I figured with 65 days to go, now is a good time to start a thread for the real Football fans on BP (j/k).

Anything related to WC preparations, squads, players, coaches,, and ultimately games can be discussed here . Things will probably heat up as we closer to June but why not start a bit early .

Please make sure any discussion is civil, respectful, and no trolling.

 

So, who do think will win? which team are you cheering? who will be the dark horse? will the USA make it out of the first round? 

 

Argentina v Iran : 12pm Est

Germany v Ghana : 3pm Est

Bosnia v Nigeria : 6 pm Est

Russia v Belgium : 12pm Est

Algeria v South Korea : 3pm Est

USA v Portugal : 6pm Est

Ghana's physicality effectively disrupted Germany's game and L

Ghana's physicality effectively disrupted Germany's game and L

The general feeling in the land of Uncle Sam is that the USA has the upper hand...

As a USA fan my worry is that we get trounced today because Altidore is out and we don't have Donovan to score.

I just looked at the all-time international caps list and Donovan is high up there it's a real shame.

I think that the US has a great chance to pull a Costa Rica in this group.

Portugal depends too much on Ronaldo who is supposedly not at 100%. Also, suspensions/injuries are heavy on them.

Btw, the swiss player hit by Giroud is out with an eye-socket fracture.

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I think that the US has a great chance to pull a Costa Rica in this group.

Portugal depends too much on Ronaldo who is supposedly not at 100%. Also, suspensions/injuries are heavy on them.

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USA needs to avoid defeat - I know it is an obvious statement- but the last thing u want is go vs Germany needing a win . Their counter will is deadly.

What an entertaining game

Nooooo :(

Yep, an absolute punch in the gut, but we can still advance if we win, tie, or lose and Portugal wins vs Ghana because of goal differential.

Or Port/Ghana tie...

Bradley made a mess of that last possession .he should have kicked it down the field or sideways... Oh well. Gonna be a tough last game unless both teams "settle" for a draw, which I hope they don't go that route.

Algeria might pull a Costa Rica.

Great cup

Bradley didn't play well. There were a couple of times he just hogged towards someone shooting on goal. Worthless tonight.

 

Demsey was incredible. That guy is just magnificent for the US.

I haven't really followed 3 recent World Cups, but today was quite shocked to see the progress that US team has made.

I feel like they are a top 10 team, no longer an underdog as people looked at them 20 years ago.

 

The 2 goals lost to Portugal was unfortunate and shows that some work needs to be done with defense though.

Last round of the group stage starts today:

 

Group B:

12pm Est

 

Australia v Spain

Netherlands v Chile

 

Eliminated: Australia, Spain

 

Group A:

4pm Est

 

Brazil v Cameroon

Croatia v Mexico

 

Eliminated: Cameroon 

Yesterday's game was excellent. I really really liked the US and the way they outpowered the portuguese for most of the game.

 

The temperature from what I heard was horrible, and I am pretty sure it played a part in the play which resulted in the equalizer.

 

Anyways, hats off to the US for playing one of the best games I've seen so far in this tournament.

Netherlands vs Chile will be a great match

Still can't believe portugal scored in the last 30 seconds.

Pleased that we tied but that was just pure laziness that allowed Portugal to score in the 94th minute. Oh well bring on Deutschland!!!

Does anyone know why there are now games at the same time starting today? 

Does anyone know why there are now games at the same time starting today?

To avoid collusion and give all teams in the group a fair chance.

Refer to Germany v Austria game that kicked Algeria out of the 82 WC.

Marquez what a champ to open the scoring in the Mexico Croatia game. Watched him from 2002, this may very well be his last WC.

 

Love watching the Mexico coach celebrate goals, great entertainment!

The guys is truly a joy to watch.. He is very colorful ... Good games by Mexico. Brazil and the Netherlands did well too...

Interesting to see if Costa Rica finishes first tomorrow , the second in the group to play Columbia and then mostly likely brazil . So a Brazil v Italy in the quarters is likely but we got a minute before getting to that.

Cheering for Ivory Coast to make to the next round, Drogba deserves one last hurray .

My Mexico Team did great, I hope we can reach the fifth game, only Holland stands in our way......... but after seeing them Vs Brazil and Croatia, anything is possible......

The guys is truly a joy to watch.. He is very colorful ... Good games by Mexico. Brazil and the Netherlands did well too...

Interesting to see if Costa Rica finishes first tomorrow , the second in the group to play Columbia and then mostly likely brazil . So a Brazil v Italy in the quarters is likely but we got a minute before getting to that.

Cheering for Ivory Coast to make to the next round, Drogba deserves one last hurray .

Same here, hoping for Drogba and team to finally make it to the next round, this will very likely be his last WC as a player. Also hope to see Yaya score from one of his rampaging runs.