viva fifa!
- Thread starter spaminator
- Start date
I support Argentina because they had the guts to put their 'Dirty Warriors' of the coups in the 1970s, Videla and other generals, in prison for life for the regime of murder and terror they inflicted on their country.
That was markedly different from the rich and protected lifestyle Chile gave to Pinochet and his henchmen after democracy returned. Chile quailed at confronting its military and thus has ensured another coup in the future. Argentina put these traitors and cowards on trial and in prison, risking the wrath of their military.
Plus, i was born there.. but only stayed a few months.. and my parents were just passing through. That was during the last months of Evita.
How appropriate for you to say that.
So the Yanks just happened to have an input in every Liverpool league match of the season - except the last one, where they failed to win the title?
The reality is that if Liverpool had won the title it would have been because of Brendan Rodgers and the Liverpool players.
I support Argentina because they had the guts to put their 'Dirty Warriors' of the coups in the 1970s, Videla and other generals, in prison for life for the regime of murder and terror they inflicted on their country.
That was markedly different from the rich and protected lifestyle Chile gave to Pinochet and his henchmen after democracy returned. Chile quailed at confronting its military and thus has ensured another coup in the future. Argentina put these traitors and cowards on trial and in prison, risking the wrath of their military.
Plus, i was born there.. but only stayed a few months.. and my parents were just passing through. That was during the last months of Evita.
Normally, as an England fan, I would support neither the Argies nor the Hun, as I hate both teams.
However, in this match I am supporting the Germans as I would like to see this lot getting stuffed:
In March, Argentine president Cristina Kirchner called on the Argentine pope - who has wrongly called the Falklands "Argentine soil" (they're actually British soil) - to "achieve a dialogue with the United Kingdom over the 'Malvinas' "
The Germans winning 7-1 again would do very nicely. And my mother was born in Germany.
Argentina's Mascherano tore his anus against Netherlands
QMI Agency
First posted: Thursday, July 10, 2014 02:01 PM EDT
Javier Mascherano made a game-saving play, but it came at a painful cost.
The Argentina centre back made a diving tackle to break up an Arjen Robben run in the box during extra time in Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal showdown against the Netherlands.
Mascherano doubled over over in pain. The reason, he told reporters, was because he tore his anus on the play.
Uh, ouch.
It wasn’t the only painful play for Mascherano in the match. The Argentine collapsed to the ground after butting heads with Dutch opponent Georginio Wijnaldum. At first, Mascherano tried to shake it off, but he lost his balance moments later.
Despite the apparent head injury, he stayed in the game.
Argentina went on to win 4-2 on penalty kicks and will meet Germany in the World Cup final Sunday.
Argentina's Javier Mascherano apparently tore his anus on this game-saving tackle against Netherlands winger Arjen Robben during their World Cup semifinal match Wednesday. (Reuters)
Argentina's Mascherano tore his anus against Netherlands | World Cup | News and
Despite the fact that that was a brilliant tackle which probably denied Robben scoring a winning goal, Mascherano was crap as a Liverpool player and he's crap for Barcelona and Argentina. The Argies won't miss him too much if he misses the Final.
I'm just surprised that when Mascherano made that tackle Robben didn't perpetrate a spectacular dive, pulling off a few brilliant split tucks, spiral spins and airborne pirouettes for good measure.
********************************************
Brazil 2014 has been voted the best-ever World Cup by BBC Sport readers.
This World Cup has seen more goals - a lot of them absolute beauties - than any previous World Cup and has seen gritty underdog displays and shock results.
In the poll, 39% said that Brazil 2014 is the greatest-ever World Cup, followed by Italia 90 (10.5%) and England 1966 (8.8%).
In total Brazil topped six of the nine categories readers voted on.
Brazil 2014 topped the poll for unforgettable match, with 49.7% of people voting for it because of Germany's 7-1 demolition of Brazil. England 1966 was voted in second place for unforgettable match, with 14% of people of a certain age voting for it because Alf Ramsey's "Wingless Wonders" beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time in the Final.
Mexico 1986 was voted the most controversial World Cup because of Maradona's Hand of God goal against England in Argentina's 2-1 win in the Quarter Final which, for some reason, the referee allowed to stand, and the World Cup with the greatest players.
In contrast, Brazil 2014 has been voted only sixth for greatest players (5.5%).
Germany was voted best host for 2006.
Hosts Brazil were beaten 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals of the 2014 tournament
11 July 2014
BBC Sport
World Cup 2014: Brazil is greatest tournament in BBC vote
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil has been voted the greatest in the tournament's history by BBC Sport readers.
This summer's World Cup, which has seen great goals, gritty underdog displays and shock results, came out on top in Friday's Sportsday vote with 39%.
In total Brazil topped six of the nine categories readers voted on.
Mexico 1986 was voted the most controversial World Cup and the one with the best stage for great players. Germany was voted best host for 2006.
Nine votes were run on the BBC Sport website from 08:00 to 14:30 BST on Friday with tens of thousands of you taking part. The results are not intended to provide a definitive view of World Cup history - they are simply a sample of our readers' opinions. Here are the voting categories:
•The best goals
•The biggest controversy
•The most contenders
•The best underdogs
•The best late drama
•The best stage for great players to shine
•The most unforgettable match
•The best hosts
•The best overall World Cup since the first in 1930.
This year's World Cup has seen 167 goals scored in 62 games, with spectacular finishes including Robin van Persie's diving header against Spain for the Netherlands, Colombia forward James Rodriguez's long-range effort against Uruguay, Lionel Messi's curler against Iran for Argentina and Australia veteran Tim Cahill's volley against the Netherlands.
It is of little surprise then, that Brazil 2014 also ran away with readers' votes on the tournament with the best goals scored, as it took 44.1%.
Mexico 1986 had the second-highest number of votes (28.1%), with France 1998 third (18.1%), Germany 2006 (6.2%) and USA 1994 (3.5%) fourth and fifth respectively.
Brazil 2014 was also voted the most competitive in World Cup history, with 55.9% of readers recognising a tournament that has seen the likes of Chile, Costa Rica and Colombia excel, as well as plenty of closely-fought contests.
