World Cup 2014 Draw

Just a few hours away, so thought I'd start a thread on this.



I think it starts at 16:00 GMT, but there's probably alot of pre bullshit before the actual draw starts.

Can't wait. So far I only managed to get tickets for one single game , H1 vs H2 in Belo Horizonte. Considering my luck, H1 will be Switzerland 

Switzerland in Pot 1?

Bizarre.

I wonder when we will know who from pot 9 goes into pot 2.

The places and stadiums people draw seem just as important as the opposition in this one. Difference in temperature and humidity can be pretty big from what I understand. Is this true Diego?

Possible travel problems as well as the teams are forced to stay in one place.



Especially the Manaus one apparently everybody wants to avoid, as it's in the middle of the Amazon rainforest and doesn't have a proper highway leading to it?

Especially the Manaus one apparently everybody wants to avoid, as it's in the middle of the Amazon rainforest and doesn't have a proper highway leading to it?

Good old FIFA, so that's where England will be playing then.

Difference in temperature and humidity can be pretty big from what I understand. Is this true Diego?

That's true, Brazil is as big as Europe minus Russia, so there are many regional variations. The northern states in particular are hot no matter the time of the year, it won't make much of a difference if it's winter here. Some states are quite dry like Brasilia and others have much humidity, such as Manaus. The southern states like Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, on the other hand, could be quite cold during this time of the year (though obviously nothing compared to an European winter).

Oh please, just let us know the f***in groups.
These attractions are going to be so cliché and cringe worthy.

FIFA celebrating Mandela... but they supposedly rejected a black couple to host the draw. A white, blonde couple was chosen instead...

I don't really hate people, but Blatter comes close.

I don't really hate people, but Blatter comes close.

I'm not that good a person, I hate Blatter with all my heart.

I'm not that good a person, I hate Blatter with all my heart.

That's the only guide you need for how corrupt football's ruling body is - the number of years Blatter has presided over it's malpractice and is consistently re-elected into office to continue his corruption.

Definition in the online dictionary: Blatter v. to make a senseless noise, to prattle.

Oh dear, it's so embarrassing! Please, just draw the damn groups!

FIFA celebrating Mandela... but they supposedly rejected a black couple to host the draw. A white, blonde couple was chosen instead...

That made the news here.

Shocking.

All I want to know is, why!?

All I want to know is, why!?

Why, oh dear, why? I hate this need to turn everything into a huge event and all that crap.
All we want to know about is football! Not modern dance, for christ sake, not samba.
Put some great players of the past there and tell us the groups. So simple.

Lineker, Shearer & Martinez look a show. Dress up will you! Shirt and tie FFS.

What a team for the draw. Only great players.

Those microphones look stupid.

This pot mixup stuff is bullshit by the way. I bet if Iceland or Ukraine or whatever small country instead of France would have qualified they'd just be put into pot 2 immediately instead of this weird pre draw now.

Oh crap. I wanted Germany or Argentina. I'll watch Belgium.

Oh dear god. My only ticket for the WC is to watch Belgium vs Algeria.

Unlucky there Diego.

Hahaha! England are fu**ed.

Goodbye England.

Awful for the supporters too - 2am kick offs.

Ha ha haaaaa get your retribution on the FA Luis lad.

Quality.

Good old FIFA, so that's where England will be playing then.

Just saying like, 1st game. But we fear nobody.... OK Woy!

Ha ha haaaaa get your retribution on the FA Luis lad.

Quality.

You predicted it mate, I'm already dreaming of it. The perfect send off for the owl faced f**ker, come on Luis!

Hahaha! England are fu**ed.

Understatement.

Panto Villian Suarez looking to payback the FA

Two very strong groups (Italy, England, Uruguay / Germany, Portugal) and some awfully weak ones.

