2014 World Cup

[ArdeeBhoy]

Was that not 1978? No. Remember the game!

[pineapple stu]

On my 11 teams looking at quarter final spots, England, Spain and either Italy or Uruguay are gone. Portugal are very almost gone. Next week gets interesting now in that if some of the big names (Brazil, Holland, Italy/Uruguay, France, Argentina, Germany and Belgium) don't top their group, there could be carnage in the second round. Though most are looking at winning their groups at the moment.

[BonnieShels]

Eh...

Match fixing scandal involving Ghana eh...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10918321/Football-match-fixing-deal-casts-cloud-over-World-Cup.html

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hope Germany & Ghana get through myself...

[Razors left peg]

What a ball from Ronaldo.

Nani is a pathetic excuse for a footballer, he loses the ball every time he gets it. Paulo Bentos selection policy is costing Portugal. Quaresma was one of the best players in the Portuguese league this season and not even in the squad. Adrien and Martins from Sporting Lisbon likewise. This has basically being the same squad for the last few years and he hates making changes

[DannyInvincible]

It will, yeah.

US 4 points
Germany 4 points
Ghana 1 point
Portugal 1 point

Germany would still finish top though, importantly, so they may well be happy enough to play it safe with a point.

[ArdeeBhoy]

On my 11 teams looking at quarter final spots, England, Spain and either Italy or Uruguay are gone. Portugal are very almost gone. Next week gets interesting now in that if some of the big names (Brazil, Holland, Italy/Uruguay, France, Argentina, Germany and Belgium) don't top their group, there could be carnage in the second round. Though most are looking at winning their groups at the moment.

Argentina's route to the Semis/Final looks very accommodating...at least in theory.

[pineapple stu]

Germany would still finish top though, importantly, so they may well be happy enough to play it safe with a point.
Yep, certainly it's an advantage that Germany only need a draw.

But then if half the Yankee squad are German, it makes things a lot more interesting. You never know. Both sides would presumably rather face Algeria/Russia than Belgium too.

[A N Mouse]

Nice work. Have you got the names handy or where'd you get the info? Did you just scan through Wiki? I was thinking Bosnia might have had a couple. I think it's actually five German players the US have. Definitely more than three anyway.

Just found this piece, which claims that there are 25 France-born players playing for countries other than France at the World Cup with 14 from Germany playing for countries other than Germany: http://www.newstatesman.com/staggers/2014/06/world-cup-tournament-nations-and-migrants

I assume they've double-checked the figures. It also explains how Rio Mavuba was "born at sea".

This was only one found that listed all squads with place of birth.

http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/national/worldcup/wc2014.htm

Wouldn't trust it 100%, a more official list for Ghana suggested three players. Was more educated guesses, as don't list place, country for players not born in that particular country.

Ratikic sp?? And Greek bloke sounded vaguely Germanic places, rest was fairly sure of.

On mavuba, am I right in thinking he could have played for any country? Effectively whereever the ship stopped that was willing to take them in?

[BonnieShels]

Well he claimed asylum so he ended up being French.

Isn't it in most cases that the flag of the ship you are born on is the country of birth.

[DannyInvincible]

This was only one found that listed all squads with place of birth.

http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/national/worldcup/wc2014.htm

Wouldn't trust it 100%, a more official list for Ghana suggested three players. Was more educated guesses, as don't list place, country for players not born in that particular country.

Ratikic sp?? And Greek bloke sounded vaguely Germanic places, rest was fairly sure of.

On mavuba, am I right in thinking he could have played for any country? Effectively whereever the ship stopped that was willing to take them in?

Cheers, I'll have a closer look at the lists tomorrow when I get a bit of time.