There have been few heavily one-sided contests with, surprisingly, only the likes of Brazil, Spain and Portugal on the end of hefty defeats.
Brazil's loss - the shock 7-1 demolition by Germany in the semi-finals - made it the overwhelming winner of the best match at a World Cup, taking 49.7% of the vote, ahead of England's 1966 World Cup final win against West Germany (14%).
However, the overall competitive nature of this summer's tournament meant readers also felt it produced the best underdog results.
Costa Rica topping a group which contained former World Cup winners Uruguay, Italy and England, coupled with their run to the quarter-final, and an equally impressive run by Colombia, along with determined displays from Algeria and the United States was enough to see 2014 take 48.2%.
The 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan, which saw Turkey finish third and the Koreans fourth, took the second-highest share of the votes with 29.4%.
The late drama category was the closest of the six that Brazil 2014 came out on top of, as it collected 38.6% of votes.
Former Celtic man Georgios Samaras scored a dramatic last-minute penalty against Ivory Coast to send Greece into the knockout stage, while the Netherlands scored two late goals to sink Mexico and Messi grabbed a late winner against Iran.
In total, seven games have gone to extra-time while fans have been treated to four tense penalty shootouts, and that was enough to convince Sportsday readers that this summer has been a tournament featuring more drama than the 1966 World Cup in England.
That tournament, of course, saw West Germany score a late equaliser in normal time of the final, only for Geoff Hurst to then seal England's first and only World Cup win in extra-time.
The comfortable winner of the most controversial World Cup vote was Mexico 1986, a tournament that saw Diego Maradona score the 'Hand of God' goal against England as Argentina won 2-1 in the quarter-final.
Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England in 1986, four years after the Falklands War, was voted the most controversial incident in World Cup history by BBC Sportsday readers
Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England in 1986 was voted the most controversial incident in World Cup history by BBC Sportsday readers
That tournament collected 47.7% of votes, with Spain 1982, a tournament where a 1-0 win for West Germany against Austria was enough to see those two sides progress at the expense of Algeria, taking 19.6%.
Maradona may have been the centre of controversy in 1986, but his many dazzling displays in that tournament means it was voted as the best World Cup in terms of where the big players performed, claiming 32% of votes. Zinedine Zidane's magical performances in France 1998 saw that World Cup claim the second-highest amount of votes with 17.7%.
Finally, 30.2% of readers voted the 2006 World Cup in Germany as the best-staged tournament.
Perhaps surprisingly, though, was Brazil 2014 being voted the second best with 22.8% of the votes, given the question marks over the readiness of stadiums in the run-up to the tournament.
See what readers were saying about the greatest World Cup in Friday's Sportsday.
Vote results in full:
Greatest-ever World Cup
1. Brazil 2014 - 39.0%
2. Italia 1990 - 10.5%
3. England 1966 - 8.8%
4. France 1998 - 8.4%
5. Germany 2006 - 8.1%
6. Mexico 1970 - 4.7%
7. Korea/Japan 2002 -3.9%; 8. Mexico 1986 -3.6%; 9.Spain 1982 -3.3%; 10. USA 1994 -3.0%; 11. S Africa 2010 -2.5%; 12. Uruguay 1930 -1.1%; 13. W Germany 1974 -0.8%; 14. Argentina 1978 -0.7%; 15. Switzerland 1954 -0.6%; 16. Sweden 1958 -0.4%; 17. France 1938 -0.3%; 18. Chile 1962 -0.1%; 19. Italy 1934 -0.1%; 20. Brazil 1950 -0.1%.
Best goals at a World Cup
1. Brazil 2014 - 44.1%
2. Mexico 1986 - 28.1%
3. France 1998 - 18.1%
4. Germany 2006 - 6.2%
5. USA 1994 - 3.5%
Most competitive World Cup
1. Brazil 2014 - 55.9%
2. Mexico 1986 - 18.2%
3. South Korea/Japan 2002 - 16.8%
4. Germany 2006 - 9.1%
Controversial results
1. Mexico 1986 - 47.7%
2. Spain 1982 - 19.6%
3. Brazil 2014 - 19.5%
4. England 1966 - 9.8%
5. Chile 1962 - 3.4%
Best underdog results
1. Brazil 2014 - 48.2%
2. South Korea/Japan 2002 - 29.4%
3. Italy 1990 - 10.9%
4. S. Africa 2010 - 3.4%
5. Germany 2006 - 3.2%
6. Spain 1982 - 2.5%
7. Mexico 1986 - 2.4%
Late drama
1. Brazil 2014 - 38.6%
2. England 1966 - 27.3%
3. Italy 1990 - 21.8%
4. Germany 2006 - 8.4%
5. Mexico 1986 - 3.9%
Greatest players
1. Mexico 1986 - 32.0%
2. France 1998 - 17.7%
3. Mexico 1970 - 17.5%
4. South Korea/Japan 2002 - 16.6%
5. West Germany 1974 - 8.3%
6. Brazil 2014 - 5.5%
7. Spain 1982 - 2.4%
Most unforgettable match
1. Brazil 2014 - 49.7%
2. England 1966 - 14.0%
3. Spain 1982 - 7.7%
4. Mexico 1986 - 7.6%
5. Italy 1990 - 6.9%
6. Mexico 1970 - 5.8%
7. France 1998 - 3.9%
8. Argentina 1978 - 2.9%
9. West Germany 1974 - 1.4%
Best hosts
1. Germany 2006 - 30.2%
2. Brazil 2014 - 22.8%
3. South Korea/Japan 2002 - 12.5%
4. Italy 1990 - 11.8%
5. France 1998 - 9.7%
6. England 1966 - 8.6%
7. Mexico 1986 - 4.4%
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28268842
Last edited:
Best WC of all time?
Not sure if I can agree though it certainly has been a good one. Perhaps the drubbing Brazil took at the hands of Germany spoiled it for me. Anyways, two more matches to go - perhaps these will improve upon what was already a good tournament.