Quite happy with our group. Although Spain and Chile are both not easy, I'm happy with a Netherlands-Spain rematch, should be exciting. Probably a toss up between us and Chile to get 2nd place in the group. But you never know with World Cups really! Have a feeling Spain will not perform as they have in recent tournaments.

France group E & Argentina group F soft groups. 

I really hope I'll have more luck in the next tickets sales phases, cause I'll be depressed if the only game I go to is Belgium vs Algeria.

Not the greatest distribution of teams there, will be quite a few boring games in the groups stages for sure.

B, D and G will hopefully make up for that though - should be some absolute crackers there.

sh*t Draw. Some groups are FAR too weak. The Argies will have a fiesta in thgeir group. Colombias group is also weak. Brazils one is also quite easy.

WOW, I expected a tough draw for Uruguay, but 3 WC winning NTs in one group seems odd. And Costa Rica is a tough nut to crack also.

Italy will advance (one one the few certainties in football, ) and my guess is the winner of England-Uruguay will accompany them.

English press will be delighted

France group E & Argentina group F soft groups. 

France will not advance in that group

All that fuss about where England might have to play and they get that group.

Wouldn't matter if it was played on the moon as no chance they are getting out of that group.

Ha ha haaaaa get your retribution on the FA Luis lad.

Quality.

Another four goal spree would be well in order mate.

Another four goal spree would be well in order mate.

With our luck, he will probably be red carded in the game before that ,

 

Well that was always going to happen after the last minute rule change to allow France a better chance of an easy group.

Uefa are so F***ing corrupt it's untrue.

Still funny though

If we finish 2nd in our group we'll likely run into Brazil next round. Have a feeling it'll be a short tournament for my country.

Weird, weird draw. Argies got a sh*t group, AND will play just a few kms from their country, in Porto Alegre. Too lucky. In fact TOO lucky

If we finish 2nd in our group we'll likely run into Brazil next round. Have a feeling it'll be a short tournament for my country.

It's gonna be even shorter for mine We've got You, Spain and Chile to deal with.

It's gonna be even shorter for mine We've got You, Spain and Chile to deal with.

Your record against us is actually pretty good though. But yeah, you seem quite screwed.

Your record against us is actually pretty good though. But yeah, you seem quite screwed.

A dodgy sending off in a friendly match helped us a heap against you guys from memory. We're like Fat Sams wet dream the way we play football at times so we don't exactly deserve to progress.

I think England will struggle to win a game. Up against three teams that will enjoy the heat England's run till you drop approach under Hodgson means we will not last long.

Although Hodgson's make the ball do the work approach (sit back and boot the ball as far upfield as you can) may actually suit us.... while all the other teams laughingly try to play football on the ground we will just sit back and launch it as we march on to the final

After the way the FA treated Luis it was written in the stars that Uruguay would be in the same group as England. How much money would you put on Uruguay to send England home and Luis to score the vital goal.
Karma is a wonderful thing! It could just be pay back time for the FA.

Weird, weird draw. Argies got a sh*t group, AND will play just a few kms from their country, in Porto Alegre. Too lucky. In fact TOO lucky

*gasp* Fifa accused of favouritism, corruption and bias? For shame Fifa! I would never have thought it of you 

But seriously what is with this rule change rubbish the day before that ends up giving France arguably the easiest group they could have got.

I'm looking at you Michel...

Ha Engerland don't have a chance of getting through that group!! Suarez and Cavani will rip the Engerland defence to pieces!

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/dec/06/world-cup-travel-guide-england-in-brazil-manaus-sao-paulo-belo-horizonte?CMP=twt_gu

The Itaquerão, as the stadium is popularly called, is the home of Corinthians, the country's second-largest club, after Flamengo.

 

Australia well fu**ed. And Uruguay v England. Perfect!

I really hope I'll have more luck in the next tickets sales phases, cause I'll be depressed if the only game I go to is Belgium vs Algeria.

if it wasn't that far away for me, I would gladly take your ticket .

