You have to believe the Brazilians are going to be HEAVY favorites with home turf and poor performances the past eight years... twelve years without a title is an eternity for them lately (though it was 24 years at one point...)
Germany is bringing back an outstanding team, though, and upstart nations have shown capable of knocking out the giants (who would have thought Switzerland almost caused the eventual champions to not qualify out of groups?!)
Thoughts?
I think by then
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA
Go Blue!
The usual suspects...
... Brazil for the reasons you mentioned (but will they be able to withstand the expectations that will come from being hosts?)
Germany is a scoring machine and is young. They'll definitely be in the mix.
Argentina will be highly motivated to raise the Cup in South American and Brazil to boot.
Spain will clearly be expected to contend for a second straight title.
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe
Interesting read
Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com had an interesting take on the "home continent advantage" recently. It's worth a read (though I don't know where it is to link it).
Good memory...
...BISB. Here's the article and the quote:
In addition to home-field advantage, we also account for home-continent advantage, treating it as 50 percent as valuable as home-field advantage itself. There is powerful evidence for this, too, according to both anecdotal and statistical evidence, and it may be especially important in Africa -- a continent to which the best teams in the world rarely travel.
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe
Brazil
But, then again, they are favored in most world cups. I'm not sure if it's the crazy ball they are using at this World Cup or what, but it's too low scoring for me. Watching 120 minutes of scoreless soccer can be painful.
I can only continue to reference the fact that I live in an onion factory.
I think I remember
soccer being low scoring before this ball for some reason.
Follow me on Twitter @gfraley05
Right now, probably Brazil,
Right now, probably Brazil, Germany, and maybe Argentina (if they can develop a coherent plan for developing a team). Spain could always cause problems, but I could definitely see them go the way of Italy and show up with a fractured team and bow out early.
And because I am a proud Stanzi-ite, USA! Love it or leave it!
If I had to put money down right now,
it would be on Germany. They were awfully young this year...
I think Germany has a good
I think Germany has a good chance as well, but their success might hinge on their coach. If the German soccer federation throws him a low ball offer, he might look for other teams.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
Just hoping for some primetime games
during the weekdays.
That will be...
...nice, won't it? First WC in the Western Hemisphere since the 1994 USA-hosted edition. That will make for some great TV times for us here in the States.
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe
oh come on
you didn't enjoy waking up at 8 am and heading to the bar expecting to get things done later in the day only to find yourself drunk and exhausted by 3 pm... again?
You just gave me a twinge of
You just gave me a twinge of nostalgia for the fall.
the US team will be solid
and maybe reach the quarterfinals if....
1. We can find defenders who will be solid, espicially in the middle, if gooch is healthy he pry has one more cup
2. Midfield will be stacked ... donavan and dempsey each have one more cup pry, bradley is only 22ish, holden and others are young as well
3. Forward ... can we develop anyone other than a very young (20) altidore
4. If we get the same/simlar draw we got this yr
5. Keeper should be fine
Just Win Baby
An early look...
...at how the USMNT may look in 2014.
Our back line will be significantly different in four years. It should be interesting to watch how the team evolves.
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe
The decision for players who
The decision for players who have the option of picking a national team is going to be interesting for future development as well
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
France
Allez les bleus! I think the French will do quite alright in 2014
With Laurent Blanc in charge
With Laurent Blanc in charge and their amount of youngsters that wouldn't surprise me.
It's hard to see anyone other
It's hard to see anyone other then Brazil winning it since they are the hosts. The atmosphere of the tournament will be out of control.
Brazil never plays home friendlies. Only the other South American's will have experienced it since they've played there in Qualifiers. An Argentina - Brazil Final in the Maracana would be a dream though.
Brazil has never lost a World
Brazil has never lost a World Cup qualifying game in Brazil. Ironically, they have a lost a World Cup game itself at home.
The final will be held in Sao
The final will be held in Sao Paolo. Brazil wouldn't risk another Maracanazo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay_v_Brazil_(1950_FIFA_World_Cup)
Galileo was also chastised.
Final in Maracana
I´m currently living in Rio, and there´s been a sign up saying in Portuguese "the future home of the final game for the 2014 World Cup." Final will be in Rio at Maracana. FYI, they recently closed it down for 2 years for renovations in preparation for the cup.
I don't believe a host
I don't believe a host country has ever won the cup. That being said I think Brazil will go deep but someone else will win it in the end.
Your belief is very wrong.
Your belief is very wrong. It's happened 5 times, 4 of which were from 1966 on.
Galileo was also chastised.
I'm not even a soccer fan...
but even I know that France won it at home in 1998
Has to be Brazil.
Has to be Brazil.
I'm thinking Brazil and
I'm thinking Brazil and Argentina have to be the front runners. I could see Spain competing for a second consecutive cup but it'll be tough. Germany will also be in the mix as well, does anyone see them slowing down?
I think the US will see improvement this time around as well. They could make it back to the round of 16 with a good draw. Who knows though. A lot can happen in 4 years.
A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something. - Plato
It's really too bad the US
It's really too bad the US didn't get invited to the Copa America in Argentina next year, would have been ideal practice and a good way to experience the intensity.
optimism
Two predictions that fall more under the heading of hopeful optimism:
- USA goes further
- More scoring overall
Maybe Lebron will play
and set up The Decision II on ESPN in a couple years to announce it.
