FIFA World Cup 2014 (Official Preview Thread)

Sport
1

Is there a thread for this?? … Anyway, not long now and I look forward to @Rocko 's World Cup prediction thread/game…

Current odds - (Paddypower)

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10007428_10152385449646079_4018011378122261811_n.jpg

Group A

Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

Group B

Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

Group C

Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

Group D

Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Group E

Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

Group F

Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Group G

Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States

Group H

Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea

Fixtures (+Group/Second Round/Quarters/Semi permutations) All Irish Central Times Given.

[SIZE=5]Group A[/SIZE]
12 June 2014

Brazil v Croatia, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 21:00 (ITV)

13 June 2014

Mexico v Cameroon, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00 (ITV)

17 June 2014

Brazil v Mexico, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00 (BBC)

18 June 2014

Cameroon v Croatia, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00 (ITV)

23 June 2014

Cameroon v Brazil, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 21:00 (ITV)

23 June 2014

Croatia v Mexico, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 21:00 (ITV)

[SIZE=5]Group B[/SIZE]
13 June 2014

Spain v Netherlands, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 20:00 (BBC)

13 June 2014

Chile v Australia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00 (ITV)

18 June 2014

Spain v Chile, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 20:00 (BBC)

18 June 2014

Australia v Netherlands, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00 (ITV)

23 June 2014

Australia v Spain, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 17:00 (ITV)

23 June 2014

Netherlands v Chile, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 17:00 (ITV)

[SIZE=5]Group C[/SIZE]
14 June 2014

Colombia v Greece, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00 (BBC)

15 June 2014

Ivory Coast v Japan, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 02:00 (ITV)

19 June 2014

Colombia v Ivory Coast, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00 (BBC)

19 June 2014

Japan v Greece, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00 (BBC)

24 June 2014

Japan v Colombia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 21:00 (BBC)

24 June 2014

Greece v Ivory Coast, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 21:00 (BBC)

[SIZE=5]Group D[/SIZE]
14 June 2014

Uruguay v Costa Rica, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00 (ITV)

14 June 2014

England v Italy, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00 (BBC)

19 June 2014

Uruguay v England , Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 20:00 (ITV)

20 June 2014

Italy v Costa Rica, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 17:00 (BBC)

24 June 2014

Italy v Uruguay, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00 (ITV)

24 June 2014

Costa Rica v England, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00 (ITV)

[SIZE=5]Group E[/SIZE]
15 June 2014

Switzerland v Ecuador, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00 (ITV)

15 June 2014

France v Honduras, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00 (BBC)

20 June 2014

Switzerland v France, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 20:00 (ITV)

20 June 2014

Honduras v Ecuador, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 23:00 (ITV)

25 June 2014

Honduras v Switzerland, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 21:00 (BBC)

25 June 2014

Ecuador v France, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 21:00 (BBC)

[SIZE=5]Group F[/SIZE]
15 June 2014

Argentina v Bosnia-Hercegovina, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 23:00 (BBC)

16 June 2014

Iran v Nigeria, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 20:00 (BBC)

21 June 2014

Argentina v Iran, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00 (ITV)

21 June 2014

Nigeria v Bosnia-Hercegovina, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00 (BBC)

25 June 2014

Nigeria v Argentina, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00 (ITV)

25 June 2014

Bosnia-Hercegovina v Iran, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 17:00 (ITV)

[SIZE=5]Group G[/SIZE]
16 June 2014

Germany v Portugal, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 17:00 (ITV)

16 June 2014

Ghana v United States, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00 (BBC)

21 June 2014

Germany v Ghana, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00 (BBC)

22 June 2014

United States v Portugal, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00 (BBC)

26 June 2014

United States v Germany, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 17:00 (BBC)

26 June 2014

Portugal v Ghana, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00 (BBC)

[SIZE=5]Group H[/SIZE]
17 June 2014

Belgium v Algeria, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00 (ITV)

17 June 2014

Russia v South Korea, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00 (BBC)

22 June 2014

Belgium v Russia, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 17:00 (BBC)

22 June 2014

South Korea v Algeria, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00 (ITV)

26 June 2014

South Korea v Belgium, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 21:00 (ITV)

26 June 2014

Algeria v Russia, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 21:00 (ITV)

[SIZE=5]Second round[/SIZE]
28 June 2014

Second-round 1:

Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00

28 June 2014

Second-round 2:

Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 21:00

29 June 2014

Second-round 3:

Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 17:00

29 June 2014

Second-round 4:

Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 21:00

30 June 2014

Second-round 5:

Winner Group E v Runner-up Group F, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00

30 June 2014

Second-round 6:

Winner Group G v Runner-up Group H, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 21:00

