2014 World Cup

[garbon]

[derspiess]

I dont't think there's a Google Doodle of the soccer equivalent Stukas divebombing Warsaw in football kit.

Stukas divebombing favelas would be a good doodle.  Or maybe some sort of updated Guernica.

[Grey Fox]

The match also set a new TV viewership record: 32.57 million, breaking the record of the 2010 semifinal (31.1 million). It's now the most viewed TV broadcast in Germany.

Market share: 87.8%.

And yes, the top ten most viewed broadcasts in Germany are *all* football matches.

That's true for every country. #1 show is a sporting event. Canada it's winning the hockey gold medal in Vancouver.

[derspiess]

Getting ready to take my half-day from work and join my barra quilombera.

Today the Dutch are the enemy.

[crazy canuck]

Surely a person didn't actually lay that bet. 

Imagine being the person who bet Germany winning 7-0.

[Syt]

ESPN's power rankings from last month, before the tournament:

http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/story/1869593/world-cup-power-rankings

ESPNFC.com's editorial desks from around the world ranked the 32 teams competing in the World Cup. Is your team too high or too low? Tell us what you think in the comments section or on Twitter.

1. Brazil
Host nation + pre-tournament favourites = what can possibly go wrong?

2. Spain
A tournament too far, or a shot at glory inspired by a one-time Brazil international?

3. Germany
After being there or thereabouts so often, can they finally win something?

4. Argentina
A World Cup win in the home of their bitter rivals -- surely not?

5. Italy
What's it to be, Azzurri -- more 2006-like heroics, or a repeat of 2010's dreadful showing?

6. Portugal
The reigning Ballon d'Or winner has never won a World Cup. Can Cristiano Ronaldo buck the trend?

7. Belgium
They're too good and too often discussed to be considered "dark horses," aren't they?

8. Netherlands
Their big three stars are all 30-plus -- can they come together for old times' sake?

9. Colombia
Falcao made them fashionable, but can they thrive without their talisman?

10. Chile
Another hipster choice, but will they even escape a group featuring both 2012 finalists?

11. Uruguay
Susceptible at the back, though strong in attack ... but how fit is Luis Suarez?

12. France
It can't be worse than 2010 (can it?), but without Franck Ribery, what can Les Bleus achieve?

13. England
Will the real Wayne Rooney finally show up at a World Cup?

14. Switzerland
They beat Spain in the 2010 opener -- can their young stars make an impact in Brazil?

15. Croatia
Playing for second in their group, or capable of giving the hosts a bloody nose in the opener?

16. Ivory Coast
There's no "Group of Death" excuse this time, but have their veterans' legs got anything left?

17. Ghana
So close to the last four in South Africa, but surely their group this year is too tough?

18. Russia
Can Fabio Capello make everyone forget the embarrassing last time he was on the World Cup stage?

19. USA
Facing their coach's homeland, Ronaldo and their World Cup nemesis Ghana, how can they escape their group?

20. Mexico
Was their shambolic qualifying campaign a teachable moment or a sign of things to come?

21. Japan
Can Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda shine for their country after disappointing club seasons?

22. Nigeria
The Super Eagles are African champions, but can they transfer that form to the world stage?

23. Bosnia and Herzegovina
It's their debut on the big stage -- will a potent forward line help them make a big impact?

24. Ecuador
They're the lowest-ranked of the six South American participants -- is that fair?

25. South Korea
Can these perennial qualifiers recapture the spirit of their 2002 semifinal run?

26. Greece
We'll hear all about Euro 2004's success every time they play, but can they make some new memories?

27. Costa Rica
If they are just to be spoilers in their group, which of England, Uruguay and Italy will they frustrate?

28. Cameroon
Twenty-four years after Roger Milla danced them to the Italia '90 semis, can they make a splash in Samuel Eto'o's swan song?

29. Australia
There's no way the Socceroos can escape a group featuring Spain, Netherlands and Chile, is there?

30. Honduras
They beat the U.S. and won in Mexico during qualifying -- should they be ranked higher?

31. Algeria
They frustrated England in a bore draw four years ago -- can they catch anyone out this time around?

32. Iran
Are Carlos Queiroz's men really the worst team in the World Cup?

[Syt]

https://twitter.com/GRRM/status/486607034050420738

Spoiler Alert! I wrote the script for this World Cup game.

[Viking]

https://twitter.com/GRRM/status/486607034050420738

Spoiler Alert! I wrote the script for this World Cup game.

Ah, yes, The Orange Wedding.

[Liep]

Our team of experts (I say experts, but it includes Bendtner so you decide) includes 4 former players from Dutch football and they all pronounce van Gaal the Dutch way. What a language.

[Admiral Yi]

It just struck me: how impressive of the US to hold the German juggernaut to 1-0. 

[Zanza]

Hup Holland Hup!

2 - 1 to Holland.

[Valmy]

It just struck me: how impressive of the US to hold the German juggernaut to 1-0. 

The US would have beaten Brazil 6-1

[Sheilbh]

Viva Argentina!

(Viva Peron?)

[Zanza]

One of the admittedly very minor nitpicks of the world cup was that Argentina, Germany and the Netherlands were not playing in their traditional colors. This game at least Argentina and the Netherlands are back in their usual colors.

[alfred russel]

It just struck me: how impressive of the US to hold the German juggernaut to 1-0. 

Could you imagine if in that final group game we got smoked 7-1? Klinsman would have been fired and the whole world cup narrative written as a fiasco.