I don't know I think Australia got a perfect group if this was ..cricket or rugby world cup unfortunately its THE world cup and we are going to be well destroyed.

I am very happy for Luis and his chance to give the FA some return on the support they have shown him over the past few seasons.

I also agree with Diego, f*ck the interpretive dance off. If you want a spectacle organise a 5 aside with Zico, Rivelino, Maradona, Francescoli and Hugo Gatti against Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Zoff and Laudrup

What are England worrying about?!!! They've got Tom Cleverly in their ranks for goodness sake! If that isn't cause for hope then, f**k me, I don't know what is!

Going to make this thread a sticky, and unsticky the WC qualification thread.

I'm going to be optimistic and say England will finish 3rd in the group.

I'm going to be optimistic and say England will finish 3rd in the group.

Sh*t Draw. Some groups are FAR too weak. The Argies will have a fiesta in thgeir group. Colombias group is also weak. Brazils one is also quite easy.

WOW, I expected a tough draw for Uruguay, but 3 WC winning NTs in one group seems odd.

It's all relative.  Argentina, Brazil and Colombia have got 'weak' looking groups because they are top seeds and quite good at footy.

Any group England were going to be in as not a top seed would have been difficult.

I don't think Uruguay have got a tough group at all.

Can imagine it now, Suarez handles on the line like against Ghana, get's away with it and then goes up the other end, blatantly dives and wins a penalty, takes the penalty and kills Ingerland's hopes of getting through the group stage.

Seen a few people saying France have an easy group, I don't think so at all, I think all the teams are at a similar level to be honest because France are no where near the dominant team they used to be.

I think if France squad comes together as good a it potentially can then that should walk that group.

No guarantee that with happen though.

Wow, we got properly screwed. Wonder if there is any way we can convince Messi to defect to the US before the tourney.

I think England will struggle to win a game. Up against three teams that will enjoy the heat England's run till you drop approach under Hodgson means we will not last long.

Errrrm, climate in Uruguay is temper, with temperatures in the 20s  C usually. Not everything below the Ecuador is filled with coconut palm trees and chickens in birds cages We will suffer the heat just like the rest. Its the Humidity that will kill us all. 100% everyday with the heat will be hard

I'm going to be optimistic and say England will finish 3rd in the group.
It's all relative.  Argentina, Brazil and Colombia have got 'weak' looking groups because they are top seeds and quite good at footy.

Any group England were going to be in as not a top seed would have been difficult.

I don't think Uruguay have got a tough group at all.

Id take Iran, Mexico, Croatia Cameroon and Bosnia anyday instead of Italy and England. Even when We neverlost a competitive match against ENgland, and a match between Italy and Uruguay is basically a mirror match

Errrrm, climate in Uruguay is temper, with temperatures in the 20s  C usually. Not everything below the Ecuador is filled with coconut palm trees and chickens in birds cages We will suffer the heat just like the rest. Its the Humidity that will kill us all. 100% everyday with the heat will be hard

Temperatures in the 20's is hot to me mate, we may not live in igloo's but that's just because we are not very good with our hands. Average temp during our season is about 10 C  and we don't tend to worry about humidity, what with all the rain constantly pissing down.

Four Yorkshiremen

Whilst Uruguay and Italy are favourites over England in the group, it's nowhere near over yet. Uruguay have Cavani and Suarez and on their day they can destroy any defence but they in turn have quite a poor defence and can be got at. Jordan proved that on a number of occasions, they just lacked any type of finishing ability to make it count. Where Italy are concerned, it wouldn't surprise me if it ended up a draw just like at the Euro's in 2012.

One thing is for sure, I'd rather go out to the likes of Uruguay and Italy than Algeria, Cameroon etc.

Jordan proved that on a number of occasions, they just lacked any type of finishing ability to make it count.

To be fair Uruguay had already had it won after the 5-0 1st leg lead, they were never going to go for it anywhere near as much in the 2nd leg with a lead like that. Will be a different situation entirely come the World Cup.