Not sure if I can agree though it certainly has been a good one. Perhaps the drubbing Brazil took at the hands of Germany spoiled it for me. Anyways, two more matches to go - perhaps these will improve upon what was already a good tournament.
Germany will win.
Argentina has better players, but the Germans are the better team.
The Argies have so much attacking talent, but they've been playing less than the sum of their parts.
Still, they're in the World Cup final.
Argentina has better players, but the Germans are the better team.
The Argies have so much attacking talent, but they've been playing less than the sum of their parts.
Still, they're in the World Cup final.
That's right... the limeys choked. The Yanks got them there and the limeys fell apart.
Belgium World Cup Fan Gets L'Oreal Modeling Contract
Belgium World Cup Fan Gets L'Oreal Modeling Contract
Thursday, July 10 2014
Source: The Fumble
Toronto Sun
L’Oréal Drops World Cup Model After Hunting Photos Surface
L’Oréal Drops World Cup Model After Hunting Photos Surface
Saturday, July 12 2014
Source: Newsy
Toronto Sun
Belgium World Cup Fan Gets L'Oreal Modeling Contract
Thursday, July 10 2014
Source: The Fumble
Toronto Sun
L’Oréal Drops World Cup Model After Hunting Photos Surface
L’Oréal Drops World Cup Model After Hunting Photos Surface
Saturday, July 12 2014
Source: Newsy
Toronto Sun
Third Place Play-off
Brazil 0-3 Netherlands
...........................Van Persie 3 (pen); Blind 16; Wijnaldum 90
So Brazil could only manage to finish fourth in their own World Cup after losing 3-0 against Netherlands in the pointless Third Place Play-off (which Netherlands manager Louis Van Gaal has been saying for the last 20 years should be scrapped), something which must be very disappointing for a nation which thought it only had to turn up to win the thing on its own soil for the first time.
Nearly men Netherlands - who have finished third in a World Cup for the first-time ever after finishing second in 1974, 1978 and 2010 - were 2-0 up when, in injury time, the ITV1 commentator was saying that Brazil have conceded 13 goals, more than they've conceded in any other World Cup. Then moments later Netherlands scored again to make it 3-0, and the commentator said: "Make that 14!".
That 14 goals that Brazil have conceded beats their previous record of 11, at the 1938 World Cup in France.
This was also Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal's last game in charge of his country. He is now about to fly to Manchester to become the new Manchester United manager, where he starts his new role next week. He could have gone on holiday but has said that "holidays are for wimps" and so is to go straight into his new job.
Van Gaal says his Manchester United players - including Netherlands striker Robin van Persie - must find the same unity as the Dutch squad had at the World Cup.
The former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss will take charge of a United squad that finished seventh last season, with manager David Moyes sacked in April after 10 months at the club.
Van Gaal's first home match as United boss will be a friendly against Spanish side Valencia on 12 August, but he will first take the squad to the United States. The new Premier League season starts on 16 August.
The 62-year-old, who has signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford, said there would "always be a place in my heart" for the players and staff who were part of the Netherlands' World Cup bid.
"I have top staff. They are great people. My players were even better. It was a great group," he added.
Van Gaal's side were beaten in a penalty shootout by Argentina following a 0-0 draw after extra time in the semi-finals.
But they secured third spot as Robin van Persie, Daley Blind and Georginio Wijnaldum scored in the win over hosts Brazil and Van Gaal is now focused on bringing success back to Old Trafford.
"I hope at Manchester United I can do my best," he said.
"I will do my best. Whether that's enough for the fans I will wait and see, but I genuinely hope that will be the case."
Manchester United tour dates
Manchester United's new 2014/15 home kit is modelled, in the front row, by Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa. Also in the picture are Belgian defender Marouane Fellaini, Patrice Evra, Danny Welbeck and David de Gea
23 July v Los Angeles Galaxy
26 July v AS Roma (Denver)
29 July v Inter Milan (Washington)
2 August v Real Madrid (Michigan)
4 August Champions Cup final (Miami)
Robben scored three goals and registered one assist at the World Cup and, despite rumours linking him with a move to United, the 30-year-old winger said that he would stay in Germany.
"I have a special bond with Van Gaal. He is the most important coach in my career," said Robben.
"[Moving to United] is not an option though. I will stay at Bayern Munich."
Before the tournament, Van Gaal, pictured here with Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar at the World Cup, said he rated his side's chances of reaching the last eight as "20%"
Ex-Netherlands stars Danny Blind (left) and Patrick Kluivert (right) assisted Van Gaal (centre) - who is to become the new Manchester United manager next week - at the 2014 World Cup. Danny Blind's son, Daley Blind, scored Netherlands' second goal last night
Brazil fans hold up a placard which reads "The feeling can't stop. Always Brazil" before the match
The injured Neymar received one of the biggest cheers when his name was read out before the game
Brazil conceded 14 goals this tournament - the most they have let in at a single World Cup. Manchester United striker Van Persie - who will join up with Van Gaal again at United - puts the Dutch ahead from the penalty spot early in the game
The Netherlands scored three goals from four shots on target in the play-off
Brazil fans made their feelings towards coach Luiz Felipe Scolari known before kick-off
Robin van Persie's goal was his first World Cup strike not to come in the group stages
The injured Neymar watched on from the bench as Brazil suffered a second successive defeat
Daley Blind has been involved in four goals in this World Cup, more than any other defender
Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari was booed when he appeared on the big screen at the Estadio Nacional
Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup success in 2002, returned as national team manager in 2012
BBC Sport - Brazil 0-3 Netherlands
Brazil 0-3 Netherlands
...........................Van Persie 3 (pen); Blind 16; Wijnaldum 90
So Brazil could only manage to finish fourth in their own World Cup after losing 3-0 against Netherlands in the pointless Third Place Play-off (which Netherlands manager Louis Van Gaal has been saying for the last 20 years should be scrapped), something which must be very disappointing for a nation which thought it only had to turn up to win the thing on its own soil for the first time.
Nearly men Netherlands - who have finished third in a World Cup for the first-time ever after finishing second in 1974, 1978 and 2010 - were 2-0 up when, in injury time, the ITV1 commentator was saying that Brazil have conceded 13 goals, more than they've conceded in any other World Cup. Then moments later Netherlands scored again to make it 3-0, and the commentator said: "Make that 14!".