1 July 2014

Second-round 7:

Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 17:00

1 July 2014

Second-round 8:

Winner Group H v Runner-up Group G, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 21:00

[SIZE=5]Quarter-finals[/SIZE]
4 July 2014

Quarter-final 1:

Winner Second-round 5 v Winner Second-round 6, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 17:00

4 July 2014

Quarter-final 2:

Winner Second-round 1 v Winner Second-round 2, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 21:00

5 July 2014

Quarter-final 3:

Winner Second-round 7 v Winner Second-round 8, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00

5 July 2014

Quarter-final 4:

Winner Second-round 3 v Winner Second-round 4, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 21:00

[SIZE=5]Semi-finals[/SIZE]
8 July 2014

Semi-final 1:

Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 2, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 21:00

9 July 2014

Semi-final 2:

Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 21:00

[SIZE=5]Third-place match[/SIZE]
12 July 2014

Loser semi-final 1 v Loser semi-final 2, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 21:00

[SIZE=5]World Cup Final[/SIZE]
13 July 2014

Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 20:00

Have posters done previews already ?? Can they be moved to here? If not-
@Rocko[/USER] -Germany, [USER=1137]@chewy louie[/USER] -England, [USER=2533]@Il Bomber Destro[/USER] -Italy/Colombia, [USER=236]@Fitzy[/USER] -Australia, [USER=80]@The Wild Colonial Bhoy[/USER] -Russia, [USER=109]@Mac[/USER] and [USER=112]@Gman[/USER] -Spain(Woof) [USER=367]@mickee321[/USER] - Greece, [USER=9]@Bandage -Holland.

2

If I recall correctly for the last World Cup we had a preview thread, then a thread for the group stages and a thread for the last 16, the quarter finals and then individual threads for the remaining four games

3

And of course a World Cup betting thread

4

Well this can be a one stop shop until we get down to the nitty gritty…

5

Please amend the title and make this the preview thread

6

I wish to take the opportunity to declare for Uruguay.

7

I think Switzerland will do well and wouldn’t be one bit surprised if they topped their group and make the quarter finals at the very least.

They have some quality players and are fairly underrated

8

Done.

9

+1

It will be torture watching our two Lions, Luis and Stevie, go up against each other.

10

Colombia to reach the Semi-Finals is 4.5/1 with paddypower.

Top Goal Scorers-

Messi 9/1, Neymar/Ronaldo 14s, Suarez/Aguero 18s, Costa 22/1, Cavani/Lukaku 33/1, Martinez 66/1.

11

Portugal 33/1 e/w…:pint:

12

As always, La Albiceleste will have my heart, with heroes such as Kun, Pablo, Javi, Maxi, Angel, Gonzalo, Ezequiel and that Leo fella, I can’t see anybody stopping us. We go with the grace of God, because God is Argentinian

13

Brazil will stroll this at home,worthy favs and i’m backing them large!

14

No European team, or non South American team, have ever won the world cup when staged in South America- Germany are a world class striker, or two, short, Spain are coming to an end… Colombia to reach the Semi finals could be a great bet- The Argies would love nothing better than to win it in Brazil also, Uruguay have two of the best forwards in the world… Can’t see past a South American team once again.

15

@Mark Renton can I take France for preview if they are still up for grabs?

16

I’m not saying this to be different as I usually the live the WC, but I have complete apathy towards it. I’d say if I tune in by semi final stage I’ll be doing well. Not sure why it is, may have something to do with my location, but it just seems like an awful load of shite in the modern day.

17

Go for, pal.

18

Location is pretty ideal for Ireland on the other hand. There’s a small number of games taking place at midday Brazilian time, which is 5pm here, but most games will be evening/night time kick-offs in Ireland.

I’m really looking forward to it. Plenty of different angles with the record of no European teams ever winning it on South American soil, but Spain going for 4th tournament win in a row, strongly fancied host nation, other South American contenders not to mention the European mainstays like Germany, Italy etc.

19

Cheers, pal. I can tell you now they are a bunch of cunts but I will do a bit more research and come back to you.

20

[QUOTE=“Bandage, post: 931488, member: 9”]Location is pretty ideal for Ireland on the other hand. There’s a small number of games taking place at midday Brazilian time, which is 5pm here, but most games will be evening/night time kick-offs in Ireland.

I’m really looking forward to it. Plenty of different angles with the record of no European teams ever winning it on South American soil, but Spain going for 4th tournament win in a row, strongly fancied host nation, other South American contenders not to mention the European mainstays like Germany, Italy etc.[/QUOTE]
Might be better off going home earlier so, cos there is no way I’ll get into it here.