2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil - Predictions/Discussions/Updates

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Originally Posted by Sculpt

Say, V, what country do you call home? UK?

India.

Originally Posted by neverending

Say V, why you dissin' us 'Mericans like dat? Every other match you report, the victor is in the top spot, but USA wins, and they're on the bottom.

Originally Posted by roshiq

FYI: There's a 'home & away' thing in "Soccer"!

And a FIFA world rank system as well.

Originally Posted by Zero

Because he hates our freedom!

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Final Scoreline for Match 15:

BELGIUM - 2
(Fellaini 70', Mertens 80')


ALGERIA - 1
(Feghouli 25' PK)

A story of two halves, really! Algeria were clearly the better side in the first half, after converting the penalty call in the 25th minute. The Belgians looked frustrated and demotivated, until a string of substitutions in the second half seemed to boost their morale. None better than Fellaini, the Manchester United midfielder, who thumped home the equaliser in the 70th minute. Belgium kept pressing again and again, and Mertens blasted in a high, curling winner from the edge of the box which had the keeper beaten high and dry.

And that was how the final scoreline stayed. Algeria might have been disappointed by the end-result, but Belgium did dominate the second half by quite some margin.


And now for the mouth-watering prospect of the day (night) - BRAZIL take on MEXICO!!

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Final Scoreline for Match 16:

BRAZIL - 0


MEXICO - 0

What a superbly contested draw!! Full marks to Mexico for stretching Brazil to the goalless draw for the whole duration of 90 minutes, and the hero of the match was undoubtedly Mexico's fantastic goalkeeper, Ochoa, who pulled off some of the most stunning saves you will ever see in soccer matches! If not for him, the score could have easily read 4-0 in Brazil's favor, or maybe more.

Brazil were disappointing. The opening match did bring their lacklustre approach to the fore despite their winning it, and this match only compounded it. The only two Brazilian players on the field with any intent, Dani Alves and Neymar, didn't get much support from the rest. It was a display of some fantastic soccer moments from Neymar, and some poor stuff from the rest.

In the end, Mexico will be delighted to have drawn with Brazil and share points. Brazil, by their high standards, should have won it. This was their first draw in group stages in WC Finals since 1978, and their recent run of 10 wins on the row finally comes to an end.

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Final Scoreline for Match 17:

RUSSIA - 1
(Kerzhakov 74')


KOREA REPUBLIC - 1
(Keunho 68')

Reports say it was a dull match, and the Russian keeper blundered badly to hand Korea the lead. Thankfully, Russia equalised six minutes later and that's how the scoreline stayed at the end.

Both teams get 1 point each, in only the 3rd drawn tie of the first one-third of the group stage of the WC 2014.

[_____V_____]

Well, the first one-third of the WC 2014 has come to an end, and it has been a superb WC so far. Results in 14 out of the 17 matches mean it has been a keenly contested one between all teams, and only 2 matches have had reports of being dull draws.

Surprise results mean some pre-tournament favorites now have a really uphill task ahead of them to get to the next stage, while some heavyweights have really asserted their dominance over the rest. As for a few who have won with small margins, let's hope they are warming up to the task ahead.

A review of how the favorite teams are faring:-

Red Hot! - The Netherlands, Germany, France, Columbia.

Won but scope for improvement - Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Belgium, Mexico.

Taking their chances - Chile, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, USA, Costa Rica.

Lost but can still do well - England, Cameroon, Ghana, Japan, Ecuador, B&H, Algeria.

Uphill task ahead - Spain, Uruguay, Portugal, Croatia, Australia, Greece, Honduras, Nigeria, Iran, Russia, Korea Republic.

[roshiq]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Final Scoreline for Match 16:

BRAZIL - 0


MEXICO - 0

What a superbly contested draw!! Full marks to Mexico for stretching Brazil to the goalless draw for the whole duration of 90 minutes, and the hero of the match was undoubtedly Mexico's fantastic goalkeeper, Ochoa, who pulled off some of the most stunning saves you will ever see in soccer matches! If not for him, the score could have easily read 4-0 in Brazil's favor, or maybe more.

