football is the 2nd best sport

[I'm Hardcore]

without a team to actually support properly this time, the WC isn't so magnifique

[Trotskilicious]

Originally Posted by Bread Regal

yeah trots totally favors hockey over basketball

the nhl is filled with thugs

[Trotskilicious]

in texas only total dorks like hockey, they usually don't really like football either and they basically think there are too many black people in the nba for them to give a shit but are too liberal to admit it and have a bunch of qualifiers like you know "it's filled with thugs" which is like how baseball fans tell me straight up that soccer is boring and moves too slow

"the NBA is filled with thugs" seems to be a criticism of all hockey fans outside of canada share, it seems (because they're fucking racist!).

canadians are like oh i saw a basketball game once but we didn't make our pentalty shots and there was a lot of bad play around the goal

[The exploding boy]

Well hockey has went downhill in the past like 15 years. I mean what with all the thugs like Donald Brashear , Jaroma Iginla , Joel Ward and PK Subban and such. A shame, it used to me such a whi....I mean a gentleman's sport.

[mxzombie]

isn't jokeyloki a huge stars fan?

[Bread Regal]

something of note: nasri left off the french team.

fuck him.

and can we get some real talk about the likelihood of the US actually getting out of the group stage? i know nothing about the talent, but a bunch of people (probably overly optimistic yanks) are saying their odds aren't completely terrible. can someone explain to me why or why not?

[sppunk]

The US has about the worst draw possible, both with the pool and travel.

[hnibos]

There odds are completely terrible because of Ronaldo and any 11 of 23 Germans that are trotted out there.

[hnibos]

It's really that simple.

[Bread Regal]

but what about the rest of portugal?

[I'm Hardcore]

portugal aren't the same force anymore, and remember 2002?

[Bread Regal]

i mean, wales isn't even playing even though they got bale.

[Bread Regal]

Originally Posted by I'm Hardcore

portugal aren't the same force anymore, and remember 2002?

i do not, but wikipedia does. but, how much is a match up that happened 12 years ago going to be a predictor of this year's events? italy played much of the same squad in '10 as they did in '06 and look what happened.

[I'm Hardcore]

i mean that anything can happen in the group stages. look at how well (compared to expectations) that NZ did, last time around.

[hnibos]

Originally Posted by Bread Regal

but what about the rest of portugal?

Really, the issue is the US has no full back that's going to be able to keep up with CR7's pace or technical ability and no speed on the flanks to counter attack on the rare dis possession. As a football fan, it's going to be fun to see him wreck havoc all game long. The Portugal midfield isn't the best but it'll be good enough that US won't be able to play keep away from Ronaldo or even Nani.

The Germans have too much quality all around and I'm sure the US will just park the bus that game and hope for the best.

[hnibos]

Originally Posted by I'm Hardcore

i mean that anything can happen in the group stages. look at how well (compared to expectations) that NZ did, last time around.

Americans shouldn't be holding their breathe just because anything can happen.

[I'm Hardcore]

that's a great attitude hnibos

[I'm Hardcore]

Portugal just managed to scrape into the tournament, i don't think they're much to fear. but what would i know, i just post on Netphoria

[Trotskilicious]

Originally Posted by Bread Regal

i mean, wales isn't even playing even though they got bale.

it's an 11 man sport, like the polar opposite of basketball and i think you'll find if you look at what club and level the other players on these teams are at you'll start to understand why even someone of bale's ability can't turn them into godslayers

it is of note that bale self identifies as british, and competed for "Great Britain" in the olympics

[hnibos]

Originally Posted by I'm Hardcore

Portugal just managed to scrape into the tournament, i don't think they're much to fear. but what would i know, i just post on Netphoria

Sweden is a superior team in basically all positions sans goalkeeper than the US but I guess I should stay optimistic because nothing is better than disappointment.

[Trotskilicious]

portugal had a golden generation in the 00s and it's starting to die off, i think about half the team is AAA rated and the rest play in mid major leagues

[Trotskilicious]

because by the way dudes you fucking imperial racists it's gonna happen like

1. Germany
2. Ghana
3. Portugal
4. MERICA

[hnibos]

Not quite

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/...2014-world-cup

[Bread Regal]

Originally Posted by hnibos

Really, the issue is the US has no full back that's going to be able to keep up with CR7's pace or technical ability and no speed on the flanks to counter attack on the rare dis possession. As a football fan, it's going to be fun to see him wreck havoc all game long. The Portugal midfield isn't the best but it'll be good enough that US won't be able to play keep away from Ronaldo or even Nani.

The Germans have too much quality all around and I'm sure the US will just park the bus that game and hope for the best.

so how hard would it be to blitz the guy and crush it to the other half if their midfield sucks? i understand that it's the front line's job to keep the ball out of their own half, but as good as that one guy is, all the US needs to do is put one in and then park the bus.

[hnibos]

Originally Posted by Bread Regal

so how hard would it be to blitz the guy and crush it to the other half if their midfield sucks? i understand that it's the front line's job to keep the ball out of their own half, but as good as that one guy is, all the US needs to do is put one in and then park the bus.

The guy on the other end is pretty good too, even if he's a bit over rated (Nani).

I mean anything can happen though.

[I'm Hardcore]

Nani is a very average footballer.

[hnibos]

You should watch the second leg of Portugal and Sweden. I think it took place in November.

[I'm Hardcore]

the fact that Portugal still select Helder Postiga speaks volumes

[hnibos]

Originally Posted by I'm Hardcore

Nani is a very average footballer.

The US is filled with average at best footballers.

[I'm Hardcore]

Originally Posted by hnibos

You should watch the second leg of Portugal and Sweden. I think it took place in November.

why?