Unfortunately, the team with the most possibilities, because it is the one that has proven to be the most powerful, is that of France. I say unfortunately, because I have never liked France, although Holland is worse for its extremely hard game.
The final will probably be France-Brazil or France-Croatia. Uruguay could have chances, but with Cavani injured, it is unlikely that they will reach the final.
I would have liked to see Germany in the final, and of course Spain too, but both have offered very poor results, they will need to completely renew their team.
Can't be a France-Brazil final as they are on the same side of bracket. Very likely for the semi-final though
Whoever wins the Brazil - Belgium game...
Ya the good old "pão e circo" never fails. And it seems that wherever you turn, there's a corrupt person. And I mean stupid corrupt, like they could at least improve the lives of the people while at it. Instead they completely suck them dry and toy with them
I agree that's a stupid corruption, but with all due respect, that kind of thinking is a stab for me. It's one of the main pillars for latin america populism. "They steal but they do". On the other hand, most people is aware of "panis et circensis" but they need some kind of temporaly escape from reality.
Yes I totally get where you're coming from. The system seems so powerful and omnipotent that looks unbreakable, so one can only find solace in entertainment.
I live in Portugal but I'm actually Cape verdean, and although Cape Verde is not "very corrupt" because we don't have natural resources, I can still watch shameless and disgraceful displays of corruption in many neighbor countries and it's just like you said.
After today I'm getting the vibe that France will be the winner. Let's see how Brasil will fare against Belgium
I agree. However, I feel that way about all professional sports. I think that it is shameful what professional athletes earn to throw/catch/kick a ball around while people who truly make a difference in peoples' lives don't earn a fraction.
I find this so weird.
At least a footballer's performance can be measured and judged relatively objectively. They're paid what they are worth to their employers. When CEOs can run businesses into the ground to be rewarded with golden parachutes and a bunch of board memberships, or when a disgraced politician gets some job at an international organization courtesy of taxpayers I find it infinitely more obnoxious. Professional sports income doesn't phase me, it's too low on the totem pole of excesses. Fix crony-capitalism first, then I might care about the excesses of capitalism.
This can be extended to artists, musicians, etc. I tend to look at this differently: nobody pays someone more than what they can bring in return.
To me this happens because people nowadays put a lot of value in their emotions. This may have been provoked by a flawed system (if people were trained or conditioned to think like that) or it naturally occurred as people meet their bare necessities in life and become more attracted to subjective traits.
I find football fanatics funny. Things they say like 'my team'. It isn't your team, you don't own it. Or 'we did'. You did nothing-you are not part of the team, they are siphoning your time and hard earned disposable income. There is also a big difference between spending spending a few bucks for downloads from iTunes that I own forever and paying $100 plus for a seat at a football game that lasts a couple of hours. I speak with my wallet. I don't watch professional sports, don't go to games and I don't watch 'network' television. I have no sports memorabilia-with an embarrassing exception. My mother-in-law gave me a NASCAR Barbie in the original package because she saw that part of my displayed die-cast car collection was NASCAR.
The salaries that CEOs get are also shameful. Those in the trenches that make things happen are the ones who should be earning real money, not the executive board. Granted, they provide the direction-good or bad but all the lowly peons (like me) who work their butts off behind the scenes or are the face of the company to the customers and keeping them happy should be getting a bigger slice of the pie. No one should have a Golden Parachute, especially if they are a screw up.
Hey, I'm replying to this thread to let you all know I am completely uninterested by it and here's why in twelve sentences.
I think Sweden will beat England. England struggled in their last game.
As to iTunes, hard to imagine a more stupid and imbecilic piece of software.
The salaries that CEOs get are also shameful. Those in the trenches that make things happen are the ones who should be earning real money, not the executive board. Granted, they provide the direction-good or bad but all the lowly peons (like me) who work their butts off behind the scenes or are the face of the company to the customers and keeping them happy should be getting a bigger slice of the pie. No one should have a Golden Parachute, especially if they are a screw up.
A few years ago I would agree with you, but now not so much. I had the opportunity to work with a massive contract manufacturer (a believe they're the second largest behind foxconn) and man, the schedule and responsibility that the person in charge of our product was insane! (we were negotiating with them to mass produce a product). He didn't get any break, not even on lunch hours! And he was just the manager the project. The CEO's schedule is orders of magnitude worst than this and not to mention that they will take the fall whenever things go wrong. I do agree with you that some CEO's salaries doesn't correlate with their efforts on the company in terms of decisions but for the majority is not that unreasonable.
Of course I meant Coulombia; they always draw a Capacity crowd...
Colombia
They played really dirty though, so they deserved to lose. Had they played more cleanly, they might have won, since they wouldn't have conceded a penalty, but it still might have ended up in a shoot-out, as there wouldn't have been the extra stoppage time, in which they scored a goal.
Football is one of the only sports I can watch, without falling asleep. I would probably take more interest in it, if it wasn't for the big egos and foul play, which is disgusting.
I think Sweden will beat England. England struggled in their last game.
I agree, but I'm glad England got so far. They've been really shit for a long time. England should perform respectably in international sporting events.
I don't really know much about this 'FIFA' lark, but it sounds like the sort of thing that we should have a go at winning. I understand we invented it or something.
It sounds like the sort of thing that would be jolly good for national pride.
EDIT: Oh, good show!
Did not even know it was on until a few days ago.
People in London give me strange looks when I state to not following football.
My DNA must be odd.
I have this feeling, that Russia is going to win this one.
But i am a terrible forecaster.
Russia
Hey, I wasn't aware that "Russia Today" has an official account on this forum.
I thought you guys do broadcasts only?
Whoever wins the Brazil - Belgium game...
I think I'll just stick to this
I've just been watching the Russia vs Croatia game. I hope Russia don't win because I don't want England to have to play them and the fans get beaten up by their hooligans!
I agree. However, I feel that way about all professional sports. I think that it is shameful what professional athletes earn to throw/catch/kick a ball around while people who truly make a difference in peoples' lives don't earn a fraction.
I find this so weird.
At least a footballer's performance can be measured and judged relatively objectively. They're paid what they are worth to their employers. When CEOs can run businesses into the ground to be rewarded with golden parachutes and a bunch of board memberships, or when a disgraced politician gets some job at an international organization courtesy of taxpayers I find it infinitely more obnoxious. Professional sports income doesn't phase me, it's too low on the totem pole of excesses. Fix crony-capitalism first, then I might care about the excesses of capitalism.
This can be extended to artists, musicians, etc. I tend to look at this differently: nobody pays someone more than what they can bring in return.
To me this happens because people nowadays put a lot of value in their emotions. This may have been provoked by a flawed system (if people were trained or conditioned to think like that) or it naturally occurred as people meet their bare necessities in life and become more attracted to subjective traits.
I find football fanatics funny. Things they say like 'my team'. It isn't your team, you don't own it. Or 'we did'. You did nothing-you are not part of the team, they are siphoning your time and hard earned disposable income.
I agree with you there, but you know this does not happen only with football, right?
https://youtu.be/LFicqJFz5R4The salaries that CEOs get are also shameful. Those in the trenches that make things happen are the ones who should be earning real money, not the executive board. especially if they are a screw up.
I suspect you have never worked or interacted with a serious/honest C-level executive. I have interacted in a few projects with some good ones and I can tell these guys work ungodly hours to keep their companies or divisions running.
Add me to the don't care list. I was brought up in the UK, I've spent my working life traveling the world and now I'm living in Germany. I have a part French part Belgian girlfriend and right now I'm working part time for a Dutch company.
Loyalties can be complicated.
Interesting the 4 strongest teams in the world are all from Europe. 3 small countries, which prove the team work is much more important than the single players.
I would like Croatia to win just because it would be a huge surprise, and people there would be very drunk for months.
Belgium would also be a surprise, never won a WC either.
Would be hard to swallow for us dutch though, all those years so close and now Belgium will take it actually home.
I do wish it for them though.
That is how sports is, some years you have decent, some years good and some years excellent players and team.
So Croatia or Belgium would be nice, still I think France will win this time the cup.
I think Sweden will beat England. England struggled in their last game.
As to iTunes, hard to imagine a more stupid and imbecilic piece of software.
They lost rightly so. Yes anything Apple is crap.
Croatia...... PLEASE!
Croatia had an amazing game today! They are definitely my pick to win it all. It will be a great game on Sunday.
Croatia...... PLEASE!
Croatia had an amazing game today! They are definitely my pick to win it all. It will be a great game on Sunday.
I agree. Although England started well, they played poorly in the second half. It was like the teams swapped round.
I hope Croatia win and the French don't win again.