FIFA World Cup 2014: Brasil

[laughedatbytime]

Why do they always play the world cup in the dead of summer when temps are at 90 degrees in the Southern Hemisphere???

FIFA is corrupt. (An all purpose answer, to be sure.)

 

Qatar has the 2022 (I think) World Cup and it's 120 degrees there during the normal time they hold them.

[alphseeker]

I just wish it made a bit more of an impact in the soccer fan base over there. I´ve never been to the US, but get the feeling that even if the won, it wouldn´t make much of a difference. Am I right?

All historical experience points to a temporary spike in interest, followed by a slow wane and not much additional interest by the time of the next World Cup. At best, if the US wins the Cup it will lead to soccer vying with hockey to become the fourth most popular team sport. Possibly as the ethnic mix of the US changes it could to the NHL (even though the NHL is orders of magnitude more exciting than soccer.)

What are you talking about? With the Kings winning the cup again, hockey will surge to third most popular easily!!!!

 

 

:P

For some reason, people like the NBA better. And while I don't, the TV ratings for it are about 3-4 times higher than they are for the NHL, during the playoffs...part of it might be the networks they're on, but I don't think there's much doubt the NBA is much more popular in the US than the NHL.

i was just kidding about the kings. You were suppose to bash me for that one. I hate the NBA but i actually forced myself to watch the spurs win because I like their team humility.

[alphseeker]

Why do they always play the world cup in the dead of summer when temps are at 90 degrees in the Southern Hemisphere???

FIFA is corrupt. (An all purpose answer, to be sure.)

 

Qatar has the 2022 (I think) World Cup and it's 120 degrees there during the normal time they hold them.

So basically pandering to the highest "under the table" bidder?? Edited June 17, 2014 by alphseeker

[laughedatbytime]

FIFA may be even more corrupt than the IOC!

 

Senior Fifa figures are for the first time seriously considering the ramifications of ordering a rerun of the vote for the right to stage the 2022 World Cup, in the aftermath of new corruption allegations against the hosts, Qatar.

 

While awaiting the results of a semi-independent inquiry into the 2018 and 2022 bidding races, senior football figures heading for the 2014 tournament in Brazil are understood to be considering their response if the report recommends a new vote in light of new claims based on hundreds of millions of leaked emails and documents.

 

The Qatari organising committee for the 2022 World Cup is to meet Fifa investigator Michael Garcia on Monday in Oman, the BBC reports.

 

In Britain, there was a renewed outpouring of concern from politicians and former football executives after the Sunday Times alleged that Mohamed bin Hammam, a Qatari former Fifa executive committee member, paid $5m (£3m) in cash, gifts and legal fees to senior football officials to help build a consensus of support behind the bid.

 

The UK government, humiliated over England's own bid for the 2018 tournament, which garnered just a single external vote, has previously said the corruption allegations are a matter for Fifa.

 

But the sports minister, Helen Grant, signalled a shift, saying: "These appear to be very serious allegations. It is essential that major sporting events are awarded in an open, fair and transparent manner."

 

The shadow sports minister, Clive Efford, called for a rerun of the vote, in which Qatar overcame rival bids from the US, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

 

"This issue calls the governance of football into question. No one will have any confidence in a Fifa investigation run by Sepp Blatter," he said.

 

"Fifa must take urgent action and reopen the bidding for the 2022 World Cup if it wants to restore its credibility."

 

Writing in the Guardian, the shadow international development secretary, Jim Murphy, added: "Fifa's rules are clear – the World Cup hosting must not be bought."

 

Mohamed Bin Hammam

Mohamed bin Hammam is at the centre of corruption allegations. Photograph: Mohamad Dabbouss/Reuters

John Whittingdale, the Tory chair of the culture media and sport select committee, said Blatter's position was "almost untenable" and called for a "urgent and full transparent investigation to establish the facts".

 

Fifa, gathering in São Paulo for its annual congress before a 2014 World Cup that has had a troubled buildup amid anger from Brazilians at the cost and corruption, referred inquiries to the office of Michael Garcia.

 

The former US attorney in New York is conducting a supposedly independent ongoing investigation into the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

 

He is expected to pass his conclusions to the adjudicatory chamber of Fifa's revamped ethics committee later this year. Meanwhile, the FBI is also conducting an ongoing investigation into payments to former Fifa officials.

 

Jim Boyce, the British Fifa vice-president, said he would have "absolutely no problem" if the ethics committee recommended a new vote in light of proven wrongdoing.

 

The Qatar 2022 organising committee claims that Bin Hammam, who was banned from football after bribing officials in a 2011 bid to unseat Sepp Blatter as Fifa president, had nothing to do with their bid.

 

Jack Warner

Disgraced former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner is alleged to have been paid $1.6m. He has always denied any wrongdoing. Photograph: Jam Media/LatinContent/Getty Images

The Sunday Times said it had obtained a cache of hundreds of millions of documents and emails, which detailed conversations about payments and money transfers from accounts controlled by Bin Hammam, his family and Doha-based businesses. Among many other alleged payments to mid-ranking football officials and figures including the former footballer of the year George Weah, Bin Hammam paid a total of $1.6m to the disgraced former Fifa vice-president, Jack Warner, including $450,000 before the vote. Warner has always denied any wrongdoing.

 

He also allegedly paid $415,000 towards the legal fees of Reynald Temarii, the Fifa vice-president banned from voting in the original election following an earlier Sunday Times investigation. The legal process helped delay Temarii's replacement on the executive committee by his deputy, reducing the number of voting members to 22 and depriving Australia, one of Qatar's rivals, of a vote.

 

Qatar 2022 is likely to seek to argue that Bin Hammam was acting to further his presidential ambitions rather than on behalf of the World Cup bid. In a statement on Sunday it said he played "no official or unofficial role" in its bid.

 

"We are cooperating fully with Mr Garcia's ongoing investigation and remain totally confident that any objective enquiry will conclude we won the bid to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup fairly," said the organisers, who are consulting lawyers.

 

"We vehemently deny all allegations of wrongdoing. The right to host the tournament was won because it was the best bid and because it is time for the Middle East to host its first Fifa World Cup."

 

But the newspaper said the email trails proved Bin Hammam was in fact intimately involved with the audacious two-year campaign to bring the World Cup to the tiny oil and gas-rich Gulf state, where temperatures can top 50 degrees in June.

 

In November 2010, the World Football Insider website quoted the bid chairman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, as saying Bin Hammam was the campaign's "biggest asset" and had been a crucial mentor for his team.

 

One obstacle surrounding a potential re-vote, apart from a likely legal challenge from Qatar, would be the difficulty in re-running the 2022 vote without also reopening the 2018 process. Russia won the right to host the 2018 World Cup in an ill-defined dual process riddled with controversy.

 

Despite promising his current term would be his last – and the ongoing travails of the organisation with which he is inextricably linked – Blatter, who last month called the choice of Qatar "a mistake", has vowed to stand again for the Fifa presidency in 2015.

 

http://www.theguardi...ons-fifa-revote

Edited June 18, 2014 by laughedatbytime

[greyfriar]

FIFA - a bunch of Fabulous Infamous Fing Arseholes

[goose]

I just wish it made a bit more of an impact in the soccer fan base over there. I´ve never been to the US, but get the feeling that even if the won, it wouldn´t make much of a difference. Am I right?

All historical experience points to a temporary spike in interest, followed by a slow wane and not much additional interest by the time of the next World Cup. At best, if the US wins the Cup it will lead to soccer vying with hockey to become the fourth most popular team sport. Possibly as the ethnic mix of the US changes it could to the NHL (even though the NHL is orders of magnitude more exciting than soccer.)

If the US gets by pool play, there will be a lot of interest. I've been watching just about every game.

[goose]

Mexico Barely qualifies for the world cup and now they gut out a 0-0 tie with the host. They looked impressive.

I thought gthey were pretty sloppy early on. For sure the goalie is the hero.

[sitboaf]

Why do they always play the world cup in the dead of summer when temps are at 90 degrees in the Southern Hemisphere???

Geography fail.

It's winter in Brazil. Still warm, but winter.

[Rod in Toronto]

I went for a run at 05am today, and the city was already flooded with Chileans waiting for the big match against Spain. It´s make it or break it for the current WC Champions this afternoon!

[toscanobarga]

The opening game of the World cup broadcast in in the middle of the afternoon actually got a higher rating than the prime-time broadcast of the Stanley Cup game between the night before.

 

MLS (which is low quality Soccer imho) outdraws MLB and NHL in some areas of the country.

 

Baseball is the most boring sport in the world but it's the "national passtime" even though it's less popular than the NBA or NFL.

 

I think we have a "Big 3", not 4 in the US, I just don't see how the lack of interest in Hockey puts it in the same (no pun intended) ballpark as NBA/MLB/NFL, it's much closer to being down with MLS.

