The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Thread

[Cata Larga]

Of course.

Yeah but they don't do they?

That isn't an acceptable excuse for allowing this sort of behavior to continue.

[The Archregimancy]

Where was the outrage when Defoe bit Mascherano?

It's okay if Defoe does it, he doesn't know any better.

All joking aside, it wasn't OK when Defoe did it.

Unfortunately, as I understand it, back in 2006 FIFA regulations meant the FA couldn't take retrospective action for an incident that the referee had seen and already ruled on.

Today, Defoe would likely have been banned; and rightly so.

It was unacceptable behaviour.

[Torisakia]

Can FIFA just give Suarez a life-time ban from the sport so everyone can stop the bitching?

[Kaylea]

Ban his nation? Talk about lynchy thinking...

You did realise that was a joke stemming from my status as a moderator on this site, right?

I didn't but fair enough. In it's context, I could believe some people might actually want Uruguay banned just for Suarez.

Yeah but they don't do they?

So remind us what Suarez's 8 game ban over the Evra incident was for, again?

Surely it wasn't for - gasp - "using offensive, insulting or abusive language"?

I wasn't talking about racism. I mean all offensive behaviour between players.

[Patistan]

How many of you think Nigeria can win or draw against Argentina?

[Torisakia]

How many of you think Nigeria can win or draw against Argentina?

About the same odds as Sierra Leone qualifying in 2022 and getting drawn into a group with Germany, Costa Rica, and Brazil and going 3-0-0.

[United Eastedge]

How many of you think Nigeria can win or draw against Argentina?

It's difficult to see Nigeria defeating Argentina. I think the South Americans will win the match, but Nigeria is in the Round of 16 anyways. So.. Everybody is happy!

[Tsaraine]

Out of curiosity, what would the criminal punishment be for someone biting someone else in Uruguay - for the third time - if it were on a city sidewalk, and not on a football pitch?

[United Eastedge]

Let's talk about tomorrow's matches. These are my predictions:
Nigeria 0 - 2 Argentina
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2 - 1 Iran
Honduras 0 - 2 Switzerland
Ecuador 1 - 3 France

[Torisakia]

Out of curiosity, what would the criminal punishment be for someone biting someone else in Uruguay - for the third time - if it were on a city sidewalk, and not on a football pitch?

I assume it'd be up to the victim, whether they'd classify it as assault or not, However, I'm not familiar with Uruguayan laws.

[Nierr]

How many of you think Nigeria can win or draw against Argentina?

It's difficult to see Nigeria defeating Argentina. I think the South Americans will win the match, but Nigeria is in the Round of 16 anyways. So.. Everybody is happy!

It was difficult to see Netherlands beating Spain 5-1. It was difficult to see Costa Rica finishing top. etc etc.

Very hard World Cup to predict.

[United Eastedge]

It's difficult to see Nigeria defeating Argentina. I think the South Americans will win the match, but Nigeria is in the Round of 16 anyways. So.. Everybody is happy!

It was difficult to see Netherlands beating Spain 5-1. It was difficult to see Costa Rica finishing top. etc etc.

Very hard World Cup to predict.

Yeah, that's right. But let's be realistic; Argentina has everything to defeat Nigeria. I mean, they have better players, their crowd, they are not that much affected by the weather and they know that they need to play better if they want to do something big this World Cup.

[Maineiacs]

It was difficult to see Netherlands beating Spain 5-1. It was difficult to see Costa Rica finishing top. etc etc.

Very hard World Cup to predict.

Yeah, that's right. But let's be realistic; Argentina has everything to defeat Nigeria. I mean, they have better players, their crowd, they are not that much affected by the weather and they know that they need to play better if they want to do something big this World Cup.

Agreed except for the weather. Nigeria's used to conditions like that also. It won't make that much difference.

[Thafoo]

I think Spain is going to win. *nodnodnod*

[Torisakia]

I think Spain is going to win. *nodnodnod*

It'll be a close race between them and England. Might even come down to the penalty kicks. *nods*

[Arumdaum]

JAPAN WHY WHY WHY WHY

i want korea to kick belgium's ass tomorrow

it won't happen though

[The Archregimancy]

How many of you think Nigeria can win or draw against Argentina?

