a roll like he did in the Confed Cup a while back.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

What channel is that on? Sounds boss

Dave on freeview, i'll keep an eye out for the next one and say in here when its on, there might even be a repeat of last nights somewhen.

 

[cloggypop]

Does Dave do repeats?

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Trivia - who has the better defensive record at the World Cup, Brazil or Germany?

You would expect it to be Germany so it must be Brazil?

Got a good one - 3 players have scored in 2 different World Cup finals, who are they?

One of them is obvious, fair play to anyone that gets them without google.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Does Dave do repeats?

Not sure, theres the Dave ja vous channel also but i think thats just an hour later like it Itv2+1.

 

[Tal]

Trivia - who has the better defensive record at the World Cup, Brazil or Germany?

Some of us also read that article today.

 

[Tal]

On balance I think the best thing for England is two opening defeats guaranteeing an exit. That'll stop all the "we can win it" nonsense and our players can get a good rest before next season. Also, Gerrard can retire from international duty to prolong his Liverpool career.

Despite it tiring him out even further, I hope Suarez scores a wondergoal winner in the final so he comes back happy/sells for £trillions if he decides to go.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

You can watch that episode here - http://dave.uktv.co.uk/shows/road-rio/watch-online/

It was the first out of 6 episodes, definately worth the watch.

 

[ILD]

Pity Falcao is out. I was going to back Colombia.

 

[Aidan O' Neill]

You would expect it to be Germany so it must be Brazil?

Got a good one - 3 players have scored in 2 different World Cup finals, who are they?

One of them is obvious, fair play to anyone that gets them without google.

Pele, cryuff (or some dutch player from the 70s), rossi? Complete guesses.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Pele, cryuff (or some dutch player from the 70s), rossi? Complete guesses.

I fucked up, its 4 players, Pele is one - 58 & 70.

 

[Pesam]

Okay, here it goes..............................obviously predicting most matches like England V Italy or Mexico V Cameroon etc is very subjective and there are so many vagaries that could affect results so my predictions are open to much conjecture but here you go.................

I think the groups will finish like this....................

Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon

Chile
Spain
Netherlands
Australia

Ivory Coast
Colombia
Japan
Greece

Uruguay
England
Italy
Costa Rica

France
Switzerland
Ecuador
Honduras

Argentina
Bosnia
Nigeria
Iran

Germany
Portugal
USA
Ghana

Belgium
Russia
Algeria
Korea

That would leave us with
Brazil v Spain
Ivory Coast v England
Chile v Croatia
Uruguay v Colombia
France v Bosnia
Germany v Russia
Argentina v Switzerland
Belgium v Portugal

Which will give us something like...............................
Brazil or Spain v England
France v Germany
Argentina v Belgium or Portugal
Chile v Uruguay

Semi Finals
Brazil or Spain v Chile or Uruguay
Argentina v Germany

I've narrowed it down as much as I can but it's too difficult now to figure out who wins from here but one thing is clear............Argentina have the easiest route to the semi-final and once there they'll have every bit as much chance as whoever the other 3 teams are with them.

So...My tip is Argentina but with one caveat, if Messi picks up an injury in Barca's last 2 league games all bets are off.

Ivory Coast are my tip for the surprise package (200/1 on Betfair) because they could beat England and then, hypothetically say Spain beat Brazil well then, Ivory Coast would have an outside chance (VERY outside) of overpowering a tiring Spain and getting to the semi final.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

So much for a bit of trivia.

Vava (Brazil) - 58 & 62
Brietner (West Germany) - 74 & 82
Zidane (France) - 98 & 06

 

[Pesam]

So much for a bit of trivia.

Vava (Brazil) - 58 & 62
Brietner (West Germany) - 74 & 82
Zidane (France) - 98 & 06

I knew Pele and should also have got Breitner and Zidane.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Germany squad named:

Goalkeepers: Neuer, Weidenfeller, Zieler.
Defenders Boateng, Durm, Grosskreutz, Höwedes, Hummels, Jansen, Lahm, Mertesacker, Mustafi, Schmelzer, Ginter.
Midfielders/forwards Lars Bender, Draxler, Götze, Goretzka, Hahn, Khedira, Klose, Kroos, Meyer, Müller, Özil, Podolski, Reus, Schürrle, Schweinsteiger, Volland.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Thats the 30 man provisional squad.

 

[dmishra]

Germany squad named:

Goalkeepers: Neuer, Weidenfeller, Zieler.
Defenders Boateng, Durm, Grosskreutz, Höwedes, Hummels, Jansen, Lahm, Mertesacker, Mustafi, Schmelzer, Ginter.
Midfielders/forwards Lars Bender, Draxler, Götze, Goretzka, Hahn, Khedira, Klose, Kroos, Meyer, Müller, Özil, Podolski, Reus, Schürrle, Schweinsteiger, Volland.

Volland is a nice prospect - not a terribly exciting one, but I think he could be a decent goalscorer - especially at the international level.

 

[Hansern]

Pity Falcao is out. I was going to back Colombia.

He said in an interview a month ago that he could make the WC. His surgeon also said it was a possibilty due to the quick recovery he's making.
I think he'll be in the squad.

 

[Hansern]

Volland is a nice prospect - not a terribly exciting one, but I think he could be a decent goalscorer - especially at the international level.

Ginter looks like a great prospect aswell

 

[localny]

Coutinho's been left out of the Brazil squad BTW, as has Lucas.

You can't argue with that

 

[Hansern]

Shaw, Lallana, Barkley, Lampard, Milner, Henderson all in

Carrick, Cleverly, Cole miss out

Names are getting known now by the journos of who has made the cut for England

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Good, fuck Carrick and Cleverly.

Lampard is a joke though, Milner is no suprise from Hodgson, usually would be against him but he deserves it as hes done well this season, wouldn't want him starting though, decent option to bring from the bench and lock up a side of the pitch to see out a game, if England are ever winning one that is!

Good to see that Shaw will go over Cole, that had to be done, got to be getting these young players in now.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe?]

Hodgson showing some balls thus far, Cole isn't even on the standby list.

And to drop Carrick and Cleverly after they appeared in most qualifying squads after a wank season was the right thing to do.