World Cup Build Up Thread

[stealthpapes]

# 7 - http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... obar-death

# 6 - http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... lercoaster

# 5 - http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... -head-butt

# 4 - http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... f-santiago

# 3 - http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... -rob-smyth

# 2 - http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... ott-murray

# 1 - http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... -argentina


18 more of the loveliest pieces of stuff to follow

[Sanguine]

That piece on Escobar gave me goosebumps.

And I'd never read that a legend's career had been Cameroon-inspired.

The replacement's performances at the World Cup proved so good that a promising 12-year-old midfielder from Tuscany decided that he'd prefer to be a goalkeeper all things considered, and bought his first pair of gloves. "It was N'Kono and his spectacular saves that made me fall in love with the position. He became my hero," the kid said, many years later. As an adult, he named his son Thomas in the Cameroonian's honour. The young Italian's name was Gianluigi Buffon.

[Sutekh]

79 days to go until Brazil play Croatia on 12th June.....

[Royalclapper]

It's easy to forget now that the WC has diversified (Japan, S.Africa) what you could expect from the old alternating Europe/South America WC hosting template.

By my reckoning it's been nearly 30 years (Mexico '86) since the WC was last contested on Latin American soil, although Mexico is not truly South American of course, it's still more orientated towards their cultures i.e. dirty, untrustworthy, drug exporting, kill their own granny's to gain an advantage, ex-Spanish gypo's, politically volatile etc etc. You could imagine that the unscrupulous B**tards have been considering this WC as being a long time coming - you can see them now sat in their bunkers hatching their plans full of the usual skullduggery.

At least the hosts Brazil have generally been the most upstanding of all the South Americans, perhaps due to a quirk on former colonists but mostly because they're pretty good. Unfortunately England have Uruguay to deal with who along with the Argies are kunts of the highest order. Must be something to do with having the sun on their National Flags which I think has something to do with the original indigenous peoples there considering that their god was actually the Sun which kinda makes sense I suppose - it's a bloody curse for everyone else though.

[jjd82]

Wow!!

[Sanguine]

I like. Wilshere looks like a reet cnut.

[Stuka]

I'm a bit gutten North Korea aren't in it this time. My second team will now be Russia.

[Royalclapper]

Odds currently on outright winners of the World Cup:

Brazil - 3/1

Argentina - 5/1

Germany - 11/2

Spain - 7/1

Belgium - 16/1

France - 25/1

Italy - 28/1

Colombia - 28/1

Uruguay - 28/1

Holland - 33/1

Portugal - 33/1

England - 33/1

Chile - 50/1

A lot of the odds sometimes seem a bit off prior to the tournament but the groups make a difference. Group B is a shocker along with England's Group D. You wouldn't think France have much chance but they got very lucky with the draw in Group E.

[stealthpapes]

#8 http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... -mussolini

[Royalclapper]

Christian Benteke will miss the World Cup for Belgium, out with an achilles injury.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... njury.html

[Royalclapper]

World Cup ticket allocations and sales by Country (Top 10) so far:

1. Brazil - 906,433

2. U.S.A. - 125,465

3. Columbia - 60,231

4. Germany - 55,666

5. Argentina - 53,809

6. England - 51,222

7. Australia - 40,446

8. France - 34,971

9. Chile - 32,189

10. Mexico - 30,238

Fair do's to the States for shifting that many, not bad for a Country not especially known for football (soccer). Relatively easy trip for them though I suppose for a summer jolly. England v Italy has already sold out so should be decent - The Italians and Spanish never seem to travel in any great numbers considering they're leading football nations.

[tmesis]

A fair number in the USA could well be for people who favour other nations. I'd imagine that 125,000 includes a chunk of Mexico supporters, for example.


Personally I just can't muster any excitement at all yet about this world cup. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's partly because none of the stadiums are inspiring. I don't see any pictures of them and wish I was going to see a game there.

[stealthpapes]

I was thinking that about the US.

#9 http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... a-hand-god

boooo!

[stealthpapes]

Missed some but this is good

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... eland-exit

[TBM]

2006 - 2014

[stealthpapes]

I like that.

[soggy biscuit]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/man-killed-toilet-bowl-thrown-soccer-stadium-brazil-article-1.1778720

[stealthpapes]

Warm-up game Mozambique vs Iran cancelled.

[Silver Fox]

Anybody seen any decent wallcharts in the shops yet?

[stealthpapes]

I only have

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... de-uruguay