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Two players that impress players of video games, but underwhelm those who have seen them play. CIV's entire defensive mentality as a team has been really poor whenever I see them play in the last few years. They have a group they should get out of this time, though, It would be nice for this generation to put together one tournament run to be proud of, because they haven't to this point, a few disappointing ACN silvers aside. Never been impressed by Traore, never really understood the hype. On the other hand Doumbia has looked a decent player even if he seems to miss chances after chances in the CL for CSKA.

Chile will be a joy to watch. Sucks that Gonzalez is out, but they'll somehow go loco anyways. Also Miiko Albornoz is a fullback not a midfielder. Hope Japan and Chile do well. Two really likeable and enjoyable teams to watch.

There are some really bad players in this Sweden team like. Lustig, Granqvist, Toivonnen and Hysén are all pretty rubbish to say the least, especially at international level. Yet Lustig and Toivonen are one of the best in the team. Everything except Zlatan is really rubbish tbh.

Rossi dropped for Italy. Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus, Salvatore Sirigu, Paris Saint-Germain, Mattia Perin, Genoa. Ignazio Abate, Milan, Andrea Barzagli, Juventus, Leonardo Bonucci, do, Giorgio Chiellini, do, Matteo Darmian, Torino, Mattia De Sciglio, Milan, Gabriel Paletta, Parma. Alberto Aquilani, Fiorentina, Antonio Candreva, Lazio, Daniele De Rossi, Roma, Claudio Marchisio, Juventus, Thiago Motta, Paris Saint-Germain, Marco Parolo, Parma, Andrea Pirlo, Juventus, Marco Verratti, Paris Saint-Germain. Mario Balotelli, Milan, Antonio Cassano, Parma, Alessio Cerci, Torino, Ciro Immobile, Torino, Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli.

Can't wait to bring "Ha Ha f*** You Mole" to the WC thread. Cameroon scores.

Nah, but been terrible for ever since Henrik Larsson and Ljungberg retired basically. It's just Zlatan and no one else nowadays. As much as I hated Olof Mellberg he could at least defend a bit.

Özil with so many misplaced passes this half.

The expert has spoken.

I think they'll have a huge advantage, loads travelling to their games as well as the home fans and neutral being on their side. In terms of weather they'll have an advantage over Italy but that is all. Sao Paulo weather will suit England well. I know saying they'll walk away is a exaggerated, but I do consider them strong favourites to win the group. Will the Brazilian fans really support Uruguay? I thought they weren't the best of pals. I'd have thought the neutrals would be behind Costa Rica, if anybody. In SA we support each other. As for Costa Rica support might be theor way but I meant in the important games between uruguay and the two european sides

I think they'll have a huge advantage, loads travelling to their games as well as the home fans and neutral being on their side. In terms of weather they'll have an advantage over Italy but that is all. Sao Paulo weather will suit England well. I know saying they'll walk away is a exaggerated, but I do consider them strong favourites to win the group.

For me it's Suarez. He's a player that can win games on his own, World Cup is the biggest stage and he'll love it if he's fit. Add Cavani who needs to redeem himself after an average spring. Uruguay has had the tendency to f*** up in qualifiers, but their team is just that good when it matters that I think anything other than quarter-finals will be a failure. I think they have a stronger starting XI than England tbh. Their squad isn't and they're very dependant on Suarez, but he'll show up if he's fit.

TBH I wouldn't mind. Brazil comes first for obvious reasons, then I'd 'love' to see any SA teams, even Argentina IF Brazil fails miserably (the effect it would have on Brazil as a country would be huge, political unrest would be even bigger). After that I wouldn't mind someone like England tbh. As long as Spain, Italy, France or Netherlands don't win it I'm pretty happy tbh.

Their midfield is really really average. No creativity whatsoever.

Not sure I agree while their midfield is definitely very average, if not below average. They still have decent players defensively even by WC standards. Godin, Maxi Pereira and Caceres are all good players while Lugano is Lugano and the soul of that defense. Muslera isn't the worst goalkeeper around either. I think their midfield is a big problem, and I hope Tabarez for their sake starts Lodeiro who is a good player. Starting Gargano, Arevalo and Perez is murder. Three terribly limited footballers. I do think they'll play a 4-2-3-1 type of play with Cavani or Suarez playing on the right with Forlan behind. But we'll see.

I think so, at least he's started all of their latest games so I'd imagine he would. Very bad break for Italy. Think Motta will probably start in his place now. De Rossi, Motta and Pirlo is a very defensive minded midfield though. Probably with Marchisio behind Balotelli and Rossi/Immobile if todays game is something to go by. I still think Cassano should be starting, and Immobile was terrible today so you'd never know Forgot about Cassano. Actually any other player could start, only one I see as a guaranteed spot is Balo.

Not under Prandelli though, been quite a refreshing Italian side to watch under Prandelli.

I think so, at least he's started all of their latest games so I'd imagine he would. Very bad break for Italy. Think Motta will probably start in his place now. De Rossi, Motta and Pirlo is a very defensive minded midfield though. Probably with Marchisio behind Balotelli and Rossi/Immobile if todays game is something to go by.

It is no wonder all of these pre WC matches are ALWAYS complete rubbish. I cannot think of a worse time to catch an injury. Usually they're more for fitness and tactics. That's why results never reflect how teams will do in the World Cup, both seemed very unlucky though, no dangerous tackles.

Mexican player Luis Montes and Montolivo confirmed out of the World Cup both with leg fracture caused in todays friendlies.

That is probably the best bet no doubt, but still think Uruguay in Brazil. There's something about SA teams in SA, I think Uruguay will get away with 7p. Beating England in the opener 2-0. They've a better chance against Eng in Sao Paulo than they do in the NE of Brazil that's for sure. If they were playing down in Curtibia and Porto Alegre I'd have them down for winning the group, be like playing at home. I think all SA teams will have the supporters behind them unless your nation is called Argentina.

Aye sorry about that. Confused the opener in Sao Paulo with Uruguay and England in SP.

That is probably the best bet no doubt, but still think Uruguay in Brazil. There's something about SA teams in SA, I think Uruguay will get away with 7p. Beating England in the opener 2-0.

I agree with this, but doesn't mean he's not a top top player that it seems some are tying to suggest though. He's not one of the best in the world like He is, how you could even argue that is beyond me. Rooney is a great player to watch, give me 20 players better than him that could do a job in multiple positions like he can. One of the best in the world doesn't necessarily mean top 3 in the world, which he obviously isn't. I would say top 7/8 could be defined as one of the best in the world and I don't think he's in that bracket, he is top 20 though. And he's barely top 7 in the Premiership alone, going on last season. I also don't see how anybody can say the 20th best footballer in the world is one of the best footballers in the world Top 20 out of 7 billion something, I can definitely see the logic there. I'm with pata, and I don't like agreeing with pata. Actually, pata, fuck off.

Fucking Mexico turning up before the World Cup, only a friendly and all but 3-1 against Ecuador is a decent result.

He is? For me he's probably their best player if we disregard De Gea. van Persie has been disappointing despite scoring goals, Mata hasn't done much and the rest is bad. De Gea or Rooney without a doubt for me. I was thinking more Yaya and Aguero. I'd probably put Kompany in there too tbh. I think people talk about positions though, or at least I am since I think it's impossible to compare Kompany to Rooney.