I think the odds are about the same as Costa Rica topping a group consisting of three former World Cup winners.

they are not that much affected by the weather

I can only assume that people who keep going on about how all the South American teams will be used to the weather have never been to Buenos Aires or Santiago in winter.

It can get cold in Argentina and Chile this time of year; neither country is necessarily best known for tropical rainforests near major urban centres or the equatorial climate of its major cities.

Now, tonight's match is in Porto Alegre, where it'll be a pleasant 17 C with light rain, so Argentina will be fine (Buenos Aires has a high of 12 C today; it's only 6 C in Santiago, though). But neither Argentina nor Chile would necessarily be any more comfortable playing in Manaus or Fortaleza than, say, Spain or Italy.

[Forsher]

Really hope they don't ban Suarez. That'd be pathetic. He didn't do a dangerous thing like try to snap someone's leg a la Shawcross. All the comments about banning him are so sheeplike. Typical English can't stand that he humiliated them and that they can't play football. Always looking for another scapegoat like Balotelli or Tevez to distract them.

Yeah, let's just chuck him on a bonfire instead. Much more reasonable.

This is ridiculous. FIFA have a choice. Ban him for head-butting or ban him for biting. There are no other options in the face of the evidence and these pseudo-racist ramblings against the English are nuts.

I'm not English, and I am a Liverpool supporter, so for half the year I have to at least cheer for the ass, and I am one of the sheeple who think he should get a pretty hefty punishment for biting someone on the shoulder like a toddler.

This is football. Not tiddlywinks. There are always disreputable characters. Can't ban them all. Should they have banned Materazzi for winding up Zidane?

False comparison. Suarez is Zinedine Zidane here, not Materazzi. And it's not an equal example because, in this case, the behaviour of the other player isn't also questionable.

How many of you think Nigeria can win or draw against Argentina?

Argentina's been poor but lucky. I am not looking forward to watching this game. Sadly the alternative is nothing.

[Beta Test]

I would also criticise Luis Suarez, but I'm a Liverpool supporter, so I won't.

[Risottia]

Should they have banned Materazzi for winding up Zidane?

Yes. And they did. So what exactly are you complaining about?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Materazzi
FIFA later issued a CHF 5,000 fine and a two-match ban against Materazzi.

Just like Tassotti rightfully got an 8-match ban for elbowing Luis Enrique in the face during the 1994 semifinal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauro_Tassotti

Still, don't expect unbiased reffing and FIFA judgement in "some" matches, since the times of the Battle of Santiago.

[Arumdaum]

That would be corrupt.



Go Chile!

I like Chile because they're trying so hard. They will burn out, and Korea will take the Cup!

Epic World Cup Match: North Korea vs USA

Oh wait, it's South Korea...I would enjoy seeing a Far East Asian country win the World Cup - if the US loses.

South Korea got 4th place in 2002...

I don't think it's gotten anywhere close since

[Gaveo]

How many of you think Nigeria can win or draw against Argentina?

I hope Nigeria wins.

I would to see the average side of Argentina get crushed by the French (as much I as I dislike them I rather the French move on than the Argies). Because you can't just depend on one player (who is usually silent the first 80 mins of the match anyways) to win the whole WC it has to be a team effort.

[Kaylea]

Should they have banned Materazzi for winding up Zidane?

Yes. And they did. So what exactly are you complaining about?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Materazzi
FIFA later issued a CHF 5,000 fine and a two-match ban against Materazzi.

Just like Tassotti rightfully got an 8-match ban for elbowing Luis Enrique in the face during the 1994 semifinal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauro_Tassotti

Still, don't expect unbiased reffing and FIFA judgement in "some" matches, since the times of the Battle of Santiago.

Well I hope the ban will be the precedent then... Not this 24 month lynching everyone is salivating for.

[Thafoo]

I think Spain is going to win. *nodnodnod*

It'll be a close race between them and England. Might even come down to the penalty kicks. *nods*

England's always wanted to play like Spain. Now they have! ^w^

[Patistan]

How many of you think Nigeria can win or draw against Argentina?

It's difficult to see Nigeria defeating Argentina. I think the South Americans will win the match, but Nigeria is in the Round of 16 anyways. So.. Everybody is happy!

They aren't in the round of 16,they lose against Argentina and Iran wins against Bosnia,Iran go through (except with the score of 1-0 from Argentina and 1-0 win for Iran,in which everything will be the same)