Rakitic was born in Switzerland and actually played for them at youth level. His decision to switch to Croatia caused a bit of controversy in Switzerland with far-right groups threatening his family at the time: http://www.nacional.hr/en/clanak/37195/rakitic-family-terror-in-switzerland

Assuming that the theoretical state in which Mavuba would have arrived would have been prepared to offer citizenship to a stateless individual (I don't know if states offer such universally, but I think it's a fairly common feature of the nationality legislation of most Western states anyway), then, technically, aye, he would have been eligible to play football for that country's football team.

[CraftyToePoke]

Please God give me an alternative to Mark Lawrenson.

Indeed.

The guy is there, watching the world cup finals being paid to summarise one of the most entertaining sets of games in my lifetime & he carries on like that. I wouldn't like to hear him going on if he came back to his car broken into in a downpour after a dentist appointment if he can be that miserable watching football. Moron.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Anyway last game permutations...stolen from elsewhere.

Group A:

Brazil 4 +2
Mexico 4 +1
Croatia 3 +2
Cameroon 0 -5

Final fixtures: Mexico v Croatia, Brazil v Cameroon

MEXICO WIN, BRAZIL WIN: Mexico and Brazil qualify. If Mexico's winning margin is 2 or more higher than Brazil's, Mexico win the group. If Brazil's winning margin is the same as or higher than Mexico's, Brazil win the group. If Mexico's winning margin is 1 higher than Brazil's, it comes down to goals scored. (Mexico currently have 1, Brazil 3.)

MEXICO WIN, BRAZIL DRAW OR LOSE: Mexico winners, Brazil runners-up.

MEXICO DRAW, BRAZIL WIN OR DRAW: Brazil winners, Mexico runners-up.

MEXICO DRAW, BRAZIL LOSE: Mexico winners, Croatia runners-up.

MEXICO LOSE, BRAZIL WIN: Brazil winners, Croatia runners-up.

MEXICO LOSE, BRAZIL DRAW: Croatia winners, Brazil runners-up.

MEXICO LOSE, BRAZIL LOSE: Croatia winners. If Cameroon's winning margin is 2 or more higher than Croatia's, Mexico are runners-up. If Croatia's winning margin is the same as or higher than Cameroons's, Brazil are runners-up. If Cameroon's winning margin is 1 higher than Croatia's, it comes down to goals scored. (Mexico currently have 1, Brazil 3.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group B a lot more straightforward

Netherlands 6 +5
Chile 6 +4
Australia 0 -3
Spain 0 -6

Final fixtures: Netherlands v Chile, Australia v Spain

NETHERLANDS WIN OR DRAW: Netherlands winners, Chile runners-up.

NETHERLANDS LOSE: Chile winners, Netherlands runners-up.

[pineapple stu]

Lots of changes in the Spain team, if livescore is correct (and it was talking nonsense with the Ireland end-of-season friendly line-ups)

Pepe Reina
Raul Albiol
Sergio Ramos
Juanfran
Jordi Alba
Koke
Cesc Fabregas
Juan Mata
Santi Cazorla
Sergio Busquets
Diego Costa

[DannyInvincible]

Just had a quick look during my lunch-break and found the following players who were born in Germany but are representing other countries.

Cameroon: Maxim Choupo-Moting and Joel Matip.
Greece: José Holebas.
Ghana: Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Muhamed Bešić, Sead Kolašinac and Zvjezdan Misimović.
Iran: Daniel Davari.

That's 8 and there are about four or five in the US squad too, so we're still missing one or two if there are 14 in total. I'll have another look after work. I will find them!

[geysir]

I think we can say football has come home to Brazil, brilliant atmosphere at most games, just made for World Cup, plus extra fanatical support for teams playing Argentina.

That was a big game by USA, they have the left the old cliches far behind and finally stand alongside technically proficient, tactically sound, leading football nations, though I cant't help thinking that no matter how good they looked, Donavon would have made the situation better.

This evening ITV (and probably rte) are going with Brazil Cam game, the game I want to watch is Mexico v Croatia.

[Stuttgart88]

I think ITV4 has Mexico v Croatia.

[ArdeeBhoy]

It has and is on their website plus loads of streams...

