The Swamp

The heat will be more of a concern than the travel.

The only night match in Group G is USA-Ghana at 7pm
All other matches are at 1pm or 4pm. The last two simultenous group matches will be at 1pm in scorching heat.

I think Group B is worse because it has 3 really good teams (Spain, Holland and Chile) and 2nd place in the Group gets Brazil.

At least in Group G is the US survive it, they get a reasonable team from Group H in the 16.

Hypothetically if all seeded teams made it to the quarters, the bracket would be.

Brazil
Colombia

Swizterland
Germany

Spain
Uruguay

Argentina
Belgium

Scottie wrote:The Snaggletooths micro-analyze everything. Is travel really such a concern for a country the size of the USA? Two USA games are quite close together (Natal, Recife) and the other (middle game) is "out west" in Manaus. Ingerland has a very similar path, BH, Manaus, Sao P.

Given that Brazil is only slightly smaller than the USA, it's like what? Game one in Boston, game two in Houston, game three in New York. That's a vague somethinglike. MLS teams travel guhzillions more miles than EPL teams. By our standards, London to Manchester is nothing. Not seeing travel as an issue.

ETA: Besides . . . how do you fly halfway around the world and then complain about a two or three hour flight somewhere?

ETAA: per Expedia, Manaus to Sao Paulo is exactly a two-hour flight. And that's about as big a stretch as there will be in the Cup.

ETAA(fucking)A: Dammit, forgot that Brazil has more than one time zone. So Manaus to Sao Paulo is a three-hour flight.

They also aren't flying city to city.

The Americans will be based in Sao Paulo and face trips of 1,436 miles to Natal, 1,832 miles to Manaus and 1,321 miles to Recife.

But hey, the other teams have to travel too, and the MLS guys are used to it.

degenerasian wrote:The heat will be more of a concern than the travel.

The only night match in Group G is USA-Ghana at 7pm
All other matches are at 1pm or 4pm. The last two simultenous group matches will be at 1pm in scorching heat.

Manaus is supposed to be the killer. Typically very hot and humid (from what I have read), and out in the middle of nowhere in the Amazon. From what I understand, it will be a very difficult place for fans, as flights there are very expensive, and it sounds like they don't have much infrastructure. I know putting games there was controversial. The US seems to wilt in those conditions, and it could take a lot out of them for the rest of the tourney. Plus Portuguese are probably more used to those conditions. Maybe. Germany would have been the optimal game in the rain forest.

Game times (Eastern, unless Brazil doesn't do DST): Ghana, Monday 6/16 at 9:00; Portugal on Sunday 6/22 at 4:00; and Germany 6/26 at 3:00.

Great times for watching games, at least Eastern time zone.

* According to Grant Wahl (who someone on here inexplicably doesn't like, I forget who), the US got the worst travel schedule of all 32 teams. I'm not sure how he did that math, but the fact that we're in the NE part of the country, in the jungle, is not good for us. Yes, both teams play in the same heat. However, Ghana.

* All of that said, I can talk myself into "we have a fighting chance" mode. First off, fuck Ghana. Guys that were on the 2010 team can educate the younger guys. The bullshit they pulled at the end of that match still makes my blood boil. They are a solid team, and it will be tough to grab 3 points... But, that's a good break to get them first.

Portugal is amazing, but they can be flaky and disinterested at times. They'll be coming off of a showdown with Germany. Who knows where they'll be mentally, physically.

Germany is a great team, but keep in mind, we are familiar with them. We lost that brutal game in Korea in '02, beat them this summer (B-minus squad, to be sure), and there's a good chance 3 or 4 of our guys ply their trade in the Bundesliga. And, Klinsmann. There's not the same mystique as there is with a Spain or Netherlands. If we go into that game needing a point, and hopefully Germany's work is done... Playing in the heat, I can see the Germans laying back and trying to save themselves, starting some guys off the bench.

* So, we claw our way out of the group, we likely play Belgium. Lots of folks calling them a dark horse, and I'm not gonna disagree, but... Let's swap places with Mexico for a minute. They have a not easy, not impossible road (Cameroon-->Brazil-->Croatia). Let's pretend they get their shit together and finish second in their group, they are rewarded with... Spain, Netherlands, best case scenario Chile. Yuck.

Compare that to our bracket: Let's say Belgium does something weird and stumbles a little (hey, they're young, they haven't been to the WC on the regular), or we do something unthinkable, we are looking at Russia, Korea or Algeria.

Just saying, there are scenarios that aren't all doom and gloom.

