FIFA 2014 World Cup - Official Discussion Thread

[Franzl]

If Argentina play like that on Sunday, I'm not particularly worried. But I suppose we could still screw it up somehow ourselves.

[Franzl]

I want Argentina to win because they so manifestly don't deserve to win.

I have respect for those that want Argentina to win because they like Argentina. I also have a weird respect for those like Phil that support Argentina just to be spiteful. I don't have any respect for your position.

[Franzl]

I want Argentina to win because they so manifestly don't deserve to win.

I have respect for those that want Argentina to win because they like Argentina. I also have a weird respect for those like Phil that support Argentina just to be spiteful. I don't have any respect for your position.

Huh? It's not just Anti Germany; it's Pro Italy.

Seriously though, Italians and Italy fans obviously have more connections to Argentina. Plus, I'm a Napoli fan. There are very strong historic and current connections with Argentina.

Makes sense, although I imagine an Italy supporter will be more interested in remaining the only 4-star nation rather than any direct or indirect ties to Argentina

[Franzl]

Wow, I didn't think FIFA would be so blatant. Congratulations Argentina.

LOL

Anyways, Germany are favorites in this but Argentina is going to be a very tough nut to crack. Tougher than France and our strongest opponent so far. (Note that in the early games, Germany weren't playing at their best with Khedira and Schweinsteiger both still very much recuperating.) And should they win, they will deserve the title.

I enjoyed playing in the contest very much, despite my absolute failure, you did a great work and I hope you will stay even if the WC is over

Argentines tend to be a relatively unfriendly people (sorry Edu)

No need to be sorry since I basically think the same thing. I just hope I didn't came up as unfriendly when we met
Anyway, I'm glad you are rooting for us






Remember when I said I didn’t care about how we end up in the World Cup? Well, I don’t think a lot of people know me here so You probably don’t, but the fact is that I think I said several times that we were going to lose and that there wasn’t much of a point in following the team since they sucked and the government was going to use them as propaganda..

Well, I guess I was wrong. We beat Netherlands in what to most outsiders was a boring dreadful match, but to me as someone who was rooting for one of the teams involved it was a terribly exciting match. Maybe it’s the fact that this is the first time we reach the SF (and then the final) since I can remember or the fact that I was with friends and because of it enjoyed the match more than I would have done being alone, but I think this is awesome.

After much suffering and joy with my friends I walked back home (it was like 10 blocks) and wherever I walked trough there were people celebrating, streets blocked, groups of people singing the national anthem and a lot of other stuff that I never experienced. In fact, 2 blocks from home there were a bunch of people (like 100 or so) celebrating and I joined them for a while.
Actually, I saw the match in the 21st floor of a building and after we had won the PKs you could go out to the balcony and hear, fireworks, chants, horns, and probably everything that could make a loud noise.

For a while I felt really happy about everything. I no longer believe that a World Cup result will help this awful government that much and I think a win that can bring joy is a good thing right now.  

So I fully support my team in the final, we may lose like in 2010, we may lose like Brazil did, but I’m going to watch every single minute of that match and I’m going to enjoy it no matter what. And if we win and someone says we don’t deserve it because we were boring or something, then they can go inks themselves and the thing is that apart from the germans who may beat us, we ended up in a better position than all of the people who may criticize us the most, so I don’t care that much.

I wish luck to the german team and their supporters, I hope it’s a good match


And thanks to Phil for his support, as fellow descendants from southern Italians I'm sure we have much in common

Good luck to you too, Edu...and I also hope for a good match.

Obviously, I'm hoping and praying for a German victory...as I also want to party in the streets tonight, so I can appreciate what you wrote about the joy you witnessed after your semi-final.

But only one can win at all...and if it's not us, I'd much rather lose to you than the Dutch

[Franzl]

Deutschland!!!

And congratulations to Argentina. A truly worthy opponent who put up a huge fight. Either team would have deserved to win this World Cup. I'm thrilled it's us, but you can be proud as well.

[Franzl]

I suppose most English-people are happy too that Germany won, no ?

Kind of surprised Austrians are happy for us, to be honest...

[Franzl]

I suppose most English-people are happy too that Germany won, no ?

Kind of surprised Austrians are happy for us, to be honest...

Well, yeah (for now).



... until you people pass that road-toll thing. Then we go on to the Barrikaden.

As long as you pay, feel free to complain about it as much as you want...

[Franzl]

Everyone will pay the road toll.. No Extrawurst to speak of.

But let's get back to discussing our football triumph

[Franzl]

What's done in tax policy is a seperate issue. If certain taxes happen to go down at the same time...it's pure coincidence

And tuition fees don't exist anywhere in Germany either, which applies to foreigners as well, for your information...

Indeed, though, back to the football celebration.

[Franzl]

Even aside from road fee debates and what not, though, I would have expected Austrians to be against their "big cousins" in football. Has this changed recently to our benefit?

[Franzl]

I remember suporting  Germany in 1982 and 1986, but that time there were no Netherlands to root for.

Germany-Netherlands would have been a great final (though Argentina played very well this time).

I was far more content with Argentina. It was a more exciting basis, Europe vs. South America, the fact that Germany vs. Argentina is almost traditional at this point....and of course the fact that I could have lived with losing if necessary. Losing to the Dutch, though, would have been awful.

[Franzl]

"So seeeehn Sieger aus !"

*schaaaa lalalalalalalalalalalala*

So ist es!

[Franzl]

A bit childish...but I like it

[Franzl]

Costa Rica was moved up 12 ranks (and surpassed Mexico), for obvious reasons I think.

England fell 10 ranks and is now significantly behind the US *lol*

The US has performed more strongly than England recently. Seems reasonable.

[Franzl]

Phillip Lahm has surprisingly announced his exit from the German national team.

[Franzl]

Less than half of UEFA's qualifiers have made it through the group stage in the last two world cups  (6/13 both times). The days in which the likes of Denmark can automatically be thought of as better to the US or South Korea are well over.

Yes to the US....but I think Iceland would have beaten South Korea this year...

[Franzl]

Less than half of UEFA's qualifiers have made it through the group stage in the last two world cups  (6/13 both times). The days in which the likes of Denmark can automatically be thought of as better to the US or South Korea are well over.

Yes to the US....but I think Iceland would have beaten South Korea this year...

Russia didn't... and Russia won their qualifying group, ahead of Portugal.

Well, Russia also drew Algeria.

But then again, we did too after 90 minutes.