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OT: *** 2014 FIFA World Cup ~ Brazil ~ 6/12-7/13 [ESPN] ***

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This point for Ghana hurts because it means a tie vs Portugal isn't nearly as good as it might have been.

If USA get 1 point the last 2 games (Draw Portugal and lose to Germany), normally Portugal would have to win and cover the 6 goal spread. Now, all Ghana have to do is win and cover a much smaller spread.

If USA tie tomorrow they'll need Portugal to beat or draw Ghana, in all likelihood. If USA lose tomorrow, they'll need a win vs Germany.
 
AHB said:
And yet only 2 or 3 of those teams have a lineup on par with Argentina. Anyone who thought Iran was a cakewalk doesn't know soccer. They play basically 10 or 11 men behind the ball. Their defense is very good and that's how they basically know they have to play to give themselves a chance.

Argentina has certainly been underwhelming in this tournament, but so have many teams. In a one game knockout, they can beat anyone.

To say they won't make it past the quarters is extremely short-sighted. On any given day, they can certainly take on the best in the world.

I think we saw a team today that expected to be able to walk the ball in, similar to the way they played last game. You can't do that against Iran. I still think Argentina can win it all.
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Agreed.

We've seen Italy in 2006 struggle against a shorthanded USA squad (Remember the McBride bloody nose lol) followed by a late penalty on a dive from Grosso to avoid a scare from Socceroos. They decimated Germany in terms of possession and outplayed France in the finals, both teams that were dominant in their round robin games.

That's why the world cup is amazing. Any team can have a shot on any given day.
 
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Mint said:
Agreed.

We've seen Italy in 2006 struggle against a shorthanded USA squad (Remember the McBride bloody nose lol) followed by a late penalty on a dive from Grosso to avoid a scare from Socceroos. They decimated Germany in terms of possession and outplayed France in the finals, both teams that were dominant in their round robin games.

That's why the world cup is amazing. Any team can have a shot on any given day.
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Yup. It's like the Miracle on Ice. Any given 90 minutes can provide a crazy upset. But it's not like Iran or even the USA is going to win the whole thing. Upsets, sure. Could the USA beat Germany, absolutely. Iran played Argentina hard and almost stole that game. That being said, to expect that Argentina won't make it past the quarters is laughable.

Iran sits back and plays 10 men behind the ball. It's not "easy" to score on them. No matter how dynamic your offensive players are. France beat the Swiss and it was impressive because they scored so many goals, but you know what, the Swiss take a lot of chances. They're known for that. Iran doesn't. Everyone knows Iran's gameplan, just as everyone knows Messi's left foot, doesn't mean knowing it makes it easy to beat.

This is why soccer is so great though. You really never know what the end result would be. How many people had Germany rolling over Ghana. I bet a lot. That game was one of the best of the tourny, if not the best (my personal favorite was Uruguay - England).

It's funny because people who love sports just seem to completely bypass the fact that there's a reason we play the games. You truly don't know what can happen.

Look at 1994, the USA stunned Columbia and then gave Brazil a run for their money in the Round of 16. Brazil beat them 1-0. USA was basically a joke then. Guess what, Brazil went on to win the whole thing. Winning 1-0 over a team means nothing. It's a win. I picked Argentina to win this whole thing, and I still wouldn't be shocked to see them do so.
 
mti79 said:
Not understanding the hate for England... oh well. I'm saddened that one of the teams I root for has been eliminated. Leaves me with the US, Netherlands and Germany. My heritage is pretty good at soccer. Wish I was too...
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I like England. I still can't believe they're eliminated.
 
This is my first world cup ever and I'm enjoying it.

Flipped **** at that offsides call that took away Bosnia's goal.
 
Raspewtin said:
This is my first world cup ever and I'm enjoying it.

Flipped **** at that offsides call that took away Bosnia's goal.
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Yeah, it was pretty obviously not offside, not sure what the linesman was looking at.

Blown_offsides.png
 
Mint said:
Agreed.

We've seen Italy in 2006 struggle against a shorthanded USA squad (Remember the McBride bloody nose lol) followed by a late penalty on a dive from Grosso to avoid a scare from Socceroos. They decimated Germany in terms of possession and outplayed France in the finals, both teams that were dominant in their round robin games.

That's why the world cup is amazing. Any team can have a shot on any given day.
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I still get nightmares.
 
Raspewtin said:
This is my first world cup ever and I'm enjoying it.

Flipped **** at that offsides call that took away Bosnia's goal.
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This has been the best WC I've ever seen so far. And they're always pretty damn awesome

Never surprised to see England fail, they always suck. Biggest paper tigers in international soccer.
 
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