That 14 goals that Brazil have conceded beats their previous record of 11, at the 1938 World Cup in France.
This was also Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal's last game in charge of his country. He is now about to fly to Manchester to become the new Manchester United manager, where he starts his new role next week. He could have gone on holiday but has said that "holidays are for wimps" and so is to go straight into his new job.
Van Gaal says his Manchester United players - including Netherlands striker Robin van Persie - must find the same unity as the Dutch squad had at the World Cup.
The former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss will take charge of a United squad that finished seventh last season, with manager David Moyes sacked in April after 10 months at the club.
Van Gaal's first home match as United boss will be a friendly against Spanish side Valencia on 12 August, but he will first take the squad to the United States. The new Premier League season starts on 16 August.
The 62-year-old, who has signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford, said there would "always be a place in my heart" for the players and staff who were part of the Netherlands' World Cup bid.
"I have top staff. They are great people. My players were even better. It was a great group," he added.
Van Gaal's side were beaten in a penalty shootout by Argentina following a 0-0 draw after extra time in the semi-finals.
But they secured third spot as Robin van Persie, Daley Blind and Georginio Wijnaldum scored in the win over hosts Brazil and Van Gaal is now focused on bringing success back to Old Trafford.
"I hope at Manchester United I can do my best," he said.
"I will do my best. Whether that's enough for the fans I will wait and see, but I genuinely hope that will be the case."
Manchester United tour dates
Manchester United's new 2014/15 home kit is modelled, in the front row, by Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa. Also in the picture are Belgian defender Marouane Fellaini, Patrice Evra, Danny Welbeck and David de Gea
23 July v Los Angeles Galaxy
26 July v AS Roma (Denver)
29 July v Inter Milan (Washington)
2 August v Real Madrid (Michigan)
4 August Champions Cup final (Miami)
Robben scored three goals and registered one assist at the World Cup and, despite rumours linking him with a move to United, the 30-year-old winger said that he would stay in Germany.
"I have a special bond with Van Gaal. He is the most important coach in my career," said Robben.
"[Moving to United] is not an option though. I will stay at Bayern Munich."
Before the tournament, Van Gaal, pictured here with Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar at the World Cup, said he rated his side's chances of reaching the last eight as "20%"
Ex-Netherlands stars Danny Blind (left) and Patrick Kluivert (right) assisted Van Gaal (centre) - who is to become the new Manchester United manager next week - at the 2014 World Cup. Danny Blind's son, Daley Blind, scored Netherlands' second goal last night
Brazil fans hold up a placard which reads "The feeling can't stop. Always Brazil" before the match
The injured Neymar received one of the biggest cheers when his name was read out before the game
Brazil conceded 14 goals this tournament - the most they have let in at a single World Cup. Manchester United striker Van Persie - who will join up with Van Gaal again at United - puts the Dutch ahead from the penalty spot early in the game
The Netherlands scored three goals from four shots on target in the play-off
Brazil fans made their feelings towards coach Luiz Felipe Scolari known before kick-off
Robin van Persie's goal was his first World Cup strike not to come in the group stages
The injured Neymar watched on from the bench as Brazil suffered a second successive defeat
Daley Blind has been involved in four goals in this World Cup, more than any other defender
Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari was booed when he appeared on the big screen at the Estadio Nacional
Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup success in 2002, returned as national team manager in 2012
BBC Sport - Brazil 0-3 Netherlands
Last edited:
Everyone knows killing animals is evil.
As for the erstwhile model, I don't think she's suffering too much if she is able to go to Africa for hunting and Brazil for a soccer game. I won't be shedding a tear but I will look at her photos a while longer.
So the Yanks had input throughout the whole of the season - except the last match.
Okay then.
Love those dogs. Did the Brits make this illegal? Pity if they did.
So the Yanks had input throughout the whole of the season - except the last match.
Okay then.
Labour's 2004 Hunting Act didn't outlaw fox hunting in England & Wales. It just outlawed hunting foxes and other wild animals with dogs. It is still legal to hunt, though. 37% of people believe the hunting ban is an infringement of civil liberties, according to a Yougov poll. The Act came into force on 18 February 2005.
The pursuit of foxes with hounds was banned in Scotland two years earlier by the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.
Such hunting remains legal, however, in Northern Ireland.
The 2014 World Cup Final, which kicks off at the Maracana in Rio at 9pm BST tonight, is expected to have the largest global TV audience in history for a sporting event.
It is thought the largest global audience for a sporting event is the 1 billion who watched the 2011 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final between India and Pakistan.
But tonight's Football World Cup Final between heavyweights Argentina and Germany, who are meeting each other in the Final for the third time, is expected to top that.
Supermodels and pop stars will mix with world leaders and ordinary fans at the climax of a month’s football that has seen Brazil lose seven-one to Germany in a semi-final and Luis Suarez banned for biting an opponent on the shoulder.
With tickets changing hands for as much as £11,000, most fans will of course watch it on television.
In the best Brazilian tradition, FIFA’s famous gold trophy will be unveiled to the World Cup Final crowd by the country’s most famous export - the supermodel Giselle Bundchen.
The 33-year-old, for those who don’t know, is the world’s highest paid supermodel and a former girlfriend of the actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Miss Bundchen will be joined in the celebrations at the Maracana stadium by the Barbadian pop star Rihanna, who flew into Rio de Janeiro on Friday but who has spent much of the tournament tweeting about the games.
Also expected to be at the Maracana are LeBron James, the Lionel Messi of basketball, David Beckham and Rolling Stones' Sir Mick Jagger.
James's presence further cements football’s position as the leading global sport and which is now on the verge of properly conquering America.
Argentine President Cristina Kirchner will not attend the match, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who attended Germany's match against Portugal in the Group Stage, will be there, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Mr Putin is in town as part of the hand over to Russia which will stage the 2018 tournament.
