2014 World Cup

[Tamas]

Take the Italy and Uruguay game. A critical game for both countries. What determines it? In part that Italy got a guy sent off and Uruguay didn't. Yeah a team can overcome that, but I'd rather see the teams compete at top quality and the more skillful team move on.

The most skillful team doesn't get a player sent off, besides Italy had been playing for a draw even before the red card so it didn't chance much.

And, people, the whole point of a red card is to put the receiving team in a decisive disadvantage, thereby discouraging misconduct on the pitch.

[Liep]

Take the Italy and Uruguay game. A critical game for both countries. What determines it? In part that Italy got a guy sent off and Uruguay didn't. Yeah a team can overcome that, but I'd rather see the teams compete at top quality and the more skillful team move on.

The most skillful team doesn't get a player sent off, besides Italy had been playing for a draw even before the red card so it didn't chance much.

And, people, the whole point of a red card is to put the receiving team in a decisive disadvantage, thereby discouraging misconduct on the pitch.

I said that earlier, but he seemed more concerned with the quality of game afterwards. Which is sort of in line with the FIFA move of cancelling all prior yellow cards for the semi-finals.

[Maladict]

Holland will advance, Robben will score. This should be the best game this weekend BTW

[Pedrito]

Holland will advance, Robben will score. This should be the best game this weekend BTW

CURSED.

L.

[Tamas]

 

[Agelastus]

4th in the 1st stage. Acceptable.

Code Select Expand

1 frunk          28 28 20 58.33% 8
2 Maladict 27 27 21 56.25% 35
3 Dorsey4Heisman 26 26 22 54.17% 14
4 Liep         26 26 22 54.17% 48
5 Viking      26 26 22 54.17% 52
6 Duque de Bra 26 26 22 54.17% 136
7 Norgy      25 25 23 52.08% 105
8 Josephus 24 24 24 50.00% 20
9 dps          23 23 25 47.92% 37
10 funkmonk 23 23 25 47.92% 91
11 Pedrito    23 23 25 47.92% 136
12 Tamas      23 23 25 47.92% 136
13 Agelastus 21 21 27 43.75% 20
14 josquius 21 21 27 43.75% 92
15 Syt          20 20 28 41.67% 84
16 celedhring 0 0 48 0.00% 136

Grats to the clear winner, frunk. Even best at the tie breaker.

Damn, I suck.

It would also appear that I am a lot better at judging the number of goals in a round than I am at picking the actual results.

[Ed Anger]

Flopping rankings.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/the-world-rankings-of-flopping-1403660175?mod=trending_now_1

[Liep]

The Status Quo is losing the battle. Go CONCACAF!

Teams qualifying for the WC playoff:

Code Select Expand

14 10 06 02 98 94
Europa 6 6 10 9 10 10
Sydamerika 5 5 3 2 4 2
CONCACAF 3 2 1 2 1 2
Afrika 2 1 0 1 0 0
Asien 0 2 0 2 0 1
Oceanien 0 1 1 0 0 0

[Agelastus]

The Status Quo is losing the battle. Go CONCACAF!

Teams qualifying for the WC playoff:

Code Select Expand

14 10 06 02 98 94
Europa 6 6 10 9 10 10
Sydamerika 5 5 3 2 4 2
CONCACAF 3 2 1 2 1 2
Afrika 2 1 0 1 0 0
Asien 0 2 0 2 0 1
Oceanien 0 1 1 0 0 0

I think you need to check the table Liep; it says 17 teams got to the second round in 2010 and 15 in 2006 (and 15 in both 98 and 94.)

[Liep]

What has the world come to when one can't even copy paste from a newspaper article and be save in the fact that they did their research correctly?

[Liep]

Quick look they forgot Nigiria in 94 and 98. Ghana in 06. And a none existing Oceania in 10.

[Liep]

The Status Quo is losing the battle. Go CONCACAF!

Teams qualifying for the WC playoff:

Code Select Expand

14 10 06 02 98 94
Europa 6 6 10 9 10 10
Sydamerika 5 5 3 2 4 2
CONCACAF 3 2 1 2 1 2
Afrika 2 1 1 1 1 1
Asien 0 2 0 2 0 1
Oceanien 0 0 1 0 0 0

Corrected.

[Monoriu]

The Status Quo is losing the battle. Go CONCACAF!

Teams qualifying for the WC playoff:

Code Select Expand

14 10 06 02 98 94
Europa 6 6 10 9 10 10
Sydamerika 5 5 3 2 4 2
CONCACAF 3 2 1 2 1 2
Afrika 2 1 1 1 1 1
Asien 0 2 0 2 0 1
Oceanien 0 0 1 0 0 0

Corrected.

Losing the battle?  Europe plus S. America have been pretty consistent.  12 in 1994, 14 in 1998, 11 in 2002, 13 in 2006, 11 in 2010, 11 in 2014.  I think the status quo has, well, kept the status quo. 

[Valmy]

bandwagoners  And USAians discussing the merits of red cards and penalties is cute.

It is what we do.  We are always tinkering with our games in an eternal war between purists and reformers.

[Valmy]

Anyway everybody tune in on the 8th of July when France ends yet another Brazilian World Cup.