The 2014 World Cup thread

[El Pibe]

Did the ref just put squeezy cream on the pitch?

[maxxi]

Love that disappearing spray - you can hear the shouts "Don't get it on my boots!"

As for the 'cupping' replay graphic - I'm just enjoying the total absence of vuvu fecking zuelas.

Brazil reminded me of England in first 15 (wait) - fine up to half-way line but not able to get past a Croatia that pressed them hard so they hit long balls (usually to Danny Alves) that Croatia read and intercepted.

Only thing spoiling it for me is Andy 'Ron-Manager' Townsend. Wish he'd shut the %$*! up. (Tyldesley not much better though - "scuffed shot" my arse).

[Jah Lush]

Defo not a penalty. Usual crap ITV coverage. Fooking hate Andy Townsend. Tosser!

[maxxi]

A definite penalty. IF you're playing basketball.

Can't wait for BBC games, ITV really suck at this.

[El Pibe]

RTE alright as it went.

Ill watch the beeb tomorrow though

[miga]

.

[aquarius moon]

Cheering a little:

France, Germany, Brazil, Argentina & Russia because I have some of their players in my Dream Team.

Cheering a lot:

Belgium, not only because they also have players in my Dream Team, I have a feeling they are going to do well & have had a bet on them.

England because I'm English.

Booing:

Everybody else.

[Parkdrive]

Brazil certainly didn't provide the free flowing samba style footie we all know and love last night. More like a dads dance at a wedding.

[Mick Mac]

I will be:

Cheering

England - live here, wife is English, kids seem to be English, love it here, almost all my friends are English and would be good to see them happy when England do well.

Booing:

England

[El Pibe]

Haha, nicely put :)

[Otta]

Penalty decision aside, Croatia and Brazil's keepers both looked suspect last night.

[Mick Mac]

Yes - didn't really watch the game as had visitors but Croatia goalkeeper was very slow to get down.

[Parkdrive]

Otta Wrote:

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> Penalty decision aside, Croatia and Brazil's

> keepers both looked suspect last night.

The cynics might say that the refs have had a directive to make sure the hosts progress.

[Otta]

With all the riots going on, could you imagine if he'd sent Neymar off?

Anyway, I've just found out my other 2 teams (along with Nigeria), and I've ended up with Switzerland and Belgium, so won't be holding my breath.

[El Pibe]

"The cynics might say that the refs have had a directive to make sure the hosts progress."

I tend to think they feel the pressure rather than out and out fixing...but it is FIFA so you never know.

ANd of course that Spain S. Korea match in 2002 might suggest you're right, I'm still pissed off about that.

To be fair to the ref. it was no penalty last night, but there was contact and we've seen them given a thousand times.

[david_carnell]

El Pibe Wrote:

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> To be fair to the ref. it was no penalty last

> night, but there was contact and we've seen them

> given a thousand times.

Mr J Redknapp? Is that you?

I'm cheering for:

Honduras - got them in my work sweepstake and they have the Palacios brothers...

Belgium - any country that can't be bothered to have a government for a year gets my vote. And Lukaku is awesome.

Colombia - skillful, sexy, a little bit dirty. How I like my women.

Nigeria - Peckham goes mental when they play

Booing:

England - honestly, the country would be unbearable if we won.

Portugal - see everyone else's reason

France - ditto.

[El Pibe]

"Mr J Redknapp? Is that you?"

;) he he!!

I did mean that in stark contrast to the blatant fixing of that other game 'oh shit he's going to score quick wave my flag'

[Huguenot]

The England team visited a local orphanage today. "It was heartbreaking to see their sad little faces, having lost all hope" said Jose aged 6

[Parkdrive]

Huguenot Wrote:

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> The England team visited a local orphanage today.

> "It was heartbreaking to see their sad little

> faces, having lost all hope" said Jose aged 6

Thats been doing the rounds on twitter for the last 3 days.

[El Pibe]

Wasn't it Mexico who had a shocking decision against them in the last World Cup (and had it replayed in front of the whole crowd)?

Anyway, another shocker!

[SCSB79]

Three goals chopped off already!

First Mexico goal should have stood.

[Alan Medic]

That's two ruled out.

[aquarius moon]

Doesn't this BBC coverage just make you feel better straight away?!

[numbers]

I'm in the 'know nothing about football, never watch it but for some obscure reason the World Cup always holds my interest' camp. I can be easily be swept along by the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding it.

using the El Pibe method:

cheering

Germany (my all-time favourites)

Netherlands (ooh the Dutch accent, I LOVE the Dutch)

Cameroon (do I need to explain...they are ace!)

Uruguay (I've only ever met one person from there and he's really lovely so am going with that)

Croatia (met a world famous ping pong player there, that has to count for something!)

Iran (the home of Shiraz)

cheering/booing fondly in equal measure

England (love you really, lived here longer than anywhere)

Australia (love you really, loads of fabulous aussie friends)

France (the Auld Alliance but I'm in England now aren't I)

booing

Japan (the only country in the world I have never had any desire to visit)

Switzerland (see above. my maths is not great)

clearly none of this is based on knowledge of football. last but not least, a warm welcome back Huguenot, where the hell have you been?!

[maxxi]

Comical how they are falling apart. Spain - good in the sun, shit in the rain.