World Cup Final 2014 To Be Most Watched Sporting Event In History
Glamorous end to 2014 World Cup with final featuring supermodel Giselle Bundchen, American pop star Rihanna, LeBron James, the Lionel Messi of basketball, David Beckham and Sir Mick Jagger
A flag displaying the World Cup logo at the Estadio do Maracana Photo: PA
By Robert Mend ick, and Claire Duffin
12 Jul 2014
The Telegraph
It has been widely recognised as the greatest of World Cup tournaments.
Sunday's final promises to be the most glamorous and certainly the most watched.
Supermodels and pop stars will mix with world leaders and ordinary fans at the climax of a month’s football that has seen Brazil lose seven-one to Germany in a semi-final and Luis Suarez banned for biting an opponent on the shoulder.
With tickets changing hands for as much as £11,000, most fans will of course watch it on television.
The global audience is expected to tip the billion mark for the first time ever.
In the best Brazilian tradition, FIFA’s famous gold trophy will be unveiled to the World Cup Final crowd by the country’s most famous export - the supermodel Giselle Bundchen.
The 33-year-old, for those who don’t know, is the world’s highest paid supermodel and a former girlfriend of the actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Miss Bundchen will be joined in the celebrations at the Maracana stadium by the Barbadian pop star Rihanna, who flew into Rio de Janeiro on Friday but who has spent much of the tournament tweeting about the games.
Rihanna, 26, is arguably the best known living female pop star on the planet. She also happens to endorse Budweiser, the American beer company, which is an official sponsor of the tournament and which has ensured Rihanna’s appearance at the final.
Others in attendance include Shakira, the Colombian pop star, who will - for the third World Cup final running - perform at the closing ceremony.
There was talk Rihanna may perform alongside her.
LeBron James, the Lionel Messi of basketball, will also attend. His presence further cements football’s position as the leading global sport and which is now on the verge of properly conquering America.
David Beckham and Sir Mick Jagger will be there as well, providing England with at least a presence in the final - three weeks after the team was knocked out in the usual, dismal style.
Scotland will be represented in the hunky shape of Gerard Butler, the Hollywood heart throb.
Rio's grand ... Christ the Redeemer statue towers over the Maracana stadium
While obviously less glamorous, the politically powerful presence of Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, will also be felt. Mr Putin is in town as part of the hand over to Russia which will stage the 2018 tournament.
Mrs Merkel was trying to stay calm and dampen expectation with Germany going into the final as firm favourites. “It certainly won’t be easy; after the 7:1 [against Brazil] everybody thinks 'It’s almost done’ - that’s why we all need to cross our fingers again,” she said.
By last night, an estimated 100,000 Argentinians had made Brazil their home, ahead of the final against Germany. While the local population will cheer on Germany, fans of Argentina, their great rivals, are expected to dominate inside the Maracana.
They will also in all likelihood have God on their side, or at least the blessing of Pope Francis, who hails from Buenos Aires. Yesterday, he tweeted: “The World Cup allowed people from different countries and religions to come together. May sport always promote the culture of encounter.”
It was claimed yesterday that back in February, Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff asked two favours of Pope Francis when she visited him at the Vatican.
One was to deliver a televised address, which was duly broadcast on Brazilian television last week, and the other was to plead for neutrality.
“She [Miss Rousseff] asked him not to pray for Argentina to win, which would give them an unfair advantage,” said the Colombian archbishop Urbina Ortega, who was a witness to the meeting.
The Pope said he would “pray for everyone”.
Miss Rousseff was yesterday putting a brave face on her country's humiliating exit.
“We competently maintained peace and order as well as having good airport administration among other successes,” the Brazilian president declared. Brazil’s supporters will see little consolation in this.
As the Pope settles down to watch the final in The Vatican, he does so along with a worldwide audience of as many as a billion people.
For the final in 2010 in South Africa, an estimated 909.6 million people watched at least a minute of the final and 619.7 million watched at least 20 consecutive minutes.
With Lionel Messi, the world’s greatest and most loved footballer, taking on Germany, the best team in the competition, interest is likely to be far higher in tonight’s game than tuned in for Spain versus Netherlands four years ago.
Many of the Argentines who have flocked to Rio will also have to make do with watching the game on television.
They have been unable to find hotel rooms and yesterday began camping out on Copacabana beach, turning the area into a makeshift camp, adding to Brazil’s misery.
World Cup Final 2014: Goals and glamour - Telegraph
*********************************
World Cup final 2014, Germany vs Argentina: Nine things that will decide the winners
Early goals, Mick Jagger and Javier Mascherano's head are all likely to be key battle areas in deciding the winner of this year's World Cup final
Head to head: Who will come out on top, Toni Kroos or Lionel Messi? Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Mehreen Khan
10 Jul 2014
The Telegraph
82 Comments
1. Stifling Messi
A singular free-kick and penalty aside, Lionel Messi was well and truly kept out of the thick of the action against Holland in Sao Paulo.
Louis van Gaal's approach of suffocating Messi with a cynical Bruno Martins Indi and the excellent Nigel De Jong frustrated the Argentine captain to the point of anonymity in the semi-final - a tactic that Joachim Loew won't have failed to notice.
Germany may well opt for the outstanding Sami Khedira and Philip Lahm to do the same, while calling on the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil to chip in. The three Bayern Munich men are unlikely to be daunted by the task, having both been part of the great side that romped to a 7-0 aggregate victory against Messi's Barcelona in the Champions League in 2013.
2. That German midfield three
The triumvirate of Khedira-Schweinsteiger-Kroos was not the midfield that Joachim Loew started the tournament with, but has evolved to become the pivot upon which the side's new found resilience has been built. The introduction of Khedira for Lahm, who is in his preferred full-back position, has put an end to the shaky vulnerability the Germans showed against Algeria and the USA, while launching wave after wave of attacks for the trio of Ozil, Muller and Klose.
Having seen the demolition job against Brazil, Sabella and co will know that disrupting Germany's middle from dictating the game will hold the key to their success. Expect to see less of Khedira and Kroos running late into the box against a disciplined and organised Argentina side, who will try their level best to grind down the pace of the game.
