Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup Thread

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Costa's World Cup dreams in danger - FIFA.com

 

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http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1831959/gerard-deulofeu-given-spain-call-up?cc=3888 - Deulofeu given Spain call-up

Strange one by Del Bosque to pick Torres over Negredo & Llorente. That don't make sense given Torres form, especially if Costa is forced to miss the cup

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I Know that he was never going to go to Brazil because of injury but they miss Stuart Holden's presence in midfield. Such a quality player plagued by injury

Although i don't play major attention to USA national team, I always thought Donavan was main XI player, alongside Dempsey.

I know during the qualifiers he took time off from football, but he came back in time for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and was pretty impressive.

 

[Epic]

Gerard Deulofeu given Spain call-up - ESPN FC - Deulofeu given Spain call-up

Strange one by Del Bosque to pick Torres over Negredo & Llorente. That don't make sense given Torres form, especially if Costa is forced to miss the cup

The bias in national team selection really grinds my gears.

Although i don't play major attention to USA national team, I always thought Donavan was main XI player, alongside Dempsey.

I know during the qualifiers he took time off from football, but he came back in time for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and was pretty impressive.

I don't pay much attention to the USMNT either, but I do watch ESPN FC and they blabber about it all the time, and from what I've gathered in the shows since his exclusion, Klinsmann and Donovan have never seen eye to eye, going as far back to Donovan's loan spell at Bayern when Klinsmann was managing them.

 

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I don't pay much attention to the USMNT either, but I do watch ESPN FC and they blabber about it all the time, and from what I've gathered in the shows since his exclusion, Klinsmann and Donovan have never seen eye to eye, going as far back to Donovan's loan spell at Bayern when Klinsmann was managing them.

Oh dear, that three coaches having personal problems with players Deschamps/Nasri, Sabella/Tevez & Klinsmann/Donovan having personal problems with players denying the fans of the world to see them at the W-Cup.

With regards to Spain, I wonder if Del Bosque might be brave enough to totally eradicate his Barcelona spine of players.

Events of the last two seasons, shows that teams have found of counter "tiki-taka". It would be brave to drop Xavi, but can he really not start Koke on current form.

A plan B spanish team with just one Barca player (Iniesta), probably looks stronger:

------------------------Casillas---------------------

Juanfran---------Ramos---------Albiol--------Azpilicueta

----------------Alonso---------Martinez------------------

Silva----------------------Iniesta--------------Koke------

---------------------------Costa--------------------------

Carvajal & Moreno also challenging hard for full-back spots.

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Belgium v Luxembourg live football scores | Soccer scores and live video | ESPNFC.com

Damn we all know how much talent Belgium have, that starting XI just oozes quality even without Benteke.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

Kevin de Bruyne was really, really good yesterday. I am already missing him, even though he didn't play much for CFC.

 

[Haarithan]

Oh dear, that three coaches having personal problems with players Deschamps/Nasri, Sabella/Tevez & Klinsmann/Donovan having personal problems with players denying the fans of the world to see them at the W-Cup.

With regards to Spain, I wonder if Del Bosque might be brave enough to totally eradicate his Barcelona spine of players.

Events of the last two seasons, shows that teams have found of counter "tiki-taka". It would be brave to drop Xavi, but can he really not start Koke on current form.

A plan B spanish team with just one Barca player (Iniesta), probably looks stronger:

------------------------Casillas---------------------

Juanfran---------Ramos---------Albiol--------Azpilicueta

----------------Alonso---------Martinez------------------

Silva----------------------Iniesta--------------Koke------

---------------------------Costa--------------------------

Carvajal & Moreno also challenging hard for full-back spots.

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Belgium v Luxembourg live football scores | Soccer scores and live video | ESPNFC.com

Damn we all know how much talent Belgium have, that starting XI just oozes quality even without Benteke.

Benteke is overrated anyway.

Like that Spain XI, though I'd have either Pique/Javi Martinez over Albiol (who's really really bad), and Busquets at DM.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

What is your take on Berardi missing out ? He has been killing it for Sassuolo.

 

[Haarithan]

Cracking player with huge potential, but it was always going to be only one of Immobile/Berardi going to Brazil, with Rossi, Balo and Cassano all locked in. Great player though, I'd kill to have him as third choice striker at Liverpool. His track record against the big sides (hat-tricks against Milan and Fiorentina) is outrageously good.

 

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Manaus declares state of emergency ahead of England's World Cup opener with Italy | Mail Online

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Benteke is overrated anyway.

Like that Spain XI, though I'd have either Pique/Javi Martinez over Albiol (who's really really bad), and Busquets at DM.

Haven't noticed much overyhype towards Benteke's abilities TBF. Seems to be rated fairly normally.

Bit harsh on Albiol, i thought he was pretty solid the times i saw Napoli this season.

Don't mind keeping Busquets, but sometimes I wonder given his style of play as DM is so suited to the Barcelona tiki-taka way, if he would become vulnerable to an axe, if the Barca spine of the team is removed & they play more like Madrid teams this year.

That's why i'd prefer a more robust mid-fielder & energeitc mid-fielder like Martinez next Alonso. Think Del Bosque could have at least considered Gabi in the provisional squad also.

He is certainly in better form than Fabregas ATM & had to be worth a place of this Ander Iturraspe bloke.

 

[thedon5]

Gabi is amazing, big, big miss for sure.

 

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Soccer / Football News and Scores - ESPN FC

No Strootman now this. The Dutch officially look weaker than Chile in their group.

 

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Costa Rica striker Alvaro Saborio ruled out of World Cup | Football | theguardian.com

Suarez battling to be fit & Costa Rica's leading scorer ruled out, looking good for England.

 

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Heat remains a World Cup concern by Tim Vickery - ESPN FC

 

[ParkedTheBus]

Will FIFA Take the Brazilian Passion out of the World Cup? | Bleacher Report

Sums it up perfectly.

 

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BBC Sport - World Cup 2014: Fifa concern about three Brazil stadiums