To be fair Uruguay had already had it won after the 5-0 1st leg lead, they were never going to go for it anywhere near as much in the 2nd leg with a lead like that. Will be a different situation entirely come the World Cup.

Its funny, because historically, we are reknown for our tough defending (ask ARgentina or Brazil ), but yes, our defence has been pretty average in the past year or so. But in tournaments its a whole different animal. Its our Midfield that im worried about, now that Forlan is down the hill

IF Suarez is firing on all cylinders, we can beat anyone in the world.

Belgium can do well IMO.

Agreed. I'd consider them dark horses to win the whole thing.

  We've got no chance.

  We've got no chance.

 

That is F***ing scary.

.I don't think Uruguay have got a tough group at all.

Don't know about that, take away their front line their team is bang average. England should have enough, but heat, altitude and an inability to perform as a team will no doubt see them struggle.

 

That is F***ing scary.

Actually, it must be an old image, as the top is Umbro and not Nike.

So things are probably even worse.

Actually, it must be an old image, as the top is Umbro and not Nike.

So things are probably even worse.

Not worth contemplating mate.

Don't know about that, take away their front line their team is bang average. England should have enough, but heat, altitude and an inability to perform as a team will no doubt see them struggle.

You say take away their front line but why? Nobody is going to play a game with no attack are they? Also fair enough you mention taking away their strongest area of the team and they are weaker, thing is England are already crap all over the pitch  so there is no area of the team that is dangerously strong

You say take away their front line but why? Nobody is going to play a game with no attack are they?

Craig Levein?   

I don't mean literally take away their front line. I thought that was obvious enough. I'm merely making a rather mundane and uncontroversial point that their team isn't great once you look beyond their front line. If England want to do well then there are bigger fish to fry than Uruguay, who really were fortunate to even make it considering where they ended up in their group.

Two very strong groups (Italy, England, Uruguay / Germany, Portugal) and some awfully weak ones.

Add Spain, Holland and Chile to the hard groups.

The US is going to have some tough games, but I am going stay confident about us getting out of the group stage.

You say take away their front line but why? Nobody is going to play a game with no attack are they? Also fair enough you mention taking away their strongest area of the team and they are weaker, thing is England are already crap all over the pitch  so there is no area of the team that is dangerously strong

 

Craig Levein?   

I don't mean literally take away their front line. I thought that was obvious enough. I'm merely making a rather mundane and uncontroversial point that their team isn't great once you look beyond their front line. If England want to do well then there are bigger fish to fry than Uruguay, who really were fortunate to even make it considering where they ended up in their group.

Obviously I know you don't mean literally but fact is they have an incredible attack that makes up for the rest of their team. Very much like us with SAS making up for the rest of our team this year. Uruguay and Argentina both have arguablly the best front line there is at the World Cup and Uruguay will be a very tough opposition because of it, we know better than anyone how Suarez alone can win a game by his self and rip a defence to pieces so when you add in Cavani too I don't think the Ingerland defence or even midfield would have a hope in hell of containing them both, especially seeing as Ingerland have the worst CB pairing they have had for a long time

Question: Am I Is my son the only one doing the whole Panini Sticker Book thing?

Question: Am I Is my son the only one doing the whole Panini Sticker Book thing?

See now I'd put you down more as a person who done the Sticky Punani Book thing wahs. 

Agreed. I'd consider them dark horses to win the whole thing.

Courtois, mignolet, vermaelen, Kompany, fellaini, vertonghen, van buyten, dries merten, hazard, mirallas, lukaku, witsel,januzaj....

This is the year for underdogs, lfc, atletico,

I have a strong feeling about belgium

One of the things I love the most about World Cups is seeing people decorating their streets with Brazil colours. It happens every WC, but will have a special meaning with the WC being here.

Nice one Diego!

This is a pub here around the corner where we usually watch most of our EC and WC games: