@Tribal World Cup Special

colemanY2K wrote: @Tribal Marco Veratti was excellent last night. A real pocket of energy. Constantly dropping deep to start attacks. Certainly the young fella is in the mould of his mentor in that position. Do you think he'll get much game time in Brazil or is it a world cup too early for him and if so how highly do you rate him? For me he was the most gifted player on the pitch last night. A truly exceptional talent.

I think he's a good player but I can't see him getting too much game time. So many options for Italy in midfield. Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio, Thiago Motta, Aquilani, Parolo and Verratti. I think the first 3 are the most likely to start but the Italian team is very difficult to predict at the moment. Not sure what formation they'll even play. Very different to the likes of Brazil and Argentina, who have very settled starting teams I'd be confident I could name the XI they'll play against Croatia and Bosnia.

RogerMilla wrote: tribal a young lad called choupo-mouting tore the germans a new one last night , how do you reckon cameroon are going to do in a very tough group?

That lad is 25... Interestingly though e played for the German u21s earlier in his career he's a decent player.

@Tribal

Marco Veratti was excellent last night. A real pocket of energy. Constantly dropping deep to start attacks. Certainly the young fella is in the mould of his mentor in that position.

Do you think he'll get much game time in Brazil or is it a world cup too early for him and if so how highly do you rate him?

For me he was the most gifted player on the pitch last night. A truly exceptional talent.

Edited by colemanY2K - 02 Jun 2014 at 12:25am

I would have Japan going through, huge support in Brazil and some decnt attacking players

tribalarmy wrote: Brazil Croatia Spain Chile Italy Uruguay Colombia Greece France Switzerland Argentina Bosnia Germany Portugal Russia Belgium My predictions are generally sh*te.

Don't think there will be 11 European sides getting through. Maybe 5 south Americans though.
I'll be looking shrewdly a bit closer to the event, but my money will be on a few African sides and at least one Asian side to make the KO stages.

Brazil
Croatia
Spain
Chile
Italy
Uruguay
Colombia
Greece
France
Switzerland
Argentina
Bosnia
Germany
Portugal
Russia
Belgium

My predictions are generally sh*te.

Romero

Zabaleta Fernandez Garay Rojo

Di Maria Mascherano Gago

Messi Higuain Aguero


I'd imagine their 11 will look something like this as long as Gago is fit.

tribalarmy wrote: Bob Hoskins wrote: @Tribal, I think you deserve a special World Cup thread, so we can pick your maradona of the ybig footballing knowledge brain. @Tribal I'm hopeful Roy Hodgson will pick or stumble upon a German formula of trusting youth, relying on pace mixed with a healthy mix of power. I'm banking he does by sticking a few bob on Sturridge as top goal scorer at 66/1 each way. Is this.. Fools Gold or Road to Rio? I slightly favour Uruguay and Italy to get out of that group and Uruguay and Italy will both be fairly solid at the back so I can't see him getting too many goals. How does each way work with the top goalscorers? Generally a load of players end up with 3, 4 and 5 goals.

You made a pigs ear of choosing Chelsea, so I'll discount your sagely advice.

Each way is top 4 places

tribalarmy wrote: Clonbhoy wrote: Do you not think the Swiss are light up front TA? I think they are but I think they can get away with it because of how solid they are defensively. They were in a sh*te group but 7 clean sheets in 10 games is impressive. I'd love it if they get knocked out though.

I think it will be the most boring group, unless France repeat 4 years ago to liven it up. Toss of a coin between the Swiss and Ecuador