FIFA World Cup 2014

[Deleted]

Greece 2004...

NO THANKS!
The group stages are there to eliminate teams that play overly defensively, and the qualifiying stages let the smaller teams play more than 1 game every 4 years. Also nobody takes friendlies seriously.

Meanwhile you'll be on the edge of your seat when Denmark play Albania and Armenia? Park the bus teams will always find a way through, look at Argentine.

[Unalorian]

Meanwhile you'll be on the edge of your seat when Denmark play Albania and Armenia? Park the bus teams will always find a way through, look at Argentine.

A poor comparison: Argentina still had to beat Iran, Bosnia and Nigeria to qualify to Round 16. They were the clear favorites and they didnt score more because, in short, they were not playing that incredibly well.

You should had used Costa Rica, who played very defensively but would still manage to pull a counter and score. And still that wouldnt be a good comparison, they had to eventually get a result, in group phase you cannot play for draws.

[Deleted]

How about never.....

Germany was never eliminated in group stage, at the WC.

Germany Reaches World Cup Quarterfinals for 16th Time in a Row

Easy bet for next WC

[Deleted]

Colombia played mostly weak opponents.

Neither Greece nor Ivory Coast are bad. Japan is decent. Additionally, they beat Uruguay, and matched Brazil. They looked good because they were.

[Northern Goblin]

Right well, with the tournament done and club football ready to roll again soon, I'll be locking this.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the discussions, and those of you who were really getting into football for the first time, check out our regular season thread going up today!