Handicapping the World Cup?

M

MLipton

Mark Lipton
Any enthusiasm here for predictions re the World Cup? Here are mine:

Group stage:

A: Brazil/Croatia
B: Spain/Netherlands
C: Ivory Coast/Colombia
D: Italy/Uruguay
E: France/Switzerland
F: Argentina/Nigeria
G: Germany/Portugal
H: Belgium/Algeria

Knockout stage:

Last 4 teams - Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany with France as my dark horse

(no more predictions until I see the matchups)

Mark Lipton
 
France without Ribery? Perhaps. They certainly were my dark horse as well, while he was available. But at least now we know why KHR was yelling at Deschampes. Bayern are still convinced he could have made WC if he did not move for 10 days, initially.

So now my dark horse is Uruguay. pending what's his name's recovery.
 
unless you actually know where blatter and teh turds think their bread is best buttered, this kind of sports-rationalism seems rather misplaced.

fb.
 
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM):
Spain vs. HollandWhat was that?
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Humilliacíon mundial.

Mark Lipton
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Haven't seen a good team melt down like that since the Raiders in Super Bowl 2003. Yes, the first van Persie and Robben goals were spectacular individual efforts, but the ones after...WTF?

That said, I've been impressed by the quality of many of the goals this World Cup. Italy vs. England and Cote d'Ivoire vs Japan today - all terrific scores. Chile-Australia yesterday, ditto. Add in the upsets (Spain, Uruguay) and it's looking like a really entertaining cup.
 
originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM):
Spain vs. HollandWhat was that?
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Javi Martinez on the bench. Like a year ago in Confed Cup. Topic much discussed on these webz over the past year.

In general, it looks like the older teams - those with their core groups returning from 2010 or even earlier - aren't handling the climate, and the 21 year olds are running circles around them.

But back to Spain, I've been convinced for at least 18 months that they needed to rebuild the team - and if they had done it early enough, with all that great talent, they'd still have a shot at WC.
And I just don't get Villa and Torres over Negredo and Llorente.
 
the first round must be the highest goals per game, since the Italians had invented defense, no? I can't find the stats.

And if not, then perhaps shots on goal
 
Ivory Coast never lacks for talent, but the eternal question is whether they can play well enough together as a team to make it out of group stage. We'll see if Lamouchi has the magic.

Mark Lipton
 
I loved the Colombia Ivory Coast game, for the absurdly extreme juxtaposition of styles. No globalization issues there.
 
The biggest surprise for me so far are how well CONCACAF teams have done, results-wise, and how poorly so many European teams have performed. It'll be hilarious if Costa Rica wins Group D (and I won't bet against them, either). And if Uruguay gets through along with them, I predict shockwaves resonating through Europe.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by MLipton:
The biggest surprise for me so far are how well CONCACAF teams have done, results-wise, and how poorly so many European teams have performed. It'll be hilarious if Costa Rica wins Group D (and I won't bet against them, either). And if Uruguay gets through along with them, I predict shockwaves resonating through Europe.

Mark Lipton
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But, dude, 2010 was the first time a European team won the Cup away from its continent, and certainly never in Western hemisphere.
 
But, my periodic confrere, isn't there a distinction between lack of a cup and not making it out of group stage? In '02, 8 of 12 UEFA teams made it out of group. In 2010, 6 of 13 did. This year, it looks to me like anywhere from 5-9 will make it out
 
Does Deschampes read the Jeebus board?
It would appear he is getting through to Pogba and Matuidi.

originally posted by .sasha:
World Cup Teams: FranceIt is time.

Why the hell do I start with France? Because to me, they present the biggest dichotomy in the tournament, depending on philosophy and selection. France can either crash out miserably, or go far.

The great French teams since the 1990s have always had a combination of finesse and muscle. Not just muscle; it had its workhorses. Deschampes himself wasn't exactly Makelele; it was more in the way he had played, so he should know better.

There is always a temptation to put your "best" players on the field, but for them it would be a huge mistake. I have no faith that either Pogba or Matuidi, despite sufficient physical prowess, will do the dirty work, or for that matter will even work hard enough, or to really put it plainly, have the "supporting player" mentality when needed. With Ribery and Valbuena, the team has plenty of finesse, and with Cabaye, they have the glue. Someone like Sissoko has his limitations, but that's the direction they need to look in. And I would not think twice about not even bringing Nasri to Brasil; the last thing this team can afford is parasites.
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originally posted by MLipton:
But, my periodic confrere, isn't there a distinction between lack of a cup and not making it out of group stage? In '02, 8 of 12 UEFA teams made it out of group. In 2010, 6 of 13 did. This year, it looks to me like anywhere from 5-9 will make it out
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Not sure, Herr Doktor Professor - perhaps the climate really is making a big difference? Look at Italy vs. Costa Rica, at Chile vs. Spain (Spain's other problems notwithstanding). It will be interesting to see that young Dutch back line handling Chile's speed and pressure, as youth can work both ways here.

But I still want to know if Wenger is flying Joel Campbell back in a window or an aisle seat.
 
As always, your perspective is much appreciated, Sasha. What I took away from that Italy-Costa Rica game was that Costa Rica made the tactical moves that England didn't, denying Pirlo touches in the center. Now, part of that is made possible by good conditioning and apparent comfort in that climate, so perhaps it's unfair to ding The three Lions for strategic lapses (but maybe not). Totally agree with you about Campbell. He'll be a force in the EPL.

Mark Lipton
 
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