3. Local support
Argentine fans have made their side's matches feel like home games in Brazil. The host country's bitterest rivals have travelled in their droves but it will be the Germans who will have the Maracana behind them on Sunday.
The breakout of Brazilian ole's for Germany in their hammering of the hosts was a decent indicator that the country's 200 million football fans will, without exception, be donning white shirts and hoping for the first European World Cup success in Latin American.
Another 7-1 would do very nicely, danke.
4. The state of Javier Mascherano's head
There was a point, mid-way through the first half against Holland, that Javier Mascherano didn't know if he was in Sao Paulo or Southend. The dogged defensive midfielder had collided with the head of Georginio Wijnaldum and looked ready for a stretcher.
Described by his manager as a "symbol" for the rest of the team, Mascherano ran off what could have been mild concussion and was the player sprinting in to the box, in the 90th minute, to stop Arjen Robben putting Holland into the World Cup final. Mascherano will have five days to sufficiently recover from any ill-effects of the bang on his noggin, and the hopes of his nation will rest upon him as much as they will on Messi.
5. An early German goal
Joachim Loew's team have won every game in which they have scored first in this World Cup and they like to wrap things up pretty early. Germany were on the scoresheet within the first 15 minutes against Portugal, France, and Brazil.
Belgium aside, Argentina have been slow starters so far, scoring late winners in the group stage and finding an last-gasp extra-time decider against Switzerland. Sabella's side will have to concentrate all their efforts on stopping the Germans from building an early head of steam if they still want to be in contention come the last third of the match.
6. Recovery time
Germany had the luxury of sealing their semi-final win with two-thirds of the match still remaining in Belo Horizonte. The likes of Matts Hummels, Miroslav Klose, and Sami Khedira all got a nice mid-match rest after being substituted with plenty of time to spare against Brazil.
Argentina emerged from their attritional display against the Dutch as “sore, beaten, and tired as a result of a war” according to their boss Alejandro Sabella. Add a dose of emotional exhaustion that comes with contesting a penalty shoot-out, and that one day less of rest may well come to show if we get into added time in Rio.
7. Mick Jagger
The Stones hitman has emerged as a sort of evil musical twin brother of Paul the Octopus at this World Cup. Jagger has backed four teams so far in the tournament and all of them (England, Italy, Portugal and Brazil) have gone on to be dumped out in unceremonious fashion.
The Jagger curse has got so severe that Brazilians have taken to calling him Pe Frio, which translates literally as Cold Feet, a Brazilian term for a jinx. So Mick will be hoping for a satisfaction-making 5 out of 5 come Rio on Sunday. We await the declaration of his allegiance with anticipation.
8. If Di Maria can make it
Angel Di Maria won't want to leave Brazil best remembered as the player that lost the ball 51 times in a match before scoring a winning goal. The Real Madrid man had an astounding season in Spain last year creating 26 assists. Given the struggles of Ezequiel Lavezzi and his replacement Enzo Perez, Di Maria's return would be a huge boon for Sabella's side should he manage to recover from a thigh strain on Sunday.
As seen against Algeria, Germany are vulnerable to lightning quick attacks, and if nothing else, Di Maria will no doubt be seen galloping down the pitch deep into added and extra-time testing Manuel Neuer's sweeper keeper credentials.
9. Banishing the memory of 1990
The previous World Cup Final encounter between these two sides ranks as one of the worst matches to have ever graced a World Cup Final.
A 12-year-old Miroslav Klose is one of the few players who would have a vivid memory of the game where Germans were crowned champions after 1-0 win courtesy of a late winning penalty. Lionel Messi was a toddler. Mario Gotze, thankfully, wasn't even born.
Here's hoping all 22 players will be out to prove a point in Rio. Namely that they can serve up a stonking end to the best World Cup in modern memory.
THE PRIZE
Since the advent of the World Cup in 1930, two trophies have been used: the Jules Rimet Trophy from 1930 to 1970, and the FIFA World Cup Trophy from 1974 to the present-day.
The first trophy, originally named Victory, but later renamed in honour of former FIFA president Jules Rimet, was made of gold plated sterling silver and lapis lazuli and depicted Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Brazil won the trophy outright in 1970, prompting the commissioning of a replacement. The Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen in 1983 and never recovered.
The subsequent trophy, called the "FIFA World Cup Trophy", was introduced in 1974. Made of 18 carat gold with a malachite base, it stands 14.5 inches high and weighs 13.4 pounds. The trophy was made by Stabilimento Artistico Bertoni company in Italy. It depicts two human figures holding up the Earth.
World Cup final 2014, Germany vs Argentina: Nine things that will decide the winners - Telegraph
Erm, we're actually talking hunting foxes and wild mammals.
If you want to hunt the Taigs that's fine by me, but this was a discussion about foxhunting.
It is thought the largest global audience for a sporting event is the 1 billion who watched the 2011 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final between India and Pakistan.
But tonight's Football World Cup Final between heavyweights Argentina and Germany, who are meeting each other in the Final for the third time, is expected to top that.
Supermodels and pop stars will mix with world leaders and ordinary fans at the climax of a month’s football that has seen Brazil lose seven-one to Germany in a semi-final and Luis Suarez banned for biting an opponent on the shoulder.
With tickets changing hands for as much as £11,000, most fans will of course watch it on television.
In the best Brazilian tradition, FIFA’s famous gold trophy will be unveiled to the World Cup Final crowd by the country’s most famous export - the supermodel Giselle Bundchen.
The 33-year-old, for those who don’t know, is the world’s highest paid supermodel and a former girlfriend of the actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Miss Bundchen will be joined in the celebrations at the Maracana stadium by the Barbadian pop star Rihanna, who flew into Rio de Janeiro on Friday but who has spent much of the tournament tweeting about the games.
Also expected to be at the Maracana are LeBron James, the Lionel Messi of basketball, David Beckham and Rolling Stones' Sir Mick Jagger.
James's presence further cements football’s position as the leading global sport and which is now on the verge of properly conquering America.
Argentine President Cristina Kirchner will not attend the match, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who attended Germany's match against Portugal in the Group Stage, will be there, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Mr Putin is in town as part of the hand over to Russia which will stage the 2018 tournament.
