dj_ivocha on 12/6/2014 at 19:46

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The opening ceremony was a bit meh, because of the crappy sound. Especially during the J.Lo. song :eww:. I was hoping for something a bit more... bombastic? Oh well. The important part comes in a bit over 10 minutes anyway.

Tomi on 12/6/2014 at 20:46

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So, who will I be rooting for this year then? I'm sure that you're all dying to know, so here goes!

Actually, it'd be much easier for me to say who I certainly do not want to win, but here are my favourites from each group in order of preference:

Group A:
Cameroon > Croatia > Mexico > Brazil
I have a thing for African countries and it'd be awesome if we got an African winner for the first time ever. Roger Milla's Cameroon back in 1990 is one of my first football related memories, and I love all that nostalgic stuff. Croatia are one my favourite European teams and that red/white checkered shirt of theirs is ace (that's always a big plus!), whereas Mexico are alright too. I don't have anything against Brazil either, but I don't want them to win again. I think that Brazil and Croatia will go through, and I'm afraid that Cameroon will finish at the bottom.

Group B:
Holland > Chile > Australia > Spain
I really like orange, hence Holland... It'd be nice to see Chile and Australia to do well too, but I hope that Spain will fail miserably this time. I find them utterly boring and I can't stand all the hype around them. I think that they'll win the group though, and hopefully Holland won't suck as much as they did in Euro 2012 so that they'll get the second place.

Group C:
Colombia > Japan > Ivory Coast > Greece
I like them all, but I've really liked Colombia since the days of Carlos Valderrama. The senseless murder of the Colombian captain Andres Escobar during USA '94 gave them an insane amount of sympathy points too that will last until the end of the days, it's probably the most tragic/fucked up football related thing that I can think of. It was great to see Greece to win Euro 2004, but they really are boring so I hope that they'll finish at the bottom of this bunch. I predict that Japan will win and Colombia will finish 2nd in group C.

Group D:
Costa Rica > Uruguay > England > Italy
I almost always support the underdogs in everything, but Costa Rica need a little miracle to qualify from this group. I liked Uruguay a lot before, but Luis Suarez is a bit of a rotten apple in their basket. I'm not a fan of the English national team, but Italy are even worse. I have a bad feeling that Italy and England will go through though... The English media and fans love to underestimate and bash their own team (but still love to whine and look for conspiracy theories when they lose), but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they go far this year.

Group E:
Ecuador / Honduras > France / Switzerland
No real favourites or anti-favourites in this group, so I think I'll be rooting for the South Americans as they will hopefully be more entertaining. I can't see Honduras getting more than just one point here, France have been a bit hit and miss for years but I think they'll be better this year. Ecuador will finish 2nd but Switzerland have a decent team too.

Group F:
Nigeria / Argentina > Iran / Bosnia
No favourites or anti-favourites here either. Argentina and Diego Maradona were my heroes when I started following football as a kid, so they'll always have a special place in my heart, but Nigeria in 1998 were awesome as well! Iran are exotic and exciting, but I don't really know anything about them, and I suppose that Bosnia are alright too. Argentina should win this group easily, Nigeria have a good chance of getting the 2nd place if their players can be bothered this time. But that's always a big if.

Group G:
Ghana > USA / Germany > Portugal
I've really liked Ghana in the last two World Cups, so they're easily my biggest favourites here. I have mixed feelings about USA, I wouldn't like them to win them the whole thing (not that it's gonna happen) but it'd be nice to see them do somewhat well. I've started to like Germany as well, their games are usually entertaining and I hope that they go far. Portugal are one of my least favourites in the tournament, they're talented but they get a big thumbs down for all the unnecessary drama. Germany will win this but any of the other three could get the 2nd place, most likely Portugal though.

Group H:
Korea > Belgium > Algeria > Russia
Probably the least interesting group for me. Korea were awesome in 2002 but I don't know their current generation of players. It'll be interesting to see if Belgium can live up to all the hype around them, I think they'll win this group and go quite far but will then flop at some point in the knockout stage. I used to like Russia in football, but all my favourites players from their squad are gone, and even though I hate the idea of mixing politics with sports, that does make me dislike Russia a little bit more... Anything can happen in this group, but I think that Algeria's chances are quite slim and Belgium are the favourites to win.

bukary on 12/6/2014 at 21:47

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I am watching Brasil-Croatia match right now. It is a farce. The referee is doing everything that he can in order to make Brasil win.

What's the word for such fake judging in English? In Poland we call it "printing".

faetal on 12/6/2014 at 22:26

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Seeing as I live here now, I'll be rooting for France. I don't give much of a fuck overall, but if it's happening all around me, I may as well join in.

SubJeff on 12/6/2014 at 22:51

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The opening match was fairly dire but that penalty was fair enough imho. You don't need to pull a shift to pull someone over, pushing them with your hand on the shoulder is perfectly adequate.



All the more reason to root for England! It'll put on up those Frenchies, what.