Pre-Game Talk: World Cup 2014 in Brazil: Predictions
- Thread starter GPNuck
- Start date
Jefe88
Registered User
I think Argentina has a really good chance with the best player in the world and an easy bracket. If they win the group, the quarterfinals should be against the Swiss/French/Ecuador and the semis vs Portugal/Ghana/USA
GPNuck
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2013
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I have heard a lot of people say this but what is the reason for it? Spain was so dominant the last World Cup, no team could even compete with them except Portugal gave them maybe the best run for their money. They are just so fast as unit perfect passing everyone is in sync, I have yet to see another team pass the ball like the Spaniards do... Really looking forward to seeing Brazil play.
Bures Elbow
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2013
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With Fernando and William Carvalho, Portugal goes from barely making it out of the group to Real darkhorse contenders.
Now if only Bento has the balls to call up one of the plethora of their young midfield stars
Marcos Lopes= Manchester City
Joao Carlos= Liverpool
Bruno Fernandes= Udinese
Rafa- Braga
Joao Mario= Sporting
The first 2 recently had their first first team appearances, while Bruno Fernandes has been regularly starting for Udinese. The latter 2 have been on fire the past month or so.
Fernando is a beast, one of the best holding midfielders on the continent, the one player Porto has rejected multimillion dollar bids for while letting Moutinho, Guarin, etc go. You can replace those type of players, but a DM with all the attributes Fernando has (quick, strong, great with the ball at his feet, fantastic vision and outlet, great skill) is insanely hard to replace..thus keeping him unless the bid blows them away. They've rejected Inter and Juventus two years in a row.
William Carvalho is basically Sportings best break through player since C Ronaldo/Nani
Another great CM
Meireles and his tattooed ass gets finally stapled to the bench, as does Veloso and his weak presence in shielding the back 4 and overall ability to impose himself on a game.
Huge upgrades.
Now as I stated, just need to one of those young playmakers to get a chance. Such a shame the transition between this insanely talented u21 generation(Shame Bruma is done for the season
..super star young winger) is taking place now, if this world cup was in 2016 Ronaldo would finally have another Deco/Rui Costa to take some heat off him and give him quality service/dominating midfield/ and a easing up of being double/triple teamed.
Germany are my favourites to win. Brazil will be there as well...Spain too, if they go with their younger players like Isco, Thiago etc and Villa is in great form.
Now if only Bento has the balls to call up one of the plethora of their young midfield stars
Marcos Lopes= Manchester City
Joao Carlos= Liverpool
Bruno Fernandes= Udinese
Rafa- Braga
Joao Mario= Sporting
The first 2 recently had their first first team appearances, while Bruno Fernandes has been regularly starting for Udinese. The latter 2 have been on fire the past month or so.
Fernando is a beast, one of the best holding midfielders on the continent, the one player Porto has rejected multimillion dollar bids for while letting Moutinho, Guarin, etc go. You can replace those type of players, but a DM with all the attributes Fernando has (quick, strong, great with the ball at his feet, fantastic vision and outlet, great skill) is insanely hard to replace..thus keeping him unless the bid blows them away. They've rejected Inter and Juventus two years in a row.
William Carvalho is basically Sportings best break through player since C Ronaldo/Nani
Another great CM
Meireles and his tattooed ass gets finally stapled to the bench, as does Veloso and his weak presence in shielding the back 4 and overall ability to impose himself on a game.
Huge upgrades.
Now as I stated, just need to one of those young playmakers to get a chance. Such a shame the transition between this insanely talented u21 generation(Shame Bruma is done for the season
..super star young winger) is taking place now, if this world cup was in 2016 Ronaldo would finally have another Deco/Rui Costa to take some heat off him and give him quality service/dominating midfield/ and a easing up of being double/triple teamed.Germany are my favourites to win. Brazil will be there as well...Spain too, if they go with their younger players like Isco, Thiago etc and Villa is in great form.
Bures Elbow
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2013
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- 503
Argentina is far too unbalanced, they remind me so much of Holland in Euro 2012.
Their defence is weak, Garay is their best defender and as I'm a Benfica fan I can say that while he's solid, he's not great.
And they need Mascherano to have a great tournament, because the balance in their midfield can be exposed.
GPNuck
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2013
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- 49
Bures Elbow
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2013
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- 503
Talented, but untested.
They got a solid backline anchored by Kompany, and a stout midfield with Witsel. Hazard and Lukaku up front.
Very very young however, I feel the experience gained from this tournament will benefit them more in 2016/2018.
Jimson Hogarth*
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- Nov 21, 2013
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Luongos Knob
PDO Kings
- Jan 20, 2009
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Derp Kassian
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croatNUCKS
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Addison Rae
Registered User
ihaveyuidonttouchme
MrShiftbyShiftGuy
Always support S.Korea (their cheering squad is awesome and im Korean...duh!)
idk how they'll do in group H though..dunno the state of soccer in Russia and Belgium...(probably assume the favorite in that group)
idk how they'll do in group H though..dunno the state of soccer in Russia and Belgium...(probably assume the favorite in that group)
deckercky
Registered User
- Oct 27, 2010
- 9,379
- 2,452
Hasn't this been predicted every Euro and every World Cup since forever? Not that they can't do it - Germany is full of some damn good talent, but they always seem to struggle in the big events.
I wonder if Klose can continue his World Cup scoring to take the top spot all-time.
Diamonddog01
Diamond in the rough
Brazil all the way. Very excited for this World Cup as I lived there for a while and have traveled extensively throughout the country. And the games are on at a reasonable hour.
Just A Bit Outside
Playoffs??!
- Mar 6, 2010
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Ozil has been **** for Arsenal this season. One would hope he can it around at the WC.
No European team has won a WC outside of Europe. Germany has the best shot.
I think the pressure will get too much for Brazil and thus think Argentina or even Chile have a better shot.
Belgium is the big-time dark-horse and will either use the tourney as a learning experience or be too naïve and win the whole thing.
ZKass The Bass
Registered User
Being Italian, I have to say Italy, its part of the obligations. But honestly I think its between Germany and Spain. Bundesliga is just putting out some great soccer over the course of the last 4 years, I think this will reflect on the national team. Even though these Bundesliga teams that are having success aren't all comprised of German nationals, it makes the whole league more competitive which I think makes the national players better. My two cents anyways.
Uncle Rotter
Registered User
Hazard is a remarkable player, but greater than Özil? If so, not by much, they are both incredibly talented.
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