[bennocelt]

I have my yahoo set to Yahoo USA the amount of drivel they have about the world cup is funny. They really havent a clue about soccerball

[Stuttgart88]

They really havent a clue about soccerball
A bit like Britain and Ireland then, really.

[A N Mouse]

Just had a quick look during my lunch-break and found the following players who were born in Germany but are representing other countries.

Cameroon: Maxim Choupo-Moting and Joel Matip.
Greece: José Holebas.
Ghana: Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Muhamed Bešić, Sead Kolašinac and Zvjezdan Misimović.
Iran: Daniel Davari.

That's 8 and there are about four or five in the US squad too, so we're still missing one or two if there are 14 in total. I'll have another look after work. I will find them!

Having been through it again while awake I think you've found them all.

Same as your list, plus 4 usa

USA
John Brooks
Jermaine Jones
Timmy Chandler
Fabian Johnson

Ghana
Kevin-Prince Boateng

Iran
Daniel Davari

BH
Sead Kolašinac
Muhamed Bešić
Zvjezdan Misimović

Greece
José Holebas

Cameroon
Maxim Choupo-Moting
Joel Matip

If we were being very generous
Swiss
(Josip Drmić) ambigious place name

Netherlands
(Paul Verhaegh) ambigious place name

France
(Morgan Schneiderlin) sounds german, born near border (are we definite on born in germany)

Plus managers of
Cameroon, Switzerland, USA

[pineapple stu]

Wiki will give you info on the ambiguous place names. It says Drmic is from (born in) Lachen in Switzerland, Paul Verhaegh is from Kronenberg in Holland and Morgan Schneiderlin is from Obernai in France.

[A N Mouse]

Wiki will give you info on the ambiguous place names. It says Drmic is from (born in) Lachen in Switzerland, Paul Verhaegh is from Kronenberg in Holland and Morgan Schneiderlin is from Obernai in France.

Taking for granted they weren't born in Germany, trying to be kind to whoever came up with the figure of 18.

Only other explainations is was for provisional squads, or inclues german parentage. Which is too much wiki work

[OwlsFan]

I have my yahoo set to Yahoo USA the amount of drivel they have about the world cup is funny. They really havent a clue about soccerball

Are you an American then ?

[bennocelt]

A bit like Britain and Ireland then, really.

Speak for yourself:p

[DannyInvincible]

Having been through it again while awake I think you've found them all.

Same as your list, plus 4 usa

USA
John Brooks
Jermaine Jones
Timmy Chandler
Fabian Johnson

Ghana
Kevin-Prince Boateng

Iran
Daniel Davari

BH
Sead Kolašinac
Muhamed Bešić
Zvjezdan Misimović

Greece
José Holebas

Cameroon
Maxim Choupo-Moting
Joel Matip

If we were being very generous
Swiss
(Josip Drmić) ambigious place name

Netherlands
(Paul Verhaegh) ambigious place name

France
(Morgan Schneiderlin) sounds german, born near border (are we definite on born in germany)

Plus managers of
Cameroon, Switzerland, USA

We've got 12 players. I think the claim of 18 was inaccurate. That figure was mentioned by James Richardson after someone had e-mailed it to him, so it hadn't been verified. Obviously, whoever'd e-mailed also got the figure of France-born players wrong as there are 25 rather than 16. I would imagine the New Statesman assertion of 14 Germany-born players is accurate. That means there'd be two more we're missing. Did you say there were two other Ghanaian squad members who you thought were born in Germany? Who were they? I can't seem to see any others besides Boateng.

I thought Mateo Kovačić of Croatia might have been another, but he was born in Linz, which is in Austria.

Edit: Julian Green of the USA grew up in Germany from the age of two, although he was born in Tampa, Florida. It seems New Statesman might have counted him in their tally of 14 as they did put the German figure at five rather than four in the article.

[BonnieShels]

Anyone else having issues with RTÉ player?