* Brian pointed out on Facebook, where I put up similar points, Honduras would be at the other end of the good, bad, ugly draw scale. But if you really put yourself in their shoes, not grass is greener: Switzerland absolutely crushed in their qualifying. Mentally, you just can't wrap your head around Swiss = Scary. But that team is no joke. France? Um, no thanks. When they get their act together they are absolutely brutal. And Ecuador qualified clean out of South America. They are not dominant in that region, but they are very very tough out.

And, doing the "what next" math on those guys, if they manage to climb through the rubble to the second round, who is waiting for them? Arhenteena.

They're basically on Maritime Canadian time. Proper thing. So at least the games aren't starting at 6:00 AM Pacific or some horrific such hour. On America East time the group games go like what? 6:00 PM, 4:00 PM, Noon? Sound close?

degenerasian wrote:The heat will be more of a concern than the travel.

The only night match in Group G is USA-Ghana at 7pm
All other matches are at 1pm or 4pm. The last two simultenous group matches will be at 1pm in scorching heat.

Well, frankly, that's HUGE. That's the one game where the heat is going to be decidedly in one team's favor.

The other thing I'd point out about the draw is that the top half (A-D) is ridiculous compared to the bottom half.

Doods. Barring a Ronaldo torn ACL, which would make it to where he could probably only score 2 goals on us instead of 5, we're fucked.

But luckily, Jeff Agoos is not walking through that door.

AB_skin_test wrote:Doods. Barring a Ronaldo torn ACL, which would make it to where he could probably only score 2 goals on us instead of 5, we're fucked.

But luckily, Jeff Agoos is not walking through that door.

But Matt Besler might. Someone needs to Gillooly Ronaldo.

You know, a fun game is to try and put yourselves in the shoes of another team's fan base.

If you are Portugal, you've got to be in serious WTF mode right now. 2010 their group was Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea. Now they get this draw.

Granted, I'm pretty sure they were in a really easy group in 2006... I'm remembering Angola and maybe Mexico and another crappy Asian team. And, of course, they completely shit the bed with the gift of a group in 2002 that had the hosts, US and Poland. That should've been a laugher.

How big a party is going on in Buenos Aires right now? And did Platini handle the balls? Because France went from almost missing the Cup to being practically a shoe in for the 2nd round.

Drink a shot every time you hear "Group of Death" - a great Friday night drinking game for soccer afficionados.

The Sybian wrote:

AB_skin_test wrote:Doods. Barring a Ronaldo torn ACL, which would make it to where he could probably only score 2 goals on us instead of 5, we're fucked.

But luckily, Jeff Agoos is not walking through that door.

But Matt Besler might. Someone needs to Gillooly Ronaldo.

I tried. Lots of videos of him scoring great goals on the Gilloogles.

OMFG !!! Three weeks ago, after that 2-0 loss in Ukraine, everyone was writing Les Bleus off (including me), some sportscasters were openly insulting them on air with not so thinly veiled racial innuendos, the whole country was ready to face a winter of despair.... and now we get the easiest group.

Of course, this means we probably won't make it out of first round. It's all bonus from now on anyways.

Re: heat, won't it be winter down there?

govmentchedda wrote:Re: heat, won't it be winter down there?

It's pretty much never winter in Brazil. Mostly in the tropics.

Also, it's not that I don't like him, but I'm the one who is souring on Wahl. He's gotten very Fatty McButterpantsy in my opinion.

That being said, he does a great interview on the Howler Radio podcast about his experience in Buenos Aires that helped solidify him as a soccer fan/writer. Seek it out.

AB_skin_test wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:Re: heat, won't it be winter down there?

It's pretty much never winter in Brazil. Mostly in the tropics.

According to Wiki, average high is upper 80s, average low is lower 70s in Manaus in June and July. 80% humidity. That's not Qatar-bad.

govmentchedda wrote:Also, it's not that I don't like him, but I'm the one who is souring on Wahl. He's gotten very Fatty McButterpantsy in my opinion.

That being said, he does a great interview on the Howler Radio podcast about his experience in Buenos Aires that helped solidify him as a soccer fan/writer. Seek it out.

Intrigued, but I don't think I could listen to Wahl's voice.

The Sybian wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:Also, it's not that I don't like him, but I'm the one who is souring on Wahl. He's gotten very Fatty McButterpantsy in my opinion.

That being said, he does a great interview on the Howler Radio podcast about his experience in Buenos Aires that helped solidify him as a soccer fan/writer. Seek it out.

Intrigued, but I don't think I could listen to Wahl's voice.

It's a good story. Also, Howler magazine, and its podcast brethren, Howler Radio, are very good.

It's only really winter in the southern part of the country. Curitiba and Porto Alegre will be cold.

Places that the US will play in is like Panama City.


Natal is 5° south of the equator.

govmentchedda wrote:Also, it's not that I don't like him, but I'm the one who is souring on Wahl. He's gotten very Fatty McButterpantsy in my opinion.