That should be enough to drive a final dagger into the hearts of his remaining fans.
"... never forget that Ohio is still a four-letter word."
-Bob Ufer
USA will destroy the world.
USA will destroy the world. Unbeaten, undrawn, unscored upon. 26 goals for. Juan Agudelo wins the Golden Boot with nine goals; Jack McInerney wins the Golden Ball. Head coach Jeff Cunningham.
I predict
I had better book my flight to Sao Paulo well in advance
"You will suffer humiliation when the team from my area defeats the team from your area." -- The Onion
FYI
The final will be at Maracana in Rio.
I predict some type of
I predict some type of instant replay on scoring plays and a less controversial ball.
I hope for a final that doesn't look look like a quasi brawl. The ref seemed to lose control pretty quickly. How the dude that jump kicked the Spaniard didn't get a red card, I'll never know.
Don't know who they play
but I think Germany wins it all, the announcers kept talking about how young they are... and they looked really good this year.
Posted from my Dell Venue Pro
"There will be blood on the field and it won't be mine" - K
I like Luxembourg over United
I like Luxembourg over United Arab Emirates in 2034. Look to Tibet to oust California in the 3rd place game (yes, that California).
Isn't it just a wee bit early to be talking about this?
Who knows who will still be playing, what new talents will have worked their way up, what sort of form players will be in, or for that matter who will qualify?
That said: given the home-field advantage, I'd have to assume Brazil will be the odds-on favorite. Have to think Germany, whose young players looked so impressive this time out, will be a contender. Argentina will be great if they can get anyone to complement Messi (part of the reason he looks so unstoppable at Barcelona is that they've got enough other dangermen that you can't assign two guys to harass him all game long). We'll have to see how things develop for the USA; if we can solve the whole problem of showing up 10 minutes late to games, we've got a real shot at the quarters unless we get the draw from hell.
IT'S FUN
FUN HATER
IT'S FUN
FUN HATER
Hmmm...
Isn't it just a wee bit early to be talking about this? Who knows...
But I'll tell you what I think anyway.
[Shakes head slowly side-to-side]
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe
Germany will win it all. I
Germany will win it all. I think not having Ballack was good in the World Cup experience factor for the midfield, since Ballack won't be around much longer, I'd think.
Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes...and fuck Ohio.
The obvious ones that have
The obvious ones that have already been mentioned...Brazil, Argentina, and Germany. However, if I were to throw out one dark horse (not that I necessarily think they will win), I'd have to say Ghana. If it wasn't for Suarez's ridiculous hand ball then they would've been in the semifinal against the Netherlands. Also, apparently they beat Brazil in the U-21 WC, which is impressive. So, like Germany, it seems like they have a good pool of young talent. Also, let's not forget that Essien was out for the Black Stars. By 2014 he will be 30, so he should still have a good bit left in the tank. That said, I doubt they win on Brazil's turf, but I think they should be able to make some noise again.
I think most of America still
I think most of America still wont care. And the refs will still blow calls and nothing will be addressed.
Statistically, no European
Statistically, no European team has ever won a World Cup in South America (Spain this year is the first to win one not in Europe).
Therefore, my analysis of teams that I think could perform well:
Argentina: should have a lot of talent returning (with a hopefully superior goalscoring Messi) and should have lots of support, coaching will probably make or break them
Germany: a young team with good talent and a lot of trips to the final four, could possibly win it, though I'd guess it's unlikely
USA: with Dempsey and Donovan playing their final World Cups (probably), with an influx of younger talent and better coaching we could really perform well
Spain: count me among the people that believe this world cup is heralding in a new era of Spanish dominance. While they could go the way of Italy and France in 4 years, with their feeder systems for Real Madrid and Barcelona I'm inclined to believe they will bring in a bunch of young talent and look similar to Germany this year instead of relying on has-beens like Italy and France did
Some African Team (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, you pick): I believe that eventually one of these guys is going to really step it up and finally get a coherent team together. Ghana, based on performances from the last two cups is probably the most likely to do this, but I firmly believe Africa is one talented coach away from having a shot at winning the Cup
Japan or South Korea: both looked really good at times, and could really grow from their showings at this year's cup
As long
as Spain has Vincente, count me in their camp. I like that the man doesn't jump up and down screaming after ever goal (for or against) and just keeps the same face the whole time. Stoic coaches are awesome. But then, I have Red as an example. Also, I love possesion games. Maybe it's boring to other people, but when a team can pull it off as well as Spain (or the Wings, most years) it's incredible.
I'd be surprised if he were
I'd be surprised if he were still their coach in 2014. National team coaches rarely stick around for multiple World Cups. He'll probably hang it up after the 2012 Euro.
Yah,
I know. It's probably a pretty big paycut to be the national coach versus a League coach too and they do it more for prestige/patriotism than the money. Especially when you have a WC (much less your countries first) to your credit. But it would make me very happy.
I'll have to wait to see what
I'll have to wait to see what Paul the Octopus says.
Galileo was also chastised.
Brian Kelly will have Notre Dame in contention.
They no longer call me Bisbiño