World Cup 2014!

[Aramonde]

So wait their are players playing for teams that aren't from that country?

That's how you made it sound, i don't know much about football/soccer.

[Pulsar_t]

So wait their are players playing for teams that aren't from that country?

That's how you made it sound, i don't know much about football/soccer.

Loaded teams trade players from all over the world all the time (though Asians aren't in demand apparently), and their prices are insane too. In 1994 Roberto Baggio was sold for a million quid (iirc), nowadays top players go for much, much more. Goes to show that money is just fancy paper.

[ZeroAX]

That's how you made it sound, i don't know much about football/soccer.

Yes there are many cases where players got the nationality of the country they played in for many years, or people who's parents are say from Greece, but were born and grew up in Germany, came and played in the Greek national team (I think we have 2 players like that).

But I don't like when people mention it, cause most of the time it's an excuse for racism.

Case in point:





Now I don't know the story behind any of those players, but they are probably either the children/grandchildren of immigrants or themselves immigrants from a young age.


The problem in Europe is that most of the nations have had an established national identity for centuries, even millenia (how's that spelled?), and immigration has been a really recent phenomenon in Europe (with the exception of the UK), so it's really hard for immigrants to completely blend in and not be seen based on their national background.

[Pulsar_t]

In my earlier post I wasn't talking about naturalised citizens obviously, they can also run for government if it's their right, but I speak of those city teams (is there a proper name for them?) who hire foreign players for millions of dollars.

[ZeroAX]

In my earlier post I wasn't talking about naturalised citizens obviously, they can also run for government if it's their right, but I speak of those city teams (is there a proper name for them?) who hire foreign players for millions of dollars.

aaaaaaah, you mean clubs mate . well yeah, it's only natural to import talent .

Perhaps that's what people like so much about the world cup, that the players are playing for honor and not the money like they do in clubs.

[Aramonde]

Oh! Like how Hakeem Olajuwon was able to play for America because he became of Citizen. I get it now thanks Zero.

[Blu]

Oh wow, that was a rocket. Teed it up and sent it into the twine. Pretty goal.
And then Rooney sends a beautiful cross to Sturridge. How Sturridge can run full stride and catch a ball of the bounce like that is a wonder to me.

[emwearz]

My dad (who is Italian) came over at 7am to watch the game with me, brought coffee and Italian sweets. My dad speaks perfect English with an Aussie accent, the soccer (football) comes on an every second word is in Italian. Love it.

[Blu]

I bet he was quite excited then! Mario Balotelli is the hero for Italy tonight.

[Sload Soap]

England started well, then seemed to revert back to the old way of playing. I think the tactical choices made by Roy Hodgson were poor and cost us the game. Pirlo is still an excellent player and Balotelli is dangerous but more than that we afforded Italy far far too much space down our left side and paid for it. What made it particularly galling is the amount of space Italy left open down their left flank but we did nothing with it. The first goal was training ground stuff. If the players paid attention it's easy to smother. But they switched off and Italy took their shot.

So sick of seeing these England players under perform at international level. If Rooney is to play build the team around him. Otherwise, don't play him. He doesn't want to do the defensive work so don't put him in a position where he has to because shit like this happens. England can only take solace in the fact that Uruguay looked dodgy and will hope that Sterling's pace will be effective against Costa Rica. Otherwise it'll be an even shorter tournament than usual for them. /rant over.

On the other two games, I thought Columbia looked good and their early goal essentially neutralised Greece's entire game plan. They will be thrilled to get three goals without their best strikers on the pitch as well. Greece however won't be happy that they gave away a sloppy opening goal and had enough possession to harm Columbia, but did nothing with it.

Costa Rica were great. Joel Campbell probably just saved Arsenal £20million in the transfer window there. He scored one fantastic goal, made the third with a fantastic pass and always looked dangerous. Very impressed. On the other hand, Uruguay looked stilted and slow. And then they resorted to mean spirited play later. So, classic Uruguay. I don't watch french league football, but I've seen nothing from Cavani that makes him seem worth his ludicrous price tag. The guy is a stump.

Japan V Ivory Coast now. I think this is the tallest team vs the shortest? Could be interesting but I expect Ivory Coast to win.