[Rod in Toronto]

Spain is out! How about that?

 

I quite liked Holland - Australia today as well, it´s a shame the Aussie goalie failed when he was needed the most.

[greyfriar]

Chile sent Spain home (to think again). Now that was a big surprise.

[goose]

Spain is out! How about that?

 

I quite liked Holland - Australia today as well, it´s a shame the Aussie goalie failed when he was needed the most.

The Holland Aussie game may have been the best game yet. A real beauty! The Aussies looked quite good...but the Dutch look unstoppable.

 

Chile looked as good as Spain looked bad. ¡Hasta la vista, Tiki-Taka! Chile undefeated in Cup history when scoring first. :)

[goose]

Chile sent Spain home (to think again). Now that was a big surprise.

No doubt. From first to worst in four years... ;)

[Brucey]

England have been effectively knocked out tonight.

[greyfriar]

England have been effectively knocked out tonight.

You're right, very effective. In those two situations the English defence made it too easy for the Uru's to score. Collective sleep.

There was a big lack of passion and therefore quality in their playing. I've expected them stronger. You have my sympathy I know how it feels, even if our previous results are better and the wait isn't as long as yours. :cheers:

[goose]

England have been effectively knocked out tonight.

You're right, very effective. In those two situations the English defence made it too easy for the Uru's to score. Collective sleep.

There was a big lack of passion and therefore quality in their playing. I've expected them stronger. You have my sympathy I know how it feels, even if our previous results are better and the wait isn't as long as yours. :cheers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5tM4KgXCYQ

 

Poor Pommies...How about a little Zeppelin, in honor of Suarez's two goals...? :7up:

 

It makes me feel so good, oh so good!

 

Edited June 20, 2014 by goose

[sitboaf]

The Greeks play dirty.

I thought one of the Japanese would leave on a stretcher before that game ended.

[Rod in Toronto]

I got a feeling that Japan and Greece could have played for 5 hours straight last night and even then Japan wouldn't be able to score.

 

Some good games on today, but I'll be at the hospital...for the best reason ever!

[Aikenrooster]

Sorry I've been away for a few days. IMHO:

 

Yes, Greece is a very dirty team, but Japan simply can't score a goal, even against 10 men.

 

Mexico vs. Brazil was the best match I have seen so far. Mexico really fights hard. I like them. I hope they beat Croatia and advance, although they'd likely have to play the Netherlands or Chile in the knockout stage.

 

I also like Cote d'Ivoire. They really scrap hard. I hope they can beat Greece. In fact, I think that is the best hope of the African nations.

 

Colombia will destroy Japan. Colombia has a chance to win the Cup. They look really good.

 

Argentina will probably win the cup. They were just kicking the ball around, the other day, and destroyed Bosnia. I feel the same about the Netherlands.

 

I can't comment on Iran or Nigeria, because I missed that match.

 

I also missed Switzerland vs. Ecuador. Costa Rica vs. Italy has the potential to be an epic matchup. I don't want to miss it. I also missed Germany vs. Portugal, so I can't comment on them and I have no idea if the US can beat Portugal. Anyone know if Altidore is going to play Sunday?

[goose]

The Greeks play dirty.

I thought one of the Japanese would leave on a stretcher before that game ended.

Very rough game. It's a style perfected, I suppose, in all those Athenian street riots.

[goose]

Just finished watching Colombia- Cote d'Ivoire. From both sides, some of the best diving I've seen so far.

 

As for Altidore of the US, Aik, word is he is out for the Portugal match.

 

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/06/jozy-altidore-u-s-men-s-soccer-forward-to-miss-world-cup-match-against-portugal-with-hamstring-injur.html

 

SAO PAULO (AP) - U.S. forward Jozy Altidore will miss Sunday's World Cup game against Portugal because of his strained left hamstring.

Altidore was hurt in the 21st minute of Monday's 2-1 win over Ghana.

 

"It's bad news, but I think the team will handle this," midfielder Jermaine Jones said Thursday. "We have to handle that."

 

U.S. team spokesman Michael Kammarman did not reveal the severity of the strain but said Thursday the Americans were hopeful Altidore can return at some point during the tournament.

 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2014 by goose

[laughedatbytime]

Costa Rica defeats Italy 1-0. :dweez: :dweez: :dweez: :dweez: Edited June 20, 2014 by laughedatbytime

[Tony R]

 

Which means England cannot progress.

 

 

[laughedatbytime]

Which means England cannot progress.

But we already knew that ;)