I think his TV gig for the Gold Cup increased his douchiness factor tremendously. It's probably that hat he wore. I hope for his sake some dumb TV producer told him to wear the hat because there was too much glare from his bald dome. I hope he enjoyed his free bowl of soup when he bought that hat.

the following kickoff times have been changed.



Saturday 14 June

Ivory Coast v Japan, 2200 (from 1900) in Recife

England v Italy, 1800 (from 2100) in Manaus

Wednesday 18 June

Cameroon v Croatia, 1800 (from 1500) in Manaus

Spain v Chile, 1600 (from 1900) in Rio de Janeiro

Sunday 22 June

United States v Portugal, 1800 (from 1500) in Manaus

Belgium v Russia, 1300 (from 1900) in Rio de Janeiro

South Korea v Algeria, 1600 (from 1300) in Porto Alegre.

American logic from a friend of mine:

Easy World Cup draw for the US. We have a 100% record against Portugal in World Cups, so another win is a lock. We have a 0% record against Ghana, so we're due for a win. We're playing Germany in a coastal city, so they'll claim all the best beach spots early in the morning and won't want to give them up for a soccer game. Guaranteed forfeit win.

degenerasian wrote:American logic from a friend of mine:

Easy World Cup draw for the US. We have a 100% record against Portugal in World Cups, so another win is a lock. We have a 0% record against Ghana, so we're due for a win. We're playing Germany in a coastal city, so they'll claim all the best beach spots early in the morning and won't want to give them up for a soccer game. Guaranteed forfeit win.

Wrong... They'll just be better prepared, put their towels down at 6am, breakfast, light training session, lunch, back to their rooms for a rest, onto the coach, warm up, kick your arses and back to beach to collect their towels.

Tom 1860 wrote:

degenerasian wrote:American logic from a friend of mine:

Easy World Cup draw for the US. We have a 100% record against Portugal in World Cups, so another win is a lock. We have a 0% record against Ghana, so we're due for a win. We're playing Germany in a coastal city, so they'll claim all the best beach spots early in the morning and won't want to give them up for a soccer game. Guaranteed forfeit win.

Wrong... They'll just be better prepared, put their towels down at 6am, breakfast, light training session, lunch, back to their rooms for a rest, onto the coach, warm up, kick your arses and back to beach to collect their towels.

Who does Wales play?

England's Hotel for the World Cup is 5 Stars....for Gang Battles. Trip Advisor reviews are pretty good too. (via dirty tackle).
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -slum.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

wlu_lax6 wrote:England's Hotel for the World Cup is 5 Stars....for Gang Battles. Trip Advisor reviews are pretty good too. (via dirty tackle).
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -slum.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So Rooney and terry's families will feel right at home.

This would be crazy
http://www.businessinsider.com/2014-wor ... ton-2014-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I used to be one of those Canadian dicks that cheered against USA in any sporting event but now I cheer for them in soccer tournaments and that's it. Just joking. If Canada isn't involved, i'll root for the Americans every time. But i find it very unlikely they will make it out of their bracket.

rass wrote:USMNT "home" kit.

Love it. Love the collar. Love the all white. Classy look.

govmentchedda wrote:

rass wrote:USMNT "home" kit.

Love it. Love the collar. Love the all white. Classy look.

It's tremendous. Great, great look.

What do you guys think of the collar design on the Korean jersey? http://todosobrecamisetas.blogspot.ca/2 ... -2014.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It looks like it might be irritating in Brazilian heat.

Scottie wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:

rass wrote:USMNT "home" kit.

Love it. Love the collar. Love the all white. Classy look.

It's tremendous. Great, great look.

What do you guys think of the collar design on the Korean jersey? http://todosobrecamisetas.blogspot.ca/2 ... -2014.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It looks like it might be irritating in Brazilian heat.

Korea looks cool, but that could be annoying. Love the US shirt, may actually have to get one.

I am really liking the leaked Puma kits. No idea if they are real, but they are simple and cool. I have always been a bigger fan of Puma than Nike. BTW, Portugal's are atrocious.


Puma kits

This is going up in the office:

I don't get it.

Shirley wrote:I don't get it.

Gotta start listening to the Men in Blazers podcast. Alexi Lalas told a story about the halftime speech of former US coach Bora Milutinovic during the epic WC win over Colombia in the 1994 WC. He tried to inspire the team by saying "Seize the day," but mispronounced is as size the day.

Falcao out with torn ACL. Tough blow for Colombia.

P.D.X. wrote:Falcao out with torn ACL. Tough blow for Colombia.

This is also going to really hurt the Earth's chance of survival