[ArdeeBhoy]

It doesn't work outside Ireland...

[BonnieShels]

It doesn't work outside Ireland...

Eh. I know that. It doesn't know I'm outside of Ireland and has been grand until today. Just like ITV is now.

So, for those in Ireland, are there issues with RTÉ player?

[DannyInvincible]

I think Bonnie uses a proxy server service to by-pass the geoblock.

[Stuttgart88]

What a pathetic dive by Robben. He's such an embarrassment at times.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Eh. I know that. It doesn't know I'm outside of Ireland and has been grand until today. Just like ITV is now.

Fair enough, perhaps an unholy alliance of PRISM & the Irish 'intelligence services' have done for you...

Not missing much anyway, so far.

[BonnieShels]

Fair enough, perhaps an unholy alliance of PRISM & the Irish 'intelligence services' have done for you...

Not missing much anyway, so far.

I'm watching on ITV. I just want HT on RTÉ.

[pineapple stu]

Anyone else having issues with RTÉ player?
In an actual response to your question, I just tried Australia v Spain there and it's working grand for me.

[NeverFeltBetter]

They had big problems at the start of the game, (for a moment, on the Sports site, they were streaming Radio na Gaeltachta with a World Cup splash page) I believe they are resolved now.

[pineapple stu]

Some fairly cynical stuff from Chile there lately. Blatant dive to try win a penalty, then the card waving nonsense. Shame, cos I've enjoyed watching them so far, but they're letting themselves down here.

Fairly dull game. Meanwhile, David Villa scores for Spain. Livescore makes it three shots on target between the two games so far.

[pineapple stu]

Also, a handy link (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/worldcup/2014/0623/625934-world-cup-live/) confirming which games are on RTÉ Two and which are on the Real Player.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Chile are falling over in the box a lot.

[Stuttgart88]

Some fairly cynical stuff from Chile there lately. Blatant dive to try win a penalty, then the card waving nonsense. Shame, cos I've enjoyed watching them so far, but they're letting themselves down

Change "they" to "he"! I think it's been Alexis Sanchez each time.

[DannyInvincible]

What a pathetic dive by Robben. He's such an embarrassment at times.

You'd wonder would Van Gaal and his team-mates privately encourage such guff.

[Charlie Darwin]

Change "they" to "he"! I think it's been Alexis Sanchez each time.
He just had a shout there and not too dissimilar to the Dejagah case. Sanchez running through, pursuing the ball as it bounces wide, Cillesen comes to challenge for it, may get a nick on it, but mainly cleans out Sanchez. In this case, I'd say no penalty as the ball was already beyond Sanchez and bouncing out, but again the keeper/tackler got next to nothing on it.

[ArdeeBhoy]

You'd wonder would Van Gaal and his team-mates privately encourage such guff.
Well, he'll undoubtedly see a good deal of it upon arrival in the Greater Manchester area next season...

[pineapple stu]

In this case, I'd say no penalty as the ball was already beyond Sanchez and bouncing out, but again the keeper/tackler got next to nothing on it.
I think that's still a foul. That the player wasn't going to the ball just means it can't be a definite goal scoring opportunity (and so no red card).

I think.

[pineapple stu]

2-0 Spain. Torres.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Switched over to the Spain game, the other one's a bit too sterile...two teams able to cancel each other out?

[DannyInvincible]

Holland ahead. Fer play!

[pineapple stu]

Down with that sort of thing!!

Not the best of marking. In fact, hardly any sort of marking at all.

[pineapple stu]

Hmm. Interesting penalty call. No way should the arm have been around the player's chest. So if the ball hits the arm grappled around the player...?

[pineapple stu]

3-0 Spain. Mata.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think that's still a foul. That the player wasn't going to the ball just means it can't be a definite goal scoring opportunity (and so no red card).

I think.
I'd say the minimal touch on the ball is enough in that case. The later contact didn't affect the outcome.