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2014 WC Brazil|June 12th to July 13th|CBC/Sportsnet

L

Leafovic

New member
Just over a month to ago until the 2014 WC in Brazil. The season is winding down in the big5 leagues and everyone is hoping there are no major injuries. Unfortunatley for Chile, it was announced today that Vidal will have to have surgery and might be out of the WC. Few months back Netherlands lost a big player when Strootman went down for Roma. Falcao (for Colombia) also suffered a pretty big knee injury awhile back but there is a slight chance he may be ready. (at least he thinks so) Walcott is out for England. Oviedo should miss for Costa Rica. And Valdes will miss for Spain. Maybe I'm missing someone big but feel free to update.

Who will you be supporting?

Who will win it?
 
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Unfortunately my national team sucks and isn't in it. Haven't decided who I'll band wagon for yet.
 
I wanted to do a small preview of Bosnia (my country), and I hope others can do the same for nations like Italy, England, France, as we have posters who support those nations.

BOSNIA

Key players:
Dzeko(F), Man City - 29GP, 14G,7A(EPL)
Pjanic(CM), Roma - 34GP, 6G, 6A (Serie A)
Lulic(W/LM), Lazio - 29GP, 7G, 3A (Serie A)
Misimovic, (AM), Guizhou Renhe - 8GP, 2G, 4A (Chinese Super League)
Spahic, (CB), Bayer Leverkusen - 26GP, 2G, 1A (Bundesliga)
Kolasinac (LB), Shalke - 23GP, 2A (Bundesliga)
Besic (DM), Ferencvaros - 23GP, 1A
Begovic (GK), Stoke - 32GP, 1G, 9 clean sheets (EPL)

Strengths:
- Scoring goals (4th in GS in WC qualifiers)
- Strong in set-pieces (Pjanic, Salihovic, Misimovic)
- Plenty of technical skill across line-up

Weaknesses:
-Depth (a competitive 11, but depth especially in defence is weak)
- Vulnerable defence (because of the very offensive oriented nature of team, and depth issues)

There is one young player that could make the biggest difference for BIH and that is Muhamed Besic. A DM, 21yrs old, and for now playing in Hungary. (but considered by many the best player there). He played one game for Bosnia and was really good but after that because of an injury and issues with U21 coach, he wasn't called. But if he plays well, he really has the chance to make Bosnia a lot stronger in the defensive end, something BIH struggles with.

biogra2.jpg

Scouting Report for him
http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/news/23827/9299984/world-cup-scout
 
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Team Iran

Key Players/Personnel:

Carlos Queiroz - Manager (former assistent at Man U, former world cup coach at Portugal, former manager Real Madrid)
Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham)
Reza Ghoochannejhad (Belgium)
Steven Beitashour (MLS - San Jose)
Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas, former team Osasuna)
Javad Nekunam (Former team Osasuna)
Andranik Teymourian (Former teams incl. Bolton and Fulham)

Overview
- Team Iran's historically weak defence seems to have gotten much better under Queiroz
- They just lost two games in the qualification round
- They had to win all three final games to qualify. These games included two against Arab nations who normally play their best against the Persians, and one at South Korea.
- Starting goaltender had a fall out with the coach and was left off the squad for the final three games and the WC
- Influx of Euro players has helped the team compete for 90 minutes

Expected finish:

Last in a group which includes Argentina, Nigeria, and Bosnia

[video=youtube_share;8Ia6ea9fSLA]http://youtu.be/8Ia6ea9fSLA[/video]
 
Denmark didn't make it, so looking for another team. Half Italian but loathe the Azzuri. Think I'm going to cheer for Uruguay as they're in Italy and England's group as I dislike both sides.
 
Want Brazil to win it... It would be exceptionally cool to see a "TFC" player start and win the World Cup. Unfortunately I will probably also cheer for all CONCACAF sides, the better they do the more respect the federation will get .
 
Team Iran
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So you def expect 4th? Certainly looks like it. Nigeria and Bosnia should be fighting for 2nd.

I had an Iranian friend long time ago and I remember the generation of Daei, Karimi and Mahdavikia. Very strong team. I'm glad that they are nowhere near that strong anymore.
 
Leafovic said:
So you def expect 4th? Certainly looks like it. Nigeria and Bosnia should be fighting for 2nd.

I had an Iranian friend long time ago and I remember the generation of Daei, Karimi and Mahdavikia. Very strong team. I'm glad that they are nowhere near that strong anymore.
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Well. I'm not really a huge soccer fan so don't take my word for it.

As your said, past Iranian teams had a few significant players who played on significant teams. Mahdavikia was a long time starter at Hamburg, Daie and Karimi played for Bayern, etc. Current team has euro players but not ones that can compete on teams like that (as of now)

Having said that, past national teams, aka "Team Melli", historically had issues on Defence (I've always attributed that to lack of respect for defenders in the country. We always wanted to be the goal scorer growing up playing street soccer).

The difference this time around is the manager. CQ has been the right hand man to Sir Alex, he has lead a Portuguese side to the world cup as the manager, and he has been the manager at Real Madrid. Players respect him.

He seems to have changed the culture on D, which is giving some people hopes of succeeding in the world cup this time around.

With the powerful Argentina, physically overpowering Nigeria, and euro tested Bosnia, I don't see how they'll survive. You never know I guess.
 
Can't ****ing stand the faux national pride that takes place during the World Cup. Especially from the Italians, Christ so god damned: annoying driving around, half outside their cars waving a flag of a country half have never even been to.
 
voyager said:
Can't ****ing stand the faux national pride that takes place during the World Cup. Especially from the Italians, Christ so god damned: annoying driving around, half outside their cars waving a flag of a country half have never even been to.
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which is a great reason to cheer against the Azzurri
 
trujaysfan said:
which is a great reason to cheer against the Azzurri
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have countries that I actively cheer against (Italy, Spain, Argentina, France, a few others), teams that I enjoy watching (Germany, Brazil), and a few clubs that I'm mildly fond of because they have players who play for my club side both now and historically (England, Holland)

I spend a lot more time cheering against than cheering for.
 
Germany for the win!

I hope they make an example out of the Portuguese in the group stage.
 
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