GreatLakerMohawk
Mushroom Cloud-Laying Mofo
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
Just boosting this in the mean time. Free to anyone to join.
Just boosting this in the mean time. Free to anyone to join.
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World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
- Thread starter Terrierbyassociation
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Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
(just kidding - I actually like that soccer has ties, so don't go off)
Just goes to show the power of exponents. One of my other favorite tidbits along those lines is that there are more possible games of chess (even with its completely rigid rules for the movement of the pieces) than there are atoms in the universe. And it's not even close - there are more chess games by a factor of about a novemdecillion (10^60).
Stupid ties!!!!Just did some math, but getting a perfect score in the GROUP stage is more unlikely than getting a perfect NCAA basketball bracket by and order of about 1000.
(just kidding - I actually like that soccer has ties, so don't go off)
Just goes to show the power of exponents. One of my other favorite tidbits along those lines is that there are more possible games of chess (even with its completely rigid rules for the movement of the pieces) than there are atoms in the universe. And it's not even close - there are more chess games by a factor of about a novemdecillion (10^60).
GreatLakerMohawk
Mushroom Cloud-Laying Mofo
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
Yowza.
Just did some math, but getting a perfect score in the GROUP stage is more unlikely than getting a perfect NCAA basketball bracket by and order of about 1000.
Yowza.
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
Well boys, we're getting close. I'm starting to feel that tingle in chest that can only signal impending excitement.
My wife commented this morning that it was suppose to rain Saturday and my first thought was that it doesn't rain this time of year in South Africa.
It did get me thinking about the weather and it's suppose to be awesome. Sunny with a high of around 60 everyday. Even a bunch of old Italians could play in that kind of weather.
Well boys, we're getting close. I'm starting to feel that tingle in chest that can only signal impending excitement.
My wife commented this morning that it was suppose to rain Saturday and my first thought was that it doesn't rain this time of year in South Africa.
It did get me thinking about the weather and it's suppose to be awesome. Sunny with a high of around 60 everyday. Even a bunch of old Italians could play in that kind of weather.
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
My apologies to the ... um, one ... of you that was eagerly anticipating this one, but here's the thrilling conclusion to the group stage portion of my World Cup predictions:
Group G:
FIFA loves to decry government interference and politics in the game, but Tuesday afternoon, a lot of freedom-loving types are going to greatly enjoy watching what might be the best team in the world take the Dear Leader's XI out behind the woodshed. As the brother of an adopted South Korean who is not too thrilled about a megalomaniac willing to threaten the lives of my brother's birth parents and millions of their friends at any moment, I frankly hope all their group games are 10-0.
So, let's get those three predictions out of the way right off the bat.
As for the non-crazy part of the draw, we've got the critical game between Cote d'Ivoire and Portugal right off the bat. Kind of hard to read this one - I don't fancy Portugal (too many holes, too many no-shows in major tournaments, plus they cheat), but an Ivoirien team with no Drogba can't win this game. If the Ivoiriens get half a Drogba - and he'll play if he has to Willis Reed it out there - I'll punt and go for a draw.
It's actually pretty simple from here - Brazil is just better than the other two teams in this group, which means that it's going to come down to goal difference, at which point, I'll take Cote d'Ivoire.
Predicted Standings: Brazil 9, Cote d'Ivoire 4, Portugal 4, North Korea -12.
Group H
Spain's the odds-on favorite, and it's not a big shock to pencil them in for all the points here, but the rest of the group is a tad difficult to figure.
In their opener, I like Chile to out-flair Honduras (the Big Lead memorably described them as "missionary position with the lights off tactically," while the Swiss fail to match the Spainiards' quality. For round two, great defense and organization meets one of the most attacking sides in the tournament. I like attacking.
As for the finale, Spain lays Chile's defensive risks bare and Honduras' best efforts to secure a pity point fail at the last moment when the Swiss get a late winner.
However, they'll have great radio announcers:
(One of my favorite videos on YouTube)
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VjOv0rJYyF8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VjOv0rJYyF8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
"Vamos Honduras!"
Final Standings: Spain 9, Chile 6, Switzerland 3, Honduras 0
My apologies to the ... um, one ... of you that was eagerly anticipating this one, but here's the thrilling conclusion to the group stage portion of my World Cup predictions:
Group G:
FIFA loves to decry government interference and politics in the game, but Tuesday afternoon, a lot of freedom-loving types are going to greatly enjoy watching what might be the best team in the world take the Dear Leader's XI out behind the woodshed. As the brother of an adopted South Korean who is not too thrilled about a megalomaniac willing to threaten the lives of my brother's birth parents and millions of their friends at any moment, I frankly hope all their group games are 10-0.
