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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 18:17:06 GMT
Thanks terraceman, yeah enjoyed your banter too. In my pool I predicted Ger - Arg final with Ger winning...think I would have preferred Ger - Hol final in retrospect. But it was an excellent WC overall, a very good final and a brilliant goal to seal it. My picks would be: Player of WC2014 - Neuer Keeper of WC2014 - Neuer with mention to Howard, Navas, Ochoa and several others Goal of WC2014 - Rodriguez vs Uraguay Cross of WC2014 - Assamoah to Assamoah Gyan vs Portugal Save of WC2014 - Ochoa vs Brazil Surprise Player of WC2014 - Rodriguez, Colombia Best Match of WC2014 - Belgium vs USA FairPlay Award -Belgium Respect Award of WC2014 - to the Referees, an excellent performance overall with 2-3 poor games out of 64 Overall Surprise of WC2014 - the quality of the goal keeping despite there being 171 goals scored Surprise Team of WC2014 - Costa Rica, with mention to Algeria, Chile, Columbia, USA Record - more people watched the WC2014 final than have watched any other sporting event ever.
Germany are 5/1 to win 2018. With a current avg age of 26 and 15 players 25 or under I won't be betting against them.
But time for a deep breath and a sigh...
COYB!!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 19:11:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 19:19:52 GMT
Yes, their wrists may be touching but his hand is open and therefore not "holding" anything.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 8:06:54 GMT
Thanks terraceman, yeah enjoyed your banter too. In my pool I predicted Ger - Arg final with Ger winning...think I would have preferred Ger - Hol final in retrospect. But it was an excellent WC overall, a very good final and a brilliant goal to seal it. My picks would be: Player of WC2014 - Neuer Keeper of WC2014 - Neuer with mention to Howard, Navas, Ochoa and several others Goal of WC2014 - Rodriguez vs Uraguay Cross of WC2014 - Assamoah to Assamoah Gyan vs Portugal Save of WC2014 - Ochoa vs Brazil Surprise Player of WC2014 - Rodriguez, Colombia Best Match of WC2014 - Belgium vs USA FairPlay Award -Belgium Respect Award of WC2014 - to the Referees, an excellent performance overall with 2-3 poor games out of 64 Overall Surprise of WC2014 - the quality of the goal keeping despite there being 171 goals scored Surprise Team of WC2014 - Costa Rica, with mention to Algeria, Chile, Columbia, USA Record - more people watched the WC2014 final than have watched any other sporting event ever. Germany are 5/1 to win 2018. With a current avg age of 26 and 15 players 25 or under I won't be betting against them. But time for a deep breath and a sigh... COYB!! I suppose a mention should go to the fans as well... www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/world-cup-2014-the-best-fans-in-brazil-9603476.html
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 11:00:21 GMT
Good article, I'd give it the USA fans, for them to bring the most supporters from a country that until now has not got 'soccer' was a great effort.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2014 21:22:14 GMT
I think Americans get soccer, but money comes from TV coverage and soccer there is competing for that with 4 other major sports, unlike any other country that I can think of. But that is changing, the MLS now has a pretty good average attendance – higher than the NHL and NBA but less than MLB and way less than the NFL. According to Nielsen ratings though, half of baseball's fans are 55 or older. A full 76% are older than 34. The average age of viewers during last year's World Series was 54.4. On the other hand, 40% of MLS' viewer base is 34 or younger. A full 14% are younger than 18. And FIFA says more than 50% of U.S. World Cup viewers in 2010 were age 34 or younger. And, The record average World Cup attendance was set in the United States in 1994 at 68,991.
They play a very fair and exciting, never say die game and an on-the-pitch telling stat is that in 2010 the USA won their group and perhaps should have won their group in 2014 but for a late mistake vs Germany. In both 2010 and 2014 the USA missed the quarter-finals by extra time losses in the round of 16. I think the future of soccer is very bright across the pond.
