Irrelevant. If any part of it was the desire to imitate European teams – which we have evidence for in the form of “Real Salt Lake” – then the point stands.
I also would have raged over the unnecessary “to”. 
people, people…naming conventions may be a bone of contention for some but honestly? It isn’t that interesting.
Now I’m not being critical here but all this bickering is pretty pointless but I know why you are doing it. There’s been no football for a a few days and sure enough we start filling in the dead time with petty squabbles.
That’s fine, that’s healthy, it is what sports fans *do *. But hey. What do we have this afternoon? France v Germany and Brasil v Colombia, let’s have those predictions in please.
I’m taking Germany and Colombia to go through.
I’ll get this out of the way first. I’m British and I thought the video was amusing. I’ve nothing to moan about.
Regarding the ongoing discussion about what words to use, it also works the other way. There have been many, many times in this thread (and others) that people have used terms for “traditional” American sports when relating to footsoccerball. Uniforms, field, play (no one has said “flag on the play” yet though ), overtime, weird abbreviations or initialisms (PK for penalties, NED instead of Holland or The Netherlands), flop and whatnot.
And almost every single time no one has corrected them. They are not the terms “we” would use, but we understand what you mean. You’ve got your own words for them due to the sports you like and that’s cool. Now perhaps if some of the people that prefer the other American sports would just give the US soccer fans the same amount of leeway.
I still thought it was an amusing video though and nothing in it actually annoyed me. Not even in the slightest.
I’ll go for France and Colombia (with Brazil in my hand in the office sweepstake, I am going to the bookies at lunchtime to hedge on this game). Brazil just look so uninspired and Colombia have looked a real force - this is going to be a real chance for them.
I’m still really not impressed with Germany’s defence. If they continue to play that high line with those slow defenders and rely on Neuer to play sweeper, eventually a well timed run and a decent pass is going to cost them. France have the goods to do it. Of course, Low might recant, play 15 yards deeperm start playing Durm and Lahm at full back and put Schwienstiger and Khedira in midfield together, in which case they probably will be a lot more secure - but, at least according to the German sat opposite me in the office, all the talk in the German press is that he’s not going to do that.
I’m not impressed with anyone’s defence. They’ve all been uniformly awful. Alan Hansen must be having conniptions.
Here’s my set of picks:
Germany to beat France in a tense thriller 2-1
Colombia to beat Brazil 2-0
Netherlands to beat Costa Rica 3-1
Messi’s magic continues and Argentina beat Belgium 2-1.
Ok, so Brazil isn’t the Brazil of old, but I don’t think there’s any way Colombia wins – just on the “if they do, Rio will be set ablaze by midnight,” theory.
My wild-ass guesses:
Germany over France 2-1
Brazil over Colombia 1-1 PK’s
Netherlands over Costa Rica 3-1 (one of those on a Robben flop for set piece)
Argentina over Belgium 2-1
eerily close to lisiate’s picks, so you know they have to hold water
Yeah, it takes a brave man to bet against Germany. German national football teams are rarely as bad as people think they are.
Brazil to go through against Colombia. Mainly due to home advantage though I hope im wrong.
Netherlands to beat Costa Rica. Though it is Holland we are talking about here. They are as likely to win 4-0 as to get beaten 1-0.
Argentina to probably beat Belgium. A lot depends on who turns up to play for both teams. The Arentinians have looked mediocre in attack and at times woeful in defence. A competent Belgian attack could easily cause them allsorts of bother.Then again, Messi may just as likely score/set up a handful of goals.
Talking of Alan Hansen, I think he summed the tournament up well the other day when he said “no-onewas going to win this world cup”. There really isn’t a stand out team at the moment. Whoever wins will not go down as one of the all time great international teams.
True. But, there is no way, unless they raise their game by a large margin is this Brazil defence winning three games, considering they face Rodriguez, Muller/Benzama ANC possibly Van Persie Robben and Messi.
Did anyone notice Klinsmann calling for a penalty Tuesday using almost the exact same gesture that NFL wide receivers use when a DB has breathed on them?
Anyway, there seems to be a tendency in WC matches to evaluate teams almost solely on their form in the previous match and I’m as guilty of that as anyone. So my WAGS for today are France and Columbia. And I want Griezmann and Hee-mee Rodriguez to score the game winners.
If I had to pick a winner today I’d go with France. They have a team of destiny feel. Argentina have an easier route to the final, but they seem too dependent on Messi. Benzema may be scoring all the goals but other players are making things happen for France. Brazil and Germany just seem… rusty. Makes sense for Brazil with no qualification of course. Columbia is a bit of a wild card.
That’s the FIFA code for Holland, and also what shows up in the little on-screen score-board.
And also the abbreviation for the name the country uses, Nederland…like ESP for España.
Have to admit I feel better with Lahm and Hummels at the back.
Apparently seven of the German squad are showing some symptoms of colds or flu today. That doesn’t bode well for them.
A cold, plus the heat of Brazil, plus the rigors of a soccer match, make for a bad combination.
I wanted to leave work early and watch it at home but nooo, I must remain and cover another coworker. Sigh
1-0 Germany. Nice free kick; nice header.
Is there a glitch at the FIFA website, or why is the score back to 0-0?
Edit: Ok, it seems they put it back…
Man I can’t stand Özil.