Brazil were disappointing. The opening match did bring their lacklustre approach to the fore despite their winning it, and this match only compounded it. The only two Brazilian players on the field with any intent, Dani Alves and Neymar, didn't get much support from the rest. It was a display of some fantastic soccer moments from Neymar, and some poor stuff from the rest.

In the end, Mexico will be delighted to have drawn with Brazil and share points. Brazil, by their high standards, should have won it. This was their first draw in group stages in WC Finals since 1978, and their recent run of 10 wins on the row finally comes to an end.

As it seems, Mexico will move into the 2nd round as the 2nd in Group A and that means Ochoa will be tested again with far tougher challenges against the Netherlands. Disappointed with both the team. The Mexicans should have at least make some attempts to enter into the Brazilian d-box & then make the shots on target, instead of taking those long-range shots that mostly missed the bar.

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Final Scoreline for Match 18:

AUSTRALIA - 2
(Cahill 21', Jedinak 54' PK)


THE NETHERLANDS - 3
(Robben 20', Van Persie 58', Depay 68')

What a match!! Easily THE match of WC 2014 so far.

Both teams looked hungry, relentless and really eager to win, which made it 90 minutes of fantastic, breathless, attacking soccer. Where Australia dominated the first half for the most part, even when Robben gave Netherlands the lead in the 20th minute and almost within seconds Tim Cahill equalised, Netherlands shifted gears from the moment Australia went ahead through Jedinak's penalty kick and thumped two goals in equally emphatic fashion - one from Van Persie to equalise again 2-2, and then Memphis Depay's long ranger curled away from the Aussie keeper to thunder into the nets.

The last 25 minutes was a superb example of frentic soccer at it's finest. The scoreline could have read 3-2 in Australia's favor, before Netherlands went ahead 3-2 themselves. And at least 2 other chances by the Netherlands went goalless - once they missed a great opening right in front of goal, and one of their thundering shots was kept out by the Aussie keeper.

Final scoreline could have easily read 5-3 in Netherlands's favor, but as things stand, the Aussie boys get full marks and full brownie points for giving it their best shot, that too against one of the top teams in the world right now.

Now, all eyes are on the Spain vs Chile match. If Spain win, Australia still have a faint chance (they have to win against Spain). If Chile win, both Australia AND Spain get knocked out of WC 2014.

[roshiq]

For a glance, it looked like Netherlands were playing against BRAZIL!

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Final Scoreline for Match 19:

SPAIN - 0


CHILE - 2
(Vargas 20', Aranguiz 43')

For a team who were playing a must-win match, Spain made some errors right at the start - they persisted with Diego Costa when they needed Torres, and their overdependence on players like Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos and Costa proved to be their undoing. Playing an ageing side largely in the tournament, they were never a match for the younger, attacking and furious-for-a-win oppositions.

The first half itself started in some pace, but it was the Chileans who were at them from the beginning. The two goals in the first half demonstrated which team had come in with the intent to win - and that just about summed up Spain's game and attitude for the game. Passes given away, shots wide of goal, not converting easy chances, made them look completely jaded and demotivated. Too bad, because their fans hung on faithfully, somehow hoping for a Spanish miracle till the final minute of extra time.

A special mention must be made of the Chilean keeper, Bravo, who kept out at least 3-4 sureshot hits at his goal. The frustration built up continuously, and the Spaniards did themselves no favors by not converting much easier chances.

The World Cup Winners of 2010 have been knocked out, and they have taken the Socceroos with them as well.


R.I.P. Spain. Goodbye Australia. The first two casualties of the WC 2014.

[Angra]

What a surprise.

Not only is the first team out 2010 World cup Winners but also European cup Winners 2012.

I'm happy right now. :)