...all the stats quoted above are taken from online reports and May or may not be cold, hard, facts.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2014 6:55:36 GMT
I think Americans get soccer, but money comes from TV coverage and soccer there is competing for that with 4 other major sports, unlike any other country that I can think of. But that is changing, the MLS now has a pretty good average attendance – higher than the NHL and NBA but less than MLB and way less than the NFL. According to Nielsen ratings though, half of baseball's fans are 55 or older. A full 76% are older than 34. The average age of viewers during last year's World Series was 54.4. On the other hand, 40% of MLS' viewer base is 34 or younger. A full 14% are younger than 18. And FIFA says more than 50% of U.S. World Cup viewers in 2010 were age 34 or younger. And, The record average World Cup attendance was set in the United States in 1994 at 68,991. They play a very fair and exciting, never say die game and an on-the-pitch telling stat is that in 2010 the USA won their group and perhaps should have won their group in 2014 but for a late mistake vs Germany. In both 2010 and 2014 the USA missed the quarter-finals by extra time losses in the round of 16. I think the future of soccer is very bright across the pond. ...all the stats quoted above are taken from online reports and May or may not be cold, hard, facts. Wouldn't argue with any of that peacock. I can see a time coming when the MLS replaces the Premier league in attracting lots of top players from around the world in there prime. Lets face it the USA has a bit more to offer lifestyle wise than England. I for one welcome that situation as hopefully home grown players will fill the majority of those positions and we may have enough players developed to produce a useful English national team. To be honest I expect mine is a minority view.
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Post by texas on Jul 21, 2014 21:23:13 GMT
A couple of thoughts about the recent tournament:
Congrats to the USA and also to Costa Rica for playing with heart.
Observations -
The more outlandish the HAIR STYLE the less skill/heart that player has !!
Shoe colors and "mix'em/match'em" is the same as "hair style" above !!
Brazil was a shocker - the lack of heart was sad to see. Arrogance maybe ??
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2014 10:05:42 GMT
Agree about USA and Costa Rica texas, I would also add Chile, Columbia, Algeria...as surprises for me..the list could go on. In general it was a brilliant WC I thought, with some excellent games like Bel-USA, Ger-Ghana, and very few poor games. I am still re-watching some of the highlight shows matches that I recorded Waiting for the Brewers to kickoff!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 20:27:04 GMT
For what it is worth, I think overall the refereeing has been quite good at the World Cup, they have by and large let the players get on with it, we have not seen games ruined by by a glut of yellow and red cards for insignificant misdemeanors. The have been a few notable mistakes but hey refs make mistakes, as do players and managers. The f in the Brazil Columbia match had a 'mare, wasn't helped by persistent fouling by the Brazilians, but the ref missed his job and he should not be used again. GLT has worked, is it worth the investment? Well probably (ask Frank Lampard). The disappearing spray has been very effective and I cannot see why this wouldn't be introduced forthwith into the English leagues. I have not seen any sensible argument against its use. So the spray is going to be used in the Premier League and the JPT, still not seen a sensible argument as to why it is not being rolled out across all the Leagues, simple, effective, velar for fans, players and officials and cheap...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 10:08:43 GMT
I think Americans get soccer, but money comes from TV coverage and soccer there is competing for that with 4 other major sports, unlike any other country that I can think of. But that is changing, the MLS now has a pretty good average attendance – higher than the NHL and NBA but less than MLB and way less than the NFL. According to Nielsen ratings though, half of baseball's fans are 55 or older. A full 76% are older than 34. The average age of viewers during last year's World Series was 54.4. On the other hand, 40% of MLS' viewer base is 34 or younger. A full 14% are younger than 18. And FIFA says more than 50% of U.S. World Cup viewers in 2010 were age 34 or younger. And, The record average World Cup attendance was set in the United States in 1994 at 68,991. They play a very fair and exciting, never say die game and an on-the-pitch telling stat is that in 2010 the USA won their group and perhaps should have won their group in 2014 but for a late mistake vs Germany. In both 2010 and 2014 the USA missed the quarter-finals by extra time losses in the round of 16. I think the future of soccer is very bright across the pond. ...all the stats quoted above are taken from online reports and May or may not be cold, hard, facts. Wouldn't argue with any of that peacock. I can see a time coming when the MLS replaces the Premier league in attracting lots of top players from around the world in there prime. Lets face it the USA has a bit more to offer lifestyle wise than England. I for one welcome that situation as hopefully home grown players will fill the majority of those positions and we may have enough players developed to produce a useful English national team. To be honest I expect mine is a minority view. terraceman, this recent article (July 22nd) goes a step further in explaining the current place of soccer in the USA. Get ready for the invasion, and hopefully their attitute and sense of fairplay from the WC2014 is contagious. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28386780
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 14:48:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2014 11:44:56 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 10:08:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2014 17:21:25 GMT
photo of the University of Michigan stadium....yes it's a University stadium!!!
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