World Cup Final 2014 To Be Most Watched Sporting Event In History
Glamorous end to 2014 World Cup with final featuring supermodel Giselle Bundchen, American pop star Rihanna, LeBron James, the Lionel Messi of basketball, David Beckham and Sir Mick Jagger
A flag displaying the World Cup logo at the Estadio do Maracana Photo: PA
By Robert Mend ick, and Claire Duffin
12 Jul 2014
The Telegraph
It has been widely recognised as the greatest of World Cup tournaments.
Sunday's final promises to be the most glamorous and certainly the most watched.
Supermodels and pop stars will mix with world leaders and ordinary fans at the climax of a month’s football that has seen Brazil lose seven-one to Germany in a semi-final and Luis Suarez banned for biting an opponent on the shoulder.
With tickets changing hands for as much as £11,000, most fans will of course watch it on television.
The global audience is expected to tip the billion mark for the first time ever.
In the best Brazilian tradition, FIFA’s famous gold trophy will be unveiled to the World Cup Final crowd by the country’s most famous export - the supermodel Giselle Bundchen.
The 33-year-old, for those who don’t know, is the world’s highest paid supermodel and a former girlfriend of the actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Miss Bundchen will be joined in the celebrations at the Maracana stadium by the Barbadian pop star Rihanna, who flew into Rio de Janeiro on Friday but who has spent much of the tournament tweeting about the games.
Rihanna, 26, is arguably the best known living female pop star on the planet. She also happens to endorse Budweiser, the American beer company, which is an official sponsor of the tournament and which has ensured Rihanna’s appearance at the final.
Others in attendance include Shakira, the Colombian pop star, who will - for the third World Cup final running - perform at the closing ceremony.
There was talk Rihanna may perform alongside her.
LeBron James, the Lionel Messi of basketball, will also attend. His presence further cements football’s position as the leading global sport and which is now on the verge of properly conquering America.
David Beckham and Sir Mick Jagger will be there as well, providing England with at least a presence in the final - three weeks after the team was knocked out in the usual, dismal style.
Scotland will be represented in the hunky shape of Gerard Butler, the Hollywood heart throb.
Rio's grand ... Christ the Redeemer statue towers over the Maracana stadium
While obviously less glamorous, the politically powerful presence of Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, will also be felt. Mr Putin is in town as part of the hand over to Russia which will stage the 2018 tournament.
Mrs Merkel was trying to stay calm and dampen expectation with Germany going into the final as firm favourites. “It certainly won’t be easy; after the 7:1 [against Brazil] everybody thinks 'It’s almost done’ - that’s why we all need to cross our fingers again,” she said.
By last night, an estimated 100,000 Argentinians had made Brazil their home, ahead of the final against Germany. While the local population will cheer on Germany, fans of Argentina, their great rivals, are expected to dominate inside the Maracana.
They will also in all likelihood have God on their side, or at least the blessing of Pope Francis, who hails from Buenos Aires. Yesterday, he tweeted: “The World Cup allowed people from different countries and religions to come together. May sport always promote the culture of encounter.”
It was claimed yesterday that back in February, Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff asked two favours of Pope Francis when she visited him at the Vatican.
One was to deliver a televised address, which was duly broadcast on Brazilian television last week, and the other was to plead for neutrality.
“She [Miss Rousseff] asked him not to pray for Argentina to win, which would give them an unfair advantage,” said the Colombian archbishop Urbina Ortega, who was a witness to the meeting.
The Pope said he would “pray for everyone”.
Miss Rousseff was yesterday putting a brave face on her country's humiliating exit.
“We competently maintained peace and order as well as having good airport administration among other successes,” the Brazilian president declared. Brazil’s supporters will see little consolation in this.
As the Pope settles down to watch the final in The Vatican, he does so along with a worldwide audience of as many as a billion people.
For the final in 2010 in South Africa, an estimated 909.6 million people watched at least a minute of the final and 619.7 million watched at least 20 consecutive minutes.
With Lionel Messi, the world’s greatest and most loved footballer, taking on Germany, the best team in the competition, interest is likely to be far higher in tonight’s game than tuned in for Spain versus Netherlands four years ago.
Many of the Argentines who have flocked to Rio will also have to make do with watching the game on television.
They have been unable to find hotel rooms and yesterday began camping out on Copacabana beach, turning the area into a makeshift camp, adding to Brazil’s misery.
World Cup Final 2014: Goals and glamour - Telegraph
*********************************
World Cup final 2014, Germany vs Argentina: Nine things that will decide the winners
Early goals, Mick Jagger and Javier Mascherano's head are all likely to be key battle areas in deciding the winner of this year's World Cup final
Head to head: Who will come out on top, Toni Kroos or Lionel Messi? Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Mehreen Khan
10 Jul 2014
The Telegraph
1. Stifling Messi
A singular free-kick and penalty aside, Lionel Messi was well and truly kept out of the thick of the action against Holland in Sao Paulo.
Louis van Gaal's approach of suffocating Messi with a cynical Bruno Martins Indi and the excellent Nigel De Jong frustrated the Argentine captain to the point of anonymity in the semi-final - a tactic that Joachim Loew won't have failed to notice.
Germany may well opt for the outstanding Sami Khedira and Philip Lahm to do the same, while calling on the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil to chip in. The three Bayern Munich men are unlikely to be daunted by the task, having both been part of the great side that romped to a 7-0 aggregate victory against Messi's Barcelona in the Champions League in 2013.
2. That German midfield three
The triumvirate of Khedira-Schweinsteiger-Kroos was not the midfield that Joachim Loew started the tournament with, but has evolved to become the pivot upon which the side's new found resilience has been built. The introduction of Khedira for Lahm, who is in his preferred full-back position, has put an end to the shaky vulnerability the Germans showed against Algeria and the USA, while launching wave after wave of attacks for the trio of Ozil, Muller and Klose.
Having seen the demolition job against Brazil, Sabella and co will know that disrupting Germany's middle from dictating the game will hold the key to their success. Expect to see less of Khedira and Kroos running late into the box against a disciplined and organised Argentina side, who will try their level best to grind down the pace of the game.