So, let's get those three predictions out of the way right off the bat.
As for the non-crazy part of the draw, we've got the critical game between Cote d'Ivoire and Portugal right off the bat. Kind of hard to read this one - I don't fancy Portugal (too many holes, too many no-shows in major tournaments, plus they cheat), but an Ivoirien team with no Drogba can't win this game. If the Ivoiriens get half a Drogba - and he'll play if he has to Willis Reed it out there - I'll punt and go for a draw.
It's actually pretty simple from here - Brazil is just better than the other two teams in this group, which means that it's going to come down to goal difference, at which point, I'll take Cote d'Ivoire.
Predicted Standings: Brazil 9, Cote d'Ivoire 4, Portugal 4, North Korea -12.
Group H
Spain's the odds-on favorite, and it's not a big shock to pencil them in for all the points here, but the rest of the group is a tad difficult to figure.
In their opener, I like Chile to out-flair Honduras (the Big Lead memorably described them as "missionary position with the lights off tactically," while the Swiss fail to match the Spainiards' quality. For round two, great defense and organization meets one of the most attacking sides in the tournament. I like attacking.
As for the finale, Spain lays Chile's defensive risks bare and Honduras' best efforts to secure a pity point fail at the last moment when the Swiss get a late winner.
However, they'll have great radio announcers:
(One of my favorite videos on YouTube)
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VjOv0rJYyF8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VjOv0rJYyF8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
"Vamos Honduras!"
Final Standings: Spain 9, Chile 6, Switzerland 3, Honduras 0
WeWantMore
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Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
You bring up an interesting point, is it okay to root for North Korea? I mean, I don't think I'm exactly going out on a limb by saying Kim Jong-il is kind of a doosh. I'd love to see him embarrassed.
On the other hand, is that the players fault? I'm kind of inclined to root for them as the plucky underdogs.
You bring up an interesting point, is it okay to root for North Korea? I mean, I don't think I'm exactly going out on a limb by saying Kim Jong-il is kind of a doosh. I'd love to see him embarrassed.
On the other hand, is that the players fault? I'm kind of inclined to root for them as the plucky underdogs.
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
It's not the players' fault, but I've got too much emotional investment in this one to treat them as some sort of zany misfits like the Germans in "Hogan's Heroes."
Edit: It doesn't hurt that I read today's New York Times article about how currency devaluation is causing even more people to starve over there.
It's not the players' fault, but I've got too much emotional investment in this one to treat them as some sort of zany misfits like the Germans in "Hogan's Heroes."
Edit: It doesn't hurt that I read today's New York Times article about how currency devaluation is causing even more people to starve over there.
WeWantMore
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Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
Don't know if anyone here reads Kissing Suzy Kolber, but Rex Ryan stopped by to give the US a pep talk yesterday.
Edit: Guess I should note that the language is a tad profane.
Don't know if anyone here reads Kissing Suzy Kolber, but Rex Ryan stopped by to give the US a pep talk yesterday.
Edit: Guess I should note that the language is a tad profane.
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
My main motivation in seeing North Korea and Japan get thumped is that they [CAF, AFC, I can't keep them straight] might lose half a World Cup bid next time around. CONCACAF probably wouldn't get that half, but if South America did it would put "us" in a play-off with New Zealand, which you gotta like over the current South America.
My main motivation in seeing North Korea and Japan get thumped is that they [CAF, AFC, I can't keep them straight] might lose half a World Cup bid next time around. CONCACAF probably wouldn't get that half, but if South America did it would put "us" in a play-off with New Zealand, which you gotta like over the current South America.
P
Priceless
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Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
Profanity from a football coach? Surely you jest.
Profanity from a football coach? Surely you jest.
P
Priceless
Guest
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
Rex just ****ed them in their ear p---ies.
Rex just ****ed them in their ear p---ies.
WeWantMore
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Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
Right, just didn't want anyone's work filter to go crazy or something.
Right, just didn't want anyone's work filter to go crazy or something.
WeWantMore
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Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages
Logo is decent, really like the kit though. Less going on than with some other teams shirts.
Not WC related, but meet the newest MLS team:
Logo is decent, really like the kit though. Less going on than with some other teams shirts.
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