3. Local support
Argentine fans have made their side's matches feel like home games in Brazil. The host country's bitterest rivals have travelled in their droves but it will be the Germans who will have the Maracana behind them on Sunday.
The breakout of Brazilian ole's for Germany in their hammering of the hosts was a decent indicator that the country's 200 million football fans will, without exception, be donning white shirts and hoping for the first European World Cup success in Latin American.
Another 7-1 would do very nicely, danke.
4. The state of Javier Mascherano's head
There was a point, mid-way through the first half against Holland, that Javier Mascherano didn't know if he was in Sao Paulo or Southend. The dogged defensive midfielder had collided with the head of Georginio Wijnaldum and looked ready for a stretcher.
Described by his manager as a "symbol" for the rest of the team, Mascherano ran off what could have been mild concussion and was the player sprinting in to the box, in the 90th minute, to stop Arjen Robben putting Holland into the World Cup final. Mascherano will have five days to sufficiently recover from any ill-effects of the bang on his noggin, and the hopes of his nation will rest upon him as much as they will on Messi.
5. An early German goal
Joachim Loew's team have won every game in which they have scored first in this World Cup and they like to wrap things up pretty early. Germany were on the scoresheet within the first 15 minutes against Portugal, France, and Brazil.
Belgium aside, Argentina have been slow starters so far, scoring late winners in the group stage and finding an last-gasp extra-time decider against Switzerland. Sabella's side will have to concentrate all their efforts on stopping the Germans from building an early head of steam if they still want to be in contention come the last third of the match.
6. Recovery time
Germany had the luxury of sealing their semi-final win with two-thirds of the match still remaining in Belo Horizonte. The likes of Matts Hummels, Miroslav Klose, and Sami Khedira all got a nice mid-match rest after being substituted with plenty of time to spare against Brazil.
Argentina emerged from their attritional display against the Dutch as “sore, beaten, and tired as a result of a war” according to their boss Alejandro Sabella. Add a dose of emotional exhaustion that comes with contesting a penalty shoot-out, and that one day less of rest may well come to show if we get into added time in Rio.
7. Mick Jagger
The Stones hitman has emerged as a sort of evil musical twin brother of Paul the Octopus at this World Cup. Jagger has backed four teams so far in the tournament and all of them (England, Italy, Portugal and Brazil) have gone on to be dumped out in unceremonious fashion.
The Jagger curse has got so severe that Brazilians have taken to calling him Pe Frio, which translates literally as Cold Feet, a Brazilian term for a jinx. So Mick will be hoping for a satisfaction-making 5 out of 5 come Rio on Sunday. We await the declaration of his allegiance with anticipation.
8. If Di Maria can make it
Angel Di Maria won't want to leave Brazil best remembered as the player that lost the ball 51 times in a match before scoring a winning goal. The Real Madrid man had an astounding season in Spain last year creating 26 assists. Given the struggles of Ezequiel Lavezzi and his replacement Enzo Perez, Di Maria's return would be a huge boon for Sabella's side should he manage to recover from a thigh strain on Sunday.
As seen against Algeria, Germany are vulnerable to lightning quick attacks, and if nothing else, Di Maria will no doubt be seen galloping down the pitch deep into added and extra-time testing Manuel Neuer's sweeper keeper credentials.
9. Banishing the memory of 1990
The previous World Cup Final encounter between these two sides ranks as one of the worst matches to have ever graced a World Cup Final.
A 12-year-old Miroslav Klose is one of the few players who would have a vivid memory of the game where Germans were crowned champions after 1-0 win courtesy of a late winning penalty. Lionel Messi was a toddler. Mario Gotze, thankfully, wasn't even born.
Here's hoping all 22 players will be out to prove a point in Rio. Namely that they can serve up a stonking end to the best World Cup in modern memory.
THE PRIZE
Since the advent of the World Cup in 1930, two trophies have been used: the Jules Rimet Trophy from 1930 to 1970, and the FIFA World Cup Trophy from 1974 to the present-day.
The first trophy, originally named Victory, but later renamed in honour of former FIFA president Jules Rimet, was made of gold plated sterling silver and lapis lazuli and depicted Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Brazil won the trophy outright in 1970, prompting the commissioning of a replacement. The Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen in 1983 and never recovered.
The subsequent trophy, called the "FIFA World Cup Trophy", was introduced in 1974. Made of 18 carat gold with a malachite base, it stands 14.5 inches high and weighs 13.4 pounds. The trophy was made by Stabilimento Artistico Bertoni company in Italy. It depicts two human figures holding up the Earth.
World Cup final 2014, Germany vs Argentina: Nine things that will decide the winners - Telegraph
Erm, we're actually talking hunting foxes and wild mammals.
If you want to hunt the Taigs that's fine by me, but this was a discussion about foxhunting.
Last edited:
No surprise that Brazil soccer fans want Scolari to go. Obviously he came into the WC tournament expecting the Cup to be handed to him and did not properly prepare his team. I, for one, refuse to accept the lame excuse that they were missing 2 key players in that disastrous match vs Germany. It's not the lack of 2 players but a lack of preparation and alternate game plan (esp on defense) that cause the loss. The team did not lack manpower - they lacked preparation. Clearly Scolari is at fault in this regard.
Choked.
At any rate... we own Liverpool.
It is ours. Only a matter of time before we make Liverpool start wearing these.
Not to mention the fact that the Brazilian league is going through a bit of a disastrous time, too, with all the best Brazilian players going to the riches of Europe when they are 15. Most of the 200 million Brazilians won't even know many of the Brazil players that well.
Choked.
At any rate... we own Liverpool.
It is ours. Only a matter of time before we make Liverpool start wearing these.
Or John W Henry could start making Boston Red Sox wear Liverpool shirts.
Now why would the World Championship Boston Red Sox wear Liverpool runner up soccer shirts?
The Boston Red Sox OWNS Liverpool.
Let's see... Cheer for the European Germans or the South American Germans? Hey, anyone have a pfennig?